How good Domantas Sabonis really is?

Ryoga Hibiki · Post #41 » by **Ryoga Hibiki** » Wed Mar 13, 2024 9:20 pm

dk1115 wrote:Sabonis, imo, is probably the third or fourth best center in the NBA behind Jokic, Embiid and Towns. Next season he'll likely be behind Wemby too but that's to be seen.

I have him over Towns, but not over Davis. Same level as Bam.

OxAndFox · Post #42 » by **OxAndFox** » Wed Mar 13, 2024 10:33 pm

LessEyeTest wrote:
codydaze wrote:
LessEyeTest wrote:
Wasn’t he in during big deficit garbage time against the Nuggets to try and keep his record alive? And didn’t he get hurt for doing it?

No, he was pulled from the game because his face was bleeding and then came back into the game and got this 10th board.

Yeah, so Sabonis re-entered a game where the score was 109-83 in favor of Denver with 6:40 left in the game. He got an assist, turnover and rebound in the following minute before leaving at 5:23.
https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/pbp/202402280DEN.html#q4

My point is why did he re-enter a game that was well beyond over just to stat pad and keep his streak alive?

EDIT: Oh you weren't even talking about this latest game? Yeah. It's an obsession.

Godymas · Post #43 » by **Godymas** » Wed Mar 13, 2024 10:40 pm

he should be the 3rd best player on a contending team

instead he's been the #1 or #2 guy on teams that have been regular first round exits.

JasonStern · Post #44 » by **JasonStern** » Wed Mar 13, 2024 11:38 pm

Seeing Baby Sabas thrive just makes me sadder that Arvydas Sabonis didn't come over earlier.
Domatas is going to peak at a "modern Chris Webber tier" player. Which is absolutely not an insult. Google Chris Webber.

LessEyeTest · Post #45 » by **LessEyeTest** » Wed Mar 13, 2024 11:55 pm

Godymas wrote:he should be the 3rd best player on a contending team

instead he's been the #1 or #2 guy on teams that have been regular first round exits.

Yep, that's his ideal role. He's more Aaron Gordon than Nikola Jokic in terms of impact even if his stats are closer to Jokic. Once he's in his proper role, I think Sacramento will be more than 1st round fodder and/or perpetual lottery team.

SweaterBae · Post #46 » by **SweaterBae** » Thu Mar 14, 2024 12:18 am

LessEyeTest wrote:
codydaze wrote:
LessEyeTest wrote:
Wasn’t he in during big deficit garbage time against the Nuggets to try and keep his record alive? And didn’t he get hurt for doing it?

No, he was pulled from the game because his face was bleeding and then came back into the game and got this 10th board.

Yeah, so Sabonis re-entered a game where the score was 109-83 in favor of Denver with 6:40 left in the game. He got an assist, turnover and rebound in the following minute before leaving at 5:23.
https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/pbp/202402280DEN.html#q4

My point is why did he re-enter a game that was well beyond over just to stat pad and keep his streak alive?

You don't have a point. What does it matter? Are you up in arms about Luka chucking up 35 late in the 4th trying to keep his 30 point triple double streak alive?

msmoore66 · Post #47 » by **msmoore66** » Thu Mar 14, 2024 12:27 am

He's good. For real life.

durden_tyler · Post #48 » by **durden_tyler** » Thu Mar 14, 2024 12:36 am

Not Jokic, Embiid or Giannis tier but pretty great second option on a contender. If he's your main guy (#1) your team won't win much.

xxSnEaKyPxx · Post #49 » by **xxSnEaKyPxx** » Thu Mar 14, 2024 2:46 am

UcanUwill wrote:Is Sabonis really that bad on defense? He is not shot blocker, he is just not, but he seems so strong and agile and has great stamina. I don't think he is exactly Kanter or Valančiūnas even. I get that C who does not block shots is a huge flaw, but it seems a bit overblown in this case, no?

I always argued that he is better at 4 defensively than 5. When he was the 5 defensively for the Pacers, no one feared him at all. It was a layup line at the basket.

At 4 though? He's smart enough to get into the position he needs to be in. Not quick enough to defend some 4s, but I'll take that disadvantage over not having anyone protect the basket at all.

That is why its so tough to think of a perfect frontcourt mate to pair with Sabonis. On paper, it should have been Myles Turner, but even that didn't work.

Twizlers · Post #50 » by **Twizlers** » Thu Mar 14, 2024 3:28 am

Imagine Sabonis on the Nuggets right now. Their bench would no longer be a liability as he would slot right in when Jokic leaves the floor, and allow him to actually get some rest. Obviously would never happen for many reasons but an interesting fit if he could play the 4 and backup 5.

One Last Shot · Post #51 » by **One Last Shot** » Thu Mar 14, 2024 3:32 am

Godymas wrote:he should be the 3rd best player on a contending team

instead he's been the #1 or #2 guy on teams that have been regular first round exits.

Regular 1st round exits? Sacramento miss the playoffs for 17 straight years until they traded for Sabonis last season.

sikma42 · Post #52 » by **sikma42** » Thu Mar 14, 2024 3:38 am

Twizlers wrote:Imagine Sabonis on the Nuggets right now. Their bench would no longer be a liability as he would slot right in when Jokic leaves the floor, and allow him to actually get some rest. Obviously would never happen for many reasons but an interesting fit if he could play the 4 and backup 5.

Every team in the league would love it if the Nuggets switched Gordon for Sabonis.

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jfs1000d · Post #53 » by **jfs1000d** » Thu Mar 14, 2024 3:39 am

Not a huge fan. good player, but undersized for a 5 and not a great defender.

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SNPA · Post #54 » by **SNPA** » Thu Mar 14, 2024 5:22 am

For all those with the most common argument against him…please remember, the best move on defense is to gain possession of the ball from the offensive.

https://www.statmuse.com/nba/ask/defensive-rebounds-leader-2024

Ryoga Hibiki · Post #55 » by **Ryoga Hibiki** » Thu Mar 14, 2024 6:33 am

LessEyeTest wrote:
Godymas wrote:he should be the 3rd best player on a contending team

instead he's been the #1 or #2 guy on teams that have been regular first round exits.

Yep, that's his ideal role. He's more Aaron Gordon than Nikola Jokic in terms of impact even if his stats are closer to Jokic. Once he's in his proper role, I think Sacramento will be more than 1st round fodder and/or perpetual lottery team.

he's more Jamal Murray than Aaron Gordon

NZB2323 · Post #56 » by **NZB2323** » Thu Mar 14, 2024 7:12 am

dk1115 wrote:Sabonis, imo, is probably the third or fourth best center in the NBA behind Jokic, Embiid and Towns. Next season he'll likely be behind Wemby too but that's to be seen.

Why would you put Towns ahead of him?

Sabonis is 1st in the league in triple-doubles, double-doubles, rebounds, and rebounds per game. 5th in assists, assists per game, win shares, and VORP. 13th in TS%. 6th in PER and box +/-.

All those numbers are better than Towns’s numbers, and Towns has flaws that are just as big as Sabonis’s, if not bigger.

GSP · Post #57 » by **GSP** » Thu Mar 14, 2024 7:32 am

Hes been a top 3 center since hes been in Sactown behind Jokic and Embiid..............but mainly for the Rs

his weaknesses get exploited bad in playoff ball. Hes a horrific paint defender, a bad rim protector and he cant shoot so teams can sag off him

Trey Lyles gave Kings better minutes than Sabonis against Warriors. He was a liability out there w/ his defense and Looney not guarding him at all on the perimeter and only when he was posting up to which he got shut down

dk1115 · Post #58 » by **dk1115** » Thu Mar 14, 2024 7:56 am

NZB2323 wrote:
dk1115 wrote:Sabonis, imo, is probably the third or fourth best center in the NBA behind Jokic, Embiid and Towns. Next season he'll likely be behind Wemby too but that's to be seen.

Why would you put Towns ahead of him?

Sabonis is 1st in the league in triple-doubles, double-doubles, rebounds, and rebounds per game. 5th in assists, assists per game, win shares, and VORP. 13th in TS%. 6th in PER and box +/-.

All those numbers are better than Towns’s numbers, and Towns has flaws that are just as big as Sabonis’s, if not bigger.

I was actually kind of close on those two. And I actually give Sabonis the edge. But I think Karl Anthony Towns can probably play a lot better than he has been this year. Those BPM numbers have been crazy low since Gobert joined the team and without watching TWolves games that much, I can really only speculate.

Deshaun Taden · Post #59 » by **Deshaun Taden** » Thu Mar 14, 2024 8:06 am

I agree he's nowhere near Jokic but is a solid player. But I also would have kept Tyrese Haliburton over him if I was the Kings. I don't think Sabonis was worth that much, probably could have had him for a package with De'Aaron Fox instead. Hali+Sabonis is getting somewhere, although the defense might be suspect that way, it's already suspect with Fox too, but the offensive ceiling is higher with Tyrese.

BoogieTime · Post #60 » by **BoogieTime** » Thu Mar 14, 2024 8:28 am

Deshaun Taden wrote:I agree he's nowhere near Jokic but is a solid player. But I also would have kept Tyrese Haliburton over him if I was the Kings. I don't think Sabonis was worth that much, probably could have had him for a package with De'Aaron Fox instead. Hali+Sabonis is getting somewhere, although the defense might be suspect that way, it's already suspect with Fox too, but the offensive ceiling is higher with Tyrese.

No, Pacers wouldn’t have moved him for Fox who had questionable value at the time