quote:
Personally think Naz's skill set is better suited for the NBA game. I think he looks like a solid contributor on an NBA team. I don't think he's ever going to be a super star but I do think he stays on active rosters for a pretty sizable amount of time.

We knew he was here for a year coming in and I still feel that's whats going on. He has given his all to this team so I respect what he's doing here even if it's not a long college career.

I can agree that his style is more suited to the NBA. My issue is that I think, even in that league, there is an expectation that your bigs can rebound, and if they aren't dominant offensively, then they better make up for it on the defensive end. Right now, he's a spot up shooter who, IF he has the right matchup, will occasionally have games where he can get to the rim. That's not somebody I'd draft in the first round, but if someone thinks they can get more out of him, good for Naz.

It's hard for me to sit here and say that he's given his all, as you stated. I'm most disappointed with his work on the glass and his defense. That's where I don't see the fire. And in my years of watching sports, it's been a theme that the guys who have to be told to play hard, rarely get any better.

Here's hoping he's the exception. The talent is there.

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Posted by Alt26

Member since Mar 2010

28470 posts

Posted on 1/28/19 at 8:58 am to SouthOfSouth

quote:
Personally think Naz's skill set is better suited for the NBA game.

Agreed. However, he hasn't shown much consistency with his skill set thus far and he's not a tremendous athlete. One moment he'll look great and then the next moment he's clumsily falling to the ground.

Reid wants to be a one-and-done guy and Wade expects him to. However, if at the end of the season the scouts/GM's don't see him as a sure-fire first round pick, he'd be foolish not to at least CONSIDER returning for a second season. Gafford at Arkansas did just that and he's become a dominant player in year two after being very inconsistent last season. As a result, Gafford is pretty much a first round lock.

You'd hate to see a guy like Reid miss out on the guarantees that come with a first round pick simply because he was too eager to leave college.

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Posted by SouthOfSouth

Baton Rouge

Member since Jun 2008

43463 posts

Posted on 1/28/19 at 9:23 am to Metaloctopus

quote:
It's hard for me to sit here and say that he's given his all, as you stated. I'm most disappointed with his work on the glass and his defense. That's where I don't see the fire. And in my years of watching sports, it's been a theme that the guys who have to be told to play hard, rarely get any better.

Will Wade constantly makes comments on how locked in to the team Naz is. I understand wanting him to get more rebounds. I think the biggest reason he struggles to get more boards is his twitch reaction. We can talk about how he's athletic for a big guy but his twitch reaction times seem slow to me. He can be pretty graceful but he doesn't have that athleticism that gets you from point A to point B quickly.

I see him running back on defense, getting to the floor after loose balls, and not pouting if he isn't the focal point of the offense. To me, that is him giving his all for the team.

We can all talk bout how rebounding is a high percentage due to hustle and desire but there are other factors to being a good rebounder.

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Posted by Bjorn Cyborg

Member since Sep 2016

26934 posts

Posted on 1/28/19 at 10:55 am to Metaloctopus

quote:
What does that have to do with being ready?

It means he's ready enough. And what he can't or doesn't do (or do well) can be improved on in the NBA. People have a misconception that there is no room for improvement or development at the next level.

Even if he does some time in the G-League, that's a higher level of basketball than college with better coaching.

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Posted by Eltegray