Tracking the development of Alex Len

[JCSunsfan]

Exactly. Now if he can put together consistent nightly effort and average a double double that would be something to get excited about. If healthy theirs no reason he cant, he just has to want & do.

A double double and 2 blocks a game would be absolutely huge.

 

[JCSunsfan]

I don't think he has Duncan or Davis potential but I think he's got the tools and size to be a top 3 center.

Steve

He could be as effective as either Gasol or Hibbert. Maybe an Ilgauskas type.

 

[AzStevenCal]

He could be as effective as either Gasol or Hibbert. Maybe an Ilgauskas type.

I know I'm in the minority here but I think the gap between Gasol and Hibbert is almost as great as the gap between Goran and Zoran. Hibbert is very overrated IMO and I felt that way when he was leading the league in rim protection and making the all star team. I've never thought he was much more than a middle of the pack center. Gasol is a different story though, I'd be thrilled if Len someday approaches Marc's level. I didn't watch Ilgauskas much other than when he was tearing us up so I don't really know how he'd stack up there.

Steve

 

[sunsfan88]

Why not? Maybe not a "star" in the Duncan, Davis, etc. But he's got the tools and size to be a top 10 center. It's just a matter of putting everything together. Big men sometimes take a loooong time to develop. This is essentially his rookie season and he's already showing that he's got some talent.

Not kidding. The kid has incredible potential. Assuming good health, I really do believe his floor is a slightly better Brook Lopez (the 2012-2013 version). It might take another 2 or 3 years to approach that level but he shows glimpses of that future in almost every game.

Steve

I wasn't talkinh about him not being a potential star player, I was talking about the "Sorry I already penciled him in as a star so he has to be one".

Reminds me of myself with Archie Goodwin....

 

[Errntknght]

He's definitely showing more of a face up game than a back-to-the-basket game so he might wind up being a PF in the style of Duncan. The idea was ridiculed - mostly ignored, to be honest - when I floated it a while back but its not looking too silly now. Jeff is experimenting a bit with he and Plumlee together as I hoped he would though Miles isn't playing well enough for it to be important. If it could help the latter get his moxie back then it will be worthwhile - they'd be our strongest defensive and rebounding frontcourt duo. I'm not talking about pushing Markieff out of the starting lineup but it would be great to have the frontcourt get better in some aspects when he sits.

How it all plays out will take some time to see, but meanwhile it is great to watch Len develop.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Stat line tonight. 10 pts, 11 reb, 5 blocks, 23 minutes. Can't complain about that production at all. Do just that consistently and you have a star player. Third career double double for Len. But he seems to be producing more and more. He is starting to get a handle on the fouls too.

Cousins was out though.

 

[Griffin]

From Coro's article:

In Friday's win, Len also recorded a career-high 11 rebounds. Some of those he is gathering off his own blocked shot.

"I've always been like that, even back in college," said Len, who played at Maryland. "I'm not trying to smack it hard to go out of bounds. I'm trying to just tap it and get it. That way, you can save a possession."

I'm impressed that he is conscious of that and is trying to play that way. I never understood why some shot-blockers try to hit the ball as hard as they can, even though they must realize that will likely result in possession returning to opposing team. A block that results in change of possession is certainly more valuable than one that doesn't.

I remember once reading analysis comparing Duncan to Howard, and how even though Howard was leading the league in blocked shots and winning DPOY, Duncan's blocks were actually a lot more valuable to his team precisely for that reason.

 

[devilalum]

From Coro's article:

I'm impressed that he is conscious of that and is trying to play that way. I never understood why some shot-blockers try to hit the ball as hard as they can, even though they must realize that will likely result in possession returning to opposing team. A block that results in change of possession is certainly more valuable than one that doesn't.

I remember once reading analysis comparing Duncan to Howard, and how even though Howard was leading the league in blocked shots and winning DPOY, Duncan's blocks were actually a lot more valuable to his team precisely for that reason.

I agree with you BUT there is another angle. When a player decisively blocks a shot out of bounds it can have the effect of giving his team an emotional lift. It also gets the crowd really riled up. Getting the ball is better but there is value in any blocked shot.

I know I love it when Bledsoe goes up and knocks some big guys shot into the 3rd row.

 

[Mainstreet]

I agree with you BUT there is another angle. When a player decisively blocks a shot out of bounds it can have the effect of giving his team an emotional lift. It also gets the crowd really riled up. Getting the ball is better but there is value in any blocked shot.

I know I love it when Bledsoe goes up and knocks some big guys shot into the 3rd row.

I think Bledsoe has a harder time to block and control the ball because he is often playing near full speed when he blocks the shot and he is hindered by his lack of height. I'm sure there were some great bigs that that could block and control the basketball. Just guessing but I would think Bill Russell, Kareem and Tim Duncan might fall in that category.

 

[AzStevenCal]

I agree with you BUT there is another angle. When a player decisively blocks a shot out of bounds it can have the effect of giving his team an emotional lift. It also gets the crowd really riled up. Getting the ball is better but there is value in any blocked shot.

I know I love it when Bledsoe goes up and knocks some big guys shot into the 3rd row.

I think that's the attention that ESPN and others have given to the emphatic block. I'll take the possession over the nebulous advantage of a possible emotional lift any day of the week. Momentum can turn on a dime. Tip the ball to a teammate for a fast break or a slam dunk and you get points and an emotional lift.

Steve

 

[JCSunsfan]

Len did have a bad habit of trying to tap offensive rebounds out to the guards rather than controlling it himself. He doesn't seem to be doing it as much now.

 

[CardsSunsDbacks]

I agree with you BUT there is another angle. When a player decisively blocks a shot out of bounds it can have the effect of giving his team an emotional lift. It also gets the crowd really riled up. Getting the ball is better but there is value in any blocked shot.

I know I love it when Bledsoe goes up and knocks some big guys shot into the 3rd row.

Imagine this though. Instead of the emphatic block that goes out of play, you instead keep it in play and it leads to a fast break dunk or a transition 3. Seems to me that the latter of those 2 things would actually bring more excitement to the crowd and to the team.

 

[sunsfan88]

I wish the Suns players would give Len a chance down low to post up 1 vs 1. He calls for the ball and they waive him off even though sometimes Len has a huge height advantage over who is guarding him.

Funny thing is that Plumlee does the same thing and I feel like the Suns players give him the ball much more often than they do Len lol.

 

[SirStefan32]

I wish the Suns players would give Len a chance down low to post up 1 vs 1. He calls for the ball and they waive him off even though sometimes Len has a huge height advantage over who is guarding him.

Funny thing is that Plumlee does the same thing and I feel like the Suns players give him the ball much more often than they do Len lol.

Dragic threw him on in the first quarter of last game, and he scored on that possession. That was the only time he got the ball in low post.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Dragic threw him on in the first quarter of last game, and he scored on that possession. That was the only time he got the ball in low post.

Its going to happen more. Len's development is going so fast, that teammates are having difficulty adjusting.

If he can score in the teens, but have double digit rebounding and 2 or more blocks, we have a top center.

So far, as a starter he is averaging: 22.7 minutes, 9 points, 7.4 rebounds, 2.7 blocks, 1 steal, 3.7 fouls, while shooting .565 from the field and .611 from the line. His overall free throw shooting is better.

Basically its 12 points, 10 boards, and 3.5 bocks at 30 minutes per game (and almost 5 fouls).

And he is just starting to learn how to play.

 

[82CardsGrad]

Its going to happen more. Len's development is going so fast, that teammates are having difficulty adjusting.

If he can score in the teens, but have double digit rebounding and 2 or more blocks, we have a top center.

 

[JCSunsfan]

OT:

Imagine this center prospect:

7-2
9-7 standing reach
290 lbs.
Benchpresses 500 lbs.
Runs the 40 in 4.6 (unprepared and barefoot)
Agile athlete that excels in multiples sports and competes on the NCAA level

That was Wilt Chamberlain.

Wilt ran the 40 in 4.6 at 27 years old and 292 pounds, barefoot. http://news.google.com/newspapers?n...HskAAAAIBAJ&sjid=fCcEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3592,1716577

He would dominate the NBA today.

 

[Joe Mama]

OT:

Imagine this center prospect:

7-2
9-7 standing reach
290 lbs.
Benchpresses 500 lbs.
Runs the 40 in 4.6 (unprepared and barefoot)
Agile athlete that excels in multiples sports and competes on the NCAA level

That was Wilt Chamberlain.

Wilt ran the 40 in 4.6 at 27 years old and 292 pounds, barefoot. http://news.google.com/newspapers?n...HskAAAAIBAJ&sjid=fCcEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3592,1716577

He would dominate the NBA today.

I'm sorry. Short of seeing a video of it I will not believe Wilt Chamberlain could bench press 500 pounds. I'd be surprised if he could bench press 300 pounds. I believe that like I believe he was nailing 1.5 different women per night, every night for 20 years straight.

Chad

 

[JCSunsfan]

I'm sorry. Short of seeing a video of it I will not believe Wilt Chamberlain could bench press 500 pounds. I'd be surprised if he could bench press 300 pounds. I believe that like I believe he was nailing 1.5 different women per night, every night for 20 years straight.



Chad

Numerous people including Arnold Schwarzenegger say they witnessed it. You can doubt if you want.

 

[AzStevenCal]

I'm sorry. Short of seeing a video of it I will not believe Wilt Chamberlain could bench press 500 pounds. I'd be surprised if he could bench press 300 pounds. I believe that like I believe he was nailing 1.5 different women per night, every night for 20 years straight.

Chad

Numerous people including Arnold Schwarzenegger say they witnessed it. You can doubt if you want.

What was Arnie doing, hang in out in cheap motels or something?

Steve

 

[elindholm]

Numerous people including Arnold Schwarzenegger say they witnessed it. You can doubt if you want.

Damn, that's a lot of voyeurism.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[sunsfan88]

OT:

Imagine this center prospect:

7-2
9-7 standing reach
290 lbs.
Benchpresses 500 lbs.
Runs the 40 in 4.6 (unprepared and barefoot)
Agile athlete that excels in multiples sports and competes on the NCAA level

That was Wilt Chamberlain.

Wilt ran the 40 in 4.6 at 27 years old and 292 pounds, barefoot. http://news.google.com/newspapers?n...HskAAAAIBAJ&sjid=fCcEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3592,1716577

He would dominate the NBA today.

The man was an animal.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Damn, that's a lot of voyeurism.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I was talking about benching 500 lbs.

 

[Joe Mama]

Numerous people including Arnold Schwarzenegger say they witnessed it. You can doubt if you want.

Far be it from me to question the testimony of Arnold Schwarzenegger. They probably just got done smoking out together after a 30some.

Joe

 

[sunsfan88]

Saw this on RealGM tonight, down right amazing

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Granted he hasn't played against many good offensive centers but still.