Joel Embiid

Tave · Post #361 » by **Tave** » Thu Feb 27, 2014 6:26 pm

Kansas is playing so well right now and a big part of that is their ability to trot out ~10 guys who can all ball and in the process flat-out overwhelm opposing teams. During the tournament I don't expect their rotations to tighten until someone gets the jump on them and makes them play from behind, which could be in the 1st round, the title game, or anything in between. Kansas will make a big effort to share the ball and take advantage of that monster bench.

I can see both Embiid and Wiggins blowing up as well though: Embiid b/c he plays balls-out every second, and Wiggins b/c he seems to respond well when challenged with tougher opponents.

TheSuzerain · Post #362 » by **TheSuzerain** » Thu Feb 27, 2014 7:15 pm

The danger for Kansas is a grind it out game against a team that can protect the paint, since Kansas is so reliant on scoring inside.

I think they'd beat the brakes off of any team that tries to outscore them (Duke, Creighton).

SBM · Post #363 » by **SBM** » Fri Feb 28, 2014 9:08 pm

I think his impact on a team will be similar to Demarcus Cousins. He might not score or rebound as much but his rim protection will offset the difference.

Still don't think he is a generational player. Going to be hard to be better than Drummond and Cousins

ManualRam · Post #364 » by **ManualRam** » Fri Feb 28, 2014 9:19 pm

SBM wrote:I think his impact on a team will be similar to Demarcus Cousins. He might not score or rebound as much but his rim protection will offset the difference.

Still don't think he is a generational player. Going to be hard to be better than Drummond and Cousins

if he can be fed the ball in the post, actually do something with it there, enough to draw extra attention from the defense and if he can be a smart defender, who has a positive impact on the game on that end, then he can surpass drummond. drummond's a generational physical specimen but he's not a generational player.

Talent Chaser · Post #365 » by **Talent Chaser** » Fri Feb 28, 2014 9:28 pm

ManualRam wrote:
SBM wrote:I think his impact on a team will be similar to Demarcus Cousins. He might not score or rebound as much but his rim protection will offset the difference.

Still don't think he is a generational player. Going to be hard to be better than Drummond and Cousins

if he can be fed the ball in the post, actually do something with it there, enough to draw extra attention from the defense and if he can be a smart defender, who has a positive impact on the game on that end, then he can surpass drummond. drummond's a generational physical specimen but he's not a generational player.

Eh the term generational is getting thrown out a lot around realgm lately. A generational specimen is someone along the lines of KAJ/Hakeem/Wilt/Shaq. There are amazing physical specimens in the nba that play center. Drummond/McGee/AD/Jordan/Howard are all just as good of a specimen as Drummond.

ManualRam · Post #366 » by **ManualRam** » Fri Feb 28, 2014 9:34 pm

Talent Chaser wrote:
ManualRam wrote:
SBM wrote:I think his impact on a team will be similar to Demarcus Cousins. He might not score or rebound as much but his rim protection will offset the difference.

Still don't think he is a generational player. Going to be hard to be better than Drummond and Cousins

if he can be fed the ball in the post, actually do something with it there, enough to draw extra attention from the defense and if he can be a smart defender, who has a positive impact on the game on that end, then he can surpass drummond. drummond's a generational physical specimen but he's not a generational player.

Eh the term generational is getting thrown out a lot around realgm lately. A generational specimen is someone along the lines of KAJ/Hakeem/Wilt/Shaq. There are amazing physical specimens in the nba that play center. Drummond/McGee/AD/Jordan/Howard are all just as good of a specimen as Drummond.

i would disagree. drummond is one of the freakiest athletes to ever come to the nba when you combine his fluidity, agility, speed, length with his bulk and sheer size. his bulk is what sets him apart from a lot of the guys that you mentioned barring shaq and wilt. guys that big are not supposed to move with the speed of a SF and have quick jumping ability. he is a generational physical specimen IMO, as a player though he's ehhh...

Dr Positivity · Post #367 » by **Dr Positivity** » Fri Feb 28, 2014 10:34 pm

I don't think he's a generational/decade defining prospect either, but I'm not in love with the top of this draft as much as anyone else, I think if Embiid was a caliber of C From Pau to Yao that's more likely than not enough for best in the draft

mattg · Post #368 » by **mattg** » Sat Mar 1, 2014 4:16 am

The one thing that gives me pause about embiid is his physicality(or lack thereof). Is he going to be able to reliably carve out and maintain position in the nba? Is he going to be strong enough with the ball to not get ripped by aggressive, digging guards? On the defensive end is he going to battle and be able to knock guys off their spots or just get sealed down low. Also, will someone teach the kid to set a screen, because right now he literally can't set a pick.

The getting banged up with minor injuries is a bit concerning as well. I have him 3rd right now. He could easily move up or down depending on how he plays the rest of the way.

Big_C_KU · Post #369 » by **Big_C_KU** » Sat Mar 1, 2014 8:58 pm

mattg wrote:The getting banged up with minor injuries is a bit concerning as well. I have him 3rd right now. He could easily move up or down depending on how he plays the rest of the way.

I do agree. He must get stronger physically. Luckily for him he has wide shoulders so he has the frame to add muscle in his upper body. He doesn't have thin shoulder width like Nerlens Noel. He must get stronger in his lower body as well as he has fairly skinny legs. The back injury is always a bit of a concern when it comes to an athlete as the back makes it near impossible to move like you usually can. The leg injury he has was actually a good sign as his knee got bent in a way that usually leads to torn ligaments but his stayed in contact. A good sign to his flexibility.

Like I said he has a very high floor. Fouling is something a lot of freshman and 19-20 year olds have problems with. His already shown good improvement in that area as the season has gone along. Because of his limited time playing basketball foul trouble is a normal problem and something that should improve quickly. Legit 7ft with incredible length and good timing but the offense he has shown makes his floor very high. At worse he's a tremendous rim protecter with the ability to make shots out to 3pt range. At best he's the best 2-way C in the league in 6-8 years.

Dr Positivity · Post #370 » by **Dr Positivity** » Sat Mar 1, 2014 9:35 pm

Big_C_KU wrote:
mattg wrote:The getting banged up with minor injuries is a bit concerning as well. I have him 3rd right now. He could easily move up or down depending on how he plays the rest of the way.

I do agree. He must get stronger physically. Luckily for him he has wide shoulders so he has the frame to add muscle in his upper body. He doesn't have thin shoulder width like Nerlens Noel. He must get stronger in his lower body as well as he has fairly skinny legs. The back injury is always a bit of a concern when it comes to an athlete as the back makes it near impossible to move like you usually can. The leg injury he has was actually a good sign as his knee got bent in a way that usually leads to torn ligaments but his stayes in contact. A good sign to his flexibility.

Like I said he has a very high floor. Fouling is something a lot of freshman and 19-20 year olds have problems with. His already shown good improvement in that area as the season has gone along. His his limited time playing basketball foul trouble is a normal problem and something that should improve quickly. Legit 7ft with incredible length and good timing but the offense he has shown makes his floor very high. At worse he's a tremendous rim protecter with the ability to make shots out to 3pt range. At best he's the best 2-way C in the league in 6-8 years.

Yep, while nobody is an absolute lock to be a starter, Embiid is the closest. He's not falling any lower than Robin Lopez role in the NBA

pe_it72 · Post #371 » by **pe_it72** » Sat Mar 1, 2014 10:01 pm

From reading the last page of this thread only. The consensus is that he has the highest floor and ceiling in the draft. Easy lock for number 1 then right?

mattg · Post #372 » by **mattg** » Sat Mar 1, 2014 10:26 pm

I think his floor is being overstated by some people. If he can't adapt to the physicality of the nba you're looking at like a bigger and more skilled Ian mahinmi.

pe_it72 · Post #373 » by **pe_it72** » Sat Mar 1, 2014 10:31 pm

I feel his frame is very comparable to dwight when he came into the league. I think the thing that will be crucial for him is to not get pounded 35 minutes a night. His team has to let him develop his body before he takes a beating for double the games by grown men.

Dr Positivity · Post #374 » by **Dr Positivity** » Sat Mar 1, 2014 11:03 pm

pe_it72 wrote:From reading the last page of this thread only. The consensus is that he has the highest floor and ceiling in the draft. Easy lock for number 1 then right?

The only thing to remember is the growing analytic mindset of execs, probably makes more likely to surprise. Guessing GMs like Sam Hinkie and Rob Hennigan's plan is to be better at drafting than everyone else. Which may lead to some picks originally received as off the board. Not only would that put Wiggins and Parker in play, but even a scenario like a team having a massive Dante Exum boner and having the balls to take him 1st

snoopdogg88 · Post #375 » by **snoopdogg88** » Sun Mar 2, 2014 3:32 am

or any of the older posters, help me understand the Embiid hype. I'm watching the Kansas game and the announcers are seriously playing up this "best center prospect ever" "next Olajuwon" hype

Guys like Michael Olowokandi, Darko Milicic, Hasheem Thabeet were top 2 draft picks.
Did they receive similar comparisons? similar hype?

Is Embiid really the 2nd best center prospect since Shaq in 93? Was Duncan the only other guy to get this kind of universal love coming out of college ?

reignfire · Post #376 » by **reignfire** » Sun Mar 2, 2014 4:03 am

I personally feel he is the best center prospect since Shaq.

noobcake · Post #377 » by **noobcake** » Sun Mar 2, 2014 4:05 am

reignfire wrote:I personally feel he is the best center prospect since Shaq.

GTFO.

reignfire · Post #378 » by **reignfire** » Sun Mar 2, 2014 4:21 am

noobcake wrote:
reignfire wrote:I personally feel he is the best center prospect since Shaq.

GTFO.

Keep in mind I said pure "center" not "big man" prospect which would include guys like Duncan/Garnett.

Embiid has everything you want in a center. Tangibles/intangibles. He has an alpha dog mentality.

Two things he needs to work on: getting stronger and more experience, that is it.

noobcake · Post #379 » by **noobcake** » Sun Mar 2, 2014 4:22 am

reignfire wrote:
noobcake wrote:
reignfire wrote:I personally feel he is the best center prospect since Shaq.

GTFO.

Keep in mind I said pure "center" not "big man" prospect which would include guys like Duncan/Garnett.

Embiid has everything you want in a center. Tangibles/intangibles. He has an alpha mentality.

Two things he needs to work on: getting stronger and more experience, that is it.

What happened to Yao Ming and Dwight Howard?

reignfire · Post #380 » by **reignfire** » Sun Mar 2, 2014 4:27 am

noobcake wrote:
reignfire wrote:
noobcake wrote:
GTFO.

Keep in mind I said pure "center" not "big man" prospect which would include guys like Duncan/Garnett.

Embiid has everything you want in a center. Tangibles/intangibles. He has an alpha mentality.

Two things he needs to work on: getting stronger and more experience, that is it.

What happened to Yao Ming and Dwight Howard?

Embiid's ceiling to me is 28/15/4/3 ish numbers.

Those two are great players but I feel Embiid has a combo of the best of them.