FarBeyondDriven wrote:tmorgan wrote:FarBeyondDriven wrote:
it's because you can run the offense through him since he's such a great passer. This brings centers out to defend him and he's able to deliver the ball to guys cutting off screens. There's not a lot of centers that can do that while also being a shot-blocking presence and also able to adequately defend on switches.
So I’m reading this as you think Mara can defend on switches? Are we watching the same player here?
Believe me, I hope I’m wrong. More successful Wolverines in the NBA is nothing but positive for me. But I sure don’t see it.
I think his ability to defend on switches was proven by watching this past season. Obviously pros is a different level but the agility drill backs that up. Remember, he's 7'3" with a 7'6" WS at 260 lbs. He doesn't need mirror step for step as his length will make up some lost distance. He's no worse than any of the aforementioned bigs taken recently so it shouldn't be considered a negative. His negatives are his lack of athleticism and conditioning mostly in regards to transition but with both he's made progress steadily so far so they might not be negatives for too much longer.
Ya'll really gotta watch film better. There is nothing on film that gives me confidence about his ability to switch. Transition on switches, yes because of his tremendous fluidity for his size but he's slow. If he's on me as a quality perimeter NBA guard, I am stopping everything and doing straight up iso right then and there as he's food for even the Gleague guards who get 10 days on isos. He simply lacks too much athleticism and he has a weaker base than his peers that some have mentioned like Clingan much less the Eastern Europeans and his own country man, Marc Gasol. His body type is similar to Santi Aldama. He just doesn't have a body you want from a NBA center. Too many people are confusing that he's the most fluid super big since Wemby with he's athletic for his size when he's not. Then you add the lack of core and physical strength and there are major issues here for a player being considered by some as a lottery pick.
NBA players are smart. You saw how Naz Reid attacked Wemby base on that drive last night. This is Wemby, easily the goat defensively in NBA history even at this stage because no one has his ability, agility, length, size, athleticism, and feel in a package of one. I really think people are confusing Mara being a smooth mover with a natural gait with this is a good athlete. Look how natural he moves. He's not clunky like Clingan and he's not extremely clunky like Edey. He's smooth type like Gobert when people miss that Gobert is a tremendous athlete for his size. His lateral movements have always been rare. It was just his body and core strength catching up to his ability as a prospect that was the issue.
Mara is like Shelden Williams for me. They have obvious games that are clear if you have good scouting eyes. If your idea is an eventual backup big playing 12-15 mpg and you want rim rolling paint protector who's not impactful but can produce, this is your guy. Some teams need that.
If you need him to be a true rotation piece or an impact player even in limited minutes, you better pass on him.
Too many red flags on film for NBA translation. Especially on defense. Offensively, most of this translates based on film. I really don't have any issues on that end but I also don't think he's worth a lottery pick based on that end as well.
His base and his core is my biggest issue. You can't be slow and a weaker big. It doesn't work no matter how good your brain is.