Lauri Markkanen Thread: PG. 13 - KC: Bulls Extend QO to Lauri

[Hugi Mancura]

I get the sense you would find different nits to pick with anyone starting ahead of "King Lauri the Great".

I agree that there just aren't a ton of shots left in the offensive after Zach and Vuc. So we are talking about 3rd, 4th and 5th option guys. IMO, the real decision is do we want to keep Lauri as our 3rd option or groom Pat to be that guy next season. Lauri just doesn't do enough other than taking shots to provide value as a starter going forward (and is taking shots away from Pat, assuming we want to go that direction), and I would argue the same for White. Theis is a very good 5th option guy because he does things other guys don't.

I've criticized Lauri plenty... for things that are within his control and he deserved to be criticized for. For example, his timid, passive mindset; his Ivan Drago, hoopless off-seasons spent pumping iron; his absent-minded lazy D (previous years) and overall lack of knowledge on HOW to play smart ball.

I've given him quite a few breaks for things out of his control--being asked to stand in the corner like a scarecrow by Jimbo the Great; being criticized that he doesn't handle the ball like a 6'7 wing (that ain't ever happening no matter how much he works at it).

The thing which made me pissed off as a Bulls fan is that I see that dude can be special. I've played against guys almost that big--it's exceedingly rare to find players at legit 7 feet, even in the NBA, that are as coordinated, agile and have great hand-eye coordination (shooting) as Lauri. In other words, he has all the natural tools to be an absolute beast and a nightmare to guard, and worst of all, we've all seen glimpses of him being such a player. Better than Vuc at his peak.

All I thought was needed was for the Bulls to take his development seriously and ditto for Lauri himself. So, 4 years in, and dude is likely gone for either nothing, or for scraps. Just a waste of space without a single winning season. And, I would be doubly pissed if somebody else actually develops Lauri into the player he could be. Maybe he flames out, who the hell knows, but there's plenty of blame to go around as to why such a promising young player fizzled out 3 years in.

OK, I'll recant my Lauri stan comment.

I think the trap with Lauri is/was the 7 foot label. Being 7 feet only matters if"

1) You can use your height to shoot over smaller defenders without them bothering your shot - he's known this since his rookie year and never improved it.

2) You are able to use your height for alley-oops and finish over opposing bigs. Isn't his game.

3) You are able to use your length as a shot blocker. Isn't his game.

Given that these aren't elements of his game, as such, his height grants him no NBA advantage, and caps his upside.

He is cursed because of that 7 foot label, but not because what his skill set is, but rather what fans expect 7 footer to do. They still expect them to be Lopez brothers or Goberts. But in this year's playoffs Lopez spend more time defending in perimeter than protecting the rim. Gobert, best rim protector in NBA, was the main reason why his team lost. He couldn't defend in perimeter. So idea of being a 7 footer and shot blocker doesn't help your team anymore (it is a bonus). What matters how well you can defend in perimeter. But majority of NBA fans still think that the rim protection is hugely important. They just need to wake up and see that the decade has changed and the key skills for big's have changed too. Teams are playing small because big's usually can't defend in perimeter, but as soon you have 7 footers who can they will be stealing PF, SF, SG and even PG positions from smaller players. To steal PG position you would have to be good ball handler too, so that might take longer.

And that he doesn't use his size? He was way more efficient near the basket than Vucevic. He posted very well, he scored very efficiently under the rim. If that is not taking advantage of his size on offensive end what is?

I don't think Lauri will be a superstar. Never did.. I know lot of Bulls fans expected that, but I think it was more of hype and hope for better future for Bulls than reality. Can he be allstar? Why not. He had more efficient scoring season this year than Vuc have ever had. So if Vuc can be an allstar why can't a player who is more efficient scorer than he and have proven he can keep the efficiently even when his volume increases? He only need to find a team who lets him take that 20 shots in a game. There are probably hundred players who are in same situation, so now it is all about luck. Can he find the team or more likely can that team find him.

[sco]

I've criticized Lauri plenty... for things that are within his control and he deserved to be criticized for. For example, his timid, passive mindset; his Ivan Drago, hoopless off-seasons spent pumping iron; his absent-minded lazy D (previous years) and overall lack of knowledge on HOW to play smart ball.

I've given him quite a few breaks for things out of his control--being asked to stand in the corner like a scarecrow by Jimbo the Great; being criticized that he doesn't handle the ball like a 6'7 wing (that ain't ever happening no matter how much he works at it).

The thing which made me pissed off as a Bulls fan is that I see that dude can be special. I've played against guys almost that big--it's exceedingly rare to find players at legit 7 feet, even in the NBA, that are as coordinated, agile and have great hand-eye coordination (shooting) as Lauri. In other words, he has all the natural tools to be an absolute beast and a nightmare to guard, and worst of all, we've all seen glimpses of him being such a player. Better than Vuc at his peak.

All I thought was needed was for the Bulls to take his development seriously and ditto for Lauri himself. So, 4 years in, and dude is likely gone for either nothing, or for scraps. Just a waste of space without a single winning season. And, I would be doubly pissed if somebody else actually develops Lauri into the player he could be. Maybe he flames out, who the hell knows, but there's plenty of blame to go around as to why such a promising young player fizzled out 3 years in.

OK, I'll recant my Lauri stan comment.

I think the trap with Lauri is/was the 7 foot label. Being 7 feet only matters if"

1) You can use your height to shoot over smaller defenders without them bothering your shot - he's known this since his rookie year and never improved it.

2) You are able to use your height for alley-oops and finish over opposing bigs. Isn't his game.

3) You are able to use your length as a shot blocker. Isn't his game.

Given that these aren't elements of his game, as such, his height grants him no NBA advantage, and caps his upside.

He is cursed because of that 7 foot label, but not because what his skill set is, but rather what fans expect 7 footer to do. They still expect them to be Lopez brothers or Goberts. But in this year's playoffs Lopez spend more time defending in perimeter than protecting the rim. Gobert, best rim protector in NBA, was the main reason why his team lost. He couldn't defend in perimeter. So idea of being a 7 footer and shot blocker doesn't help your team anymore (it is a bonus). What matters how well you can defend in perimeter. But majority of NBA fans still think that the rim protection is hugely important. They just need to wake up and see that the decade has changed and the key skills for big's have changed too. Teams are playing small because big's usually can't defend in perimeter, but as soon you have 7 footers who can they will be stealing PF, SF, SG and even PG positions from smaller players. To steal PG position you would have to be good ball handler too, so that might take longer.

And that he doesn't use his size? He was way more efficient near the basket than Vucevic. He posted very well, he scored very efficiently under the rim. If that is not taking advantage of his size on offensive end what is?

I don't think Lauri will be a superstar. Never did.. I know lot of Bulls fans expected that, but I think it was more of hype and hope for better future for Bulls than reality. Can he be allstar? Why not. He had more efficient scoring season this year than Vuc have ever had. So if Vuc can be an allstar why can't a player who is more efficient scorer than he and have proven he can keep the efficiently even when his volume increases? He only need to find a team who lets him take that 20 shots in a game. There are probably hundred players who are in same situation, so now it is all about luck. Can he find the team or more likely can that team find him.

I think Lauri's best role was that of a SF. He is best suited for face-up moves and slashing, not post-ups and back-downs.

[Hugi Mancura]

OK, I'll recant my Lauri stan comment.

I think the trap with Lauri is/was the 7 foot label. Being 7 feet only matters if"

1) You can use your height to shoot over smaller defenders without them bothering your shot - he's known this since his rookie year and never improved it.

2) You are able to use your height for alley-oops and finish over opposing bigs. Isn't his game.

3) You are able to use your length as a shot blocker. Isn't his game.

Given that these aren't elements of his game, as such, his height grants him no NBA advantage, and caps his upside.

He is cursed because of that 7 foot label, but not because what his skill set is, but rather what fans expect 7 footer to do. They still expect them to be Lopez brothers or Goberts. But in this year's playoffs Lopez spend more time defending in perimeter than protecting the rim. Gobert, best rim protector in NBA, was the main reason why his team lost. He couldn't defend in perimeter. So idea of being a 7 footer and shot blocker doesn't help your team anymore (it is a bonus). What matters how well you can defend in perimeter. But majority of NBA fans still think that the rim protection is hugely important. They just need to wake up and see that the decade has changed and the key skills for big's have changed too. Teams are playing small because big's usually can't defend in perimeter, but as soon you have 7 footers who can they will be stealing PF, SF, SG and even PG positions from smaller players. To steal PG position you would have to be good ball handler too, so that might take longer.

And that he doesn't use his size? He was way more efficient near the basket than Vucevic. He posted very well, he scored very efficiently under the rim. If that is not taking advantage of his size on offensive end what is?

I don't think Lauri will be a superstar. Never did.. I know lot of Bulls fans expected that, but I think it was more of hype and hope for better future for Bulls than reality. Can he be allstar? Why not. He had more efficient scoring season this year than Vuc have ever had. So if Vuc can be an allstar why can't a player who is more efficient scorer than he and have proven he can keep the efficiently even when his volume increases? He only need to find a team who lets him take that 20 shots in a game. There are probably hundred players who are in same situation, so now it is all about luck. Can he find the team or more likely can that team find him.

I think Lauri's best role was that of a SF. He is best suited for face-up moves and slashing, not post-ups and back-downs.

I do agree with this. I think if someone wants him to score on isolation they should put him on midrange facing the basket and not on post even though he was efficient with it this year. Other way would be putting him in pick&pop/roll situations. But if the team where he is playing have Vucevic that team doesn't give him opportunities to be in these situations unless Vuc takes really deep dive and becomes unplayable. So Lauri should really hope he doesn't play in same team as Vuc next year.

[the ultimates]

Despite Lauri being 7ft tall nobody expected him to be a rim protector. In college and the NBA when playing the five you see his lack of defensive awareness and anticipation. Plus this 20 shots a game and he's more efficient than Vuc needs to be put into context. He should be efficient as, unlike Vuc he doesn't see the opposition's best big man defender or have team's gameplan to try and slow him down. Like I said eon's ago in the other Lauri thread. Show me a number one option that's as limited as Lauri.

[Hugi Mancura]

Despite Lauri being 7ft tall nobody expected him to be a rim protector. In college and the NBA when playing the five you see his lack of defensive awareness and anticipation. Plus this 20 shots a game and he's more efficient than Vuc needs to be put into context. He should be efficient as, unlike Vuc he doesn't see the opposition's best big man defender or have team's gameplan to try and slow him down. Like I said eon's ago in the other Lauri thread. Show me a number one option that's as limited as Lauri.

Teams don't build game plans to stop anyone in bad teams and Bulls is one. Lauri was teams second best scorer before Lavine trade and after the trade it was Vuc. Lauri was more efficient scorer in that role than Vuc was. Did neither of them face game plans to stop them? No, as I said teams don't create game plan's to stop bad teams. Good teams should win them without changing their own game. Last year only two times I remember seeing a game plan to stop Bulls player. After Lavine scored that 39 points against Atlanta they had a game plan to stop him in second half. Other one was when Lauri was on fire against NYK, so on second half NYK had a game plan to stop Lauri. Both worked and Bulls lost.

Vuc isn't that great. He is better passer now than Lauri, but that is something he learned after being 8 years in NBA. On everything else? Is he really better than Lauri? He has never been efficient post player, he just had the volume to score those 20+ ppg seasons. He is a good example of a player who really isn't that special, but because of volume he has become an all star. Kevin Love is another example. Those kind of players pop up in bad teams. Players who are good, but because bad teams want to market someone they give these players the touches they need to be star's.

[Andi Obst]

Vuc isn't that great. He is better passer now than Lauri, but that is something he learned after being 8 years in NBA. On everything else? Is he really better than Lauri?

Yes. The answer is yes.

The extent to which some people here are over-thinking Lauri never ceases to amaze me.

[MGB8]

I think Lauri's best role was that of a SF. He is best suited for face-up moves and slashing, not post-ups and back-downs.

Yes... and no. Lauri is a modern 4 - which is the same thing as a SF from the 80's through much of the 2000s. So in terms of "role," I think that you are correct. In terms of "position," though - he's a 4.

Lauri doesn't have enough "wing" abilities (or athleticism) to be a modern 3. He does to be a 4 who has to occasionally defend 3s. As a result, like most modern 4s, he can "pass" at the 3 in stretches but is too limited on both ends to really fill the modern role.

He's in the same category as Gallinari, Tobias Harris, Marcus Morris, Jae Crowder, Rui Hachimura, Deni Avdija, John Collins, etc.
Actually, a good comp for him in terms of his physical abilities and limitations is Luol Deng.

Skill-wise, they are very different. Deng had elite length and defensive basketball IQ, but offensively was limited primarily to mid-range jump shots off of excellent off-ball movement. Lauri doesn't have the length or defensive awareness, but he has an edge in terms of his shooting and natural scoring instincts. They are fairly similar in terms of middling rebounding.

But what's missing from both guys is/was the ball handling and on-ball creation ability that you want from the 3 spot. Lauri also needs to improve his off-ball-movement creation ability, too.

[sco]

I think Lauri's best role was that of a SF. He is best suited for face-up moves and slashing, not post-ups and back-downs.

Yes... and no. Lauri is a modern 4 - which is the same thing as a SF from the 80's through much of the 2000s. So in terms of "role," I think that you are correct. In terms of "position," though - he's a 4.

Lauri doesn't have enough "wing" abilities (or athleticism) to be a modern 3. He does to be a 4 who has to occasionally defend 3s. As a result, like most modern 4s, he can "pass" at the 3 in stretches but is too limited on both ends to really fill the modern role.

He's in the same category as Gallinari, Tobias Harris, Marcus Morris, Jae Crowder, Rui Hachimura, Deni Avdija, John Collins, etc.
Actually, a good comp for him in terms of his physical abilities and limitations is Luol Deng.

Skill-wise, they are very different. Deng had elite length and defensive basketball IQ, but offensively was limited primarily to mid-range jump shots off of excellent off-ball movement. Lauri doesn't have the length or defensive awareness, but he has an edge in terms of his shooting and natural scoring instincts. They are fairly similar in terms of middling rebounding.

But what's missing from both guys is/was the ball handling and on-ball creation ability that you want from the 3 spot. Lauri also needs to improve his off-ball-movement creation ability, too.

Yeah, I think the 3/4 roles have blurred based on teams' respective player strengths. That said, I agree that whatever Lauri is, he isn't an elite defender (although improved to NBA near-average levels) and he isn't a good ball handler or good at off-ball scorer. But he's "young" so Lauri stans can say improvement is just around the corner.

[the ultimates]

Despite Lauri being 7ft tall nobody expected him to be a rim protector. In college and the NBA when playing the five you see his lack of defensive awareness and anticipation. Plus this 20 shots a game and he's more efficient than Vuc needs to be put into context. He should be efficient as, unlike Vuc he doesn't see the opposition's best big man defender or have team's gameplan to try and slow him down. Like I said eon's ago in the other Lauri thread. Show me a number one option that's as limited as Lauri.

Teams don't build game plans to stop anyone in bad teams and Bulls is one. Lauri was teams second best scorer before Lavine trade and after the trade it was Vuc. Lauri was more efficient scorer in that role than Vuc was. Did neither of them face game plans to stop them? No, as I said teams don't create game plan's to stop bad teams. Good teams should win them without changing their own game. Last year only two times I remember seeing a game plan to stop Bulls player. After Lavine scored that 39 points against Atlanta they had a game plan to stop him in second half. Other one was when Lauri was on fire against NYK, so on second half NYK had a game plan to stop Lauri. Both worked and Bulls lost.

Vuc isn't that great. He is better passer now than Lauri, but that is something he learned after being 8 years in NBA. On everything else? Is he really better than Lauri? He has never been efficient post player, he just had the volume to score those 20+ ppg seasons. He is a good example of a player who really isn't that special, but because of volume he has become an all star. Kevin Love is another example. Those kind of players pop up in bad teams. Players who are good, but because bad teams want to market someone they give these players the touches they need to be star's.

Teams create game plans, schemes, and points of emphasis to stop the opposing team's best player or players. It happens regardless if a team is good or not. That's the only sentence I'll read from that post because the fact you think they don't makes anything else put in said post null and void.

[MGB8]

Another comparison would be Doug McDermott.... in fact, looking at the stats from last year, the resemblance is uncanny.

Lauri is a bigger, slightly more athletic, and similarly skilled Doug McDermott. That's not a bad player, at all. McDermott put up 13.6 ppg this year, with 3.3 rb, 1.3 assists in 24.5 minutes per game, on 53% shooting overall and 39% from 3. Lauri, in 25.8 mpg, put up 13.5 ppg, 5.3 rebounds, 0.8 assists on 48% shooting overall and 40% from 3. Similar PERs, Similar TS, Similar win-shares, similar usage rates -- Lauri a better rebounder, Doug somewhat better passing the ball.... And Doug does now play PF, generally....

But the big difference is that Lauri was 23 and Doug was 29, and last year may have been Doug's best season (though he has been effectively the same player as the year prior). Prior to then, he wasn't able to to maintain his relatively elite scoring efficiency at a higher usage rate and not be a big problem defensively. Meanwhile, last season was the first where Lauri showed elite scoring efficiency and reduced defensive issues.... the question is does he have another step or two in development left in him.

https://stathead.com/basketball/pcm_finder.cgi?request=1&sum=0&player_id1=mcderdo01&p1yrfrom=2021&player_id2=markkla01&p2yrfrom=2021

[MGB8]

Yeah, I think the 3/4 roles have blurred based on teams' respective player strengths. That said, I agree that whatever Lauri is, he isn't an elite defender (although improved to NBA near-average levels) and he isn't a good ball handler or good at off-ball scorer. But he's "young" so Lauri stans can say improvement is just around the corner.

In fairness, improvement could be just around the corner. See my above post comparing Lauri with McDermott. Lauri at 23 improved to a level similar to McDermott at 29 (which was a soft build on the level he had jumped to at 28 years old). If Lauri improves his defensive awareness/effort (often comes just with time, and showed some signs last season), off-ball movement awareness and effort (also can come with time), and, maybe most importantly, vision/passing "instincts" (can also come with time and effort)... If he does all that, he could be a better Danillo Gallinari when all is said and done (or at least a similar level player). Though Gallo learned ow to draw fouls / flop at a very high level early on, too, and Lauri would need to add some of that to have similar impact.

But, contra to where I was with Lauri in the past, I think the notion of Lauri playing anything other than emergency minutes at the 5 has passed - he's a pure forward and needs to focus on keeping his weight down and agility up. Focus on just being a 1 position player (4) who might get spot minutes at the 3. Maybe when he nears and passes 30 he can start looking into playing the 5 more.

[sco]

Another comparison would be Doug McDermott.... in fact, looking at the stats from last year, the resemblance is uncanny.

Lauri is a bigger, slightly more athletic, and similarly skilled Doug McDermott. That's not a bad player, at all. McDermott put up 13.6 ppg this year, with 3.3 rb, 1.3 assists in 24.5 minutes per game, on 53% shooting overall and 39% from 3. Lauri, in 25.8 mpg, put up 13.5 ppg, 5.3 rebounds, 0.8 assists on 48% shooting overall and 40% from 3. Similar PERs, Similar TS, Similar win-shares, similar usage rates -- Lauri a better rebounder, Doug somewhat better passing the ball.... And Doug does now play PF, generally....

But the big difference is that Lauri was 23 and Doug was 29, and last year may have been Doug's best season (though he has been effectively the same player as the year prior). Prior to then, he wasn't able to to maintain his relatively elite scoring efficiency at a higher usage rate and not be a big problem defensively. Meanwhile, last season was the first where Lauri showed elite scoring efficiency and reduced defensive issues.... the question is does he have another step or two in development left in him.

https://stathead.com/basketball/pcm_finder.cgi?request=1&sum=0&player_id1=mcderdo01&p1yrfrom=2021&player_id2=markkla01&p2yrfrom=2021

The Douggy point is good. He became much more efficient as a 4/5th option scorer.

[MGB8]

Another comparison would be Doug McDermott.... in fact, looking at the stats from last year, the resemblance is uncanny.

Lauri is a bigger, slightly more athletic, and similarly skilled Doug McDermott. That's not a bad player, at all. McDermott put up 13.6 ppg this year, with 3.3 rb, 1.3 assists in 24.5 minutes per game, on 53% shooting overall and 39% from 3. Lauri, in 25.8 mpg, put up 13.5 ppg, 5.3 rebounds, 0.8 assists on 48% shooting overall and 40% from 3. Similar PERs, Similar TS, Similar win-shares, similar usage rates -- Lauri a better rebounder, Doug somewhat better passing the ball.... And Doug does now play PF, generally....

But the big difference is that Lauri was 23 and Doug was 29, and last year may have been Doug's best season (though he has been effectively the same player as the year prior). Prior to then, he wasn't able to to maintain his relatively elite scoring efficiency at a higher usage rate and not be a big problem defensively. Meanwhile, last season was the first where Lauri showed elite scoring efficiency and reduced defensive issues.... the question is does he have another step or two in development left in him.

https://stathead.com/basketball/pcm_finder.cgi?request=1&sum=0&player_id1=mcderdo01&p1yrfrom=2021&player_id2=markkla01&p2yrfrom=2021

The Douggy point is good. He became much more efficient as a 4/5th option scorer.

I don't know that Doug is really 4th/5th option in most of his minutes. Last 2 years usage rate was 19.6 and 20. Similar to Lauri last season as effectively a 3rd option. Jrue Holiday had a 22.2 usage on the Bucks (and he's their "point guard"). Ben Simmons had a 20.2 usage rate (PG, but 3rd option behind Embiid and Tobias). Norm Powell has a 20.5 usage rate as the 3rd option on the Blazers. Bogs on ATL had a 21.3...

[Tetlak]

Dude, Lauri is a big. He has no perimeter creation ability whatsoever and can't guard anyone smaller than him. He's a tweener in today's NBA and that's a really awful thing to be. Not the type of player you want to pay. Not tough enough for the 5, too big, slow, and unskilled for the 4.

[MGB8]

Dude, Lauri is a big. He has no perimeter creation ability whatsoever and can't guard anyone smaller than him. He's a tweener in today's NBA and that's a really awful thing to be. Not the type of player you want to pay. Not tough enough for the 5, too big, slow, and unskilled for the 4.

Disagree.

First, he actually was passable defensively on the perimeter as the season wore on, and could guard folks that were smaller than him.

Second, while I agree he has no perimeter creation ability, neither did Luol Deng (with the exception of running around some screens). In today's game, Deng is a 4, not a 3 like he was. Markkanen is a better shooter than Deng was, and has similar slasher abilities.

Markkanen isn't a big. He's a forward. It used to be that teams could have two forwards and a big (or a forward and two bigs) on the court together - now a forward is pretty much stuck at the 4 with emergency minutes at the 3 unless they have significant wing (or guard) skills. So Markkanen is a one position player - but that doesn't mean that he's a bad player.

I think there is a middle ground between the Lauri-stans and the Lauri is garbage positions. And this is coming from someone who thinks that Lauri's lack of mental toughness --- his softness --- was the epitome of what was wrong with the Bulls team last season (until Vuc and Theis came in and a culture shift started to happen - in particular with Theis).

[sco]

Dude, Lauri is a big. He has no perimeter creation ability whatsoever and can't guard anyone smaller than him. He's a tweener in today's NBA and that's a really awful thing to be. Not the type of player you want to pay. Not tough enough for the 5, too big, slow, and unskilled for the 4.

Disagree.

First, he actually was passable defensively on the perimeter as the season wore on, and could guard folks that were smaller than him.

Second, while I agree he has no perimeter creation ability, neither did Luol Deng (with the exception of running around some screens). In today's game, Deng is a 4, not a 3 like he was. Markkanen is a better shooter than Deng was, and has similar slasher abilities.

Markkanen isn't a big. He's a forward. It used to be that teams could have two forwards and a big (or a forward and two bigs) on the court together - now a forward is pretty much stuck at the 4 with emergency minutes at the 3 unless they have significant wing (or guard) skills. So Markkanen is a one position player - but that doesn't mean that he's a bad player.

I think there is a middle ground between the Lauri-stans and the Lauri is garbage positions. And this is coming from someone who thinks that Lauri's lack of mental toughness --- his softness --- was the epitome of what was wrong with the Bulls team last season (until Vuc and Theis came in and a culture shift started to happen - in particular with Theis).

Comparing to Deng is a bit flawed...also, there was a big difference between young and old Deng. Young Deng was quick, not to mention a great defender. The 3pt shot wasn't as important in the early part of his career as it is today.

[dougthonus]

He is cursed because of that 7 foot label, but not because what his skill set is, but rather what fans expect 7 footer to do. They still expect them to be Lopez brothers or Goberts. But in this year's playoffs Lopez spend more time defending in perimeter than protecting the rim. Gobert, best rim protector in NBA, was the main reason why his team lost. He couldn't defend in perimeter. So idea of being a 7 footer and shot blocker doesn't help your team anymore (it is a bonus). What matters how well you can defend in perimeter. But majority of NBA fans still think that the rim protection is hugely important. They just need to wake up and see that the decade has changed and the key skills for big's have changed too. Teams are playing small because big's usually can't defend in perimeter, but as soon you have 7 footers who can they will be stealing PF, SF, SG and even PG positions from smaller players. To steal PG position you would have to be good ball handler too, so that might take longer.

Agree that perimeter defense has become pretty critical. Shot blocking is still important though, the Jazz were an elite team and great team largely due to Gobert's defensive presence all year, and their lack of success in the playoffs was at least partially due to the absence of Connelly and the less than full strength health of Mitchell. Gobert was exploited on the perimeter some, but you'd still play a Gobert full time if you had him.

From Lauri's perspective, he's not particularly effective at either defense though, so it's sort of a moot point.

And that he doesn't use his size? He was way more efficient near the basket than Vucevic. He posted very well, he scored very efficiently under the rim. If that is not taking advantage of his size on offensive end what is?

It's like comparing apples and hand grenades. Vucevic creates a lot of his shots near the rim, Lauri is more of an opportunistic scorer. Lots of guys score more efficiently than Vuc by the rim because few guys actually create shots down there. Most get open dunks or drives with heavy advantage not situations where they are asked to generate a shot in the half court.

Those are fundamentally very different things, and if you don't view them that way then you'll start thinking guys like Montrez Harrell and Clint Capela are star centers.

I don't think Lauri will be a superstar. Never did.. I know lot of Bulls fans expected that, but I think it was more of hype and hope for better future for Bulls than reality. Can he be allstar? Why not. He had more efficient scoring season this year than Vuc have ever had. So if Vuc can be an allstar why can't a player who is more efficient scorer than he and have proven he can keep the efficiently even when his volume increases? He only need to find a team who lets him take that 20 shots in a game. There are probably hundred players who are in same situation, so now it is all about luck. Can he find the team or more likely can that team find him.

Again, going back to the last comment, generating your own offense with good efficiently is a lot more valuable than being the beneficiary of someone else's shot creation on very good efficiency. Lauri is still in that second boat, and to become an all-star, he's going to have to generate his own offense while retaining efficiency, if he could do that, then he'd be pretty valuable.

What I have seen subjectively with Lauri is that the defense kind of leaves him, he can make them pay, they start paying attention to him and you get lots of quiet second halves. He's still valuable in that sense because he punishes the defense if they don't stay on him and occupies defenders / draws people away, but that value is less than all-star value by a pretty good amount and when not paired with average or better defense there are some pretty big limitations.

[Louri]

Lauri said in his latest interview that he will stay in his hometown in Finland until his team for next season is decided. Well, good for him, his frisbeegolf skills and family relationships. Don’t know about basketball tho..

[sco]

Lauri said in his latest interview that he will stay in his hometown in Finland until his team for next season is decided. Well, good for him, his frisbeegolf skills and family relationships. Don’t know about basketball tho..

Makes sense.

[Andi Obst]

Lauri said in his latest interview that he will stay in his hometown in Finland until his team for next season is decided. Well, good for him, his frisbeegolf skills and family relationships. Don’t know about basketball tho..

Because you can't play basketball in Finland?