We couldve used Glen Davis

[FGump]

I have never seen faz play, but all that I have ever heard about him is that he has never taken a shot within 18 feet. All I have heard is he is an outside shooter, not an inside guy. His strength, which is mentioned in the article, is still lacking. .

Next time, you need to get your info from people who actually watch him play. The above isn't even close to accurate.

The big knock on him (and a fair one) is that he lacks athleticism. He isn't overly muscular, he doesn't sky, and he lacks quick feet.

But he's basketball smart. (In spite of the above, he gets rebounds. A lot.) He has inside moves and a nice jump shot too. His challenge is going to be to apply his smarts to compensate for his lack of physical gifts, so that he can get his shot off and can defend.

Here's a VERY detailed account of one of his games. It was 2 years ago, so he developed over another 1 1/2 seasons after this. You'll get a much more accurate snapshot of his play than the "he never shoots inside 18 feet" crapola.

http://www.draftexpress.com/article/Mar ... Kaun-1132/

[FGump]

I think they drafted Faz not so much as a replacement for Cro or KVH but more as another option at Center. We have very little offense from the Center position and I believe that rather than have 3 Centers all of which are very similar (Damp, Diop and Mbenga). They decided to go with Fazekas to have a different type of option at Center.

Bingo. They have essentially said exactly what you are saying. He's a center, definitely has the size for it, and they hope he develops to where he gives them usable added versatility. If he got an NBA hard-body, it would help a lot.

He's bigger than either Croshere or Van Horn. I'm guessing he'll can be a much better rebounder than either, just because of his superior instinctive rebounding skills we have seen at every level (who knows if it will be enough in the NBA until he does it, but even in summer league and d-league he's been a plus rebounder).

[catalyst]

You guys know. I dont get, nor would I stop down for, many nevada games in Dallas. I do remember Norm and avery talking about his great jumps hooting and his tall scrawny body. That does not translate into a strong post player. Until I get the feed from Tulsa, I guess I will not know since we will not see the guy in Dallas any time soon. I was also told he cannot play a lick of D

[FGump]

Catalyst, if i was you I'd try to learn to ignore Norm. He tends to get one correct idea and then ride it to the point where it is completely wrong. Such as in this case, where "Faz has a very good outside shot" gets morphed by him into "the ONLY thing he can do is shoot from the perimeter."

And the fact he can shoot well from the outside and does need a better honed body doesnt mean those are the ONLY things about him that are true.

You apparently didn't see summer league games, where the EXPECTATION (based on the Normisms we were being fed) was a Brad Miller type floating on the perimeter, but the reality saw a guy who played down low regularly too.

His defense was a mixed bag, but it also depends on what you are expecting I think. His slow feet hurt him defending on the perimeter, so if you've been led to believe he is a perimeter guy, you go "oh no, he can't defend." But he actually shows excellent footwork and technique to defend inside. His issue will be whether he gets overpowered, and that will be resolved (or not) by hitting the weight room in my opinion. He is narrow across the shoulders but solid down low (the same traits as Yao but on a smaller scale) so he probably has the potential to fix (or at least lessen) the problem by a lifting regimen.

I'll again invite you to read the article I linked for you. Most if not all of the issues you note in this last post are actually talked about in detail, with specific game mentions and notes that tell you how he REALLY plays, in that link. So if you aren't better educated on him going forward, it will be on you due to laziness on not on lack of available input.

[catalyst]

I read his draft profile which i thought I had posted. I have now. I would not base an any assessment on one game log. This report talks about all of his inside moves, then proceeds to talk about how weak he is and cannot make those moves at the next level. That game log talks about how raw the Russian guy is, and that Faz is not an NBA Player. I dont really care about a 2 year old game log. You need to get off of your high horse about how great this 2nd round d-leaguer is who will make very little impact on the mavs. My only point is that I wanted a guy to help the mavs inside now, which was the biggest problem during the GS series. I thought that for all of the flaws of Davis, he could at least post up someone and score. He did it well in the SEC.

Faz cannot even make the current mavs roster. Davis is at least in the league. I hope Faz can make it and as an inside player. I just have many doubts that he can. Also, I dont watch any d-league games. I remember many putting drills of Podkolzin on this site, and telling me how great he was. Until I see it in the league that counts, I will have a hard time believing it. Summer league and D league are not The League. I will admit laziness based on the fact that it aint worth my time.

Upon re-reading your link, this compares him at the end to Gasol and dirk. Yes, he may have had some moves in college. Unless he can add well distributed bulk, it will not translate into an inside player for the mavs. Dirk has never done that and gets shoved around and refuses to go inside. That report compared him to a european player, and the russian to the american player. Not exactly the highest endorsement.

http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Nick-Fazekas-175/

[FGump]

Whatever. I offered INFORMATION, not an endorsement.

When you refer to PPod, if you recall (or even if you don't) I was one of the few that (a) actually watched him play multiple times, and (b) said he was a PROJECT who - as things evolved, and as I said here amidst all the gushing - I thought was NOT turning into a player and probably would be sent down the road as a result.

Ager? Have NEVER been impressed. Still am not.

Fazekas? I have seen Faz play and hell yes he has a long ways to go. Who said otherwise? And I havent seen one second of his play in Tulsa. But I'm telling you, the kid MAY HAVE transferable skills that will work in the NBA once he figures out the speed and athleticism of the game. If you havent watched, your opinion that "he must suck" is silly.

But Glen Davis? He doesn't do a lot for me even though he is "playing in the NBA." I think his ceiling is pretty low. there are a lot of players that play, but don't go far. Again, that's from watching him play. Right now I see a smaller less skilled Oliver Miller, at best. I think Faz's potential is much higher, but it's "potential" I'm talking of so who knows what will happen.

[catalyst]

I hope the kid does well. I saw a better opportunity than him at the draft. Both will probably fail. Off to take another laziness nap

[jwa1107]

[JKidd]
I found Oliver tonight!
I found Oliver tonight!
[/JKidd]

[Amen316]

I would like to say that Nick Fazekas needs to be given a chance and simply that. He is NOT a traditional center so his biggest challenge is learning to play the position the way Avery wants him to play it. Not the way he has played to get to the NBA.
Its very tricky but this kid has a ton of talent and one day he will stick on a roster and play considerable minutes giving a team a good asset in the middle.
This player could be more like Bill Lambeer to be honest if he learns to play defense the way Avery is asking him to.

[FGump]

This player could be more like Bill Lambeer to be honest if he learns to play defense the way Avery is asking him to.

I like that style comparison and goal. Good job on matching a player to a past player.

[catalyst]

I have changed my mind. We should have taken Josh McRoberts.