Elliot Williams has a 48 inch Vertical

[Milkdud]

Being able to jump high is irrelevant unless you have the basketball skills to use it properly. Until I see that I'm not going to be that impressed he can jump high.

[RunMCR]

The question is, how many times during an NBA game do you have the opportunity to use that kind of vertical? There are tons of uber-athletic guys who don't use their peak vertical, and plenty of guys who have lesser verts but longer arms and get along just fine (often for longer).

Vert is impressive, but past 32-34", it's mostly just for flash. Quickness is a lot more valuable.

rebounding, blocking, layups

[Milkdud]

The question is, how many times during an NBA game do you have the opportunity to use that kind of vertical? There are tons of uber-athletic guys who don't use their peak vertical, and plenty of guys who have lesser verts but longer arms and get along just fine (often for longer).

Vert is impressive, but past 32-34", it's mostly just for flash. Quickness is a lot more valuable.

rebounding, blocking, layups

Thing about those is they taken other physical factors to be effective at. One that comes to mind is the strength of the player, you can jump though the gym but if you lack the strength to absorb the contact that happens in the NBA they aren't effective.

[bball_wiz]

The question is, how many times during an NBA game do you have the opportunity to use that kind of vertical? There are tons of uber-athletic guys who don't use their peak vertical, and plenty of guys who have lesser verts but longer arms and get along just fine (often for longer).

Vert is impressive, but past 32-34", it's mostly just for flash. Quickness is a lot more valuable.

rebounding, blocking, layups

Thing about those is they taken other physical factors to be effective at. One that comes to mind is the strength of the player, you can jump though the gym but if you lack the strength to absorb the contact that happens in the NBA they aren't effective.

I guess at least he just has to add some strength rather than gain the ability to jump higher. 48 in vertical sounds like something a scout would use to explain potential.

[5DOM]

So I guess Greg Oden isn't the only guy on the Portland roster with something that is 48 inches then?

It will be interesting to see if Williams can jump over Oden

[RunMCR]

So I guess Greg Oden isn't the only guy on the Portland roster with something that is 48 inches then?

It will be interesting to see if Williams can jump over Oden

erect?

[J~Rush]

So I guess Greg Oden isn't the only guy on the Portland roster with something that is 48 inches then?

It will be interesting to see if Williams can jump over Oden

erect?

Don't be silly.

[Milkdud]

So I guess Greg Oden isn't the only guy on the Portland roster with something that is 48 inches then?

It will be interesting to see if Williams can jump over Oden

erect?

were talking Elliot Williams not superman.

[wiff]

I'm not a Blazer fan as some of you might know, but I like this kid. It might sound silly but I just like the way he dunks. Plus he's a lefty. Seems to be able to pass pretty well too.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQNv_7IiqXk[/youtube]

I said this before, in three years he will be worth more to the Blazers than Oden.

[ndnow]

There are a few guys around with 51-53" verts. Don't really see basketball pro's tho get that high.

[DanoMac]

So I guess Greg Oden isn't the only guy on the Portland roster with something that is 48 inches then?

It will be interesting to see if Williams can jump over Oden

erect?

I heard they've been practicing that for the dunk contest.

[Blackmun]

erect?

I heard they've been practicing that for the dunk contest.

So that's what that Oden picture was about. Gotcha.

[Turisas]

In his prime Kadour Ziani would've been around the same mark if not higher.

[SKR]

This year all Portlands rookies seem nice.

Babbitt has a sweet stroke,
Elliot has insane jumping ability,
and Armon just seems likeable.

[thegreatblaze]

I'm not a Blazer fan as some of you might know, but I like this kid. It might sound silly but I just like the way he dunks. Plus he's a lefty. Seems to be able to pass pretty well too.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQNv_7IiqXk[/youtube]

I said this before, in three years he will be worth more to the Blazers than Oden.

This is of course you assuming Oden will keep getting injured right? Or Williams is going to be some sort of superstar I guess (but hey I wouldn't complain)

[Ortho Stice]

So what does everyone think he'll jump over at the dunk contest? Hannah Storm piggybacking on Julius Erving?

[tsherkin]

rebounding, blocking, layups

You'd be surprised how many rebounds are grabbed below the level of the rim, where raw vertical doesn't matter nearly as much as anticipation and timing. And for layups, it's not nearly as important as body control/core strength. Blocking shots, sure, but he's not a big, and even on blocked shots, you almost always block the shot right near the guy as the ball's coming out of his hands, so it's less important than timing and wingspan.

Vertical is the most overrated element of athleticism. It helps, no doubt, but like I said, you rarely have need to use your full vertical leap in a game.

[Blackmun]

That's true, but with a great vertical, isn't it reasonable that it takes less effort to use your "medium" vertical, as you would frequently? I do agree though, that the main value of a great vertical leap is flashy dunks.

[93 Phillies]

Only problem is if he bites on a pump fake, it will be like eights seconds until he comes back down

[xRapHeadx]

Elliot is from Memphis, so of course I'm rooting for him to do well =D