Hi, my name is Fab Melo and I'm a top 10 2012 talent

[ManualRam]

also, excelling in man defense translates to the NBA better than excelling in zone.

Could not disagree more, and I know several NBA team officials that would say the same. Mostly because I used to be in the same boat you were, until we had several discussions on it.

Excelling against future cubicle-jockeys isn't really all that impressive. Especially for Cs, as there is a dearth of talent at the position offensively, both in college and the NBA. On the other hand, help defense is more about positioning and understanding of the game, and that translates to the NBA infinitely better than just standard man defense. Its much, much harder to get someone to learn team concepts, as it requires the entire team to practice it. Man defense, you only need one other person.

And thats before we really consider the C position in the NBA, which is mainly based on help defense.

do you think help defense isnt important in man defense? you are sorely mistaken if you think you only need 2 people to practice man defense. team defense and help principles are even more important than individual man defense. what better way to prepare for playing man defense, from an individual AND team D standpoint, than actually playing MAN defense?
help principles in zone are not the same as help principles in man. for example, where a player's man is determines where the player starts his rotation, if he should rotate at all and who should help the helper. players are not rotating from the same spots on the floor in man defense. furthermore, recovery in zone defense is different from recovery in man defense, same with block out responsibilities....and so on, so forth.

[Onus]

also, excelling in man defense translates to the NBA better than excelling in zone.

Could not disagree more, and I know several NBA team officials that would say the same. Mostly because I used to be in the same boat you were, until we had several discussions on it.

Excelling against future cubicle-jockeys isn't really all that impressive. Especially for Cs, as there is a dearth of talent at the position offensively, both in college and the NBA. On the other hand, help defense is more about positioning and understanding of the game, and that translates to the NBA infinitely better than just standard man defense. Its much, much harder to get someone to learn team concepts, as it requires the entire team to practice it. Man defense, you only need one other person.

And thats before we really consider the C position in the NBA, which is mainly based on help defense.

do you think help defense isnt important in man defense? you are sorely mistaken if you think you only need 2 people to practice man defense. team defense and help principles are even more important than individual man defense. what better way to prepare for playing man defense, from an individual AND team D standpoint, than actually playing MAN defense?
help principles in zone are not the same as help principles in man. for example, where a player's man is determines where the player starts his rotation, if he should rotate at all and who should help the helper. players are not rotating from the same spots on the floor in man defense. furthermore, recovery in zone defense is different from recovery in man defense, same with block out responsibilities....and so on, so forth.

I would agree with you principally regarding every other position besides the C in a 2-3 zone. While there are minute differences, the principles or protecting the rim are similar. The angles may change a bit, but you're still the last line of defense for the team, whether you're playing man or zone. Syracuse zone really hinders other prospects because they play exclusively a zone, but I'm not sure it will do the same for the Center. This may hinder his pnr defense in the future as he probably hasn't faced it quite as much, but help defense moving from one side of the paint to cover the rim, he should be quite sufficient at.

Man defense stopping post moves, i'm not sure there's much he could have improved at the collegiate level as he would not be playing against the same competition. Man to man defense, especially in the NBA is about matchups and knowing your opponents tendencies and taking those away from him. Now Melo could be poor at this but that would be more from a lack of preparation, film study, than his lack of preparation in the NCAA.

Offensive rebounds are supposedly a better indicator of rebounding prowess in the NBA than defensive rebounds at the collegiate level as well.

[ManualRam]

do you think help defense isnt important in man defense? you are sorely mistaken if you think you only need 2 people to practice man defense. team defense and help principles are even more important than individual man defense. what better way to prepare for playing man defense, from an individual AND team D standpoint, than actually playing MAN defense?
help principles in zone are not the same as help principles in man. for example, where a player's man is determines where the player starts his rotation, if he should rotate at all and who should help the helper. players are not rotating from the same spots on the floor in man defense. furthermore, recovery in zone defense is different from recovery in man defense, same with block out responsibilities....and so on, so forth.

I would agree with you principally regarding every other position besides the C in a 2-3 zone. While there are minute differences, the principles or protecting the rim are similar. The angles may change a bit, but you're still the last line of defense for the team, whether you're playing man or zone. Syracuse zone really hinders other prospects because they play exclusively a zone, but I'm not sure it will do the same for the Center. This may hinder his pnr defense in the future as he probably hasn't faced it quite as much, but help defense moving from one side of the paint to cover the rim, he should be quite sufficient at.

Man defense stopping post moves, i'm not sure there's much he could have improved at the collegiate level as he would not be playing against the same competition. Man to man defense, especially in the NBA is about matchups and knowing your opponents tendencies and taking those away from him. Now Melo could be poor at this but that would be more from a lack of preparation, film study, than his lack of preparation in the NCAA.

Offensive rebounds are supposedly a better indicator of rebounding prowess in the NBA than defensive rebounds at the collegiate level as well.

i dont know how to explain this more clearly. rotating from the same spots on the floor every possession is different from rotating from different spots on the floor. you cant just stand in front of the rim and help whenever is necessary in man defense, even more so in teh NBA with the defensive 3. you touched on defending the PnR. what percentage of NBA plays involve some form of PnR? a large percentage. zone doesnt help at all in that aspect.
zone defense doesnt prepare a player for NBA level defense more than man defense.

dont get fixated on the word "man" in the phrase "man defense." man defense is just as much of a team defense as zone defense.

[Onus]

dont get fixated on the word "man" in the phrase "man defense." man defense is just as much of a team defense as zone defense.

agreed. but in a zone defense the C still rotates from different parts of the floor depending on where the ball is and where players are within his zone. In fact he plays essentially help defense for the whole team. so his help defense or off the ball defense should benefit from this. I wouldn't particularly be worried if he's going to be a rim protector in the NBA as he knows how to do this.

his pnr defense could be horrendous who knows? but he should be a solid rim protector at least.

[mavs7777]

The kind of defense Syracuse ran would not be successful in the NBA with NBA athletes.

[FNQ]

Bringin it back!

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/w ... index.html

Melo does not have the Orange's lowest DRating (that belongs to Waiters), but it's clear that Melo has the biggest impact. His engagement rate, or DPoss%, of 26.1 is the highest on the team, and the fact that he's able to maintain a strong DRating (86.5) while impacting so many plays is impressive. Syracuse's entire 2-3 seems to take its cues from Melo.

^old article but found through J-Givony

https://twitter.com/DraftExpress/status ... 9429440514

Sounds like I need to give Meyers Leonard and Fab Melo a bump in my mock draft. NBA guys really excited about them after the Combine today.

https://twitter.com/AlexSontyHoops/stat ... 8350454785

@draftexpress Agreed. Melo isn't falling. Not necessarily a good thing for who picks him, but he'll be hard to pass up around 12-15.

Top 10 was a little optimistic, but I did think a lot of these guys would return to school..

[jman3134]

I personally really liked the way that Fab Melo played at Syracuse this past season. Defensively, he was a great anchor for the zone.

I do have concerns at the NBA level. Much like Thabeet, when he is not allowed to camp out in the lane for more than 3 seconds, is this going to impact his defensive presence? I would say yes. He's got the length and ability to eventually adjust if he can get picked by a team that preaches fundamentals on this end. But, I think that people are overrating his immediate defensive impact, not taking into consideration the fact that he played in a defensive scheme very different than what he will be expected to play in the NBA. I see Melo as a good potential guy and not a proven commodity at this stage.

Edit: As a disclaimer, these NBA concerns may or may not limit his draft position itself, as I feel that he is a potential guy that NBA teams may take an early flyer on.

[mcfly1204]

Diop 2.0.

[FlipTSO]

He should be a lottery pick, imo. His rebounding is subpar though, and seems little flaky mentally.

I don't buy the zone argument. There's been lots of great defenses in the NBA that plop a big rim protecting shot-blocker in the middle, and everyone else kind of zones around him and funnels defenders towards him.

From watching some film, he's not a bad rebounder in terms of getting himself in the right positions, he just didnt always outfight his opponents for the ball. So its more of a low motor thing, imo. But that could easily change as he matures.

I'd take a chance on him late-lottery.

[Jerry Sandusky]

Diop 2.0.

haha If I was prospect, I'd hate to be compared with him.

[Wone]

fab melo? there's no way that's his actual name is it?

[humblebum]

Probably Fabricio...

He reminds me of Mark Blount.

[FNQ]

Blount the pure perimeter shooter with no defense?

[Curtis Lemansky]

I think he will get drafted at least 5 spots higher than he should be because he has such a cool name.

[jimtxsanders]

That is what you call the Tyson Chandler effect!
Makes you see stars in a rim protector with modest stats...
Try thinking of another name...Hasheem Thabeet or however it's spelled

I actually like Melo, but for a seven footer he's not a good rebounder and gives you little to no offence. He may take a year or two to develop.

I would like to see him go to the T-wolves, playing next to Love could hide his weaknesses and could help him become and elite center.

[old rem]

I think he could be slept on like Roy Hibbert was.

Hibbert had more time in school,had shown a great learning curve and had a lot better ability to score...also was bigger.

Melo looks reasonably athletic and he's a pretty good shotblocker. As noted...one could say the Syracuse style/zone,is a bit different from NBA,and I'm not sure that Melo is especially elite as an all round d guy. He rebounds, but not nearly enough to boost him to top 20. You compare his board work to Sullinger,Moultrie, Zeller,and some others and it's a notable difference. Melo has a bit of " project" to him,and that means you can't be sure just what he becomes...or when.

[Golabki]

I think he could be slept on like Roy Hibbert was.

Hibbert was a MUCH better prospect than Melo. They both could block shots, but Hibbert was the better rebounder and way way better offensive player. And Hibbert was more specially physically (bigger and taller).

Hibbert dropped because he had a great sophmore year and then played two more seasons without taking the step from "one of the best centers in the NCAA" to "the best player in the NCAA". He also made it look easy, like he wasn't really trying.

[HornetJail]

Diop 2.0.

haha If I was prospect, I'd hate to be compared with him.

Diop gets paid $7M a year. Doubt Melo ever gets that much.

Melo's five times the player Diop is right now. Don't worry about that too much.

[Eoghan]

I'm just saying he's not that bad. Complete knucklehead, yes but he completely transformed his body and became a good college C. His size alone will merit him some playing time to protect the rim and unlike Thabeet he can actually outrun a glacier.

[FNQ]

The people saying Melo isnt a good rebounder are the ones who only check boxscores... has excellent hands actually. Because of his interior presence, Cuse forced a lot of perimeter shots. He's not able to chase down long rebounds, but interior ones he does very well.