I can see the Celtics drafting Domantas Sabonis

[hwangjini_1]

For those who think Sabonis is too short to be a center in the NBA: How tall is our starting center right now? Somebody explain why Sabonis would be a worse option at center than Sullinger.

i think more important than how high the top of your head is, is how high can you reach, as in standing reach.

the average standing reach for a center in draft express pre-draft measurements is 9' 1.2".
sabonis' standing reach is unknown, but his wingspan is 1.5" shorter than the average for centers.

i can see why some folks are excited over him. but the case on his height is not as simple as is being argued above. right now, i dont anyone knows for sure what his standing reach is. if so, please let us all in on that fact.

another point to consider, this is not crucial but it is interesting, is that sabonis commits 5.7 fouls per 40 minutes. i suspect he might have to spend some time in the dleague before getting a lot of minutes in the nba. 

[Dino Pitino]

Sullinger's standing reach is 8'11", and he's not some athletic leaper to make up for that, and he has been our starting center all year, and we've had one of the best defenses in the league all year. What advantages does Sully have over Sabonis that lets him be an average or better NBA center? Width?

[Eja117]

Sullinger's standing reach is 8'11", and he's not some athletic leaper to make up for that, and he has been our starting center all year, and we've had one of the best defenses in the league all year. What advantages does Sully have over Sabonis that lets him be an average or better NBA center? Width?

He's a significantly bigger player. I'm not sure it's clear who the better shooter is either. What is the advantage that Sabonis has over Zeller?

[SHAQATTACK]

Watched him for first time.  Not really impressed ,  he was taller than the other team.  He plays hard and isn't scared . But.......there is huge difference in the NBA standing toe with Howard, Drummond or the Gasols . ......

He maybe too small.   He isn't athletic and gifted with skills of Mickey or Whitside ., or Nerlins.

I'm not seeing him any better than Zeller ......Zeller dominated in college

[Dino Pitino]

Sullinger's standing reach is 8'11", and he's not some athletic leaper to make up for that, and he has been our starting center all year, and we've had one of the best defenses in the league all year. What advantages does Sully have over Sabonis that lets him be an average or better NBA center? Width?

He's a significantly bigger player. I'm not sure it's clear who the better shooter is either. What is the advantage that Sabonis has over Zeller?

I meant physical advantages. Sullinger and Zeller are NBA veterans, so they obviously should be better players by now than a college sophomore. But were either of them better players than Sabonis in their second year of college? Sullinger might've been, but it's close, and Zeller definitely was not.

I'm not seeing him any better than Zeller ......Zeller dominated in college

As a senior.

[tomrod]

Watched him for first time.  Not really impressed ,  he was taller than the other team.  He plays hard and isn't scared . But.......there is huge difference in the NBA standing toe with Howard, Drummond or the Gasols . ......

He maybe too small.   He isn't athletic and gifted with skills of Mickey or Whitside ., or Nerlins.

I'm not seeing him any better than Zeller ......Zeller dominated in college

He needs to add strenght but he has the build to do it and still be pretty agile. I think there's a lot of room for improvement and the intangibles are there, and he's and excellent rebounder and post player already.

That said, I'm not related to him as triboy seems to be so I'd only want him with our own pick, maybe with Dallas's. Bender, Poeltl and Ellenson are better prospects.

[Tr1boy]

Watched him for first time.  Not really impressed ,  he was taller than the other team.  He plays hard and isn't scared . But.......there is huge difference in the NBA standing toe with Howard, Drummond or the Gasols . ......

He maybe too small.   He isn't athletic and gifted with skills of Mickey or Whitside ., or Nerlins.

I'm not seeing him any better than Zeller ......Zeller dominated in college

Have you seen him vs Poeltl (pegged as the top center prospect of the draft). Poeltl schooled and overpowered (same weight, poeltl , longer considered more athletic)   

But also you have to understand Sabonis is not a center in the NBA.   He is a PF.  In the same way Sully  or Amir is.  A PF that can guard centers pt/or with support.  Not a guy that could guard Centers like Drummond, Gasol all by himself. He is not like his Dad

The confusion here is, he behaves like a center on the offensive end . The traditional post moves that is like extinct in the NBA today.    He was not able to show much of his perimeter game bc Mark Few played it real cautious last night

But now lets think about KO transformation from college ball to the NBA.  A ton of scoring done down low in college. Alot of nifty moves we have never seen here in the NBA.  Sabonis as good as he is from the post (and will be better than KO and Sully for sure) will have his issues against smart defenders, just as strong if not stronger, longer and won't fall for fakes.  He will then need to brush up his perimeter game and go to work.   I believe he will be able to change up his game for the NBA.   

He will be a good rebounder in the NBA. As good as sully is.  Just physical,  super box out technique,  strong, quick off the ground. 

[Tr1boy]

Watched him for first time.  Not really impressed ,  he was taller than the other team.  He plays hard and isn't scared . But.......there is huge difference in the NBA standing toe with Howard, Drummond or the Gasols . ......

He maybe too small.   He isn't athletic and gifted with skills of Mickey or Whitside ., or Nerlins.

I'm not seeing him any better than Zeller ......Zeller dominated in college

He needs to add strenght but he has the build to do it and still be pretty agile. I think there's a lot of room for improvement and the intangibles are there, and he's and excellent rebounder and post player already.

That said, I'm not related to him as triboy seems to be so I'd only want him with our own pick, maybe with Dallas's. Bender, Poeltl and Ellenson are better prospects.

yes and James young also at one time was a better prospect than Rodney Hood.   Fab Melo had a ton more potential than that chubby but accomplished Draymond Green.

I will bet all my tommy points that Sabonis will end up becoming a better player than either Bender and Poeltl(who he already schooled). 

I'm big on Ellenson.   I'm ok with picking either Ellenson or Sabonis. I got a feeling Danny likes both guys. 

[tomrod]

Watched him for first time.  Not really impressed ,  he was taller than the other team.  He plays hard and isn't scared . But.......there is huge difference in the NBA standing toe with Howard, Drummond or the Gasols . ......

He maybe too small.   He isn't athletic and gifted with skills of Mickey or Whitside ., or Nerlins.

I'm not seeing him any better than Zeller ......Zeller dominated in college

He needs to add strenght but he has the build to do it and still be pretty agile. I think there's a lot of room for improvement and the intangibles are there, and he's and excellent rebounder and post player already.

That said, I'm not related to him as triboy seems to be so I'd only want him with our own pick, maybe with Dallas's. Bender, Poeltl and Ellenson are better prospects.

yes and James young also at one time was a better prospect than Rodney Hood.   Fab Melo a ton more potential than that chubby but accomplished Draymond Green.

I will bet all my tommy points that Sabonis will end up becoming a better player than either Bender and Poeltl(who he already schooled). 

I'm big on Ellenson.   I'm ok with picking either Ellenson or Sabonis. I got a feeling Danny likes both guys.

They are just more athletic and talented, and Bender has the intangibles as well. I'm high on all this guys, it's very hard to tell who's gonna be better, but my bet is Bender right now.

[Eddie20]

Watched him for first time.  Not really impressed ,  he was taller than the other team.  He plays hard and isn't scared . But.......there is huge difference in the NBA standing toe with Howard, Drummond or the Gasols . ......

He maybe too small.   He isn't athletic and gifted with skills of Mickey or Whitside ., or Nerlins.

I'm not seeing him any better than Zeller ......Zeller dominated in college

He needs to add strenght but he has the build to do it and still be pretty agile. I think there's a lot of room for improvement and the intangibles are there, and he's and excellent rebounder and post player already.

That said, I'm not related to him as triboy seems to be so I'd only want him with our own pick, maybe with Dallas's. Bender, Poeltl and Ellenson are better prospects.

yes and James young also at one time was a better prospect than Rodney Hood.   Fab Melo a ton more potential than that chubby but accomplished Draymond Green.

I will bet all my tommy points that Sabonis will end up becoming a better player than either Bender and Poeltl(who he already schooled). 

I'm big on Ellenson.   I'm ok with picking either Ellenson or Sabonis. I got a feeling Danny likes both guys.

Triboy, remember when you said that Booker and Myles Turner were overrated because they didn't start in college? You really overrate college accomplishments and fail to see how games translate on the next level, limiting yourself to thinking ncaa success will be equaled at the highest level.

[Tr1boy]

Watched him for first time.  Not really impressed ,  he was taller than the other team.  He plays hard and isn't scared . But.......there is huge difference in the NBA standing toe with Howard, Drummond or the Gasols . ......

He maybe too small.   He isn't athletic and gifted with skills of Mickey or Whitside ., or Nerlins.

I'm not seeing him any better than Zeller ......Zeller dominated in college

He needs to add strenght but he has the build to do it and still be pretty agile. I think there's a lot of room for improvement and the intangibles are there, and he's and excellent rebounder and post player already.

That said, I'm not related to him as triboy seems to be so I'd only want him with our own pick, maybe with Dallas's. Bender, Poeltl and Ellenson are better prospects.

yes and James young also at one time was a better prospect than Rodney Hood.   Fab Melo a ton more potential than that chubby but accomplished Draymond Green.

I will bet all my tommy points that Sabonis will end up becoming a better player than either Bender and Poeltl(who he already schooled). 

I'm big on Ellenson.   I'm ok with picking either Ellenson or Sabonis. I got a feeling Danny likes both guys.

Triboy, remember when you said that Booker and Myles Turner were overrated because they didn't start in college? You really overrate college accomplishments and fail to see how games translate on the next level, limiting yourself to thinking ncaa success will be equaled at the highest level.

I don't recall saying that about Booker.But Myles Turner yes. He is nothing fancy

[Tr1boy]

Watched him for first time.  Not really impressed ,  he was taller than the other team.  He plays hard and isn't scared . But.......there is huge difference in the NBA standing toe with Howard, Drummond or the Gasols . ......

He maybe too small.   He isn't athletic and gifted with skills of Mickey or Whitside ., or Nerlins.

I'm not seeing him any better than Zeller ......Zeller dominated in college

He needs to add strenght but he has the build to do it and still be pretty agile. I think there's a lot of room for improvement and the intangibles are there, and he's and excellent rebounder and post player already.

That said, I'm not related to him as triboy seems to be so I'd only want him with our own pick, maybe with Dallas's. Bender, Poeltl and Ellenson are better prospects.

yes and James young also at one time was a better prospect than Rodney Hood.   Fab Melo a ton more potential than that chubby but accomplished Draymond Green.

I will bet all my tommy points that Sabonis will end up becoming a better player than either Bender and Poeltl(who he already schooled). 

I'm big on Ellenson.   I'm ok with picking either Ellenson or Sabonis. I got a feeling Danny likes both guys.

Triboy, remember when you said that Booker and Myles Turner were overrated because they didn't start in college? You really overrate college accomplishments and fail to see how games translate on the next level, limiting yourself to thinking ncaa success will be equaled at the highest level.

Yes. That is I was praising Tyler hansborough left and right

Right eddie20?

[Tr1boy]

Opinions

How high could Sabonis go in the draft? How low?

Ppl OK with Sabonis replacing sully?

[ederson]

Triboy,

Bender is 7'2. Moves like a small forward. Coordinated like a guard. Great shooting form.

There's a good reason he's top 3 on most draft boards.

Could be a young Pau Gasol with more range.

So far in his carrier he looks more Milicic than Gasol
Pau at 18-19 was a good ACB player playing for a powerhouse like Barcelona while Bender can`t find play time in the worst Maccabi of the last 20 years

[kozlodoev]

Bender is 7'2. Moves like a small forward. Coordinated like a guard. Great shooting form.

Yeah. He also won't be the first guy for whom, after you get over the fact that he won't be a guard and won't be a small forward, you realize he's not really fit to be anything else in the NBA.