Bob8 wrote:
1. I have watched all Maccabi games in Euroleague this season. And have been watching more or less all interesting Euroleague games in last 20 years.
2. Avdija would have play less, if half of Maccabi team wasn't injured. 4/2.5/1 with very bad 3pts and Ft shooting % isn't something special. 0.4 steals and 0.2 blocks also doesn't show him as great individual defender, but it's true, Maccabi played great team defense. What will be his position in Nba? He cannot shoot, is not athletic freak like Giannis and he doesn't look as great individual defender by Nba standards. Play making is very raw. What exactly will he do for the Hawks?
3. Efes and Real were clear favourites to win the title. Barca had great roster, but something didn't look right. CSKA as defending champion, but worse roster than last year. Of course in F4 anything can happen, but Maccabi would probably have to beat Cska in playoffs to come there. Not many has seen them as contenders. Btw. season is not officially over yet.
4. To be the best prospect from Europe this year doesn't mean ****. I believe 1 year younger Garuba is already better.
5. I might be wrong, but I see Avdija being seen similarly too optimistic like it was Bender, who was seen as next KP.
6. Why should I be positive about him, if I don't see potential to deserve top pick? He might prove me wrong though.
1. I want to believe you watched all Maccabi Euroleague games this year, I really do, but I have doubts, if your impression of Deni wasn't good. I more tend to think you watched a couple of games when he was bad and got your bad impression from there. Indeed he has a few bad games at the Euroleague, especially early on when he just started the season and needed to adjust to his first full senior season, but later on he started to progress. I've also talked with Maccabi fans about him, asked some questions because I'm a fan of his talent, and usually the messages I received was that he should've been playing more minutes at the Euroleague regardless the injuries and get a bigger role on the offensive end. How would that be possible if he didn't perform well? I'm adding their answers to what I've seen myself and my biggest impression is that he didn't show up good statistic not because he lacks the talent but more because it was impossible for him from that spot when he gets a very limited role at the offensive end and almost doesn't get ball touches.
2. If you want to make a fair test for his Euroleague production, calculate the last 7 games when he started to get more minutes and you will find out he averaged 8.5 ppg. at 20 minutes per game, despite his coach is not using him properly on the offensive end. Some might say 8.5 ppg. it's nothing special, but it's actually higher numbers than what Doncic averaged at his second Euroleague season (Deni is currently on his second season) while averaged 20 minutes per game as well as Deni. Not saying he's at the same level as Luka was, nope, Luka was more polished, but it just to give an example of how he produce when gets minutes, and produce well in a winning team (6-1 record in these games) at the Euroleague. Something not to be taken for granted. Just for proportion, LaMelo, a player who projected to be a top 4 pick has played in the worst team in Australia with a 5-23 losing record.
You are talking about 19 years old player who can get much better with time when improve his flaws. player who known with his work ethic. I don't know why you view him like he's a 25 years old finished product or something. In which position he can play? IMO all 2-4 positions. His high level passing, high level PnR, handling and driving are too good at his size (6'9) to be ignored in long term
And his size and good defense basics would allow him with time to compete with NBA 4's. I guess when he would land at the league his main workout plan would be to strengthen his lateral footwork and knees. He's already a good athlete with a good speed, but strengthen these two areas would make him the high level point forward he projected be.
3. Maccabi beat both CSKA, Efes and Barca at their home, while losing to Real Madrid twice just at the last minutes of the game.
They was tied at #4 with CSKA and fought for the home court advantage at the playoffs while being a really good team at home this year. The could win it this year.
4. I didn't mean it means **** to be the best prospect in Europe, I said it because you said people who talk high about Avdija don't know European basketball, so I gave an example of what European experts think about him. But, American scouts and analyzes knows European basketball very well. This is their specialty. And most of them talk high on him. It wouldn't be arrogant to claim they are all wrong?
5. Bender has nothing in common with Avdija besides they both played at Maccabi Tel Aviv. Bender role, production, achievements and overall potential at Maccabi has been smaller compared to Avdija's. Also Maccabi during his time wasn't as good as this year.
6. I hope I explained a little bit better why. And I really believe you're wrong in this case Bob.
