RealGM

How a 7 ft player not average double doubles with his talent is beyond me? All Lauri does is stand in a corner and shoot threes in this offense! He can't defend, grab rebounds or stop bigger players. He is a soft ass bitch losing minutes to old man thaddeus young. Is Lauri salvagable?

No one is going to argue that Lauri has had a sketchy start to the season, and that's being relatively kind. However, besides his poor shooting, his rebounding rate, assist numbers and steals average per 36 is up from last season.

I'm not really concerned with this rebounding, the most important thing for Lauri is to regain his shooting touch, because whether it be from distance, around the basket, and even at the free throw line (he is getting to the line at a better rate this season also), is all down.

Still, it's only 6 games into the season.

Soft and not very athletic except running in a straight line and jumping with a running start.

He's not a big banger inside, which is why the people who kept listing him as the backup 5 or even the starting 5 look like the fools they were for coming up with those ideas.

Lauri does need to get tougher even though the strength is there. Then his basketball IQ hasn’t really improved much, for me this is the most important. He can use his strength, talent, and size a lot better than he has. Also his morale continues to control his game, if he’s confident he hits shots and is awesome but if not confident he struggles.

I still like Lauri, guy has talent and hopefully turns this around. We all know what he is capable of that’s why we are expecting a lot more from him.

Would argue that he needs to be put in a better position to succeed as well. He's great PnP'ing and spreading the floor (well usually, anyway - he's shooting 25% from 3 so far), but he also needs to be put in actions where he's getting the ball on the move. He's physically not suited to attacking off a stand-still.

But, he certainly needs to improve his defense, for one. He's not a high feel/passer guy so he needs to be scoring at a high rate.

ChettheJet wrote:He's not a big banger inside, which is why the people who kept listing him as the backup 5 or even the starting 5 look like the fools they were for coming up with those ideas.

You might be right. But I can't blame anyone for their wishful thinking here. How valuable is a 4 who can't guard wings or Cs? Or offer any help defense? Or pass at a high level? Folks are trying to make Lauri into a better archetype than he's shown because the reality may be a little scary, frankly.

Growing up & playing basketball in Finland probably didn't help much.

Lauri needs to be matched up against Wendell Carter Jr and has his nuts beaten on a daily basis.

Playing against Doughboys like Kornet is just giving him false opinion of himself.

The hot takes are burning today.

Sent from my SM-N975U using RealGM mobile app

Lauri need some of this

Lauri is a big man. Big men almost never explode at age 22. If he ever becomes an all-star caliber player, it will probably happen in 2 or 3 years. Same for Wendel. People need to have more realistic expectations.

He is playing poorly, but I don't it is because he is soft. That joke of a coach doesn't now how to use him. And I can almost bet his back in not OK and the Bulls are hiding it.

bpguimaraes23 wrote:Lauri is a big man. Big men almost never explode at age 22. If he ever becomes an all-star caliber players, it will probably happen in 2 or 3 years. Same for Wendel. People need to have more realistic expectations.

I'm all for exercising patience, but you're saying that big men don't really take the leap until their 4th or 5th year? I'm not entirely sure that's true.

kulaz3000 wrote:

bpguimaraes23 wrote:Lauri is a big man. Big men almost never explode at age 22. If he ever becomes an all-star caliber players, it will probably happen in 2 or 3 years. Same for Wendel. People need to have more realistic expectations.

I'm all for exercising patience, but you're saying that big men don't really take the leap until their 4th or 5th year? I'm not entirely sure that's true.

I don't have the statistics, but I have a hard time remembering a big man becoming an all star at age 22. I'm sure it happened, but its not common.

He has his bad stretches and then his good ones... The way the whole team has been performing is so underwhelming. Too bad Lauri is having scoring wise pretty bad start, as we got so many easy opponents needed to beat. Jimbo might be gone sooner though, if the slump continues... So in a way, it'll be win-win. if Lauri turns to Februlauri we'll win more. If not, we get rid of Jim, maybe. just maybe.

Lauri has to play tougher and more aggressive. Against any halfway decent big he drifts to the perimeter. He still can't post up or score consistently against mismatches. He doesn't roll to the basket or cut to the rim on penetration. He has to put himself into easier scoring positions especially when his shot isn't falling. He's taken 44 three's this season and only 22 shots at the rim. That's not on the offensive scheme or teammates not looking for him that's on him.

He just doesn't look healthy playing out there.

suursahuri wrote:He just doesn't look healthy playing out there.

Im tellin ya.....
https://www.kgun9.com/sports/local-sports/former-ua-hoops-star-gives-up-meat-to-reduce-carbon-footprint

What is exactly is not looking healthy about Markkanen? He is probably healthier than Wendell Carter right now who is producing with bruised tailbone, and injured thumb and not really being able work out hard most of the Summer. The excuses for Lauri are getting so old now. Just accept that these guys we have high hopes for are disappointing right now. Markkanen cannot score on players with a 7 inch height advantage. That's something any professional basketball player should be able to do.

Lauri have small injury in his hip. He can not run or jump as he can. And it shows. Still he wants to play. What is kind of stupid because now it start effect his back. That hip effect everything even his shooting. Nice to live near his family and know this stuff. They are only worried that Lauri is too hard himself. He said he will play all 82 games and that is what he try to do.