The Eight Foot Two Schlub - Page 4

mjkidd · #31 12-12-2006, 12:17 PM

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I diagree because we know how Bradley, Bol, Muresean moved when they were that much taller than Shag. Also, everything I have ever seen has Shaq listed at 7'1. Shaq's ability to move will most likely be much more than our guy so it is probably closer to compare him to Muresean IMO.

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No. According to OP, this guy will move just like he did when he was six feet tall. Do you think he moved like Muresean then?

Oski · #32 12-12-2006, 12:23 PM

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When healthy, Mueresan was very effective.

[/ QUOTE ]This is a wild exaggeration.
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The OP seems to imply that the proportions would remain, thus the player would have significant bulk. If that is the case, the player would be alomst impossible to move around.

[/ QUOTE ]As noted, the "proportions would remain" only if the guy was originally 6', 325 lbs. I know Sklansky said to ignore the laws of physics, but it's a little crazy to suggest that this guy would be even an "average" athlete. There are perhaps 200 of those 6', 325 lb "average athletes" on the entire planet, and they're called NFL linemen.

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I didn't see that the OP stated his weight. My "proportions statement" was only to present the idea that the player would not be a bean pole. Because he is to be 440 pounds, my point remains that he would not be pushed around like Bradley and Bol.

candyman718 · #33 12-12-2006, 12:34 PM

The OP also said he has mediocre athletic ability. Shaq has awesome athletic ability. This guy better be able to shoot like Yao or he will be almost useless out there.

mjkidd · #34 12-12-2006, 12:45 PM

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The OP also said he has mediocre athletic ability. Shaq has awesome athletic ability. This guy better be able to shoot like Yao or he will be almost useless out there.

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He is over a FOOT TALLER than Shaq. He has more than 100 pounds on him. And he's coordinated and can shoot reasonably well. How does Shaq defend this guy one-on-one?

joel2006 · #35 12-12-2006, 12:47 PM

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Manute Bol did not have average athletic ability; he had well below average. Remember how akward and gawky he was? Since this guy is just an enlarged regular 6 foot tall guy, that's what he would look like. Comparing him to Bol is absurd...he would have half a foot and 150 pounds on Bol, AND he would have better athletic ability.

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Having actually played basketball with and against Manute I can tell you that this isn't true. Bol had above average athletic ability, he ran fairly fast and moved laterally well and had excellent hand/eye coordination. He was an above average athlete, but his problem was how he was built. He had extremely long legs (think of a regular 6' guy, but make his feet his knees and double the lenght of his legs. Because of this he was at a disadvantage in the post, since his hips were so high he had no leverage when fighting for position and his frame prevented him from gaining any weight. His doctors told him not to weigh more than 240 lbs. Thus he was easily pushed around down low. Although not much of an offensive force, he was an excellent defensive player, who made it difficult for opponents to score (although he was weakest at defending his own man if said player was very strong and built thick down low, think Karl Malone for example). Shawn Bradley had the same problem, he had excellent offensive skills, although he much less heart than Bol and was easily intimidated. Shaq is an extraordinary athlete, he has a vertical leap of over 30" which is unheard of for guys his height. His foot speed, hand/eye coordination and lateral quickness are absolutely sick for someone of his size and strength. Unlike almost all other 7 footers Shaq is normally proportioned. His biggest problem is a complete lack of shooting touch due to a broken right wrist which never healed properly. The bones fused and prevent his wrist from having the normal range of motion, something that is essential to the act of shooting a basketball. BTW, the 8' guy starts for the worst 1/3 of the teams in the league (that need a center), but he does play for 6-8 years as a backup for almost any team. And it is unlikely that he is anything more than mediocre (think of a taller Mark Eaton)

mjkidd · #36 12-12-2006, 12:54 PM

Joel -- Doesn't the fact that he's a foot taller than Mark Eaton count for anything?

joel2006 · #37 12-12-2006, 12:54 PM

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He is over a FOOT TALLER than Shaq. He has more than 100 pounds on him. And he's coordinated and can shoot reasonably well. How does Shaq defend this guy one-on-one?

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Easy, Shaq beats him to his spot and keeps him from posting too close down low. Shaq's vertical helps him to defend the guys shots. As far as rebounding goes Shaq has no problem boxing this guy out, but if 8 fter gets position Shaq is screwed. On O Shaq will beat him down the court every time forcing his smaller teamates to guard him, or Shaq can take him outside and just dribble around him forcing him to try to move laterally and pick up fouls.

joel2006 · #38 12-12-2006, 01:02 PM

Yes, but the NBA is full of very tall scrubs. His primary advantage is freakish height, with decent H/E coordination he might be a shot blocker, but teams could neutralize this by having his man move to the perimetr bringing him away from the basket. Or they could fast break a lot if he doesn't run well. On O, he will need to have skills to be able to score, being extremely tall isn't enough. If he has the H/E coordination and heart and strength to battle under the boards he could be a superior rebounder, esp. on D. Offensive rebounding requires quickness, good hands and a great deal of hustle, nothing in the OP gives him these traits.

mjkidd · #39 12-12-2006, 01:03 PM

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He is over a FOOT TALLER than Shaq. He has more than 100 pounds on him. And he's coordinated and can shoot reasonably well. How does Shaq defend this guy one-on-one?

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Easy, Shaq beats him to his spot and keeps him from posting too close down low. Shaq's vertical helps him to defend the guys shots. As far as rebounding goes Shaq has no problem boxing this guy out, but if 8 fter gets position Shaq is screwed. On O Shaq will beat him down the court every time forcing his smaller teamates to guard him, or Shaq can take him outside and just dribble around him forcing him to try to move laterally and pick up fouls.

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But our guy retains the shot of a slightly above average six footer. If he can hit a 12 foot jumper, isn't he going to be pretty much unstoppable?

joel2006 · #40 12-12-2006, 01:11 PM

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But our guy retains the shot of a slightly above average six footer. If he can hit a 12 foot jumper, isn't he going to be pretty much unstoppable?

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If he can get his shot off yes, this would make him a taller Rik Smits.