You and I both have a background in scouting. You know as well as I do that you qualified your assessment. He's got to get in a stance. When you are out of shape, it's hard to do that. When you are overbulked, it's hard to do that. And, sometimes, guys just don't ever get motivated to do that. Could be because they don't take that part seriously or just don't have the stamina. Summer league is littered with guys who could be playing if shoulda-woulda-coulda. I haven't witnessed the consistency of good lateral movement from Zion to give the same glowing scouting report you have. I guess we'll have to wait and see. But he looks to me like a train -- a force going straight ahead but severely disadvantaged going side to side. I don't think he's even in the top half of the players in the NBA in terms of lateral explosiveness, so, with all due respect, I completely disagree with your evaluation. Tonight, he didn't show much of anything going from side to side or adjusting. His defense was non-existent.
I like Zion as a prospect and would be surprised if he doesn't end up being at least a good NBA player. My question has always been who does he guard? I saw college forwards and guards blow past him pretty frequently if he gets put on an island with an NBA Guard or a scoring forward he’s probably going to get scored on. His saving grace in college was his speed and very allowed him to meet guys at the basket, hey may be able to do that in the NBA but Id be surprised. Then there are bigs, He’s not tall enough to guard NBA centers or even many other PF’s, he’s gonna have to be hidden a bit on defense or allowed to roam a lot so he can use his athleticism to be disruptive (this might be ok actually). Offensively he’s limited by the shot, but I think many guys are at his age, he can over come that with hard work. I may be in the minority but I do think his basketball IQ / instincts are already pretty good. He’s gonna be a wrecking ball in the paint but thats not the current NBA, gotta be able to drive it, and have good enough handles to drive, he’s gotta at least have a midrange game. I hope he doesnt have an injury plagued career and I think he’s unique enough athletically that if he works at basketball stuff he could be very fun to follow.
His technique definitely needs to get better defensively. I've talked about that numerous times on this board. But with proper technique the lateral athleticism is definitely there. Maybe that never comes, but I'm not sure a season of college of basketball where he put up one of the best statistical seasons ever as an 18 year old and one SL game is enough for me to say that it's something that can't happen. And offensively, I'm not sure what you're watching. He has ridiculous power, quickness and agility changing direction.
Zion 1 on 1 vs LeBron when they play is gonna be one of those photos that are gonna symbolize a passing of the torch moment or be remembered as one of the biggest hype jobs vs LeBron in 20 years.
We must have different definitions of changing direction, because I have no idea what you see there. None at all. Even Fran Fraschilla just said it. He's a downhill player. That's his game. That's when he's hard to contain. But, as I said before, we shall see. I just haven't witnessed anything laterally to have the glowing optimism about that aspect to his game that you see there. Average at best. Maybe because of his size, people underestimate it, so when they see him do anything in that regard, it wows them. But I try to look at it as any other player moving side to side, defending a player on the dribble or the pick and role, and I think he's, as I said, severely disadvantaged in that area.
Well I wish these people quit hyping these guys up before they even play a NBA game. Charge a lot money for fans come to watch him play and he didn't deliver tonight period. He had few uncontested dunks and that about it and the reason I say that it fair to the player.
....... the walls were shaking, the Earth was quaking My mind was aching, and we were making it.......And you shook me all night long
Daniel Gafford looked really good for a young big today. Chicago may have a steal of the draft potential guy. They are an organization that drafts big men extremely well.
I tell you what..... having a ton of family in southern California, I grew up spending spring breaks and summers there. I have been through my share of earthquakes. This one was different. First off it was a rolling effect. The TV truck felt like we were on a boat going over waves. Secondly, it lasted for like 30 seconds. It just didn't stop. I can say, that was was scary as shit!!!! Now I'm in my hotel room on the 30th floor hoping we don't have ANOTHER one!!!!
