Evan Mobley: 2023 All Defensive 1st Team

[Bailivia]

That Russell video is crazy. I had never really watched highlights of him. Mobely's body movements are eerily similar. Russell's foul shooting form though... oof.

Also, I never understood why more big men didn't try to perfect the full sky hook ala Russell and Kareem (not the little baby hook you see today occassionally). It's an unstoppable shot.

 

[macbdog]

Here's a short video of Russell in his prime. In 5 minutes of highlights, I counted 8 blocks by Russell. He'd be a superstar today.

Not really seeing the Mobley comp, only real comp I saw was the similarity to Tacko Fall's free throw shooting. Russell owned the paint defensively then, though; the internet needs to find out who that ref was calling those 3 late bullshit calls, he was clearly attempting to get the Lakers back into the game. Anyhoo, I still see the Camby comps, only Mobes has an offensive game.

 

[The Human Q-Tip]

Not really seeing the Mobley comp, only real comp I saw was the similarity to Tacko Fall's free throw shooting. Russell owned the paint defensively then, though; the internet needs to find out who that ref was calling those 3 late bullshit calls, he was clearly attempting to get the Lakers back into the game. Anyhoo, I still see the Camby comps, only Mobes has an offensive game.

To be clear, I wasn't trying to compare Mobley to Russell. I was more looking at the potential impact of a mobile defensive big who sees the court that well. So more of a conceptual comparison than a direct comparison between the players. Watching Mobley, you can see how -- when he's really on -- he completely disrupts the entire offense of the other team. So even if he's not scoring, he's actually the dominant guy on the court in those stretches. That was how Russell was always portrayed -- that he dominated the game even though others might be scoring more. Seeing Mobley in action made it easier to imagine how the reality of Russell lived up to the legend.

Now, even seeing those short clips, Russell looks better to me defensively than does Mobley. Of course, age and experience obviously are huge factors, and the individual player comparison may be stronger in a few years.

Offensively, they're very different. At least as of now, Russell looks much more smooth in the post than does Mobley, though Mobley does look like he has much more potential as a shooter.

 

[Lee]

To be clear, I wasn't trying to compare Mobley to Russell. I was more looking at the potential impact of a mobile defensive big who sees the court that well. So more of a conceptual comparison than a direct comparison between the players. Watching Mobley, you can see how -- when he's really on -- he completely disrupts the entire offense of the other team. So even if he's not scoring, he's actually the dominant guy on the court in those stretches. That was how Russell was always portrayed -- that he dominated the game even though others might be scoring more. Seeing Mobley in action made it easier to imagine how the reality of Russell lived up to the legend.

Now, even seeing those short clips, Russell looks better to me defensively than does Mobley. Of course, age and experience obviously are huge factors, and the individual player comparison may be stronger in a few years.

Offensively, they're very different. At least as of now, Russell looks much more smooth in the post than does Mobley, though Mobley does look like he has much more potential as a shooter.

Any player before the 70's is not worth comparing, the game had a huge change then. I really cant find any defensive players that compar. I see Bosh offensively, but cant find anyone defensively. I think Mobley could become a top 5 defensive big man of the modern era. His ability to truly guard 1-5 is amazing. No one drives on him. No one, they all back it out and pass out. What is scary is since he is a rookie, he will improve, when area will be closing out on 3-point shooters...it will happen, this is rookie defense and he is already a top 5 defensive big man in the league, its really crazy.

 

[buzzdog]

To be clear, I wasn't trying to compare Mobley to Russell. I was more looking at the potential impact of a mobile defensive big who sees the court that well. So more of a conceptual comparison than a direct comparison between the players. Watching Mobley, you can see how -- when he's really on -- he completely disrupts the entire offense of the other team. So even if he's not scoring, he's actually the dominant guy on the court in those stretches. That was how Russell was always portrayed -- that he dominated the game even though others might be scoring more. Seeing Mobley in action made it easier to imagine how the reality of Russell lived up to the legend.

Now, even seeing those short clips, Russell looks better to me defensively than does Mobley. Of course, age and experience obviously are huge factors, and the individual player comparison may be stronger in a few years.

Offensively, they're very different. At least as of now, Russell looks much more smooth in the post than does Mobley, though Mobley does look like he has much more potential as a shooter.

Watching the old Russell clips I can definitely see some similarities to how Russel moved around, vertical and still body language until the moment when he would attack to contest, very similar to Mobley's defensive style. I think it's an apt comparison in the defensive aspect. Otherwise it's hard to see similarities between the two eras, the modern skill set and athleticism of all the surrounding players is so radically different.

 

[The Human Q-Tip]

Watching the old Russell clips I can definitely see some similarities to how Russel moved around, vertical and still body language until the moment when he would attack to contest, very similar to Mobley's defensive style. I think it's an apt comparison in the defensive aspect. Otherwise it's hard to see similarities between the two eras, the modern skill set and athleticism of all the surrounding players is so radically different.

Russell was springy as hell in that video. Defensively, his movements were just incredible by any standard.

 

[jjvors]

That Russell video is crazy. I had never really watched highlights of him. Mobely's body movements are eerily similar. Russell's foul shooting form though... oof.

Also, I never understood why more big men didn't try to perfect the full sky hook ala Russell and Kareem (not the little baby hook you see today occassionally). It's an unstoppable shot.

The sky hook is a hard shot under pressure and intense defense. Kareem practiced that from junior high through college.

 

[jjvors]

Looks like a baby deer sometimes. Poor little fella is just learning to walk

He grew quickly into his height, like Anthony Davis, from 6 2 to 6 11, or David Robinson from 6 7 to 7 2.

My growth spurt was from 5 feet tall in 6th grade to 6 feet in 9th. I was probably more awkward than Mobley.

 

[jjvors]

To be clear, I wasn't trying to compare Mobley to Russell. I was more looking at the potential impact of a mobile defensive big who sees the court that well. So more of a conceptual comparison than a direct comparison between the players. Watching Mobley, you can see how -- when he's really on -- he completely disrupts the entire offense of the other team. So even if he's not scoring, he's actually the dominant guy on the court in those stretches. That was how Russell was always portrayed -- that he dominated the game even though others might be scoring more. Seeing Mobley in action made it easier to imagine how the reality of Russell lived up to the legend.

Now, even seeing those short clips, Russell looks better to me defensively than does Mobley. Of course, age and experience obviously are huge factors, and the individual player comparison may be stronger in a few years.

Offensively, they're very different. At least as of now, Russell looks much more smooth in the post than does Mobley, though Mobley does look like he has much more potential as a shooter.

That video was when Russell was 29. It'll be cool to see Mobley in 9 years.

 

[cabs]

Giannis just showed the cavs what we need to feed Mobley for muscle bulk and it’s a local dish too. Thank Greek Freak

 

[buzzdog]

That video was when Russell was 29. It'll be cool to see Mobley in 9 years.

He'll be some hybridized version of Russell, Olajuwon, Garnett, Aldrich, Durant, and Nance senior by then.

 

[foucault87]

All your comps are bad. Mobley reminds me of Paul Pierce

 

[Jscc]

He'll be some hybridized version of Russell, Olajuwon, Garnett, Aldrich, Durant, and Nance senior by then.

I hope he watches a lot of tape on KD, especially KDs dribbling and ball-handling.

 

[2 For The Brew]

Presented without comment:

 

[MattyFos.]

He grew quickly into his height, like Anthony Davis, from 6 2 to 6 11, or David Robinson from 6 7 to 7 2.

My growth spurt was from 5 feet tall in 6th grade to 6 feet in 9th. I was probably more awkward than Mobley.

I almost said "moves like a kid adjusting to a growth spurt." Thanks for the info. When his frame fills out he's gonna be beastier than he currently is