CSNbbs

From ESPN Insider's take on NBA draft. Checked on June 9, don't know when it was written.

[quote]
Chris Kaman
Center | 7-0

I love the Knicks. I wouldn't mind seeing Kaman sign on as the next Knickerbocker center, although I do believe another year of honing his skills in the MAC would have been better for him.

The Pavel Podkolzine fever that has erupted over the past couple of days is mystifying. The kid has barely played at all. For most of the year he didn't even practice with his Italian pro team, he worked out individually. The Russians didn't even select him for thier national Junior team.

He shows up in Chicago, runs the floor a little, shoots a few threes and suddenly he's the number 4 pick? I understand that the kid is 7'-5" and 300 lbs, but he also has a history of ankle problems. Drafting him that high over Kaman is nuts. Kaman has a more developed game and plenty of upside.

I don't really see TOO much of a problem with Kaman leaving early. CMU will most likely not have as good a year as this past season, and this years exposure was outstanding for them....some tend to forget the MAC superstars....especially without a great deal of exposure like last season.

Kaman was all over ESPN.com....I didn't expect THAT to happen again.

Heck, the CAVS should draft him...after LeBron....Illgauskas(sp?) is an injury magnet.

Flipper Wrote:The Pavel Podkolzine fever that has erupted over the past couple of days is mystifying. The kid has barely played at all. For most of the year he didn't even practice with his Italian pro team, he worked out individually. The Russians didn't even select him for thier national Junior team.

He shows up in Chicago, runs the floor a little, shoots a few threes and suddenly he's the number 4 pick? I understand that the kid is 7'-5" and 300 lbs, but he also has a history of ankle problems. Drafting him that high over Kaman is nuts. Kaman has a more developed game and plenty of upside.

I'd like nothing more than to see the Knicks foul something up even further - let 'em take Sasquatch and wonder why he doesn't work out. :crying:

I like Kaman, but if I was a GM I would have some reservations about him. While a 6-6.5 G/F like Josh Howard has the wingspan of someone 7-2, Kaman has the wingspan of someone 6-11 1/2. Length is very important in basketball. It's why an Elton Brand at 6-8 can get his shot off in the paint, crash the boards and block shots in the West (where all the dominant power forwards are).

I hate the Knicks and you Kaman fans should really be worried if Layden drafts him. That guy is an idiot and all he does for the Knicks is draft busts and make stupid trades.

LOL Dan.

"He shows up in Chicago, runs the floor a little, shoots a few threes and suddenly he's the number 4 pick? I understand that the kid is 7'-5" and 300 lbs, but he also has a history of ankle problems. Drafting him that high over Kaman is nuts. Kaman has a more developed game and plenty of upside."

He sounds just like Kaveman except for the three point thing, the running the floor thing and the size thing. However, instead of an ankle, Kaveman has his back(right CMU fans?).

Just giving him and CMU fans a hard time. I think he will be an average player in the NBA if he is given the correct instruction, time and training.

Kaman will be much better than average.

Every time I saw him play I thought of Tim Duncan.

Kaman is big, mean, and very skilled. Any team in the NBA would be lucky to have him.

I swear sometimes I wonder if critics of Kaman have ever even seen him play. Do people assume that because he's a big, white center from Central Michigan that he's some kind of oaf?

"I swear sometimes I wonder if critics of Kaman have ever even seen him play. Do people assume that because he's a big, white center from Central Michigan that he's some kind of oaf?"

Actually, yes, I have seen him play and it has nothing to do with the fact that he is a white guy from Central Michigan. I just wasn't overly impressed. Sorry that is my opinion. Guess what, people outside Marshall can have opinions(although you probably don't think so).

I agree with RobertN, I wasn't overly impressed with Kaman either. I thought he was a little too slow getting back on defense, he also seemed to get winded faster than anybody else.

Quote:...he also seemed to get winded faster than anybody else.

He was likely working harder than everybody else.

We'll just have to agree to disagree. I think Kaman will have a very long NBA career. We'll see.

Stick4489 Wrote:

Quote:...he also seemed to get winded faster than anybody else.

He was likely working harder than everybody else.

We'll just have to agree to disagree. I think Kaman will have a very long NBA career. We'll see.

I thought Manciel was a "harder" worker than Kaman.

Kaman is a lot like Tim Duncan in comparison. Both are quiet scorers. Their scoring doesn't always stand out, but by the end of the night they racked up 25-30 points, and 10-15 rebounds to go with it.

Kaman is very fundamentally sound, which will get him far in the NBA. I thought his toughness could use a little work for the NBA, but they'll definitely take care of that for him.

It'll be interesting to see how he does.

No doubt Manciel plays as hard as anybody.

Let me tell my story of being in CMU's huddle this year. For reasons I can't recall I had to arrive at the Henderson Center a little later than usual for the Herd's game against the Chippies. My tardiness caused me to park in a spot different than my usual and enter the arena at a different entrance.

I was walking through the corridor that led to the court and I saw the CMU team in a huddle about to enter. I just ignored them and walked past. However, as I walked by the security guard stopped me. He wouldn't let me go past until CMU had entered the court. So there I am literally stuck in the middle of the CMU huddle. It was a pretty awkward feeling. One of the players was firing them up with a pretty good pep talk. He was hollering about "no respect" and things like that. And I was an intruder in their way. I was standing beside Kaman. He is legit tall. After a couple of minutes of that rah rah stuff, they ran out onto the court. I just thought it was kind of funny. The security guard was intending to clear a path for them but instead insured that they had somebody in their way.

Think they would have noticed if I had just gone out with them and got in their layup line?

What do you do for the Herd Stick? Are you a photographer or something?

Nope. Just a fan.

Stick,
You never cease to amaze me. Just picturing your story has me rolling on the floor. I can see you standing in the huddle looking "lost."

Now I have another funny story to tell the "Fearless One," that is if you haven't told him yet.

You're a classic!!

Stick, you and Mako, will ALWAYS be "Honorary Chippewas!" :D

Quote:Stick, you and Mako, will ALWAYS be "Honorary Chippewas!"

The Hell I will!

There is nothing honorable or Chippewa about me!

Hate 'em if they ain't the Herd!

Okay, it's really not a problem to just add the prefix, "Dis." :D