these are really high iq, high skill plays from a rookie. remain amazed nobody in the first round thought he was worth a look.
i was remarking on that in some of my comments above: the way he's succeeding so far in the league is very different than what he did in college. if he brings more of that up to this level, he's even more valuable. but he's good even without the ability to break down and score/dish in isolation. if all he does is force then attack closeouts, it's found money.
He's a rookie, he's going to take it on the chin some nights. Bright future for this kid here tho IMO. He has a chance to carve out his own niche, kind of like Caruso did.
Anyone else notice Reaves is looking a little bigger up top and less thin in the arms? During the season no less, kid looks like he's been hitting the weights, etc. He said he never did in HS, but it got pointed out to him in college I think that it would be necessary going forward.
Bigger yes, but it's like the difference between angel hair spaghetti and regular spaghetti in the shoulders. He had nothing there in college. NBA size is relative, all these guys look skinny in person, every NBA player I've met (Lamar Odom, Karl Malone, Jason Collins) save Shaq (who in 2006 looked in shape and every bit of 7'1"), struck me as a lot skinnier in person.
We must be meeting a different caliber NBA player in LA vs ATL. Ty Corbin, Chris Crawford, Eldredge Recasner, Anthony Miller, Priest Lauderdale, Ivano Newbill, and Isaiah Rider were big. Need personal chefs big. Deke, Laettner, Mookie, Al Henderson, Lorenzo Wright, JT were some of the more impressive physically. Hawks had a lot of team meet and greets in the late 90s and I went to dozens each year. That was a fun squad that granted a lot of access. Some of the players would recognize me. Deke was the one that blew my mind. First met him when I was 10. Shook his hand and his finger tips extended nearly to my elbow.
3 of the 4 players I mentioned did not play in LA at the time. In LA is not the same thing as plays in LA. Players live here, not all play here. There are some big stout guys in the NBA yes, always exceptions, my point is that tv makes you look a little thicker.
i remember being courtside once and seeing sam cassell and thinking good lord that guy's huge! but i agree that many of these guys are skinny by "regular folk" standards. remember when karl malone and rodman did pro wrestling? malone, in particular, looked HUGE on an nba court, but looked sort of slim next to hulk hogan. when you think about it, the linebacker on your average college football team is probably 6'2" 250, right? you're a beefy nba player at 6'9" 250. i'm 5'10" 155, and i consider it average build. there are lots of nba pgs who are 6'3" 175. anyway, maybe it's all about your referent.
i was half kidding, although i'm not sure reaves isn't technically the 3rd most useful laker this year. bigger question is: if our "playoff lineup" is that one, why did we wait until now to unleash its full glory?
