Sengun defense concerns were valid. He had conditioning issues and foul troubles. Thats not all scheme fit fault. This highlight fairly shows Sengun a step behind and giving up a slam. He's not the worst plodder like Boban, but he's not fast. But any NBA player can be adequate at defense if they work on it. Credit to Sengun and staff for defensive improvement
Yeah, only 7 rings, right? Played with Dream, Shaq, Duncan, some of the greatest big men of all time. Certainly he knows a thing or two about great players.
Considering the amount of rings he's chased, you would think he knows what the best player on a team looks like!
They should be embarrassed at this point. I figured they wont since they'll stick to their guns, but you know they're burning up inside with anger at being so wrong.
They shouldn't have been valid. He was a kid going up against 27 year old vets surrounded by teammates that didn't even put effort on that end and a coach that was just a puppet. Before Udoka got here, I thought Alpi could do everything the 35 year old Dominicano Horford does. Just needed seasoning. That's the problem, we all want everything right away. Now Jabari has to continue to grow so it can truly be lockdown. The FG post will be moved to, "Why should they build around Sengun. He is not a top 3 lotto pick. Upside something something!" Which is just stupid. One more leap and Alpi is a star. Two more leaps, he will be a holy phenom. I'm wanting him to get there. I don't know if he will but I'm enjoying watching Alpi and Green grow.
It's been remarked on before, but the kid is kind of amazing in his fearlessness and his welcoming of contact. A lot of players engage in contact because that's the job but Sengun seems to seek it out and enjoy it. Nobody in the NBA intimidates him. One of the massive failures of Silas was in not creating a team identity. With Brooks, Fred, and Sengun being encouraged by Ime to play like they have been playing, I think we are developing one.
He has been extremely impressive. I was worried he hurt himself badly the way Craig and Ryan reacted on the broadcast, but he just got up and played incredibly smart basketball from that point on. His decision making and ability to drive the basketball last night was huge in the team taking such a commanding early lead. He plays with a basketball IQ beyond his years and he's starting to show why he was an MVP in Europe at age 18. Most importantly, we're seeing it happen simultaneously with Jalen playing great and they are starting to trust and feed off each other.
Sengun has so many options it's ridiculous. He dominates in the post so help defenders want to come over and double team him, but he's also a great passer so they are scared to commit. He sets good screens and is a great finisher on the PNR too and is a viable target when either FVV or Jalen run the play. The best option to guard him is to leave him open beyond the arc. He had a toe on the line last night so it didn't count as a three, but he's getting comfortable from that range too. You could see it on the Lakers' faces. They were thinking "what are we supposed to do"?
James Worthy, another guy who knows something about rings, also said that Sengun was a special talent.
Put some vapor rub on it and let's go. 5 days off after Sunday. Jonas is stationary. Then Sunday, a friends agreement to not defend each other and put on a show, 25 for Alpi/ 30 for Joker, followed by a week of rest.
Honestly I was paying pretty close attention and I thought he was still moving well after he rolled his ankle. Maybe it got worse after the game but it didn't seem to be that serious.
Ankles are always tricky. They always seem to swell up the day after. Hope Sengun is good, hate not to see him play but don't want to make the injury worse.
