Semih Erden on ESPN2

Gomes3PC · Post #1 » by **Gomes3PC** » Thu Jul 31, 2008 12:04 pm

US vs. Turkey. Erden starting at center. No Turkeyglue for the Generals...errr...Turks.

Dogen · Post #2 » by **Dogen** » Thu Jul 31, 2008 12:10 pm

I was just going to post this. So far blocked by Howard and fouled by LeBron. But he looks aggressive.

Dogen · Post #3 » by **Dogen** » Thu Jul 31, 2008 12:27 pm

If Darryl Dawkins was 'Chocolate Thunder', Jason Williams 'White Chocolate', and Sergio Rodriguez 'Spanish Chocolate', do we have a case for nicknaming Erden 'Semih-Sweet Chocolate'???

Dogen · Post #4 » by **Dogen** » Thu Jul 31, 2008 12:35 pm

Commentator saying he thinks Erden would have been top 20 pick if he played college ball in US.

Gomes3PC · Post #5 » by **Gomes3PC** » Thu Jul 31, 2008 12:40 pm

Fran Fraschilla seemed to like him, and Fraschilla was an excellent talent evaluator while he was the St. John's head coach.

I don't know what to make of the USA jerseys. Looks cool from afar, looks like a disaster up close- the Monet of jerseys.

Gomes3PC · Post #6 » by **Gomes3PC** » Thu Jul 31, 2008 12:41 pm

Carry by Erden, but he did look pretty fluid taking the ball to the hoop. For the 'Mr. Irrelevant' pick, we could've done worse by the looks of it.

Dogen · Post #7 » by **Dogen** » Thu Jul 31, 2008 12:46 pm

Howard just dunked on him like he wasn't even there.... of course, Dwight does that to just about everybody. Erden looks pretty fluid, if not very strong yet. He's only 21; could be a good player for the C's in a few years if he keeps developing.

Post #8 » by **Bleeding Green** » Thu Jul 31, 2008 12:48 pm

Dude looks pretty mobile for a 7-footer, even handling the ball on the perimeter a little. Not what I was expecting.

DelMonte West · Post #9 » by **DelMonte West** » Thu Jul 31, 2008 1:45 pm

He's reputed to be an athletic big and he looks like it; moves like a 6'8" forward on the court and has the ability to drive and put the ball on the floor. I'd like to see them involve him more in the offense, but their playmakers seem really inept (I watched 5 turnovers in a row at one point and just shut it off).

ranter34 · Post #10 » by **ranter34** » Thu Jul 31, 2008 2:11 pm

sounds like the game will be replayed at 8PM (for those at work missing the game)

dinoz · Post #11 » by **dinoz** » Thu Jul 31, 2008 2:17 pm

Of the centers who played for Turkey, Erden was clearly the best. He worked from the high post all game. He knows how to play the game and is a good passer. It's hard to rebound from the high post, however. Not intimidated, Erden stripped Dwight Howard twice on two straight possessions. He does not look for his shot, nor are plays run for him. He showed a good stroke from the line.

Athanacropolis · Post #12 » by **Athanacropolis** » Thu Jul 31, 2008 2:37 pm

Dogen wrote:If Darryl Dawkins was 'Chocolate Thunder', Jason Williams 'White Chocolate', and Sergio Rodriguez 'Spanish Chocolate', do we have a case for nicknaming Erden 'Semih-Sweet Chocolate'???

Turkish Delight? Loukoumi?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkish_Delight

Dogen · Post #13 » by **Dogen** » Thu Jul 31, 2008 2:55 pm

Athanacropolis wrote:
Dogen wrote:If Darryl Dawkins was 'Chocolate Thunder', Jason Williams 'White Chocolate', and Sergio Rodriguez 'Spanish Chocolate', do we have a case for nicknaming Erden 'Semih-Sweet Chocolate'???

Turkish Delight? Loukoumi?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkish_Delight

ummm... It's gotta have chocolate in it.

Athanacropolis · Post #14 » by **Athanacropolis** » Thu Jul 31, 2008 3:19 pm

Yeah, I know, but I tried to work the "turk" part in there.

campybatman · Post #15 » by **campybatman** » Thu Jul 31, 2008 8:11 pm

From CB...

My question is how tall in fact is Erden. Did he look taller than Howard? Hey, how did Omer Asik do?

An international center with a physical spirit? I like.

Offensively, he showed terrific fundamentals and a little versatility, as he worked inside as well as stepped out as far as three-point territory (though he missed the shot). Granted, he shot just 1-8 from the floor and scored just five points, but it was nice to see some polish from the 20-year-old.

Physically, he’s no Dwight Howard or even a Carlos Boozer, but he showed some mobility and willingness to run the floor.

From my point of view, his biggest flaw is his fluidity. He has good hands, some toughness, and seems to know how to get position and box out. The problem is that he doesn’t always gain position, on account of his shaky footwork. In addition, he didn’t look like he knew exactly where to be on a few possessions, which is expected from a 20-year-old big.

He did some good things, he did some questionable things, and he looks like a bit of a project. But with the 60th pick, what do you expect? With proper tutelage from our man Clifford Ray in areas such as footwork and timing, Erden may have a chance to make the Celtics’ roster at some point.

http://www.celticsblog.com/index.php?op ... iteComment

Gomes3PC · Post #16 » by **Gomes3PC** » Thu Jul 31, 2008 11:43 pm

He was a legit 6-10/6-11. Maybe not 7-foot, but he's long and he seems to have a frame that can add another 20 pounds. Fundamentally sound, good passer, active feet (for the most part) on D. Doesn't create for himself (what Euro big does?), but can put the ball in the hoop.

Going against a freak of nature like Howard notwithstanding, he looked okay.

Post #17 » by **Spin Move** » Thu Jul 31, 2008 11:50 pm

The game is gonna reply again in 10 minutes on ESPN 2

Banks2Pierce · Post #18 » by **Banks2Pierce** » Fri Aug 1, 2008 1:05 am

He's huge. Had a nice little pass in the first half.

DelMonte West · Post #19 » by **DelMonte West** » Fri Aug 1, 2008 1:45 am

I really don't understand the CB write-up. If anything, I thought his fluidity for his size was excellent.

It was a pretty bad game to scout him for as I mentioned earlier, since the Turkish playmakers were either inept or this year's U.S. team is making an honest attempt to play defense. It's early, but his physical skills look promising.

Bad-Thoma · Post #20 » by **Bad-Thoma** » Fri Aug 1, 2008 1:47 am

Saw part of the second half, couple of nice passes, doesn't look like he really fights for rebounds all that hard though, even in his vicinity, but hey, it's a small sample size. He's got at least 3 inches on Boozer, made a couple nice cuts to the hoop, looks like a good #60 to me.