Why is everyone down on Bender?

[Tr1boy]

Most people are down on Bender because he played internationally and fans haven't watched him consistently like the other prospects who played NCAA basketball. That's about it; simply about exposure.

Well more like not getting any minutes playing internationally. Talk about a huge red flag that some here cannot ignore.

But some do. And dream of him becoming the next Pau gasol/porzingis

[ahonui06]

Most people are down on Bender because he played internationally and fans haven't watched him consistently like the other prospects who played NCAA basketball. That's about it; simply about exposure.

Well more like not getting any minutes playing internationally. Talk about a huge red flag that some here cannot ignore.

I have no opinion on Bender because I don't know enough about him. Didn't really research him at all, but I know the Celtics management will do their homework. If they think he could be a good fit, I would trust Ainge's judgment.

But some do. And dream of him becoming the next Pau gasol/porzingis

[PAOBoston]

Most people are down on Bender because he played internationally and fans haven't watched him consistently like the other prospects who played NCAA basketball. That's about it; simply about exposure.

Well more like not getting any minutes playing internationally. Talk about a huge red flag that some here cannot ignore.

Why is it shocking that a player that just turned 18 like 5 months ago isn't getting regular minutes? He's legit a kid. I'm not saying he's going to be a superstar. But I think it's borderline ridiculous to use the "Well, he's not getting regular minutes as a 17 year old so that's a red flag" excuse. Most 18 year olds don't start on competitive basketball teams.

[Tr1boy]

Most people are down on Bender because he played internationally and fans haven't watched him consistently like the other prospects who played NCAA basketball. That's about it; simply about exposure.

Well more like not getting any minutes playing internationally. Talk about a huge red flag that some here cannot ignore.

Why is it shocking that a player that just turned 18 like 5 months ago isn't getting regular minutes? He's legit a kid. I'm not saying he's going to be a superstar. But I think it's borderline ridiculous to use the "Well, he's not getting regular minutes as a 17 year old so that's a red flag" excuse. Most 18 year olds don't start on competitive basketball teams.

and??

then why should he go 3rd? 

[PAOBoston]

Most people are down on Bender because he played internationally and fans haven't watched him consistently like the other prospects who played NCAA basketball. That's about it; simply about exposure.

Well more like not getting any minutes playing internationally. Talk about a huge red flag that some here cannot ignore.

Why is it shocking that a player that just turned 18 like 5 months ago isn't getting regular minutes? He's legit a kid. I'm not saying he's going to be a superstar. But I think it's borderline ridiculous to use the "Well, he's not getting regular minutes as a 17 year old so that's a red flag" excuse. Most 18 year olds don't start on competitive basketball teams.

and??

then why should he go 3rd?

Never said he should go 3rd. I just said people are stupid for using a 17 year old's lack of minutes on a professional team as a "red flag."

[positivitize]

I'm a person and I'm not down on him.

I think he's a solid third prospect behind Simmons and Ingram. I'd be happy to have him on the Celtics.

[alldaboston]

Most people are down on Bender because he played internationally and fans haven't watched him consistently like the other prospects who played NCAA basketball. That's about it; simply about exposure.

Well more like not getting any minutes playing internationally. Talk about a huge red flag that some here cannot ignore.

Why is it shocking that a player that just turned 18 like 5 months ago isn't getting regular minutes? He's legit a kid. I'm not saying he's going to be a superstar. But I think it's borderline ridiculous to use the "Well, he's not getting regular minutes as a 17 year old so that's a red flag" excuse. Most 18 year olds don't start on competitive basketball teams.

Well then is it worth for us to take him? I think not.

[Eddie20]

Most people are down on Bender because he played internationally and fans haven't watched him consistently like the other prospects who played NCAA basketball. That's about it; simply about exposure.

Well more like not getting any minutes playing internationally. Talk about a huge red flag that some here cannot ignore.

In Europe, at age 19, Pau averaged 5 mpg, at 20 he averaged 14.8 mpg, and at 21 he was at 24.2 mpg.  Bender is 18 and is averaging 13.6 mpg.

Also in Europe, at age 19 Marc Gasol averaged, 5.8 mpg, at 20 - 16.4, at 21 - 9.0, at 22 - 22.8 , at 23 - 31.3.

Major red flag!!

Btw...Bender is shooting 41.1% from 3's, not below 30% as was misreported earlier in the thread.

[chambers]

If Bender was in the USA he'd be in high school.
One can only imagine the stats he'd be putting up against high schoolers over here and even US college teams.

He's played 10 games for Maccabi.
Ten games ...and his critics are suggesting that's enough of a sample size at 18 years old.

Ultimately none of us can judge Bender properly from our limited exposure.
Danny will bring him.in and work him out and see what he is.

[LatterDayCelticsfan]

Wasn't this a similar situation with the greek freak?  Lots of people seemed to complain about that one.

As it has been pointed ad nauseum by now, Anthetokounmpo wasn't the third pick in the draft.

Neither is Bender. Outside of numerous speculations and estimations of where people might go, nobody's actually been drafted.

[Tr1boy]

If Bender was in the USA he'd be in high school.
One can only imagine the stats he'd be putting up against high schoolers over here and even US college teams.

He's played 10 games for Maccabi.
Ten games ...and his critics are suggesting that's enough of a sample size at 18 years old.

Ultimately none of us can judge Bender properly from our limited exposure.
Danny will bring him.in and work him out and see what he is.

You sure?

Sabonis is 1996 and finished his 2nd year in college. Bender is 1997 so would of completed his 1st year of college ball

and if not, how is he even eligible for this upcoming draft??

[LooseCannon]

If Bender was in the USA he'd be in high school.
One can only imagine the stats he'd be putting up against high schoolers over here and even US college teams.

He's played 10 games for Maccabi.
Ten games ...and his critics are suggesting that's enough of a sample size at 18 years old.

Ultimately none of us can judge Bender properly from our limited exposure.
Danny will bring him.in and work him out and see what he is.

You sure?

Sabonis is 1996 and finished his 2nd year in college. Bender is 1997 so would of completed his 1st year of college ball

and if not, how is he even eligible for this upcoming draft??

Sabonis had his 18th birthday during the 2013-2014 season in May.  Bender had his 18th birthday during the 2015-2016 season in November.

Bender has his 19th birthday in the 2016 calendar year, so he is eligible to be drafted in 2016 as an international player.

[crimson_stallion]

Wasn't this a similar situation with the greek freak?  Lots of people seemed to complain about that one.

As it has been pointed ad nauseum by now, Anthetokounmpo wasn't the third pick in the draft.

But Bender has a higher ceiling than Giannis.

This ceiling word is deadly

James Young still has more "upside" than  many guys from the 2015 draft. But You think Utah for example would trade hood for him??

Once bender rots on a NBA bench, his value with sink deeper than......

James Young never had 'Ceiling'.  The guys only upsides were his outside shooting and the fact that he has excellent size for a guard.

He was always a garbage defender, he was never a quality ball handler or passer, he always had terrible basketball IQ, and he was always pretty mediocre athletically.

James Young looked like he wa going to be a bum from day one, and i still have no clue why half the people here believed otherwise.

The only thing he could do was shoot threes.  How often do guys of that description EVER become anything in he NBA? 

People just obsess over anybody who it's young.  Somehow being 18 or 19 instantly meabs you uave a high ceiling.  I think if my overweight butt was in the draft and i was 18, people would rave about my upside.

As for the OP's question, People are down on bender bevause right now he pretty much looks like a miss first round talent at best.  The only thing he does well is be versatile on defense - its his one little trick.  Everything else he's average at best with, but people are overblowing how good he is at various things seemingly because they are having Porzingis chills and want to buy in on the international hype.

Bender has done nothing to show hes deserving of a top 3 pick.  He's a more mobile (but far weaker and rawer) version of Kelly Olynyk - and Olynyk went 13th in 2014 mostly because of his age.

And that's where the penny drops. Bender it's yet another rookies to be overhyped because of his age.

Good pts overall. I mean just look at benders stats. His 3 pt shooting  (something ppl gushing about ) is less than 30 percent

How can a guy who some compare to Pau gasol, can't "gasol" it in this weak league he is playing at.

But it doesn't matter and I can't even blame bender one sec , he is going to be chosen somewhere in the top 10.  Talk about looking pretty or showing flashes and getting rewarded for it.

Whatever the case, I will be stunned if Danny takes him. Especially 3-5 range.

People are comparing Bender to Pau Gasol?!?!? 

If so that is utterly ridiculous.  He is nothing like Gasol.  Gasol has a 7'5" wingspan and while he was skinny when he came in to the NBA, he was kinda wiry strong (like KG) - versus Bender who is just pure skin and bone.

Also Gasol was a top shelf shot blocker, rebounder and post scorer the moment he entered the NBA.  Bender is average to above-average (at best) at all three of those things.  Bender couldn't dream of holding Pau Gasol's jock strap. 

The only real similarities are that:
1) Both have some form of jumper
2) Both are 7 foot and skinny
3) Both are pretty mobile

Marc Gasol is probably a closer comparison  in that he wasn't really great at any one thing, but was pretty good at a lot of things...and took a few years to really break out.

[vjcsmoke]

Good pts overall. I mean just look at benders stats. His 3 pt shooting  (something ppl gushing about ) is less than 30 percent

How can a guy who some compare to Pau gasol, can't "gasol" it in this weak league he is playing at.

But it doesn't matter and I can't even blame bender one sec , he is going to be chosen somewhere in the top 10.  Talk about looking pretty or showing flashes and getting rewarded for it.

Whatever the case, I will be stunned if Danny takes him. Especially 3-5 range.

What stats are you looking at?  Because Bender shot 60% from three in International competition and 56% from three from NBA range at the Combine drills.

He finished with 39% 3 Pt shooting for the season with Macabi Tel Aviv.  That's a huge difference between 39% from 3 vs 30%.
http://maccabi.co.il/Player.asp?PlayerID=864&cYear=2016&lang=en

I wouldn't underrate Bender, just because we don't have a lot of tape on him.  A lot of the scouts out there rate him very highly.  And he has done very well in international tournaments, etc.  Also very, very young, thus upside.  Doesn't turn 19 until after this year's draft.

One international scout claims that Bender is ahead of Porzingis in terms of skill and feel when KP was the same age.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2573742-meet-17-year-old-european-dragan-bender-who-could-be-2016s-kristaps-porzingis

I do agree that DA rarely drafts international players early though.  If we only get pick #3, I feel we trade it in a package.  If get 1-2 we'll probably select Simmons or Ingram.

[crimson_stallion]

If Bender was in the USA he'd be in high school.
One can only imagine the stats he'd be putting up against high schoolers over here and even US college teams.

He's played 10 games for Maccabi.
Ten games ...and his critics are suggesting that's enough of a sample size at 18 years old.

Ultimately none of us can judge Bender properly from our limited exposure.
Danny will bring him.in and work him out and see what he is.

The thing that the Bender fans totally fail to accept is that the "small sample size" argument goes both ways.  Not only is it too small a sample size to confidently say he's going to be a bust...it's also too small a sample size to confidently confirm he's going to be any good.

All these people use "we haven't seen what he can do" as a positive thing.  Why do all of the pro-Bender guys fail to acknowledge that this is just as much a negative as it is a positive?  That fact that we haven't seen him do much increases the risk of drafting him exponentially.  Taking Bender with a top 5 pick is a massive, massive gamble...and I'm just not convinced that his upside is high enough to justify taking a gamble that huge. 

I don't see anything close to superstar potential (and most people seem to concur), so why gamble such a high draft pick on a guy you HOPE could become a fringe all-star?