Portis in the NBA....

[hogmolar]

What position will he be drafted as?

Let me say this first I think he is an NBA type player and I hope to see him succeed there and I think his offensive game is good enough to play several spots but the questions are..

Is he quick enough with his footwork and on defense to be a 3 guard?

Can he rebound and be strong enough to play the 4 spot?  ( He got dominated on the offensive boards last night by aTm big men. I know some will point to he is almost averaging double digit rebounds but last night he was getting flat dominated)

I am anxious to see him play Sat against a true lottery pick.

Thoughts???

[Hawg Red]

He's a frontcourt player. NBA is getting pretty well positionless these days. You could group guys into general categories like forward or guard. I guess you could say he'll be drafted as a forward in the NBA.

[bigred223]

He will play power forward in the NBA.

[HSVhogfan2]

Think Chris Bosch. Very similar game. He will improve his passing and get a good one bounce power dribble as he progresses. His foot work is extraordinary.

The one spin move early in the game where he hit the floater in the lane was a clinic.

[HOGINTENNESSEE]

He will be a power foward and yes he can play the 4.

[passinghog]

He's a 4. No he can't play the 3...he's 6'11 245.

[yraciv]

It is pretty set in stone that he is a 4, and doesn't have the skillset to be a 3. Chris Bosh is a pretty good comparison.

[The_Iceman]

If Hunter Mickelson can play the 3 spot, can't Portis?    

[MB Hog]

I see a lot of similarities with a young Tim Duncan.  Pretty savvy around the basket.  Has the ability to step outside. Good hands.  Decent ball handling for his size.  Not a Superman type of athleticism, but still very athletic.

He is a smart player who really tries to learn the game.  He will continue to learn to use his size and skills to become a more consistent rebounder and creative finisher around the basket.

Remember, Duncan stayed at Wake Forest all four years even though he could have been an extremely high pick if he came out early.  When he hit the NBA, he was so experienced and fundamentally sound that he was able to step right in beside David Robinson from day one.

I'm sure several will disagree with me, but just watch him in action for the next few games (with Duncan in mind) and see what you think.

[hogmolar]

I see a lot of similarities with a young Tim Duncan.  Pretty savvy around the basket.  Has the ability to step outside. Good hands.  Decent ball handling for his size.  Not a Superman type of athleticism, but still very athletic.

He is a smart player who really tries to learn the game.  He will continue to learn to use his size and skills to become a more consistent rebounder and creative finisher around the basket.

Remember, Duncan stayed at Wake Forest all four years even though he could have been an extremely high pick if he came out early.  When he hit the NBA, he was so experienced and fundamentally sound that he was able to step right in beside David Robinson from day one.

I'm sure several will disagree with me, but just watch him in action for the next few games (with Duncan in mind) and see what you think.

This is a great comparison. I am sometimes disappointed that he lays stuff in and is not too aggressive around the rim.  Duncan proves you don't have to be.  I still feel he needs to work on box out especially on the defensive end. He is a great player and proud he us a Hog (fingers crossed for a few more years)  +1

[blacksuit]

I'm glad to see a consensus on the right answer: he's an NBA 4 man, period. He's more likely to play center in small lineups than he is to play the 3. He cannot guard NBA small forwards unless it's an unusual matchup.

I've made the Bosh comparison before and think it fits. I'm not sure he matches Bosh in athleticism and defense, but with size, style, and skill there are similarities. He could fit in the range of Lamarcus Aldridge, David West, Paul Millsap, Luis Scola, etc. Prototypical power forwards who can step out and hit baseline jumper, 18-20 footers.

I disagree with the Duncan comp. Duncan has the size and skill set of a true center, averaged 5 blocks and 13-14 rebounds per 40 as freshman/sophmore. Portis is a better shooter, leaner frame, more of a face-up player, not the two-way post play monster that Duncan is.

Here's a list of freshmen and sophomores that averaged 10 shot attempts, 8 boards, 1 steal, and 1.5 blocks or more, going back to probably 1997 or so:

LINK

[hawgsmellgud]

If Hunter Mickelson can play the 3 spot, can't Portis?    

LOL or the 1.

[yraciv]

I see a lot of similarities with a young Tim Duncan.  Pretty savvy around the basket.  Has the ability to step outside. Good hands.  Decent ball handling for his size.  Not a Superman type of athleticism, but still very athletic.

He is a smart player who really tries to learn the game.  He will continue to learn to use his size and skills to become a more consistent rebounder and creative finisher around the basket.

Remember, Duncan stayed at Wake Forest all four years even though he could have been an extremely high pick if he came out early.  When he hit the NBA, he was so experienced and fundamentally sound that he was able to step right in beside David Robinson from day one.

I'm sure several will disagree with me, but just watch him in action for the next few games (with Duncan in mind) and see what you think.

Tim Duncan was 10 times the defender Portis was in college and threw anything that came his way. Plus he was the same fundamental bank shot, hook shot guy he is today.  Portis has some more range, and hits fadeaways, but is more likely to get lay in put backs than power over guys like Duncan could. They aren't even remotely close!

[FATHAWG08]

Tim Duncan was 10 times the defender Portis was in college and threw anything that came his way. Plus he was the same fundamental bank shot, hook shot guy he is today.  Portis has some more range, and hits fadeaways, but is more likely to get lay in put backs than power over guys like Duncan could. They aren't even remotely close!

Portis has the size and skill set to become a Duncan. If he improves as much this upcoming year as he did this year from last year he would be a candidate for player of the year for the Hogs. He could greatly improve his draft status if he stays one more year. See the kid from Kentucky, Wiilie Cauley Stines he is projected as a Top 5 pick this upcoming draft.His game has benefited  by staying in college than coming out early & watching from the bench.

[hawgsmellgud]

What he has that Duncan had is the ability and "want to" to get better. I believe that there is a chance he stays in College because of this.

[Youngsta71701]

Power Forward. He will rebound a whole lot better in the pros because he will have more help. Plus the style of play in the NBA is much different than college.

[JayBell]

He's a power forward and there's no question about it.  Tim Duncan was the first guy that came to my mind too.

Portis has great low post moves and he's a bit too lumbering to be any kind of wing player.  While he's very capable of banging around underneath the basket, his game is pretty savvy too.  So he's definitely a front court guy, but he's not going to be a pure center either.

[MB Hog]

Glad I'm not the only one who sees the similarities with Duncan.

For those who don't, just watch the next few games with this in mind and maybe you'll see it... maybe you won't.  There are some games where he doesn't finish around the rim as consistently as Duncan, but I think he will develop that consistency if he stays in college longer like Duncan did.

[edemire]

When I watched Portis at Hall, he always reminded me of Chris Bosh out of all the NBA power forward types.

At that point, Bobby's base wasn't nearly as powerful as what it is now and what Duncan had even as a freshman at Wake. So that Duncan comparison didn't work last year, but is more realistic now and if Bobby keeps improving at this rate and stays in college, I don't think it's far-fetched to extrapolate him putting up Duncan-esque PPG and RPG #'s as a junior.

If he goes to the pros next year, he won't nearly be as much of a focal point offensively as a rookie as Duncan was with S.A. It would be harder to see what his ceiling could look like until 2-3 years out.

One attribute BP and TD both share is superlative balance and body awareness. That won't get you any SportsCenter highlights but it's a major foundation of their success.

Glad I'm not the only one who sees the similarities with Duncan.

For those who don't, just watch the next few games with this in mind and maybe you'll see it... maybe you won't.  There are some games where he doesn't finish around the rim as consistently as Duncan, but I think he will develop that consistency if he stays in college longer like Duncan did.

[yraciv]

Sorry I just don't see it. Tim Duncan is my favorite non hog of all time and it's no knock on Portis that he is just on a different level than Duncan. Duncan was powerful from the get go, blocked shots from the get go, and has always had the fundamentals. Do you ever see Portis use the board?  If you want to throw him in comparisons with future hall of famers KG is the guy I'd go to.  Both have range, very active, size, and versatility. But neither is your prototypical back to the basket, low post player.

[MB Hog]

Sorry I just don't see it. Tim Duncan is my favorite non hog of all time and it's no knock on Portis that he is just on a different level than Duncan. Duncan was powerful from the get go, blocked shots from the get go, and has always had the fundamentals. Do you ever see Portis use the board?  If you want to throw him in comparisons with future hall of famers KG is the guy I'd go to.  Both have range, very active, size, and versatility. But neither is your prototypical back to the basket, low post player.

Yes, Portis uses the board often around the basket.  Maybe not for the 8 - 10 foot jump shots, but he is very good about using the board in close.

I'd really like to go back to some old videos of Duncan at this point and see what he looked like as a freshman and sophomore.  Numbers might not be as comparable as skills since Wake didn't play our pressing style of defense.  It's hard for one player to collect as many defensive rebounds given we don't let our opponents just come down and set up their offense.  If the press is working well, the other team rushes down the court and puts up shots too quickly, so the rebounds can come to whoever happens to be in the best spot when the shot goes up.

Duncan's shot blocking and rebounding have always been about timing, awareness, and basketball savvy... not because of freakish athletic abilities.  Portis is learning to do a lot of the same things.  His shot blocking has really improved lately, and it is usually very under control... not the high-flying, swat it to the other side of the court stuff that Moses does.  Nothing wrong with what Moses does - that is fun to watch, but Bobby's shot blocking is more like Duncan's.

Obviously, the two players are not exactly the same.  Just saying that I see a lot of similarities.  And as hard as Portis works to improve, I could see him really helping himself by hanging around another year (or two).

[MB Hog]

I've also seen several people post that Duncan is lot bigger than Portis.  Duncan is 6'11" and 250 - 255.  Portis is 6'11" and 240 as just a sophomore in college.  That's pretty close already, and I would think that Portis will end up with an NBA weight around 250.

[ErieHog]

Portis is a small ball 4, who you might sometimes hide on defense, against less bulky, strong 5s-- think of the Alex Lins of the NBA world, not the Tyson Chandlers--  mind, this is contingent on your personnel.     He'd be exclusively a 4 in a number of places.    He's an important rotation player, but probably not a starter at the NBA level.   

His job is going to be to rain jumpers and create spacing on offense.   On defense, he's not going to be about rim protection or defensive rebounding.  It'll be more about ball denial and rotation out to challenge corner jump shooting.

Athletically, you just can't put him at the 3 at the next level;  he'll get crushed off the bounce, because of lateral quickness and athleticism issues.

You want him guarding Ryan Anderson, not LeBron James.

[edemire]

"a small ball 4" aka practically every 4 in the League, because the League is now small ball.

W/ the exception of the Grizz, which are pretty much the equivalent of the football Hogs in the counter-cultural style and personnel they run.

Portis is a small ball 4, who you might sometimes hide on defense, against less bulky, strong 5s-- think of the Alex Lins of the NBA world, not the Tyson Chandlers--  mind, this is contingent on your personnel.     He'd be exclusively a 4 in a number of places.    He's an important rotation player, but probably not a starter at the NBA level.   

His job is going to be to rain jumpers and create spacing on offense.   On defense, he's not going to be about rim protection or defensive rebounding.  It'll be more about ball denial and rotation out to challenge corner jump shooting.

Athletically, you just can't put him at the 3 at the next level;  he'll get crushed off the bounce, because of lateral quickness and athleticism issues.

You want him guarding Ryan Anderson, not LeBron James.

[MB Hog]

Portis is a small ball 4, who you might sometimes hide on defense, against less bulky, strong 5s-- think of the Alex Lins of the NBA world, not the Tyson Chandlers--  mind, this is contingent on your personnel.     He'd be exclusively a 4 in a number of places.    He's an important rotation player, but probably not a starter at the NBA level.   

His job is going to be to rain jumpers and create spacing on offense.   On defense, he's not going to be about rim protection or defensive rebounding.  It'll be more about ball denial and rotation out to challenge corner jump shooting.

Athletically, you just can't put him at the 3 at the next level;  he'll get crushed off the bounce, because of lateral quickness and athleticism issues.

You want him guarding Ryan Anderson, not LeBron James.

His jumper is nice for a big guy, but inconsistent.  He gets most of his points inside, which gets him some wide open shots outside.  He will have to be able to be an inside threat in the NBA to get open jumpers... otherwise, they will always have a hand in his face outside and he won't knock them down so easily.

[wildturkey8]

I think Bobby needs at least one more year.  However, there is this thing about the time value of money.

[mjsphd]

If Hunter Mickelson can play the 3 spot, can't Portis?    

You mean in the 71 total minutes he has played in KU's 28 games?

[ErieHog]

"a small ball 4" aka practically every 4 in the League, because the League is now small ball.

W/ the exception of the Grizz, which are pretty much the equivalent of the football Hogs in the counter-cultural style and personnel they run.

Eh.   Everybody has it in their packages, but not everyone plays it as base.    For every team like the Thunder that does it extensively,   you have a team like Detroit or Indiana that does it as a much smaller part of what they do.

[ErieHog]

His jumper is nice for a big guy, but inconsistent.  He gets most of his points inside, which gets him some wide open shots outside.  He will have to be able to be an inside threat in the NBA to get open jumpers... otherwise, they will always have a hand in his face outside and he won't knock them down so easily.

What?  He has one of the most consistent perimeter jump shots you'll ever see for a guy 6'11-- and he's actually statistically a better shooter from 13-18 feet, than he is from under 12.

He will not have to improve his inside game.   He will not be responsible for creating his own shot at the next level either-- that's what and why spacing is the key to all NBA offense.

[gmarv]

don,t you guys think we will learn somethings about bobby when he goes up
against that big line up of Kentucky?i,m really looking forward to seeing how
he does against Kentucky.

[ErieHog]

don,t you guys think we will learn somethings about bobby when he goes up
against that big line up of Kentucky?i,m really looking forward to seeing how
he does against Kentucky.

Most of Kentucky's bigs are NBA quality, but they'll largely be doing other things at that level, than Bobby.  It will be nice to see how he fits athletically, though, as that's his main limitation as a pro.    If he can hold his own, or at least show the capacity to play smart against better athletes (avoiding foul trouble, particularly), it will make teams more comfortable with his ability to contribute early.

[mhuff]

don,t you guys think we will learn somethings about bobby when he goes up
against that big line up of Kentucky?i,m really looking forward to seeing how
he does against Kentucky.

That's why he needs some help against larger teams i.e. California...... Anybody remember those results. You can't hit 3 out of 30 3p shots and win..... We have to score inside.

[gmarv]

Most of Kentucky's bigs are NBA quality, but they'll largely be doing other things at that level, than Bobby.  It will be nice to see how he fits athletically, though, as that's his main limitation as a pro.    If he can hold his own, or at least show the capacity to play smart against better athletes (avoiding foul trouble, particularly), it will make teams more comfortable with his ability to contribute early.

i wanna see him match up with there bigs and do well.