Both comps are stupid he plays like neither one. I've never seen a center drive from the perimeter as much as him, He's literally just a big manu Ginobili. Once he can hit a three it's over for the league. The surprising part so far in playoffs is he's hitting threes.
Lol Sabonis can't do half the things Sengun can on Defense and shot creation. There was a stat that Sabonis' baskets being spoon fed to him where about 20% more than Sengun. Sengun is out their guarding Moses Moody at the 3 point line moving his feet like he's Bam Adebayo or Evan Mobley. A huge reason why Steph has been coughing up the ball so often this series is he see's Sengun's big ass sliding his feet and being active with his hands.
Are you surprised? I'm definitely not. I and many others since pretty much day 1 have commented on that competitive fire Alpi has. Remember him flexing on legit superstars in his rookie season on dunks? How pissed off he used to get during the Silass years with the losing? Yeah Alpi was born for this ****. Regardless of whether Jalen, Amen or anybody else ever becomes a bigger star on the stat sheet as far as i can see it Alpi's definitely the heart of this team. He wears it on his proverbial sleeve every time he steps on the court.
Not surprised at all. I’ve been one of his biggest supporters since before the draft, we knew he had that fire. But doing it and showing it in the playoffs is a different animal. Love to see it
Part of it is Sengun’s character and competitiveness. But people generally have no idea or underestimate the level competition in Turkey, often thinking it is some sort of g league level, and what it means to be mvp at 18 in such a league.
Oh yeah it's so cool to watch it. It's been worth the wait with the tank finally getting to see our guys grow up in the playoffs.
I know all eyes are on Jalen but to me Sengun has shown he can be the 1A option on a playoff team. People kept saying Rox would be doomed in the half court but with Sengun at the helm the team is doing fine and this series would prob be a sweep if FVV wasnt being a terrorist and Amen/Jalen played to their usual standard from the start. The 3 pt shot is still wonky, but the perimeter skills and roaming defense have def been extremely improved. He is the one blitzing Steph Curry at the perimeter and then is still able to get back to his guy on D, just amazing. He still does the spins and post moves he did in Turkey but now he is also taking guys off the dribble and driving it from the 3 pt line. Not sure there is a good comparison for him anymore cuz he def doesnt play like Sabonis, Pao Gasol or Jokic the only things they have similar is ability to pass and rebound. Maybe old Lebron without a 3 pt shot? IdK.
You're actually right, he's definitely his own archetype. He's way more athletic than Jokic and they just don't remotely play like each other at all (white guys that can pass is not actually a play style lol) and for me he's more similar to Sabonis but almost like the reverse of each other on offense, Sabonis actually works a lot more outside in where Sengun dominates inside out for the majority of his big plays. I actually think he does play more like a PF than a C too, just a PF from a while back (he's definitely not remotely a 90's centre style outside of the post play - PF's played in the post too.) We can find some traits from a few different archetypes he shares, but he's a hybrid of an oldschool post play 4 and a more modern passing/switchable big. It's clearly working so we're good regardless of comparison haha.
This. The astounding part, it's Ime freaking Udoka that wants actions with the center driving from the perimeter . Sabonis got punked by Draymond. Sengun cleverly baits him and instigates things with Draymond. The two don't belong in the same sentence. There are only a handful of players/styles that can stop Alpi: 1 of them is an undrafted player sitting in Philadelphia watching the playoffs. The other is in Miami practicing his UFC moves on Allen and Mobley while the refs are distracted. Jonathan Isaac who can't get 10 minutes unless he's stealing all your passes. JJ Reddick and his team fronting approach. Oh and an aging Batum. Should the Clippers and Rockets cross paths again, they better bench Powell and start Batum. Otherwise, Zubes is getting sauteed for more triple doubles.
I don't believe anyone of those guys could actually stop Sengun in a 7 game series. So crafty, he'll find a way to impact winning even if it's not scoring Batum LOL Fronting would be tough but Lakers are too small. Sengun would get his. you already took JI and Embiid out for the reasons you listed Bam Adebayo is allowing 75% FG under the basket and it's because Miami just doesn't have anyone to help Bam
He will be if not already the best Rocket Center since Hakeem. His play style and impact is or will be greater than Yao. Lateral quickness, rebounding and shoots the 3 with ease and can isolate with back to the basket plus can defend.
It's hard for some to wrap their minds around but if you examine both games and the impact Sengun is ahead. Being half a foot shorter adds that much more lateral quickness. Yao would fail in a head to head matchup against Sengun.
unusually good pronunciation of his name as well. As good as it gets unless you learn the turkish sounds.