I was surprised too there was no call there. Even more surprised nothing was called in the last six seconds, which looked like a free-for-all, or as described here "whistle-less chaos."Live I thought it was clearly a foul
I was surprised too there was no call there. Even more surprised nothing was called in the last six seconds, which looked like a free-for-all, or as described here "whistle-less chaos."Live I thought it was clearly a foul
Yeah, I think the non-call was right, but I had to watch the replay 3 times to be sure. The thing that makes it weird is that Semi moves into position and then is able to control his jump and go vertical. Pretty impressive, but he'll usually get called for a foul there, so I'm not sure it's repeatable.I was surprised too there was no call there. Even more surprised nothing was called in the last six seconds, which looked like a free-for-all, or as described here "whistle-less chaos."
Are we talking about different plays?How can you say that Semi went vertical when he landed two feet forward from where he took off and staggered forward even more when he landed? I thought that was a foul for sure. It's possible that there wasn't any contact to speak of since RHJ was executing a fall-away, but it didn't look so clean to me.
Yeah, think he means the shot with a few seconds left.Are we talking about different plays?
I think he just can't take an ordinary charge inside the arc, but I'm not sure.I had never seen that resource before. Now I see the no-call on Ojeleye. Yes he went vertical, but he was inside the arc. Is he allowed to even stand there in the arc to impede a guy driving with the ball?
The key here is that he jumped. When he jumped vertically to defend the shot, the special block/charge rule inside the Restricted Area no longer applied, and the normal rules governing defensive fouls came back into play. (The other main exception are drives originating within the Lower Defensive Box [from the bottom of the free throw circle to the baseline, and between to two posted-up marks that are 3 feet from either side of the lane].)I think he just can't take an ordinary charge inside the arc, but I'm not sure.
Is it always a blocking foul if the secondary defender is inside the restricted area?
No. The restricted area does not apply to any drive that does not go directly to the rim, which starts inside the Lower Defensive Box, if the offensive player wipes out, leads with a foot or knee or if the defensive player jumps vertically and makes a legitimate attempt to defend the shot.
Don't we want his man taking a midrange contested 2? I love his footwork, and in a vacuum I'd certainly love to see more blocks as well, but I'm not sure that's what Brad Stevens is encouraging.He just doesn't leave his feet that much on defense. Classic Semi defense is he showcases his fancy footwork, managing to stay in front of the player he's guarding and block off the driving lane, then that player says, "Ah, the hell with it," and just goes straight up and shoots over him while Semi stays planted with his arm sticking up like a slightly bothersome rod in the other guy's face. And I think the rest of the NBA has figured out this is how he plays, so they're starting to take advantage of it.
Semi Ojalaye has a 40.5 inch vertical. Not sure lack of explosiveness if causing the low block rate.Semi Ojeleye has 2 blocks in 746 minutes. I don't think I've ever seen an NBA player who looks like he has size and strength and such little explosion. The guy gets absolutely abused - he holds his ground really well defensively and then gets consistently shot over.
I mean, Jameer Nelson has more blocks per minute this year. And JJ Barea. But he's 23.
Then its a good example of why no one pays attention to the nba combine. The guy just doesnt jump and once you notice it you see it every time he contests a shot. Even more frustrating if hes physically capable.Semi Ojalaye has a 40.5 inch vertical. Not sure lack of explosiveness if causing the low block rate.
Sure, but the really frustrating bit is when his guy drives, he should have good defensive position, but they make the layup anyway because he just puts his arms up. They teach big men that but he isnt that long. Its a nitpick but its been driving me up the walls.Don't we want his man taking a midrange contested 2? I love his footwork, and in a vacuum I'd certainly love to see more blocks as well, but I'm not sure that's what Brad Stevens is encouraging.
No you don’t pay attention to the combine. Plenty of people do.Then its a good example of why no one pays attention to the nba combine. The guy just doesnt jump and once you notice it you see it every time he contests a shot. Even more frustrating if hes physically capable.
The combine stats are more than measuring ones vertical. Ojeleye was 3rd overall in his lane agility time which is a good measure of ones ability to keep his man in front of him while forcing long 2's against the shot clock.Then its a good example of why no one pays attention to the nba combine. The guy just doesnt jump and once you notice it you see it every time he contests a shot. Even more frustrating if hes physically capable.
He's also capable of covering multiple positions defensively. Look at who he was covering against the Pistons:No you don’t pay attention to the combine. Plenty of people do.
He’s been a good defender this year, often playing more against better competition. I’d love to see him block more shots but his footwork and physicality are damn good. He’s a second round pick, not going to be perfect.
He puts his arms straight up and doesn't jump because he's trying not to bail the offensive player with a foul. It works well against guys his size and under - which are the guys he's used to playing against - but you're correct that sometimes people just shoot over him. He'll learn more about this.Sure, but the really frustrating bit is when his guy drives, he should have good defensive position, but they make the layup anyway because he just puts his arms up. They teach big men that but he isnt that long. Its a nitpick but its been driving me up the walls.
Yea, it's a balance. But if you look at a lot of the top defenses throughout history, including the 08 Celtics, those teams generally fouled a lot. There is an advantage to be gained by making strong contests and forcing the ref to make a decision.He puts his arms straight up and doesn't jump because he's trying not to bail the offensive player with a foul. It works well against guys his size and under - which are the guys he's used to playing against - but you're correct that sometimes people just shoot over him. He'll learn more about this.
That, plus getting knocked to the hardwood isn't actually fun for most players. They might settle for the contested jump shot next time....There is an advantage to be gained by making strong contests and forcing the ref to make a decision.
But when the ref is forced to make a decision, the call generally goes against the rookie. Semi can raise his foul rate once his footwork earns him some respect, and that probably won't be for another year or two.Yea, it's a balance. But if you look at a lot of the top defenses throughout history, including the 08 Celtics, those teams generally fouled a lot. There is an advantage to be gained by making strong contests and forcing the ref to make a decision.
I am not convinced Semi was a late bloomer in that he was stuck behind a loaded Duke team as a freshman and then Winslow came along his second year with Jefferson still the primary frontcourt reserve which is why he transferred in December that year after seeing spot minutes in only 6 games. Even Grayson Allen didn't see any minutes on that team plus K doesn't typically like using a deep bench.Semi was a late bloomer in college. Give him some time to figure out - with the help of Brad and his staff - what works best. If there is a way to improve his technique, I'm sure that information will be drilled into him.
That's true on the offensive end too.
Yes. To me his worst case scenario is “good guy to have around as a 10th man”. Upside is a guy who can start and contribute on some teams (though still more of a support player).He's a rookie, albeit an old one. He does some things really well, and one thing shockingly well. He gets limited minutes. One would have to be Lord of the Pessimists to expect that he won't improve at his effectiveness contesting shots and in other areas. I expect that he has more "good Jae" in him offensively, for example. There's no good reason why he doesn't take the ball strong to the rim once in a while, except that he really seems to try to stay within himself. I'm buying on him, not selling. He has tools and a good motor.
I've seen him take the ball strong to the rim a few times, and the end result hasn't been that pretty (though he looks good on the drive, then the shot comes and ... eh). Also, remember, it was on one of those strong drives to the rim where he got blocked so hard he landed on his back and was out a few games. He's got a long way to go offensively, but I agree, it's heartening that he's been effective enough on defense that Brad has confidence in him for a number of different size/skill matchups. Next year I think will be very telling for him, in terms of how much he develops, because he is an oldish rookie, as has been noted. I think he's doing fine for a second rounder, though I think Ainge would take Bell instead in a heartbeat if he had a do-over.There's no good reason why he doesn't take the ball strong to the rim once in a while, except that he really seems to try to stay within himself.
In all honesty, he reminds me of Crowder in that way. Plays smaller than he is sometimes. Crowder is a better finisher, but still not a great one. Better is better. And getting people running at your credible three attempt is a key part of that. Semi just isn't there yet at either of those skills. But I see no reason to think that he wont improve. Age isn't as relevant when it comes to savvy. NBA games and coaching is where that comes from. He is as big and fast as he's ever going to be though, of course.Also, for a 6' 7" guy with a great vertical leap and the body of a bull, he seems to play "small" on offense around the basket. You expect a guy with that kind of profile to be soaring and lofting shots and slamming home putbacks.
Do they really play smaller than they really are though? How many 3's in this league are smaller than Crowder/Semi? I can think of several PG's though who are of similar size. My guess is they play small because well......they are. His problem, as you say in your last sentence is that he isn't getting any bigger so physically he is what he is.In all honesty, he reminds me of Crowder in that way. Plays smaller than he is sometimes. Crowder is a better finisher, but still not a great one. Better is better. And getting people running at your credible three attempt is a key part of that. Semi just isn't there yet at either of those skills. But I see no reason to think that he wont improve. Age isn't as relevant when it comes to savvy. NBA games and coaching is where that comes from. He is as big and fast as he's ever going to be though, of course.
He isn’t a high first or a HOFer. Damn you Semi.Jaylen's the same height, but he has a much more high-flying inside game. Semi doesn't seem to elevate much and explode toward the basket, from what I've seen. He did try that one dunk where he got viciously blocked and wound up nursing a back injury. I'm just saying that a guy that size, with that physical strength, and that kind of vertical leap, should be more of a physical force inside, it seems. Barkley was only 6' 6", and he played pretty strong inside. To be fair, maybe some of this is Semi being a rookie.
Edit: to fix word repetition
He was a competent to good offensive player in college. It wouldn’t shock me if he becomes a 34ish % 3p shooter w time.Lol. I wonder if Ainge would do Bell for Semi. My feel is that Semi is putty in Brad’s gentle hands and that long term, he’s going to be a 20 minute + rotation guy. I imagine he’ll shoot around 1000 jumpers a day in the offseason and his path to 20 minutes per game will me much quicker if Smart signs elsewhere.
Ha! That's a fair point, but I'm more trying to make the point that -- apart from results, and it's true that he won't have the same success as an HOF guy or someone else drafted #3 -- he just doesn't seem as aggressive or physical around the rim as you'd expect for a guy of that size, with that kind of leaping ability and solid build. Has he had a single putback this year -- I can't even recall a good shot off an offensive rebound. On rebounds per 36, he's at 5.0 -- same as Nader. Granted, he came into the league with a 3 & D reputation, so this may never be part of his game. Just seems kind of odd because he's so quick and such a good leaper. Anyway, he's a good second-round find, and what he brings on D is pretty valuable.He isn’t a high first or a HOFer. Damn you Semi.
I don't know about that ... that self-feeding dunk he pulled off earlier this year was ESPN highlight reel stuff. Per 38, he's #6 for the entire NBA at .669 for FG%, #17 for blocks at 2.6, and #58 for steals at 1.7 (he's #85 for VORP at 1.0, while Semi is #471). That ain't too shabby, though it's true that he doesn't fit nearly as well into the Celtics' system.Bell isn’t exactly lighting it up
I didn’t say fit I said need. And the Cs to this point have been averse to bigs who also can’t stretch the floor. We’ve all been pounding our chests to get a rim running big who blocks shots and Danny just hasn’t done it. Even Baynes can step out and make 18 footers.Why does Bell fit better with the GSW than the Celtics? Don't they emphasize ability to stretch the floor as well?
I don't know that we're nitpicking as much as we're trying to figure out who he is. As people keep saying his stats and his eye test are pretty different, and that's interesting. Personally I want to know more to see what he tells us about playing D in the NBA.He's a big wing drafted in the second round who is signed cheap for 4 years and, even as a rookie, can keep just about anyone in front of him. But, yes, by all means let's nitpick him to death.
It was interesting looking this up on NBA.com:Like most real good defensive players, he plays defense with his feet. He makes guys take uncomfortable, off balance shots. Sure he doesn’t go after the blocks but he also seldom fouls a shooter. Look at his FG% against and I bet that tells the story of who Semi really is defensively.