Just under a double double with 26mpg. Hard to tell who he reminds me of but I am starting to think his downside is David Lee which is fantastic as Lee has had a good NBA career.
He measured 6'11 with a 7'1 wingspan. In 2013. He's 22 years old. According to 82 games he's played pretty much all of his minutes at center
meloshouldgo@ 2/28/2017 11:41 AM
Downside is what David Lee could have been, and NOT what Avi Lee was
martin@ 2/28/2017 11:41 AM
Really like Willy and next 2 off seasons will show us exactly who he is. He's got to get stronger and a little quicker, both of which I think he can do, and then add a consistent jumper.
nixluva@ 2/28/2017 12:02 PM
martin wrote:Really like Willy and next 2 off seasons will show us exactly who he is. He's got to get stronger and a little quicker, both of which I think he can do, and then add a consistent jumper.
Yeah I think he's real close. The starts really are giving him needed experience against starting caliber bigs. Willy is gaining confidence and learning the little tricks of the trade. He's much more active and quick footed than he looks. Both Willy and KP need to get with a big man coach like Hakeem.
EnySpree@ 2/28/2017 12:16 PM
nixluva wrote:
martin wrote:Really like Willy and next 2 off seasons will show us exactly who he is. He's got to get stronger and a little quicker, both of which I think he can do, and then add a consistent jumper.
Yeah I think he's real close. The starts really are giving him needed experience against starting caliber bigs. Willy is gaining confidence and learning the little tricks of the trade. He's much more active and quick footed than he looks. Both Willy and KP need to get with a big man coach like Hakeem.
Kristaps might benefit from a guy like Kevin Garnett. I hated his foul mouth act on the court but I totally respect his ability to teach the game.
I absolutely love the way he's teaching Blake. This is how I would teach him. I want this for Kristaps like he's my son or something
WaltLongmire@ 2/28/2017 12:18 PM
If you look at his 20+MPG performances you could have seen these numbers, too. He's been pretty consistent with these numbers when he has gotten significant playing time
Biggest fear I had with him was on D, but it looks like he can compete at this level on the defensive end.
He has a better frame to add weight and muscle than KP, and his footwork on D is evolving, but not bad. If he does the proper video work and looks at the tendencies of his opposing centers, I don't see any reason why he can't be a decent defender.
I was high on him when he was drafted because I remember hearing that he would have been a late #1 but for his Spanish contract + he comes from a BB family, something I always like to learn, and I was really looking forward to seeing him play this year, but I have to say that he's emerged as a competent NBA player sooner than I had expected. The Noah injury is a great chance for him to close out the season on a high note. I figure he is a lock for second team rookie honors, but if he has a strong finish he might make first team.
I'm going with the poor man's Mark Gasol comparison. I see the beginning of a solid midrange J, and he understands how to pass. Gasol is not a physical specimen but has become a very good defender because of his BB IQ, and I think Willy is smart enough to learn this aspect of the game.
Other than Porzingis, Willy has been the best pickup by Jackson/Gaines/Mills.
fishmike@ 2/28/2017 12:22 PM
WaltLongmire wrote:If you look at his 20+MPG performances you could have seen these numbers, too. He's been pretty consistent with these numbers when he has gotten significant playing time
Biggest fear I had with him was on D, but it looks like he can compete at this level on the defensive end.
He has a better frame to add weight and muscle than KP, and his footwork on D is evolving, but not bad. If he does the proper video work and looks at the tendencies of his opposing centers, I don't see any reason why he can't be a decent defender.
I was high on him when he was drafted because I remember hearing that he would have been a late #1 but for his Spanish contract + he comes from a BB family, something I always like to learn, and I was really looking forward to seeing him play this year, but I have to say that he's emerged as a competent NBA player sooner than I had expected. The Noah injury is a great chance for him to close out the season on a high note. I figure he is a lock for second team rookie honors, but if he has a strong finish he might make first team.
I'm going with the poor man's Mark Gasol comparison. I see the beginning of a solid midrange J, and he understands how to pass. Gasol is not a physical specimen but has become a very good defender because of his BB IQ, and I think Willy is smart enough to learn this aspect of the game.
Other than Porzingis, Willy has been the best pickup by Jackson/Gaines/Mills.
100%
SupremeCommander@ 2/28/2017 12:26 PM
don't get me wrong - I love Willy and have had [url="http://www.ultimateknicks.com/forum/topic.asp?t=54317&page=2"]high hopes[/url] for him a long time ago - but it hasn't all been sunshine and rainbows... there have been times where he just straight up looks lost out there
That said, he's only going to get better
Rookie@ 2/28/2017 12:45 PM
Another plus for Willy is that he stays out of foul trouble.
nixluva@ 2/28/2017 2:16 PM
SupremeCommander wrote:don't get me wrong - I love Willy and have had [url="http://www.ultimateknicks.com/forum/topic.asp?t=54317&page=2"]high hopes[/url] for him a long time ago - but it hasn't all been sunshine and rainbows... there have been times where he just straight up looks lost out there
That said, he's only going to get better
Meh! What Rookie doesn't have those moments where they look lost? You can't get too high up on that stuff. What I noticed is Willy does learn from his mistakes and adjusts in game. That's the quality you're looking for in a prospect.
NYKBocker@ 2/28/2017 2:29 PM
nixluva wrote:
SupremeCommander wrote:don't get me wrong - I love Willy and have had [url="http://www.ultimateknicks.com/forum/topic.asp?t=54317&page=2"]high hopes[/url] for him a long time ago - but it hasn't all been sunshine and rainbows... there have been times where he just straight up looks lost out there
That said, he's only going to get better
Meh! What Rookie doesn't have those moments where they look lost? You can't get too high up on that stuff. What I noticed is Willy does learn from his mistakes and adjusts in game. That's the quality you're looking for in a prospect.
Absolutely. Even vets are still making mistakes. Like nixluva said, Willy learns from his mistakes. His in game adjustments are phenomenal at this stage of his career.
SupremeCommander@ 2/28/2017 2:51 PM
NYKBocker wrote:
nixluva wrote:
SupremeCommander wrote:don't get me wrong - I love Willy and have had [url="http://www.ultimateknicks.com/forum/topic.asp?t=54317&page=2"]high hopes[/url] for him a long time ago - but it hasn't all been sunshine and rainbows... there have been times where he just straight up looks lost out there
That said, he's only going to get better
Meh! What Rookie doesn't have those moments where they look lost? You can't get too high up on that stuff. What I noticed is Willy does learn from his mistakes and adjusts in game. That's the quality you're looking for in a prospect.
Absolutely. Even vets are still making mistakes. Like nixluva said, Willy learns from his mistakes. His in game adjustments are phenomenal at this stage of his career.
I've been a big supporter of before the overwhelming majority of the board. Took it on the chin for suggesting he'd soften the blow of no 1st. Click the link. I just prefer to acknowledge the whole story. THJ didn't look lost like Willy sometimes does. Doesn't mean that I think Timmy will be a better pro than Willy. It also doesn't mean I think he's a low quality prospect. What the fuck
MS@ 2/28/2017 3:17 PM
Let's also take into account our point guards. Big men need easy buckets and we don't have anyone that helps them get them.
The kid is 21 years old. Big men take a while to blossom. He's as impressive as any rookie this year not named Embid.
nixluva@ 2/28/2017 3:27 PM
SupremeCommander wrote:
NYKBocker wrote:
nixluva wrote:
SupremeCommander wrote:don't get me wrong - I love Willy and have had [url="http://www.ultimateknicks.com/forum/topic.asp?t=54317&page=2"]high hopes[/url] for him a long time ago - but it hasn't all been sunshine and rainbows... there have been times where he just straight up looks lost out there
That said, he's only going to get better
Meh! What Rookie doesn't have those moments where they look lost? You can't get too high up on that stuff. What I noticed is Willy does learn from his mistakes and adjusts in game. That's the quality you're looking for in a prospect.
Absolutely. Even vets are still making mistakes. Like nixluva said, Willy learns from his mistakes. His in game adjustments are phenomenal at this stage of his career.
I've been a big supporter of before the overwhelming majority of the board. Took it on the chin for suggesting he'd soften the blow of no 1st. Click the link. I just prefer to acknowledge the whole story. THJ didn't look lost like Willy sometimes does. Doesn't mean that I think Timmy will be a better pro than Willy. It also doesn't mean I think he's a low quality prospect. What the fuck
THJ did in fact look lost! I'm not sure what you're actually pointing to when it comes to Willy but sure I've seen him get crossed up but overall he's been very good and as I said that's pretty much expected for a rookie. No one is suggesting you aren't high on Willy. Just think he's been mostly good and minimally bad this season and he's a fast learner.
SupremeCommander@ 2/28/2017 3:31 PM
nixluva wrote:
SupremeCommander wrote:
NYKBocker wrote:
nixluva wrote:
SupremeCommander wrote:don't get me wrong - I love Willy and have had [url="http://www.ultimateknicks.com/forum/topic.asp?t=54317&page=2"]high hopes[/url] for him a long time ago - but it hasn't all been sunshine and rainbows... there have been times where he just straight up looks lost out there
That said, he's only going to get better
Meh! What Rookie doesn't have those moments where they look lost? You can't get too high up on that stuff. What I noticed is Willy does learn from his mistakes and adjusts in game. That's the quality you're looking for in a prospect.
Absolutely. Even vets are still making mistakes. Like nixluva said, Willy learns from his mistakes. His in game adjustments are phenomenal at this stage of his career.
I've been a big supporter of before the overwhelming majority of the board. Took it on the chin for suggesting he'd soften the blow of no 1st. Click the link. I just prefer to acknowledge the whole story. THJ didn't look lost like Willy sometimes does. Doesn't mean that I think Timmy will be a better pro than Willy. It also doesn't mean I think he's a low quality prospect. What the fuck
THJ did in fact look lost! I'm not sure what you're actually pointing to when it comes to Willy but sure I've seen him get crossed up but overall he's been very good and as I said that's pretty much expected for a rookie. No one is suggesting you aren't high on Willy. Just think he's been mostly good and minimally bad this season and he's a fast learner.
that's what I'm getting bent out of shape on - I don't think he's been bad at all. There have been plays where he has looked tentative. Even he has admitted that he had been thinking too much. Not so much recently. Not as bad as Kuz. I just want to see his instincts take over. Maybe I'm grading him too hard because I absolutely love him as a prospect
HofstraBBall@ 2/28/2017 5:15 PM
martin wrote:Really like Willy and next 2 off seasons will show us exactly who he is. He's got to get stronger and a little quicker, both of which I think he can do, and then add a consistent jumper.
Agree. All 5's that stay in league and do well have that 15 foot elbow jumper.
