What Happened to Leon Powe?

[indeedproceed]

Again not even close. BBD might as well be Jordan in comparison with regards to athletic ability.

How do you figure? BBD was out of shape his first 2 years here, he couldn't (and still can't) jump for crap. Powe might be an average athlete for a 6'8 (probably closer to 6'6 or 6'7) guy, but he was faster, and able to jump higher than BBD, and had a comparable reach.

Glen Davis has and had better footwork, and right now he's probably the most agile 290 lb guy in the league, but that's not where he has always been. Powe was stronger while BBD was here, and he was more athletic.

Athletic ability isn't all vert.

Absolutely agree. But vertical jump is a substantial part of it in the NBA realm of the word "athleticism".

Strength, speed, and agility round out 'athleticism' in the NBA vernacular, and I'd say Powe had 2 out of 3 of those too while he was a Celtic over BBD. Agility has always been Baby's secret weapon, and through the years he's managed to add speed while keeping his strength.

Keep in mind, I'm not knocking baby at all here. This isn't an "either/or" statement. I'm just saying we ought to remember Powe as a Celtic for what he was, and he was more than just some 'homeless guy made good', as some are implying.

[crownsy]

Again not even close. BBD might as well be Jordan in comparison with regards to athletic ability.

How do you figure? BBD was out of shape his first 2 years here, he couldn't (and still can't) jump for crap. Powe might be an average athlete for a 6'8 (probably closer to 6'6 or 6'7) guy, but he was faster, and able to jump higher than BBD, and had a comparable reach.

Glen Davis has and had better footwork, and right now he's probably the most agile 290 lb guy in the league, but that's not where he has always been. Powe was stronger while BBD was here, and he was more athletic.

Athletic ability isn't all vert.

He was responding to the assertion that powe had

"no athletic ability, even pre injury" which is utterly ridiculous.

[guava_wrench]

Again not even close. BBD might as well be Jordan in comparison with regards to athletic ability.

How do you figure? BBD was out of shape his first 2 years here, he couldn't (and still can't) jump for crap. Powe might be an average athlete for a 6'8 (probably closer to 6'6 or 6'7) guy, but he was faster, and able to jump higher than BBD, and had a comparable reach.

Glen Davis has and had better footwork, and right now he's probably the most agile 290 lb guy in the league, but that's not where he has always been. Powe was stronger while BBD was here, and he was more athletic.

Athletic ability isn't all vert.

Amen. BBD kills him on coordination.

The important point is that Powe was dependent upon physical ability - his strength and hops. Without that, he has nothing left.

The 'athletic' label is often meaningless when comparing players because it is so unclearly defined and because there are elements of athleticism that can be possessed or not possessed independently.

[KCattheStripe]

Again not even close. BBD might as well be Jordan in comparison with regards to athletic ability.

How do you figure? BBD was out of shape his first 2 years here, he couldn't (and still can't) jump for crap. Powe might be an average athlete for a 6'8 (probably closer to 6'6 or 6'7) guy, but he was faster, and able to jump higher than BBD, and had a comparable reach.

Glen Davis has and had better footwork, and right now he's probably the most agile 290 lb guy in the league, but that's not where he has always been. Powe was stronger while BBD was here, and he was more athletic.

Athletic ability isn't all vert.

He was responding to the assertion that powe had

"no athletic ability, even pre injury" which is utterly ridiculous.

Sure, that's hyperbole. But are we talking pre-injury Cal days or pre injury high school days? Because he was fairly unathletic during his tenure on the celtics.

[indeedproceed]

The important point is that Powe was dependent upon physical ability - his strength and hops. Without that, he has nothing left.

Yes. He was overly dependent on his athleticism at Cal, and he was dependent on it here. He could 'jump fast', he had 'grown man strength', and he had the length of an orangutan. Only when all those things were clicking did his hustle enable him to be a NBA rotation worthy player. Without them, he's not.

[crownsy]

Again not even close. BBD might as well be Jordan in comparison with regards to athletic ability.

How do you figure? BBD was out of shape his first 2 years here, he couldn't (and still can't) jump for crap. Powe might be an average athlete for a 6'8 (probably closer to 6'6 or 6'7) guy, but he was faster, and able to jump higher than BBD, and had a comparable reach.

Glen Davis has and had better footwork, and right now he's probably the most agile 290 lb guy in the league, but that's not where he has always been. Powe was stronger while BBD was here, and he was more athletic.

Athletic ability isn't all vert.

He was responding to the assertion that powe had

"no athletic ability, even pre injury" which is utterly ridiculous.

Sure, that's hyperbole. But are we talking pre-injury Cal days or pre injury high school days? Because he was fairly unathletic during his tenure on the celtics.

I disagree, he was a medium speed 6'8 player who always ran the floor with good ups and relatively quick feet for a 4 who had explosive power to the rim, both for rebounds and finishing.

Now, if you want to make the argument he was one dimensional and not that technically skilled, then i'm 100% with you, he had no game beyond 10 feet out and boxing out on the boards, but that had to do with an absence of anything approaching technique or fundamentals outside of a decent hook and rebounding, not his athleticism.

and as indeed said, since his game was built on that athleticism and he has a dreadful lack of technique and touch, His loss of ability means he isn't an NBA player.

[Fafnir]

The important point is that Powe was dependent upon physical ability - his strength and hops. Without that, he has nothing left.

Yes. He was overly dependent on his athleticism at Cal, and he was dependent on it here. He could 'jump fast', he had 'grown man strength', and he had the length of an orangutan. Only when all those things were clicking did his hustle enable him to be a NBA rotation worthy player. Without them, he's not.

Sad to think that by all reporst he was as athletic as Blake Griffin in high school before his first of many knee injuries. Only his lack of size, by all reports he was really much shorter than 6' 8", and the injuries kept him from being more than a brief contributor in the NBA.

[hpantazo]

I don't care who the "better man is", I'm not voting for either of them to be president or anything, and I don't care about what ability Powe or Davis supposedly had or didn't have the first 2 years in the league, the bottom line is Ainge was right not to re-sign Powe, as I have posted many times, and Powe is done, stick a fork in him. I hope all of the "I miss Leon" posts finally end because they have been utterly pathetic.

[crownsy]

"I miss Leon" posts finally end because they have been utterly pathetic.

wow, couldn't disagree more

Whats wrong with missing a former player you liked? as long as it's just an "i miss this guy" post im fine with it, and thats what most of these are.

I miss james posey every time i watch, doesn't mean i want him back on the team. I miss eddie house, but I was fully on board with shipping him out, his time had come and gone.

How can being nostalgic for players of the past be pathetic...is it pathetic to remember watching Larry and post "I miss larry"

The only time it annoys me is when someone says we should trade/sign for someone who's cooked. Miss whoever you want, memories are part of being a fan.

[wdleehi]

I was sad to see him go, but you can only really keep one of those two.



Injuries were the deciding factor. 

[Spilling Green Dye]

Birdbrain, why are you telling why I liked a particular player?? how would even know why?  I liked him as a player for two reasons, and in order:

1)  He was productive on the court
2)  He was a hard worker and more mature than a lot of NBA players.

For some reason you're completely discounting #1, and denying history itself.  He was more productive than Davis back then by every measure possible.  I'm not saying I wish we re-signed him, b/c with the injuries I would agree he would be a bad backup now.  

[KCattheStripe]

Again not even close. BBD might as well be Jordan in comparison with regards to athletic ability.

How do you figure? BBD was out of shape his first 2 years here, he couldn't (and still can't) jump for crap. Powe might be an average athlete for a 6'8 (probably closer to 6'6 or 6'7) guy, but he was faster, and able to jump higher than BBD, and had a comparable reach.

Glen Davis has and had better footwork, and right now he's probably the most agile 290 lb guy in the league, but that's not where he has always been. Powe was stronger while BBD was here, and he was more athletic.

Athletic ability isn't all vert.

He was responding to the assertion that powe had

"no athletic ability, even pre injury" which is utterly ridiculous.

Sure, that's hyperbole. But are we talking pre-injury Cal days or pre injury high school days? Because he was fairly unathletic during his tenure on the celtics.

I disagree, he was a medium speed 6'8 player who always ran the floor with good ups and relatively quick feet for a 4 who had explosive power to the rim, both for rebounds and finishing.

Now, if you want to make the argument he was one dimensional and not that technically skilled, then i'm 100% with you, he had no game beyond 10 feet out and boxing out on the boards, but that had to do with an absence of anything approaching technique or fundamentals outside of a decent hook and rebounding, not his athleticism.

and as indeed said, since his game was built on that athleticism and he has a dreadful lack of technique and touch, His loss of ability means he isn't an NBA player.

I'd say Leon's explosions for boards came more from his considerable strength forcing the person he boxed out even further back.  

He certainly didn't have Baby's speed or agility.

[hpantazo]

"I miss Leon" posts finally end because they have been utterly pathetic.

wow, couldn't disagree more

Whats wrong with missing a former player you liked? as long as it's just an "i miss this guy" post im fine with it, and thats what most of these are.

I miss james posey every time i watch, doesn't mean i want him back on the team. I miss eddie house, but I was fully on board with shipping him out, his time had come and gone.

How can being nostalgic for players of the past be pathetic...is it pathetic to remember watching Larry and post "I miss larry"

The only time it annoys me is when someone says we should trade/sign for someone who's cooked. Miss whoever you want, memories are part of being a fan.

well, I love Bird, but I also think missing him when you have KG, Rondo, Ray, Pierce, and Shaq this year is also pathetic. Missing him when we are in the lottery is a different story though. Enjoy the talent we have now. Imagine if you had spent the 80's thinking "I miss Cousy and Russell?" You would have missed out on fully enjoying a great team.

[crownsy]

Again not even close. BBD might as well be Jordan in comparison with regards to athletic ability.

How do you figure? BBD was out of shape his first 2 years here, he couldn't (and still can't) jump for crap. Powe might be an average athlete for a 6'8 (probably closer to 6'6 or 6'7) guy, but he was faster, and able to jump higher than BBD, and had a comparable reach.

Glen Davis has and had better footwork, and right now he's probably the most agile 290 lb guy in the league, but that's not where he has always been. Powe was stronger while BBD was here, and he was more athletic.

Athletic ability isn't all vert.

He was responding to the assertion that powe had

"no athletic ability, even pre injury" which is utterly ridiculous.

Sure, that's hyperbole. But are we talking pre-injury Cal days or pre injury high school days? Because he was fairly unathletic during his tenure on the celtics.

I disagree, he was a medium speed 6'8 player who always ran the floor with good ups and relatively quick feet for a 4 who had explosive power to the rim, both for rebounds and finishing.

Now, if you want to make the argument he was one dimensional and not that technically skilled, then i'm 100% with you, he had no game beyond 10 feet out and boxing out on the boards, but that had to do with an absence of anything approaching technique or fundamentals outside of a decent hook and rebounding, not his athleticism.

and as indeed said, since his game was built on that athleticism and he has a dreadful lack of technique and touch, His loss of ability means he isn't an NBA player.

I'd say Leon's explosions for boards came more from his considerable strength forcing the person he boxed out even further back.  

He certainly didn't have Baby's speed or agility.

I don't think baby had baby's speed and agility back then when he was still packing the senior 30 from LSU

[crownsy]

"I miss Leon" posts finally end because they have been utterly pathetic.

wow, couldn't disagree more

Whats wrong with missing a former player you liked? as long as it's just an "i miss this guy" post im fine with it, and thats what most of these are.

I miss james posey every time i watch, doesn't mean i want him back on the team. I miss eddie house, but I was fully on board with shipping him out, his time had come and gone.

How can being nostalgic for players of the past be pathetic...is it pathetic to remember watching Larry and post "I miss larry"

The only time it annoys me is when someone says we should trade/sign for someone who's cooked. Miss whoever you want, memories are part of being a fan.

well, I love Bird, but I also think missing him when you have KG, Rondo, Ray, Pierce, and Shaq this year is also pathetic. Missing him when we are in the lottery is a different story though. Enjoy the talent we have now. Imagine if you had spent the 80's thinking "I miss Cousy and Russell?" You would have missed out on fully enjoying a great team.

 you can enjoy the moment and remember the past.

They aren't mutually exclusive.