smackeddog wrote:

wh4t wrote:http://journaltimes.com/sports/basketball/bucks-beat-icons-shower-praise-on-kaminsky/article_3f5fb7dd-a23a-5844-81ef-87f227c6dcf2.html

Bird, not one prone to hyperbole, fairly gushes about Kaminsky and the stunning growth he’s exhibited from his freshman year at Wisconsin when he averaged 1.8 points and 1.4 rebounds a game to his senior year when he averaged 18.8 points and 8.2 rebounds.
“We have seen him play a number of times; we followed his career,’’ Bird said. “He’s a hell of a player. He’s come a long way in two years.
“I’m pretty proud of him for the work he has put it. It looks like the type of kid who is going to keep working and get better.’’
Asked to expound on Kaminsky’s game, Bird said, “He has a good, all-around game. He doesn’t play at a fast pace, but he can get what he wants to get.

“He shoots it good enough to set guys up. And, on the defensive end, he’s long. He’s a presence.’’

Bird is among numerous NBA officials who believe Kaminsky is a slam dunk to be a lottery selection – one of the first 14 players drafted.

While Sam Presti, the Oklahoma City Thunder’s general manager who drafted superstars Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and James Hardin, didn’t venture a guess as to where Kaminsky will be drafted, he conceded he is a big fan of Kaminsky.

I asked Presti what, in particular, makes Kaminsky a coveted player.

“The thing about Frank Kaminsky is that he has evolved as a player,’’ Presti said. “He played with a ton of passion for his school, for his state. And he really stuck to who he is.

“The way the game is going, having someone who is so skilled, who can make other people better from that position is not a common thing.’’

Another member of the Kaminsky fan club is Lionel Hollins. Hollins, the head coach of the Brooklyn Nets, knows a good big man when he sees one, having played with Bill Walton on the 1977 NBA championship Portland Trail Blazers.

I asked Hollins to give me his take on Kaminsky.

“I like Frank Kaminsky,’’ Hollins said. “He has long arms and he’s got good size. He can post up and he can shoot outside. He can pass. Great basketball IQ.’’

Hollins said Kaminsky’s versatility also serves him well, noting how Kaminsky has the abilities to play center and power forward.

“I think he’ll be a little of both, a four and a five,’’ Hollins said. “He’s probably going to be a little bit like Pau Gasol (of the Chicago Bulls), where he’s more of a four than a five.

“But against the right teams, he’ll be able to play five. Having a big guy who can step out and make shots opens the court for your other guys to penetrate and post up.

“And, when you’re in pick-and-rolls, he can create problems. You can run pick-and-rolls with the other bigs and he can either pop or roll.

“I think Kaminsky’s game certainly translates well to our game. Now it’s a matter of how much will he has and toughness he has to deal with the grind that is the NBA.’’

Bird also said WCS would be a $100mil player

wh4t wrote:

smackeddog wrote:

wh4t wrote:http://journaltimes.com/sports/basketball/bucks-beat-icons-shower-praise-on-kaminsky/article_3f5fb7dd-a23a-5844-81ef-87f227c6dcf2.html

Bird, not one prone to hyperbole, fairly gushes about Kaminsky and the stunning growth he’s exhibited from his freshman year at Wisconsin when he averaged 1.8 points and 1.4 rebounds a game to his senior year when he averaged 18.8 points and 8.2 rebounds.
“We have seen him play a number of times; we followed his career,’’ Bird said. “He’s a hell of a player. He’s come a long way in two years.
“I’m pretty proud of him for the work he has put it. It looks like the type of kid who is going to keep working and get better.’’
Asked to expound on Kaminsky’s game, Bird said, “He has a good, all-around game. He doesn’t play at a fast pace, but he can get what he wants to get.

“He shoots it good enough to set guys up. And, on the defensive end, he’s long. He’s a presence.’’

Bird is among numerous NBA officials who believe Kaminsky is a slam dunk to be a lottery selection – one of the first 14 players drafted.

While Sam Presti, the Oklahoma City Thunder’s general manager who drafted superstars Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and James Hardin, didn’t venture a guess as to where Kaminsky will be drafted, he conceded he is a big fan of Kaminsky.

I asked Presti what, in particular, makes Kaminsky a coveted player.

“The thing about Frank Kaminsky is that he has evolved as a player,’’ Presti said. “He played with a ton of passion for his school, for his state. And he really stuck to who he is.

“The way the game is going, having someone who is so skilled, who can make other people better from that position is not a common thing.’’

Another member of the Kaminsky fan club is Lionel Hollins. Hollins, the head coach of the Brooklyn Nets, knows a good big man when he sees one, having played with Bill Walton on the 1977 NBA championship Portland Trail Blazers.

I asked Hollins to give me his take on Kaminsky.

“I like Frank Kaminsky,’’ Hollins said. “He has long arms and he’s got good size. He can post up and he can shoot outside. He can pass. Great basketball IQ.’’

Hollins said Kaminsky’s versatility also serves him well, noting how Kaminsky has the abilities to play center and power forward.

“I think he’ll be a little of both, a four and a five,’’ Hollins said. “He’s probably going to be a little bit like Pau Gasol (of the Chicago Bulls), where he’s more of a four than a five.

“But against the right teams, he’ll be able to play five. Having a big guy who can step out and make shots opens the court for your other guys to penetrate and post up.

“And, when you’re in pick-and-rolls, he can create problems. You can run pick-and-rolls with the other bigs and he can either pop or roll.

“I think Kaminsky’s game certainly translates well to our game. Now it’s a matter of how much will he has and toughness he has to deal with the grind that is the NBA.’’

Bird also said WCS would be a $100mil player

That's all he said? lol at you not realizing that smokescreen. He seemed more vocal about Kaminsky than WCS.

His comments about Kaminsky were made publicly. He privately told WCS he was a $100M player and Stein repeated it. You could just as easily argue his comments about Kaminsky were to throw people off his true target.

Pacers want to play faster. WCS is as fast as a point guard and a fast break weapon in addition to being the best defensive big man in the draft.

blkexec wrote:If true, Stein would instantly be the fastest end to end center in the NBA.

Stein is absolutely going to be the faster center in the NBA next season. Is that even a question?

crzymdups wrote:

wh4t wrote:

smackeddog wrote:

wh4t wrote:http://journaltimes.com/sports/basketball/bucks-beat-icons-shower-praise-on-kaminsky/article_3f5fb7dd-a23a-5844-81ef-87f227c6dcf2.html

Bird, not one prone to hyperbole, fairly gushes about Kaminsky and the stunning growth he’s exhibited from his freshman year at Wisconsin when he averaged 1.8 points and 1.4 rebounds a game to his senior year when he averaged 18.8 points and 8.2 rebounds.
“We have seen him play a number of times; we followed his career,’’ Bird said. “He’s a hell of a player. He’s come a long way in two years.
“I’m pretty proud of him for the work he has put it. It looks like the type of kid who is going to keep working and get better.’’
Asked to expound on Kaminsky’s game, Bird said, “He has a good, all-around game. He doesn’t play at a fast pace, but he can get what he wants to get.

“He shoots it good enough to set guys up. And, on the defensive end, he’s long. He’s a presence.’’

Bird is among numerous NBA officials who believe Kaminsky is a slam dunk to be a lottery selection – one of the first 14 players drafted.

While Sam Presti, the Oklahoma City Thunder’s general manager who drafted superstars Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and James Hardin, didn’t venture a guess as to where Kaminsky will be drafted, he conceded he is a big fan of Kaminsky.

I asked Presti what, in particular, makes Kaminsky a coveted player.

“The thing about Frank Kaminsky is that he has evolved as a player,’’ Presti said. “He played with a ton of passion for his school, for his state. And he really stuck to who he is.

“The way the game is going, having someone who is so skilled, who can make other people better from that position is not a common thing.’’

Another member of the Kaminsky fan club is Lionel Hollins. Hollins, the head coach of the Brooklyn Nets, knows a good big man when he sees one, having played with Bill Walton on the 1977 NBA championship Portland Trail Blazers.

I asked Hollins to give me his take on Kaminsky.

“I like Frank Kaminsky,’’ Hollins said. “He has long arms and he’s got good size. He can post up and he can shoot outside. He can pass. Great basketball IQ.’’

Hollins said Kaminsky’s versatility also serves him well, noting how Kaminsky has the abilities to play center and power forward.

“I think he’ll be a little of both, a four and a five,’’ Hollins said. “He’s probably going to be a little bit like Pau Gasol (of the Chicago Bulls), where he’s more of a four than a five.

“But against the right teams, he’ll be able to play five. Having a big guy who can step out and make shots opens the court for your other guys to penetrate and post up.

“And, when you’re in pick-and-rolls, he can create problems. You can run pick-and-rolls with the other bigs and he can either pop or roll.

“I think Kaminsky’s game certainly translates well to our game. Now it’s a matter of how much will he has and toughness he has to deal with the grind that is the NBA.’’

Bird also said WCS would be a $100mil player

That's all he said? lol at you not realizing that smokescreen. He seemed more vocal about Kaminsky than WCS.

His comments about Kaminsky were made publicly. He privately told WCS he was a $100M player and Stein repeated it. You could just as easily argue his comments about Kaminsky were to throw people off his true target.

Pacers want to play faster. WCS is as fast as a point guard and a fast break weapon in addition to being the best defensive big man in the draft.

Porzingis is somebody I keep going back and forth on. After watching Kaminsky, I watched Porzingis, and for some reason, I can see a potential star in Porzingis. He's not Dirk....He's not Bargs.....He's in a category within itself. His only issue is weight / strength.....But that comes with age. If he's there at 4, I don't see how Phil can pass on him.

WaltLongmire wrote:

blkexec wrote:I really tried to give him a chance, but after watching his pros and cons video, I can't do it.

But the good news is that I'm not the GM, Phil is.....so there is hope for Kaminsky fans. But at 4, can't do it.

"Pre-season" is the operative word, here, as this is a video from October, 2014.

Kaminsky has seemingly improved his game during his college career, something that is a good thing...I would think... but what do I know.

His improvement was visible during the season, and is not something he's simply shown in workouts, although he does seem to be improving his physical specs, which actually can be applied to future performance because he has already established a baseline of performance in the real world, not just the gym.

He's working out today or tomorrow, so Jackson will have an up close look at him without needing to look at an older video.

I'm sure Knicks talent evaluators have looked at more videos of his games this year, including his games against the 3 top U.S. bigs in the draft, and now they get to see and talk to him in person.

Well....I saw that game as well.....And I came away very impressed, just like you and others. But I never watched him in other games during the season. I thought Deker looked better than him in some games.....Which means when Kaminsky isn't scoring, he's either not impacting the game or easily over shaddowed. But thats a good call on the preseason video.....But as a jr in college (same thing Stein hatters talk about), you would expect to see more growth.....He seems like the type to want to improve, which is why he went back to college. Thats why I'm surprised his preseason video looked like a below average player on defense, with above average offense. Nice solid role player. But I'm sure his video today will show him hitting every shot in the world.....That doesn't do it for me, becasue thats his strength.

For example...

Shooting was Stein's weakness, so it was more valuable for him to show he can shoot. I want to see Kaminsky play 1 on 1 post and SF defense in space....fighting over PnR's.