Kevin Seraphin

[tontoz]

I love Booker, but want to get an extensive look at Seraphin at the 4. Booker is not going to be a starter in the future. I think he projects to being a high quality reserve. If that's his role then lets get him accustomed to it now and see how good Seraphin could actually be?

"The game against the Lakers was very important for me, I felt great that night. The win was nice and I made a very good performance against the twin towers, Bynum and Gasol. Both are strong and talented! Both are two formidable players who complement each other perfectly. Bynum is a center heavy and Gasol have a very good mobility for his size. Personally, I prefer to defend interiors like Bynum. I prefer the physical match-up because I still have a little trouble against players like Pau mobile for example."

yeah Pau isn't even one of the quicker 4s. Plus it isn't like we can tell the other team to put their 4 on Seraphin defensively.

Frankly i am glad that he wants to play center. A lot of bigs don't like it.

[jivelikenice]

What's the take here on Seraphin's upside? I don't want to get carried away with his recent production but there are two things to keep in mind:
1. He was able to fully participate in his rookie offseason because he was coming off a knee injury
2. He obviously didn't get to have a normal offseason this past season based on the CBA/ Lockout, etc...

With a good offseason of work and more development should we expect more of what we've seen or can he be potentially just scratching the surface on they type of player he could become?

[tontoz]

What's the take here on Seraphin's upside? I don't want to get carried away with his recent production but there are two things to keep in mind:
1. He was able to fully participate in his rookie offseason because he was coming off a knee injury
2. He obviously didn't get to have a normal offseason this past season based on the CBA/ Lockout, etc...

With a good offseason of work and more development should we expect more of what we've seen or can he be potentially just scratching the surface on they type of player he could become?

I think he is already one of the top 10 centers in the league defensively. He plays tough, physical man D, makes good rotations and blocks shots.

Offensively he has shown a lot. He can shoot a j-hook with both hands and has a good touch around the rim and from midrange. He also is willing to pass out of the post (5 assists the last two games).

What he hasn't shown is the ability/willingness to drive and attack the basket. He doesn't get to the line much and settles for quick shots. His rebounding is also on the weak side.

Looking at the centers around the league I think he is already a better than average starter with obviously plenty of upside as he gets more comfortable with the ball in his hands.

[nate33]

I think his upside is basically a Nene clone: strong as an ox, excellent position D, good post-up game; a developing midrange jumper that may one day be reliable, so-so rebounding; so-so shot blocker.

He pretty much has all the tools now except for the outside shot. The rest is just consistency and adapting to defenses specifically tailored to stop him.

[hands11]

You'll find below the last post from Kevin Seraphin in a french sport website! Sorry if there are some English mistakes.

Thanks for the info. Kevin has been very impressive this year. We are hoping he gets more time on the court.

Awesome article. Lots of good stuff.

Nene taking him under his wing.
He really respects Randy and wants him to stay.
He know McGee was leaving but not Nick or Ronny.
He is building in confidence and is really positive about the team.

Good stuff.

[hands11]

I think his upside is basically a Nene clone: strong as an ox, excellent position D, good post-up game; a developing midrange jumper that may one day be reliable, so-so rebounding; so-so shot blocker.

He pretty much has all the tools now except for the outside shot. The rest is just consistency and adapting to defenses specifically tailored to stop him.

http://espn.go.com/nba/player/gamelog/_ ... n-seraphin

His game really progressed in March.

Need more rebounds now. He had 5 to start the TOR game and ended with 7. In 35 minutes I want to see him with at least 10 rebounds.

[JonathanJoseph]

I think his upside is basically a Nene clone: strong as an ox, excellent position D, good post-up game; a developing midrange jumper that may one day be reliable, so-so rebounding; so-so shot blocker.

He pretty much has all the tools now except for the outside shot. The rest is just consistency and adapting to defenses specifically tailored to stop him.

http://espn.go.com/nba/player/gamelog/_ ... n-seraphin

His game really progressed in March.

Need more rebounds now. He had 5 to start the TOR game and ended with 7. In 35 minutes I want to see him with at least 10 rebounds.

I think he was playing really passive in an attempt to stay out of foul trouble. Whitman probably insisted that he manage his fouls wisely and it lead to less aggressive play. Seraphin didn't go for nearly as many blocks either.

Seraphin is playing really, really good basketball and he's showing more than a few flashes of serious potential.

[doclinkin]

I think his upside is basically a Nene clone: strong as an ox, excellent position D, good post-up game; a developing midrange jumper that may one day be reliable, so-so rebounding; so-so shot blocker. .

http://tinyurl.com/block-per-40-pace

By some measures (per 40, pace adjusted) he's already a big time shot blocker, outpointing Bogut, Hibbert, Dwight Howard, Duncan in this metric. Where he needs real improvement is his rebounding, though he does a good job of sealing his man away from the boards to allow someone else to snatch up the errant carom. Nene also has this quality, we still need an alpha dog rebounder option.

[nate33]

I think his upside is basically a Nene clone: strong as an ox, excellent position D, good post-up game; a developing midrange jumper that may one day be reliable, so-so rebounding; so-so shot blocker. .

http://tinyurl.com/block-per-40-pace

By some measures (per 40, pace adjusted) he's already a big time shot blocker, outpointing Bogut, Hibbert, Dwight Howard, Duncan in this metric. Where he needs real improvement is his rebounding, though he does a good job of sealing his man away from the boards to allow someone else to snatch up the errant carom. Nene also has this quality, we still need an alpha dog rebounder option.

Fair enough. I stand corrected. He's a good shot blocker.

[montestewart]

I also agree that he, like Nene, contributes to team rebounding by blocking out, even if he's not getting the board, often helping Wall or Crawford (or Singleton the other night) get the stat, but everyone can't box out, someone's got to leap and grab the rebound.

[tontoz]

The two problems in his game are rebounding and not attacking the basket enough. He seems to always be quick on D to cut off drives but doesn't have that same aggression on offense or on the boards.

When he had Ersan on his back 2 feet from the basket and shot a fadeaway i was like wtf. He is so physical on D that it is clearly just a mental adjustment. It isnt like he is contact averse.

[montestewart]

He's already a little light in the rebounding department, but he's greatly reduced his foul rate this year while slightly improving his rebounding rate and greatly improving his FG%, and much of the latter improvement comes from better finishing. Some of the recent low RB numbers and lack of aggressiveness may be due to a shortage of healthy bigs, requiring greater care on his part in accumulating fouls.

[jivelikenice]

He's obviously not a finished product but with how quickly he's developed offensive moves I would be confident that he'll continue to mature. Really for some things there's no substitute for playing time. He needs to learn how to decisively move the ball back out and be crisp with his passes. He also needs to continue to work on the face up game and attack the hoop. Those more decisive actions will come through experience and coaching...

[veji1]

The rebounding issue will have to be thre priority in the offseason, it is in the end one of the first two obligations of a big man with positional defense. If and when he can focus on this and commit to rebounding rather than thinking ahead to the next offensive possession, then he will quickly become a very solid center. He is the typical type of player that might have gone nowhere had the team stayed a dysfonctional mess but tada! as soon as the team gets some structure, playing defense, better defining roles, he makes strides...

[azer95]

A few months before the London Olympics, the pivot French is getting stronger.

Yeasterday night, Kevin Seraphin has produced his third double double in his career and he has improved his points career-high with 19 points and also grabbed 10 rebounds. Since the trade of JaVale McGee in Denver, the French center has played more and has been effective on the court. Without Nene and Trevor Booker in the Wizards paint, Kevin took his chance with 16.6 points and 6.6 rebounds in 32 minutes over the last three games.

BasketSession: You still produce a big performance tonight. It seems that the trade have had a positive effect on you.

Kevin Seraphin: Everything has changed with the trade. Without McGee, I have more time to play. And the way of playing the game has changed with Nene. With the time, I got my place. But there's also the fact that I am now part of offensive options and that changes everything for me.

BasketSession: How the coach made ​​you realize that you were no longer just a defensive player? What has changed for you?

KS: He made ​​me understand on the field but also in training. Now, he screams on me if I make the pass before playing or posting my defender. Before he told me to go and take rebounds. Now I have new responsibilities on both sides of the field. Physically, I'm in shape. And in the game, I feel much better and I'm playing a lot. I'm getting more confidence. Before, when I made a mistake, I looked at the bench and the coach to see if I was going out. Now I go back to defense without paying attention to what happens on the bench. I know it can change quickly but I do everything to continue to help my team. I really feel part of the rotation now.

BasketSession: What difference does it make in your state of mind on the field?

K.S.: First I always want to do my job in defense. This is the hardest thing to do on the field. You have to be focused and give the best. On the offensive hand, it just comes to me. When I have the ball, I do what I have to do. In defense, you really have to stay focused and pay attention to everything.

BasketSession: How did the team integrate Nene?

K.S.: He came, he was cool and he has quickly been integrated into the team. The first night we ate together. It's cool to be his teammate because it's an experienced player and he knows the game very well, it helps me personally.

BasketSession: Soon the playoffs. What is the purpose of end of season for you?

KS: The goal is to win as many games as possible. Now we expect the return of Nene and Booker.

BasketSession: With the end of the season and the coming summer, you think about the Olympics?

KS: Even before the end of the season, I thought about Olympics. In fact, I think about the Olympics since we left Lithuania (where occurred the last Euro tournament). I watch what french player do in NBA and in Europe too.

BasketSession: You got Vincent Collet (coach of the french national team) on the phone recently?

K.S.: No, I didn't have any contact with him. I know that some senior players are guaranteed to play the Olympics but there are still seats to be taken in the roster, as last year. Nothing is guaranteed. I am not a senior so I'll come and do everything to win my place.

http://basketsession.com/kevin-seraphin ... re-en-edf/

I did a quick translation ... my bad if there are some mistakes!

[fishercob]

Thanks azer95!

[tontoz]

In defense, you really have to stay focused and pay attention to everything.

That is something that Mcgee would never do. Thanks for the post.

I was confident last year that he would become a good defender but i didn't expect him to score this well so quickly. He has become a very reliable scorer.

[TheKingOfVa360]

I'm so impressed with this kid. He has a bright future.

[Zonkerbl]

Thanks azer95!

Yeah, thanks dude!

[DallasShalDune]

Thanks azer95! You're the man. I enjoy Sera's attitude.