HOT TAKE: Aleksej Pokusevski will win the NBA MVP (Within the Next 10 Years)

dlughie · Post #161 » by **dlughie** » Thu Apr 8, 2021 2:07 pm

What is POKU's realistic ceiling?
KD, Dirk, Jokic?
KP?

Hornet Mania · Post #162 » by **Hornet Mania** » Thu Apr 8, 2021 2:12 pm

He has improved a lot between his first game against the Hornets very early in the season and last night.

Back in December he looked lost and didn't shoot with confidence, went something like 0-6 from three. Last night he was looking for his shot and getting himself to the open spot for playmakers to find him. Passing was nice too, he swung the ball quickly if he didn't have something and kept it moving.

I was also impressed with his fight on defense. He got absolutely ragdolled by everyone but he kept at it and competed. Did not seem intimidated or discouraged when Miles Bridges wrecked him a couple of times, he just came back the next play and battled back.

BlazersBroncos · Post #163 » by **BlazersBroncos** » Thu Apr 8, 2021 2:33 pm

What is POKU's realistic ceiling?
KD, Dirk, Jokic?
KP?

Better version of NBA Kukoc IMO. Much better rebounder, better scorer, but similar size with passing / handle.

His movement skills are closer to KD than Dirk / Jokic / KP, but he isnt the explosive athlete. People dont want to say it, and saying it doesnt mean he will be as good or is near as talented, but his movement fluidity at his size is most comparable to KD.

If I was an OKC fan, I would be confident that my team at least already has a reasonable chance of having 2/3rds of a 'big 3'. They should burn draft capital to get into the top 4 this year and find that 3rd guy. Speed it up, they have the chips.

Vampirate · Post #164 » by **Vampirate** » Thu Apr 8, 2021 2:45 pm

bisme37 wrote:He's a nice young player and very unique but I'm legit worried he's going to break in half at some point.

Wasn't Giannis a twig in his first few seasons as a Buck?

PlatinumState · Post #165 » by **PlatinumState** » Thu Apr 8, 2021 3:07 pm

Poku, Shai, Maledon, Moses, Dort and Bazley are OKC’s core for the future.
All under 22. Plenty of time to get it right

HurdyGurdyMan · Post #166 » by **HurdyGurdyMan** » Thu Apr 8, 2021 3:09 pm

Impressed by how fast his shot release is

draftnightsuit · Post #167 » by **draftnightsuit** » Thu Apr 8, 2021 3:11 pm

PlatinumState wrote:Poku, Shai, Maledon, Moses, Dort and Bazley are OKC’s core for the future.
All under 22. Plenty of time to get it right

Add Roby to that.

shotsquatch · Post #168 » by **shotsquatch** » Thu Apr 8, 2021 3:19 pm

Vampirate wrote:
bisme37 wrote:He's a nice young player and very unique but I'm legit worried he's going to break in half at some point.

Wasn't Giannis a twig in his first few seasons as a Buck?

Giannis was skinny as a rookie, but still pretty cut and had wide shoulders. Kristaps was another skinny rookie with huge shoulders. Both of them managed to put on pretty significant muscle. It's also important to mention that before the NBA, Giannis lived in poverty and often ate only one meal a day -- genetics weren't the only reason he was so thin coming into the draft.

Poku's body looks more like KD's. As long as he can get strong enough to not be bounced around by defenders, he'll be fine.

I'm not really worried about his strength or conditioning, the kid is 19 years old. Plus his game isn't based on strength. Nobody is expecting him to dominate on the low block or protect the basket. He's a shooting guard trapped in a center's body.

shotsquatch · Post #169 » by **shotsquatch** » Thu Apr 8, 2021 3:21 pm

I'm so excited for the future of this Thunder team. If they get even a little lucky with some of these picks, the team will be absolutely stacked in a few years. There is so much potential here.

GSP · Post #170 » by **GSP** » Thu Apr 8, 2021 3:26 pm

PlatinumState wrote:Poku, Shai, Maledon, Moses, Dort and Bazley are OKC’s core for the future.
All under 22. Plenty of time to get it right

If they get Cade or Mobley....

celticfan42487 · Post #171 » by **celticfan42487** » Thu Apr 8, 2021 3:27 pm

Yeah it entirely depends on how his body develops, he moves rather mechanically and slow out there and he's 200 lbs.

So I would think if he's going to make it to MVP levels then that means his body let him put on about 30 pounds of muscle and he can play down low as a Center.

GSP · Post #172 » by **GSP** » Thu Apr 8, 2021 3:29 pm

Bologna Smasher wrote:The crazy thing to think about is that the Mavericks were trying to trade up to pick him, but failed to do so. Imagine him and Luka in a few years.

lol whats with the Mavs are going after Euro prospects?

Post #173 » by **Dadouv47** » Thu Apr 8, 2021 3:41 pm

PlatinumState wrote:Poku, Shai, Maledon, Moses, Dort and Bazley are OKC’s core for the future.
All under 22. Plenty of time to get it right

Moses's ceiling looks pretty low to me. Bazley is struggling a lot this season but I like him.

Guess we have SGA as a future option 2 (maybe 1) on our team and Dort as a very good role player. We will be fine if one of Poku,Maledon or Bazley can become a very good starter. Still a lot of question marks about those players though.

Post #174 » by **ThunderBolt** » Thu Apr 8, 2021 3:44 pm

Okc will be a complete international team in two years.
Shai- Canada
Dort- Canada
Jaylen Hoard- France
Theo Maledon - France
Mykhailiuk- Ukraine
Horford- Dominican Republic
Pokusevski- Serbia
Vit Krejci- Czech Republic

Sgt Major · Post #175 » by **Sgt Major** » Thu Apr 8, 2021 3:51 pm

Watch on YouTube

Post #176 » by **Dadouv47** » Thu Apr 8, 2021 3:57 pm

ThunderBolt wrote:Okc will be a complete international team in two years.
Shai- Canada
Dort- Canada
Jaylen Hoard- France
Theo Maledon - France
Mykhailiuk- Ukraine
Horford- Dominican Republic
Pokusevski- Serbia
Vit Krejci- Czech Republic

We need to draft Kuminga & Wagner

BlazersBroncos · Post #177 » by **BlazersBroncos** » Thu Apr 8, 2021 4:02 pm

Yeah it entirely depends on how his body develops, he moves rather mechanically and slow out there and he's 200 lbs.

So I would think if he's going to make it to MVP levels then that means his body let him put on about 30 pounds of muscle and he can play down low as a Center.

Some may say mechanically and slow, I say deliberate. He is 7 feet tall and can take guards off the dribble at times. His entire game is the antithesis of playing down low. His whole skillset is defined by being tall as hell with the handle of a guard. If he put on 30lbs to be a traditional big then your just trying to turn a potential unique talent into Frank Kaminsky.

He has tons of work to do, but watching him is sorta like watching a rookie NFL QB who makes 'wow'. Plays that normal young talents dont make often if at all. He is doing that with more and more regularity. It cant be understated how unique his dribble abilities are for his size, at his age, and that he is using that to get some pretty special layups, along with using his length to kick out when he attacks. And using the word 'attacks' to describe a 7 footer is unique in itself. You dont find many guys that size who can attack the basket. He is without a doubt in my mind a unicorn, potentially more of one than KP.

Alatan · Post #178 » by **Alatan** » Thu Apr 8, 2021 4:07 pm

Apart from being 7 feet tall with shhoting touch and handles, the kid has a really good understanding of the game and nice passing skills. You can see his bbIQ by how well he moves without the ball and how he makes the right passes without thinking too much.

Mickey8 · Post #179 » by **Mickey8** » Thu Apr 8, 2021 4:27 pm

ThunderBolt wrote:Okc will be a complete international team in two years.
Shai- Canada
Dort- Canada
Jaylen Hoard- France
Theo Maledon - France
Mykhailiuk- Ukraine
Horford- Dominican Republic
Pokusevski- Serbia
Vit Krejci- Czech Republic

Vasilije Micic is probably going to join Thunder next season, he's one of the top pgs in Europe.

flranger · Post #180 » by **flranger** » Thu Apr 8, 2021 4:35 pm

Mickey8 wrote:

Read on Twitter

Its too bad he missed that dunk , even though they whistle charge , that's seven footer taking a guard off the dribble

By far the most impressive highlight so far. If he has the confidence to even try that, and honestly almost make an amazing dunk, the sky is the limit for this kid.

Lookout MIP next season....kid is going to be a problem