Semi Erden is a celtic at long last

[cloverleaf]

I like that he clearly wants to be over here and play in the NBA. No being coy about reupping overseas. Was in NY for the draft, up here for introductions, and is working out in Vegas. I think this bodes well for his wanting to learn the more physical style of play and his indeed being motivated. Remember, he's still quite young.

[MyInsatiableOne]

We shall see...hopefully he isn't as tough as wet tissue paper the way Gasol is...would be the first C's import drafted who actually plays here in a long time!

[cappadoball]

I think you guys got a great deal. Semih has potential, works hard and plays with heart on the court. He is still young and wants to really play in the NBA. He has a lot of tools he can build on, block, rebound and dominate around the basket. He's one of my favourite players in TBL.

[TheCelticTruth]

I think you guys got a great deal. Semih has potential, works hard and plays with heart on the court. He is still young and wants to really play in the NBA. He has a lot of tools he can build on, block, rebound and dominate around the basket. He's one of my favourite players in TBL.

im assuming youve seen a lot of him then. what do you think of his toughness, physicality, and determination. who would you compare him to stylistically. what info should we know that might be hard for us to find out?

[GuyClinch]

We shall see...hopefully he isn't as tough as wet tissue paper the way Gasol is...would be the first C's import drafted who actually plays here in a long time!

With his build I can't imagine he would be tough. But if he plays anything at all like Gasol I would be thrilled. The toughness thing can be overplayed. Some pretty tough guys can be awful NBA players. Potapenko was tough but he still sucked.

pete

[Athanacropolis]

We shall see...hopefully he isn't as tough as wet tissue paper the way Gasol is...would be the first C's import drafted who actually plays here in a long time!

With his build I can't imagine he would be tough. But if he plays anything at all like Gasol I would be thrilled. The toughness thing can be overplayed. Some pretty tough guys can be awful NBA players. Potapenko was tough but he still sucked.

pete

Oh man, the bad old days....

[MyInsatiableOne]

^^Thanks, guys, for bringing Vitaly up and reminding me of the Pitino days....!!!

[TheCelticTruth]

to be fair potapenko couldve made a decent guy off the bench... he wasnt that bad as a depth guy, just terrible as a starter (which, ironically, was what every team he played for needed)

[GuyClinch]

Sorry about the Potapenko reference... But toughness without talent is nothing. I see people longing for "tough guys" all the time but guys like Ray Allen and KG really are not TOUGH guys. They are just very talented basketball players.

Not to name drop too much but for whatever reason Ron Artest has been hanging around my gym. One of the "toughest" guys in the NBA. But honestly there are plenty of guys who workout there that are stronger then he is. The TV has a habit of making normal guys look huge. The NBA by and large is filled with tall skinny dudes..

Of course the worst is tennis.. Rafael Nadal is not huge people. <g>

Pete

[TheCelticTruth]

Sorry about the Potapenko reference... But toughness without talent is nothing. I see people longing for "tough guys" all the time but guys like Ray Allen and KG really are not TOUGH guys. They are just very talented basketball players.

Not to name drop too much but for whatever reason Ron Artest has been hanging around my gym. One of the "toughest" guys in the NBA. But honestly there are plenty of guys who workout there that are stronger then he is. The TV has a habit of making normal guys look huge. The NBA by and large is filled with tall skinny dudes..

Of course the worst is tennis.. Rafael Nadal is not huge people. <g>

Pete

pete is right, of course i think there is a "tough" and a "basketball tough". i think KG is basketball tough, i believe PP is actually tough (i.e. being stabbed...)

but unfortunately there are just not very many charles oakleys in the world of basketball

[Rocky5000]

Sorry about the Potapenko reference... But toughness without talent is nothing. I see people longing for "tough guys" all the time but guys like Ray Allen and KG really are not TOUGH guys. They are just very talented basketball players.

Not to name drop too much but for whatever reason Ron Artest has been hanging around my gym. One of the "toughest" guys in the NBA. But honestly there are plenty of guys who workout there that are stronger then he is. The TV has a habit of making normal guys look huge. The NBA by and large is filled with tall skinny dudes..

Of course the worst is tennis.. Rafael Nadal is not huge people. <g>

Pete

I don't get what you are saying, you have to be the biggest guy on the gym to be considered tough now? I don't think that to be considered tough you have to look like mid-80s Schwarzenegger.

Some of the toughest guys I know are scrawny and wirey. To me toughness as the ability to take hits and keep on coming back again and again...Not being afraid to mix it up and take contact. For NBA players, Delonte West is someone who is tough, Allen Iverson is tough. Everyone at your gym can probably outlift A.I but he's still a very tough player.

[GuyClinch]

^^^ your talking about being a competitor. Potapenko was a legit "tough guy" the kind of guy you wouldn't want to mess with IRL - even if you were a bigger dude. I was saying I don't care if he is THAT kind of player.

Hopefully he competes - and hangs in their if he gets banged around some..

Pete

[Athanacropolis]

^^^ your talking about being a competitor. Potapenko was a legit "tough guy" the kind of guy you wouldn't want to mess with IRL - even if you were a bigger dude. I was saying I don't care if he is THAT kind of player.

Hopefully he competes - and hangs in their if he gets banged around some..

Pete

The key right there. It's amazing how many physically large and muscular basketball players are pussies on the boards, when smaller players--the aforementioned West and Iverson, for example--are more than willing to take a beating to get the ball, or a put-back hoop, or to make a block. It's why I love Perk: yeah, his game is raw, but he plays his size! I really hope Erden is that kind of big man.

[bballcool34]

I like that he clearly wants to be over here and play in the NBA. No being coy about reupping overseas. Was in NY for the draft, up here for introductions, and is working out in Vegas. I think this bodes well for his wanting to learn the more physical style of play and his indeed being motivated. Remember, he's still quite young.

A common misconception.

Euroleague and FIBA play is just as tough as the NBA- more contact allowed on the perimeter, like the 80s, since there are no handcheck rules being enforced, and in the paint- which is why on average there are less foul calls, and slashing players like Wade, Lebron, and Kobe, don't get to the line nearly as easily.

With all the free throws perimeter players get these days when they drive to the hoop and the handcheck rules, the game in the NBA has become much less physical, arguably less than international play.

[GuyClinch]

The NBA certainly coddles the athletes more.. but many European defenders who used strength to get by and handchecking can't do that in the NBA. So it's something of an adjustment. I don't think Erden is one of those guys though..

[bballcool34]

Yeah, so, if there's any adjustment to be made it would be to less physical play.

Also, in Erden's case he may have to get used to man to man defense more (footwork, strength, speed)- rather than zone.

[return2glory]

Here's some footage of Semih:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LB_n08dHx24&NR=1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7K_bshMMhjA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIzL2kx3 ... re=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JUmYMkiR ... re=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJq4npRv ... re=related

[TheCelticTruth]

Here's some footage of Semih:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LB_n08dHx24&NR=1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7K_bshMMhjA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIzL2kx3 ... re=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JUmYMkiR ... re=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJq4npRv ... re=related

semih likes to dunk, huh? he looks good in these clips

[Jammer]

If Semih Erden comes over next summer, and doesn't stay for more money in the EuroLeagues,

I think that the Celtics will be more than pleasantly surprised with the PLAYER that they landed at

#60. Excellent value. Excellent pick. Good show.

Semih must have discouraged other teams from drafting him; I can't see how he was still on the board at #60, unless it's so simple that other teams just thought he'd never leave the riches of the EuroLeagues for second round money.

Danny, get out your check book, this is reminiscent when you bolted the Toronto Blue Jays and that huge guaranteed contract, and the Celtics, who drafted you like #31 or so, had to cough up #5 money for a #31 pick.