Looking At The Euros

[BRNC]

Steve Kyler has a "Looking At The Euros" article...two today and two tomorrow...pretty good read and here is the link:

http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=19895

[ohara831]

My ranking:
1)Valanciunas 2)Vesely 3)Monti

First 2 will likely be gone when we pick at #9. If one is there, would be a good selection for Charlotte. Monti will possibly last until late teens and I would love to get him at #19.

[Plowright]

yer i would aswell, but i can't see teams like the suns, rockets and pacers passing on him. I imagine they all must be saying, if he is there we must take him. But i could be wrong, i hope i am

[LiquidWayno]

I'm excited to read the Bismack Biyombo write-up. I'm fascinated by his game.

[BRNC]

This article at ESPN should be helpful when evaluating Euro gamers against NBA players as well as college prospects...I thought it wan an interesting read...

As it happens, a blog called In the Game just published a whole bunch of stats comparing different international basketball leagues, and the results contradict Player X fairly convincingly. The NBA was compared with the Euroleague, EuroCup, Greek, Spanish, German league, Israeli, Belgian, French, Adriatic, Italian, Turkish and Eastern-European leagues. One league is by far the best in the world when it comes to both free-throw percentage and 3-point field goal percentage: The NBA. Stop right there. We'll talk below about why that 3-point number may be inflated, even though -- at 23'9" -- the NBA has the longest 3-point line in the world. (http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/post/_/id/29509/evidence-nba-players-have-plenty-of-skill) Consider the free throws, which is about as pure a shooting contest as there is. ESPN.com (http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/post/_/id/29509/evidence-nba-players-have-plenty-of-skill)

The NBA also has the fewest turnovers per possession, which would cast doubt on the idea NBA players can't handle the ball (http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/post/_/id/29509/evidence-nba-players-have-plenty-of-skill). The NBA has something of a reputation as a one-on-one league -- and yet is third out of all those leagues in terms of the percentage of possessions ending with an assist. The NBA also features the highest pace, by far, as well as far fewer free throws, per possession, than the average. ESPN.com (http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/post/_/id/29509/evidence-nba-players-have-plenty-of-skill)

[BRNC]

I was disappointed that Hoopsworld did not separate Bismack Biyombo and Donatas Motiejunas but I'm pasting in what they said about them today...

"After watching about 70 to 80 plays of Biyombo in Europe the appeal is not clear.
Biyombo logged the first triple-double of the Nike Hoop Summit kicking in 12 points, 11 rebounds and 10 blocks in April, but when you look at his game film from Baloncesto Fuenlabrada the hype does not line up with the tape.
Biyombo is big and strong, that's very clear on film, but what does not show through is any discernable skills. He tends to float around with his hands in the air looking for the pass. When the ball is in his hands, he is not overly deliberate or fluid in his movement.
It's hard not to wonder if the desire to find the next Serge Ibaka hasn't gotten the best of draft pundits on Biyombo? He is very raw from a skills perspective and he does not seem like he has a good feel for the game. That could have more to do with his team, so let's give that the benefit of the doubt.
Biyombo is someone you'd really have to work out in your building to get a feel for, because his game film is absolutely contradictory to the player he was at Hoops Summit, which makes you wonder – did he just have a career game?
Not sure I am buying at where he is currently projected."

This guy could end up being another AA...I have not had the interest others have because of lack of time/production and really see him as a "flavor of the month" that drops after teams get a good look...


"On the flip side we may have Donatas Motiejunas a bit too low.
Motiejunas is not going to blow you away with his athleticism, but he does come across as a smart savvy player in the 100 plus plays reviewed. Motiejunas is decent as a back to the basket player, he does not bang you to the rim for dunks, opting more for turn and shoot moves.
He really looks like a typical European/International center. A bit more finesse to his game. Good passer. Sets good screens. He is a decent shooter out to the three point line.
He could be very interesting in the NBA with his pick and roll game, because on the pick rather than rolling to the basket as most bigs do, he rolls to the three point line on some plays and hits those shots.
If he can drag NBA centers out to the three point line, he could really up things up for a penetrating point guard or two guards.
Of the two it's easy to see Biyombo has tremendous upside, however if you are drafting for need in the next two years Motiejunas is far and away the better player today.
How a guy looks on film can be a trap, but with these international prospects not participating in a lot of pre-draft workouts, tape is all teams really have to go on as most GM's don't scout European prospects, they leave that to others.
Both Biyombo and Motiejunas are expected to attend the Adidias EuroCamp workouts in Treviso Italy in three weeks, but neither may participate in drills.
Tomorrow we'll look at Lucas "Bebe" Nogueira and Nikola Mirotic."


Read more NBA news and insight: http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=19908#ixzz1NNXL1WPK