A more accurate comparison to Horford would be David Lee, David West or...Jared Sullinger.
I agree with a lot of your post but I do not agree with Sullinger being like Horford for this reason although he has a similar skill-set. Players are at their best when they play to their strengths. Horford, embraces what he is and his limitations. Sullinger has spent a lot of his time, trying and failing to broaden his shooting from down town. Whether this is up to the Celtics brass or not is a matter of conjecture but the time to practice your shot is now, in the summer time and not during the season so much. I would like CBS to put him more in the mid range where he can shoot and in the low post where he is effective. But Horford has a mind-set where he embraces who is and plays to his strengths. Sully does not always do that.
Pros have a good deal of leeway where they shoot in the offense. They may be positioned on the floor by it but they choose when to shoot and where unless it is a drawn play or the shot-clock necessitates they shoot. Good player take shots they have a chance that they can make and ones that they shoot a high percentage at. Horford does this really well. It is often called playing within your game.
I agree completely, but the question here is:
'what we lack in talent is made up by our depth and youth'
Key word there being 'talent'.
In terms of pure talent, skill and even basketball IQ...Sully is right up there with Horford. Any disadvantages Sully has compared to Horford are a direct or indirect result of his questionable attitude and decision making - all cerebral.
If Sully ever gets his head where it's supposed to be, there's absolutely nothing stopping him from becoming every bit as good as (if not even better than) Horford.
They are however clutch and play as a team as well as anyone.
Also correct, but again we're talking about pure talent level here, as that was the subject of the thread to begin with.
My argument basically is that the main thing separating the 13/14 Spurs from the current day Celtics are:
a) Experience / vet savvy
b) Team chemistry (those guys have been together a LONG time)
c) Coaching
Boston will develop more of both as they develop together as a team, so their levels of experience and chemistry will only get better...especially under Brad Stevens and with the addition of a couple of nice extra veterans (Lee, Johnson).
Also Boston has some clutch players of their own in Smart, Thomas.
To be fair, Horford is taller, in far better shape, and has a career .571 TS% to Sully's .504.
He also blocks shots at a higher rate. Sully has a slightly higher rebounds/100 possessions average, at 14.8 to 14.3, but Horford had a higher rebounding rate than Sully when he was Sully's age.
Topic: 'what we lack in talent is made up by our depth and youth' (Read 17907 times)