Is Biyombo a bust already?

[princeofpalace]

Its hard to project Biyombo to be anything more than a backup utility bigman. He can block shots, but that is about it. He has zero offensive game, is not even an average rebounder nor is the defensive anchor that some billed him to be. Aside from Hasheem Thabeet, I cannot think of a recent lottery bigman prospect that has less potential than Biyombo.

Edit: Rememered Epke Udoh

[BeasleyTheBeast]

this guy is really 20?

[Frank Mulely]

i never understand the idea that a super athletic big man can't rebound. rebounding is effort and positioning, all he has to do is focus on it. he should be getting big man coaches to work on all aspects of his game.

not a bust and bobcats are a team i really like now. add a #1 pick (c'mon stern, they deserve one....) and they'll be set. also, a name change. bob johnson will ive in infamy for naming his team after himself

[HornetJail]

this guy is really 20?

He's barely 20. Turned 20 in August or something. At the draft combine last year, they confirmed his growth plates were still open (so he's not like 27 in disguise or something). There's still hope that he grows a little.

Its hard to project Biyombo to be anything more than a backup utility bigman. He can block shots, but that is about it. He has zero offensive game, is not even an average rebounder nor is the defensive anchor that some billed him to be. Aside from Hasheem Thabeet, I cannot think of a recent lottery bigman prospect that has less potential than Biyombo.

Edit: Rememered Epke Udoh

Ben Wallace was 24 or 25 before he showed himself to be anything more than a backup. Biyombo's ceiling is probably a Ben Wallace with less rebounding ability and better offense. I think the most likely scenario is something along the lines of Serge Ibaka. Remember Biyombo is TWENTY and has had zero NBA (or even college)-level coaching before this season. Paul Silas made every feel nice after Larry Brown's prospect-killing nature, but Silas was a useless coach.

[Johnlac1]

How many years did Ben Wallace take to become who he was? Not saying he will be as great. But give a guy time, BC still hasn't given up of Bargs, now that's a problem.

Wallace was three years older (22) than Biyombo when he was a rook. His first year he averaged 5.8 mpg, 1.1. ppg, and 1.7 rpg. The next year he averaged 16.8 mpg, 3.1 ppg, and 3.2 rpg. Clearly Wallace was a failure and should have been let go. (snicker)

[Johnlac1]

I understand the Bobcats wanting to win after coming off the worst winning % in NBA history but playing Haywood over Biyombo is ridiculous, especially with the upside that Biyombo has.

This is the backwards thinking that I thought Dunlap would correct.

Mullens & Biyombo could be a real solid front court.

You obviously don't understand. According to many people on this forum, if a player is not immediately a superstar, he is a bust. Biyombo and Mullens should be averaging 30ppg and 25 rpg each. Because players never progress beyond their rookie years. (snicker)

[DanTown8587]

His rebounding nor shot blocking is elite enough to off-set how bad he is offensively. He needs to become good enough to consistently score at the rim on putbacks or set-ups (ala Jordan, Chandler, etc) or he hurts you.

He's still young though so anyone judging him based on today is wrong. Biyombo was drafted based on what he COULD be at 22-23, not what he is at 20.

EDIT And I see that the en vogue comparison is Ben Wallace. Can I ask what makes Biyombo compare to Wallace? Just because a player doesn't score and is a big man does that mean they are the same as Ben Wallace. Wallace was a good rebounder and the reason he didn't get a shot was his skill set out of college wasn't complete. He then added the ability to be a fantastic rebounder while being a capable defender and then grew into a 4 time DPOY. When he got that shot, he from day 1 was on of the best rebounders the league has seen, especially lately. Biyombo, even in similar minutes to Wallace, isn't that type of rebounder. Also, Biyombo is a guy who relies solely on his athletic ability to play basketball. He's the EXACT OPPOSITE of Ben Wallace. And to say that he projects to be Wallace makes it seem like players make that jump. Here's a great question, since 1996 (Wallace's draft), how many big men have been the defender and rebounder that Ben Wallace was? Maybe 5?

[Ettorefm]

He is a DEFENSIVE CENTER that was drafted when he just turned out 19. Until he's 25, he's a highly regarded prospect
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If at 26 he's nobody, that's okay to call him a bust. But bigs tend to take time to develop. Guards usually start their close-to-prime level at 23, in their 3rd or 4th season. Bigs tend to do that at 25/26.
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Also, Bigs usually stay in college for some years, that's why some of them strike right in their 2nd year. Biyombo is NOW, in his 2nd season, 20. That's younger than some future 2013 prospects

[WhateverBro]

Might want to wait a little on the bust label for big men who has been in the league for a year.

A couple of things to note about Biyombo, he's young, one of the youngest in the league despite being drafted a year ago. He has size, aside from being "only" 6"9, he has a 7'6 wingspan and has the same standing reach as Dwight Howard.

He also has fantastic shotblocking instincts and doesn't foul alot, which is rare for young big men.

If he can become more efficient on the offensive end, while work on his rebounding he'll be a starting caliber center, atleast.

[princeofpalace]

this guy is really 20?

He's barely 20. Turned 20 in August or something. At the draft combine last year, they confirmed his growth plates were still open (so he's not like 27 in disguise or something). There's still hope that he grows a little.

Its hard to project Biyombo to be anything more than a backup utility bigman. He can block shots, but that is about it. He has zero offensive game, is not even an average rebounder nor is the defensive anchor that some billed him to be. Aside from Hasheem Thabeet, I cannot think of a recent lottery bigman prospect that has less potential than Biyombo.

Edit: Rememered Epke Udoh

Ben Wallace was 24 or 25 before he showed himself to be anything more than a backup. Biyombo's ceiling is probably a Ben Wallace with less rebounding ability and better offense. I think the most likely scenario is something along the lines of Serge Ibaka. Remember Biyombo is TWENTY and has had zero NBA (or even college)-level coaching before this season. Paul Silas made every feel nice after Larry Brown's prospect-killing nature, but Silas was a useless coach.

Please don't insult Wallace by comparing him to Biyombo. Wallace was undrafted as a rookie and barely was given a shot and was a far more natrual defender and rebounder. Biyombo looks lost on both sides of the courts. Hes far more comparable to Theo Ratliff

[HornetJail]

Please don't insult Wallace by comparing him to Biyombo. Wallace was undrafted as a rookie and barely was given a shot and was a far more natrual defender and rebounder. Biyombo looks lost on both sides of the courts. Hes far more comparable to Theo Ratliff

As a Pistons fan, you should know better than to say that about Biyombo. The reason we made a trade for the #7 pick was to get Biyombo before you guys did. You guys know as well as we do that he's a few years away from being a steady contributor.

I repeat: this is Biyombo's first season with a competent coach. The process will take time.

[Rockice_24]

He needs to watch film on Ben Wallace and Tyson Chandler. He'll get his points like they do on PnR's and put backs. If he can be that defensive stopper they hope then his offense will be a bonus. The guy is a project give him another 2-3 years.

[princeofpalace]

Please don't insult Wallace by comparing him to Biyombo. Wallace was undrafted as a rookie and barely was given a shot and was a far more natrual defender and rebounder. Biyombo looks lost on both sides of the courts. Hes far more comparable to Theo Ratliff

As a Pistons fan, you should know better than to say that about Biyombo. The reason we made a trade for the #7 pick was to get Biyombo before you guys did. You guys know as well as we do that he's a few years away from being a steady contributor.

I repeat: this is Biyombo's first season with a competent coach. The process will take time.

Per Chad Ford, Tristan Thompson was Detroits target, Biyombo was their consolation prize. And Detroti certainly isn't staying up late thinking about Biyombo when they landed the significantly better C prospect in Drummond, who although raw doesn't look nearly as clueless as Biz.

If Bobcats fans are happy with where Biyombo is in his development, then thats great for you. All Im saying, is I don't see anything more than a niche shotblocker in Bismack Biyombo. And, that he certainly doesn't rank high among young bigman prospects in the league.

[Johnlac1]

Hey, I'm a Bucks fan and I'm envious of Biyombo. I don't know if he'll pan out, but he's young, hardworking, and has great athletic abilities. It's better to take a chance on someone like Biyombo who if he reaches his potential, will give you a shot-blocking, good rebounding, good defensive center over a proven mediocre vet. who long ago reached his peak and will never be the answer. The Bucks have a few of those latter types. Fortune favors the bold.

[Ice Trae]

the dude is 20 years old.... why you acting like he can't improve his game anymore?

[twinthunder3]

He wasn't even drafted that high anyway...but yeah he's a bust.

[Marino]

He is 20 years old....

Give him time

[Green Backpack]

Like any tall atheltic defensive/shot blocking big man, he has a 50/50 chance of being good. Some turn out good like Ibaka, some turn out pretty good like McGee, and some fail like Thabeet

[LamarMatic7]

The guy is just so raw. He seriously lacks experience, even after a year in the league. Not to compare him to Olajuwon as a player, but come on, you have to acknowledge that even Hakeem wasn't the best offensive player in the league when he entered it and became a juggernaut on that end of the floor after quite a few years.

Bismack's biggest problem right now is consistency and understanding the game. He might have an absolutely wonderful game by his standards - grabbing rebounds, blocking shots, altering shots, making the right rotations, even making a few dunks. However, it's very possible that the next time out he'll have a bad game. And it's because he needs to learn more about the game. It isn't a coincidence that he had those two great games against Dwight - Biz could keep him out the paint with his post defence and could match his athleticism. Now, when he faces a crafty center like Al Jefferson, it's more difficult for him, because he tries too hard to win the match-up by using his athletic abilities and falls for all the nifty fakes and moves guys like Jefferson have. So he has a hard time to contribute in the best way he can and ends up having a **** game altogether. He also sometimes has troubles with properly playing the pick-n-roll, however, he does a good job at being aggressive and trapping the point guard, occasionally he will put too much effort in it and get beat off the dribble though.

Another big issues is his hands. Now, I'm not entirely convinced that he'll ever develop in a, let's say, 10ppg player. He does seem to have some post moves and he is supposedly working very hard, however, he just has terrible hands and there will be games where he won't be able to catch a single pass and the two opportunities at backing his man down he'll get, will end up in him travelling or making a bad decision.

Like any tall atheltic defensive/shot blocking big man, he has a 50/50 chance of being good. Some turn out good like Ibaka, some turn out pretty good like McGee, and some fail like Thabeet

Don't confuse blocking shtos with being a good defensive player. I wouldn't call McGee "pretty good", the guy routinely forgets to box out, doesn't know how to rotate properly either over-helping his teammate or being too late and sometimes just looks completely clueless out there.

[jazzfan1971]

I'm not sure he's a bust even if he's 26.

You've got to judge him on his ability to help a team, not score points.