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[Mainstreet]

Agree with all this. But I think his average athleticism keeps him from being a HOF. It's the difference between he and dirk imo.

When did we skip the possibility of Markkanen being a good player, maybe an All-Star down the road, let alone a competitor for the HOF?

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Shaq disagrees.

Every NBA player disagrees. They all shoot 1000 shots in practice. If you could actually continually improve your shot, then every player would be Steph. Theres a very low ceiling on how much you can improve your shot.

shooting in basketball, shots in hockey, accuracy is football, batting average in baseball are all talents. They can be improved, but there is most definitely levels to it. Nobody is equal.

D is mostly effort.

Shaq possessed disastrously large hands making the shooting difficult. And it was said that he made a large percentage in practice which meant it wasn't the ability but rather between the ears.

And defense is not all effort. That's ridiculous. You can have the best effort in the world but without length, lateral quickness, quick hands, and leaping ability you aren't guarding a paper bag. And those are things with definitive physical limitations.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Rarely does a player develop defense if he doesn't have it coming in. Quality defensive intensity can be refined but not manufactured. I don't think shooting can be taught much either. Either you have that kind of muscle memory or you don't.

Again I don't agree with either of these. Your points mean Booker has no shot of ever even being an average defender? Don't buy it. He continues to physically mature and learn defensive nuances. He'll be way better defensively than he is now or was as a rookie.

And shooting certainly can get better. If I recall correctly Bledsoe was a nonentity as a shooter when he first joined the Suns and has become at least adequate from 3.

Your argument seems to be whatever you come into the league as is the limit of your ability. That's absurd.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

When did we skip the possibility of Markkanen being a good player, maybe an All-Star down the road, let alone a competitor for the HOF?

AzSteve said he would be a HOF. I was stating why I didn't think that was going to happen. And I think markenaan will be a good player and maybe even all star.

 

[Mainstreet]

AzSteve said he would be a HOF. I was stating why I didn't think that was going to happen. And I think markenaan will be a good player and maybe even all star.

I like Markkanen a lot but how good is yet to be determined. He is mobile, 7 foot and has a nice shooting touch. However, I'm not prepared to even compare him to a player like Porzingis. There are probably better examples though. Markkanen only has average arm length which could be a factor, especially playing inside.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Again I don't agree with either of these. Your points mean Booker has no shot of ever even being an average defender? Don't buy it. He continues to physically mature and learn defensive nuances. He'll be way better defensively than he is now or was as a rookie.

And shooting certainly can get better. If I recall correctly Bledsoe was a nonentity as a shooter when he first joined the Suns and has become at least adequate from 3.

Your argument seems to be whatever you come into the league as is the limit of your ability. That's absurd.

If Booker becomes an average defender, he will be a big exception. Players can improve, but they also have a ceiling. 99.5 percent of players will never become Steph shooters, no matter how much the practice. Its not just practice, ability has to factor in, and it does more than we care to admit.

There are super young players who are still learning the game that might have more potential. Chriss and Bender would be in that category. Just like the Freak was.

 

[AzStevenCal]

If Booker becomes an average defender, he will be a big exception. Players can improve, but they also have a ceiling. 99.5 percent of players will never become Steph shooters, no matter how much the practice. Its not just practice, ability has to factor in, and it does more than we care to admit.

There are super young players who are still learning the game that might have more potential. Chriss and Bender would be in that category. Just like the Freak was.

To me it depends on what the problem is. For both Booker and Markkanen, it's an understanding of team defensive concepts more than anything else IMO and that's correctable.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

If Booker becomes an average defender, he will be a big exception. Players can improve, but they also have a ceiling. 99.5 percent of players will never become Steph shooters, no matter how much the practice. Its not just practice, ability has to factor in, and it does more than we care to admit.

There are super young players who are still learning the game that might have more potential. Chriss and Bender would be in that category. Just like the Freak was.

You're saying every player has a ceiling in every aspect of the game. I agree with that. But the truth is, no one knows how far below their respective ceilings each player are at any given time. To assume they are close to their ceiling when they enter the league because that's just who they are is a little silly. Virtually every player improves ina number of categories over their career. Jordan was a terrible three point shooter . . . until he wasn't (because he practiced a skill until he mastered it). Ditto lebron. Shooting can be improved with a good coach, changed mechanics and practice.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

To me it depends on what the problem is. For both Booker and Markkanen, it's an understanding of team defensive concepts more than anything else IMO and that's correctable.

Exactly

 

[GatorAZ]

I think there's a question of whether or not Watson can coach defense. Maybe it's a stuation like Thibbs in Minnesota where in their first full season he's just rolling the ball out and letting them play. You don't want to put too much on guys that young but we need to see an improvement in that area next year.

Booker has the footspeed to at least be an average defender. Chriss is athletic enough to be but he hasn't been playing basketball very long and played for Lorenzo Romar. He's behind the curve. Warren is more of a 6th man scorer on a good team.

 

[AZBALLER]

Defense is about physical ability and personality. Booker will be an average defender, because he wants to be good, although like James Harden, he doesn't have the physical ability. Now, Markkenen won't ever be good at D, because he has trex arms and lacks the mentality. Remember that James Harden lead the Pac10 in steals.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Defense is about physical ability and personality. Booker will be an average defender, because he wants to be good, although like James Harden, he doesn't have the physical ability. Now, Markkenen won't ever be good at D, because he has trex arms and lacks the mentality. Remember that James Harden lead the Pac10 in steals.

Markkanen will never be great at defense but that will mostly show up at the rim, there's no reason he can't guard his position well. And I think you're overstating his arm length situation. To me, he doesn't appear to have T-Rex arms like you say, they just aren't NBA long.