The Legends of Tacko Fall

Imbricus

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Yah! Finally got a seven footer in an, ahem, big way. I like this. Fun. He's a bit stiff, but not as awkward as some other guys who have played at his height.
 

oumbi

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Jun 15, 2006
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The NBA might just as well cancel next season and award the championship to the Celtics now. Save everyone time and effort.

And, for those of you who have not already studied video on Tako and need to learn more, there is this:

http://www.tankathon.com/players/tacko-fall
I really do hope he makes the season roster. It would be a great story.

FUN FACT: Tako shot free throws at a 36.2% rate!
 

DJnVa

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Seems like a nice guy, glad he's at least getting a shot.
 

snowmanny

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Mark Eaton only made 22 of 49 FTs in college and he played in the NBA until he was 36. I have high confidence in Tacko’s future.
 

JCizzle

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He's not going to stick obviously, but he was really fun to watch in the tournament. Seemed to give Duke fits when he wasn't on the bench, they didn't know how to deal with him.
 

Imbricus

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So, starting in the second round, the last three guys they picked up were 6'1", 5' 11", and 7'6".
 

BigSoxFan

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May 31, 2007
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I must see Tacko and Time Lord play together in Vegas. Whoever converts a layup gets a free car.
 

Kliq

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Happy he’s getting a shot. If anyone is going to use a roster spot on a guy just for in-bound plays near the basket, it’s Brad.
 

edoug

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A reporter asked Danny if he was depressed about the way things are going for the Celts.
His response "If you're blue and you don't know where to go to. Why don't you go where fashion sits?"
 

djbayko

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He may be a long shot, but this one is fun.

Watching his highlights, the dude is so large that it almost doesn't seem like real footage. He can walk across the key for an up and under layup win a single step.
 

HomeRunBaker

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Jan 15, 2004
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He's not going to stick obviously, but he was really fun to watch in the tournament. Seemed to give Duke fits when he wasn't on the bench, they didn't know how to deal with him.
I wouldn't write him off so fast. This is a guy who has dominated the college game under the radar for the past three seasons despite teams collapsing 2, 3, and ever 4 players on him when he touched the ball on the low block and altering opponents offensive sets on the other end.......Fall was a total game changer. He isn't a stiff. He will however have challenges adjusting to the NBA game.


So, starting in the second round, the last three guys they picked up were 6'1", 5' 11", and 7'6".
This brings back memories of the Rhode Island Gulls in the mid-80's of the now-defunct USBL. That team had Manute Bol and Spud Webb on it (two feet of height difference), John "Hot Rod" Williams while he was awaiting his point-shaving trial from his Tulane days, Martin Clark from BC, and Coached by Kevin Stacom who would then bring the team to his tavern in Newport after the games at the Rogers High gym.

https://www.reddit.com/r/HistoryPorn/comments/1pck10/manute_bol_77_next_to_spud_webb_57_for_the_rhode/?st=jx71pnld&sh=9098f1f7
 
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Kliq

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His struggles are with conditioning and foul trouble. I think his best case scenario is a 10-15 mpg guy that you can bring in as a change of pace. He’ll be exploited on switches but he’ll exploit some mismatches himself. He has good hands and solid fundamentals close to the basket, if he gets inside the restricted area he can handle an entry pass and it’s all over.
 

jon abbey

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I just want to see him and Boban go full court one on one, can someone make that happen for me?
 

Imbricus

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Tacko Fall, Master of the Standing Dunk.

Seriously, I spent some time watching clips of this guy last night. I don't think it's a foregone conclusion at all that he's going to be a washout. He's not pencil thin, like Manute and Bol Bol are. He's a bit slow on adjusting in space on defense, but once they hit about 7' 5", they all are. If the Celts can teach him how to box out on rebounds and shoot well enough to at least be in Shaq territory on foul shots, he could be an effective strategic piece for certain moments in the game, kind of like a LOOGY in baseball. His defense seems to be well-rated (one advantage of an eight-foot wingspan). A little old coming out of college, true.

Edit to add: Just noticed this on his Wikipedia. Jesus, with him and Grant, there's no room for a Flat Earther on this team. He maintained a 4.0 grade point average (GPA) in high school, while taking advanced mathematics and science classes. He became fluent in English within 8 months and scored in the 95th percentile on the SAT.
 
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RetractableRoof

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Tacko Fall might have been a star 15 years ago. I guess the issue is, how does he compete on the floor with the current center thinking? What happens when he plays a Horford or Lopez who wants to bring him out to the deep end of the pool? His free throw percentage is scary, hack-a-Tacko coming to an arena near you?

He is relatively new to the game though - maybe they can bring in someone to build him from the ground up. Or McHale to spend some time with him. It will be interesting/fun to watch his career evolve. Maybe he can create an endorsement deal with the young kid from the Cowboys.
 

Eddie Jurak

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What happens when he plays a Horford or Lopez who wants to bring him out to the deep end of the pool?
He subs out?

Edit: I just watched a 5 minute highlight video of him in which they showed not a single defensive play.

He doesn't look nearly as spindly as Manute Bol did, and looked to have some nice touch around the basket. How (and if) he adapts to the NBA is an interesting question.
 
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fieldslikebuckner

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I wouldn't write him off so fast. This is a guy who has dominated the college game under the radar for the past three seasons despite teams collapsing 2, 3, and ever 4 players on him when he touched the ball on the low block and altering opponents offensive sets on the other end.......Fall was a total game changer. He isn't a stiff. He will however have challenges adjusting to the NBA game.



This brings back memories of the Rhode Island Gulls in the mid-80's of the now-defunct USBL. That team had Manute Bol and Spud Webb on it (two feet of height difference), John "Hot Rod" Williams while he was awaiting his point-shaving trial from his Tulane days, Martin Clark from BC, and Coached by Kevin Stacom who would then bring the team to his tavern in Newport after the games at the Rogers High gym.

https://www.reddit.com/r/HistoryPorn/comments/1pck10/manute_bol_77_next_to_spud_webb_57_for_the_rhode/?st=jx71pnld&sh=9098f1f7
New Haven had a USBL team at the time and a couple of us went to the old New Haven Coliseum to see the Rhode Island team just for the spectacle. Bol played college ball at the University of Bridgeport so there was media hype about his return. I remember we were disappointed that Spud Webb didn't dunk, and Bol looked like a giant even against other tall people.
 

sezwho

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His struggles are with conditioning and foul trouble. I think his best case scenario is a 10-15 mpg guy that you can bring in as a change of pace. He’ll be exploited on switches but he’ll exploit some mismatches himself. He has good hands and solid fundamentals close to the basket, if he gets inside the restricted area he can handle an entry pass and it’s all over.
I'm excited for the signing and even though I get the punchline reactions, I'm with this.

Didn't watch a ton of college ball but he certainly gave His Holiness Zion fits, and a large framed 7'6" guy who moves as well as he does can find a home in the NBA if he is willing to follow whatever program the Celtics set out for him....
 

Big John

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Dec 9, 2016
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Why not? If the NBA ever adopts the college or FIBA zone defense and/or goal tending rules, Fall's value goes up.
 

benhogan

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Tacko is interesting, maybe Brad could use him situationally on a 2 way, as the 16 or 17th player on the roster

Someone suggested on inbounds or defending the inbounds at the end of quarters.

5 minutes pushing Embiid around

Boban upside?
 

DJnVa

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If he plays in Maine and they don’t run “Tacko Tuesday” promotions they should fire everyone
 

benhogan

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Tacko is interesting, maybe Brad could use him situationally on a 2 way, as the 16 or 17th player on the roster

Someone suggested on inbounds or defending the inbounds at the end of quarters.

5 minutes pushing Embiid around

Boban upside?
Just for clarity, I think he can do more than above. Just bring him along slowly, build up his confidence. Get creative with defensive schemes/rotations.

This is a really smart gamble, Brad will know pretty quickly if he can do anything with him. Just hope they are patient.
 

McBride11

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We didn’t call this Too Big to Fall, for shame.

Good signing but he has never impressed athletically. Not really sure he makes a top 9.
 

benhogan

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We didn’t call this Too Big to Fall, for shame.

Good signing but he has never impressed athletically. Not really sure he makes a top 9.
He doesn't look like a klutz and moves much better than Boban (that's a very low bar). Tacko runs like an athlete, no hitch. He seals, doesn't avoid contact around the hoop. Has decent footwork down low. 310lbs, not a twig.
If he's the 15th guy, that's a huge win from an undrafted rookie.

Duke's skilled frontcourt didn't embarrass him in the tournament.

PLUS he's very intelligent (engineering major), so he should be able to grasp the NBA's defensive concepts.

agreed, "Too Big to Fall" is a huge miss
 

mauf

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He probably needs a year of G-league seasoning, but it looks like he could become bizarro Theis — unplayable against bigs who stretch the floor well, but a good defensive option against more traditional bigs who can bully their way to the basket too easily against smaller, “stretch” bigs like Theis.
 

Captaincoop

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He probably needs a year of G-league seasoning, but it looks like he could become bizarro Theis — unplayable against bigs who stretch the floor well, but a good defensive option against more traditional bigs who can bully their way to the basket too easily against smaller, “stretch” bigs like Theis.
He could be an interesting Giannis counterplay.

Tall enough to take away short looks without even looking like he's fouling.

Plus, against a team like that you could run every shooter off the three point line and trust that the lane is still protected from layups.
 

the moops

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Holy shit guys. He is an undrafted super tall dude who has a miniscule chance of even making a roster. To even mention him as a counterplay to Giannis is ludicrous