Stephane Lasme

[Chris]

I didn't get to see the game last night, but people seem to be raving about Lasme's play.  Looking at his stat-line, I'm underwhelmed:  2 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 0 steals, 0 blocks, 0 turnovers, 50% shooting, 2 personal fouls, and one thunderous dunk in 10 minutes.

What was it that he did to impress people?  Was it just the drive and dunk?  Did he play smothering defense?  Did he move the ball well?

I loved Lasme's production in the first game, and I root for any guy who plays with heart and hustle.  I hope he becomes an NBA player.  However, I'm still not as excited as maybe a lot of his supporters are.

I was completely underwhelmed by him last night.  He fumbled away 3-4 balls, and looked lost at times.  He also was being overpowered constantly in the post.  His only real positive was a loud dunk that never would have happened if Bargnani even tried to step in the lane (or his own man didn't show him the lane with no help).

Basically, he is a heck of an athlete, with very little basketball skill, and questionable hands.  He is a less skilled, and significantly weaker Leon Powe.

[Jevi]

I do see some Powe in Lasme. Although Powe has more ups than him. Stephane is only 215lbs. He needs to go down and play in the NBDL for some refinement. When I said he can shift to either forward spot, it was based on his scouting report. His highlights so far only prove he can blow by Europeans, calm down. I could've swore C's were looking for a shooting SF for that 15th spot. He's still on the bubble til he shows some versatility guarding small forwards. Keeping the roster spot open would probably be unpopular to fans now I imagine. I still want a 3pt shooting SF, but I'm pulling for him and his family.

 

[Q_FBE]

I doubt Lasme has any chance to make the team. He'll be one of those hard working journeymen who will pay their bills from 10 day contracts.

That said, I admire the enthusiasm for a player that we will quickly forget about until old memories are rehashed about the Brandon Hunter Award (Summer League and Training Camp heroes).

[makaveli]

I like Lasme, I'm just goona say that, afterall all we saw is 20-30 min, I doubt he's gonna make the roster

[rondohondo]

I didn't get to see the game last night, but people seem to be raving about Lasme's play.  Looking at his stat-line, I'm underwhelmed:  2 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 0 steals, 0 blocks, 0 turnovers, 50% shooting, 2 personal fouls, and one thunderous dunk in 10 minutes.

What was it that he did to impress people?  Was it just the drive and dunk?  Did he play smothering defense?  Did he move the ball well?

I loved Lasme's production in the first game, and I root for any guy who plays with heart and hustle.  I hope he becomes an NBA player.  However, I'm still not as excited as maybe a lot of his supporters are.

The 1 time Lasme defended a wing last night (weems, who scored 21,8-13fgs)he made him look silly and forced a contested 15 ft j that didn't even hit the rim just the back board. Gives me hope that he really can cover sf's

[ScoobyDoo]

Well, for me, I'm not annointing the guy by any means. He could make the team or not...he hasn't necessarily done anything that makes me go "wow", this kid is awsome.

But that being said, I like his athleticism, his aggressiveness and his motor. We already know he is a good weak side shot blocker, will fly at the boards and doesnt' mind working hard on D.

What intrigues me from what I've seen is finding out whether or not, through working with our trainers and giving him a defensive only focus, is this a kid who can turn into something of a specialist? I think there's an outside chance and I'd like to see where it leads.

I mean, if he could give you 6 points a night on fast breaks and putbacks and become a tasmanian devil on D and with his energy, you've got a somewhat valuable player.

It's a long shot for sure, but it's worth seeing what a year will do for him. I'd stick him on Pierce and Ray alot in practice, see what happens. See if he grows at all with the task.

[Weird Facts]

I'm very familiar with Stephane
Him and I attended Umass for the same 4 years
We lived next door to each other off campus.

Interesting note on Stephane is that he was a soccer player for much of his young life.  Coach Maloney (the associate headcoach) told me Stephane didn't even start playing basketball until age 17.

Makes where he is and what he has accomplished a bit more impressive. 

[Greenback]

Lasme may be the closest replacement we get to big game James Posey's defense. 

Lasme is a better shotblocker...

Have him work with KG for a few months and see what happens.

[vinnie]

For all of you guys who see nothing in Lasme, then obviously Doc must be an idiot and should be fired. After all, following last night's game, Doc said Lasme has a good chance of making the team and might be the most athletic player on the roster. I mean seriously, what the hell does this Rivers guy know about basketball anyway?

Here is the exact quote from the Herald: “I like him a lot,” Rivers said. “He just does everything. He has high energy, he has a high basketball IQ, he’s athletic - he’s probably our most athletic player . . . He has a great shot of making our team.”

[LooseCannon]

Translate it into a percentage.  If a player has a "great shot" of making the team, what should be the probability that he does so, if Doc is speaking the truth and not just trying to be nice or some other coach-speak BS that is necessary to manage players and the media?  More than 50%? One in three or four (25-33%)?  Just being in the conversation with a 5-10% chance?

[makaveli]

Lasme may be the closest replacement we get to big game James Posey's defense. 

Lasme is a better shotblocker...

Have him work with KG for a few months and see what happens.

Ditto

[ssspence]

I didn't get to see the game last night, but people seem to be raving about Lasme's play.  Looking at his stat-line, I'm underwhelmed:  2 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 0 steals, 0 blocks, 0 turnovers, 50% shooting, 2 personal fouls, and one thunderous dunk in 10 minutes.

What was it that he did to impress people?  Was it just the drive and dunk?  Did he play smothering defense?  Did he move the ball well?

I loved Lasme's production in the first game, and I root for any guy who plays with heart and hustle.  I hope he becomes an NBA player.  However, I'm still not as excited as maybe a lot of his supporters are.

I was completely underwhelmed by him last night.  He fumbled away 3-4 balls, and looked lost at times.  He also was being overpowered constantly in the post.  His only real positive was a loud dunk that never would have happened if Bargnani even tried to step in the lane (or his own man didn't show him the lane with no help).

Basically, he is a heck of an athlete, with very little basketball skill, and questionable hands.  He is a less skilled, and significantly weaker Leon Powe.

I don't follow the powe comparison. one guy is an undersized post player with strong scoring skills, limited athleticism and very poor team defensive instincts. the other is an undersized garbage man with no offensive skills but tantilizing athleticism and defensive potential should he be coached by someone other than don nelson or various euros.

i'm not really defending lasme here, just don't get the powe comparison. let's imagine baby or daniels goes down in mid-december and doc decides to give lasme some minutes off the bench because defense rules and harangody isn't there yet. can i see stephane scoring 14 points on putbacks and o boards alone? not really. can i see him driving an opponent nuts with his long arms and quickness, and racking up 4 blocks and 9 boards? can i see him running the floor and catching an alley-oop dunk from rondo or delonte that inspires the crowd and the team? really doesn't seem like a stretch.

and what's the identity of this team? it's defense and energy....

[Fafnir]

I didn't get to see the game last night, but people seem to be raving about Lasme's play.  Looking at his stat-line, I'm underwhelmed:  2 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 0 steals, 0 blocks, 0 turnovers, 50% shooting, 2 personal fouls, and one thunderous dunk in 10 minutes.

What was it that he did to impress people?  Was it just the drive and dunk?  Did he play smothering defense?  Did he move the ball well?

I loved Lasme's production in the first game, and I root for any guy who plays with heart and hustle.  I hope he becomes an NBA player.  However, I'm still not as excited as maybe a lot of his supporters are.

I was completely underwhelmed by him last night.  He fumbled away 3-4 balls, and looked lost at times.  He also was being overpowered constantly in the post.  His only real positive was a loud dunk that never would have happened if Bargnani even tried to step in the lane (or his own man didn't show him the lane with no help).

Basically, he is a heck of an athlete, with very little basketball skill, and questionable hands.  He is a less skilled, and significantly weaker Leon Powe.

limited athleticism

I think Powe was extremely athletic, his rebounding and post skills were all being done by a guy who was probably 6' 6". (from what I've seen he hasn't gotten his burst back since his latest injury  )

[Chris]

I didn't get to see the game last night, but people seem to be raving about Lasme's play.  Looking at his stat-line, I'm underwhelmed:  2 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 0 steals, 0 blocks, 0 turnovers, 50% shooting, 2 personal fouls, and one thunderous dunk in 10 minutes.

What was it that he did to impress people?  Was it just the drive and dunk?  Did he play smothering defense?  Did he move the ball well?

I loved Lasme's production in the first game, and I root for any guy who plays with heart and hustle.  I hope he becomes an NBA player.  However, I'm still not as excited as maybe a lot of his supporters are.

I was completely underwhelmed by him last night.  He fumbled away 3-4 balls, and looked lost at times.  He also was being overpowered constantly in the post.  His only real positive was a loud dunk that never would have happened if Bargnani even tried to step in the lane (or his own man didn't show him the lane with no help).

Basically, he is a heck of an athlete, with very little basketball skill, and questionable hands.  He is a less skilled, and significantly weaker Leon Powe.

I don't follow the powe comparison. one guy is an undersized post player with strong scoring skills, limited athleticism and very poor team defensive instincts. the other is an undersized garbage man with no offensive skills but tantilizing athleticism and defensive potential should he be coached by someone other than don nelson or various euros.

i'm not really defending lasme here, just don't get the powe comparison. let's imagine baby or daniels goes down in mid-december and doc decides to give lasme some minutes off the bench because defense rules and harangody isn't there yet. can i see stephane scoring 14 points on putbacks and o boards alone? not really. can i see him driving an opponent nuts with his long arms and quickness, and racking up 4 blocks and 9 boards? can i see him running the floor and catching an alley-oop dunk from rondo or delonte that inspires the crowd and the team? really doesn't seem like a stretch.

and what's the identity of this team? it's defense and energy....

Powe was a very good athlete, so I am not sure where you get limited athleticism.  The comparison is that they are both undersized PF's whose (pro) games are based around using their quickness and hustle to grab rebounds and get garbage baskets.  Powe had a stronger body, and much better footwork and hands, which is why he is an NBA player, but their core game is similar.

As for the defense...well, I haven't really seen it yet from Lasme.  He is clearly a shotblocker, but I think that may be one of the most overrated stats in general.  I have yet to see him able to root out the post, he has shown questionable positioning, and his footwork leaves a lot to be desired.  Perhaps he is still just learning the system, and that is holding him back, but I am not yet ready to call him a defensive force...particularly not enough to overcome his offensive deficiencies.

As for the idea of him running the court and finishing alley-oops from Rondo...do you know how many guys on the street could do that just as well?  This guy is a classic tweener, and until he can prove he can either play SF on offense, or handle the post defensively, he is not going to be an NBA player.

[the_Bird]

Translate it into a percentage.  If a player has a "great shot" of making the team, what should be the probability that he does so, if Doc is speaking the truth and not just trying to be nice or some other coach-speak BS that is necessary to manage players and the media?  More than 50%? One in three or four (25-33%)?  Just being in the conversation with a 5-10% chance?

If Wafer smartens up, keeps his mouth shut, and starts hitting some shots, Lasme's chances are <15%.

If Wafer keeps playing the way he has, I'd say close to 50/50 (with a decent chance they cut both and keep the roster spot open).  

The spot's still Wafer's to lose...  but he's losing it.