A reasonable appraisal of Semih Erden

[TradeProposalDude]

I didn't feel like adding more to the "Semih sucks" thread. I want to add some new commentary.

Ever since he suited up to play for us this year, I started tracking his career while making mental notes of his development. Whenever he is on the floor, I tend to focus on his play more than anyone else's. This fascination is largely due to my intrigue of bigs that have some skill. 7 footers, after all, are a gold mine when they display some form of talent. The lot of bigs, as we know, are considerably unskilled. The word "stiff" is often used to describe giants with basketball appearing as a foreign language to them.

I chose to watch the last couple games on national TV instead of CSN. As much as I like Mike & Tommy, when the option is there, I watch the national broadcast because I am interested in seeing how "my" team is being portrayed to the widest audience. The other day, McHale was stressing the importance of the right handed hook, and how he felt Garnett never developed that part of his game enough (they showed some old tape on TNT of the two from 1995). Shortly before that clip, Erden had posted up in the paint, taken his time with his maneuver, and dropped a soft left hook, which we've never seen him do. I wonder - how come Semih doesn't post up more? His points seem to come primarily on garbage buckets and free throws. But he has the skill to post up and command some attention in the post. Perhaps the Celtics are trying to avoid posting him up as they fear it would take a toll on his health. As of now, the C's don't have the luxury to be throwing their 4th string center into the fire because the other three centers are injured.

Another observation worth noting. Semih has converted a few and 1's (although he keeps missing the FT!) over the last week. He is finishing around the hoop with more power and confidence than we have ever seen.

I want to know your opinions. Personally, I think Semih has starting NBA center talent. I see a Brendan Haywood type of career if he continues to work his upper body and the Celtics work enough plays for him on the offensive end. As we know, Doc is no stranger to honing young talent. Obviously, Semih has miles to go before we can feel comfortable with his defensive game. Against Amare in the 1st quarter of the Knicks game, I've never seen a big look so awful guarding his man. But skills don't remain static... they are developed in large part through experience. I'd like to know your thoughts.

[Fafnir]

He doesn't post up more because the team doesn't trust him in part, and also because he lacks the strength to post up most NBA centers. The same lack of strength also is a big part of his rebounding woes.

His offensive game is probably his strong suit for me. He rolls hard and has decent touch. It his rebounding and defensive struggles that keep him from being anywhere near starting NBA caliber.

Haywood's rookie numbers are better than Semih's, at a younger age. He rebounded better and turned it over a lot less.

http://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/tiny.cgi?id=kv20n

[BballTim]

He doesn't post up more because the team doesn't trust him in part, and also because he lacks the strength to post up most NBA centers. The same lack of strength also is a big part of his rebounding woes.

His offensive game is probably his strong suit for me. He rolls hard and has decent touch. It his rebounding and defensive struggles that keep him from being anywhere near starting NBA caliber.

  He's also dealing with that bad shoulder that's going to be addressed in the offseason.

[TradeProposalDude]

He doesn't post up more because the team doesn't trust him in part, and also because he lacks the strength to post up most NBA centers. The same lack of strength also is a big part of his rebounding woes.

That is true. He lacks the strength to battle in the paint for rebounds. One of the reasons the Celtics are the worst offensive rebounding team in the NBA is because Erden is playing significant minutes. But one's rebounding ability is generally traceable to his footwork and timing am I right? Effort also plays a role in rebounding, but effort doesn't seem to be Erden's issue.

He definitely lacks seasoning. But, with the right approach, I am a believer that Erden can develop his weaknesses and come out a balanced player.

[Kwhit10]

I like how he's coming along considering where he was and where he was picked.  He still needs to work on his hands.  He fumbles the ball a lot when he's passed to ala like Sheldon was.

[Fafnir]

He doesn't post up more because the team doesn't trust him in part, and also because he lacks the strength to post up most NBA centers. The same lack of strength also is a big part of his rebounding woes.

His offensive game is probably his strong suit for me. He rolls hard and has decent touch. It his rebounding and defensive struggles that keep him from being anywhere near starting NBA caliber.

  He's also dealing with that bad shoulder that's going to be addressed in the offseason.

Very true, this could be greatly hindering his rebounding. But I doubt it'd go from its currently level to acceptable from a starting C.

His movement on defense isn't effected by his shoulder and that is also below what you want/need in a starting center.

[fairweatherfan]

After the last couple of games I can sincerely say I'm a Semih fan.  I like his effort and the potential in his game and I hope he does well.  I'm glad we have him there as an emergency big.

But he's clearly not ready to play major minutes yet.  The rebounding is pretty awful, and he still gets lost on D from time to time.  And almost all his baskets are from guys cheating off him.  The sooner we can get his minutes down to garbage time the better.  But I hope down the line the minutes he's getting now will help him contribute to the team.

I look at it this way - this is the absolute worst he'll probably ever play at this level.  And he's doing ok given his experience. 

[Greenbean]

Semih has skills and decent footwork on offense.


He just needs strength. I see him get out muscled alot on the boards.

He also plays with confidence which is nice to see from a rook.

[ImShakHeIsShaq]

Don't forget... great defense requires communication, Semih cannot speak English... he will be much more improved (I think) next season when he understand the language better. Even Doc admits that his defense can be difficult to grasp... he didn't even implement it all as fast as he usually does. Give Semih time... he's got some talent!

[Change]

Semih needs a full summer with Bryan Doo. Semih has skills to have a long NBA career. But not enough strength to survive it. Couple of month with Bryan Doo should do. We haven't seen the best out of Semih Erden, and probably won't see his best for couple of season. He can only get better.

[MBunge]

If Semih doesn't improve a bit, he'll still be a pretty good player for the last pick in the 2nd round of the draft.

Mike

[EJPLAYA]

Give me a player who has the desire to improve like Semih seems to have over a player with a little more skillset who is comfortable with where he's at right now any day.

Semih has a very good offensive game which will only get better. He's able to play within the offense and produce. If he can work on his strength in the offseason after taking care of that shoulder, and improve his free throw percentage, we'll have a very nice backup center that could start for a lot of teams out there.

Look at it this way, his stats are as good as BBD's were his first year. He seemed to have turned out okay… And Semih has legit NBA size at his position. (with a little more weight on his frame!)

[Emmette Bryant]

Semih gets by with a little help from his friends.

[TradeProposalDude]

Don't forget... great defense requires communication, Semih cannot speak English... he will be much more improved (I think) next season when he understand the language better. Even Doc admits that his defense can be difficult to grasp... he didn't even implement it all as fast as he usually does. Give Semih time... he's got some talent!

Good point. I had forgotten that Semih doesn't speak English (yet). I see that as a barrier of sorts, but at the same time, international players do tend to pick up English in America with relative ease. Look at Yao Ming, for example, who didn't speak English until after he started playing in the NBA. At least, we can hope that Semih is given the resources to pick up English as seamlessly and quickly as we need him to because it would be a major impediment to his development otherwise (unless a Turkish translator who understands the intricacies of the game is hired).

[nickagneta]

Here's what I think Semih needs to work on:

- Overall strength but particularly in the lower body. Much of his rebounding woes are that he just is giving up position because he stands so straight up and has so little lower body strength for a big man. This is why Perk is such a good rebounder and defender, lower body strength and establishing a solid base. Semih is weak in his lower body and establishes a poor base.

- He's still poor on the help defense and appears not to have the best grasp of the pick and roll defense. For all the possibilities he could have on the offensive side, we all know that it will be his defense and energy on that side of the ball that gets him minutes when people get healthy.

- His hands are not very good. He's not Shelden Williams bad but he fumbles the ball quite a bit especially on bounce passes. Maybe this is due to his thumb injury but it seems to happen a lot.

- He has to establish better down low position on the offensive side of the ball to be an effective low post player.

Other than that, I haven't seen him enough to comment further. His lack of rebounding is troubling but I think with strength it will come around some. I like his footwork and side to side speed.