KO: the smallest 7-footer

[LilRip]

I know this isn't exactly breaking news and I know KO plays a finesse game, but watching him play sometimes just leaves me facepalming. He's a 7-footer and I hate the way he gets bullied, pushed around, rushes his shots, and plays out of control. Am I the only one who cringes whenever he tries to sneak in floaters and layups like he was IT4?

[knuckleballer]

[mgent]

Wow, he did a great job fooling scouts and coaches then huh?

Too bad Ainge didn't get the athletic, aggressive, physical 7 footer he thought he was drafting.

A lot of people cringed about Perk and Rondo too, but they were ideal complimentary pieces to our championship.

The reality is that KO is a complimentary player, and people should factor that into their expectations from him.

Players have flaws.

Just because a player isn't very good at areas of the game you like to watch, that doesn't really open him up for valid criticism.

[DarkAzcura]

No I don't really care how he looks when he takes his shots. His numbers show that he is still very efficient around the rim and all around so he can keep taking scoop shots and floaters for all I care. People care way too much about how KO's game looks. He still has positive impact. You can't turn him into something he isn't, and if he is still really efficient, why care to change it or want something different? It works.

He rarely looks out of control to me also.

[KingofDaPlayazBall]

can't wait till he is no longer on the team, probably the softest big man in the nba next to tyler zeller

[Monkhouse]

I know this isn't exactly breaking news and I know KO plays a finesse game, but watching him play sometimes just leaves me facepalming. He's a 7-footer and I hate the way he gets bullied, pushed around, rushes his shots, and plays out of control. Am I the only one who cringes whenever he tries to sneak in floaters and layups like he was IT4?

He's a mobile 7 footer who if he could ever just get a mean streak, could at least average 12-14 PPG, good enough to be a 3rd option.

Hes still a great passer in the high post, excellent at help defense, and array of offensive skilled moves most big men don't know. I hate his pump fake, but he seems to have stopped doing it as much towards the end of the season. You have to remember, he was a point guard till he got a huge consecutive growth spurt.

[Rondo9]

can't wait till he is no longer on the team, probably the softest big man in the nba next to tyler zeller

Clearly you have not seen Andrea Bargani play.

[Greyman]

No I don't really care how he looks when he takes his shots. His numbers show that he is still very efficient around the rim and all around so he can keep taking scoop shots and floaters for all I care. People care way too much about how KO's game looks. He still has positive impact. You can't turn him into something he isn't, and if he is still really efficient, why care to change it or want something different? It works.

He rarely looks out of control to me also.

This, plus, like the team, he is still developing.

[SHAQATTACK]

Short arms

High IQ like a guard

This game is vey flawed ....he tries to flip the ball in ....like a guard ......when your 7 ft ,  you lower your shoulder and head to he rim and make the opponent eat your elbows , knees and knuckles .

Watching him is painful......he should watch Mickey ......simple spin moves and slam it home.


Does not think about leading his team,  taking over,  being THE MAN.....never occurs to him ...much the same way as Jeff Green.

He needs ATTITUDE .....like Kobe , Bird , Pierce ......I'm going to make plays and you can't stop me ....

And luv every minute of destroying your opponent and rubbing it in their face after.......

KO......is too sweet.

[Celtics4ever]

Am I the only one who cringes whenever he tries to sneak in floaters and layups like he was IT4?

I think he should be more aggressive, there is a play last game where he should have drove one more step and flushed it rather than the floater.   But as you say he is a finesse player not a power one.

Too bad Ainge didn't get the athletic, aggressive, physical 7 footer he thought he was drafting.

The knock on him coming in was he was soft.  Ask yourself today would you rather have Giannis or KO?

He's a mobile 7 footer who if he could ever just get a mean streak, could at least average 12-14 PPG, good enough to be a 3rd option.

Hes still a great passer in the high post, excellent at help defense, and array of offensive skilled moves most big men don't know. I hate his pump fake, but he seems to have stopped doing it as much towards the end of the season. You have to remember, he was a point guard till he got a huge consecutive growth spurt.

Agree.

He possesses guard skills because he is a late bloomer who was a guard that grew a lot.

I think he pumps fakes because he is afraid of eating some leather.   I wish he would take the first shot instead of second guessing himself all the time.  He needs a tatoo of "Trust your instincts" until he gets it.  He gets in some awkward situations by not taking a good shot but usually he can pass out of them.

This, plus, like the team, he is still developing.

And showing some progress unlike like some others.   It is not as fast as we have hoped but he is filling out in a good way.

[hwangjini_1]

can't wait till he is no longer on the team, probably the softest big man in the nba next to tyler zeller

kevin love might disagree with this. 

[GreenWarrior]

Wow, he did a great job fooling scouts and coaches then huh?

Too bad Ainge didn't get the athletic, aggressive, physical 7 footer he thought he was drafting.

A lot of people cringed about Perk and Rondo too, but they were ideal complimentary pieces to our championship.

The reality is that KO is a complimentary player, and people should factor that into their expectations from him.

Players have flaws.

Just because a player isn't very good at areas of the game you like to watch, that doesn't really open him up for valid criticism.

the whole team is complimentary players. with a couple guys(smart & rozier) who could blossom into more. everyone else seems like they're going to be what they look like now and that's a complimentary player.

KO's offense isn't good enough or consistent enough to make up what he gives up on the defensive end. there's really no justifiable reason to play him.

[Rondo9]

Wow, he did a great job fooling scouts and coaches then huh?

Too bad Ainge didn't get the athletic, aggressive, physical 7 footer he thought he was drafting.

A lot of people cringed about Perk and Rondo too, but they were ideal complimentary pieces to our championship.

The reality is that KO is a complimentary player, and people should factor that into their expectations from him.

Players have flaws.

Just because a player isn't very good at areas of the game you like to watch, that doesn't really open him up for valid criticism.

KO's offense isn't good enough or consistent enough to make up what he gives up on the defensive end. there's really no justifiable reason to play him.

Seriously?

[LilRip]

Wow, he did a great job fooling scouts and coaches then huh?

Too bad Ainge didn't get the athletic, aggressive, physical 7 footer he thought he was drafting.

A lot of people cringed about Perk and Rondo too, but they were ideal complimentary pieces to our championship.

The reality is that KO is a complimentary player, and people should factor that into their expectations from him.

Players have flaws.

Just because a player isn't very good at areas of the game you like to watch, that doesn't really open him up for valid criticism.

who said he was supposed to be athletic and aggressive? I acknowledged he was a finesse player. My point is that i hate how he plays small. He doesn't need to power through people. I'm not expecting him to be Blake Griffin or Amare Stoudemire. But he does need to realize that he's still 7-feet tall. Not 6'2".

And I'm very familiar with the concept of role player. On Rondo and Perk (completely off-topic btw), I couldn't complain about them like this. Why? Because Rondo used his long arms for D. Perk used his bulk to bully people in the paint. They used what they had to maximize their talent. KO is the opposite of those 2.

I'm not complaining for aesthetics sake. KO has a soft touch but I bet he'd be more efficient if he didn't keep making things harder on himself. You don't even need to look further from our team to know what i'm talking about. Look at Lee. Lee can dribble like a guard, create for others, etc. etc., but he also plays like a big who can rebound and finish smoothly in the paint when it's dumped off to him.

[konkmv]

Yeah but the best shooter