Watching Arizona vs Michigan State. Here's my notes on two players that might be there for us to take:
Lauri Markkanen - seems fluid... bad pass from the baseline. Got passed way too easily by bridges. Looked like a cone on D on this possession. Another bad defensive possession in transition by Lauri... Didn't move his feet, allowed opponent to just go around him and finish. Pick and Pop 3! Swish! His shot looks like $$$! Oh wow! 7 footer - crossover, attacks the paint and sweet dish inside. This guy has skills! Very fluid for his size. As fluid as he looks on O, his feet are like in cement on D. Very slow changing directions. Corner 3! Money! His shot is extremely smooth. Looks like it's going in the moment he releases it! I'd say it looks better than Porzingis' shot. I don't like his foot speed on D. Really don't like it! OK, that's better... this time stayed in front of Bridges on his drive and slapped the ball out of his hands on the gather. On the following offensive possession - established deep position in the post, soft touch for a baby hook. Another post possession - asked for the ball, battled for position, got the ball faced up, nice move to the inside, tried to finish with the left, got fouled by Bridges. A couple of good defensive possessions - first denied the ball in the post to Bridges and then deflected a ball on a drive by Michigan State guard. Wow! What a move! 7 footers don't do that. Caught the ball on the perimeter on the pop, 1 dribble to the left, gets cut off, spin moves to the right second dribble, explodes to the rim, but couldn't finish because of the contest by defenders at the rim. Still impressive. Lauri is good at establishing post position, too bad Arizona guards can't make the entry pass... he flows so easily from one side of the post to the other... If you follow the notes for Bridges below - after the two ISO possessions vs Markkanen, Arizona coach is making offense-defense subs - Lauri out for the defensive possessions. He's back for the offensive possession - another AWESOME seal by Markkanen in the post, give his guy so much space to pass him the ball. This time they succeed and he scores easily in the post.
Miles Bridges - nice finish on a long alle oop pass, followed by a quick catch and shoot 3. HOLY SMOKES!!! Explosive play, blasts past Markkanen and throws a vicious reverse dunk. WOW! Attacks closeout well, seems to have the skills to go to the rim, but couldn't finish. Out of control attacking the paint, runs out of space and throws wild shot. Nice vision and pass over the shoulder. Damn, he's really athletic... another freaky reverse. Transition alleyoop. Chriss! That's who he reminds me of. VERY EXPLOSIVE... Nice move in the post, goes around defender, DUNKS! WOW! WOW! Another monster dunk on a backdoor alley-oop(beat Lauri on the backdoor cut)... WOW! His ball security doesn't seem great, got it poked away from him several times already. Sweet move by Bridges on Lauri... ISO from the top of the key, in and out crossover, spin move into the lane and athletic layup. Sweet! They iso'd him again vs Lauri, I think they think they have a mismatch here and I'd agree. This time better D from Lauri, forces him into the baseline, but Bridges passed well out of it to an open shooter who missed.
Final thoughts:
Markkanen: Markkanen can be a great offensive player, but I suspect he will struggle on D. He will probably need to guard 5s. Strong sides - very skillful and fluid for size, shot is wet, good at fighting for post position, nice touch. Don't like his footspeed on D.
Bridges: I had not watched him before. It was a nice introduction to him. Right now he's projected no. 19 on DX... If he had a bit better size(he's 6'6'') I would say he'd be candidate for top 10, but right now I don't know what position in the league he would be. Listed as SF/PF. He's extremely explosive though. Also, seems like a good passer too. Had a season worth of highlight reel in this one game and he also has some skills both in the post and as a ballhandler(though, handle can be shaky). I want to see more. Keep in mind he's 18 and just a freshman and he just posted 21/7/2 in his college debut...
Here's the Bridges highlights(worth the watch):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6pr6adHBlG8
