If Hachimura Could Dribble

Anderson Hunt · Post #1 » by **Anderson Hunt** » Tue Aug 13, 2024 9:39 am

... He'd be Kawhi Leonard.

I've been rattling off lately about the need for the Lakers to acquire a big-time scorer. Ironically, Hachimura has the talent and physical tools to be that.

If only he could dribble and if only he wanted to be a dominant scorer.

In an expansion draft, for a new team like Seattle or Vegas, Hachimura is the type to average 23 a game, seemingly out of nowhere.

Id I were his coach, I'd lock him in a room filled with prime Kobe and Kawhi tapes and pray he works exclusively on his handle.

With a handle and an "idgaf" mentality, Hachimura could be the stone-scorer the Lakers need. LeBron must empower him by taking a step back, and Hachimura has to want it.

Unfortunately, I don't think either will happen.

danfantastk32 · Post #2 » by **danfantastk32** » Tue Aug 13, 2024 4:43 pm

Anderson Hunt wrote:... He'd be Kawhi Leonard.

I've been rattling off lately about the need for the Lakers to acquire a big-time scorer. Ironically, Hachimura has the talent and physical tools to be that.

If only he could dribble and if only he wanted to be a dominant scorer.

In an expansion draft, for a new team like Seattle or Vegas, Hachimura is the type to average 23 a game, seemingly out of nowhere.

Id I were his coach, I'd lock him in a room filled with prime Kobe and Kawhi tapes and pray he works exclusively on his handle.

With a handle and an "idgaf" mentality, Hachimura could be the stone-scorer the Lakers need. LeBron must empower him by taking a step back, and Hachimura has to want it.

Unfortunately, I don't think either will happen.

Well Kobe didn't earn a seat at the table from Shaq, or guys like Eddie Jones, or Van Exel......he just f***ing took it. The NBA was a little different then.....but Kobe was a dominant player, and personality of this team by 22 years old. Rui's 26....and I ain't seen nothin yet. Was picked 9th, so people thought there was something there. I think it woulda surfaced by now...so I'm going with no.

The tools are there....but not the spirit

Anderson Hunt · Post #3 » by **Anderson Hunt** » Tue Aug 13, 2024 6:09 pm

danfantastk32 wrote:
Anderson Hunt wrote:... He'd be Kawhi Leonard.

I've been rattling off lately about the need for the Lakers to acquire a big-time scorer. Ironically, Hachimura has the talent and physical tools to be that.

If only he could dribble and if only he wanted to be a dominant scorer.

In an expansion draft, for a new team like Seattle or Vegas, Hachimura is the type to average 23 a game, seemingly out of nowhere.

Id I were his coach, I'd lock him in a room filled with prime Kobe and Kawhi tapes and pray he works exclusively on his handle.

With a handle and an "idgaf" mentality, Hachimura could be the stone-scorer the Lakers need. LeBron must empower him by taking a step back, and Hachimura has to want it.

Unfortunately, I don't think either will happen.

Well Kobe didn't earn a seat at the table from Shaq, or guys like Eddie Jones, or Van Exel......he just f***ing took it. The NBA was a little different then.....but Kobe was a dominant player, and personality of this team by 22 years old. Rui's 26....and I ain't seen nothin yet. Was picked 9th, so people thought there was something there. I think it woulda surfaced by now...so I'm going with no.

The tools are there....but not the spirit

Kobe Bryant is a different animal, but even Jerry West knew that Van Exel and Jones had to go for Bryant to truly blossom.

In order for Hachimura to blossom into a 22 point scorer James would have to step back a bit. It's no different than Wade stepping back on those Heat teams so James could blossom.

You're not wrong. Hachimura has to want it and take it, but it's also true that whoever he's taking it from, in this case James, has to concede or give way.

stan francisco · Post #4 » by **stan francisco** » Tue Aug 13, 2024 10:45 pm

Literal quickness and better anticipatory one on one defense will buy him minutes enough to perhaps score around 20PPG. I agree it’s also about Rui stepping up and claiming that space. Instead of modeling Kobe’s offense, I’d personally rather see him emulate Robert Horry’s game on both ends, especially his defense. Rick Fox. Make him watch their defense for hours per day! That’s what I think we need from him more than any scoring. We score enough, but don’t defend intensively enough.

danfantastk32 · Post #5 » by **danfantastk32** » Wed Aug 14, 2024 2:44 am

stan francisco wrote:Literal quickness and better anticipatory one on one defense will buy him minutes enough to perhaps score around 20PPG. I agree it’s also about Rui stepping up and claiming that space. Instead of modeling Kobe’s offense, I’d personally rather see him emulate Robert Horry’s game on both ends, especially his defense. Rick Fox. Make him watch their defense for hours per day! That’s what I think we need from him more than any scoring. We score enough, but don’t defend intensively enough.

God...Horry was the master of poking the ball loose when it got down in the paint. I miss that 1998-2003 team so much.

stan francisco · Post #6 » by **stan francisco** » Wed Sep 25, 2024 9:02 pm

danfantastk32 wrote:
stan francisco wrote:Literal quickness and better anticipatory one on one defense will buy him minutes enough to perhaps score around 20PPG. I agree it’s also about Rui stepping up and claiming that space. Instead of modeling Kobe’s offense, I’d personally rather see him emulate Robert Horry’s game on both ends, especially his defense. Rick Fox. Make him watch their defense for hours per day! That’s what I think we need from him more than any scoring. We score enough, but don’t defend intensively enough.

God...Horry was the master of poking the ball loose when it got down in the paint. I miss that 1998-2003 team so much.

Yeah, I loved that team. Rick Fox locking wing players down while Horry was a mind reader in the defensive paint, getting loose balls, blocks.

For improved 3&D PF and 3&D SF play, roll tape of the two of them for Hachimura.

TimeisIllmatic · Post #7 » by **TimeisIllmatic** » Mon Sep 30, 2024 8:14 pm

Not even just dribbling but Rui can't shoot either. There's been so many times he is wide open for corner 3's and he can't knock 'em down.

No team in the league fears this team from the outside which is why you've seen teams run zone on us.

LAKESHOW · Post #8 » by **LAKESHOW** » Fri Oct 11, 2024 11:24 pm

Rui is not a lateral side to side type. In his early years, kawhi was physically gifted to defensive slide with the Elite players in this league. He built his reputation as a Lockdown defender. Rui does not have that ability. He's more stiff. Rui is built but more rigid than kawhi. Dribbling skills can help Rui, but he'll just be a stiff guy who can dribble. Rather than a high level athlete that has "handles". Rui is just not that type athletically

stan francisco · Post #9 » by **stan francisco** » Sat Oct 12, 2024 12:18 pm

LAKESHOW wrote:Rui is not a lateral side to side type. In his early years, kawhi was physically gifted to defensive slide with the Elite players in this league. He built his reputation as a Lockdown defender. Rui does not have that ability. He's more stiff. Rui is built but more rigid than kawhi. Dribbling skills can help Rui, but he'll just be a stiff guy who can dribble. Rather than a high level athlete that has "handles". Rui is just not that type athletically

Agreed. I really do think mid career (semi stiff legged) Horry is a good player for Rui to study. Both ends.