Fab Melo can really run...

[bfrombleacher]

I thought he was just like Thabeet, who relies on his size and has no mobility.

Jesus...he proved me wrong yesternight (I've mentioned this twice, would have been a highlight. He ran the floor on a delayed break and almost connected on an alley like that) and proved me wrong today with that sick chase down block!

I can't believe nobody's really talking about this.


Edit: Let me elaborate:

I knew he was nimble from highlights and scouting reports...but quickness...wow. I did not expect it. Quick is not agile. He's quick and agile.

Sure, he's not Javale quick but I suspect Dwight quick with less bounce (before you nail me for that, I'm not comparing him to Dwight).

He could run the break with Rondo...it's scary that that much size has that much mobility.

[Boston Garden Leprechaun]

I thought he was just like Thabeet, who relies on his size and has no mobility.

Jesus...he proved me wrong yesternight (I've mentioned this twice, would have been a highlight. He ran the floor on a delayed break and almost connected on an alley like that) and proved me wrong today with that sick chase down block!

I can't believe nobody's really talking about this.

because it does not fit the narrative.

[cdiraimo]

Because besides from those few plays he made... he looks like a HUGE project if we ever get meaningful minutes out of him.

[Boston Garden Leprechaun]

Because besides from those few plays he made... he looks like a HUGE project if we ever get meaningful minutes out of him.

who does not know that?? WHo denied that?

But for people to call him a bust already is very shortsighted right now.

[Chief Macho]

journeyman center at best.

[MBunge]

journeyman center at best.

Getting even a journeyman center where he went in the draft is pretty much a steal.

Mike

[Interceptor]

Can't teach speed, yo.

[the_Bird]

I've got to believe that the quickness is what appealed to Danny, as much as the size.  They want their bigs to have the foot speed to play the defensive system, to be able to help on the perimeter and still be able to recover to their man.  KG is the absolute ideal for the defensive system they run.  Baby was successful because even though he's a huge guy, he's got great footwork; he's got the feet of a guard.  The big men who've struggled more defensively have been guys like Powe and Big Al and Bass, who are more lumbering types. 

I think they look at Melo and say that even though he'll probably always be a limited player, he's got the potential to be the team's defensive anchor (hopefully he'll get there before KG retires!).  Fab's soccer background seems to be helping, too.

[thenotoriousjts]

Didn't he mostly play soccer up until a few years ago?

[kozlodoev]

Didn't he mostly play soccer up until a few years ago?

Until he was 17 or something, I think. He's only been playing basketball for 6 years.

[The One]

Put one foot in front of the other...

Seriously though, the cat is quick.  I can see what Danny envisions hopefully.

[Brendan]

journeyman center at best.

Getting even a journeyman center where he went in the draft is pretty much a steal.

Mike

MBunge FTW - TP.

[Brendan]

I've got to believe that the quickness is what appealed to Danny, as much as the size.  They want their bigs to have the foot speed to play the defensive system, to be able to help on the perimeter and still be able to recover to their man.  KG is the absolute ideal for the defensive system they run.  Baby was successful because even though he's a huge guy, he's got great footwork; he's got the feet of a guard.  The big men who've struggled more defensively have been guys like Powe and Big Al and Bass, who are more lumbering types. 

I think they look at Melo and say that even though he'll probably always be a limited player, he's got the potential to be the team's defensive anchor (hopefully he'll get there before KG retires!).  Fab's soccer background seems to be helping, too.

Big Al didn't really play in this system, it got setup 2008 after he left. I think he could have been 60-75% of Perk, which with his offense would have been plenty.

Bass is a terrible example - he graded as very good defender last year, and was part of the best defensive starting lineup in the league (KG, Bass, Pierce, AB, Rondo.) Which is probably part of reason DA ran it back.

[the_Bird]

I've got to believe that the quickness is what appealed to Danny, as much as the size.  They want their bigs to have the foot speed to play the defensive system, to be able to help on the perimeter and still be able to recover to their man.  KG is the absolute ideal for the defensive system they run.  Baby was successful because even though he's a huge guy, he's got great footwork; he's got the feet of a guard.  The big men who've struggled more defensively have been guys like Powe and Big Al and Bass, who are more lumbering types.  

I think they look at Melo and say that even though he'll probably always be a limited player, he's got the potential to be the team's defensive anchor (hopefully he'll get there before KG retires!).  Fab's soccer background seems to be helping, too.

Big Al didn't really play in this system, it got setup 2008 after he left. I think he could have been 60-75% of Perk, which with his offense would have been plenty.

Bass is a terrible example - he graded as very good defender last year, and was part of the best defensive starting lineup in the league (KG, Bass, Pierce, AB, Rondo.) Which is probably part of reason DA ran it back.

Bass was a good individual defender (better than expected), but wasn't particularly good at playing the help D that's so critical to the system.  When the system broke down, it sure seems like it was usually Bass who was out of position. 

And whether it was the same system or not, Big Al's defensive struggles seem to be mostly related to - he just isn't very quick.  Same issue that Boozer has.  I never got the sense that Big Al doesn't WANT to play D, but his game is just slow.  

[Interceptor]

Bass works so hard, it's difficult to believe that he's not going to be better in the help D system this year.