Erazem Lorbek progress report...

BillessuR6 · Post #1 » by **BillessuR6** » Tue Sep 15, 2009 11:40 am

I just wanted to give IND fans a quick report on 2005 2nd round pick Erazem Lorbek...

Lorbek has made an unbelievable progress in the last couple of years. After making the All-Euroleague second team in 08/09 season (also winning Euroleague MVP in March and April) he is dominating in European championship.

Euroleague stats
Eurobasket stats

He is probably the best center in Europe ATM. He has a great shot, can make european threes without a problem but his biggest strength is his back to the basket game. He has superb footwork, an array of post moves, with his left and right hand and high BBIQ.

I was always skeptical if he can play in the NBA because of his lack of speed and defense but he made a big step forward in this regard also. Watching him dominate Gortat yesterday and other euro big men confirmed to me that he shouldn`t have a problem playing in the NBA.

He just signed a contract with Barcelona for 2 year but after that he wants to come to the NBA. It is always nice when a second round pick develops the way Lorbek has and I am excited about seeing him in the NBA in the future.

I just hope IND gives him a chance. He should definitely surprise a few people...

Post #2 » by **Miller4ever** » Tue Sep 15, 2009 12:29 pm

We already have so many white PF/C's it's ridiculous.

I'm glad he's doing well, though.

Post #3 » by **Gremz** » Tue Sep 15, 2009 12:31 pm

Trade the rights to him for a white SG/SF now!!!!

Dunthreevy · Post #4 » by **Dunthreevy** » Tue Sep 15, 2009 12:34 pm

If he's really worth bringing over, I could see the Pacers bringing him in when we have the big summer of 2011. We'll be losing quite a few players that summer most likely and Foster will likely be retired by then so we could use a backup C to Hibbert.

Alyosha12 · Post #5 » by **Alyosha12** » Tue Sep 15, 2009 3:03 pm

Nice that there is a thread about this i just made a Lorbek mix from the 5 games of Eurobasket 2009:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AoWW_E5BRBU

Note though that this is NOTE the music i used its the crap i had to change it with because of copy write...

ALSO NOTE that the defenders in those videos are Gortat from the Magic the Gasol bros, Pops Mensa Bonsu, some really though and physical Serbian Cs and Lithuanian Cs like so those are NBA caliber defenses right there...

Post #6 » by **Scoot McGroot** » Tue Sep 15, 2009 3:05 pm

Yeah, it seems like the summer of 2011 is the year for him. His contract will be up in Europe (no buyout needed), and we'll have a ton of cap space an roster spots for him. Foster might be looking at retirement around then anyway, meaning Hibbert will be the "savvy vet" and Lorbek can be the NBA project.

If his strength is now a back to the basket game, then he's improved tremendously. He never had an effective semblance of that at Michigan State.

tinker3284 · Post #7 » by **tinker3284** » Tue Sep 15, 2009 6:54 pm

Miller4ever wrote:We already have so many white PF/C's it's ridiculous.

I'm glad he's doing well, though.

hey more power to the white, and i diden't start this you did and i am not white and i am not black , i am indian so there

jrandis04 · Post #8 » by **jrandis04** » Tue Sep 15, 2009 9:16 pm

Does it honestly matter if he is white or black or yellow or blue as long as he can play basketball and help us win a championship? Come on guys, grow up and stop being racist!

Post #9 » by **Miller4ever** » Tue Sep 15, 2009 10:21 pm

I didn't allude to the whiteness of our team as a legitimate reason why Erazem shouldn't be here in Indy. Nobody thus far has said anything racist. If my joke wasn't funny, I apologize. I felt like most of what I wanted to say was already very well stated in the original post. There's lots of Australian jokes floating around here because of how many Aussies we have on the board, but thus far nothing has been racist. There's a difference between an observation and racism. By "ridiculous" I mean it's incredibly abnormal how many white guys we have, and it's statistically true. We are an outlier. Last year the NBA was 82% black. We are 60% black only if the 15th player signed is black. I'm going to get annoyed if people on this board can't make Australian jokes in peace (JOKE).

bravesatl · Post #10 » by **bravesatl** » Wed Sep 16, 2009 12:47 am

mehmet okur-ish? (hopefully)

freeman · Post #11 » by **freeman** » Wed Sep 16, 2009 7:19 am

The white thingy's a joke and i think we don't have to argue about it, c'mon guys.
By 2011 we COULD be losing Murphy, Dunleavy, Foster, and McRoberts to free agency.
Four white guys, so the addition of Lorbek in 2011 wouldn't make us that white after all with just Hansbrough and hopefully Lorbek on the roster. Just giving the facts, with no racism at all.
I think we're going to have a very busy 2011 offseason with all the expiring contracts we have.
The addition of Lorbek would be a huge one. People always compare him to Okur, maybe because of the way he scores and his potential. But i really think he's more of a less-physical, faster Brad Miller.

Dunthreevy · Post #12 » by **Dunthreevy** » Wed Sep 16, 2009 12:14 pm

Another thread that has spiraled down the drain over the lame race jokes. Good job guys.

Donerik · Post #13 » by **Donerik** » Wed Sep 16, 2009 3:38 pm

On a serious note because I am a pacers fan living in Michigan I deal with a lot of MSU fans who remember this guy as being garbage. Being arrogant pistons fans also they like to rip every move made by the pacers, if this guy contributes 1 meaningful minute in a pacers uniform or caps a trade to land a star player, I win.

Keep these threads and mix videos coming in these early days of fall before preseason ball there isn't much else.

Dunthreevy · Post #14 » by **Dunthreevy** » Wed Sep 16, 2009 9:39 pm

Donerik wrote:On a serious note because I am a pacers fan living in Michigan I deal with a lot of MSU fans who remember this guy as being garbage. Being arrogant pistons fans also they like to rip every move made by the pacers, if this guy contributes 1 meaningful minute in a pacers uniform or caps a trade to land a star player, I win.

Keep these threads and mix videos coming in these early days of fall before preseason ball there isn't much else.

Haha, we're pulling for ya. I hope you can rub it in those dirty Pistons fans' faces in the near future.

Alyosha12 · Post #15 » by **Alyosha12** » Wed Sep 16, 2009 10:26 pm

Donerik wrote:On a serious note because I am a pacers fan living in Michigan I deal with a lot of MSU fans who remember this guy as being garbage. Being arrogant pistons fans also they like to rip every move made by the pacers, if this guy contributes 1 meaningful minute in a pacers uniform or caps a trade to land a star player, I win.

Keep these threads and mix videos coming in these early days of fall before preseason ball there isn't much else.

Believe me if Lorbek gets 30 minutes per game he is averaging 14 10 in the NBA hands down. He would be a Scola type of player no question about it. A player with such a wide array of post moves back to the basket moves, face up moves 3 pt range and such a high BBIQ can not get any less.

Post #16 » by **Miller4ever** » Thu Sep 17, 2009 12:07 am

^^Uh...Darko? I don't know, the translation to the NBA is still going to be tough but it would be awesome if he could do that right away, I just don't think it's very realistic.

freeman · Post #17 » by **freeman** » Thu Sep 17, 2009 4:07 am

I'm really optimistic Lorbek would be a decent player in the league. He's got some polished offensive skills, and a decent post game. He just needs to bulk up a little and learn how to play NBA defense.

Alyosha12 · Post #18 » by **Alyosha12** » Thu Sep 17, 2009 4:23 pm

Miller4ever wrote:^^Uh...Darko? I don't know, the translation to the NBA is still going to be tough but it would be awesome if he could do that right away, I just don't think it's very realistic.

I hope you are not comparing Darko and Lorbek. Darko is pure athleticism and strength and doesn't have one ounce of the post moves Lorbek has let alone range and BBIQ. Lorbek is a lot more comparable to Scola both are not very athletic but both are smart players and know how to use what they have.
Its been a long time since i have seen a C with so many post moves and such fluidity(is that a word?) how he pulls them off.

If nothing else and you guys think you can't use him he would be nice in a trade because i assure you that his stock will go way up this year, even though i think you would be making a HUGE mistake if you trade his rights.

I mean he has prooven at the Eurobasket that he can score and play against NBA type players. First Pops Mensa Bonsu a very atheltic player,Krstic, then both Gasols and then Gortat who is a great defender yet couldn't do anything to stop Lorbek.
Take into account also that in the international game the lane is clogged up a lot more then in the NBA because of the no def. 3 sec rule, making it even harder to score then it would be to score vs. such players in the NBA.

Post #19 » by **Miller4ever** » Thu Sep 17, 2009 5:33 pm

I can see the player comparison, but I was just using the Darko comment for your statistical comparison. I think it's a pipe dream for Lorbek to come in and get those numbers, even with 30 minutes game.

Alyosha12 · Post #20 » by **Alyosha12** » Thu Sep 17, 2009 7:19 pm

Miller4ever wrote:I can see the player comparison, but I was just using the Darko comment for your statistical comparison. I think it's a pipe dream for Lorbek to come in and get those numbers, even with 30 minutes game.

Why? Scola and M.Gasol did the same or very close to that... Its really just a matter of wouldhe get playing time or wouldn't he... I predicted the numbers for M.Gasol and Scola very accurately even before they came in the league same went for Yi, i'm to lazy to go through my chat history though...
The only aspect that could hurt him is his strength but that would only be on the defensive end as he doesn't really use a lot of power with his post moves but rather quickness...The muscles he would put on after a few years would only be a bonus. As for defense he is fast and has fast hands that could help him overcome his light frame a bit against stronger Cs in the league, but lets get real how many true Cs are still in the league today, may be 8?

Also i hope my post doesn't put out an aggressive tone

No hard feelings or anything i just think it would be a waste for you guys to miss out on Lorbek.