Joined: 30 Nov 2006 Posts: 33474 Location: Long Beach, California
Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2018 9:46 pm Post subject: Zion Williamson....
I was skeptical about this kid. I thought he was just using his physicality to dominate small high school kids. However, here's his college debut. If this kid can go up against some big schools playing like he did here, watch out. He's reminds me of a better shooting Charles Barkley.
Joined: 30 Nov 2006 Posts: 33474 Location: Long Beach, California
Posted: Thu Aug 16, 2018 6:56 am Post subject:
yinoma2001 wrote:
He's gotta slim down, no? Listed at 285 that's gotta be too much for his body to bear.
I think losing 25 pounds would make him even springier and explosive.
Definitely. Freaking crazy he is that athletic at that size though. That's where the Lebron/Barkley comparisons come in. Two inches taller than Barkley, an inch or two shorter than Lebron. _________________ LakersGround's Terms of Service
Dude is a beast. Am I crazy if I say I'd pick him over RJ Barrett? Someone explain to me why, honestly I haven't followed as much as other draft gurus here.
A 285lb guy who can dunk from the FT line? I'll definitely be paying attention to him.
I consider his 285 pound body to be like wearing a 35 pound weighted vest once he gets down to 250. He may jump over the backboard at that weight. _________________ From 2-10 to the Western Conference Finals
Joined: 10 Apr 2001 Posts: 65135 Location: Orange County, CA
Posted: Thu Aug 16, 2018 7:40 pm Post subject:
pokoy wrote:
Dude is a beast. Am I crazy if I say I'd pick him over RJ Barrett? Someone explain to me why, honestly I haven't followed as much as other draft gurus here.
We're waiting for consistency in skill level out of him, not just dominating by outright athleticism/size.
It helps that he was able to make a few good reads on kick outs. The scary part is, there's a drive/kick game that has yet to be untapped out of him. No one really believes the semi-set shot behind the arc for a reason just yet.
I don't even think he needs to drop 35lbs. He doesn't exactly looked weighed down. Just get him in the weight room/proper diet. If he loses 10-15lbs. so be it. If he stays the same weight but loses body fat, so be it. _________________ Resident Car Nut.
Dude is a beast. Am I crazy if I say I'd pick him over RJ Barrett? Someone explain to me why, honestly I haven't followed as much as other draft gurus here.
We're waiting for consistency in skill level out of him, not just dominating by outright athleticism/size.
It helps that he was able to make a few good reads on kick outs. The scary part is, there's a drive/kick game that has yet to be untapped out of him. No one really believes the semi-set shot behind the arc for a reason just yet.
I don't even think he needs to drop 35lbs. He doesn't exactly looked weighed down. Just get him in the weight room/proper diet. If he loses 10-15lbs. so be it. If he stays the same weight but loses body fat, so be it.
I can see that. Guess we'll see when Duke plays tougher competition.
But is RJ Barrett really that good? From the little I've seen, nothing about him stands out to be a consensus #1 pick. Fultz had freakish athleticism that made me think, oh damn yeah, I can see that.
Joined: 10 Apr 2001 Posts: 65135 Location: Orange County, CA
Posted: Thu Aug 16, 2018 8:24 pm Post subject:
pokoy wrote:
Mike@LG wrote:
pokoy wrote:
Dude is a beast. Am I crazy if I say I'd pick him over RJ Barrett? Someone explain to me why, honestly I haven't followed as much as other draft gurus here.
We're waiting for consistency in skill level out of him, not just dominating by outright athleticism/size.
It helps that he was able to make a few good reads on kick outs. The scary part is, there's a drive/kick game that has yet to be untapped out of him. No one really believes the semi-set shot behind the arc for a reason just yet.
I don't even think he needs to drop 35lbs. He doesn't exactly looked weighed down. Just get him in the weight room/proper diet. If he loses 10-15lbs. so be it. If he stays the same weight but loses body fat, so be it.
I can see that. Guess we'll see when Duke plays tougher competition.
But is RJ Barrett really that good? From the little I've seen, nothing about him stands out to be a consensus #1 pick. Fultz had freakish athleticism that made me think, oh damn yeah, I can see that.
It's projected to be a weaker draft class compared to the previous years. Personally, I'm curious how RJ Barrett is going to play because I think he had Drew Hanlen help train him prior to playing for Duke already. I'm not really ranking guys yet, because it's too often some player like Brandon Ingram starts the season as a mid to late 1st and ends up #1, or D'Angelo Russell starts mid-1st or later, and ends up #2.
I think RJ Barrett right now, is right smack in the glute of players of Ingram and Tatum where, you'd draft Ingram for the length and skill set by age, Tatum for the polished level skills despite the solid athleticism, and now Barrett, who I'm projecting to be an average 3-point shooter, but arguably the best finisher of the 3 guys because he has tremendous body control, great stride length, stacks his joints well to get good vert around the hoop, and plants his feet well in the paint.
After that, it's just a matter of preference. Ingram is the most raw of the 3. Tatum is the most polished perimeter skills player (for now). Barrett may be the best slasher of the 3, prior to Ingram developing those skills at the NBA level. There is a possibility that Barrett is WAY ahead of Ingram in regards to slashing/finishing/attacking by age, especially because he's so multidimensional in his approach. _________________ Resident Car Nut.
A 285lb guy who can dunk from the FT line? I'll definitely be paying attention to him.
I consider his 285 pound body to be like wearing a 35 pound weighted vest once he gets down to 250. He may jump over the backboard at that weight.
He's probably wearing a 35 pound weighted vest of fat if he's that heavy with that musculature and at that height. Obliques, thighs and lower gut probably sloppy as hell. Lower back fat is 100% a mess. Just means as you stated that losing it would make him that much more freakish. I get that comparison to Bron but it's still like comparing a mustang to a La Ferrari. Bron is 6'8", 275 walk around and cut like fitness model. _________________ KOBE
Last edited by jonnybravo on Sun Aug 19, 2018 12:04 am; edited 1 time in total
Posted: Sat Aug 18, 2018 9:38 pm Post subject: Re: Zion Williamson....
LakerSanity wrote:
I was skeptical about this kid. I thought he was just using his physicality to dominate small high school kids. However, here's his college debut. If this kid can go up against some big schools playing like he did here, watch out. He's reminds me of a better shooting Charles Barkley.
he will dominate college kids too. and if he makes the league he will at times dominant nba players 1 v 1 too.
he's too big, too strong, to agile. and has a decent handle. its lebron/shaq all over again.
Yep, I'm on him. The knock was he was physically dominant and didn't have the skillset to translate to the NBA. To me, his primary position defensively will be against 4s and can move up or down against 3s and 5s. Offensively, he can fill any spot.
After 3 games, besides elite NBA athleticism, he's shown:
- Guard-level ball handling and passing
- Ability to play inside and outside
- Outside shot (still a lot of work, but it's not non-existent like Ben Simmons, for instance)
I haven't seen all the other prospects, but I don't see how he isn't #2 behind Barrett. He's going to be great from Day 1. My only concern is he won't have a long career and might be done by 30 given his size.
Yep, I'm on him. The knock was he was physically dominant and didn't have the skillset to translate to the NBA. To me, his primary position defensively will be against 4s and can move up or down against 3s and 5s. Offensively, he can fill any spot.
After 3 games, besides elite NBA athleticism, he's shown:
- Guard-level ball handling and passing
- Ability to play inside and outside
- Outside shot (still a lot of work, but it's not non-existent like Ben Simmons, for instance)
I haven't seen all the other prospects, but I don't see how he isn't #2 behind Barrett. He's going to be great from Day 1. My only concern is he won't have a long career and might be done by 30 given his size.
You’re analysis basically makes him into another Embiid clone though he can be another Randle.
Yep, I'm on him. The knock was he was physically dominant and didn't have the skillset to translate to the NBA. To me, his primary position defensively will be against 4s and can move up or down against 3s and 5s. Offensively, he can fill any spot.
After 3 games, besides elite NBA athleticism, he's shown:
- Guard-level ball handling and passing
- Ability to play inside and outside
- Outside shot (still a lot of work, but it's not non-existent like Ben Simmons, for instance)
I haven't seen all the other prospects, but I don't see how he isn't #2 behind Barrett. He's going to be great from Day 1. My only concern is he won't have a long career and might be done by 30 given his size.
You’re analysis basically makes him into another Embiid clone though he can be another Randle.
I don't see Embiid, but I do see some aspects of Randle. He's a tough guy to comp. At his size, athleticism, LS threw out Lebron/Barkley, I think UNLV Larry Johnson might be a good one. Zion looks like a rare physical talent for sure, will be must watch TV this year at Duke.
Yep, I'm on him. The knock was he was physically dominant and didn't have the skillset to translate to the NBA. To me, his primary position defensively will be against 4s and can move up or down against 3s and 5s. Offensively, he can fill any spot.
After 3 games, besides elite NBA athleticism, he's shown:
- Guard-level ball handling and passing
- Ability to play inside and outside
- Outside shot (still a lot of work, but it's not non-existent like Ben Simmons, for instance)
I haven't seen all the other prospects, but I don't see how he isn't #2 behind Barrett. He's going to be great from Day 1. My only concern is he won't have a long career and might be done by 30 given his size.
You’re analysis basically makes him into another Embiid clone though he can be another Randle.
I don't see Embiid, but I do see some aspects of Randle. He's a tough guy to comp. At his size, athleticism, LS threw out Lebron/Barkley, I think UNLV Larry Johnson might be a good one. Zion looks like a rare physical talent for sure, will be must watch TV this year at Duke.
He just said that he’s between 270-275. 6’6. Best leaper in a thick body maybe ever...Bron is longer, close call on the leaping but I’d give the edge to Zion
Joined: 10 Apr 2001 Posts: 65135 Location: Orange County, CA
Posted: Mon Aug 20, 2018 12:30 pm Post subject:
I think all relative comparisons are kind of inadequate. He takes some strong qualities out of some of the NBA's best and it's combined into one.
That right-handed in-out dribble before crossover left hand drive? Screams Julius Randle.
The spin move in the post going to his strong hand? Screams Larry Johnson.
The explosiveness around the hoop without needing a strong gather/build up 1-2 step? Screams Barkley.
What I'm most impressed with is how he's dealing with some stronger defensive attention, yet making crosscourt passes, even hinted at a raw pull up mid-range jumper off of a drive (brakes for a 275lb guy are pretty ridiculous), and has some defensive perimeter awareness. What is a dude that big doin trying to cut into passing lanes? Yet, he looks awfully natural at that too.
Wait until he shows some perimeter switch D upside. Then things get crazy. _________________ Resident Car Nut.
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