Robin Lopez?

[sactownfan]

Hasn't been mentioned much on this board... but with how things are shaping up with the players the Kings might have to choose from... I think this might be a solid/safe pick... he is a better/taller/more talented Anderson Varejao... I dont see that being such a bad pick considering the odds of us drafting a bust...

Lopez's numbers dont jump off the page but considering he only avg 24 mins a game... there not terrible by any means... he did have a good number of Blks tho... even with the semi low stats not a single draft or nba expert has used that against him in fact no one even questions that he wont be a GREAT rebounder in the nba... hes got an awesome motor, hes in great shape, hes quick, hes got a great mid range jumper and is going to continue to grow on offense, and he brings a commitment to defense...

Im thinking if DJ. A. isn't there at 12 then maybe Lopez is the best pick... I will take a great role player vs. the risk of a bust...

 

[talltimbr]

I've thought that Robin would be a good pick for us if the PGs are gone at 12. Very solid defensive presence who would be a great compliment to Hawes. IMO he will blosom once he gets out from the shadow of his brother. All the other bigs being mentioned have a HUGE bust potential compared to Robins.

 

[Rain man]

I like Lopez a lot. I think he would be a PERFECT fit for the team. Obviously I would rather see a stud point guard, but if there isn't one on the board, I think we could do MUCH worse than Lopez. He is a much more skilled, better sized version of Justin WIlliams. Plus, his game would complement both Brad, and long term Hawes.

I watch a ton of Stanford hoops. The obvious knock on Robin is his offensve game. Most of the time he was on the floor with his brother and there were no plays run for him. He scored all his hoops on passes from his brother out of double teams, follow shots, and garbage around the hoop. BUT, during the times that Brook went to the bench, Robin actually exhibited a raw but potential low post game. I think with him there is upside because his offense is still developing.

And no one should question his commitment to defense. Robin collected a lot of rebounds for his minutes, and if his numbers seem low it is because Stanford played a slow, grind out style with fewer possessions, and his brother also collected a lot of boards too. Plus, Robin is a very good post defender and shot blocker. His brother had impressive shot blocking numbers, but it was mostly on help-side defense. Robin blocked a lot of shots help-side, but also was impressive in blocking/changing shots on skilled post-players. Against Washington in 2007, Brook got the headlines for outplaying Hawes (more points and boards), but it was Robin who completely shut down Hawes.

There is some concern as to why he played so few minutes. Quite frankly, there were times when it was impossible to put both twins in together (matchup problems), and Brook always got the nod in crunch time because he was our only consistent source of offense.

Robin is young, emotional (overly at some times), and still very raw. But I think he has lots of upside, and I think he will be better than Brook (not as skilled, but will have a higher role/status in the NBA) in the long run.

He might not be a sexy pick, but on a team with two long-term pieces (Martin and Hawes) who are offensive oriented players, Robin would be a great pick.

I would still rather see a point, but if my choices are Randolph, Chalmers, Hibbert or Lopez, I go with Lopez every time.

 

[sactownfan]

He is a much more skilled, better sized version of Justin WIlliams. Plus, his game would complement both Brad, and long term Hawes.

He might not be a sexy pick, but on a team with two long-term pieces (Martin and Hawes) who are offensive oriented players, Robin would be a great pick.

I would still rather see a point, but if my choices are Randolph, Chalmers, Hibbert or Lopez, I go with Lopez every time.

I was down wit Justin Williams... gotta pull for the underdog you know... but Williams was not tall enough, heavy enough or even close to being as skilled on offense as Robin is... Robin's got the mid range shot for sure...

anyway agreed that Robin is looking to be the best pick outa the group of guys left on the board...

he would be the perfect complement to Spencer Hawes.

 

[Rain man]

By the way- I think the Varejo comparisons are terrible. If you watch Robin play, and get past the fact that they have similar hair, they are not similar at all.

The ONLY similarity is that they are hustle guys who don't look to do much on offense. But the way they play is like night and day.

Varejo gets by on hustle, anticipation, guile, and craftiness. He isn't very fast, big, or athletic, but he is an insanely smart basketball player who knows how to play the game. He is the defensive equivalent to Vlade. What made Vlade so special on offense makes Varejo special on defense/hustle.

Robin is young and developing. His basketball IQ is still pretty low and his first real coaching came in college (which is another reason for high upside). Robin gets by on being big, strong, athletic, and powerful. HE is cut from your Ben Wallace, Tyson Chandler mold (not saying he will be as good as them, but he is cut from their mole- like Justin Williams). He will be big, nasty, snarl, intimidate. He won't be particularly skilled or crafty, he will get by on size and power.

There is room for a Robin and a Varejo in the league, but they are VERY different players. If you get past the hair and hustle, you will realize they are very differnt players.

 

[ikillz0mbies]

I wouldn't mind either Lopez at all. I'm really just hoping for any kind of inside presence (still on the Hibbert train). Robin would be great as well. Definitely high motor type player and is a defensive presence. He even raised his ppg average late in the year. I also see him rising in draft boards. I would totally be happy if the Kings picked him.

 

[PurpleHaze]

I like Robin too. A lot of scouts are saying he's better than his brother Brook in almost every area except as a polished offensive finisher. He's always seemed to defer to his brother, allowing him to score while he played a cameo role on that end. Robin rebounds better, blocks/changes more shots, is an energizer bunny running the court and more. He'd seem to fit Coach Theus' up tempo style perfect. But do you take him at #12? You just might if you think players left worth considering, all bunched in that #12-#20 talent range make it one big toss up - along with Mario Chalmers, Jason Thompson, Roy Hibbert, etc.

 

[Dime Dropper]

Not a fan of Robin. Then again, I don't know a whole lot about him. I'll give him a chance if we take him, but I'll always have preferences. I just think we're in prime position to take a chance on someone with a higher ceiling, we have absolutely nothing to lose, and everything to gain. Not dismissing the importance of role players, but superstar should always come first, role players second. Not the other way round.

If we draft Robin, I'll look up info on him and maybe I'll be surprised in a good way. But as of now, I'm not too keen on him. I'd prefer someone like Jordan, Batum or Speights. He does seem like a Petrie pick, though.

 

[nbrans]

I like Robin also, and I actually think both Lopez twins are going to be known more for their offense than their defense in the NBA. Neither of them are really very spectacular rebounders or shotblockers, and as I pointed out in another thread, Robin struggled guarding good post players like Jon Brockman. They relied a lot on their height in college, but I think they're going to have to adjust to NBA-level strength and quickness. They're good-not-great athletes, and other than Duncan (who just plays smart), most top post defenders in the NBA are either extremely strong or extremely athletic, or preferably both. Verejao also has underrated quickness that the Lopez twins just don't have, even though they can get off the floor.

It's funny -- I think Robin is being completely miscast with the Verejao comparisons. They're absolutely nothing alike. On the other hand, there aren't many seven footers who can hit the 15 footer consistently as well as put the ball on the floor, post up, and score inside. That's what's going to be their bread and butter in the NBA, in my opinion, not so much their defense.

 

[Rain man]

I watched every Stanford game this year and last (with the exception of a couple early season non-conference non-televised games) and I am at a loss to recall Robin ever hitting a 15 footer. Brook shoots them all the time, but I cannot ever recall Robin taking one, much less hitting one. If there is footage of Robin hitting one, he should thank whatever scout put that tape together to fool people into thinking he has an outside stroke.

On the Stanford boards we would cringe whenever Robin took something outside of the paint. His stroke is ugly beyod 5 feet (just watch the guy shoot free throws) but getting better. Still- he is no midrange shooter.

I am willing to bet good money that Robin is NEVER known for his offense. He might get competent at it, but defense will always be his calling card. If it isn't he is not going to stay in the NBA very long...

 

[nbrans]

^I thought towards the end of the year he started hitting outside shots more consistently. But maybe I'm misremembering.

 

[bajaden]

I watched every Stanford game this year and last (with the exception of a couple early season non-conference non-televised games) and I am at a loss to recall Robin ever hitting a 15 footer. Brook shoots them all the time, but I cannot ever recall Robin taking one, much less hitting one. If there is footage of Robin hitting one, he should thank whatever scout put that tape together to fool people into thinking he has an outside stroke.

On the Stanford boards we would cringe whenever Robin took something outside of the paint. His stroke is ugly beyod 5 feet (just watch the guy shoot free throws) but getting better. Still- he is no midrange shooter.

I am willing to bet good money that Robin is NEVER known for his offense. He might get competent at it, but defense will always be his calling card. If it isn't he is not going to stay in the NBA very long...

I believe that I saw every televised game that the Lopez twins played in. There have been some very weird analogy's here. For one thing, they both were asked to do different things on the floor. Brook was asked to be the offensive player and Robin was asked to defend and rebound. I think, in the future that people will be surprised to find out that Brook can defend and rebound and that Robin can score.

I agree with rainman that Robin, as far as I can remember, ever took a jump shot. He may have slipped one in while I wasn't lookingl. However, he has a very nice hook shot that he uses with either hand. Here's what I don't understand. Robin blocked 12 shots in one game last year. He was one of the top defenders in the Pac 10, a tough conference. And yet, there are people that will make a blanket statement that neither of them will ever be a good defender in the NBA. My question is. What the hell does someone have to do in college to convince some of these thick headed people that they can play defense. Are some of you mind readers.

I have no clue whether Robin's game will translate to the NBA. Time will tell. But I'm surely not going to condemn his game before he even has a chance to tie up his laces. In Brook's freshman year he was in the running for defensive player of the year.

 

[talltimbr]

I believe that I saw every televised game that the Lopez twins played in. There have been some very weird analogy's here. For one thing, they both were asked to do different things on the floor. Brook was asked to be the offensive player and Robin was asked to defend and rebound. I think, in the future that people will be surprised to find out that Brook can defend and rebound and that Robin can score.

I agree with rainman that Robin, as far as I can remember, ever took a jump shot. He may have slipped one in while I wasn't lookingl. However, he has a very nice hook shot that he uses with either hand. Here's what I don't understand. Robin blocked 12 shots in one game last year. He was one of the top defenders in the Pac 10, a tough conference. And yet, there are people that will make a blanket statement that neither of them will ever be a good defender in the NBA. My question is. What the hell does someone have to do in college to convince some of these thick headed people that they can play defense. Are some of you mind readers.

I have no clue whether Robin's game will translate to the NBA. Time will tell. But I'm surely not going to condemn his game before he even has a chance to tie up his laces. In Brook's freshman year he was in the running for defensive player of the year.

Thank you ... I may not have seen that much of him this year, but from what I saw, that is pretty much what I remember and the feeling I got. Defense is his strength right now with potential to get better at both ends of the floor. Check out the strengths and weeknesses from what DX says ... I think it pretty much hits the mark. Much more upside than down.

http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Robin-Lopez-1073/

 

[LPKingsFan]

^I thought towards the end of the year he started hitting outside shots more consistently. But maybe I'm misremembering.

Don't think I saw that, either. But I do think Robin has a ton of upside on the offensive end. Moreso in the post, however.

 

[Sac.1989]

wouldnt mind robin, fits the system well and if were really looking at the frontcourt future then either him or hibbet make alot of sense as a compliment to hawes