How will Zhou Qi be viewed by the end of the season?

I don't like his shot. It looks a bit slow and awkward and I can't imagine he'll ever be able to shoot off the dribble with it. The hope is that he can be Porzingis lite, but he doesn't have nearly the agility that Porzingis does. He might carve a Frye like role off the bench which would be really nice for this team.

 

Frye lite plus shot blocking and some P/R finishing around the basket, with
an occasional layup would be good enough in a year or two. I think he could get 5-6 rebounds a game once he gets strong enough. Overall, he has the potential to be better than an average 40th pick.

 

I think he rotates well in a defensive scheme. He is quick to come over and block a shot from the weak side. I think he has that instinct instilled in him. He also dunks so I give him that edge. A lot of international big men's game is based off of finesse, so to literally have him at least dunking the ball with power is a plus. This is just based off some clips off you tube as well.

 

Yeah, that sounds about right. He hasn't shown signs of being a dominant rebounder or great post player, even in highlights of his games in China, but he puts his length to good use on defense. If he can hit the three and protect the rim he will find a nice role in the league. That's a rare combo that every team would appreciate.

 

Again, it's not a rookie thing. He's been passive in the CBA as well, but you are only seeing what you want to see with him. Good players that become stars, even if they are rookies, they always try to seize the moment. This was in fact ALSO a huge point of weakness for him going INTO the draft.

Anderson put on weight so he could survive when he is defending the paint, because that's where the majority of the PF's stay. Zhou Qi is no different regardless of how much you try to claim that he is just a really tall SF, because he isn't. He has neither the ball handling or athleticism to be a SF. You can put him out there as a perimeter PF or stretch PF, but then you would be wasting his soft touch around the rim.

I am saying he needs to bulk up significantly, not turn into a body builder. Get that through your head. You keep mentioning Durant, but take a look at his rookie pictures and then look at him now. He has way more muscle definition, meaning he put on a lot more muscle.

Here is an article about Durant and gaining weight and muscle. He was 212 pounds in 2007, his rookie season, then 223 by 2009, 231 by 2011 and 237 by 2013. That is 19 pounds of extra mass in 2 years. Kevin Garnett was the same way and both players have like a billion percent more talent than Zhou Qi has ever shown and will show.

It's also funny that you mentioned Stephen Curry as well. He also worked hard to gain muscles to help him be able to finish more reliably at the rim and get injured less.

Again, I am not talking about transforming into a body builder, but he needs to bulk up in muscles significantly if he ever wants to make a real impact on our team outside of spot role player. Again, nothing to do with 90's that you keep parroting about, everything to do with surviving and standing your ground in the league.

Thabeet regularly averaged over 2 blocks per game per 36 minutes. You can't just go "Oh he fell off after his rookie season" when his minutes were also basically cut in half. He had his blocks even though he was a shitty player. Why? Because he is tall. When you are that tall, you will naturally get a few blocks.

 

It's early but it should be obvious where we are headed with Qi. As @JayGoogle said, this is our stretch-5 project. You can read it in MDA's, CP3's, and other player's words and you can see it on court.

We are trying to torque the offense up even more and Qi is the guy as of right now. Is he ready? No. But you can see where we're wanting to go. Sundial playing PnP and PnR with the 5 man while spotting up three other shooters in the corners and up top. The ability to go 5 out or set the pick and go. We're even seeing it on the floor with Qi getting run with Paul, Gordon, Harden, and Ariza. (

Guys, Capela nor Nene can do that. They're PnR only players.

IF.......and I realize it's a big IF.....but IF the Rockets can get Qi comfortable and confident enough to take that three out of the pop or spot-up and he can knock it down at 36% or more in as much volume as he's left open THEN we have a legit chance to catch lightning in a bottle with Qi this season. In fact, I would not be one bit surprised if he started the regular season as the 8 or 9th man in the rotation with him getting run when Nene takes games off. It's obvious to me we are trying to steamroll his developmental curve. And justifiably so.

Let's be realistic here.

Right now, today:

1. Is there anything Capela does for our offense that Qi can't already do? No.

2. Can Qi potentially do things for our offense that Capela cannot do? Yes, if he gets the money ball going. Not to mention once he gets the money ball going he can view by a closeout at the three point line with one dribble and a flush.

How about this, a 7'2" trailer that can touch the top of the backboard beating his man up and down the court all night long.....are you kidding me? Capela can't do this. With his added weight, his stamina is even lower than before. Nene? No.

3. Is there anything Capela can do defensively that Qi cannot do? Perhaps....but is it critical?

I mean, sure Capela has developed his body and added weight over the last three seasons (and now he's slower and less explosive). But realistically, in a league that is moving further and further away from post-up bigs, does it even matter? And with Qi's insane length and hops, do you really think he's a bad post defender because he lacks bulk? Not me. I like him rail thin and springy just like he is now. I know he'll get kicked around a bit. But I like the trade off with his length and ability to get up and down the floor and run guys into the ground.

You say rebounding? Do you really think Capela is more than an average rebounding center in the Association? I don't. Qi dominated the glass in China. Yeah it was China. But there's a principle in play. He's got a nose for the boards and he's wormy almost Rodman style. No, he's not Rodman tenacious. But he does use that thin frame to worm his way to the glass and then a 9 1/2 foot standing reach and 12+ foot max vertical reach takes over.

4. Are there things that Qi can bring defensively that we wont get from Capela/Nene/Tarik/Nanu?

Yes. He's by far the best switcher of them and the best perimeter defender of the group. How about recovering defensively on our turnovers? A giraffe getting back down to the rim and beating a lot of guards/wings down the floor. Watch him play. He's the fastest big in transition that we have. That helps on both ends.

Blocking/changing shots? Anybody tracking that? Qi changes mire shots than any of our other bigs.

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I'm convinced Qi's expedited development to play the 5 is an extreme priority of this coaching staff. They want him to play major rotation minutes this season and replace Capela.

 

No, I don't psyco analyze players, that's why I think that way. Your fine to do it if you like, but since it's pretty hard to get into the mind of a player and know exactly what he's meant/expected to do on any given play I find it a fruitless exercise.

You don't have to have ballhandling skills to be a SF lol...I mean....we have Ariza on our team... you seem to be locked into traditional prototypes for position which is odd because the NBA now more than ever has made positions next to meaningless. You can put him out there...well looking at the pre-season games this is where he's at. I don't know why you think the Rockets mean to post him up and utilize his soft touch as you say. He's a face up big.

The reason Ryno is a taller SF is because that's how he impacts the game. Little effect on rebounding and interior defense.

Yes, Rookie Durant dominated, so this is a moot point. The entire point is you don't need strength to dominate offensively, I don't know why you don't get that through your head. Durant gained weight as a natural result of growing up and being on the NBA with professional trainers, as I've said again and again that Qi will as well.

I don't know why you think gaining weight makes you more able to survive the NBA, you keep ignoring that bigs with too much weight are more prone to feet and leg injuries, so simply just gaining weight isn't what keeps a player through 82 games. General fitness does, great personal trainers, etc etc. Steve Nash didn't become a durable player by gaining weight, just by being healthy, having great trainers.

Also, my whole point on the 90s you're not getting, because the 90s you NEEDED to be a banger to have any chance of playing in the post. That's not true today. It just isn't true.

There are pros and cons to gaining weight and strength. Does he need to? Yes, no one denies that

You are missing my point entirely. On offense, you do not need strength to dominate. If he can hit the outside shot with efficency, with Harden and Paul on the team, you are going to see a player with a big impact on the team.

Well, Thabeet barely played in the NBA so I doubt his per 36 minutes are something to go by. Per 36 minutes make NBA busts seem like decent role players.

 

Morey said that he thinks Qi can be the best Chinese player since Yao, they have high expectations of him.

This is all I'm saying, if Qi can develop his shot, improve it, he's a stretch 5. Having 5 guys on the court that can shoot the 3 is MDAs wet dream, and it seems from the pre-season games this is what they really want from him.

It's a small ball lineup that isn't small.

Honestly with Qi, I feel his limit is just how hard he works to get better and if he has the passion to be a great player. If he has that, he'll do big things for this team

 

Agree

 

It feels like Qi is ahead of Nanu in the C rotation. That is notable I think. I do like what I see in him. Still has ways to go but good progress. I enjoy watching him when he is in the game because of his skillet.

Can we also talk about Zhou Qi's nickname - "Big Devil King." How is this not talked about more???

 

I agree completely with this role for Zhou but think Luc mbah a moute will do it better this year.

 

I think he's better at the 4 if Zhou comes along quickly.

The offensive and defensive lineups all become very multi-faceted and fun to consider in light of Zhou developing now into a primary rotation piece that can shoot it.

 

I honestly don't believe Zhou will be able to put on much more weight. Maybe I am wrong, but just dubious about it. But if he can maintain his quickness, balance and aggressiveness, that might be enough for him to overcome some of his strength issues.

 

It's because he got 41 pts, 28 rbs, 15 blks in a U16 game against Germany at the age of 15 while there is another rumor that he got the nickname because he looks like Piccolo in some way.

 

Zhou Qi has 14 points, 6 rebounds and 5 blocks in 20 minutes of NBA preseason basketball.

 

It does seem that way. D'Antoni likes him a lot, and he doesn't flat out LOVE rookies like he seems to love Zhou.

It's undeniable, the guy has an incredible package of skill. It is everything else that needs work. His body, his aggressiveness, his mindset. I hope we can make him a beast.

 

Where he got most of the performance from Shanghai Shark? Mehh.... Not over-excited on this yet.

 

6 points, 3 rebounds, 4 blocks in 8 minutes of NBA preseason basketball not counting the Sharks.

27 points, 13.5 rebounds, 18 blocks, 9 threes - PER36

Chinese Devil King has landed!!!

 

i like what I see from him defensively. I think his length can cause problems. still needs to be able to hit the 3 ball consistently if he wants to crack the rotation. should get the green light in the d-league

 

I would be my wet dream if ZHOU ever make 3 blocks on Westbrook in one game.