Milwaukee Bucks Pick Giannis with pick #15

[emunney]

ETA: Someone beat me to it. Still impressive though.

Wouldn't surprise me if this guy actually grows a few more inches. Might top out at 7'0"

Wanted to reminisce, but then when I saw this post, I had to bump.

[H2tObes]

This guy could be the next Durant, or Tskitishvilli. It's hard to tell.

Probably pretty easy to tell he won't be the next Durant lol

Is it easy now?

[blkout]

Yes? You do realize at his age Durant was putting up 25 a game...

[Giannis Parker]

Yes? You do realize at his age Durant was putting up 25 a game...

Yes, we judge players by ppgzzzzzzzz

http://www.basketball-reference.com/pla ... 01&y2=2009

If you compare the two in their 20yr old season (Giannis just turned btw, and it is only 22 games in) it appears to me that overall the two are really not that far apart from each other once you start analyzing the advanced stats.

In fact, Giannis is 4 points better on defense, while Durant is only 3 points better on offense. Basic math lets us know that 4-3 equals 1, meaning Giannis is actually +1 in O and D rtg. Still very hard to analyze win shares as Giannis is based off of 22 games but the remarkable thing is that Giannis is even in the same breath, especially considering the amount of experience Durant has over Giannis at the same age.

[MiltownHawkeye]

Yes? You do realize at his age Durant was putting up 25 a game...

You have to factor in that Durant's sophomore season hadn't even started when he was the age Giannis is now, and that Giannis will have a steeper learning curve due to playing over in Greece D2 and not playing in college.

But yeah I agree with your overall point. Durant was probably a better shooter at 16 than Giannis will ever be. You don't just learn that type of stroke.

I don't even think their playstyles are very similar, just their body types. Always hated this comparison.

[blkout]

Yes? You do realize at his age Durant was putting up 25 a game...

Yes, we judge players by ppgzzzzzzzz

http://www.basketball-reference.com/pla ... 01&y2=2009

If you compare the two in their 20yr old season (Giannis just turned btw, and it is only 22 games in) it appears to me that overall the two are really not that far apart from each other once you start analyzing the advanced stats.

In fact, Giannis is 4 points better on defense, while Durant is only 3 points better on offense. Basic math lets us know that 4-3 equals 1, meaning Giannis is actually +1 in O and D rtg. Still very hard to analyze win shares as Giannis is based off of 22 games but the remarkable thing is that Giannis is even in the same breath, especially considering the amount of experience Durant has over Giannis at the same age.

He's not in the same breath. There's no comparison, they're different players and one's pretty clearly behind the other. He can (likely will) end up being a great player, but Durant is a generational talent. Stats don't lie but when you start twisting them to fit your narrative rather than letting them tell the story then it starts muddying the waters.

[Newz]

This guy could be the next Durant, or Tskitishvilli. It's hard to tell.

Probably pretty easy to tell he won't be the next Durant lol

Is it easy now?

Very easy. Very, very easy.

[Swan Vox]

ETA: Someone beat me to it. Still impressive though.

Wouldn't surprise me if this guy actually grows a few more inches. Might top out at 7'0"

Wanted to reminisce, but then when I saw this post, I had to bump.

Feed me a quarter & I'll tell you the future.

[sidney lanier]

I don't even think their playstyles are very similar, just their body types. Always hated this comparison.

Me too. Durant is the wrong comparison, and a superficial body type resemblance doesn't make it right.

I don't remember who first made it, but the Giannis-Pippen comparison has a lot more to recommend it.

[emunney]

These dunks the past few games have certainly been Pippen-esque. The dunk on Bosh yesterday was basically Pippen's dunk on Ewing without the shove and with a little less head-on collision.

[LUKE23]

I don't remember who first made it, but the Giannis-Pippen comparison has a lot more to recommend it.

They move so similar, and their skill sets are really close as well.

[Swan Vox]

I don't remember who first made it, but the Giannis-Pippen comparison has a lot more to recommend it.

They move so similar, and their skill sets are really close as well.

I think this video of rookie Pippen has it all if you are looking for Giannis comparisons...the strides, the dunks, the passes, the D, the length, even the stepping out of bounds & the follow-up dunks of bricked lay ups by a tunnel-visioned PG wearing #11.

[YouTube]http://youtu.be/M79eJyW_T0M[/YouTube]

[skones]

I don't remember who first made it, but the Giannis-Pippen comparison has a lot more to recommend it.

They move so similar, and their skill sets are really close as well.

Pippen comparisons were made in numerous scouting reports prior to yourself.

[Newz]

I still don't see the Pippen/Giannis comparison on the defensive end.

Pippen was just so good and so versatile defensively. Giannis is never going to be able to guard multiple positions like that at an elite level, IMO. He just doesn't have the side-to-side quickness that is required. He's going to be good and possibly great on defense... but it's going to be in a way different way.

Offensively I think he has a little Pippen in him though. Not sure he's ever going to be a great jump shooter, but he should be at least serviceable. Has good vision, uses his length to finish around the rim.

Pippen was a superior athlete, but I guess Giannis kind of makes up for that by being so ridiculously coordinated for a guy that tall and lanky.

[LUKE23]

Pippen comparisons were made in numerous scouting reports prior to yourself.

I never read them if they did. I'm not really taking credit for anything, just pointing out that that's who he reminded me of.

[LUKE23]

I still don't see the Pippen/Giannis comparison on the defensive end.

Pippen was just so good and so versatile defensively. Giannis is never going to be able to guard multiple positions like that at an elite level, IMO. He just doesn't have the side-to-side quickness that is required. He's going to be good and possibly great on defense... but it's going to be in a way different way.

Offensively I think he has a little Pippen in him though. Not sure he's ever going to be a great jump shooter, but he should be at least serviceable. Has good vision, uses his length to finish around the rim.

Pippen was a superior athlete, but I guess Giannis kind of makes up for that by being so ridiculously coordinated for a guy that tall and lanky.

I think he's going to be mega elite defensively. Pippen was obviously a monster on that end, but Giannis has a few years before he's even the same age as rookie Pippen. I think he has all the tools and work ethic to be the best defender at 2-3-4 in the league.

[Newz]

I still don't see the Pippen/Giannis comparison on the defensive end.

Pippen was just so good and so versatile defensively. Giannis is never going to be able to guard multiple positions like that at an elite level, IMO. He just doesn't have the side-to-side quickness that is required. He's going to be good and possibly great on defense... but it's going to be in a way different way.

Offensively I think he has a little Pippen in him though. Not sure he's ever going to be a great jump shooter, but he should be at least serviceable. Has good vision, uses his length to finish around the rim.

Pippen was a superior athlete, but I guess Giannis kind of makes up for that by being so ridiculously coordinated for a guy that tall and lanky.

I think he's going to be mega elite defensively. Pippen was obviously a monster on that end, but Giannis has a few years before he's even the same age as rookie Pippen. I think he has all the tools and work ethic to be the best defender at 2-3-4 in the league.

Yeah, I disagree on that one personally. Maybe I'm wrong though.

Pippen could lock down both guard spots, lock down the 3 and also do a very good job on a lot of 4's. I just don't think Giannis will ever have the quickness to guard a majority of the good players at the 1 or the 2 spots. I think he'll even struggle keeping some of the more explosive 3's in front of him.

I hope he is great on defense like Josh Smith should have been great on defense. Where he is a very good man defender against any forward in the league and also can help out big time by wiping away mistakes from others because he can assist at making stops near the rim.

Like I said, I could be wrong. I just see him developing different than you do.

[Licensed to Il]

I think Giannis is going to be such a unique player, that there will be no stylistic comparison. I mean, let's say he becomes 75% of the defender that Garnett was in his prime. And let's say that he adds one dominant post move and a counter. And let's say that his ball handling and shot improve even on an average progression in respect to his age and experience. I'm not sure there has ever been a 6'11 player that has brought all that to the table.

[theFireBlanket]

I don't remember who first made it, but the Giannis-Pippen comparison has a lot more to recommend it.

They move so similar, and their skill sets are really close as well.

When we all witnessed his hyper defense in the pre-season last year I made the point that the coaching staff should make him watch nothing but Jordan/Pippen Bulls highlights.

[sidney lanier]

I think Giannis is going to be such a unique player, that there will be no stylistic comparison. I mean, let's say he becomes 75% of the defender that Garnett was in his prime. And let's say that he adds one dominant post move and a counter. And let's say that his ball handling and shot improve even on an average progression in respect to his age and experience. I'm not sure there has ever been a 6'11 player that has brought all that to the table.

There's always a comparison, but there's never an exact match. That's the fun and usefulness of these kinds of discussions for me. You posit similarities, but you have to acknowledge differences as well, and there's a lot to Giannis that may prove (in the root sense of the word) incomparable.

If the Pippen comparison seems right to some (including me), I think wingspan and stride length have a lot to do with it. Despite their height difference, Giannis and Scottie have/had about the same wingspan (variously reported up to about 7'4"). Both also exploit/exploited their long arms and legs to do things on both ends of the court that leave a strong visual impression. Pippen driving had about the longest stride I can remember after young Wilt, and Giannis's stride may be longer.