Chris Reichert ‏@Chris_Reichert · now17 minutes ago
Jordan Bachynski got the start and posted 8 points, 8 rebounds and 5 blocks in the loss

One way or another, I'd like to see us add more of a shot-blocking element to the team for next year. The best options for us w/o overspending: obviously Karl-Anthony Towns in the draft (I think I want this guy more than Okafor -- KAT might be my #1 guy for us now all considered), Jeff Withey (RFA but shouldn't be too expensive--he's barely playing for NO), then I think you're looking at Jordan Bachynski and Khem Birch outta the DL. Alexis Ajinca could help out some in this area too -- I was at the Brooklyn/Pelicans game the other night courtside and Ajinca's HUGE. He wasn't credited with any blocked shots but he altered quite a few (gave Brook Lopez at lot of trouble from what I saw), even prevented a dunk attempt by someone who tried to throw one down on him (Markel Brown before he went down maybe?). Ajinca's first & foremost an offensive player (and a good one at that) but I think he could add a little rebounding/rim protection as well. There are a few other options (you figure Thanasis Antetokounmpo will be on the team next year and will help out defensively out on the wing, then you're looking at guys like Joel Anthony, Greg Stiemsma, Amir Johnson maybe) but in terms of youth/upside and bottom line cost, Bachynski and Birch might be our 2 best options. Bachynski's already being evaluated in our system and Birch is a very underrated all-around player imho. He could be a real nice "glue guy" rotation player for us next year and a guy that could give us nice bang for the minimal buck. We still have that open roster spot -- I wouldn't mind seeing Birch signed for the rest of the year.

BRIGGS wrote:I went a Knicks we need to get a 2nd riund pick for bachinski 2 years ago He was a devlopmental player even though he was 24 coming out of az state . He looks 20% bigger yet 20% slower in this video. That doesnt matter all much per se with a trade off. he's a mountain of a man and could be a mark eaton lite at full potential

This includes OK4, Towns (sorry, guys), Kaminsky, and Turner.

The only big guys who I felt showed some good movement on the defensive end were Stein and Portis.

I understand that we can't hold larger players to the same standards for lateral movement as smaller players, but you want to see certain things from them. One of the old whipping boys on the Knicks, Jared Jeffries, for all his offensive ineptitude, had excellent quickness for a big man, and there are other examples in the NBA. and yes, I understand that experience and knowledge allow a player to anticipate certain things from opponents, and make you seem "quicker" than you really are.

Does not mean that the slower guys don't block shots or get rebounds, but there have been many times when I've seen guys standing straight up with legs to close together getting pushed around at times when they should have utilized their size and the natural leverage they can get from their length, to a greater degree. There also is a very frustrating (to this viewer) lack of anticipation and reaction with some guys.

Playing in zone defenses also masks some of the defensive deficiencies of a player, and I wonder if big guys without quickness and defensive anticipation are going to be in trouble without the comfort of their zone defense to fall back on.

For what it is worth, when I watch the games to see a particular player, I try to only watch that player even when he does not have the ball or is off the ball on D. Makes for a boring game, to be honest, since you are missing a good part of the action, but you learn about a player. If you only watch the guy when he has the ball, or defending when his man has the ball, you are missing a lot things that can give you a total picture of the kid.

BRIGGS wrote:

WaltLongmire wrote:

BRIGGS wrote:I went a Knicks we need to get a 2nd riund pick for bachinski 2 years ago He was a devlopmental player even though he was 24 coming out of az state . He looks 20% bigger yet 20% slower in this video. That doesnt matter all much per se with a trade off. he's a mountain of a man and could be a mark eaton lite at full potential

Have to say that a lot of the big guys (6'10"+) I've watched in college this year have seemed slow on defense.

This includes OK4, Towns (sorry, guys), Kaminsky, and Turner.

The only big guys who I felt showed some good movement on the defensive end were Stein and Portis.

I understand that we can't hold larger players to the same standards for lateral movement as smaller players, but you want to see certain things from them. One of the old whipping boys on the Knicks, Jared Jeffries, for all his offensive ineptitude, had excellent quickness for a big man, and there are other examples in the NBA. and yes, I understand that experience and knowledge allow a player to anticipate certain things from opponents, and make you seem "quicker" than you really are.

Does not mean that the slower guys don't block shots or get rebounds, but there have been many times when I've seen guys standing straight up with legs to close together getting pushed around at times when they should have utilized their size and the natural leverage they can get from their length, to a greater degree. There also is a very frustrating (to this viewer) lack of anticipation and reaction with some guys.

Playing in zone defenses also masks some of the defensive deficiencies of a player, and I wonder if big guys without quickness and defensive anticipation are going to be in trouble without the comfort of their zone defense to fall back on.

For what it is worth, when I watch the games to see a particular player, I try to only watch that player even when he does not have the ball or is off the ball on D. Makes for a boring game, to be honest, since you are missing a good part of the action, but you learn about a player. If you only watch the guy when he has the ball, or defending when his man has the ball, you are missing a lot things that can give you a total picture of the kid.

Walt karl malone wssnt a very good defnder

Malone would have had more issues on D at this time in the NBA, with the increase in ticky-tack fouls on minor contact

Guess I'm looking at a big man to anchor our interior D... and I know you are too. A two way big man would be preferred if he exists...no?

One conspiracy theory, especially after I saw Stein his a beautiful midrange shot today with great form. Would we actually look at Stein if we dropped down to the 4 slot because of the luck our franchise has in the draft? I thought we were mostly trying to see what Towns could do by having guys at their practices. Perhaps they are there to see what Stein can do on the offensive end, as they already figure he is the best defensive big man in the draft. After all, he has a limited offensive roll in the KU offense, especially in terms of jump shots. Perhaps he can do more than he has showed.

Just speculating.

EwingsGlass wrote:Gosh, I hope not. Stein barely seems like a Top 15 to me. Stein at 4 is a tremendous reach. Reminds me of Udonis Haslem... Nothing against having guys like that, but with a Top 5 pick, I am looking for a higher caliber return.

EwingsGlass wrote:Gosh, I hope not. Stein barely seems like a Top 15 to me. Stein at 4 is a tremendous reach. Reminds me of Udonis Haslem... Nothing against having guys like that, but with a Top 5 pick, I am looking for a higher caliber return.

Whoever picks Stein.....i would try and work out a trade. But i can see him rising up after the tournament....He's a mature senior...So he will have more composure. Question. ....If tyson chandler was in this draft....where would he go. That's who Stein remind me of.