NBA Thread

[BRule]

I can stand behind thethe that Adams projects to be a good starting center. He isn't vital by any means, but he a nice player to flesh out a rotation and should be a little bit better (maybe one day could be a Tiago Splitter type).

But due to injuries he hasn't had a chance to show it consistently to establish himself to be the player thethe thinks he is.

Anywho, go Karl Towns!

Where would you say Splitter ranks in terms of Centers? 15-20?

Also don't see the Splitter comp, he has that nice 10-15 foot jumper that he has down.

[thethe]

Where would you say Splitter ranks in terms of Centers? 15-20?

Also don't see the Splitter comp, he has that nice 10-15 foot jumper that he has down.

Where was Splitter when he was 21?

[BRule]

Where was Splitter when he was 21?

In Brazil, next question.

[thethe]

In Brazil, next question.

Ok, just making sure.

[BRule]

Ok, just making sure.

Do you think they are similar players?

[thethe]

Do you think they are similar players?

No, I don't see it. The only comparison I see is that they are both good low post defenders. But its hard to compare a 30 year old to a 21 year old. Right now SPlitter has much better footwork and touch around hte rim but Splitter could never touch the level of athlete that Adams is an will be for the next 10 years.

[BRule]

No, I don't see it. The only comparison I see is that they are both good low post defenders. But its hard to compare a 30 year old to a 21 year old. Right now SPlitter has much better footwork and touch around hte rim but Splitter could never touch the level of athlete that Adams is an will be for the next 10 years.

Agreed....I see Adams being a better version of Chris Anderson.

[thethe]

That's not to say Adams won't develop those parts of his game but it's a work in process at this point. He has a little quick baseline move and an ok hook shot but it's not reliable at this point. What he is good at is catching on the move and finishing at the rim which are very important skills to have with westbrook.

I don't really know enough about Anderson to agree with you on that honestly. I've seen him play here and there but not enough to really know his game.

[BRule]

That's not to say Adams won't develop those parts of his game but it's a work in process at this point. He has a little quick baseline move and an ok hook shot but it's not reliable at this point. What he is good at is catching on the move and finishing at the rim which are very important skills to have with westbrook.

I don't really know enough about Anderson to agree with you on that honestly. I've seen him play here and there but not enough to really know his game.

A really good defender, tough guy, enforcer, not much on O other than dunking and stuff around the rim. Really good rim protector but only played 15 minutes a game....obviously Adams will probably end up playing 25 or a little more.

His per 36 stuff is like 11/10 with 3 blocks in his prime, I think.

[gilesfan]

Adams is pretty bad at finishing at the rim though. 64%

[thethe]

A really good defender, tough guy, enforcer, not much on O other than dunking and stuff around the rim. Really good rim protector but only played 15 minutes a game....obviously Adams will probably end up playing 25 or a little more.

His per 36 stuff is like 11/10 with 3 blocks in his prime, I think.

Trust me...Adams will become a more reliable offensive player. He is not going to be a force like Kanter down low but a guy you can throw it down to against a mismatch and get his buckets consistently. Adams is also an underrated passer in the post but since Kanter came he is occupying that area of the court.

[BRule]

Trust me...Adams will become a more reliable offensive player. He is not going to be a force like Kanter down low but a guy you can throw it down to against a mismatch and get his buckets consistently. Adams is also an underrated passer in the post but since Kanter came he is occupying that area of the court.

I don't see it yet, I'm sure it COULD come because he hasn't been playing that long but right now he isn't close to anything good on O. Which is my main point of contention with your dumb " top 10 in 2 years " statement. If you said within 5-6 years, I probably wouldn't have said anything.

[thethe]

I don't see it yet, I'm sure it COULD come because he hasn't been playing that long but right now he isn't close to anything good on O. Which is my main point of contention with your dumb " top 10 in 2 years " statement. If you said within 5-6 years, I probably wouldn't have said anything.

The issue is that we see value in a big man differently. Most important bar none is defense. I see Adams being one of the top 5 defensive centers in basketball like real soon. And the fact that his athleticism lets him roll on the PnR gives him a solid amount of value offensively until he develops more traditional big man moves.

[BRule]

The issue is that we see value in a big man differently. Most important bar none is defense. I see Adams being one of the top 5 defensive centers in basketball like real soon. And the fact that his athleticism lets him roll on the PnR gives him a solid amount of value offensively until he develops more traditional big man moves.

If you want to be a top 5-10 center you can't be a 0 on D or O. Adams is a Zero on O......I don't see him being better than

Dwight
Cousins
Nikola
Marc Gasol
Gobert
Horford
Jonas
Drum
DJA
Tyson
Bosh
Noah
Bogut
Hibbert

Then you have younger guys like Dieng, Moz, Nurkic, Noel, TT

Probably a few I missed...bottom line....center is really deep and I don't see Adams jumping many of those names in the next year.

[thethe]

If you want to be a top 5-10 center you can't be a 0 on D or O. Adams is a Zero on O......I don't see him being better than

Dwight
Cousins
Nikola
Marc Gasol
Gobert
Horford
Jonas
Drum
DJA
Tyson
Bosh
Noah
Bogut
Hibbert

Then you have younger guys like Dieng, Moz, Nurkic, Noel, TT

Probably a few I missed...bottom line....center is really deep and I don't see Adams jumping many of those names in the next year.

I get why you don't see it yet. I just disagree with you. We will see in 1 1/2 years.

[chop2chip]

Where would you say Splitter ranks in terms of Centers? 15-20?

Also don't see the Splitter comp, he has that nice 10-15 foot jumper that he has down.

That sounds about right.

And I agree that Splitter isn't a perfect comp, but defensively they could be pretty similar. Adams isn't super athletic, so he is not a traditional rim protector, but he's very physical and seems to be pretty effective. He is also a very good rebounder. I don't care about rebounding percentages. I found that stat to be very unfair to certain players. If Adams boxes his guy out really well and Westbrook, Ibaka, Durant, Kanter, etc. get the rebound then it doesn't mean he is a poor rebounder. The fact that the Thunder as a whole rebound well shows that he is a plus rebounder.

[chop2chip]

thethe, Adams doesn't have to be a top 10 center to be the player you say he is or should become. I think you get too hung up with arbitrary rankings. That's why your claim doesn't hold much merit. I just don't see him ever leap frogging these other guys. Unless he develops some elite skill such as rim protection (won't happen because he lacks the athleticism and length), becomes the best rebounder in the NBA (there's no way he surpasses Hassan or Gobert), or becomes an elite passer plus becomes low post scorer (essentially Kanter plus the elite passing). I just don't foresee him ever doing any of those things. But there's no reason to think that he could become average at a lot of things. There's tremendous value in that.

[thethe]

That sounds about right.

And I agree that Splitter isn't a perfect comp, but defensively they could be pretty similar. Adams isn't super athletic, so he is not a traditional rim protector, but he's very physical and seems to be pretty effective. He is also a very good rebounder. I don't care about rebounding percentages. I found that stat to be very unfair to certain players. If Adams boxes his guy out really well and Westbrook, Ibaka, Durant, Kanter, etc. get the rebound then it doesn't mean he is a poor rebounder. The fact that the Thunder as a whole rebound well shows that he is a plus rebounder.

I think you are underselling Adams overall athleticism.

[chop2chip]

I think you are underselling Adams overall athleticism.

Maybe but it's pretty obvious that he isn't in the Whiteside, Jordan, Gobert, etc echelon.

My point is that he isn't likely going to be an elite rim protector ever.

[thethe]

Maybe but it's pretty obvious that he isn't in the Whiteside, Jordan, Gobert, etc echelon.

My point is that he isn't likely going to be an elite rim protector ever.

He doesn't have the length that Gobert has obviously but he graded out as a better athlete in the combine (max vert/no step vert). Same with Whiteside and Jordan. Not the end all but I don't think you guys realize that for a big man Adams is an elite athlete.