At 7'7" with a 10'3" standing reach he will win 100% of all jumpballs. So if nothing else he has a future as a literal NBA starter. Even if he doesn't play much after that.Tacko is 7'6, and he'll still be 7'6 when he gets his shot in real NBA action. No one is expecting him to be 1975 Kareem. However, he can be a nice change of pace to throw at NBA bigs, including - clutch your pearls - Embiid or Giannis.
Wrong Portland.If you want to watch Tacko during the regular season games, I hope you aren't far from PDX.
IIRC, there was a game once that featured a jump ball between Manute Bol and either Spud Webb or Muggsy Bogues. I think the little guy's team may have got possession, too.At 7'7" with a 10'3" standing reach he will win 100% of all jumpballs. So if nothing else he has a future as a literal NBA starter. Even if he doesn't play much after that.
Shawn Bradley had an NBA-level career at 7'6" despite being <300 lbs, far more recently than Manute Bol. He just started with a lot more experience than Fall at every level - 4 years of high school, heavily recruited by top programs, led the nation in blocking, was his team's best player in getting to the 2nd round of NCAAs, etc. Fall came to the sport late and reluctantly, may not love it the same way (yet, or ever). And once in the NBA, Bradley's college scoring never translated consistently, but the blocking did.You're right---I looked at the wrong listing. I do think that's material, and part of what is interesting about him as a project...he's not just tall he's a whole different ballgame than even the current really tall guys. Doesn't make him a player, but it's a unique capability to explore.
Side note: Manute Bol's wingspan was reported to be almost 4 inches longer than Tacko's!
Yeah, Portland, Maine is PWM. Or was the last time I flew in there returning from Canada.Wrong Portland.
Neither Bradley nor Muresan are comparable to Fall for different reasons.I'm no scout, so I'd be interested in people's assessments of the skillsets of Muresan (1993-2000) and Bradley (1993-2005), and what we can learn by comparing those to Fall today, as I think they probably have more relevance to today's NBA than Bol (1983-1995). The success rate for 7'2"+ projects is actually not that bad, because there just aren't that many such people, and they're really good at occupying space, which of course is the last skill to deteriorate.
Yes, at the moment Tacko is a curiosity, not an NBA player. You might use him situationally for few few minutes a game, but he's too ungainly. He's also useless at the end of games because he can't shoot free throws.Tacko is a great story and I am rooting for him but he's got to develop some kind of jump shot in order to be playable in the NBA. He's not going to be able to take everyone down to the rim and dunk the ball. He should go play every day and practice a lot in Maine and see where he is in two or three years.
Appreciate the deeper look into giants past.Neither Bradley nor Muresan are comparable to Fall for different reasons.
Bradley was really skilled. I mean really really skilled. He could dribble, shoot, and pass. He was almost the #1 pick overall. (See this: https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-1993-05-22-9302130244-story.html). Bradley's problem was that he was like Ralph Sampson, only thinner. In college, I think he was 210. He was something like 250 in the pros and people kept pushing him around.
Muresan, on the other hand, was huge. He was something like 315, 330. He was the one guy I saw who could bother Shaq simply because he was so big. But he's not like Tacko because he developed basketball skills - jump shot and sky hook. He once averaged 14.5 ppg and 9.6 rbg averaging almost 30 minutes a game. He also shot .709 from the FT line one year. Unfortunately, his career was cut short by injuries.
I wondered why at the time, but not enough to look it up.PWM=Portland Westbrook Maine for you trivia Buffs.
Playable?Neither Bradley nor Muresan are comparable to Fall for different reasons.
Bradley was really skilled. I mean really really skilled. He could dribble, shoot, and pass. He was almost the #1 pick overall. (See this: https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-1993-05-22-9302130244-story.html). Bradley's problem was that he was like Ralph Sampson, only thinner. In college, I think he was 210. He was something like 250 in the pros and people kept pushing him around.
Muresan, on the other hand, was huge. He was something like 315, 330. He was the one guy I saw who could bother Shaq simply because he was so big. But he's not like Tacko because he developed basketball skills - jump shot and sky hook. He once averaged 14.5 ppg and 9.6 rbg averaging almost 30 minutes a game. He also shot .709 from the FT line one year. Unfortunately, his career was cut short by injuries.
(edit: here's a 1995 story on Ghorge that's an interesting read: https://www.si.com/vault/1995/10/02/206892/giant-the-bullets-gheorghe-muresan-is-developing-a-game-to-match-his-colossal-size)
Tacko is a great story and I am rooting for him but he's got to develop some kind of jump shot in order to be playable in the NBA. He's not going to be able to take everyone down to the rim and dunk the ball. He should go play every day and practice a lot in Maine and see where he is in two or three years.
He has to show that he can defend the high PnR against real NBA players. Brad was talking him up last night on the ESPN broadcast however - and I know there are some here who think SL is pretty representative of NBA competition while others of us do not - its been a few games against mostly amateur players.Playable?
What will determine if he's playable are his abilities on the defensive end. He isn't quick to the ball - so he's likely a pretty meh rebounder... but if his shot-blocking/altering abilities translate... he's got a spot. All he needs to do on offense is set screens... not turn the ball over... and be available around the rim as a constant auto-dunk option. If he throws in a 3-foot hook every now and then... all the better.
Why on earth would you have him work on jump shots? 100% of his shooting work should be done at the FT line*.Tacko is a great story and I am rooting for him but he's got to develop some kind of jump shot in order to be playable in the NBA. He's not going to be able to take everyone down to the rim and dunk the ball. He should go play every day and practice a lot in Maine and see where he is in two or three years.
I've seen Larry Bird. Tacko Fall is no Larry BirdHis free throws look like he's throwing a shot put. Terrible.
Free throw shooting is in the knees. Look at any 90% free throw shooter, and you will see the knees gently flex.
https://youtu.be/O2Rqfwz50fU
I could post a dozen other videos of great free throw shooters and it would be the same.
I actually thought you were insinuating that the Trailblazers would offer him a NBA contract. I meant to check the end of their roster but never did.brain cramp.
Sure, but you'd have gotten extra credit for suggesting he just lean over and gently place the FT shot into the basket.It can't help that the man is seemingly shooting his free throws down at the basket instead of up at it. I suspect there must be some technique differences between him and the center at Foxboro high school.
Did I do that right?
Was thinking the same thing last night. Improve angle too.I believe the standing high jump was banned on account of Wilt. But that is probably an urban legend.
Related to his free throw shooting, would Fall benefit from trying to bank his shots? I know, verboten, but he might be able to put some arc on his shot that way without it coming down from way above the basket.
Okay, maybe I shouldn't have said "jump" but he does need some sort of shot that can translate to FTs.Why on earth would you have him work on jump shots? 100% of his shooting work should be done at the FT line*.
If NBA jump shot is Tacko's bar for PT in the NBA, you may as well cut him now. The odds of him developing an NBA efficient 2pt mid-range jump shot are slim to none (Heck, half the NBA is inefficiently shooting mid-range 2pt jump shots).
Tacko's offensive check-list:
1. Set physical screens and picks for the most efficient Celtic offensive players.
2. Roll straight to the rim if the opponent switches a wing/guard on him.
3. Get loose rebounds, tip the ball out, keep the ball alive on missed shots
4. Get back on defense.
5. Never shoot the ball outside the 3ft circle unless the clock dictates (Ben Simmons-esque)
6. Work on a half dozen alley-oop plays designed for Tacko
HACKO will become a thing if he can't hit over 55% of his FTs.
*The Celtics have him working on new FT stroke. Its extremely mechanical, but could lead to many lane violations for the opponent
He did bank one in in one of the games.I believe the standing high jump was banned on account of Wilt. But that is probably an urban legend.
Related to his free throw shooting, would Fall benefit from trying to bank his shots? I know, verboten, but he might be able to put some arc on his shot that way without it coming down from way above the basket.
Chris Dudley is 7 inches shorter than this guy. That's the difference between Carsen Edwards and Jason Tatum.Okay, maybe I shouldn't have said "jump" but he does need some sort of shot that can translate to FTs.
I'm not sure what you describe above is a NBA player except maybe for 3 minutes a game.
Chris Dudley is an interesting comp. Tacko is less playable than Chris Dudley right now IMO.
So, does that affect his inability to shoot free throws? Tacko is 7-7. I get it.Chris Dudley is 7 inches shorter than this guy. That's the difference between Carsen Edwards and Jason Tatum.
IMO it's pretty much FTs that he needs to work on, maybe a hook shot from 5 ft., otherwise, he can pass and set screens. One ball, 4 other guys on the floor looking to score from the outside. The good thing is the defending Center will need to stay w/him on the block. On a dribble drive, Tacko would be so easy to lob into if left unguarded or switched on to by a wing/guard. Ironically his size will help spread the floor better than 5 wide.Okay, maybe I shouldn't have said "jump" but he does need some sort of shot that can translate to FTs.
I'm not sure what you describe above is a NBA player except maybe for 3 minutes a game.
Chris Dudley is an interesting comp. Tacko is less playable than Chris Dudley right now IMO.
7 out of 7 sounds pretty good (even if one of them was a bank shot).So, does that affect his inability to shoot free throws? Tacko is 7-7. I get it.
7-7 is his height. In summer league, he is 2-6 at the line.7 out of 7 sounds pretty good (even if one of them was a bank shot).
Given the choice, I'll take that over a 2'6" guy who's 7-7 from the line.7-7 is his height. In summer league, he is 2-6 at the line.
Rick Barry is still alive. C's should hire him. I bet he could walk into the gym and hit 70 of 100 underhanded right now.If anyone should employ the granny shot it is this dude
No player is a comp for a player who is 7 inches taller. That's pretty much a solid rule.So, does that affect his inability to shoot free throws? Tacko is 7-7. I get it.
And it's not as Rick Barry is the only one who could teach dudes this technique. Hell, give me a week or two and I bet I could make over 70% of my FTs granny style with nothing more than practice.Rick Barry is still alive. C's should hire him. I bet he could walk into the gym and hit 70 of 100 underhanded right now.
Yao Ming was an 85% free throw shooter. Height has little or nothing to do with it. Tacko's free throw technique stinks, that's all.No player is a comp for a player who is 7 inches taller. That's pretty much a solid rule.
Not only is Barry one of the best FT shooters in NBA history, he was also able to teach George Johnson to shoot. But it took awhile, IIRC.And it's not as Rick Barry is the only one who could teach dudes this technique. Hell, give me a week or two and I bet I could make over 70% of my FTs granny style with nothing more than practice.
I am a good FT shooter, so you may have a point. But I have ever only taken an underhand attempt at FT's like a few dozen times in my lifeNot only is Barry one of the best FT shooters in NBA history, he was also able to teach George Johnson to shoot. But it took awhile, IIRC.
(So unless you now shoot 60% I'm skeptical of the second point.)
Not to be snarky (i am honestly asking) but do you see a difference between "Didnt close out" and "Cant Close out"?Tacko doesn't need to be a 65% FT shooter to play rotation minutes in this league......Tacko DOES need to execute a high PNR defensive scheme while being able to contest a 3-point shot to play rotation minutes in this league. I only caught a few of his minutes in the summer league and he failed to close out on a 3-point shooter on two occasions during the brief time I watched. One thing I did notice was that he provides a different kind of spacing offensively as a weakside defender must account for his presence rather than step into a penetration lane.
He's a unique player and I'm confident he will find a role once he recognizes his deficiencies in our schemes.
Aside: Why is the Rick Barry style underhand free throw so much easier to make, in theory? And if so, why has no one else ever tried? Simply because it looks silly?I am a good FT shooter, so you may have a point. But I have ever only taken an underhand attempt at FT's like a few dozen times in my life
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2017/apr/26/granny-style-is-best-way-to-take-a-basketball-free-throw-study-showsAside: Why is the Rick Barry style underhand free throw so much easier to make, in theory? And if so, why has no one else ever tried? Simply because it looks silly?
Body mechanics/kinesiology mostly. A standard free throw involves more moving body parts and room for things to get out of whack. Knees don't bend as much? Arms don't bend the same as last time? Finger spacing different? More or less thrust from the wrists? All moving parts. The underhand style can minimize the moving parts into a fluid more repeatable motion.Aside: Why is the Rick Barry style underhand free throw so much easier to make, in theory? And if so, why has no one else ever tried? Simply because it looks silly?