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saw the video...so not impressed. He can score inside on other foreigners and Americans who didn't make the cut. He also seems to be substantially taller than most of the people who guard him (that won't be the case in the NBA). He does have energy, but from the video I am not hopeful about him. When playing against my friend's younger brothers, even I can make some pretty amazing highlight videos and dominate the paint. However, I don't want to judge him only based on a video. I'll judge him when I see him play on Tuesday.
What is this guy's position. It almost seems like he is playing PF (or at least roaming the paint) on offense and playing SF (or at least guarding the perimeter) on defense. At 6'8" with not a whole lot of bulk and pretty good athleticism, he looks like a SF. However, he has zero range in that video. Maybe he at least has some midrange game. He looks like an energy SF off the bench.
Probably not the solution to any of our problems. He's young, and athletic, but most likely all he could do for us now is be the israeli kirk snyder.
Hollinger translated Spanoulis as having better rookie stats last year than Alston had last year, but he never played. The stats mean nothing unless the player is guaranteed a starting spot. So I don't put much into these stats frankly. Hollinger had Spanoulis at like 15 points and 8 assists or something like that. So Eliyahu at 14 points 8 rebounds or something similar also might not even play in actuality.
They're per-40 stats, yes, regardless of team. If V-Span went to a team where he was allowed 40 minutes, 15 and 8 in 40 minutes would have been so-so at best. Think Brevin Knight, before the handcheck rules. Off the top of my head, Hollinger's translated stats have been pretty much spot on for Nocioni, Oberto, Udrih, Varejao, and some others I can't remember. The ones that are off are the guys that don't get consistent (even 12 mpg) playing time to have the sample size count, like Maceo Baston in Indiana.
Well last year Hollinger had Spanoulis ranked way higher than Alston in his PER for the upcoming season, which was of course last season. I am not arguing the merits of Hollinger's numbers. What I am saying is that what he predicted for Spanoulis may have been true, but obviously Spanoulis never played. Just because they are per 40 minute numbers doesn't change the fact his numbers will be ridiculously flawed if the player will not play. It is obvious that Jeff Van Gundy completely ignored the Hollinger stats because he had Spanoulis ranked something like 50 places higher than Alston. It wasn't just 15 and 8 in 40 minutes, it was also based on PER, he had Spanoulis ranked many, many players ahead of Alston. In other words, I think Hollinger needs to add into his European number translating something like, "Lack of PT due to head coach that doesn't like Euros = -85% production."
Once you enter in context, where do you stop? When do you start factoring in language differences or the amount of international games a certain player competed in during the summer before. What Hollinger does is offer an unfettered set of translations, and you your own personal scouting experience and the context in which the prospect is thrown into to come up with your own preseason expectation. Hollinger's translated stats provide the best starting point.
I agree. But what I am saying is that based on the Spanoulis example the Rockets have a horrible track record with this now. Meaning a European player that is supposed to come in and have better stats by translating them than say the team's current starter. Like Spanoulis > Alston or Eliyahu > Hayes. Considering that Spanoulis played in a league that is about 3 levels higher than the one Eliyahu plays in, I think the Hollinger stats are totally skewed for now when it involves the Rockets and Euro players. We will see if it was just Jeff Van Gundy related, just Spanoulis' "personal problems" or if the Rockets are simply terrible at handling Euros. So for now in the case of the Rockets sadly I think the Hollinger stats applied to Eliyahu don't mean squat. Hopefully it is just a product of Van Gundy's rigid system and will change under a more open offense with Adelman since that is more the Euro style. But like I said, until then it doesn't mean much. Because as of now Eliyahu would only be playing for the Rockets and they have a bad record with this.
If, indeed, Spanoulis didn't get the playing time he deserved, that was the decision of Jeff Van Gundy. He's not the coach anymore, so I don't think it's very useful to just assume that decisions about playing time will be handled as they were in the past.
I don't think anyone is expecting him to be the solution to all our problems...he's freakin' 21! But he does give us some potential at the PF position. His defense isn't bad and he's long. I'm really excited for the start of our summer league games - we'll get to see a glimpse of what he (along with newley, landry, and yes...even brooks) can do. Of course Eliyahu will need to bulk up, but give him some time - even Yao was a twig his first season. See his rookie year vs. this past season.
I dont understand this kind of reasoning. He is doing what he is supposed to do. Does this video show he is ready to play in the NBA? NO! But what about it makes you think negatively? Just doesnt make sense to knock a guy for dominating lesser talent.
Hope to see him more in summer league... the kid seems to have some physical tools to succeed. And yes, I agree the fact that he did it in a lesser league doesn't mean he's not going to be good in the NBA. Anthony Parker, the 32 year-old wing on the Raptors, also came from that league, and he managed to have a good year.
maybe someone can pull up the link for me. but eliyahu specifically said the states is the place you come to for putting on muscle. That quote tells me that he knows he needs to put in the gym time to become a player in the NBA. he's certainly a tweener (esp. at this point in his career), but that seems to be the direction the league is going...so that won't necessarilly hinder his progress. I'm kind've at the wait and see point, because much like yao at the time, noone has really seen what isreali basketball is capable of producing. hopefully he is as dedicated and hell bent on success as yao. (then again...that can be said about 99% of the players who are already in the NBA)
If we take him, we're going to have the best collection of backup-backup power fowards in the league.
