Precisely. This is all completely uncorroborated assertion. Those c laiming he'll fail lack any factual basis for this belief. Plenty of Euros have been left in europe to mature and have been successful in the NBA. Likewise, he could really suck. We just don't know.
You mean like Carloss Boozer, or Cuttino Mobley, or Othella Harrington, or Manu Ginobli, etc..etc...etc... The NBA draft is not science, witness Kwame Brown, or Pervis Ellison ..... Overseas players like Badiane may fit in better with a rough and tumble NBA game versus a finesse overseas game. DD
hey DD... I'm moving to the Houston area this weekend from Austin. I would like to catch the minors over here in Austin sometime if it actually happens. We should catch a game.
Kind of like Dan Langhi, the future star of the NBA . I never said that the draft was an exact science. On the contrary, I was stating how it is a crapshoot and that 2nd round draft picks are far less likely to materialize than 1st rounders. Wouldn't you agree that the ratio of good 2nd round picks to bad 2nd round picks would be quite low? Wouldn't you also agree that the 4 players you mentioned are the exception to the rule when it comes to 2nd round picks? Wouldn't you agree that the likelihood for success would come from a proven commidity rather than an unproven overseas player? As for your comment concerning the rough game of the NBA and overseas players, I actually feel that the exact opposite is true. How many players that came from overseas turned into bangers? I can think of none. Most of the overseas players that have been successful in the NBA have flourished because of finesse and shooting. Actually after re-reading your post I am thinking that you meant that he would gain better experience from being here in the NBA because he would not fit into the finesse style of play that is prominent overseas. If that is the case then disregard my statement above.
Great post - I am salivating. That said, Deke is from Republic of Congo (former Zaire) and Malick is from Senegal. PS. So far Malick is doing well for himself in the Bundesliga playoffs.
If we are stuck with Scott Padgett, Ryan Bowen, Vin Baker and J Howard at the pf position next year then heck let's take him. It couldn't be anymore pathetic than the first three i listed. I really do doubt however that the rockets will just keep those 4 pf's for the next upcoming season. So nahhh no need for the guy unless we are truly truly truly desperate next season.
My thoughts exactly. From all of the posts I've read about how Badianne is being used, he's not being used the way a PF his size and strength would be used here in the NBA. Euro league coaches do not develop their big men to play with their backs to the basket - quite the contrary, they are taught to play moving and facing the basket ala Dirk Nowitzski who really isn't a low post player. That's why you cannot find overseas players who come into the league with polished low post power games. A prime example is Yao Ming who has been schooled in the international style of basketball. How many posts have you seen here from Rockets fans screaming at Yao to become a beast in the paint? For a guy with his size and skills, had Yao developed over here instead of China, he'd be simply unstoppable in the paint. Badianne, if he ever pan out, will probably suffer from the same problem should he ever show up in the league.
Thats is what I meant when you have all those pf you mentioned he cant possibly worst. Wouldnt his game improve more if he played under Gundy atleast his defense?
I live in Switzerland so I have the chance to watch the BBL (German pro league). I don't know if it was mentioned before but Frankfurt (Badiane's team) is currently in the quarterfinals and close to making it to the semis. That being said, from what I have seen - Badiane should not be given credit for making this happen. Not to say that you do not notice his presence, although he is definitely not carrying his team. I just wanted to pass this on to all of you that think that he will be the next "hakeem" or even a starter. Perhaps he will pick it up for the semis and potential final. Shall this thread still be up, and I will have the chance to watch the games - I will post my thoughts . . .
At this point it's hard to disagree with your reasoning - all the Euros that have been drafted purely on potential without really producing in Europe have been busts - Skeeta, Darko, etc., whereas the Dirks/Ginboli's proved they were ready to dominate overseas basketball. But Malick hasn't contributed mostly because he's not a good offensive player in that system and he's been injured. So to make a statement about a guy you know nothing about is kind of odd- it's the kind of statement that ends up in those Clutch "Classic Moments."
A couple of points. 1. Yao had good low post fundamentals learnt in China. His showcased that Shanghai shake in the first half of rookie year. 2. Some supporters, including me, like Badiane's potential because we've seen him play two years ago in the summer league, directly or indirectly. Although his exposure to us was limited, one could tell his body and athleticism were already impressive. Although his O and D were raw, he had range on his shots and a couple of low post moves. I especially liked his foot speed which I can see as being very nice to defensive rotation under JVG's schemes. He was just too raw to make the team at the time. 3. Last year we had Juwan Howard and MoT on the roster. There wouldn't be PT for him. So his club in Germany signed him to a 4(3?) years contract. 4. The Euro style may not fit Badiane's strength is a point worth considering. Yao said Ryan Bowen did well against Dallas, but he can't see him getting playing time even in the Chinese CBA. The NBA has a niche for specialty players. Defensive specialty players are rare to none in the Euro league or Chinese league. Badiane can be a better Ryan Bowen for us. 5. JVG hasn't shown signs of developing rookies in the last two years, see Boki. Don't know if that'll change this year. BTW, Boki is doing well this season on his new team. 6. Given the likelihood of us acquring another pf this offseason, along with the glut of pfs we have, I don't see how Badiane can make the team this year, unless we whack off half of our pfs or Badiane plays great in the summer league.
This is the kind of authentication that we would appreciate. Any eye-witness accounts even if you are not a professional scout would be of great importance to me and, I hope, others on this board. BTW, IMO Malik Badiane is not a true Euro-player. He did not come up through the system and has only been play in the pro-league for several years. For this reason he may not be progressing in a European fassion. Whatever he is doing it is mostly likely out of just pure athleticism and natural ability. Speaking for myself, I'm am not expecting another 'Hakeem' or starter, but just the athletic, running, jumping, energetic, beast of a player that I saw two years ago dragging his coach down the court at the end of a rope to make a lay-up (it was amazing). Personally, I wish he was here. He could learn our style, play with his would-be peers, and learn from NBA coaches. The olympics prooved that the euro-players and coaches have caught up with us in certain respects. At least a rag tag collection of ill-tutored and unprepared NBA players got their head handed to them and embarrassed this country's long basketball tradition. Yet, not many Euro-players prosper in the NBA immediately. Curious.
Thanks for your input. I would definitely love to have game tapes of future playoffs games starting from this weekends. I have fedex account you can charge the shipping costs if need be. You can email me via mrfegwu@yahoo.com PS. No one expect Malick to become Hakeem --Sammy Dalembert, Hunter, Ethan, etc. will defeinitely suffice. Defensive present, energy and great rebounder is what I dream of. Ben Wallace will be a dream but I will not stretch it. Heck Big Ben was a nobody in his first 3 years in the NBA. His desire coupled with his natural physical gifts propelled him and I believe the same will propel malick.
Some of these guys are still counting on Serge Zwikker to finally develop as a low post presence for the Rockets. It's like this.. If you get drafted by this team and you don't even make training camp before they ship you out to the Euro League, where you don't play much, I don't give a damn about the possibilities that in 5 years you might make the team as third string power forward.
Yeah....you're way too busy with your own types of baiting, master and f$g . How about worrying about putting up a decent argument?
