Frank Kaminsky

[Ruzious]

His rebounding numbers are only average, but looking at the game log, there seems to be valid excuses. His low rebound games were games that were either blowouts (in Wiscy's favor) or games that there were very few rebound opportunities. Overall, I think he's a slightly better prospect than Olynyk was.

[Marcus]

He's being compared to tim duncan who's a much better rim protector and defender. OK4 is a below average defender for his size. many are saying that his ceiling is high but he's close to a finish product which is why his game is one dimensional

i guess that's where the overrated thing confuses me. no one has ever said he'd be a rim protector or great defender.

"below average defender for his size"? in what context?

if you mean out on the perimeter where he's laterally slow then yes he is below average compared to someone who defends out on the perimeter but that's not what he is.

If you're saying he's below average defending the post i'd have to disagree. if you want higher block number then no he's not your guy.

If we're talking in terms of positioning and his ability to contest shots from other bigs he's fine. He bangs, usually doesn't give much ground if any and forces you to shoot over his length. his foul troubles typically occur from being stuck away from the basket trying to guard someone which he's not built for. At 19 years old he's well versed in the Roy Hibbert/Marc Gasol school of verticality and he's smart enough to not try and block shots he doesn't KNOW he can get to.

the Duncan comps from what I've read refer more to his demeanor and the way he plays fundamentally sound on the floor. he does what he KNOWS he's capable of doing. no more no less. Rarely forces action. reads defenses and waits for the game to come to him.

What i've noticed about Jah's critics is they pick apart what isn't pretty about his game. He can't shoot like Towns, or run jump and defend like WCS, I myself have even lamented his lack of motor on the defensive glass because he won't go get them like a Cliff Alexander or Montrezl Harrell.

The thing is there is a lot, A LOT to be said for a 19 year old that knows who he is on the basketball court. a 19 year old that understands what he can and can't do on the floor and plays to all his strenghts while attempting to minimize his weaknesses enough to not kill the team. Seems like that gets lost in the conversation about Jah. kid can hit the court in the league 2morrow and be effective because he knows who he is and isn't trying to prove anybody wrong about the things he "can't do". How many kids in the league and even some veterans in the NBA right now can we sit here and say "man, if that guy just let the game come to him he would be so much better" or "if so and so would stop trying to be what he isn't he'd be a better player". Here we have 19year old KID that already knows that and he's flagged for it. I don't get it.

[doordoor123]

You guys are in for a big shock when he gets to the league. There will be zero putting of the ball on the floor. He is not a rim protector at all, so he's going to have to make his living as a stretch 4. Can he guard anyone? Doubtful. The team that takes him in the lottery will be complaining two years later.

I mean he's about as mobile as Pau Gasol is. If Gasol can start, I don't see an issue. He's still super tall, large, is great offensively and he's extremely intelligent. He could become a better defender.

[doordoor123]

You guys are in for a big shock when he gets to the league. There will be zero putting of the ball on the floor. He is not a rim protector at all, so he's going to have to make his living as a stretch 4. Can he guard anyone? Doubtful. The team that takes him in the lottery will be complaining two years later.

I mean he's about as mobile as Pau Gasol is. If Gasol can start, I don't see an issue. He's still super tall, large, is great offensively and he's extremely intelligent. He could become a better defender.

I don't think he'll be a true stretch four in games, but more like Pau Gasol taking 20 footers. The college three-point line is short anyway so he's probably better doing that.

[doordoor123]

You guys are in for a big shock when he gets to the league. There will be zero putting of the ball on the floor. He is not a rim protector at all, so he's going to have to make his living as a stretch 4. Can he guard anyone? Doubtful. The team that takes him in the lottery will be complaining two years later.

I mean he's about as mobile as Pau Gasol is. If Gasol can start, I don't see an issue. He's still super tall, large, is great offensively and he's extremely intelligent. He could become a better defender.

I don't think he'll be a true stretch four in games, but more like Pau Gasol taking 20 footers. The college three-point line is short anyway so he's probably better doing that.

[doordoor123]

You guys are in for a big shock when he gets to the league. There will be zero putting of the ball on the floor. He is not a rim protector at all, so he's going to have to make his living as a stretch 4. Can he guard anyone? Doubtful. The team that takes him in the lottery will be complaining two years later.

I mean he's about as mobile as Pau Gasol is. If Gasol can start, I don't see an issue. He's still super tall, large, is great offensively and he's extremely intelligent. He could become a better defender.

I don't think he'll be a true stretch four in games, but more like Pau Gasol taking 20 footers. The college three-point line is short anyway so he's probably better doing that.

[reignfire]

Pau Gasol is a way better athlete than Kaminsky. Plus Pau is a true 7 footer with long arms, probably one of the highest standing reaches in the NBA. Pau has elite physical tools.

Kaminsky is no comparison.

[Johnlac1]

Pau Gasol is a way better athlete than Kaminsky. Plus Pau is a true 7 footer with long arms, probably one of the highest standing reaches in the NBA. Pau has elite physical tools.

Kaminsky is no comparison.

He's not a "way better" athlete...he's certainly a better player than Kaminsky, and probably will always be. But he's not a way better athlete. Gasol never was a great athlete. He was/is a very good athlete with excellent smarts and skills.

[LloydFree]

Pau Gasol is a way better athlete than Kaminsky. Plus Pau is a true 7 footer with long arms, probably one of the highest standing reaches in the NBA. Pau has elite physical tools.

Kaminsky is no comparison.

This. Kaminsky isn't near the average NBA starters athletic ability or strength. He'll make the league on his shooting, and on being 7'0 feet. He'll be a guy that can stretch the floor in certain lineups, but won't be able to guard anybody in the NBA, C or PF.

[No-Man]

Kaminsky is far better shooter than Gasol though.
I can see Memo, but he is quicker and less bulky.

[Ruzious]

Pau Gasol is a way better athlete than Kaminsky. Plus Pau is a true 7 footer with long arms, probably one of the highest standing reaches in the NBA. Pau has elite physical tools.

Kaminsky is no comparison.

This. Kaminsky isn't near the average NBA starters athletic ability or strength. He'll make the league on his shooting, and on being 7'0 feet. He'll be a guy that can stretch the floor in certain lineups, but won't be able to guard anybody in the NBA, C or PF.

That's an assumption that time will tell if it's true. He can't guard the more physical inside scorers in the NBA, but there aren't a lot of physical low-post scorers, anymore. Steals plus blocks seems to turn out to be a solid indicator of defensive ability - though it's obviously far from perfect. His is 4.2 per pace adjusted 40 minutes - which is surprisingly good. Quick hands on D and anticipation in playing passing lanes are often underrated abilities that help what seem to be over-matched defenders. I think he'll be a good stretch 4 in the NBA.

[DickGrayson]

Kaminsky is far better shooter than Gasol though.
I can see Memo, but he is quicker and less bulky.

How?

Kaminsky most of the time is the biggest guy on the court in the NCAA.
He's matching up with guys who are 6"7-6"10. Basic PF size playing against a 7 foot center.
Frank isn't going to shoot in the NBA like he does now against big and better defenders.

in the NBA he'll be guarded by stronger big men who can bully him down low and theres already a lot of hybrid PF who can stretch the floor in the NBA.

He doesn't possess NBA athleticism and Gasol's mid range shot is historically good. So Gasol is the more proven, more experience and better shooter. Gasol can get a shot off one on one in the NBA. Lets see if Frank can prove that in the big league.

[Johnlac1]

You guys are in for a big shock when he gets to the league. There will be zero putting of the ball on the floor. He is not a rim protector at all, so he's going to have to make his living as a stretch 4. Can he guard anyone? Doubtful. The team that takes him in the lottery will be complaining two years later.

I mean he's about as mobile as Pau Gasol is. If Gasol can start, I don't see an issue. He's still super tall, large, is great offensively and he's extremely intelligent. He could become a better defender.

I'll reiterate....Zaza Pachulia is a starting center for the Bucks, and he is absolutely no rim protector. Offensively, he is a good passer, but his only scoring threat is shooting wide open jumpers from fifteen feet. Kaminsky is more mobile than Zaza and much more an off. threat. Pachulia is a pretty strong guy, but Kaminsky can bulk up a bit. I'd say Frank's pro career prospects look more promising than Zaza's.

[god4gives]

jahlil okafor = future eddy curry/ greg oden

advanced Olynyk+Nowitzki+MGasol= Kaminsky

[Marcus]

jahlil okafor = future eddy curry/ greg oden

how so?

[god4gives]

http://www.ncaa.com/news/basketball-men/naismith-watch/2015-01-21/frank-everything-tank

No top player contributes more than Badgers' Kaminsky

He plays as much on the perimeter as he does down low. He can dish it from the post, elbow, top of the key, and can dribble a bit, creating his and teammates’ shots when necessary. He’s a monster rebounder, but not as much for his size and body as his instincts to place himself in correct positions possession after possession. He knocks down 3s, shooting over 40 percent for the season. Oh, and he can run the break, if all this wasn’t enough by now.

So no. Frank is very much not a tank. Kaminsky’s style, if we’re to label it, should be called Finesse Funk, blending all these different abilities into that goofy package of his. He performs a little bit of every role for Wisconsin, but plays a hybrid point forward position most of the time.

Because of his unique skillset, he stretches defenses like no other player in college basketball. Opponents must respect him on the perimeter, allowing teammates to move freely without the ball creating open shots or possible mismatches. If he receives the ball in the post and a team decides to double team Kaminksy, he can hurt opponents with a lethal dish to teammates.

Whether or not he’s the nation’s best player is (kind of) irrelevant: Kaminsky contributes the most individually to his team’s success out of any of the nation’s top players. Best becomes an operative word with regards to Kaminsky.

With what appears to be genuine juggernauts in Kentucky and Virginia, any team aiming to take them down needs something different. Not better -- that might be impossible -- but different. Something that confounds UK and UVa, something that makes them to adapt, forcing a style that unnerves them. Last year, Kaminsky helped lead Wisconsin to the Final Four, falling victim to Kentucky and Aaron Harrison’s perpetual clutch heroics like others before them. This year, it’s going to require a tan -- er, something special -- to defeat either team. Kaminsky might just be that guy.

Naismith Power Rankings

Each week, we’ll rank the top players in the Naismith race. These rankings are fluid and mostly for fun, but they matter ... to someone.

1) Frank Kaminsky -- Writing 'it was surprising to learn how much Wisconsin relied upon Kaminsky’s talents' is a farce; that was always obvious. But learning just how much they need him (kind of) caught me off guard. With him, the Badgers are a top-five team. Without, they’re just above the pack.

2) Jahlil Okafor -- Expectations almost aren’t fair. At this point, if Okafor isn’t shooting above 70 percent and shrouding his dominance in an effortless air, like he did in Duke’s 63-52 win against Louisville, he’s not meeting expectations. This is the reality Okafor has created for himself. This is why he is great.

3) Willie Cauley-Stein -- He hasn’t done anything wrong. He’s still the backbone of this Kentucky team. But it’s more what the other guys have done as Willie Cauley-Stein continues fulfilling expectations. Put it this way: If this were the College Football Playoff rankings, he’s the TCU of these power rankings.

[pad300]

I'm hoping teams are dumb enough to let him fall to SAS, like they did with Anderson last year. In my opinion, his minimum is a rich man's version of Matt Bonner - which would fit right into our rotations; he's better at everything (D, rebounding, passing...) except for possibly pure shooting ( and he might be able to match Matt, given the # of open threes Matt shoots in the Spurs O). He will need some time to improve his strength, but that should be pretty practical... And his ceiling could be pretty damn high, especially if we are underestimating his athleticism - which people occasionally do with goofy looking white guys...

[Marcus]

I'm hoping teams are dumb enough to let him fall to SAS, like they did with Anderson last year. In my opinion, his minimum is a rich man's version of Matt Bonner - which would fit right into our rotations; he's better at everything (D, rebounding, passing...) except for possibly pure shooting ( and he might be able to match Matt, given the # of open threes Matt shoots in the Spurs O). He will need some time to improve his strength, but that should be pretty practical... And his ceiling could be pretty damn high, especially if we are underestimating his athleticism - which people occasionally do with goofy looking white guys...

i'd love to see Frank in the Spurs system. he'd be right at home there.

[god4gives]

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2339 ... on/page/13

2. Frank Kaminsky, Wisconsin

Frank Kaminsky does so many things so well. He's an excellent shooter (40.4 percent from distance this season). He has great back-to-the-basket moves. He's a good defender and decent rim-protector. Solid rebounder. But what probably gets overlooked is how good a passer Kaminsky is for a big fella.

In his last four games, Kaminsky has had six assists on two different occasions.

The Badgers rank second nationally in adjusted offensive efficiency, per kenpom.com, and Kaminsky is a big reason why. On any other team, he could probably average more points, but his passing helps the Badgers get a quality shot every possession.

That was on display Tuesday night in the clinic Wisconsin put on in an 82-50 win over Iowa, one of Kaminsky's six-assist gems. If the Badgers and Kaminsky can even come close to sustaining that level of play, this POY race will get really interesting.

http://www.si.com/college-basketball/20 ... t-freshmen

Year: Senior
Position: Center
Stats: 16.9 ppg, 8.2 rpg, 2.4 apg, 53.4 FG%

It’s time for the first (and perhaps only) edition of Who Passed It Better! Our two top candidates this season are not known for their prolific passing, but a big man’s offensive arsenal isn’t fully stocked until he knows how to pass out of a double team. Frank Kaminsky had two slick assists versus Iowa on Monday night. In the first, he drove, spun and kicked out to Josh Gasser for a trey.



In the second video, he drove, spun and split two defenders with a pass to back-door-cutting Sam Dekker for a layup:



[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kqPShKcwWow[/youtube]

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QbZPbXi9nXY[/youtube]

[Johnlac1]

I'm hoping teams are dumb enough to let him fall to SAS, like they did with Anderson last year. In my opinion, his minimum is a rich man's version of Matt Bonner - which would fit right into our rotations; he's better at everything (D, rebounding, passing...) except for possibly pure shooting ( and he might be able to match Matt, given the # of open threes Matt shoots in the Spurs O). He will need some time to improve his strength, but that should be pretty practical... And his ceiling could be pretty damn high, especially if we are underestimating his athleticism - which people occasionally do with goofy looking white guys...

I'm among the many Badger fans who underestimated Kaminsky. If two years ago you said a Badger would be in the running for player of the year in college ball, the great majority of Badger rooters would have picked Dekker.
If you had said Kaminsky had a chance, you would have seen the same Badger fans falling on the floor laughing at the absurd idea Frank could improve that much.
Not that we thought Frank was a horrible or poor player who couldn't improve...just that he had shown next to nothing his first two years indicating that he could be an excellent player.
Well, we were wrong. The moral of the story: never underestimate the capacity for some players to improve greatly ...especially when they're in college.