Antetokounmpo Highlights!! (Will grow to 7 feet)

[ReasonablySober]

If we can somehow build a coherent offense with a Giannis/Henson/Sanders frontcourt, we'd have a silly team. Just on length alone that trio would cause all kinds of problems.

We should be starting all three right now. It's beyond obvious that we're not going anywhere this year, so why not let your youth gain valuable experience and grow together?

I can't help but get the feeling that one or two or them will be traded in the next few years. Hell, maybe even this year. After the Harris fiasco, we can never be too sure.

Because the Bucks would win more. It might mean the difference between getting the 3rd most ping pong balls and the 8th. If you're Larry Drew and you have a long term deal, you'd rather be coaching Jabari Parker or julius Randle next season than Willie Cauley Stein.

[cinematographer]

The stats back it up.

Of the Thunder's eight most used lineups, the one featuring three guards, Durant at the four and Ibaka:

Westbrook
Jackson
Sefolosha
Durant
Ibaka

has the highest NET this season at +48. It actually doubles the next best lineup (Jackson, Sefolosha, Durant, Ibaka, Perkins) at +24. But the third most effective lineup at +23? Another with three guards: Fisher, Westbrook, Jackson, Durant and Ibaka.

It isn't just the Thunder with KD: Wayne Winston has shown that any lineup featuring any four outside shooters will score at prodigious levels.

The trouble, of course, is they are very prone to variance.

[ReasonablySober]

I honestly don't understand the worry of Giannis being a four. Remove every other player on the team and look at this in a vacuum: wouldn't it be ideal if the Bucks had a power forward that could run the floor, be disruptive on defense, facilitate the offense and shoot from all over the court?

I understand it if you're hoping the future frontcourt is Giannis/Henson/Sanders. That length is silly. But spacing becomes a serious issue because Henson has shown nothing thus far to make anyone believe his game offensively resides anywhere outside of around the hoop.

If you can stomach the idea that either Sanders or Henson should go, it's a lot easier to picture how the roster shapes up in the future. You have the rim protecting defender in Henson/Sanders, and four guys to space the floor. Ideally you've got Giannis at the four where he becomes some weird KG/Dirk (both SF's as young rookies) hybrid, and another wing/PG from this draft class next to them. Add whatever you get for Henson/Sanders/Ilyasova to the lineup and you've got a core.

[skones]

I honestly don't understand the worry of Giannis being a four. Remove every other player on the team and look at this in a vacuum: wouldn't it be ideal if the Bucks had a power forward that could run the floor, be disruptive on defense, facilitate the offense and shoot from all over the court?

Well yeah, because at the power forward position, he's altering the way the defense works in opposition to the team. He'd be one of the biggest matchup nightmares in the NBA if he bcomes that type of player, moreso at power forward than small forward IMO.

[paulpressey25]

Because the Bucks would win more. It might mean the difference between getting the 3rd most ping pong balls and the 8th. If you're Larry Drew and you have a long term deal, you'd rather be coaching Jabari Parker or julius Randle next season than Willie Cauley Stein.

Quote of the week.

Cauley Stein is a good prospect, but his name has a perfect humorous tone to it for the comparison. Well done!

Frankly, I see zero reason to trade Sanders or Henson. Great teams have depth at the bigs position. No reason Henson can't be sixth man and play 25mpg at PF or C.

[cinematographer]

I honestly don't understand the worry of Giannis being a four.

I don't understand any worry about any wing player potentially being a new-four, as if versatility is the wrong thing.

The Knicks are best with Carmelo at the four.

The Heat are best with LeBron at the four.

The Thunder are best with Durant at the four.

The Rockets are best with Terrance Jones at the four.

Whatever team drafts Parker will be best with Parker at the four.

I don't understand this opposition to non-traditional lineups. I get that people want the length of a Henson/Sanders/Giannis front court, but as you said, the spacing would be a severe constraint.

I don't understand the stigma that some perceive, or the slight they think exists for a "traditional" small forward to be used as 4. It's not about what a player can play, it's about what a player can be BEST at.

[breakchains]

I really want to see him get to bring the ball up and create. I think he's a natural facilitator who sees the court really well. In his limited action, I have seen some serious point guard instincts.

[cinematographer]

I really want to see him get to bring the ball up and create. I think he's a natural facilitator who sees the court really well. In his limited action, I have seen some serious point guard instincts.

Yep, and he'd be even better facilitating with three shooters next to him, rather than the hooves or whatever body parts Henson and Sanders use to shoot jumpers with.

[breakchains]

I really want to see him get to bring the ball up and create. I think he's a natural facilitator who sees the court really well. In his limited action, I have seen some serious point guard instincts.

Yep, and he'd be even better facilitating with three shooters next to him, rather than the hooves or whatever body parts Henson and Sanders use to shoot jumpers with.

Yeah, I'm of the opinion at this point that we should trade one of those two. I'd especially consider trading Sanders, because if his contract is market value, he should bring back a real return.

[runasone]

I like the idea of Giannis getting most of his minutes at the 4, and Henson getting 25-30 a night as a 6th man. But I'm also curious about what you guys think about this hypothetical: If someone offered the 10th pick in this year's draft for Henson, would you take it? I've been going back and forth on it in my head.

[cinematographer]

I like the idea of Giannis getting most of his minutes at the 4, and Henson getting 25-30 a night as a 6th man. But I'm also curious about what you guys think about this hypothetical: If someone offered the 10th pick in this year's draft for Henson, would you take it? I've been going back and forth on it in my head.

I like the idea of Giannis getting most of minutes next to three other shooters or wings. Knight, Middleton, Wiggins or Exum or Parker.

As for the hypothetical: probably, but I couldn't decide until seeing a) who declares and b) what Henson does from now until then.

[breakchains]

If someone offered the 10th pick in this year's draft for Henson, would you take it?

Absolutely.

[Ayt]

I honestly don't understand the worry of Giannis being a four. Remove every other player on the team and look at this in a vacuum: wouldn't it be ideal if the Bucks had a power forward that could run the floor, be disruptive on defense, facilitate the offense and shoot from all over the court?

Well yeah, because at the power forward position, he's altering the way the defense works in opposition to the team. He'd be one of the biggest matchup nightmares in the NBA if he bcomes that type of player, moreso at power forward than small forward IMO.

I definitely agree with that. He gains a huge amount of value in my eyes if he can become a PF later in his career.

[GrapeApe]

I honestly don't understand the worry of Giannis being a four. Remove every other player on the team and look at this in a vacuum: wouldn't it be ideal if the Bucks had a power forward that could run the floor, be disruptive on defense, facilitate the offense and shoot from all over the court?

Well yeah, because at the power forward position, he's altering the way the defense works in opposition to the team. He'd be one of the biggest matchup nightmares in the NBA if he bcomes that type of player, moreso at power forward than small forward IMO.

I definitely agree with that. He gains a huge amount of value in my eyes if he can become a PF later in his career.

It depends on the match up. A tradition 4 will simply muscle him out of the way. He might be fine defending against skin strecth fours but anyone with any muscle will just push him around. Watching last nights game he was getting embarassed by Gerald Wallace. I am not saying he can not improve but to play the 4 he will have to gain a lot of muscle.

A strange as it sounds I worry he could grow too much. Look at Donte Green and Earl Clark, both tall for their possition with gaurd like skills yet it didn't translate into the NBA. Being tall is a great asset when shooting and rebounding but it becomes a liability when dribbling. There is a reason the NBA has typical ranges of height for each position. It is not bias. It is trial and error.

[KidA24]

I really want to see him get to bring the ball up and create. I think he's a natural facilitator who sees the court really well. In his limited action, I have seen some serious point guard instincts.

Agree completely.

They need to lock him in a room with highlights of Magic Johnson pushing the ball up the court. I don't think Giannis will ever be that good, but I think he could bring that type of dynamic speed and single handedly give the team more fast break opportunities.

[raferfenix]

KG and Dirk both developed post games as they entered the prime of their careers.

The Bucks haven't had a significant post-up threat at the 4 since...Vin Baker.

If Giannis can add that to his arsenal I'd feel a lot better about banking on him being a PF. Otherwise I don't see a need to pigeonhole him based on the added versatility he could provide there.

[EastSideBucksFan]

Five weeks into his first season it is not inconceivable that Antetokounmpo could become the best player in this unusually unproductive draft class. Last weekend in Milwaukee he played 28 minutes in a win against the Celtics while contributing 10 points, seven rebounds, four assists and the game-changing sequence. It began with a turnover committed by Antetokounmpo, which horrified him.

"I make the mistake," he said in a high-pitched Greek accent. "The only thing that I can do to help my teammates is take the ball back. So I try: I run towards my friend, and I try to block the shot, and I get the ball back."

His "friend" was Boston guard Jordan Crawford, who assumed he had broken away for a layup when Antetokounmpo ran him down like a stretched-out Usain Bolt. "Some guys will give up on a play like that - they'll turn the ball over and then it's a woe-is-me type of body language," said Bucks coach Larry Drew. "I didn't think he had a chance, to be honest with you."

Then Antetokounmpo was turning back the other way, outsprinting all his friends to finish an alley-oop lob violently in transition. "That was my goal," he said. "That was my mistake: I try to correct immediately."

Read More: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/nba/ne ... z2mWNXnBzb

[raferfenix]

Imagine if the Bucks come out of the lottery with a future star: They could enter next season with Andrew Wiggins or Jabari Parker to go with a promising core of Antetokounmpo, Larry Sanders and John Henson.

Come on Kohl, imagine this and make it happen!

[Nebula1]

Five weeks into his first season it is not inconceivable that Antetokounmpo could become the best player in this unusually unproductive draft class. Last weekend in Milwaukee he played 28 minutes in a win against the Celtics while contributing 10 points, seven rebounds, four assists and the game-changing sequence. It began with a turnover committed by Antetokounmpo, which horrified him.

"I make the mistake," he said in a high-pitched Greek accent. "The only thing that I can do to help my teammates is take the ball back. So I try: I run towards my friend, and I try to block the shot, and I get the ball back."

His "friend" was Boston guard Jordan Crawford, who assumed he had broken away for a layup when Antetokounmpo ran him down like a stretched-out Usain Bolt. "Some guys will give up on a play like that - they'll turn the ball over and then it's a woe-is-me type of body language," said Bucks coach Larry Drew. "I didn't think he had a chance, to be honest with you."

Then Antetokounmpo was turning back the other way, outsprinting all his friends to finish an alley-oop lob violently in transition. "That was my goal," he said. "That was my mistake: I try to correct immediately."

Read More: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/nba/ne ... z2mWNXnBzb

viewtopic.php?f=21&t=1285347&start=120

[LUKE23]

Yep, assuming Sanders start was an aberration, we're one dynamic star offensive player away, in my mind.