The Semih Erden WC thread

[JBcat]

After the World Championships are over place your vote on how well you think Semih will contribute in his Celtics career as the next Euro big man import.  

We have the Dino Radja level which is a very solid player in the NBA.
We have the Vitaly Potapenko level which is serviceable player for a few years.
Last and least we have the Stojko Vrankovic level which is a tease but total bust.  

During the World Championships you can post here on how well you think he is doing.

Semih admitted to being woefully out of shape during the summer league as he was resting up for the World Championships.   In the last exibition game against the likes of Luis Scola and a strong Argentina team he had 15 points and 8 boards in an overtime loss.  If he continues to post a 15 and 8 during this tournament I might consider the Vitaly level as he is still young at 24.  

[GreenShooter]

6-points, 4-rebounds, in 19 minutes in a win over Ivory Coast.

http://turkey2010.fiba.com/pages/eng/fe/10/fwcm/p/gid/3/grid/C/rid/6944/game.html

[ederson]

I don`t know how he`ll do in the WC but i`m pretty sure you`ll create a new level below Stojko`s , the Erden level.

The games against Greece and Russia will be good tests for him

[billysan]

The key for any hope of an NBA career for Erden is if he can rebound and play some defense. It would be nice to see him against Scola, Varejao or Krstic in the WC. That would end or clarify a lot of this speculation we all have.

The reality is, we will not know what kind of NBA game potential he has until we see him in camp against KG and JO. Then hopefully in a preseason game or two. If he is moderately athletic when in shape and not afraid to bang down low, he has a good chance to make the roster.

I think we will see him work with Clifford Ray a lot if he makes the roster. The D league would be a part of his future as well. I am surprised we havent heard any news about him working with anyone yet.


It is really still too early to make anything but an uninformed prediction.

[Rondo_is_better]

Semih Erden >>>>> Tim Duncan

[ACF]

Where's the "Garbage minutes level" option?

[guava_wrench]

Where's the "Garbage minutes level" option?

Garbage minutes is actually pretty good. That means you actually make the roster and are active for games.

[Celtics4ever]

Get real, Vitaly was one of the worst to ever lace on our sneakers.  Hands of stone, bad rebounder and horrible defender what's to like.  Greg Kite could have played just as good in extended minutes.   Dude played hard just aside from his strength he had very little assets.

[billysan]

Where's the "Garbage minutes level" option?

Garbage minutes is actually pretty good. That means you actually make the roster and are active for games.

That could be really good or really bad news.

If he is that 'good' I would maybe look for him to be used in a deal at the deadline. If he is that 'bad' we will be talking about the players we should draft by the time Easter roles around.

[FrDrake]

Do ya'll know that Vitally is an assistant coach for Jim O'Brien?  The big man is still sitting at the end of an NBA bench, for which he deserves some credit.  He even paid his dues in the D-league:

http://www.nba.com/pacers/news/potapenko_hired_100630.html

[the_Bird]

Do ya'll know that Vitally is an assistant coach for Jim O'Brien?  The big man is still sitting at the end of an NBA bench, for which he deserves some credit.

Walt McCarty is an assistant coach for O'bie (he spent last year working for Rick Pitino).  You thinking of him?

EDIT:  Huh, you're right.  That's odd.  Wouldn't have thunk that.
http://hoopshype.com/Library/teams/indiana.htm

EDIT 2: Hey, Antoine needs a job...   what are the odds that O'bie does his former captain a solid and gets him a paycheck?

[BballTim]

EDIT 2: Hey, Antoine needs a job...   what are the odds that O'bie does his former captain a solid and gets him a paycheck?

  He would, but I doubt he could get Antoine to agree to not shoot the ball from the bench (just a long three...).

[Birdman]

Reminds me of Greg Kite

[Assassin70]

Reminds me of Greg Kite

I highly doubt he will get as many career starts as Greg did.

He will only remind me of Greg once he sits on our bench for the next 2 years and has some 2 rings to show for it.   

[Change]

Watched him a little. He is actually not that bad. Very mobile for a big guy. His help defense and recovery time was exceptional. Decent post defender. Rebounds well in traffic, although that is yet to determined with all the banging inside in the NBA. He does however have enough bulk that it shouldn't deter him. Offensively he seems raw & sloppy. He does not have much post-game.

This year he is good enough to be 5th big till Perk comes back. But remains long term project who'll need hours with Redd to work on his game. A big guy with his mobility, I think he can a good defender in the NBA.