Cabarkapa through three games

[elindholm]

Averages per game:

34.0 minutes
18.7 points
6.7/13.7 FG (49%)
1.7/4.7 3FG (36%)
3.7/4.7 FT (79%)
8.0 rebounds (0.3 offensive)
2.0 assists
4.3 fouls
1.0 steals
4.0 turnovers
0.3 blocks

It's hard to generalize based on three summer-league games, but what the heck:

I like the shooting, which is solid across the board. It seems that he is a finisher rather than a playmaker -- note the small number of assists and the large number of shot attempts (leading the team except for Joe Johnson). Also, he seems not to work in the paint much, as evidenced by the absence of offensive rebounds and relatively low number of free-throw attempts. His foul rate isn't terribly high, conisdering the circumstances, and he does at least control his share of the defensive glass, at least so far. So he may be okay on the defensive end, if not a shot-blocking presence.

 

[Chaplin]

What's his PPG?

I also am liking what I'm seeing. I'd like to compare Amare's vs. Zarko's statistics in the summer leagues. I know they are different styles of players, but if we're talking about potential (and in both cases we are/were), then we might be able to get some sort of idea of the kind of player that Zarko might be in his first year.

I know I'll be ecstatic if he can put up numbers similar to Nene or Gooden did their rookie year. It's a long shot, yes, but he seems to be handling the American game fairly well.

EDIT: Ah, there it is. I may be wrong, but I don't think Amare averaged that much last year in the summer league.

 

[arthurracoon]

Originally posted by Chaplin
What's his PPG?

18.7 PPG

 

[arthurracoon]

I also like what I'm seeing (actually reading).

I think his greatest plus is that he has been consistant in all three games. That is all we need. Someone to come of the bench and consistantly provide some pts, some rbds and some other stuff.

 

[Chaplin]

I wonder if actually having a consistent offensive player coming off the bench together with JJ will actually help Joe. Before, coming off the bench, we all knew that if there was to be bench scoring, it was going to have to come from JJ. Now, he has one, if not two or three guys that can come off the bench with him and score bunches. Maybe we'll actually see JJ adopting some consistency himself with less pressure.

 

[elindholm]

I know I'll be ecstatic if he can put up numbers similar to Nene or Gooden did their rookie year.

I haven't seen him play, but based on his reputation, it doesn't sound like he is a Hilario kind of player at all. The write-ups on him before the draft -- for whatever they're worth -- had him as even more perimeter-oriented than Gooden.

Maybe he'll be a poor man's Nowitzki? Nowitzki entered the league at 20 (two years younger than Cabarkapa) and started as a role player: 20.4 minutes per game, 8.2 points (on only .405 shooting and terrible from behind the arc), and 3.4 rebounds. By the time he was 22, Nowitzki was already the player he is now, so asking for Cabarkapa to duplicate that is probably stretching it. But if he could become a "Nowitzki type" in a couple of years, that would be great.

 

[elindholm]

EDIT: Ah, there it is.

Not your fault; I forgot to include it originally.

I may be wrong, but I don't think Amare averaged that much last year in the summer league.

I don't think Stoudemire was even close to those numbers. I went to one of the Suns' games in Long Beach last summer and Stoudemire was pretty much clueless. (The Suns routed the Warriors on something like 38 points from Jacobsen, who was hitting everything.)

 

[Chaplin]

Oh, I agree with you--I was comparing numbers, not body-type.

For someone that was supposed to be such a horrible rebounder, he's rebounding better this summer than Amare did last summer. That already is impressive to me, and an indication that perhaps he wasn't such a bad pick after all.

(Although I must remind everyone that I pegged Zarko long before the draft--just wanted a little ego boost tonight!)

 

[PhxGametime]

If Cabarkapa can keep up the rebounding/min, all-around game and Barbosa can contribute at PG, Stoudemire improves - we'll be much improved but overlooking stats from summer league - I'm still worried about Cabarkapa's defense though. Some average PF's are putting up decent #'s against him and thats #1 reason heading into draft I was worried but he's putting up impressive stats.

 

[Chaplin]

Originally posted by elindholm


I don't think Stoudemire was even close to those numbers. I went to one of the Suns' games in Long Beach last summer and Stoudemire was pretty much clueless. (The Suns routed the Warriors on something like 38 points from Jacobsen, who was hitting everything.)

I went to two games last year and in both games Amare didn't look clueless at all. Of course, Alton Ford looked better most of the time, but Amare got the people in the stands out of their seat most of the games. I probably didn't see the Warriors game (I know for sure that one was the Grizzlies).

 

[elindholm]

I probably didn't see the Warriors game (I know for sure that one was the Grizzlies).

If you were at the same game I was, you would have remembered. Jacobsen was unbelievable. If he has as much as one actual game like that during his Suns career, he'll have been a good pick.

 

[Yuma]

I can tell you based on just his stats, Carbarkapa is a much better shooter than Amare. Amare has that Dr. J type of drive to the hole. Opposing players know he's going to do it, they play off him, and somehow he still gets it in the paint for a short shot or dunk. Hopefully, Amare will become a better jump shooter than the Dr. was. That being said, Carbarkapa being a better shooter, there is probably no way he is the scorer Amare is around the basket. It seems harder for rookies to learn to get their jumper off. I would be ecstatic to see him put up Amare rookie type numbers, but I am not holding my breath for it. Still, I think we will like what Barbosa and Carbarkapa bring this year. If we start Penny, Marbs, Marion, Amare, and Big Jake. Then Lil Jake, Barbosa, JJ, Carbarkapa, and Bo Outlaw is not a bad second team to have on the floor matching up another teams second players!

 

[arthurracoon]

Originally posted by Chaplin
I wonder if actually having a consistent offensive player coming off the bench together with JJ will actually help Joe. Before, coming off the bench, we all knew that if there was to be bench scoring, it was going to have to come from JJ. Now, he has one, if not two or three guys that can come off the bench with him and score bunches. Maybe we'll actually see JJ adopting some consistency himself with less pressure.

good point. It makes perfect sense, and I will now not be surprised if this is the case.

 

[Chaplin]

The roster is getting trimmed:

The Phoenix Suns' summer league roster now stands at 10 players. Kansas center Eric Chenowith was cut on Monday and forward Florent Pietrus is returning to France to join the French National Team.