Bol Bol Discussion Thread: Long-Term Starter or Reserve?

[NavalAviator94]

You have to remember you're playing in games that mean absolutely nothing. He didn't get burn in Denver because they were always in the midst of playoff runs. Their games mattered more and he couldn't be trusted in those games. He's always had the talent. Trust me I've been a fan since he came in the league.

I think Bol's current game lends itself unbelievably well to the complete and utter lack of structure the Magic have on both ends of the floor this season.

It is for all intents and purposes a total free for all at all times with almost no accountability for anything and I think that's conducive to what he can do right now.

Do you remember the the play in the first half where he had Paolo cutting to the basket on the break? He almost didn't pass it to him when the read there is to pass it clear as day. He passed it last second. I was about to cuss at my TV. He just looks like he's playing by himself on offense.

The guys basically a rookie. This is the first time he’s gotten real minutes and he’s learning how to play. This is his floor. What’s his ceiling?


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[ibraheim718]

I think Bol's current game lends itself unbelievably well to the complete and utter lack of structure the Magic have on both ends of the floor this season.

It is for all intents and purposes a total free for all at all times with almost no accountability for anything and I think that's conducive to what he can do right now.

Do you remember the the play in the first half where he had Paolo cutting to the basket on the break? He almost didn't pass it to him when the read there is to pass it clear as day. He passed it last second. I was about to cuss at my TV. He just looks like he's playing by himself on offense.

The guys basically a rookie. This is the first time he’s gotten real minutes and he’s learning how to play. This is his floor. What’s his ceiling?


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This is his floor on a bad team where he has the green light to do whatever the hell he wants.

[NavalAviator94]

Do you remember the the play in the first half where he had Paolo cutting to the basket on the break? He almost didn't pass it to him when the read there is to pass it clear as day. He passed it last second. I was about to cuss at my TV. He just looks like he's playing by himself on offense.

The guys basically a rookie. This is the first time he’s gotten real minutes and he’s learning how to play. This is his floor. What’s his ceiling?


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This is his floor on a bad team where he has the green light to do whatever the hell he wants.

True. I don’t think we’ll really know what we’ve got until mid next season. Assuming he stays healthy.


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[basketballRob]

If he stays healthy, I think he gets a nice extension at the end of the year.

It kind of reminds me of the Ben Wallace situation here. He's showing he can put up stats, no reason to knit pick. People use to trash Wallace because he had no offensive games. Most fans wanted to keep Bo over him.


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[NavalAviator94]

If he stays healthy, I think he gets a nice extension at the end of the year.

It kind of reminds me of the Ben Wallace situation here. He's showing he can put up stats, no reason to knit pick. People use to trash Wallace because he had no offensive games. Most fans wanted to keep Bo over him.


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And we traded him for Grant Hill…..


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[tooler]

The eureka moment for me tonight is that you don't have to play Bol with the reserves because you hate him.

You have to play Bol with the reserves because you love him.

I love that Bol can make something out of nothing. And where do the Orlando Magic have nothing right now? When you think of the word nothing, what unit do you think of?

He has an unbelievable gift at generating points almost single handedly. Where could we use that?

Start him if you want, I couldn't care less. Just pull him at 6 minutes to go for a shooter off the bench (just kidding, we have none) and bring him back in when the starters rest.

[shadrock]

I truly cannot comprehend what you guys are watching if you are even considering Bol a bench option. The guy looks like a perennial allstar with legit unicorn-type traits. Id go as far as saying hes a more valued asset than Franz right now, given the uniqueness of his skillset.

Stop it

I stand by what i said! Do we really need to wait three months for the main stream media to take note and the narrative to change before we get on board? The guy looks like an absolute star. He scores so many easy buckets based purely on his unicorn type traits. Runs the floor like a deer, deadly in the grab-and-go, legit 3pt range, can block shots, elite finisher around the rim, not to mention hes absolutely enormous and uses his height to his advantage unlike other bigs we have.

Again, i truly do not understand what you guys are watching. People drool over the idea of Chet Holmgren and Wembanyama, yet we have an equivalent type of player on out team RIGHT NOW, and were all sleeping on it? Makes me truly wonder if you guys understand the sport.

[shadrock]

I truly cannot comprehend what you guys are watching if you are even considering Bol a bench option. The guy looks like a perennial allstar with legit unicorn-type traits. Id go as far as saying hes a more valued asset than Franz right now, given the uniqueness of his skillset.

You have to remember you're playing in games that mean absolutely nothing. He didn't get burn in Denver because they were always in the midst of playoff runs. Their games mattered more and he couldn't be trusted in those games. He's always had the talent. Trust me I've been a fan since he came in the league.

Complete and utter nonsense.

[basketballRob]

If he stays healthy, I think he gets a nice extension at the end of the year.

It kind of reminds me of the Ben Wallace situation here. He's showing he can put up stats, no reason to knit pick. People use to trash Wallace because he had no offensive games. Most fans wanted to keep Bo over him.


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And we traded him for Grant Hill…..


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I think we traded him and Chucky so we could give Hill an extra year on his contract. We had cap space.

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[Knightro]

I stand by what i said! Do we really need to wait three months for the main stream media to take note and the narrative to change before we get on board? The guy looks like an absolute star. He scores so many easy buckets based purely on his unicorn type traits. Runs the floor like a deer, deadly in the grab-and-go, legit 3pt range, can block shots, elite finisher around the rim, not to mention hes absolutely enormous and uses his height to his advantage unlike other bigs we have.

Again, i truly do not understand what you guys are watching. People drool over the idea of Chet Holmgren and Wembanyama, yet we have an equivalent type of player on out team RIGHT NOW, and were all sleeping on it? Makes me truly wonder if you guys understand the sport.

Let's not go crazy with the hyperbole. The guy has a -4.2 NET rating on a team that's 5-16. He's been a pleasant surprise given the fact that he had no expectations, but just be careful to not overrate what he's doing given the context of the circumstances.

For all intents and purposes these are meaningless basketball games where nothing matters on either end of the floor.

[shadrock]

I stand by what i said! Do we really need to wait three months for the main stream media to take note and the narrative to change before we get on board? The guy looks like an absolute star. He scores so many easy buckets based purely on his unicorn type traits. Runs the floor like a deer, deadly in the grab-and-go, legit 3pt range, can block shots, elite finisher around the rim, not to mention hes absolutely enormous and uses his height to his advantage unlike other bigs we have.

Again, i truly do not understand what you guys are watching. People drool over the idea of Chet Holmgren and Wembanyama, yet we have an equivalent type of player on out team RIGHT NOW, and were all sleeping on it? Makes me truly wonder if you guys understand the sport.

Let's not go crazy with the hyperbole. The guy has a -4.2 NET rating on a team that's 5-16. He's been a pleasant surprise given the fact that he had no expectations, but just be careful to not overrate what he's doing given the context of the circumstances.

For all intents and purposes these are meaningless basketball games where nothing matters on either end of the floor.

Based on that logic, you also dismiss what Franz and Paolo are doing statistically speaking?

I just dont buy what your saying here. We have been in mostly competitive games all year. And watching Bol play, its the way hes scoring. Hes not getting loose baskets in junk time, hes literally scoring OVER players and overwhelming people with his physical attributes. Pullup threes in players faces, contested rebounds and put backs. All those things tell me its 100% transferrable to a winning environment.

[tleikheen]

The way Banchereo and Wagner pound the ball every posession taking turns playing ISO (hero) ball youd think those guys are the ones shooting (60 percent from 2),(40 per cent from 3) BolBol) than 45 per cent /2s......26 per cent /3s (Banchero) and Wagner 50 per cent 2's / 30 per cent from 3's. BolBol is so much more efficient with his dribble and time of possession than both Banchero and Wagner are.

[pepe1991]

Knightro is hater

He has been very, very effective on offense, in situations where he scores. He isn't much of a passer ( to say a least) but okey.

My issue with Bol is complete lack of position to fill & very, very,very bad defense.

By fivethirtyeight his defense is so bad that among rotation players only RJ Hampton on Magic is worst.
By RAPTOR data, among 88 PFs, he is 11th worst. Jeff Green plays better defense than him

Imo reason why he gets so much attention is because he is 7 footer and fans got trained to overvalue "unicorns" due scouts & media famming over those prospects in last 10+ years. Novelity of it makes him "valuable " in eyes of some fans probably more than he deserves to be.

[CLosP]

Do you remember the the play in the first half where he had Paolo cutting to the basket on the break? He almost didn't pass it to him when the read there is to pass it clear as day. He passed it last second. I was about to cuss at my TV. He just looks like he's playing by himself on offense.

The guys basically a rookie. This is the first time he’s gotten real minutes and he’s learning how to play. This is his floor. What’s his ceiling?


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This is his floor on a bad team where he has the green light to do whatever the hell he wants.

Can’t you say that about any young player on a bad team?

He definitely has his flaws, but his upside is tremendous. He’s very efficient offensively which has been surprising. Once we surround him with more consistent PG play, he’ll cut down on his turnovers. There’s really not anybody on our team that’s a lockdown defender as our team defense as a whole is trash.

Some of you guys even want to trade him already? Come on he’s on a contract worth peanuts. He’s a piece to keep and build as part of your core. I’m not sure if he’s a long term starter but he’s a guy that can give you 30mpg as he’s shown so far.

[Skybox]

The way Banchereo and Wagner pound the ball every posession taking turns playing ISO (hero) ball youd think those guys are the ones shooting (60 percent from 2),(40 per cent from 3) BolBol) than 45 per cent /2s......26 per cent /3s (Banchero) and Wagner 50 per cent 2's / 30 per cent from 3's. BolBol is so much more efficient with his dribble and time of possession than both Banchero and Wagner are.

You’re right, but that’s on the Coach, imo…they’re good at bad basketball- I’d like to see them learn to be great at good basketball

[SOUL]

Read on Twitter

[Knightro]

Based on that logic, you also dismiss what Franz and Paolo are doing statistically speaking?

I just dont buy what your saying here. We have been in mostly competitive games all year. And watching Bol play, its the way hes scoring. Hes not getting loose baskets in junk time, hes literally scoring OVER players and overwhelming people with his physical attributes. Pullup threes in players faces, contested rebounds and put backs. All those things tell me its 100% transferrable to a winning environment.

In a lot of ways, yes I do dismiss pretty much everything that is happening on the court this year including Paolo and Franz.

Paolo in particular has done very little to impact winning, but he's a 19/20 year old rookie and most rookies don't impact winning in any significant way. He's no different in that respect.

What I generally try look for is things that I believe will be sustainable and will translate when things start mattering. When the Magic are actively trying to win basketball games, what are these guys doing that will

Paolo's ability to get to the FT line? Feels sustainable.

Franz's ability to score and pass out of the pick and roll? Feels sustainable.

Bol doing a grab and go into a wild runner the other way? Doesn't feel sustainable.

Bol shooting 88% at the rim and 53% from floater range? Doesn't feel sustainable.

I'd love to be wrong! And I am certainly not advocating to get rid of him or anything of the sort.

I just don't think it can last.

[NavalAviator94]

Read on Twitter

You love to hear this from one of the all-time great players. I would love for Bol to work with KD this summer.

[jezzerinho]

From the Ringer:

Bol Bol became something of a mythical figure during his three seasons with the Denver Nuggets. Dubbed “Inspector Gadget” and “a human cheat code” thanks to his unique blend of size, versatility, and technique, many considered the 7-foot-2 forward a tick up on the evolutionary scale—the walking embodiment of positionless basketball. But as the years went on, Bol’s special abilities would surface only occasionally, casting doubt on the legitimacy of the prospect’s purported otherworldly potential.

Until now. After clocking just 6.2 minutes per game in 53 appearances with Denver, the son of the late two-time NBA blocks leader Manute Bol is proving to be one of the biggest surprises of this young NBA season. Bol’s career has taken a 180-degree turn since he arrived in Orlando earlier this year (via Boston and after a canceled trade to Detroit), transforming into one of the league’s most efficient players. He’s the only player 7-foot-2 or taller ever to boast 60/41/80 shooting splits over at least 500 regular-season minutes, and he has a solid chance of joining Dirk Nowitzki as the only 7-footer in the elite 50/40/90 club if he can overcome his recent slump from the charity stripe. Bol’s 66.2 true shooting percentage ranks in the top 30. And he’s the only player this season averaging double-digit points (13.0) and at least two blocks in as few as 26.5 minutes per game, along with 8.0 rebounds.

Bol’s father was ahead of his time; a big man with an 8-foot-6 wingspan who could both knock down 3-pointers and opponents’ shots (his 3.3 blocks per game ranks second only to Mark Eaton). Some 28 years after Manute’s last NBA game, Bol is continuing his dad’s legacy, proving to be just as prolific at making shots as he is at swatting them away. NBA stars of all sizes have struggled to squeeze the ball past the forward’s long arms—the former Oregon standout has collected 40 blocks, third most this season, sending back 17.3 percent of the field goals he’s faced.

https://www.theringer.com/nba/2022/11/29/23482975/bol-bol-orlando-magic

[NavalAviator94]

From Hoops Hype: Bol Bol drawing Most Improved Player consideration, Victor Wembanyama comparisons

After being buried on the bench with the Nuggets, Magic center Bol Bol is drawing Victor Wembanyama comparisons and Most Improved Player award consideration while playing consistent minutes for the first time in four years since he starred at Oregon.

“Everyone talks about the Victor dude from France,” Magic star Paolo Banchero told HoopsHype when asked who compares to Bol. “I’m not trying to compare them, but Bol’s 7-foot-2, shoots threes, brings it up the court, makes passes, and blocks shots. I feel like people kind of forget about him, but Bol’s a freak of nature.”

Against the Nets, Bol was a human highlight reel. Bol went the length of the floor in three dribbles for a tough layup across his body, hit multiple pull-up threes in transition, used multiple Euro steps to finish in the lane, and had an alley-oop dunk that had everyone in the arena jumping out of their seats. During the game, Bol was a trending topic across Twitter, which included several tweets comparing him with Wembanyama due to their size, length, and skill sets.

“I don’t think any of us have been surprised by him,” Banchero told HoopsHype. “He was highly touted coming out of high school, and in the games he played in college, he dominated. He’s been capable his whole life. From the first day I got on the court with him in the summer, it was obvious. I was like, “I don’t know how this guy hasn’t been playing.” He’s ultra-talented at 7-foot-2, can shoot pull-up threes, and block shots all around the court. He moves like a 6-foot-5 shooting guard. It’s crazy.”

That’s not completely unusual these days, though. According to Nets star Kyrie Irving, unicorn big men are trending towards becoming the norm, and players like Bol and Wembanyama are a preview of the future.

“I think most of us would agree that the game is getting taller,” Irving said. “Guys are able to do a lot more with the basketball, and we’ve got to get ready for it. This is the transformation of our league coming in. We’ve got another guy, Victor, playing overseas and more of these archetypes who are 6-foot-11 and above handling the ball and being able to basically do it all. We’ve just got to get used to it and really enjoy what we’re watching.”


For Bol, however, enjoying his NBA journey at the start of his career wasn’t easy.

“I’ve had a lot of ups and downs in my career not playing and being injured,” Bol told HoopsHype. “I think this has definitely been the best opportunity for me being on this team and getting a chance to play. It’s been fun every game. I feel like I’ve been getting better each game.”

Bol scored 142 points in 53 games during his first three seasons with the Nuggets. With the Magic, Bol has already scored 283 points in 21 games, including 16 starts. Bol has the highest scoring increase (2.4 to 13.5 points) of any NBA player this season. He also ranks fifth in blocks per game (2.0) and ninth in field goal percentage (60.1).

“I’m a little behind in my progression because I haven’t been playing for the last three years,” Bol explained. “I’ve been working on being the best player I can be. I think that’ll take me to the next level where I want to be. Every day, whether it’s practice, shootaround, or film, I go hard and pay attention.”

When it comes to film study, the NBA player Bol watches the most is Kevin Durant, who he also models his game after. After guarding Bol on several possessions, Durant was impressed with his growth and long-term upside.

“He’s unique and tough to deal with,” Durant said. “You’re seeing his confidence growing by the game. He can pretty much do everything on the basketball court. He just needs more reps. The last few years, he’s been in and out of the lineup hurt or in G League stints. I love what Jamahl is doing with him over there, putting him at the point sometimes and the five. He’s moving him around because he’s such a versatile player. It’s great for the league. I think you’ll start to see him continue to be more of an impact player as time goes on.”

https://hoopshype.com/2022/11/29/nba-rumors-bol-bol-victor-wembanyama-comparison-most-improved-player-candidate/