(01-30-2015 12:40 PM)HoopDreams Wrote:  Nichols is a poor man's Christian Laettner right now.

Do they really have a similar game...Only similarity I see is their appearance.

(01-30-2015 12:42 PM)macgar32 Wrote:  

(01-30-2015 12:40 PM)HoopDreams Wrote:  Nichols is a poor man's Christian Laettner right now.

Do they really have a similar game...Only similarity I see is their appearance.

Laettner was a better ball handler, but was mainly back to the basket, could use both hands, was a good passer and stepped out to hit a three every now and then. He had a nastier attitude than Austin.

Or, Nichols is a poor man's Kelly Wise right now - less athletic but with a better face up shot.

Whichever you prefer.

All I know is this is what I see with AN as of right now: can use both hands to score in the paint, decent rebounder, excellent shot blocker, good passer, can hit a face up shot out to the three point line on occasion.

(01-30-2015 12:31 PM)tigers1125 Wrote:  

(01-30-2015 12:20 PM)450bench Wrote:  I agree on Crawford. I think he's going to be a star. I'd also have to say Austin will be a solid NBA player though. He's actually 6-9 and around 225. I think he'll go into the draft at around 245. I put him in the mold of Kevin McHale-light.
Compare Austin's body to when he got here. Unbeleivable difference. Highly, highly skilled guy who needs his growing confidence to grow more. And it will.

I like AN but don't get carried away- McHale is one of top 50 players in NBA history. And a true 6'11" or very close.

Good Lord man, I am not comparing him to McHale. I just said his game has some similarities. Geez Us H

(01-30-2015 12:47 PM)HoopDreams Wrote:  

(01-30-2015 12:42 PM)macgar32 Wrote:  

(01-30-2015 12:40 PM)HoopDreams Wrote:  Nichols is a poor man's Christian Laettner right now.

Do they really have a similar game...Only similarity I see is their appearance.

Laettner was a better ball handler, but was mainly back to the basket, could use both hands, was a good passer and stepped out to hit a three every now and then. He had a nastier attitude than Austin.

Or, Nichols is a poor man's Kelly Wise right now - less athletic but with a better face up shot.

Whichever you prefer.

All I know is this is what I see with AN as of right now: can use both hands to score in the paint, decent rebounder, excellent shot blocker, good passer, can hit a face up shot out to the three point line on occasion.

I guess I remember Laettner as a senior...

Dude was a knock down 3 point shooter as a senior...Shot 50+% from the 3 (hit 50+ of them)...But you are right during his early years he really didn't take many 3's

(01-30-2015 12:18 PM)Brother Bluto Wrote:  

(01-30-2015 12:12 PM)macgar32 Wrote:  

(01-30-2015 12:06 PM)southpaw1 Wrote:  It's Austin by a landslide. He has all the tools and can consistently hit the mid range jumper.

Austin needs another 40lbs and the ability to defend in the post to be a high draft pick.

He needs the height more than he needs the weight. Not too many 6-8 power forwards in the NBA unless they are super athletic or they can stretch the defense like Matt Bonner

Stretching the defense might just be where his talents are heading as a pro. Maybe not so much as a deadly 3 point man, but a very skilled mid range and post game. And he can develop into a solid 3 point threat given time.

He seems to be developing a Euro big man type game with shot blocking, but its still in the early stages. Right now (at this level) he is more of a low post guy with good passing skills and a shot blocker. Clearly has a really nice touch with both hands and has a reliable jumper, which we don't see enough of at the college level.

(01-30-2015 12:31 PM)CKMcDan Wrote:  These days, lottery picks are usually 1st & 2nd year college players and European players. There are not as many 3 & 4-year guys picked high in the draft anymore.

As for the comparison between Nichols & Tyler Hansboro.... Hansboro was a match-up problem because he was so big (and could play inside). But, he also had decent ball-handling skills and could hit a 3-point shot if left alone. Hansboro also played with Wayne Ellington & Danny Green, so he got a lot more more open looks than Nichols gets.

Nichols has good interior skills, and is developing his mid-range game, but he'll never be a bruiser like Z-bo, and he's not tall enough to play center like Marc Gasol. If all he can do is play inside, he'll be in the D-league, or in Europe quickly. It probably wouldn't hurt him to stay in college another year and develop his perimiter skills.

This too!

Any chance Austin hasn't stopped growing? He has to be at least 6'10 to be an effective PF unless one is crazy athletic like Faried. I think he'll definitely gain more weight over the next few yrs so strength may not be an issue. If he doesn't grow he could probably be a backup PF.

With the Grizz, Jeff Green who's 6'9 and currently at same weight as Nichols is a SF. I don't know if Austin can develop into an NBA SF.

Nichols reminds me of a shorter Tim Duncan. Obviously, he's not an nba hall of famer, but they have similar styles.

(01-30-2015 12:59 PM)ballhog Wrote:  Nichols reminds me of a shorter Tim Duncan. Obviously, he's not an nba hall of famer, but they have similar styles.

I can agree with this right here...I didn't make the connection until you said it...

Very similar styles just not as tall.

(01-30-2015 01:02 PM)macgar32 Wrote:  

(01-30-2015 12:59 PM)ballhog Wrote:  Nichols reminds me of a shorter Tim Duncan. Obviously, he's not an nba hall of famer, but they have similar styles.

I can agree with this right here...I didn't make the connection until you said it...

Very similar styles just not as tall.

Yep, totally agree. Best comparison yet.

At this level its an excellent comparison. A poor mans Tim Duncan.

Not so sure about at the next level. Duncan is a pure post man in the NBA, Austin won't be imo.

There is no way that Austin should bulk up to 250 lbs.

That would be crazy & a detriment to his game.

.

Austin is a post player for us because that is what we need him to be. He has shown that he is self motivated and willing to put in work on his own in the offseason to add to his game, no reason to believe he can't develop into a stretch 4 in the NBA. He has a sweet touch on his midrange jumper, no reason he can't work and extend that to 3 point range. IMO Austin has less work to do to make himself an NBA player than Markel does, and I am a huge Markel fan.

(01-30-2015 01:23 PM)Cletus Wrote:  There is no way that Austin should bulk up to 250 lbs.

That would be crazy & a detriment to his game.

.

I'd like to see him at 230.

It will really depend on how he expands his game going forward. He would have a spot on an NBA roster after this year, but I am not sure where he would go in the draft. However, we have seen a massive improvement from freshman to sophomore year, especially shot blocking. If he could have similar growth and development in his three pointing shooting then he could likely slide into the first round after his junior year.

If I was trying to compare his game to an NBA player I would have to go with Pau Gasol. Both guys like to float around the free throw line area to catch and shoot, but are willing and able to play with their back to the basket and finish over either shoulder. Obviously, AN is significantly shorter but style wise I think they are pretty similar.

Just comparing size and not game, how much bigger than Austin is a guy like David Lee?

(01-30-2015 01:02 PM)macgar32 Wrote:  

(01-30-2015 12:59 PM)ballhog Wrote:  Nichols reminds me of a shorter Tim Duncan. Obviously, he's not an nba hall of famer, but they have similar styles.

I can agree with this right here...I didn't make the connection until you said it...

Very similar styles just not as tall.

Nichols needs to grow a few inches and learn to throw his hands up in the air and complain whenever he gets called for a foul first.

(01-30-2015 12:22 PM)450bench Wrote:  Also, if Austin gets a true center here to help him with big bodies, his numbers will be off the chart.

Like Derrick Phillips was to Keith Lee

(01-30-2015 12:22 PM)450bench Wrote:  Also, if Austin gets a true center here to help him with big bodies, his numbers will be off the chart.

I don't see where they can get a true center at this point.

Would have to be a grad transfer or really under the radar HS/JUCO.

(01-30-2015 12:08 PM)Brother Bluto Wrote:  Let's see how he does against Wiltjer Saturday.

Bingo, need to see both of them do their stuff against top competition. I love both Ausitn and Markel and enjoy watching them play but doing things against ECU and UCF and those guys won't get it in NBA