Video breakdown of Skal Labissiere’s strengths and weaknesses.
- Thread starter preacher_tom
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I'm very happy we have Skal, but I'm not sure how people have him getting drafted before Ben Simmons. All the all-star games that I watched Ben Simmons was so impressive. That big, those handles and great vision. Guess we'll see this upcoming year as I am excited to see how Simmons does in college.
Because Skal has Anthony Davis like potential which is a million times better than anything Simmons will become.
-Skal can shoot better than Simmons
-Skal is a better shot blocker than Simmons
-Skal is laterally quicker than Simmons
-Skal can handle better than Simmons
- Simmons has the way stronger build
- Simmons at this point...would get the rebound edge
- Simmons is a better interior post player
- I can't judge who has better passing skills...never seen either pass much
Simmons is physically sort of freakish with his size at this age vs. HS kids...but Skal is freaky long and quick with very good coordination. and his ceiling is higher than Simmons. Simmons isn't close to as long and able to get to shots that Skal can and isn't as good a face up shooter iMO.
Simmons will have to overcome poor coaching in order to claim the #1 spot in the NBA draft.
I think scouts see potential when they see Skal. He's an emerging star. He hasn't fully emerged yet, but he's getting very close. When the light fully comes on for him, watch out!
When I see Skal play, I'm reminded of Anthony Davis. He moves like Davis. He's very agile and light on his feet. He's long and thin but has a good frame for adding muscle. He may have a better jump shot right now than Davis had at the same point. I don't think he has the same defensive skill or the arm length Davis had to really alter and block shots at the same rate. He's got great potential from what I can see. I fully expect that he has already improved many of those weaknesses, though some can't be improved (arm length, for example). Will he be a super star at UK? I think he's going to be very good, without question. His lack of weight and strength will cause him problems with some D1 post men, but I think he can overcome it. Some may have forgotten how Anthony Davis looked in game 1 of that 2011-12 season. Yes, he could always run the floor like a gazelle but he was getting pushed around quite a bit. He really didn't hit his stride until mid-late December and didn't even TAKE a jump shot until late January if I remember correctly, and he clanged several before he made one. We only saw the tip of the iceberg with Davis, but that was good enough for a title. I don't think Labissiere is as good, but I really like what I see. I'm sure Calipari will utilize him in a way that is best for both him and the team.
One thing is sure- you can't teach 7 feet tall and you can't teach that natural athleticism that enables a kid to jump like a pogo stick. He has both those and that alone will make him a very dangerous threat. He will run the floor. He will dunk a lot. And I think we'll see his jumper much earlier in the season than we saw Davis's jumper. I like the fact that Skal will have both Sr Poythress and Jr Lee to help, along with Humphries, so that the whole load isn't on him. I'm excited to see how he plays after entering UK's strength and conditioning program.
One edge (in UK's favor) with Labissiere is that he's older than the other guys in his class. I didn't realize it until I watched those videos, but Skal was born March 18, 1996, so that puts him at 19 right now and will be 20 when the Big Dance is getting going this Spring. This is listed as a weakness for his draft stock, because they want these guys with a longer pro potential. But for UK, it means his body is more mature and he doesn't have as much awkwardness as a typical 18-year-old freshman big man.
When I see Skal play, I'm reminded of Anthony Davis. He moves like Davis. He's very agile and light on his feet. He's long and thin but has a good frame for adding muscle. He may have a better jump shot right now than Davis had at the same point. I don't think he has the same defensive skill or the arm length Davis had to really alter and block shots at the same rate. He's got great potential from what I can see. I fully expect that he has already improved many of those weaknesses, though some can't be improved (arm length, for example). Will he be a super star at UK? I think he's going to be very good, without question. His lack of weight and strength will cause him problems with some D1 post men, but I think he can overcome it. Some may have forgotten how Anthony Davis looked in game 1 of that 2011-12 season. Yes, he could always run the floor like a gazelle but he was getting pushed around quite a bit. He really didn't hit his stride until mid-late December and didn't even TAKE a jump shot until late January if I remember correctly, and he clanged several before he made one. We only saw the tip of the iceberg with Davis, but that was good enough for a title. I don't think Labissiere is as good, but I really like what I see. I'm sure Calipari will utilize him in a way that is best for both him and the team.
One thing is sure- you can't teach 7 feet tall and you can't teach that natural athleticism that enables a kid to jump like a pogo stick. He has both those and that alone will make him a very dangerous threat. He will run the floor. He will dunk a lot. And I think we'll see his jumper much earlier in the season than we saw Davis's jumper. I like the fact that Skal will have both Sr Poythress and Jr Lee to help, along with Humphries, so that the whole load isn't on him. I'm excited to see how he plays after entering UK's strength and conditioning program.
One edge (in UK's favor) with Labissiere is that he's older than the other guys in his class. I didn't realize it until I watched those videos, but Skal was born March 18, 1996, so that puts him at 19 right now and will be 20 when the Big Dance is getting going this Spring. This is listed as a weakness for his draft stock, because they want these guys with a longer pro potential. But for UK, it means his body is more mature and he doesn't have as much awkwardness as a typical 18-year-old freshman big man.
I didn't realize he was so fluid with good handles for a 7'. Could be exciting having him lead in transition off a long rebound. But, something tells me that Cal will have him,primarily, learn how to play underneath just like he did with KAT who was known for his perimeter shooting coming out of HS. That is the development NBA scouts will want to see-- how much he can "bang" or absorb contact underneath both on offense and defense.
-Skal can shoot better than Simmons
-Skal is a better shot blocker than Simmons
-Skal is laterally quicker than Simmons
-Skal can handle better than Simmons
- Simmons has the way stronger build
- Simmons at this point...would get the rebound edge
- Simmons is a better interior post player
- I can't judge who has better passing skills...never seen either pass much
Simmons is physically sort of freakish with his size at this age vs. HS kids...but Skal is freaky long and quick with very good coordination. and his ceiling is higher than Simmons. Simmons isn't close to as long and able to get to shots that Skal can and isn't as good a face up shooter iMO.
So don't get me wrong, but I'm not bashing Skal. I also don't think you have watched them play. Skal may be quicker and better shot blocker, but no way does he handle the ball better. Simmons literally looked like a 6-10 pg out there. Oh and I don't think you also watched because Simmons has great vision.
-Skal can shoot better than Simmons
-Skal is a better shot blocker than Simmons
-Skal is laterally quicker than Simmons
-Skal can handle better than Simmons
- Simmons has the way stronger build
- Simmons at this point...would get the rebound edge
- Simmons is a better interior post player
- I can't judge who has better passing skills...never seen either pass much
Simmons is physically sort of freakish with his size at this age vs. HS kids...but Skal is freaky long and quick with very good coordination. and his ceiling is higher than Simmons. Simmons isn't close to as long and able to get to shots that Skal can and isn't as good a face up shooter iMO.
Hey, I'm a UK fan and I hope that Skal surpasses Simmons in the NBA draft, but the idea that he can handle the ball better than Simmons is flat-out insane. I honestly have to question whether you've ever seen them play when you say stuff like that.
Simmons is one of the better natural passers in the last decade. Combine that with his size and athleticism and you have a player with a better total package than Magic Johnson ,one of the greatest players of all times. Magic was not the athlete Simmons is nor could he shoot as well at the same point in his career. Simmons will be drafted #1.
Magic's normal position was as PG. He also played C when Kareem was hurt. In the NBA finals! I don't what your criterion for athleticism is but Magic's range of high level skills was unmatched. The closest to Magic is LeBron James. (James is a much better shooter.) Magic didn't jump very high. That's his limit. Maybe the ability to jump high is what you mean by athleticism.
Reaction time. Vision. Strength. Coordination. Endurance. Poise. Magic had athletic skills by the bushel.
Simmons looks very good. Maybe he'll excel at the pro level. Making pronouncements about an as-yet-to-play freshman is pretty risky.
I'd say most would very much disagree with that. A guy that big with the perimeter skills he has could be incredibly special.
I would put Simmons in the Magic Johnson, Lebron, Lamar Odom, Penny Hardaway range.
Becoming as great as the first 2 is a stretch, but he's that kind of player. Based on what I've seen so far, I don't think you could go wrong picking either guy first (Skal or Simmons).
Becoming as great as the first 2 is a stretch, but he's that kind of player. Based on what I've seen so far, I don't think you could go wrong picking either guy first (Skal or Simmons).
I like the Lamar Odom comparison. Very similar players, not explosive, but great feel for the game.
So the people comparing him to AD…are you purposely ignoring the big difference in length??
Skal is bouncy, but he doesn't seem to have AD's speed/quicks.
Skal is a lock to be a top-3 pick, he's a cool prospect, but he's not a generational talent.
Skal wingspan - 7'1. Average for a big.
AD - 7.5. ELITE for a big.
..Uh, one of Ben's big strengths is his handles for his size. Guard-like.
Also, Simmons has rare vision/passing for a 6-10 player. So saying " never seen either pass much" Regarding Simmons just leaves people wondering if you actually seen him play.
Skal is bouncy, but he doesn't seem to have AD's speed/quicks.
Skal is a lock to be a top-3 pick, he's a cool prospect, but he's not a generational talent.
Skal wingspan - 7'1. Average for a big.
AD - 7.5. ELITE for a big.
-Skal is laterally quicker than Simmons
-Skal can handle better than Simmons
- I can't judge who has better passing skills...never seen either pass much
Simmons is physically sort of freakish with his size at this age vs. HS kids...but Skal is freaky long and quick with very good coordination. and his ceiling is higher than Simmons. Simmons isn't close to as long and able to get to shots that Skal can and isn't as good a face up shooter iMO.
..Uh, one of Ben's big strengths is his handles for his size. Guard-like.
Also, Simmons has rare vision/passing for a 6-10 player. So saying " never seen either pass much" Regarding Simmons just leaves people wondering if you actually seen him play.
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Putting Simmons perimeter skills up there with Magic and Lebron...I have simply never seen a player near that fluidity in Simmons to compare him to those 2. We'll see how it translates into college and ultimately NBA...but I see a more of comparison to Chris Weber in Ben Simmons as opposed to Lebron/Magic.
He's the same kind of player. And I said he wouldn't be as good as those two.
He is superior as a perimeter player to Webber. Of course Webber was great all around.
The hype around Simmons is that he's a guy with forward size who can guard multiple positions and he can be your main ballhandler/distributor. He's LeBron/Magicesque in that way, not that he's approaching them as a player, but that's the way he plays. I wouldn't be surprised if he led LSU in points, rebounds, and assists.
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Well I haven't seen either play enough to make a comparison but I like our players who will be playing beside Skal more than the ones playing beside Simmons and our coach![[winking]](http://l.yimg.com/j/assets/img/emoticons/classic/wink.r191677.gif "Winking [winking]")
Hair loss. Excessive sweating. Poor sightlines at outdoor concerts. The heartbreak of psoriasis. Palpitations. Dropsy. The fantods. The list goes on and on.
There's a name for players that play like that. They're point forwards.
I'm seeing Tyreke Evans much more than LeBron James. Simmons doesn't have the post moves or world class athleticism that LeBron has. As far as I'm concerned, Simmons has shown the ability to contribute in any part of the game, but when he contributes to all parts, he usually hurts himself greatly in another area, which is something that LeBron has avoided.
Ben Simmons may never be the kind of player that can roll out of bed, and drop 42 points, 13 assists, and 11 rebounds against the best team in the world, but it's a safe bet that he'll be an efficient player that can step up in other areas of the game when one part is lacking.
Just not confident that he can be an elite facilitator while trying to put on a show as an elite scorer, which is already difficult enough because of his difficulty to stretch the floor.
Nobody has the athleticism of Lebron. Lebron also didn't have much post game until the past few years. Also don't think any of us projected that he'd be as good as Lebron.
Some of you try way too hard to make an argument out of a casual conversation.
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