Kevin Seraphin

[verbal8]

This is a good sign that Seraphin is making progress. Not only did he make the team, but he beat out someone that France would have liked to keep. The success that Yi had in the international game last summer does detract a little from my enthusiasm. However I think Seraphin's game actually is more suited for the NBA and Yi's game is more suited for the international game.

Considered a longshot when he was invited to try out for the French national team last month, Wizards forward Kevin Seraphin made the final 12-man roster for Eurobasket in Lithuania. He will join a roster that includes fellow NBA players Tony Parker, Joakim Noah, Boris Diaw, Nicolas Batum and Ronny Turiaf.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wizards-insider

Kevin didn't even play in the Spain blow-out game, but makes the team anyway. The lock-out has been good for Wizard rooks.

Edit: Hows this quote for getting our hopes up about the future:

Collet said in a statement released by the French Basketball Federation. “We had no idea that Kevin could be at this level and even if the decision is cruel to Ali, the interest of the France team must come first.”

[theboomking]

Collet said in a statement released by the French Basketball Federation. “We had no idea that Kevin could be at this level and even if the decision is cruel to Ali, the interest of the France team must come first.”

What does that quote mean? That Seraphin was playing at a higher level than expected, or that they didn't know he would be willing or eligible to play? In any case, there is a lot of NBA talent on that team. Should be good for Kevin.

[verbal8]

I think France was not sure what level of play to expect from Seraphin. He played/practiced his way on to a team with a good amount of NBA level talent, at the expense of a player France would have otherwise kept on the team.

Collet said in a statement released by the French Basketball Federation. “We had no idea that Kevin could be at this level and even if the decision is cruel to Ali, the interest of the France team must come first.”

What does that quote mean? That Seraphin was playing at a higher level than expected, or that they didn't know he would be willing or eligible to play? In any case, there is a lot of NBA talent on that team. Should be good for Kevin.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

The Good: Seraphin is potentially a very good low post defender. He has some nice hook shots and half hooks around the basket. Kevin can establish position and dunk.

The Bad: A huge obstacle preventing him from being effective is his foul rate. Kevin can't stay on the floor long without picking up cheap fouls. He also needs improvement with defensive rotations and decisiveness on offense all need to improve to make him a more complete NBA player.

My personal belief is Seraphin with McGee would have been good defensively and finishing with dunks, but fouls would have been problematic. They would have owned the backboards, too. I hate that Flip Saunders has a system that doesn't allow for two unskilled bigs on the court at the same time. The team could have out-sized and out-physicalled teams if not for being constrained by coaching philosophy and system.

[Ruzious]

CCJ, who has a system that allows for 2 unskilled bigs playing together? It might work in the WWE, but is there an example in the NBA?

And how would those 2 have controlled the boards? Seraphin was an epically bad defensive rebounder as a rookie. Teams that get destroyed on the defensive boards - lose.

[closg00]

CCJ, who has a system that allows for 2 unskilled bigs playing together? It might work in the WWE, but is there an example in the NBA?

And how would those 2 have controlled the boards? Seraphin was an epically bad defensive rebounder as a rookie. Teams that get destroyed on the defensive boards - lose.

I think the problem with Kevin is that he isn't especially aggressive for a Center/PF, that's why he's such a poor rebounder. This kind of hunger doesn't usually come later, but with some good coaching and playing time hopefully we can turn Kevin into the beast we need to counter JaVale's slight frame, then we can play those two guys together.

[Ruzious]

Any lack of aggressiveness on Seraphin's part would be the least of my concerns. His problem was he didn't know how to play NBA basketball on the defensive end - other than playing his man down low. He was excellent on the offensive boards. But you just can't give away rebounds on the other end.

[Ruzious]

Any lack of aggressiveness on Seraphin's part would be the least of my concerns. His problem was he didn't know how to play NBA basketball on the defensive end - other than playing his man down low. He was excellent on the offensive boards. But you just can't give away rebounds on the other end.

[closg00]

Any lack of aggressiveness on Seraphin's part would be the least of my concerns. His problem was he didn't know how to play NBA basketball on the defensive end - other than playing his man down low. He was excellent on the offensive boards. But you just can't give away rebounds on the other end.

Agree.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

CCJ, who has a system that allows for 2 unskilled bigs playing together? It might work in the WWE, but is there an example in the NBA?

And how would those 2 have controlled the boards? Seraphin was an epically bad defensive rebounder as a rookie. Teams that get destroyed on the defensive boards - lose.

Better coaches than Flip have had such a system. Daly, Jackson, Larry Brown have, Ruz.

1. The Pistons that won back-to-back championships had Rodman, Mahorn, John Salley, Bill Laimbeer, and James Edwards. Only one (Laimbeer) had skills. Okay, two -- Buddha Edwards could hoop, too.

2.(*Rodman, Edwards, Salley, and Bill Wennington also were among the frontcourt of the 1995 Bulls championship teams. That team won 72 games. The greatest winning team EVER had goons for bigs). Jackson won with Rodman and guys like Wennington and Perdue in the middle. MJ and Pippen with a Kerr or Paxson were sufficient for offense.

3. The 2000-2001 Philadelphia Sixers team that lost to Kobe & Shaq's Lakers in the Finals had Mutombo, Tyrone Hill, George Lynch, and Jumaine Jones as bigs. They got to the Finals with Iverson balling and Mutombo defending well til Shaq got the best of him. That team owned the backboards.

And as to your point about Seraphin being a bad defensive rebounder, he was among the best in the league at offensive rebounding. Kevin averaged 4.5 offensive rebounds per-36 minutes. No worries about his defensive rebounding, Ruz. Javale was the best on the team at 6.7 per-36 and he also was one of the best defensive rebounders in the league. Two young guys; one a terrific offensive rounder who holds position at C, and the other a tremendous defensive rebounder who's a great weakside shot blocker and dunker.

http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/WAS/2011.html

Ruz, Flip IMO would have been FAR better off playing Seraphin with McGee. Actually, the Wizards would be better off without a coach who's locked into a system.

I would suggest the Wizards get a coach who can figure out which combos are effective.

[manou]

I'm french, and I follow the FIBA pregames.
I can tell you all that Kevin has been a very nice surprise. A lot of people guessed he was an afterthought, another 'french-big-still-raw-who-may-be-good-someday...", ala Ajinca, Moiso, Petro, Manhimi and many others...
But no, he produces, and he really has earned his place with his play and his focus.

[fishercob]

Merci manou! Can you describe what Seraphin has done well -- scoring, rebounding, defense? What has he done not as well?

Thanks

[JonathanJoseph]

Wow. That's great to hear. I'm still cautiously optimistic about Seraphin sooner rather than later.

[closg00]

More good news for Kevin:

France centre Ronny Turiaf will miss the remainder of the Olympic Test Event and is a major doubt for the EuroBasket after it was revealed on Wednesday that he broke his hand in Tuesday night's win over hosts Great Britain. Turiaf got tangled up in a battle for a rebound and, after x-rays were taken at a London hospital, France's medical staff confirmed the player had sustained a fracture in the fourth metacarpal of his left hand. The 28-year-old will see a specialist in Paris on Thursday to determine how long the injury will keep him on the sidelines.

Kevin only played 4 minutes in a blow-out vs Britian, perhaps he will finally see some minutes with Turiaf out.
http://london2012.fiba.com/pages/eng/fe ... /game.html

[Ruzious]

CCJ, who has a system that allows for 2 unskilled bigs playing together? It might work in the WWE, but is there an example in the NBA?

And how would those 2 have controlled the boards? Seraphin was an epically bad defensive rebounder as a rookie. Teams that get destroyed on the defensive boards - lose.

Better coaches than Flip have had such a system. Daly, Jackson, Larry Brown have, Ruz.

1. The Pistons that won back-to-back championships had Rodman, Mahorn, John Salley, Bill Laimbeer, and James Edwards. Only one (Laimbeer) had skills. Okay, two -- Buddha Edwards could hoop, too.

2.(*Rodman, Edwards, Salley, and Bill Wennington also were among the frontcourt of the 1995 Bulls championship teams. That team won 72 games. The greatest winning team EVER had goons for bigs). Jackson won with Rodman and guys like Wennington and Perdue in the middle. MJ and Pippen with a Kerr or Paxson were sufficient for offense.

3. The 2000-2001 Philadelphia Sixers team that lost to Kobe & Shaq's Lakers in the Finals had Mutombo, Tyrone Hill, George Lynch, and Jumaine Jones as bigs. They got to the Finals with Iverson balling and Mutombo defending well til Shaq got the best of him. That team owned the backboards.

And as to your point about Seraphin being a bad defensive rebounder, he was among the best in the league at offensive rebounding. Kevin averaged 4.5 offensive rebounds per-36 minutes. No worries about his defensive rebounding, Ruz. Javale was the best on the team at 6.7 per-36 and he also was one of the best defensive rebounders in the league. Two young guys; one a terrific offensive rounder who holds position at C, and the other a tremendous defensive rebounder who's a great weakside shot blocker and dunker.

http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/WAS/2011.html

Ruz, Flip IMO would have been FAR better off playing Seraphin with McGee. Actually, the Wizards would be better off without a coach who's locked into a system.

I would suggest the Wizards get a coach who can figure out which combos are effective.

I couldn't disagree with you more if I tried to.

1. The fact that Laimbeer was a very skilled offensive player kind of eliminates that from your argument. He played the most minutes of their bigs.

2. On the Bulls - all you have to do is have the best 1-2 combo in the history of the NBA to make your point? Oooookay.

3. That Iverson team was the exception to a lot of rules - and is a prime example of why Larry Brown was an all-time great coach. And Mutumbo was certainly superior to and completely unlike anyone the Wiz have.

And Javale McGee has NOT shown to be one of the top defensive rebounders in the NBA. 6.7 per 36 minutes is not impressive and certainly wouldn't have made up for Seraphin's horrible number. I don't care how many offensive rebounds Seraphin got - his defensive rebounding and overall game were not NBA competent - by any standards except yours.

[7-Day Dray]

14pts, 5 boards in 19 minutes. France 76, China 59. China is awful this year. Link to the box score:


http://london2012.fiba.com//pages/eng/f ... /game.html

[7-Day Dray]

The weight's down.



Checkout Yi's finger hat.

[closg00]

Perfect, the two former team mates doing battle. 14 pts and 5 boards against Yi sounds about right.

[doclinkin]

Except that Yi went for 20/5 on him.

[fugop]

Seraphin shot 7/8 from the floor, and did his damage in only 19 minutes. Yi was on the floor for 29.