bismack biyombo.. nice read

[SWedd523]

I think this is spot on for a realist, bordering ever so slightly optimistic, return from Biz. IMO the lack of a rebounding 4 will all but ensure he averages double figures for the season. Would love to see him average 3 blocks, but this is admittedly more in hope than expectation.

I think his blocked shots potential is inversely related.

Could he go all Iblocka and hit the 3-4 block range? Probably. But that would take him out of position to box out and/or compete for rebounds. Ibaka seems to have normalized in that 7-8 rebound range and I feel like that has a lot to do with him constantly trying to contest shots.

If you remember last year, a lot of people criticized Bis' lack of high rebounding numbers. But I feel like a lot of that has to do with him trying to cover for his teammates by moving around the paint and not being able to focus on his area on the floor.

If Mully (or whoever Bis plays with) exhibits some defensive ability then Bis should see some more freedom to crash the boards, but if he's still playing next to a sieve then I wouldn't be surprised to see him stay around the 7-8ish level he's at right now.

[Plowright]

Mully actually showed flashes last year of being a good weak side defender and blocking shots. If he can build on that it will allow Biz to rebound a bit more

[SWedd523]

I'm speaking more to Mully's ability to play stronger man-to-man defense and not get bullied in the post or beat by the roll man in p&r situations, forcing Bismack to help over and leave his assignment

[spectre]

Good stuff.

I agree that Biz's board numbers were affected by who he's on the court with last season and the same could affect them this season as well. The lack of good switching on D (and one having to cover for the other) might force Haywood into the starting lineup in lieu of one of them.

[kitch0202]

I think his blocked shots potential is inversely related.

Could he go all Iblocka and hit the 3-4 block range? Probably. But that would take him out of position to box out and/or compete for rebounds. Ibaka seems to have normalized in that 7-8 rebound range and I feel like that has a lot to do with him constantly trying to contest shots.

If you remember last year, a lot of people criticized Bis' lack of high rebounding numbers. But I feel like a lot of that has to do with him trying to cover for his teammates by moving around the paint and not being able to focus on his area on the floor.

If Mully (or whoever Bis plays with) exhibits some defensive ability then Bis should see some more freedom to crash the boards, but if he's still playing next to a sieve then I wouldn't be surprised to see him stay around the 7-8ish level he's at right now.

VERY good point. I do feel that he is instinctively a shot blocker and this will, as you say, affect his ability to collect off the boards. Going slightly off topic here, but that is why I was quite keen on Kris Humphries (at the right price of course). I think pairing Biz with a natural defensive rebounder at the 4 (IMO MKG will collect a fair few offensive boards for us) would round us out defensively.

[Chef]

from my grainy illegal choppy streams, i noticed at least 2-3 rebounds every game that biz was the first to get hands on, but couldn't corral them in. he usually fumbled them because he just had trouble catching them or didn't time his jump correctly. hopefully, that changes with more experience. i think it will, or if it doesn't it will prove to be his ceiling.

[isguros]

I agree with kitch on this one. I felt disappointed when Humphries decided to join the Nets, he would've made a nice addition to the team. But I believe Haywood is more or less the same kind of player as he is, although, on the defensive end. The only real difference is the position they play at. Unlike some others around here, I think Bismack is more suited to play at the 4 position, maybe not in the long term, but definitely the next year. I'm certain his addition would benefit Bismack in the blockshot area, but I don't think he's going to grab more than 8 rebounds a game.

[SWedd523]

I think, between the two, Humphries is a much better fit considering he's younger, more athletic, and more versatile than Haywood. But considering the money we have invested in Haywood versus what we would've committed to Hump, I'm fine with the direction.

I think Bismack is going to excel more against true low post big men and less against the rangier guys like Bosh, Amare, etc. He's athletic for his size/age/musculature, but I don't think he's quick enough to stick with those guys. I'd prefer he stays near the painted area.

[Jennings]

I think he has a good shot at double digit rebounding. If not then right there at it. While he never seemed like the guy to swallow up rebounds like some other big guys do, he was consistently in that 7-8 range.

By virtue of more minutes in a potentially much faster paced offense and outright improvement, I'd be somewhat disappointed if he couldn't add a couple more per game to that column. Hell JaVale McGee went from 7/4 his rookie year to 11/8 in his 4th, and he's borderline mentally deficient.


Looking at some guys who went from high school/freshman to the NBA shows they all add at least two rebounds:

Dwight went from 10 to 12.5
Cousins went from 8.6 to 11
Love went from 9.1 to 11
Ibaka went from 5.4 to 7.6 (surprisingly low career high)
Hickson went from 4.9 to 8.7 (second to third year)
Favors went from 5.3 to 6.5


Now of course that usually comes with a pretty good bump in playing time. But they also have had the opportunity to play a year at an NBA level and get conditioned, both mentally and physically, to the rigors of the professional ranks. Bismack was way behind the 8 ball compared to all of those guys with the lack of training camp and condensed season so he should have a jump in the higher-ish range of those guys. Especially when he's proven to be such a hard working machine

Great info. One big thing, Biz has a lot better work ethic than most of those guys. It's going to be fun to watch. I still say 8/8/2.

[SJackson1]

i think he will average about 7.5 PPG next season which is a significant improvment from last season