BRIGGS wrote:Ill say this again about PorzinigsI don't like his ectomorphic body type. I think in combination of being a run/jump athlete with his unusually long and brittle looking limbs--he looks primed to be an athlete who will deal with injury problems.(In Major League baseball scouts tend to keep away from pitchers with normal height and slight builds in fear of them hurting themselves--apologies to Ron Guidry) So you're a team who is willing to take a pick that will result in a player who you KNOW doubt will have to A. Wait on for 2-3 years and B. Take a player who is a walking injury risk
Im sorry to Fran Fischilla or anyone else out there who likes Porzinighis. On first look you are somewhat taken by his incredible combination of length and athleticism--its a rare bird and he can shoot. BUT he will shy away from NBA contact for the foreseeable future--he doesnt have the nuances of the game down like a Kaminsky--and he could probably give Kaminsky a helluva 1-1 battle--but basketball is 5-5 and its physical and whether right or wrong--I say steer clear of this guy too many what if's. He cannot handle the ball he has a tweener awkwardness--he's an opportunistic secondary player in Europe. No fans will get this pick and it has ridicule written all over it. Steer clear.
I'm a fan of Kaminsky, who can do a lot of things. I would have no issue with him at #4 if he showed up well in our workout.
Wonder if he looked a lot like Porzingis when he came up as a freshman, though? I know he didn't have the same ability when he came up as a freshman that Porzingis is showing against superior European competition.
Not sure about Porzingis' injury potential or history, but he does look thin, although he's gained some bulk since 2 years ago. A lot of guys getting injuries these days, Briggs- many are superior athletes who test the limits a body can endure given the laws of physics. Have not heard any stories about tendonitis being an issue, which is something you would expect giving his length and youth.
Leverage and center of gravity can also negate pure strength, especially if the athlete knows how to gain position. In the sports I played in during HS and college my competitive strength was always greater than the actual numbers I could put up when weight lifting- and this had to do with balance, position, and leverage.
If you watch Porzingis he's not afraid to battle in the post, and he shows a decent center of gravity when positioning himself. He is not a bad ball handler, either, but I'm not sure you want a big man doing too much ball handling, anyway. There are videos of him at 16 or 17 taking it to the basket off his dribble. The other thing that just might make him special is his ability to defend at multiple positions. Maybe he ends up being a WCS type defender with offensive ability, for all we know.
Keep an open mind. Who knows what will come out when these guys are worked out- many might change their minds, including myself.
EnySpree: Can we agree to agree not to mention Phil Jackson and triangle for the rest of our lives?