Pekovic

[revprodeji]

Couple questions...

1.) How good is Pekovic?

2.) Is he an NBA 4 or 5?

3.) What is his personality/off the court like?

4.) What is he currently being paid?

5.) Do you believe he wants to come to the NBA and what would it cost? The wolves have talked as if he is coming over next summer for sure.

6.) What current/former NBA player would he compare to?

7.) What weaknesses would he need to work on?

8.) His rebounding numbers appear low. Is this a skill issue, or a style of play/team thing?

[Rasho Brezec]

viewtopic.php?f=5&t=922642

[revprodeji]

That thread is hardly readable. It would be nice if someone who sees him more can answer my questions.

I would say there is a 30% chance Al Jefferson is moved this year and that would open up a need for Pekovic.

[robbe]

1.) How good is Pekovic?

Quite a dominating force in Europe. Highly efficient combination of huge body, great positioning down low, and simple but efficient moves close to the basket. Solid free throw shooter, 93/120 [.775] last season.

Having said that, his team plays the high-low better than anyone, which is one big reason why he can be so efficient. If there was an NBA comparison for Panathinaikos, it would be last year's Orlando Magic plus backcourt players that have more a pass-first character. In a way Pekovic's offensive game is similar to a Dwight Howard who can't jump, without all the lobs and offensive putbacks. Positioning is key for his game, he needs the ball deep, often puts up the layup or baby hook immedeately, without taking a dribble. The key aspect regarding Pekovic's NBA career is: can he establish deep position there too? After all, we know there are more big bodies in NBA than in Europe. Still, Pekovic is a tree, incredibly physical, I wouldn't rule out that it translates.

So to conclude, there are two key aspects in Pekovic's game in Europe for PAO that may not be there in the NBA.
a) His physical dominance
b) His teammates/team's style of play and how they/it play(s) to his strengths.

If one aspect isn't there he won't be nearly as dominant. At least until he improves his post skills.

2.) Is he an NBA 4 or 5?

I don't think he's a 4 anywhere. 5.

3.) What is his personality/off the court like?

I haven't heard any bad things about him. Doesn't seem to be someone who particularly enjoys the media spotlight, rather keeps his mouth shut, listens to his coaches, and works hard.

4.) What is he currently being paid?

Reportedly [there are no official numbers in Europe but depending where a number shows up you could consider it as semi-official, some newspapers/sites have inside knowledge] 4 million € net in 3 years, expires 2011. Should be pretty reliable. NBA opt outs after 08/09 and 09/10, as you know.

5.) Do you believe he wants to come to the NBA and what would it cost? The wolves have talked as if he is coming over next summer for sure.

I don't see him coming over for sure. It will be a difficult decision for him. We must aknowledge that both Serbian basketball and Panathinaikos have great tradition, and Pekovic is playing there for a coaching legend that everyone has huge respect for. At the same time, he already led a young Partizan side to the Euroleague quarter finals, and he won the Euroleague the following year. So he has already won everything.

He's definitely not a player who will tell everyone who's not on a tree on the count of three, that he wants to be an NBA player - as opposed to Rudy and Ricky for example, or Belinelli, or Enes Kanter, a star on the European youth level. As explained, considering his background and who he currently plays for, it's safe to say that it won't be that easy to bring him over next summer.

6.) What current/former NBA player would he compare to?

Can't think of one, but I haven't been watching many NBA games last season. Dwight Howard's athletcism is a large part of his game, so nobody should put my above statement out of context. Pekovic is not a leaper.

7.) What weaknesses would he need to work on?

Passing, definitely. As written under point 1), he gets the ball in positions where he directly scores, he's rarely in a situation where he has the ball in his hands the post, and then is faced by a double team. But that might come up in the NBA.

Rebounding should improve too. More lowpost skills aren't needed the way he plays right now, but might be needed in he future. I wouldn't consider him a very good defender either. He's not a shotblocking presence, that's for sure, and his positional defense could definitely be better. Pick and Roll defense is getting better though, only normal considering that playing and defending it is like a religion here[here=European elite level]. They spend an incredible amount of time teaching how to run and defend the pick and roll.

8.) His rebounding numbers appear low. Is this a skill issue, or a style of play/team thing?

3.8 rebounds per game in 18:03 minutes last season. On a team that played more of a halfcourt game [71.3 possessions per game] than any NBA team last season. Solid offensive rebounder. Not a great defensive rebounder, that's true. He sometimes sill misses the boxout, which can happen, he's still 23 after all. But his rebounding isn't as bad as the numbers might suggest. He's no David Andersen. We shouldn't forget that he averaged 6.9 rebounds a game [in 26:55 MPG] for Partizan in 07/08, doesn't sound much for NBA fans, but considering Luis Scola had "only" 5.9 rebounds per game in his last Euroleague season for TAU [one of the faster Euroleague teams], you get the picture. The numbers don't translate.

[revprodeji]

Good report. Thank you.

The high/low is something he would have in Minnesota. We have Kevin Love as a great high post passer.

[Greek]

In general he is great low post player, who needs the team to work for him. He doesnt create, but he is great in those simple things that he is doing. He has stated that NBA is not on his priorities, and considering that he is playing for coach Obradovic who doesnt like NBA at all, and the team who is the best European team for the last 15 years, i really find it hard to come there. I can only think only 1 young player to leave from PAO for the NBA and he failed (Fotsis). Thats say something i guess about the chances to ever come there

[brassviews]

^^^ Considering he would be playing behind Jefferson and Love, I think that's more reason why he wouldn't come over.

Also, to the OP, PAO is the best team in Europe. It's kind of foolish to leave a team like that for an unknown situation.

[revprodeji]

He would be playing starter minutes.

I could see him starting with love coming off the bench, or Jefferson being moved.

[Kill_Bill_Pana]

He is great center. He is much by far better player then T-Wolf other pick Rubio. He will not be in NBA next year. Only center in NBA stronger then him is Shaq or Yao. He is stronger then Howard. He will not go to any team of NBA unless he is starter. I am sure of this.

[Rasho Brezec]

Oh, look who's back.

[Alyosha12]

Oh, look who's back.

Bur whoever could that be?!?

[Gordon]

Pekovic is really bad fit next to Al Jefferson and Kevin Love in Minnesota. I wouldn`t be surprised if they traded his rights for future 1st round pick or something of a similar value.

[Batu7]

Oh, look who's back.

The international board needs some Rubio hate, so it's good to have him back. For a while though, then it gets annoying.