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What is the catch with Gobert?

Yeah OK, but I would say this:

1. He will grow into that frame. He's only 21.

2. We already have 2 decent post defenders with thick bodies in Favors & Kanter. Gobert would likely play with 1 of these guys.

3. Less and less teams have low post scoring C or PF. If needed to, we can just throw Favors/Kanter to guard them. While Gobert can roam the paint to block shots.

4. The way the league is going, there's a lot of Westbrooks/Rose/Wade/SF slasher types. Gobert is tailored made of these types of players. He has long arms and if he goes straight up - that's not a foul in the NBA for the defensive player. If he can learn to do that & alter shots without fouling, he's a great asset to have.

I actually agree with your points too. Just it is a big concern for being a rotation player. Just pointing out why he was not picked earlier.
Less and less teams have low post scoring your are correct. BUT not the top playoff teams. Look at the Spurs, Grizzlies & Pacers. All had that option with multiple people being able to do that. Miami is the exception.

But I think you are correct about he is perfect for guarding against the slashing types unless they are really physical and they will just bump into him knock him far enough back and lay it up. But that would be rare just pointing that out. What is amazing is we have 3 players who are all good against guarding the pick and roll. So I am pretty happy. I like the pick. Just pointing out his flaws. No hate towards the pick.
 
Well, I guess his major weakness is that he has no offensive game beyond dunks.

Yeah, his offense is next to nothing. Actually, I take that back. He's pretty good at the P&R. I'm guessing he can't create his offense at all though, and doesn't have much of a jumper.

I still like the pick. He may bust big time, but the risk/reward ratio for the 28th pick or whatever is worth the roll of the dice IMO. He certainly has the physical tools to be an elite paint defender. Him and Favors could be an absolute nightmare matchup for opponents for interior scoring.
 
Radio guys keep talking about how he likes the game of basketball. He's the anti Ostertag, he wants to develop, to get better. They also say that he wasn't very well coached, and if everything we hear about Karl doing a good job coaching is true, this pick couldn't have happened at a better time.
 
His jumpshot is his workout videos looks decent too. His mechanics look pretty solid for a guy his size.
 
His jumpshot is his workout videos looks decent too. His mechanics look pretty solid for a guy his size.

Yeah I thought so too. Elevation a little slow, but the release point is beyond swattable. If Kanter can command a big guy to help below the basket and they don't have a good help the helper scheme he'll be found occasionally around 10 ft away from the basket throwing a wide open jumper. I'm good with that.
 
Radio guys keep talking about how he likes the game of basketball. He's the anti Ostertag, he wants to develop, to get better. They also say that he wasn't very well coached, and if everything we hear about Karl doing a good job coaching is true, this pick couldn't have happened at a better time.
Well, I guess we'll find out if the international scout is worth his salt...this is the player he said everyone was "sleeping on." But we likely won't know for a few years,
 
I think teams just look at him and decide that he won't be able to add any more muscle. It's not so easy to do. I mean, look at Jeremy Evans.
 
I think teams just look at him and decide that he won't be able to add any more muscle. It's not so easy to do. I mean, look at Jeremy Evans.

It's more about a stronger core than "muscle" as it implies. I'm really high on Gobert because he's big AND has skill. Needs that lower body strenght. I think he has the build from it and never thought to build core and lower body, just his "muscles." No way, of course, I can confirm that, but I certainly see him as a 20 minute guy in two years.
 
Just watch the video of his strenths and weaknesses on Draft Express and with his reach a guard would have to knock him way way way off for him not to be able to block or alter their shot. Man what a reach the guy has.

I am happy as heck with what he could become with his speed and foot work. Think Hilbert gave Miami trouble getting to the basket. Wait till this guy puts on 20 or 30 lbs. and see the lane clogger he will become. This guy is going to be better than Mark Eaton I predict. Yes thats right save it, because I don't think I will have to eat it down the line.
 
His free throw percentage is like 70% as well which is really good for a big man. The Jazz ended up with 2 pure point guards and 1 pure center this draft which is getting rarer and rarer these days.
 
Hahahaha... just re-watching this Gobert pick and commentary... classic Bill Simmons at the end:

"Wow, he's got 9"7' reach?? Does that mean he's only 5 inches away from the rim??? HOW CAN HE NOT GO HIGHER?????????????"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0TJtVcSccCg
 
- Anthony Bennett at #1?? Are you ****ting me? Great scorer, sure. But what position will he guard in the NBA??

Some Yahoo writer gave the Cavs and A grade for their draft. I laugh a lot reading that.
We got a B+

If I was a Cavs fan I'd be pissed.
 
This draft was weird all round IMO.

- Anthony Bennett at #1?? Are you ****ting me? Great scorer, sure. But what position will he guard in the NBA??

- Cody at #4? What? Why didn't the Cats trade down to grab him around #7-8?

- McLemore & Noel dropped wayyyyy too far

- Lillard & McCollum?? Really?? Great offensively, but who's gonna guard the 2 guard of the other team?

- GSW traded up, then traded down 3 times to save $45K ?? What??

- Pacers picking up Solomon Hill in the first round. Solomon Who??? Couldn't they trade down and grab him later on?

===============================

Considering all of that, Gobert dropping that far doesn't surprise me 1 little bit.
Rich Cho, who build the Thunder while there, wanted Cody Zeller in Charlotte all along, as a stretch-4. His combine numbers were crazy; at 7'0" actually sprinted faster than Oladipo. Jumped thru the roof, and said that was several inches shorter than his best. And is stronger than he looks. Then in a pre-draft WO for the 'Cats, he was easily knocking down 3's. Cho explained in an interview Zeller played within the Hoosier system, which relied more on other players to score. He also commented he had the lateral quickness of most NBA GUARDS.
TBH, I think the 2 best players from this draft will in the long run be Cody Zeller and Trey Burke. Love to see Gobert develop too, but doubt he is ROY material. If Karl Malone sticks around though, he might coach Gobert up more than we think...
 
Again, Gobert is going to be a bench big. Go ahead and name the bigs on any NBA bench that are going to work him over in the post. We don't need him to start and defend elite NBA big men, we have other good big men for that. On the second teams you face the speedy little guys that bowl into the paint. Gobert is going to be Hell on those guys. Quite frankly that is what they need to develop him to do. I don't care if he ever becomes an elite one on one post defender. Memo could do this and only got to use it about 6 games a year. Just developing Kanter for this would be fine.
 
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