Duke4life831 wrote:FrodoBaggins wrote:Duke4life831 wrote:Out of that group Bobby Portis.
I don’t get the Siakam/Paolo/Randle comps, especially Siakam. Siakam is a much much better athlete than Cam. I don’t consider Siakam a position locked 4 that is a below the basket player.
When it comes to Paolo and Randle, especially Paolo. There is a night at day difference when it comes to their agility. Paolo isn’t super explosive, but he’s a much more fluid athlete.
Randle is closer, even though I think Randle coming out of Kentucky was the better athlete. But I wouldn’t take Randle top 5 in the current NBA. There is a reason he’s on his 4th team and each time he gets traded, the fanbase is happy he’s gone.
That chart is kind of exactly what I’m talking about. The vast majority of those guys, are all very versatile players who can play multiple positions. Thats not Cam.
Does the fluidity thing really matter? Are we concerned with aesthetics or production/results? Cam's PnR Ball Handling and Isolation Synergy Sports Tracking play type data was elite, IIRC. What does that suggest if not self-creation potential in the NBA? Many guys have pretty handles, moves, and shooting strokes, but it matters not if it isn't effective.
Ya the agility matters, it helps the game translate to the next level against better athletes.
Paolo has a FTr of .502 this year. What’s a big reason behind that? He’s able to drive from the perimeter and attack the basket. And it’s not all just straight line drives. The combination of his size, handle and agility allows him to get to the basket with relative ease.
Show me multiple drives from Cam that isn’t just a straight line drive. Slow footed straight line drives from Cam isn’t going to be a thing that he gets to do against NBA defenders. Which again was the issue that really showed up when Pat got hurt and opposing teams could then put an actual big on him.
Go rewatch the Virginia game in the ACC tournament. He couldn’t create a shot off the dribble at all against Onyenso. Boozer went 3-17 in that game. Onyenso blocked him 4 times in just 22 minutes.
Go watch how Boozer drives from the perimeter. He’s upright and it’s a straight line drive. Then go watch Paolo drive. He gets low, there’s wiggle and creativity.
There is a very clear functional athleticism difference between Paolo and Boozer.
To what degree? And is it meaningful? And how does it factor into the equation with the other confounding variables, such as shooting ability, passing ability, and cognition (IQ/processing/vision/awareness/decision-making)?
Of what value is Paolo's functional athletic advantage if he's slow to act, can't shoot, and displays poor shot selection? And I question that athletic advantage. For all his wiggle/bend/flexibility/agility/fluidity, Paolo still has a slow first step, and minimal vertical jump or what they call "vertical pop" in NBA Draft circles.
Doesn't sound all that different to Boozer, IMO. And that Twitter video from @CoreyTulaba shows he had those physical qualities, which means they can be regained with NBA strength and conditioning work. Zach Edey is the best example of that in recent years; he's a great parallel to Cameron Boozer in that respect.
So, if he ends up regaining/improving his functional athleticism so that he's physically comparable or negligibly different from Paolo, what does that mean? What does that make him?
A version of Paolo that shoots way better, has far better shot selection, and consistently makes high-level passing and playmaking reads?
That doesn't stagnate the offense and dribble the air out of the ball?
That takes advantage of scrambling or tilted defenses by attacking off the catch?
That doesn't settle for mid-range pull-ups?
That gets to the rim and paint when it's available?
That uses his passing, vision, and playmaking to not only create high-quality scoring opportunities for teammates but to manipulate the defense and make scoring easier for himself?
That attacks mismatches in the post?
That sets screens, handoffs, and rolls?
That moves, cuts, and seals off the ball?
That crashes the offensive boards hard and consistently?
That can hit open threes spotting up, picking and popping, or off the dribble when defenses go under the screen?
That leverages his functional size and strength whenever possible?
Banchero's best stretch of extended play was post-All-Star break last season. Here's what he averaged:
24 games
29.0 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 4.5 apg, 0.9 spg, 0.4 bpg, 2.8 topg
.473% FG, .333% 3PT (6.3 3pa/g), .533% 2PT (14.5 2pa/g), .523% eFG, .783% FT (9.2 fta/g, .442 FTr), .583% TS,
+5.5 BPM
What if that's Cam's baseline and not his hot streak? What if his skill and cognitive advantages allow him to shoot .400% 3PT, .550% 2PT, and .800% FT instead of .333, .533, and .783? That would increase the scoring volume and efficiency to 30.8 ppg on .619% TS.
Just a visualization of what the statistical production could look like in that scenario, irrespective of probability/how likely or unlikely that outcome is to occur.
But I think the salient point is we cannot rule out this sort of outcome or projection. Clear production is being ignored in favor of aesthetic cognitive biases. The archetype criticism carries no weight for me when a) Paolo, Randle, Sengun, Sabonis, Siakam, Towns, 2018-19 Detroit Blake, Old Man Lakers LeBron exist, and b) Cameron has consistently displayed a versatile offensive handle-pass-shoot skillset.
You have to consider the possibility that an outcome like this could eventuate. It's not a stretch for such a precocious talent.
