Phil Jackson questions if Porzingis is too tall for basketball

I wonder how those people feel now

 

People overreact about Porzingis just like the do about Russ. Just the other way around... at least for now .

 

yeah, 10 games into the season, I'm feeling pretty smart about some of my draft opinions. kaminsky chief among them (happily), okafor also there (sadly). I will say I was wrong about the zinger--but I did say I thought he had the biggest boom/bust quotient. I just didn't want the team to get him as a bust. kudos to the knicks for showing some balls here and taking the high ceiling over the safer choices. hopefully the lakers gambit works similarly in the long run.

 

He'd suck under Byron, but then again , so do most of our vets. I'm reserving judgment on Russell to be fair.

 

lost amidst the (justifiable) zinger hype is that randle's putting up similar numbers, but because he played 14 minutes last year, nobody cares.

 

Porzingis is the real deal. I've never seen someone so tall move so fluidly, and the range he has at his height is almost unfair. His biggest criticism before the draft was his lack of strength. Well it really doesn't seem to matter much because he gets so many blocks and pulls rebounds from over/behind your head. He's got a great feel for the game too. It's easy to pin him down as a future superstar.

 

randle had 22/15/4/4 in a game already. zinger blocks more shots, randle makes more plays for others. zinger can shoot, randle can manufacture paint points. both are shooting like 42% from the floor.

as for guys that tall moving fluidly--maybe not at 7'3", but young dirk (7') was a lot more athletic and graceful than zinger (go watch the film). as was kg (7'1"). pj was right: zinger moves kinda like shawn Bradley. which isn't a bad thing, btw. Bradley's agility at 7'6" was why he went #2 overall. zinger already looks stronger than Bradley ever was, though, which is good for him.

I think people are also overlooking the value of his playing professionally in an upper-tier league prior to coming to the nba.

anyway, I'm not trying to say he's not good or won't be; just trying to add some perspective. similar stats from our guy, and people seem moderately annoyed. the power of expectations.

 

How can you be tall for basketball though seriously. That's like being too fat for sumo. Glad the Knicks are making a little bit of noise.

 

That's like having boobs that are too big. Whatever!

 

I tried (and failed, obviously) to post a the "too high" scene from major league earlier in the thread. that was my first thought in response to Jackson's comment.

one thing about tall guys, though: foot problems. very few guys that are bigger than about 7' even have long careers. rik smits, yao, ilgauskas, all had similar foot issues. I think the hope with zinger is that he's got a kirilenko frame (and game) in a 7'3" package. that would be pretty great.

edit: that block is badass. you can't teach that timing.

 

Lol, I was just being facetious. You are completely right. There are those poor eight feet tall people in the Guiness book of records that can barely walk without a cane etc. I think when Phil said too tall, he meant too tall and willowy, not solid enough. I had a friend who was 6'6'' or there abouts and asked him why he didn't play basketball (he was a rugby player - a lock who jumps in the lineout). He shrugged and said he was too clumsy. I never saw him try but it seemed a waste as he was fit and strong etc. Porzingis will be more loved than Melo in New York if this keeps up.

 

Looking back... another great psychological play by the Zen Master. He sure ain't Shawn Bradley