right, you don't place too much stock in any one thing... you try to make the decision on the complete picture and these pre-draft stats are only part of that. A complete picture of Durant includes the above info + his ridiculous wingspan, that he's a dead eye jump shooter and prolific scorer, a gym rat and fine young man. STOMP
I'd be interested (if I wasn't so lazy) to see Zach Randolph's measurements....that's always been my comparison for him, albeit one of ZBo's biggest strengths is being left-handed.
Zach is a very quick leaper along with long arms and a very short neck. I don't think you can really compare the two other than being 6'8"-6'9".
These things aren't as perfect as people think. Kevin Love's max vert is .5" less than those two... yet you don't see him throwing down high flying dunks like them. It takes a whole different level of strength to finish through contact, explode on a dime, etc. This year I would make the distinction that Thomas Robinson looks like LeBron James when hes open and flying down the lane without and impediments. When hes at a standstill under the rim with a guy between him and the hoop, its not uncommon to see him get roofed. On the other hand a guy like Terrence Jones doesn't explode off the ground or get that high above the rim, but his ability to muscle in dunks with a guy draped all over him both on the drive or fro ma standstill is fucking NUTS.
well draftexpress still has Sullinger going to us at #6 (fat chance IMO!), frankly it's all a big fat guess where the next 5 go after Davis, so I really don't care what they say
No idea how you'd measure it, maybe secondary vertical or something, and reaction time, but he always has seemed to be good at going up more quickly than others. Prbably because he doesn't get as high off the ground.
I actually think this has something to do with that perception. He gets multiple jumps in the same time as most players because he can't stay in the air as long. Also, his timing is very good, so he can get other players off their feet and then use his footwork to get his shot off with his limited vertical while they are in the air. Z-bo has been very successful considering his limited athletic ability and measurements, but making up mythical skills like "quick leaper" is a silly reason to pick somebody like Z-bo over somebody like Sullinger.
I don't think anyone is making up mythical skills. Just because you maybe have not heard the term does not mean that it isn't mentioned a good deal.
I've heard it many times, and it is silly. It is a made-up trait that really has no meaning. You seem to be a believer in it, but you admit to having no idea what it actually means. It's the similar to when people said Jordan had so much "hangtime" even though other players could jump higher.
Ok, what does it mean? You said "goes up more quickly than others". What does that mean? Is he defying physics?
I can't be certain, but I can put out my best guess--reaction timing, combined with efficiency of motion. If (theoretically) Z-Bo can begin his jump process 1/20 second faster than someone else, and the overall time it takes from initiation of jump process to beginning of elevation is another 1/20 second less, then he could get off the ground 1/10 of a second sooner than the opponent, allowing him to get a rebound despite going against a taller player/better leaper. If on top of that, he doesn't jump as high, then he'll reach the ground sooner, and be able to elevate a second time well before the opponent can. A friend of mine in high school was 6" shorter than me but could out leap me by nearly a foot. I could accept that, because he was athletic, a swimmer, and in great shape. But what pissed me off was the fact that not only could he outjump me, but then he could come down and get right back up so quickly it was beyond my comprehension. I couldn't explain it then and I'm not sure I did well today, but I know anecdotally that the concept of a "quick leaper" is not just a myth.
Quick jumping could also take into account players gathering themselves for the jump. Slower, less agile players do this. I think PtklPlatypus hit the nail on the head with "efficiency of motion."
It could be measured by a pressure plate that the athlete is standing on and a switch that they hit at their max height. Pressure plate release starts a timer, the switch they hit stops the timer. NEXT!
You just described somebody that had a higher power / weight ratio than you. If somebody can jump higher than you, he has a better power-to-weight ratio. Since power is force / time, then it is pretty obvious why he could get up more quickly as well... smaller time means higher power at a similar force. Somebody can either generate enough power to move their body weight quickly or they can't. If they have the power to move their body quickly, almost by definition, that means they'll be able to jump well. It's simple physics.
You just described how to measure reaction time. That is not specific to jumping and doesn't mean somebody is a "quick leaper". I thought I remembered you being the physics field. How can you be missing this one?
