KAEO Tony Gaffney

umassfan0000 · Post by **umassfan0000** » Sun May 31, 2009 6:54 pm

I love his shot after seeing the buzz around a guy like Chris Andersen. Teams must be dying to have guys to do all the dirty work, and Andersen is really establishing himself in the league. His buzz only helps a person like Tony, as they are very similar players. Drafted or undrafted he makes a roster, but my prediction is that he sneaks in the draft.

SportBalls · Post by **SportBalls** » Mon Jun 01, 2009 8:55 am

Look I know we all are looking to see someone who really busted his tail all year for UMass to make it and be successful in life, but in my opinion the NBA is quite a reach for Tony. The comparisons to Chris Andersen should start and stop with the fact that they both play hard and are both good athletes. There are a few glaring differences that must be addressed first, Andersen goes at least 6'10 and probably 235, Gaffney is probably 6'7.5 and goes probably around 205, so they truly cant even be compared at the same position where Gaffney is an extremely undersized 4 and Andersen is a good sized 4 and a little bit small as a true 5. Andersen scores the majority of his points on "garbage points" that is offensive rebounds or dump downs on penetration, at 6'10 he is able to do so because of his size and his athleticism, this unfortunately is where Gaffney is going to be unable to stay in the league much as the same that happened with Lasme and even Roe, they were all too small to play the position in the highest of levels (NBA) but are able to make an incredible amount of money and be as successful as they choose to overseas because in general the level of athlete is not as high in most leagues as compared to the NBA. Gaffney will not be able to play the 3 in the league, whether offensively or defensively speaking, he lacks the handle and jumpshot to play the 3, and he lacks the footspeed and general skillset to defend it.

This is no knock on Tony, he will be a successful player overseas and will make as much money as he wants to, but this is the way i see it, name 5 guys who he can guard in the league at his position that play significant minutes, he has to be able to beat out a lot of guys, and i hope he does it, i just dont see it in my humble opinion. Sidenote, in terms of getting drafted this is the problem, I believe there are at least 20 power forwards that are draft eligible that would be taken ahead of Tony, but all it takes is one team to fall in love with him and he would be all set.

I just hope that him and those around him are not being too over zealous about the NBA, i am really hoping that him and his people realize the overseas options that exist and the money that is available over there.

Best of Luck to Tony

Umass89 · Post by **Umass89** » Mon Jun 01, 2009 9:25 am

Calmass9 wrote:Agreed completely. Chris Anderson is special talent. Saying Tony is a better Birdman is ridiculous. Tony will not get drafted. Everyone need to realize this now. He is a great hustle player who can get up and block shots, but his mid-range game and finishing ability are not where they need to be for him to be an NBA player. He'll get a tryout with a team and play summer league ball but I will be very surprised if he makes a team. No knock on Tony and what he has done for UMass, there's just no way he has the offensive game to compete on a night in night out basis in the NBA.

Anderson wasn't drafted either, BTW.

All the best to Tony - I hope he gets his shot, drafted or not. It would be great to see him in the NBA. The success of Delonte West (calm down everyone, I know he plays a different position than Tony) proves that a smaller, athletic, tenacious guy can drive, score and rebound among the trees in the NBA. I think Tony exemplifies all these attributes (and so do several NBA teams based on his workout schedule). With the proliferation of role players and flat-out bums playing (and riding pine) in the NBA, I find it hard to believe there isn't a team out there that Tony could help. That is all.

UMass010 · Post by **UMass010** » Mon Jun 01, 2009 1:29 pm

Jesus, now Delonte? Jameer next?

Delonte isn't undersized (unless you consider him a permanent 2-guard) and he can shoot (which Tony can not), regardless of position. Taking some characteristics of players doesn't make them comparable in anyway shape or form.

Regardless of whether he gets drafted or not, lets wait and see how he plays (assuming he makes a roster) instead of all the comparisons.

Chris20 · Post by **Chris20** » Mon Jun 01, 2009 1:38 pm

THe ability to shoot has been a prime part of my argument from the start. Without it, I think it's hard to see TOny as an NBA player.

With it, I think it can offset what his obvious shortcomings are, and can make him a good rotation player.

Who can Scalabrine defend? He's there because he can shoot it, and plays hard and smart.

If Tony can get a shot something close to Scals - and there is no reason he can't, he's light years ahead of guys like Lasme in this - then he has a spot.

InnervisionsUMASS · Post by **InnervisionsUMASS** » Mon Jun 01, 2009 1:58 pm

Chris20 wrote:

Who can Scalabrine defend? He's there because he can shoot it, and plays hard and smart.

You are right, he can't defend anyone. He can shoot it only when he is wide wide wide open. He does play extremely hard, I'll give him that. He rarely plays smart. If this guy can play in the NBA, so can Tony.

uz2b-len · Post by **uz2b-len** » Mon Jun 01, 2009 2:49 pm

didn't we read in the training camp blog that Tony was shooting really well?

Chris20 · Post by **Chris20** » Mon Jun 01, 2009 4:11 pm

Tony was a shooter going into college. At Umass, while not asked to shoot outside, he did show that he had ball skills that were well above average for a shot blocking specialist.

There is no reason to think that this part of his game can be vastly improved. You can't learn to block shots like that. And you really can't learn to play with the passion he does.

You can learn to shoot. Ask Bruce Bowen. That guy couldn't shoot at ALL on the Celtics. Then a few years later, he was the corner kick out guy on multiple championship teams.....while being a defensive specialist who played very "hard".

UMass010 · Post by **UMass010** » Mon Jun 01, 2009 4:24 pm

If Tony knew in himself that he was a shooter he would have taken many more 3 pointers and/or jumpshots here. All of his 3pt attempts were wide open. He went to BU and didn't shoot well there at all. High school scouting reports for college players mean very little if that is what called him a shooter. He hit 18 three's in 4 years of playing.. His mid-range jumper and free throws need work just as much as his outside shooting. He has a long wind-up release that needs room to get off and NBA shooters, particularly set shooters, have quick releases.

Please stop with the comparisons and lets just wait it out.

MassMan06 · Post by **MassMan06** » Mon Jun 01, 2009 4:55 pm

He reminds me of Michael Jordan.

Plano Minuteman · Post by **Plano Minuteman** » Mon Jun 01, 2009 5:03 pm

ESPN identifies the most similar player as Birdman:

insider.espn.go.com/nbadraft/draft/tracker/player?playerId=19431&draftyear=2009

I wonder what the difference is in wingspan b/w Anderson and Gaffney?

UMass010 · Post by **UMass010** » Mon Jun 01, 2009 5:05 pm

"Hometown: Berkley, MD"

kdogg8173 · Post by **kdogg8173** » Mon Jun 01, 2009 5:24 pm

UMass010 wrote:
Please stop with the comparisons and lets just wait it out.

Introducing the board moderator everyone.

p.s. You're coming off like a real dick.

UMass010 · Post by **UMass010** » Mon Jun 01, 2009 5:26 pm

Why? Because I am not on Tony's nuts like others seem to be? Sorry, I don't see him making an impact in the league like others are comparing him to.

kdogg8173 · Post by **kdogg8173** » Mon Jun 01, 2009 5:32 pm

No because you have to come on here and act like you are some huge basketball evaluator and everyone else doesn't compare.

Making a few points/statements and moving on is one thing, constantly telling everyone else they are wrong and to stop writing is another.