I voted no, but I do wonder if he might have Terry Rozier like trajectory. Rozier looked awful early on, but hit another gear seemingly out of nowhere.
It wasn't out of nowhere for me. I saw signs even in his rookie year.
Nor for me.
What I was seeing: Quick, flexible, “juicy“ joints – combined with good length and fine motor skills. It turns out that he has an exemplary work ethic and a winner’s mentality as well; combine those together, and there’s a high probability that a player will develop an effective jumpshot and other skills that he needs.
I know that there is a reckoning coming next summer, but I’d say that the Celtics are very fortunate to have a backup ballhandler like him, at least for this season. I think that it is apparent from the preseason games that he’s put time over the summer into finishing in the paint, finding open teammates, and making uncontested midrange jumpers off the dribble.
I don't see the same potential in Yabu, despite really wanting to.
I am in more of the “glass half full“ school when it comes to him than you are, I think. His upside is “triple threat big man“; the coaching staff had him working during summer league on facilitating the offense from up top, where he could make decisions, drive, shoot, or make a play. His skill set is very unusual for someone his size, so, no matter how his future in Boston turns out, he’s going to keep getting chances.
I would not place too much store in his shooting percentages, by the way. The sample size is just too small. If he had made two more of the three pointers that he took, he would have shot .378 - and posters would see him very differently. Two shots missed or made is essentially noise in the data.
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Topic: Poll: Exercise or Decline Yabusele's Third-Year Option? (Read 6720 times)