Caris LeVert = Jamal Crawford?
I know there's a ton of differences and I'll be honestly, I was not really in tune to M basketball when Crawford was here....BUT after remembering threads about comparing Caris' game to other players last year and then seeing a Crawford highlight video, their games seem very similar.
Thoughts? I just want to talk about basketball and I think Caris is about to blow up!
I'll let others take care of the embedding for me if anyone cares, but this is the highlight video of Crawford I was watching. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8b-m0CZwS3g
November 14th, 2014 at 12:18 AM ^
I'd rather LeVert just be LeVert because that's worked out for him pretty well thus far.
November 14th, 2014 at 12:21 AM ^
You know, if you're unaware of the comparison made by the author, you don't have to force your opinion into a discussion. It was a compliment.
November 14th, 2014 at 12:27 AM ^
I'm not sure I see the point of this comment, but thanks for your contribution.
November 14th, 2014 at 12:27 AM ^
defensive stopper while Crawford just sucks at defense.
November 14th, 2014 at 12:28 AM ^
Very good point. I will completely admit I was watching offensive highlights of Crawford. Caris' defensive ceiling is hopefully much higher.
November 14th, 2014 at 12:34 AM ^
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November 14th, 2014 at 1:36 PM ^
tried to hide Jamal Crawford by putting him on the weakest offensive player so he won't hurt them defensively. He's just not that good of a defensive player.
November 14th, 2014 at 12:29 AM ^
I think Crawford has a much better perimeter game, but I guess that comes with experience and practice...
November 14th, 2014 at 9:34 AM ^
but isn't Crawford just an insanely smooth high motor guy with an amazing three-point shot? I would love Caris to be as successful as Jamal, and I have thought Caris really special from the outset; Caris has wild upside, and will still be growing in his skills and possibilities half a decade into an NBA career. But I struggle with this comparison.
November 14th, 2014 at 12:37 AM ^
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November 14th, 2014 at 8:49 AM ^
But that says more about Crawford than LeVert...personally I've seen very few ballhandlers with as much skill as LeVert though. His crossover is eerily reminiscent of JC's...
November 14th, 2014 at 8:36 AM ^
November 14th, 2014 at 1:25 AM ^
I just drafted him 1st overall with the 76ers in 2k15 and he was an 85 overall and just had a 31, 9, and 6 game for me.
Hopefully the game ain't lying.
November 14th, 2014 at 3:57 AM ^
November 14th, 2014 at 12:07 PM ^
Maybe the dude who created the draft class was a big Michigan fan.
November 14th, 2014 at 5:44 AM ^
November 14th, 2014 at 7:08 AM ^
But I don't think it's a valid one. I see it because when LeVert slashes and makes a great play, it's very Crawford-esqe. Both are so lanky that they're awkwardly unstoppable at times. With that said, Crawford's offensive game was much more polished. LeVert still feels like he's growing into his game, which was a mess for most of his freshman year.
He reminds me of THJ in some ways as well, just in that he's pretty good at a lot of things.
LeVert will be interesting to watch this year as the #1 guy, he hasn't had to show that alpha dog in him. Meanwhile, if you go back to Stauskas' freshman year...you could see that even on a team with Burke and THJ, he still had that "I want the ball and I want to lead." It just wasn't going to happen with the best player in the country on the same team.
I haven't seen that from LeVert, he's led us in scoring, he's carried the team for very long stretches, but IMO...it's been more of playing his role, the focus elsewhere (last year on Stauskas and GRIII) and somewhat flying under the radar.
Personally, I think that's the perfect role for him. Nothing wrong with being Pippen. He's one of the greatest players to ever touch a basketball and despite having he greatest player ever to touch a basketball on his team, he carried the Bulls plenty of times in his career. It's not a knock.
I think we'll be fine, but I think we'll be fine because Walton and Irvin or going to be dramatically better. Especially Walton who I think will be the best PG in the conference along with Ferrell. Just sucks, because if you put McGary on this team, I think it is a clear #1 seed. LeVert and McGary would be able to play off each other beautifully.
November 14th, 2014 at 8:57 AM ^
I don't really agree with this. Caris' offensive game seems plenty polished to me (perhaps not compared to a guy who was ready for the NBA after one season, but pretty damn good). Over 40% from three, dirty crossover (which is what evokes the JC comparisons in my opinion), and good court vision. Does need to work on his mid-range game, but for a college player, his offensive game is quite advanced.
You lost me at Pippen. Pippen was a point forward and playmaker (who in fact DID carry the Bulls to within one bad call of the NBA Finals with Jordan retired in 1994) who was a lockdown defender. He excelled as a passer, freak athlete, and defender. LeVert has been most effective with the ball in his hands (and that was true even when Stauskas was here).
Just because LeVert has not yet taken the role of #1 scorer for an entire season (and to be clear, there were plenty of instances like the Duke and Wisconsin games where LeVert took over and Stauskas was nudged to a supporting role) doesn't mean he can't. Would you have said the same thing about Stauskas after his freshman year? "Oh, he's just meant to be a secondary role player." Yeah that's all you've seen...clearly it didn't mean he wasn't capable of more.
I'm also not as high on Walton as you are. Has not looked particularly aggressive in Italy or in the exhibition. I think the skills are there, but for whatever reason he still prefers to defer. I believe we will see a more polished version of Walton from last year (aggressive defense with the occasional Burke steal, good perimeter shooting, a few forays into the paint with pick and rolls, and assists/baskets on transition). Nothing wrong with that, but he's not going to be close to Ferrell's level this year. This is LeVert's team.
November 14th, 2014 at 7:41 AM ^
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November 14th, 2014 at 7:54 AM ^
November 14th, 2014 at 7:53 AM ^
It's a very favorable comparison, but people forget just how good Jamal Crawford was in the handful of games he was allowed to play as a freshman. His game against Duke in '99 (the loaded Duke team with Battier, Boozer, and Jay Williams) was ridiculous. I'd love to see Caris reach those heights.
November 14th, 2014 at 8:01 AM ^
November 14th, 2014 at 8:45 AM ^
November 14th, 2014 at 9:28 AM ^
November 14th, 2014 at 9:41 AM ^
Caris reminds me of Brent Barry and Eddie Jones.
November 14th, 2014 at 9:53 AM ^
I like the initial thought/comparison, but Crawford's game started on the outside and worked in towards the basket. Eventhough he was rail-thin too, he could jack up a three seemingly anywhere on the court. In college, he was not great at following his shot either (probably because he made it so often).
Levert seems like an inside guy or at least a mid range player who has a great first step in college that opens him up. His outside shot is good but not great and seems to be improving. Both players seem relatively low-key on the court but both have that "give me the ball" attitude that I love.
November 14th, 2014 at 10:23 AM ^
While their skill set is somewhat comparable, and I agree with the general opinion so far (Crawford smoother on offense, LeVert more tenacious on defense), I think the mentality of the players is quite different. Crawford was a gunner who could force the action on offense (and needed to, considering the quality of his team). LeVert can initiate action by driving, but generally plays far more within the offense, which is a good fit for our current team filled with offensive talent.
You can see that in the video - Crawford takes a number of ridiculous off-balance shots that you don't see LeVert taking. Crawford has the talent to make them, too - not that LeVert doesn't, but he usually won't look for shots like that.
November 14th, 2014 at 11:27 AM ^
Meh, I'm not sure about the comparison although there certainly are some similiarities. Crawford was/is an impeccable ball handler and can really feed the ball to others as well as take over the game if he so felt like it. Caris struggles dribbling through traffic and while he can drop the occassional dime, I can't see him going through an entire game just doing that. That's not to say Caris won't get there though, I just think Jamal was one of those rare college talents that had his situation been much different, could have easily ended up being considered one of the all time greats to wear the block M. It's a testament to his talent that we still speak so highly of him when he hardly played 1/2 a season here.
November 14th, 2014 at 1:28 PM ^
My thoughts are essentially the same as everybody above me, but I think Jamal is the perfect 6th man for the NBA while I can definitely see Levert slotting in as a starter if he continues on his path.
So, like everyone else already basically said, defensive emphasis vs. offensive arsenal.
November 14th, 2014 at 1:58 PM ^
Crawford had god-like handles and could create a shot for himself from anywhere on the floor at any time. Caris is a better player in other areas but JCrossover was a dynamic offensive talent.