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2020 NBA Draft

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Muffinalt said:
Pokusevski man, such an interesting profile. I hope he works out, I just want to see a player like him in the NBA.
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Hard to find good comparison points for him, but interesting to compare/contrast with other guys who played in the U18 Euros. Here I'll look at Porzingis, who's similar in some ways, and Sabonis, who's a more "typical" elite Euro center prospect (per 40 stats).

Sabonis: 21.2 points (.55/.33/.55 shooting), 0.5 3PA, 6.2 Oreb, 11.1 Dreb, 2.2 assists, 3.4 turnovers, 1.2 steals, 0.7 blocks, 3.4 fouls
Porzingis: 15.6 points (.45/.19/.69 shooting), 2.4 3PA, 4.5 Oreb, 9.0 Dreb, 0.6 assists, 1.9 turnovers, 1.5 steals, 6.6 blocks, 4.2 fouls
Pokusevski: 15.3 points (.29/.26/.70 shooting), 8.1 3PA, 1.5 Oreb, 9.8 Dreb, 6.0 assists, 4.5 turnovers, 3.8 steals, 6.2 blocks, 4.0 fouls

Comparing Porzingis to Sabonis, you can see clear strengths and weaknesses. Porzingis was a far inferior scorer, seriously limited by his frail frame. However, he did take significantly more 3's, and he blocked shots at an absurd rate.

Pokusevski is basically an even stranger version of Porzingis. His 29% shooting from the field was shockingly bad for a player with NBA aspirations. Similarly, 1.5 offensive rebounds per 40 is an unbelievably low rate for a 7-footer. On the other hand, his defensive rebound/block/foul numbers were every bit as good as Porzingis, and amazingly he averaged over twice as many 3's, assists and steals as Sabonis and Porzingis combined.
 
Nathan S said:
Hard to find good comparison points for him, but interesting to compare/contrast with other guys who played in the U18 Euros. Here I'll look at Porzingis, who's similar in some ways, and Sabonis, who's a more "typical" elite Euro center prospect (per 40 stats).

Sabonis: 21.2 points (.55/.33/.55 shooting), 0.5 3PA, 6.2 Oreb, 11.1 Dreb, 2.2 assists, 3.4 turnovers, 1.2 steals, 0.7 blocks, 3.4 fouls
Porzingis: 15.6 points (.45/.19/.69 shooting), 2.4 3PA, 4.5 Oreb, 9.0 Dreb, 0.6 assists, 1.9 turnovers, 1.5 steals, 6.6 blocks, 4.2 fouls
Pokusevski: 15.3 points (.29/.26/.70 shooting), 8.1 3PA, 1.5 Oreb, 9.8 Dreb, 6.0 assists, 4.5 turnovers, 3.8 steals, 6.2 blocks, 4.0 fouls

Comparing Porzingis to Sabonis, you can see clear strengths and weaknesses. Porzingis was a far inferior scorer, seriously limited by his frail frame. However, he did take significantly more 3's, and he blocked shots at an absurd rate.

Pokusevski is basically an even stranger version of Porzingis. His 29% shooting from the field was shockingly bad for a player with NBA aspirations. Similarly, 1.5 offensive rebounds per 40 is an unbelievably low rate for a 7-footer. On the other hand, his defensive rebound/block/foul numbers were every bit as good as Porzingis, and amazingly he averaged over twice as many 3's, assists and steals as Sabonis and Porzingis combined.
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Have you thought about our own Zydrunas Ilgauskas (pre-injuries...and at the same age, of course) for your comparisons?
 
adam81king said:
Have you thought about our own Zydrunas Ilgauskas (pre-injuries...and at the same age, of course) for your comparisons?
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I don't know enough about pre-draft Z to make an educated comparison. I know he could shoot and he had a broken foot, and I'm vaguely aware that he grew up playing PG or something?
 
adam81king said:
Have you thought about our own Zydrunas Ilgauskas (pre-injuries...and at the same age, of course) for your comparisons?
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Sounds like I have a good excuse to post old Big Z footage.


You can see even when Z was a skinny rookie, he had a longer standing reach and wider shoulders. If not for the foot injuries, Z could have carried a lot more muscle mass. Pokusevski has very narrow shoulders and a very high base. I've heard people compare him to AK-47, which is a good parallel for his frame and high defensive motor. I think his jumper has more potential than Kirilenko, but like everyone else in this draft, it's just potential until the player reaches that potential.
 
Derek said:
Luka was special. What he did against EL competition is so far above and beyond what teenagers (even highly regarded ones) ever do there. It won’t be soon repeated.

Saying you wanted Deni to tear up the EL like him is like saying you wish Anthony Edwards had dominated HS like LeBron.

Obviously, that’d be ideal, but not accomplishing that feat shouldn’t be held against him.
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wth with that? Luka was the gd EL MVP and he went 3rd overall behind 2 lesser players and you think what Deni didn't do in EL can't be held against him yet Luka earned it whereas Deni has shown nothing to come even remotely close to that level of player and isn't going to get him top 6 looks by anyone with any real scouting ability. If this draft is that bad that Deni really is a top 6 option, the Cavs should use their lottery pick to dump KLove for a late first in 21. and roll it back with no new rookies at all. sheesh
 
What I've been seeing is Deni Avdija has taken advantage of the Israeli Premier League the past few weeks, showing that his body is getting closer to NBA shape, and showing better shot selection and a higher field goal percentage. I believe if you made up your mind about him before league play, you wouldn't believe he has the potential to go in the top 6. We are still early in the draft process and making definitive statements now probably won't age well.
 
Ozone said:
wth with that? Luka was the gd EL MVP and he went 3rd overall behind 2 lesser players and you think what Deni didn't do in EL can't be held against him yet Luka earned it whereas Deni has shown nothing to come even remotely close to that level of player and isn't going to get him top 6 looks by anyone with any real scouting ability. If this draft is that bad that Deni really is a top 6 option, the Cavs should use their lottery pick to dump KLove for a late first in 21. and roll it back with no new rookies at all. sheesh
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I don't even understand what you're trying to argue here.

I called Luka the LeBron of EL prospects. It was an absolute gaffe by talent evaluators that he wasn't a unanimous #1 pick.

So, no, I don't think you can hold it against Deni that he's not dominating the league as a teenager. It's rare for teenagers to even get rotation minutes.
 
Here is a recent article which highlights the reason Deni Avdija is rising on a lot of boards:

www.forbes.com

Deni Avdija Has Worked Himself Into A Top-5 Prospect In The 2020 NBA Draft

The 19-year-old forward has completely overhauled his shooting mechanics, which changes his outlook drastically.
www.forbes.com www.forbes.com

It's not just better stats in more minutes, he changed his shot and the results are on full display.
 
Randolphkeys said:
Here is a recent article which highlights the reason Deni Avdija is rising on a lot of boards:

www.forbes.com

Deni Avdija Has Worked Himself Into A Top-5 Prospect In The 2020 NBA Draft

The 19-year-old forward has completely overhauled his shooting mechanics, which changes his outlook drastically.
www.forbes.com www.forbes.com

It's not just better stats in more minutes, he changed his shot and the results are on full display.
Click to expand...

Yep. Draft guys will tell you that improvement is one of the most important things to look for. A guy who can change his shot, can change a lot. Even just knowing your weaknesses goes a long way.

That's why Edwards is still a high upside pick. He wasn't on the radar, and then he was. He, like our own Sexton, willed himself into the conversation, and should be viewed as a guy who can improve. I don't want him, I am just saying he has improved so much in a few years, there is no reason to think it won't continue.

It's also why I am so wary of Ball. He has thought for years and years that he would be an NBA player, and he still hasn't improved that whack jumper. At this point there is a Simmons feeling to it.
 
Randolphkeys said:
Sounds like I have a good excuse to post old Big Z footage.


You can see even when Z was a skinny rookie, he had a longer standing reach and wider shoulders. If not for the foot injuries, Z could have carried a lot more muscle mass. Pokusevski has very narrow shoulders and a very high base. I've heard people compare him to AK-47, which is a good parallel for his frame and high defensive motor. I think his jumper has more potential than Kirilenko, but like everyone else in this draft, it's just potential until the player reaches that potential.
Click to expand...

Unusual thing (well, one of many unusual things) about Pokusevski defensively is that he's not unusually hyperactive or high-motor, from my understanding. Some scouting reports even criticize his motor. He's just always in the right place at the right time, and has sneaky reflexes and athleticism. This brings me to my favorite bizarre Pokusevski stat out of many bizarre Pokusevski stats:

2nd highest block rate in his league (yawn)
5th highest steal rate in his league (yawn)
5th lowest foul rate in his league (?!?!?!??!?!?!?!?!)
 
Nathan S said:
Unusual thing (well, one of many unusual things) about Pokusevski defensively is that he's not unusually hyperactive or high-motor, from my understanding. Some scouting reports even criticize his motor. He's just always in the right place at the right time, and has sneaky reflexes and athleticism. This brings me to my favorite bizarre Pokusevski stat out of many bizarre Pokusevski stats:

2nd highest block rate in his league (yawn)
5th highest steal rate in his league (yawn)
5th lowest foul rate in his league (?!?!?!??!?!?!?!?!)
Click to expand...

Do people think he has to play center? he looks like a 3 to me. Why can't he play like Dirk or Durant?
 
Cavatt said:
Do people think he has to play center? he looks like a 3 to me. Why can't he play like Dirk or Durant?
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I think I've seen him listed at all 5 positions lol. Who knows. If you look at his per-40 stats and ignore defensive rebounds and blocks, you could easily think he was a point guard.

G73PR.png
 
Randolphkeys said:
Here is a recent article which highlights the reason Deni Avdija is rising on a lot of boards:

www.forbes.com

Deni Avdija Has Worked Himself Into A Top-5 Prospect In The 2020 NBA Draft

The 19-year-old forward has completely overhauled his shooting mechanics, which changes his outlook drastically.
www.forbes.com www.forbes.com

It's not just better stats in more minutes, he changed his shot and the results are on full display.
Click to expand...
false his mechanics did not change at all. lol
his competition got weaker and he still was not much better from 3.
I think Mr.Forbes should stick to low interest rate no return cd selling
 
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