olynyk/sully upfront duo potential to be like zbo/gasol?

[Tr1boy]

triboy, I just don't see how you can be so sure that Olynyk will be better defendively than Bargs. I watched him in college and he was poor to average, at that level, defensively, given the level of talent he played most of the time. In the Summer League he was no better except for some come from behind blocks on fast breaks.

His pick and roll defense is just poor. He's not strong enough or physical enough to guard bigger stronger players one on one down low as he often gets moved off the block. His foot speed laterally is not good enough to guard PFs on the perimeter and if he has to switch or rotate, a SF, SG or PG will just blow by him.

He's smart so he will get professional rotational defenses but who knows if he will arrive there on time to draw a charge or deflect a pass. He's also, very very far from being a rim protector because of a lack of ups and wingspan.

I've seen him play 4-5 times in college and every Summer League game. He is not a good defensive player and if he fails in the pros and busts out, still a very good possibility, it will be because of his defense and an inability to get his shot off versus average or better defensively, NBA PFs.

Your analysis is your opinion but i dont agree. Did you see the clip of olynyk above? Did that guard blow by him for tye last sec layup, or was it nicely contested?

Why would such a poor defensive player be left out in a crucial part of the game? How did gonzaga go 35-3 in the regular season with such a weak defender down the middle? Can that be even possible? At worse doesnt that mean he is not a good team defender? Why was it in the summer leagues when he was on the court we were a plus team and when he sat down an avg to a minus team? (Some games he only scored like 12 pts)

If you can answer these questions with your negative spin about his defense then i might understand your viewpoint. But if you cant for most , than you might have to rewatch games again and re evalute.

He was left in games because the alternative was worse than him both offensively and defensively.

Gonzaga went 35-3 because they had the 75th easiest schedule in the nation and their conference schedule was considered the 169th easiest schedule in the nation.

+/- is a very deceiving stat and even more so given he was playing in Summer league. I don't even consider Summer League stats because it is a developmental league with very little team structure. His offensive skill set seemed very good. His shooting form excellent. He had a nice array of offensive post moves. But his defense was poor for all the reasons I discussed in my previous post.

Stop watching vids. They only show you highlights.

Olynyk has potential but he has limitations physically. Whether he will be able to get his shot off versus average to elite defensive PFs is a major concern as is his defensive abilities.

This. Good stuff, Nick. Hoping for the best, but posturing that Olynk/Sullinger will potentially equal Gasol/Randolph just seems a little more than silly to me at this point.

With your complete honesty , did you think 2-3 years ago a combo Zbo/Gasol had a chance to be an above average defending duo in the nba??

Did you think Marc Gasol, chosen in the 2nd round, coming into the league fat, would win DPOY later on in his career?

[Tr1boy]

More defensive Olynyk highlights.

Watch 1:29 - moving his feet, no shot blocking needed bc he snatches the ball out of Tony Mitchells hand

Watch 2:35 - how many 7ft guys have you seen snatch a ball away in transition?

watch 3:05 - tommy point effort

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kCETKsewW4

[syfy9]

More defensive Olynyk highlights.

Watch 1:29 - moving his feet, no shot blocking needed bc he snatches the ball out of Tony Mitchells hand

Watch 2:35 - how many 7ft guys have you seen snatch a ball away in transition?

watch 3:05 - tommy point effort

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kCETKsewW4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cm7jXmK3Md4

[Tr1boy]

More defensive Olynyk highlights.

Watch 1:29 - moving his feet, no shot blocking needed bc he snatches the ball out of Tony Mitchells hand

Watch 2:35 - how many 7ft guys have you seen snatch a ball away in transition?

watch 3:05 - tommy point effort

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kCETKsewW4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cm7jXmK3Md4

Outside of moving his feet and putting in effort (which he didn't play with consistently), how is that good defense??

1. Why is he doing the running man before his man moves??
2. The pistons player was fouled, i mean he wasn't even close to having his hand where the ball was.

[LilRip]

I doubt you even watched the clip because there were actually some defensive plays there. My point still stands that everyone looks good in a highlight video. And furthermore, I am doubting that you watched the Olynyk scouting video either. I would transcribe it here if I had the time but I dont right now. Maybe I'll do it later. Or not. Whatever.

Olynyk tries, but in the NBA, trying can only get you so far. Avery Bradley tried his hardest to be a point guard/playmaker in the playoffs but it really didn't fit him. Sure, he made some correct plays but you know at the end of the day, he's not Steve Nash on that end. His talents are on defense and there's nothing wrong with that. Olynyks talents are on offense and there's nothing wrong with that. So what if he gets pushed around for rebounds, if he's a poor pick an roll defender, etc. etc. That isn't why we drafted him. He's a scorer and to compare him to Gasol (whose main contributions come on defense) is an unfair expectation.

And if you didn't mean to compare him to Gasol but just wanted to cite high iq and high motor, then why even reference Gasol (reigning DPOY) in the first place? Why say things like "sully/olynyk could be just as solid defensively as Zbo/Gasol"? I mean, doesn't that mean youre comparing Olynyk to Gasol, defensively? Or is Sully supposed to be Gasol in this picture? Honestly, the great white mamba would have fit the description better.

My point in referencing Bargs is a big who isn't a rim protector but whose main contributions come from offense. Someone who can't carry a team but can carve out a nice role for himself.

[Tr1boy]

Lilrip i said "potential". Never said outright like zbo/gasol

In addition you need to think about where bargnani is heading into his career. Still at his prime, lost his starting job, lost his job as the 6th man, positionless, a real liability in the defensive end, no consistency on the offensive end anymore, raptors lucky they even got a 1st pick for him in the nyn deal.

Some ppl say he might of got run out of town but he really isnt very good , especially in on defense.  Imo it mainly has to do with lack of intensity, effort and avoiding rough play.

Olynyk is known to bring these things when he plays. Plus utilize his iq. But it doesnt mean he will b the next kg either due to his physical limitations. But its better than nothing and better than half the way some guys play d in the nba.

[scaryjerry]

Lol

[LilRip]

Lilrip i said "potential". Never said outright like zbo/gasol

In addition you need to think about where bargnani is heading into his career. Still at his prime, lost his starting job, lost his job as the 6th man, positionless, a real liability in the defensive end, no consistency on the offensive end anymore, raptors lucky they even got a 1st pick for him in the nyn deal.

Some ppl say he might of got run out of town but he really isnt very good , especially in on defense.  Imo it mainly has to do with lack of intensity, effort and avoiding rough play.

Olynyk is known to bring these things when he plays. Plus utilize his iq. But it doesnt mean he will b the next kg either due to his physical limitations. But its better than nothing and better than half the way some guys play d in the nba.

then again, why even reference Gasol in the first place? i mean, look at the title of the thread: it says "potential", then it outright says "like zbo/gasol". it's not like i'm making this stuff up.

trying hard is great, and it's fun to root for someone who does, but objectively speaking, there are a lot of guys in the NBA who try hard. role players are often the ones defined by their hustle. it's not like "trying hard" is a novel idea. but honestly, KO will probably need to get on Humphries' defensive level first before we even start talking about his "potential to be like Gasol", the reigning DPOY.

(no you don't necessarily have to be a DPOY to be a great defender but the primary reason that it keeps getting brought up is simply because Marc Gasol is the DPOY).

[Tr1boy]

Lilrip i said "potential". Never said outright like zbo/gasol

In addition you need to think about where bargnani is heading into his career. Still at his prime, lost his starting job, lost his job as the 6th man, positionless, a real liability in the defensive end, no consistency on the offensive end anymore, raptors lucky they even got a 1st pick for him in the nyn deal.

Some ppl say he might of got run out of town but he really isnt very good , especially in on defense.  Imo it mainly has to do with lack of intensity, effort and avoiding rough play.

Olynyk is known to bring these things when he plays. Plus utilize his iq. But it doesnt mean he will b the next kg either due to his physical limitations. But its better than nothing and better than half the way some guys play d in the nba.

then again, why even reference Gasol in the first place? i mean, look at the title of the thread: it says "potential", then it outright says "like zbo/gasol". it's not like i'm making this stuff up.

trying hard is great, and it's fun to root for someone who does, but objectively speaking, there are a lot of guys in the NBA who try hard. role players are often the ones defined by their hustle. it's not like "trying hard" is a novel idea. but honestly, KO will probably need to get on Humphries' defensive level first before we even start talking about his "potential to be like Gasol", the reigning DPOY.

(no you don't necessarily have to be a DPOY to be a great defender but the primary reason that it keeps getting brought up is simply because Marc Gasol is the DPOY).

There is luke harangody trying hard then there is a mobile , decent strength legit 7 ft pf trying hard. There is potential.If bargnani tried hard, he would be at least a competent defender. He wasnt drafted number one for nothing. If tyler hansborough was 7 ft tall, and played as hard as he does now, he prob would be a starter in the league.

Anyways lets see what happens. But i have faith in sully/olynyk upfront pairing and see nice potential