"One Big Haitian" : https://www.nba.com/kings/labissere-looking-make-leap-year-three
Skal looking to make leap in year 3
- Thread starter burekijogurt
- Start date
Skal has been hitting the weight room since entering the league so I won't dispute that he has a strong work ethic, all that upper body size is nice but hopefully he has some balance in his lower body so he doesn't get knocked off balance as easily because what's a good upper body without a complimentary lower? Also, hopefully he is working on other aspects of his game, which I have no doubt he is. Skal likes to keep his workouts and off season on the down low which is a breath of fresh air.
I cut Skal a lot more slack than it would most players going into the third season. Because he picked up the game late in life but seems to be highly motivated and intelligent he seems very likely to continue to make progress. I see him as more of a continuing Prospect then a established entity. because of this I'd be much more hesitant to let him go and say Willie cauley-stein, who I do like, but feel is now in a make-or-break year.
So did Joel Embiid and I'm sure plenty of other players (growth spurts) Skal's problem is he can't think his way through anything on the floor not that he picked up the game late he just lacks a certain feel for the game which is needed to be a quality level player in the NBA, I'm sure he could find a way to contribute as a catch and shoot guy or rolling to the rim for dunks because he has skills/size and is competitive but no amount of time playing basketball will fix what he's mentally lacking. If they can get him into a simplified role he could be a solid bench contributor.
I hope he does have a great year seems like a good kid and is great to watch when he has it going but I have serious doubts if his main problem is fixable.
I hope he does have a great year seems like a good kid and is great to watch when he has it going but I have serious doubts if his main problem is fixable.
Skal is worth a little patience - regardless of how long he's been playing basketball. Even if he's an 11th or 12th man, there's just no reason to get rid of him. I think he could really benefit from a season of starter's minutes in the G League. Then we could talk about whether or not he has or can develop the required instincts.
Yeah I totally agree. However I also want to point out that the Kings need to stop playing him out of position. He is not a 4, especially not against backups. He can't guard them. And his offense also suffers at the 4. He is best as a backup 5.
He makes absolutely no money so there is just no reason to give up on him.
In an ideal world skal gains 20 pounds and the Kings finally clean up their big position and play him at the 5 going forward
He makes absolutely no money so there is just no reason to give up on him.
In an ideal world skal gains 20 pounds and the Kings finally clean up their big position and play him at the 5 going forward
Skal needs to become that strech big imo. He has that nice post turn around and hook for the occasional go to, but i think to really be a valuable rotation piece he needs to be a plus shooter from deep to offset his poor defensive presence on other end. This will also force other teams to not put "muscle" on him as that "muscle" will struggle to gaurd skal from deep. Then it wont matter if sal is at the 4 or 5 as the other team will need to react to him and not other way around.
He is also a good offensive put back guy as he can out jump a lot of players. If he crashes from outside smaller guys will struggle to kee him off glass and bigger guys wont be able to beat him to rebounding zones.
That lateral quickness though is dissapointing
He is also a good offensive put back guy as he can out jump a lot of players. If he crashes from outside smaller guys will struggle to kee him off glass and bigger guys wont be able to beat him to rebounding zones.
That lateral quickness though is dissapointing
Last edited:
It's always comes back to how these players are being used. He is a stretch big, he was coming into college, he was coming into the NBA, and he is now. It's the decision of others to continuously place him in the post. They started to use him outside more last year and hopefully that continues. His post game is better than it would have been without giving him reps there the last few seasons but now it's time to get back to what he can be elite at.
Nope.
Both are poor rebounders and are not strong enough to establish position, but At least skal can stretch the floor. Willie lazy-stein is good for what? Bricking 15ft? A worsening free throw percentage and shot (that developed a horribly ugly hitch)? Thinking he is the primary option on offense when he is only good for lobs and makes the team worse thinking he can do things offensively that he can't. Oh and your argument about defense, i think he's too worried about hurting his hand. Lazy-stein is NOT "way better." Both players have faults, and willie has had his opportunities.
If I had to choose willie or skal to ship off I wouldn't hesitate to get rid of willie.
Both are poor rebounders and are not strong enough to establish position, but At least skal can stretch the floor. Willie lazy-stein is good for what? Bricking 15ft? A worsening free throw percentage and shot (that developed a horribly ugly hitch)? Thinking he is the primary option on offense when he is only good for lobs and makes the team worse thinking he can do things offensively that he can't. Oh and your argument about defense, i think he's too worried about hurting his hand. Lazy-stein is NOT "way better." Both players have faults, and willie has had his opportunities.
If I had to choose willie or skal to ship off I wouldn't hesitate to get rid of willie.
Willie covers pick and roll at a level very few bigs can and that is a VERY important in today's NBA. He can switch 1-5. Skal can't guard ANY position and will get absolutely smoked if he gets switched onto any competent player that plays 1-4. Willie is a much better roll man than Skal. Willie runs the floor as well as any big his size in the league. If Willie was used more like a Clint Capela his strengths would show more. Look I'm not saying Willie is this great NBA player and yes you question him between the ears but he is WAY better than Skal Labissiere right now, Skal is unplayable until he gets strong enough to play at the 5 because that is the only way it makes sense to put him on the floor.
Do you see Kevin Durant and CJ McCollum complimenting Skal on podcasts? No, but they do Willie because they can see he has certain qualities that are premium for an NBA big in 2018. It's a matter of utlizing him the right way in the right system and also assessing if he has the right mindset to be an important player.
Do you see Kevin Durant and CJ McCollum complimenting Skal on podcasts? No, but they do Willie because they can see he has certain qualities that are premium for an NBA big in 2018. It's a matter of utlizing him the right way in the right system and also assessing if he has the right mindset to be an important player.
Last edited:
Who? Is he a 4 or a 5? He’s as big of a tweener as anyone. I guess he can guard in space when his “motor” is on, but how is he a modern 4 offensively?
I can’t believe we’re going into another season putting faith into him when I’ve wanted a change from him since Obama was in the White House
Motor can’t be taught. It’s innate and ever prevalent. It’s hard for me to stomach dude coming in for a personally noted contract year.
Skal was a consensus high school prospect because he had some decent natural talent on both sides of the ball. But, he’s a good kid also who has a motor and will give everything he has. I think he can be a player. He’s also 22, whereas I think WCS, turning 25, career has mostly been decided
We will see when camp opens up
I can’t believe we’re going into another season putting faith into him when I’ve wanted a change from him since Obama was in the White House
Motor can’t be taught. It’s innate and ever prevalent. It’s hard for me to stomach dude coming in for a personally noted contract year.
Skal was a consensus high school prospect because he had some decent natural talent on both sides of the ball. But, he’s a good kid also who has a motor and will give everything he has. I think he can be a player. He’s also 22, whereas I think WCS, turning 25, career has mostly been decided
We will see when camp opens up
The problem is not they “don’t use WCS like Capella” it’s mostly that WCS doesn’t view himself as that kind of player. If he consistently played hard and did the dirty work and made winning plays, he’d be solid. Instead he views himself as poor mans David Robinson and seems headed for a perhaps Jerome James level salary drive.
I have a hard time seeing a great path forward for WCS because he’s consistently inconsistent and wants to forge a 20/10 path that he seems incapable of walking. Whereas, you can see the type of player Skal could become and he’s consistently never that type of player 3 years running (save 17 games at the end of his rookie year).
I have a hard time seeing a great path forward for WCS because he’s consistently inconsistent and wants to forge a 20/10 path that he seems incapable of walking. Whereas, you can see the type of player Skal could become and he’s consistently never that type of player 3 years running (save 17 games at the end of his rookie year).
For as much hate as George Karl got, the one thing he got right was how he used Willie. Ran an up tempo system and offensively Willie was strictly a roller. Joerger running these big men making plays at the top of key has done him no favors. My guess is whatever team either uses Willie correctly or convinces Willie he should play that way will end up having a very good starting caliber Center. Otherwise, yeah he will probably only ever be a rotation level player, we'll see.
Umm you’re talking about WCS? He guards people? He rim runs and jacks up shots. He can’t rebound, block shots and his defense is atrocious for being a alleged “defender specialist”
Skal may get blown by or sag off guys too much but he rebounds and blocks at a better rate. He gets beat but at least runs those guys down and contends after.
Skal may get blown by or sag off guys too much but he rebounds and blocks at a better rate. He gets beat but at least runs those guys down and contends after.
Willie is good for clogging the paint, which is horrible for our offense considering fox is not a proven 3 pt shooter.
Fox and willie lineups = horrible spacing.
Willie is A LOT worse than he thinks he is, that is ONE of his biggest problems.
There is a whole lot if IFs in the mentions above, like if he played like Capela, well he doesn't play like capela, doesn't rebound or block shots like Capela. What does capela have to do with willie? Nothing!
Is skal great? No
Is willie great? No
Is willie A LOT better than skal? Hell no!
Fox and willie lineups = horrible spacing.
Willie is A LOT worse than he thinks he is, that is ONE of his biggest problems.
There is a whole lot if IFs in the mentions above, like if he played like Capela, well he doesn't play like capela, doesn't rebound or block shots like Capela. What does capela have to do with willie? Nothing!
Is skal great? No
Is willie great? No
Is willie A LOT better than skal? Hell no!
Skal looks great! He's going to be a great player! That split lunge press is totally cool. I have never seen it before but imagine the effectiveness incorporating glutes quads back and deltoids.....Awesome! (I would like to see him stick the landing and hold the contraction one second longer) The best way to get shredded is to do powerlifting with heavy weights in 4 to 6 rep range that works upper and lower simultaneously or superset to target upper and lower (deadlifts, squats, clean and jerk, bench press,) with cardio (boxing moves, kettlebell swings etc) mixed in. That's what I do. You just have to be extremely careful to protect your joints and master your form on every rep....then you can become fairly bionic! More men (and women) who live too cozy of lives need to experience this to get in touch with their animalistic nature.
I hope Skal can lock down the starting center spot with a strong training camp next to Bagley.
C- Skal
PF - Bagley
SF - Bjelica
SG - Boggy
PG - Fox
I hope Skal can lock down the starting center spot with a strong training camp next to Bagley.
C- Skal
PF - Bagley
SF - Bjelica
SG - Boggy
PG - Fox