Why is everyone so down on Fab Melo?

[danglertx]

I've seen a couple people bring up Perkins and how we gave him three years but there are some definite differences between the two. 

Perk came right out of high school.  Melo played at a top notch college for two years.

 Was there even an affiliate D-League in 03 for Perkins to get sent to?  I don't remember it if he did.  Either way, I do know it wasn't what it has become over the last several years.  Melo got to play against some pretty talented people for an entire season and even got brought up to the big club between games for even more seasoning.  He looks very minimally better now than he did before.

Both Perkins and Melo are going to have to be the same type of player in the NBA.  Solid defense and rebounding big men.  This is where Melo can't hold Perkin's jock strap.  Perkins could always rebound.  Melo can't and I don't think he will ever be able to because he won't/can't go get the ball. 

Perkins is tough.  You can't push him around.  I PROMISE you Perkins never got stuffed on a dunk attempt and laughed it off.  If anyone remembers that video of Melo practicing his post moves and Pierce walks over and starts pushing him around like a high school water boy, that is what I mean. 

Fab could improve some things.  His jump hook could get a bit more consistent.  His hands might get better and not drop so many passes and loose balls.  I don't see his toughness or rebounding getting better though.

[ScoobyDoo]

Goof post bfrombleacher - TP.Nice objective analysis.

danglertx:

I agree with you regarding Perkins' toughness versus Melo's lack thereof to date. I'd love to see Fab use his body down low like Perkins and Iverson do.

That being said, Melo does seem aggressive, if not tough and he does try hard and go after things - he's just not that effective yet, and maybe he will never get there - that's a real possibility.

I posted this earlier. I'd put the kid in a popcorn machine for 10-15 minutes every practice. Run foul line to foul line and then have Sully, Hump and Bass and Faverani waiting for him - do a rebounding drill, have them lay into him until he gets a rebound. Run to the other end of the court on a sprint. Repeat, repeat, repeat.

We used to do drills like this and after about three trips into the paint, you'd just start throwing guys around because you were so tired and aggravated with getting it handed to you. You learned how to dig in with your feet, lay your hips into guys, hold them off with the elbows, etc.

I wonder if drills like this would be helpful to Fab. I'm sure they've got 8 similar ways to teach rebounding (though I actually question that after watching the incredible lack of rebounding fundamentals this Celtics team has had over the last 5-6 years).

That';s what "I' would do with Fab and I'd do it all season until he figured it out. If he didn't like it he could retire if he'd like - not a problem.

If we can get Fab to do nothing more than become a real defensive stud in the lane and average around 6-8 boards with 2 to 1.5 to 2 blocks a game withing the next 2 seasons - he will become incredibly valuable to the team. 

 

[RAcker]

If you just look at how he looks and the way he talks, you already know he's a moron.

It's hard enough to learn how to play basketball when you're just a normal person, but even harder when you're borderline special needs.

His future is being a bench player in a Brazilian league.

Borderline mean, but I did laugh and this isn't far from true if you've seen him play. 

He just shows no signs of being an NBA talent.

[thirstyboots18]

If you just look at how he looks and the way he talks, you already know he's a moron.

It's hard enough to learn how to play basketball when you're just a normal person, but even harder when you're borderline special needs.

His future is being a bench player in a Brazilian league.

Borderline mean, but I did laugh and this isn't far from true if you've seen him play. 

He just shows no signs of being an NBA talent.

"borderline mean" is being kind.  just mean is more like it.   I didn't laugh....no sense of humor, I guess.

[nickagneta]

If you just look at how he looks and the way he talks, you already know he's a moron.

It's hard enough to learn how to play basketball when you're just a normal person, but even harder when you're borderline special needs.

His future is being a bench player in a Brazilian league.

Borderline mean, but I did laugh and this isn't far from true if you've seen him play. 

He just shows no signs of being an NBA talent.

"borderline mean" is being kind.  just mean is more like it.   I didn't laugh....no sense of humor, I guess.

I agree tboots. I have heard he isn't the smartest guy in the world but calling him names goes too far.

[moiso]

If you just look at how he looks and the way he talks, you already know he's a moron.

It's hard enough to learn how to play basketball when you're just a normal person, but even harder when you're borderline special needs.

His future is being a bench player in a Brazilian league.

Borderline mean, but I did laugh and this isn't far from true if you've seen him play. 

He just shows no signs of being an NBA talent.

I prefer the term "dentally challenged" to moron.

[BASS_THUMPER]

www.youtube.com/v/E0aPhku-v_0?version=3&hl=en_US&rel=0

his D in the DL is great
i have no problem with him

[ScoobyDoo]

Well... couple thoughts -

1. I played against a lot of guys who didn't look like your typical, ripped, cut, agile athletes - some of them were very, very good.

2. Fab doesn't have to be a genius, he just needs to continue to learn defensive rotations and how to box out at the NBA level. if he just boxes out without gathering a ton of boards he will be doing his job by allowing other teammates to get the board - Perk did a lot of that.

3. He is a little goofy looking but so are a lot of players. I've heard that is also very popular and very well liked by his teammates - that bodes well for team chemistry - that interests me.

4. D-league, is, well, the D-league. But those guys are the the best of the college players who haven't yet cracked an NBA roster. He's eventually become a "noted" defender at level he's played in. He set defensive records in that league his first year.

5. you are taking a guy who hasn't played a lot of ball and who primarily played zone defense in college and then asking him to adjust to the speed of the best league in the world in a man to man, pick and roll dominant game.

Time.

His lateral quickness on pick and rolls and his size and length alone are enough for me to give him another two years of development.

How many seven footers to you see that can shuffle laterally like Fab can (watch the video again) - not many I'll tell you that. That ability can easily translate to closing down the lane many a time and also to many blocked shots.

He may ultimately be a bust, I'm not arguing that possibility. But I'd give it another year or two before I make that determination, that's all.   

[SHAQATTACK]

his tuffness and attitude don't change ,  his height won't save his career,  he'll be selling used cars or planting coffee beans in South America

[mmmmm]

Both Perkins and Melo are going to have to be the same type of player in the NBA.  Solid defense and rebounding big men.  This is where Melo can't hold Perkin's jock strap.  Perkins could always rebound.  Melo can't and I don't think he will ever be able to because he won't/can't go get the ball. 

Well, all that may turn out to be true.

But at least Fab can make free throw shots!   

[Mazingerz]

What I don't understand is the disconnect between his performance in the D-League (where he shone) versus his performance with the Big Club (he sucked);

I know the D-League is a few rungs below the NBA level, but there is still quality competition there. D-League is still better than the Spanish or Turkish League IMHO;

Was it too much pressure on him to perform? Or was he placed in a situation where he was not familiar with the defensive sets during his stints with the Big Club?

[bfrombleacher]

What I don't understand is the disconnect between his performance in the D-League (where he shone) versus his performance with the Big Club (he sucked);

I know the D-League is a few rungs below the NBA level, but there is still quality competition there. D-League is still better than the Spanish or Turkish League IMHO;

Was it too much pressure on him to perform? Or was he placed in a situation where he was not familiar with the defensive sets during his stints with the Big Club?

Getting very little, sporadic playing time tends to do that.

The team was looking to make deep playoff runs. Fab probably had no place.

[Ogaju]

EASY ANSWER: Because he is a stiff..

[hwangjini_1]

EASY ANSWER: Because he is a stiff..

No. Say what you will about his experience, rebounding, hands, etc. but don't call him a stiff. Watch the video. Perk was a stiff. He literally lumbered around the court.

Melo may wind up out of the NBA, but he is already far more athletic than perk ever was. Again, watch the video and think whether perk would jump like melo, or move laterally like melo.

Simply because you don't like a player does not excuse exercising poor analysis.

As stated well above, time... Let's be patient with melo

[Ogaju]

yes I have watched Melo, he is really not as athletic as Perkins.

He brings nothing to the table. He is sluggish has a big rump and is indeed a stiff.

I hope he gets better but he fooled me once into thinking he could play, but I am done being fooled by this guy. He is a soft stiff. Wasted pick.