Pekovic

[LeoMoreno]

I said it before the season, I said it last season, we should have gotten this guy. He was the 15th man on Adelman's team with DARKO a starting center, even though Pekovic played his mind out in Europe during the lockout. By far the best center seen in Europe in the last 2-3 years. He was on the rise coming into this season and nobody noticed it, nobody tried to get him.

Now he posts two games with above 20 points. Yeah, it happens to everyone, but as mentioned he's on the rise and the only way to get him now would be trading away Wilcox and Bass (yes, it means it's never gonna happen). Am I really the only one disappointed Pekovic isn't wearing green right now?

[bfrombleacher]

I'm pretty happy with what we have right now.

[mqtcelticsfan]

I said it before the season, I said it last season, we should have gotten this guy. He was the 15th man on Adelman's team with DARKO a starting center, even though Pekovic played his mind out in Europe during the lockout. By far the best center seen in Europe in the last 2-3 years. He was on the rise coming into this season and nobody noticed it, nobody tried to get him.

Probably because when you're considered the 15th man on the Minnesota Timberwolves, teams don't compete for your services. If Pekovic has truly turned the corner, great for him and Minnesota. A few good games of scoring and playing well in Europe doesn't have me convinced, though. He still apparently fouls a whole lot and usually sucks in general.

[jgod213]

The guy obviously would go over well in boston.

But seriously, anyone competing for playing time with Darko is going to come out smelling like roses.  Between the moping/injuries/inconsistency, Darko just can't get out of his own way.

Also, when you have Ricky Rubio putting up near franchise-record assist amounts in 1 quarter and with Kevin Love forcing double teams and extra attention, this kid is going to get a lot of bunnies.

As mqt said, he does still foul a lot but he looks like he might have been a nice find for Minny, just need to wait a few more games to crown him.

[European NBA fan]

I said it before the season, I said it last season, we should have gotten this guy. He was the 15th man on Adelman's team with DARKO a starting center, even though Pekovic played his mind out in Europe during the lockout. By far the best center seen in Europe in the last 2-3 years. He was on the rise coming into this season and nobody noticed it, nobody tried to get him.

Now he posts two games with above 20 points. Yeah, it happens to everyone, but as mentioned he's on the rise and the only way to get him now would be trading away Wilcox and Bass (yes, it means it's never gonna happen). Am I really the only one disappointed Pekovic isn't wearing green right now?

Wouldn't say I'm disappointed. But yes, he would have been a great pickup. He is a tough guy on both ends (and yes, foul prone), but also with pretty good hands and feet. His move against DeMarcus Cousins last night was really impressive:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKUNCgTVql4

And last night, he actually carried the team, since Love was suspended.

[jgod213]

eh, not so much impressed by Pekovic in that clip as much as i am unimpressed with Cousins' defensive effort.

[European NBA fan]

eh, not so much impressed by Pekovic in that clip as much as i am unimpressed with Cousins' defensive effort.

Obviously Cousins isn't making the best play, but you need good hands and footwork to make that move.

[LeoMoreno]

He jumps for rebounds, boxes out well and runs the floor with Rubio whose playing style does not differ much from Rondo's. Put him under Doc's management and he could become even better. Surround him with KG, Allen and Pierce, we could have a 2007/2008 team again.

As for being the 15th man on Minnesota, don't take it as in "he sucks". As I said, he's on the rise, and no one out of Minnesota ever got a high grade because of the team they were playing on, except KG (especially a Center in the era of the Guards). The best example is Pietrus: Phoenix bought him out because he wasn't doing much for them, but look what he's doing for us.

As mqt said, he does still foul a lot but he looks like he might have been a nice find for Minny, just need to wait a few more games to crown him.

Didn't crown him. Just noticed him before the whole NBA started talking about how good he's become all of a sudden.

[chambers]

Our team can make any big player with good hands a good player.
Look at what the big four made Perkins- he's so overrated, but like the Perkins case, that's what you get when you get help like Love and Rubio.
Easy buckets+less pressure which lets you focus on defense- which builds a package of confidence, which helps your team.
Good for him though.

[Yoki_IsTheName]

We had Semih Erden last year. He's basically the same player, but  a little bit more mobile.

Pekovic though, is surprising a lot of people. We could use a dude like him, then again, we had the same player in Semih but we got rid of him.

[action781]

eh, not so much impressed by Pekovic in that clip as much as i am unimpressed with Cousins' defensive effort.

Obviously Cousins isn't making the best play, but you need good hands and footwork to make that move.

That is my go to move in the post - it's not that impressive.  It just takes a bit of practice (which he should be doing a lot of since its his job).  It was bad defense.  And it was a pre-meditated move so it's not so impressive that he "beat the double team", because had the double team came from the baseline, he would have had no idea and committed a charge.

[Moranis]

We had Semih Erden last year. He's basically the same player, but  a little bit more mobile.

Pekovic though, is surprising a lot of people. We could use a dude like him, then again, we had the same player in Semih but we got rid of him.

What?  Erden had double figure boards just one time and double figure points just four times (there wasn't an overlap).  Pekovic is averaging 16.8 and 10.2 in his five February games and doing so on 65.4% from the field, all while playing with the best rebounder in basketball (and has two 20/10 games in that stretch). 

There is no comparison. 

[Chris]

We had Semih Erden last year. He's basically the same player, but  a little bit more mobile.

Pekovic though, is surprising a lot of people. We could use a dude like him, then again, we had the same player in Semih but we got rid of him.

What?  Erden had double figure boards just one time and double figure points just four times (there wasn't an overlap).  Pekovic is averaging 16.8 and 10.2 in his five February games and doing so on 65.4% from the field, all while playing with the best rebounder in basketball (and has two 20/10 games in that stretch). 

There is no comparison. 

Pekovic also had a much better pedigree.  He was one of the best prospects (and I believe best players) in Europe before he was drafted.  He was known for his toughness, his work ethic, and most importantly his production.  Semih on the other hand was known as a guy with talent, but who never seemed to live up to it.  Even in Europe he would show flashes, but never showed consistent intensity and focus...which might also be carrying over to the NBA.

Pekovic is miles above Semih...but I also find it hard to believe the Wolves would trade him. 

The one deal I could see that would even entice the Wolves in the slightest would be Ray for Pekovic and filler.  Ray would give them the shooting guard they have been missing, and would also add some veteran leadership for a young team trying to make the leap into the playoffs. 

[European NBA fan]

eh, not so much impressed by Pekovic in that clip as much as i am unimpressed with Cousins' defensive effort.

Obviously Cousins isn't making the best play, but you need good hands and footwork to make that move.

That is my go to move in the post - it's not that impressive.  It just takes a bit of practice (which he should be doing a lot of since its his job).  It was bad defense.  And it was a pre-meditated move so it's not so impressive that he "beat the double team", because had the double team came from the baseline, he would have had no idea and committed a charge.

Are you 6-11, weigh 290 lbs and dunk on guys of the same size? It's very different, if you are that big.

[Yoki_IsTheName]

We had Semih Erden last year. He's basically the same player, but  a little bit more mobile.

Pekovic though, is surprising a lot of people. We could use a dude like him, then again, we had the same player in Semih but we got rid of him.

What?  Erden had double figure boards just one time and double figure points just four times (there wasn't an overlap).  Pekovic is averaging 16.8 and 10.2 in his five February games and doing so on 65.4% from the field, all while playing with the best rebounder in basketball (and has two 20/10 games in that stretch). 

There is no comparison. 

Case lost. I was enlightened here. I just looked at it not by the stats, but how they played. They looked similar, but I can't make any case after you pointed out the stats.

Can we get him?