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Top sophs: Anthony Davis like KG
A future MVP trophy is well within Anthony Davis' reach; New Orleans' second-year star is that good.
이번 사퍼모어 클래스에 대해 묘사하는 여러가지 서술들이 등장하며 흥미로운 국면을 만들고 있다. 안드레 드러먼드가 프랜차이즈 센터인가? 대미안 릴라드는 얼마나 스페셜해질까? 이 클래스의 스타 플레이어 셋에 더하여 어느 선수가 발전을 기해 동참할 수 있을까?
John Henson, Bucks
따라서 벅스 팀이 포워드 자리에 헨슨과 야니스 아데토쿤보를 두고 있다는 점을 감안하면, 여기에 이번 시즌의 화려한 드래프트에서 탑 3 픽을 얻을 가능성까지 생각한다면, 밀워키 팬들은 앞으로 짜릿해 할 일이 많다. 이를 통해 이 팀에는 올스타 잠재력을 가진 세 명의 친구들을 갖추게 된다. 물론 헨슨은 저런 재능을 갖고 있다. 현재 경기 당 블락샷에서 NBA 중 5 위에 있는데 자기 앞의 네 선수들 모두보다 경기 당 시간이 적다. 그리고 48 분 당 리바운드에서 탑 25 안에 들었고, 또한 트랜지션 게임에도 출중한 모습을 보이고 있다. 이런 것들이 제대로 조합되면 특별한 재능이 된다.
Terrence Jones, Rockets
로켓츠는 두 명의 스타들을 제외하면 다른 이들에게 패스가 잘 가는 것으로 소문난 팀은 아니지만, 아무도 불만을 가지지 않으며 공격 효율성에서 4 위에 랭크돼 있다. 따라서 존스는 이런 식의 경기들에서 엄청난 효율성을 가져야 한다. 하워드와 하든의 활동 반경을 열어둘 만큼 그는 충분한 외곽 위협원이며, 틈을 찾아내어 돌파 득점을 얻어내는 그의 솜씨는 하워드의 비교적 로봇스럽고 우격다짐의 스타일에 완벽한 보완재다.
그리고 다른 무엇보다도, 존스는 코트의 각 진영마다 인상적인 스타일로 공중 플레이를 만들 수 있는 농구 선수다. 이 점은 휴스턴이 플레이하는 스피드때문에 더욱 더 가치가 있다. 로켓츠가 앞으로 몇년 안에 우승후보임을 입증하기 위해서는, 존스가 전도유망한 22세에서 올스타 후보로 성장을 이뤄야 할 것이다.
Mike Scott, Hawks
스캇은 스트레치 4들을 포스트업할 능력을 갖고 있고, 이로 인해 애틀란타는 경우에 따라 그를 위한 아이솔레이션들을 돌릴 수 있으며, 또한 자신이 집중을 받지 않는 상태에서 (훨씬 더 일반적인 경우) 오펜스의 흐름을 해치지 않고 플레이하는 좋은 감각을 가지고 있다. 시즌 시작 때 예견하기 쉽지 않은 터프니스, 성숙함, 똑똑함을 가져오면서 스캇은 이번 시즌 팀내 베스트 플레이어를 잃었음에도 애틀란타가 나름 잘 버틸 수 있게된 이유의 큰 부분이 됐다.
Jared Sullinger, Celtics
설린져는 강력한 리바운더로서도 그리고 공격에선 스트레치 슛터로서도 제법 상당한 잠재력을 가진, 이 리그 스타터의 모습을 계속 보여주고 있다. 그리고 저 모습은 어딘가 꿩 대신 닭 케빈 러브와도 같다. 기억하라, 러브는 2년차 시즌에서 겨우 35 개만의 3점슛을 성공시켰다가 (60 경기) 이후 빠른 속도로 역대 최고의 슛터/리바운더가 됐다. 설린져가 리그의 엘리트 플레이어들 중 하나에 비교되는 이 흥미로운 상황은 보스턴의 장기적 리빌딩 플랜에 변수가 될 것이 분명하다.
Miles Plumlee, Suns
또한 공격에서도 자신의 역할 내에서 인상적인 플레이를 보여줘 왔는데, 오직 바스켓 근처에서만 플레이들을 만들며 좋은 적중률로 마무리했다. 종국에 그가 이 리그에서 장기적 스타터가 될지는 불확실하지만, 앞으로 몇년 동안 상당한 시간을 얻는 로테이션 플레이어가 될 것인지는 확실하다. 전체 26 순위로 드래프트된 친구 입장에서, 저 문구는 의미깊은 말이다. |
원문은 아래 더보기 클릭
The sophomore class has evolved into a very interesting one, with multiple narratives defining it. Is Andre Drummond a franchise center? How special can Damian Lillard become? Which players can step up to join its three star players?
One question that has already been answered, though, is: Will Anthony Davis be one of the elite players in the league, not just the class? Because when discussing Davis and his future, it's only a question of when, not if, he will win an MVP trophy.
Anthony Davis is a lot like Kevin Garnett
Think of the 20-year-old version of KG and compare that man to Davis today. The physical similarities and athletic characteristics are obvious. They are sleek, slender and play with elite athleticism. Quick and explosive bounces. Fluid and fast down the floor. Able to cover ground in the half court with elite-level quickness.
In his early 20s, Garnett knew his impact on the defensive end was paramount to his team's success and it was clear he relished that role. Not every star built like Garnett has the same feelings about defense, considering the beatings they take against bigger men, but Davis does. He flits around the half court like a water bug skates on top of the water. There he is blocking 7-foot Samuel Dalembert on a rim run one possession, then blocking Dirk Nowitzki's patented one-legged fadeaway jumper out on the perimeter a few possessions later. Davis, like Garnett, is blessed with such long arms -- and long fingers, I'd guess -- he's able to get to balls that very few guys can get to. That means that this kind of play happens often:
An offensive player catches the ball and readies himself to shoot as he surveys the court and sees Davis coming. Because that offensive player has played a thousand games or more in his life, he has an instinct that tells him immediately whether or not he can get the shot off in time. Remember, many if not most blocks come from a player the offensive player does not see. In this case, he sees Davis so he makes that instant calculation that he can get the shot off. After all, these players have played against people as tall as Davis, as long as Davis and as quick as him, too. Yet, so often that shooter gets his shot blocked by Davis.
Davis blocks many perimeter shots, it seems, with just one finger. He leads the league in blocks per game, and probably in "finger blocks," too. He is clearly superior to Garnett as a shot-blocker, as KG never averaged more than 2.2 blocks per game in a season. Garnett, though, will forever be known as one of the best overall help defenders in league history, something Davis is still years away from even thinking about. On a very bad defensive team, Davis has a lot to learn about how to impact a game on defense outside of blocking a shot. But it is evident that he is willing to learn, as seen by his hustle from spot to spot and his desire to get to where he is supposed to go.
It's the offensive side of the court, however, that has seen marked improvement from Davis. His shot, which was an issue as a teenager, now has a beautiful and smooth motion with some range. He's not a great shooter yet simply because he's years (and thousands of reps) behind other big men who spent far more time on shooting because they couldn't do the things Davis can inside. He's never going to be Nowitzki, but if you remember how good of a shooter Patrick Ewing became as he aged then you'll have an idea of what Davis could look like. And that would work out perfectly for him, because he'll also be an elite pick-and-roll performer as long as he remains one of the most explosive jumpers in the game.
His back-to-the-basket game is his last weapon of choice, but that too should expand as he learns the nuances of scoring from those angles. At the very least, if he can perfect a Rasheed Wallace-type of shot, where he shoots the ball with completely extended arms after he squares up inside (something he's not far from now), he'll have a weapon that defenses will have a tough time countering.
Anthony Davis is a lot like an iceberg
Just like icebergs have a lot more going on under the water than they do above it, much of Davis' special traits are hidden below the surface because he's someone who is locked into doing what the team needs, not what he wants. His quickness in tight spaces is astounding for someone his size, but that gets overlooked because his high-flying act is more exciting.
Davis is not a bundle of frenzied activity like Kenneth Faried; he's more like Joakim Noah in that he seems to always be moving under control, relentlessly chasing the action but with poise. His body control allows him to twist and shake in the air but stay composed enough to finish shots after all that movement and contact from a defender, too. He also hustles, sets wide screens, handles the ball fluidly and values it more than most young scorers. He's not hunting spectacular plays, just the right ones. With his talent, he knows spectacular will come anyway.
Players who do the little things like he does are the game's true stars, the best of the best. Because it's those small details that help win titles. The Pelicans are not close to that now -- they need to fill out the roster with guys who complement Davis -- but they have something that only a very select few teams have: a future MVP winner.
Five big sophomore surprises
This class is currently known for its Big Three, but there are some other guys who are proving to be either great role players, solid starters or even potential All-Stars.
John Henson, Bucks
If Anthony Davis leads the league in blocks with one finger, Henson may be a close second. He's not just a shot-blocking wizard, though. He's also a finisher who has eight double-doubles even though he's played 30 minutes in a game only 10 times this season. He has great hands and a cool touch, helping him to make just under 60 percent of his rim shots despite being far weaker than most of his opponents. And he'll only get stronger.
So when you consider a Bucks team with Henson and Giannis Antetokounmpo at the forward spots, plus a likely top-3 pick from this season's terrific draft, Milwaukee fans have a lot to be excited about. That would give them three guys with All-Star potential. Yes, Henson has that kind of talent. He is currently fifth in the NBA in blocked shots per game while playing fewer minutes per game than all four of the guys in front of him. And he ranks in the top 25 in rebounds per 48 minutes, while also being excellent in the transition game. Those are special talents when combined together.
Terrence Jones, Rockets
Jones might be flying under the radar, but that won't last long with Houston's likely playoff runs this season and beyond. He has been a huge blessing in Houston, filling in perfectly at the power forward spot with his many talents and having a breakout month (before he missed a couple of games due to injury). In 2014, he already has games where he put up points and rebound totals of 36 and 11, 16 and 12, 25 and 8 and 19 and 17. Those are gaudy numbers when playing next to James Harden and Dwight Howard.
The Rockets are not a team known for passing often, except to their two stars -- though no one is complaining; they rank fourth in offensive efficiency. So Jones has to be extra efficient to put up those kinds of games. He is just enough of a perimeter threat to help keep the lanes open for Howard and Harden, and his knack for finding creases to earn slashing buckets is a perfect complement to Howard's more robotic and bruising style.
More than anything else, Jones is a basketball player, capable of making plays on the fly in impressive fashion on each end of the court. That is extra valuable because of the speed Houston plays at. Should the Rockets prove to be title contenders for years to come, Jones will grow from a promising 22-year-old to an All-Star candidate.
Mike Scott, Hawks
Scott is a shining example of how a player can get a lot better in the offseason. Hawks players and fans have been talking about his new body and improved perimeter game since training camp, and he has proved them right after getting the opportunity to be a part of Atlanta's rotation with Al Horford out.
Scott has the ability to post up stretch 4s, which has allowed Atlanta to run isolations for him on occasion, and also has a good feel for playing within the flow of the offense when he is not the focus (which is the far more typical situation). Bringing a toughness, maturity and intelligence that was not easy to predict going into the season, he's been a big part of how Atlanta has stayed somewhat relevant despite losing its best player this season.
Jared Sullinger, Celtics
Solid. That is the operative word for Sullinger. He handles his duties on the glass well. He finishes shots at a good level. And he has a strong basketball IQ.
Sullinger continues to look like a starter in this league, with some serious potential as both a strong rebounder and a stretch shooter on offense, kind of like a poor man's Kevin Love. Remember, Love made only 35 3s in his second season (60 games) before quickly becoming the best shooter/rebounder ever. Sullinger's intriguing comparisons to one of the game's elite players has to factor into Boston's long-term plans as it rebuilds.
Miles Plumlee, Suns
The Suns continue to be one of the top stories of the season and it's hard to envision this kind of success without Plumlee's contributions. His shot-blocking talent and hustle make him probably the most important defensive player on a Phoenix team that has a top-12 defense.
He has also played impressively within his role on offense, making plays solely near the basket and finishing them at a good rate. It's unclear if he will end up being a long-term starter in this league, but it is clear that he's going to be a rotation player getting significant minutes for years to come. For a guy who was drafted No. 26 overall, that is impressive stuff.
첫댓글 사진 쩌내요. 공 대신 포장김 한묶음 합성 '김내놔' ㅋㅋ
스캇이 언급되니, 애틀랜타 팬 입장에서 기분이 좋네요ㅎㅎ
잘봤습니다 앤써니데이비스는 게임을보면 정말 느낌이다르죠 탄력이나 민첩성이.
번역 감사합니다. 스캇은 올해 너무나 잘해주고 있어서 뿌듯한 친구에요. 다른 분들도 많이 사랑해 주세요 ㅋ
꿩대신닭 러브 ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ 항상 감사히 잘 보고있습니다.
글 만큼이나 훌륭한 번역 감사합니다 ㅋ 저도 가끔 번역해서 느끼지만 던컨&키드님의 번역능력은 최고에요ㅋ
ㄷㄷ 그냥 많이 하다보니 요령이 늘은 것이지 머리 아플 때도 아직 많이 있습니다. ㅎㅎ
좋은 글 보고갑니다~!! ㅋ