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On Valanciunas - The blasphemy thread
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white men can't jump wrote: View PostHow about the argument that you don't know how evaluate a basketball player? I don't know what else to tell you. You won't be swayed by stats, or people listing off his skills, or the fact that he's young and has a work ethic and motor at an elite level so you know he'll make every effort and improve. Over the course of his still extremely young career, Jonas has shown flashes or consistently brings just about every skill you could possibly want from a true C. That doesn't mean everything he's shown flashes with will become something he can consistently bring, but to think he is what he is, and that that's not good player, at 21 years old still growing into his body, and when he's still even learning English....Yeah, I don't know what to tell you.
*How about the fact that two teams with excellent programs in San Antonio and OKC have been rumored to have interest in him leading back to his draft? Yeah, Jonas must be a low-ceiling player who has no chance of being anything special. It's not like those guys know how to scout talent.
Parker for JV
Harden for JV
Both reportedly offered.
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lilmamba_ wrote: View Postexactly you dont need a wing with all of the above you need wings who has atleast some of the qualifications. we need wings who can compliment each other and co exist.. we already got them
Athletic
Closer
Now they need three \MORE wings for
Ball Handling Skills
Great Defense
High IQ
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Shrub wrote: View PostHe could still be a very good center.
There's room in the NBA for a top 5 center.
But I don't think he's going to be dominant.
So I'm sure there are people who think Jonas will be dominant. But I think most Raptors fans have no illusions of Jonas dominating the league. It's hard to do nowadays anyway.
Jonas came into the league with comparisons like Tyson Chandler, Noah, Varejao, Gortat. And I think he can still get there, in fact I would bet that he will.
As for his vision/creativity, yes, he tunnel visions. He was ranked so high as a prospect because he was relentless, in addition to good size, length, athleticism and touch, not because teams saw a Pau Gasol in him. Now, he's not as bad as Bismack Biyombo, but it's clearly a weakness when you compare him to most all star centers.
I'm more curious about other areas of his development, such as shooting range and overall defense. If he's going to be an all star center, I think it would have to be as a mix of Gortat (offensively) and Asik (defensively), i.e. a fairly mechanic but tough two way center. This is what me and I think many people hoped for while Jonas was still in Europe, and I think he can still get there.
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JV may never become an all-star (all-stars are a joke anyway.. it depends on the conference, and how good the team is). Heck Jameer Nelson was an all-star once. JV will probably never become a hall of famer (well I guess that will be again determined by if the team he's on wins at least 2 championships), but I think he's going to have a pretty good career unless he has some kind of career ending injury early in his career.
7 footers have always been coveted and they probably always will. They also don't grow on trees. Basketball is easier when you have tall guys playing for you. The thing about JV is that he dominated his age group, he can shoot free throws, he has a high motor and is a national hero in a home country that lives and breathes the sport.
He may not be as athletically gifted as Kareem/Shaq or Wilt but he can easily become a center piece of a championship team.
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Brandon wrote:It's not in Valanciunas athletically to be where those guys are. He doesn't have the quickness of Noah or the size and strength of Horford and Hibbert.
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Brandon wrote:...I am not moved by "he's only such-and-such age" arguments. I've been following sports for too long to buy into that crap.
JV has been playing in Europe his whole life, till last year. European basketball is demonstrably different then the NBA. European basketball is consistent throughout it's club system and into it's pro leagues. Therefore JV has had 8 years of a particular style of play, 8 years of expectations on how he (as a center) should play within a Euro style team system. He is now having to forget that style and learn a significantly different style. Not impossible in the least, but it is bound to make him hesitate periodically as old reflexes kick in.
Saying age makes no difference is particularly silly. Not sure how old you are, but most males change quite significantly between the age 20 and 25. If they are working out religiously, they get heavier as they add muscle mass and they get significantly stronger. It will be possible for JV to add 15 - 20 pounds of muscle over the next three years. Adding it while working on his skills will improve his game tremendously. JV, with an extra 20 pounds of well practiced muscle in three years will be bigger, heavier, stronger, more skilled and is going to be a scary, scary proposition for almost any center in the league (world) to face. His shooting mechanics are excellent. He will be a threat out to 18 feet, no problem.
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