The Athletic: Bruno Fernando Will Start Over Sengun When He Returns

None of that you said is wrong. As great as Jokic is, he still hurts them defensively. I’ve seen Denver take him out on defensive possessions in the playoffs. You are correct about Rudy, he’s a huge negative on offense bc he can’t punish small guards. If Rudy had a 3 ball like Lopez he would be able to be more of a plus on the floor. Denver is really good, but haven’t won a ring. Sengun is gonna have to be a MVP level player to stay on the floor. Not saying it’s impossible, but that’s too high of a bar to set for anyone

 

He’s a freak lol.
I can’t wait to see what his final form will be, once his body fully gains grown man strength he should be ridiculous.
All comes down to mindset and work ethic

 

Lol Sengun doesn't have to be a MVP level player to stay on the floor.

He's 20. All he has to do is develop a reliable jump shot and he essentially becomes playable in any situation.

Right now the biggest issue with Sengun is he clogs up the paint area because that's the part of the floor he is dominant in. He is not a floor spacer yet. Once he becomes a adequate floor spacer, there should be zero excuse to sit him out for anything besides regular rest.

 

Track is a lil different. Players in the NFL and NBA reach their physical prime in their late 20s, but not athletically. I’ve seen videos where players ran the 40s way slower I’m their late 20s compared to when they ran at the combine. Like Felix Jones went from a 4.4 to a 4.7 and was only 28. Do you think Russell Westbrook his first years in OKC was less athletic than him a couple years before we got him?

 

I see no reason why he should not reach Jokic's level. Neither of them is the fastest guy or the most explosive leaper or the best defender - but they make better decisions faster than others and instinctively read the game better than others.

 

Look man. This is literally what I do, 22 is the beginning of peak speed for majority of male athletes. Strength begins around 24 for most.
In sports that require dynamic training (basketball, football, track, gymnastics and many other sports) athletes routinely gain multiple tenths in speed and agility tests from 18-22.
I’m talking 4.8 40s to 4.4 40s.
It’s also dependent on body types, Jabari and Alp are like Great Dane puppies, they are nowhere near their physical peaks.

 

I mean Jokic has a much longer wing span. He's more of a freak in there sense.

 

And if Green, Bari and Tari live up to their full potential and KPJ accepts a 6th man role and we get a very good FA and a top draft pick next year, Alpi would have a far better supporting cast next season already than Jokic would have ever had.

 

These are very small sample sizes honestly. It's like me saying that the Rockets won half their games without Sengun this season.

 

I know it’s what you do, but I’m also a former collegiate athletic. You’re right about the physical peak, but speed and agility goes down. It may not all be age related, but more so the miles and weight gain if that makes sense. Athletes fill out throughout their 20s and they lose a lil bit of that along the way. I guarantee that Jalen at 28 will not be as quick and jump as high like he does now. Btw, Jabari is like a baby deer, not Sengun lol

 

You’re talking about something totally different, even after 28 most male athletes are as fast as they were at 22. Depending on mass gained.
Male athletes are far faster at 22-26 than they are 18-20. This is just fact.
Jabari isn’t a baby deer. Great Dane pups fit him and Alp better.
Alp is an average NBA athlete, Jabari is above average laterally. They will get quicker and more explosive, then they will get stronger and add bulk. Neither will ever be upper echelon but plenty athletic to be good team defenders and play basketball at a high level

 

ah JOFs are unbearable in putting sengun down to propel jalen....

anybody who need stats to learn that sengun is one of the best in nba is literally a basketball illiterate

 

Great Dane puppy, my bad lol. I think we’re on the same page. A lot of what I’m talking about is the wear and tear of over these athletes.

 

Wear and tear will be a factor of high usage players for sure. But Alp and Jabari aren’t done physically maturing, they will both get faster and more explosive. Along with better coordination and functional strength.

 

We each have our preference. There are basically two factions
at work here. You say rebuild which also implies we are developing players.

Don't you want to see one player develop or multiple players develop?

Here are the 3P% of our players in that Hawks game....a game in which
many of our Sengun fans want to judge Bruno by:
Player: 3PM/3PA (3P%)
Green: 1/7 (14.3%)
KPj: 3/5 (60.0%)
Kenyon: 0/2 (0%)
Tari: 0/0 (0%)
Jabari: 3/11 (27.3%)
EG: 1/4 (25.0%)
Nix: -- (--%)
Sengun: 1/2 (50.0%)

So do you know that "Spacing" is very important in the current NBA?
Yes, you do!! I know you do!! Did Bruno get any spacing? Hard to say.
We can say yes....our players were guarded close and thus shot poorly.

But Bruno as a short roller had 7 Assists. He found open players.
Put it in perspective.....Sengun is mentioned as a superb passer;
averages 2.1 assists per game.

Now let's put Bruno in the mix with guys shooting better from 3:
Current
Player: 3PA (3P% x season)
Green: 8.3 (36.2%)
KPj: 5.3 (34.4%)
Kenyon: 3.7 (36.4%)
Tari: 3.6 (45.5%)
Jabari: 6.2 (29.4%)
EG: 5.4 (37.0%)
Sengun: 1.2 (25.0%)
Nix: 2.2 (45.5%)
_________

So maybe you have seen my graphic art before (w/Sengun on the perimeter)

.........................................0 (rim)............................................
$.....................#................................................#.....................$
Bari 29.4%....................................................................Green 36.2%
.......................#...........#............................#
................o.....................................................................$
...............$................................................................EG 37.0%
...........KPj 34.4%
............................................$
.....................................Sengun 25.0%

Do you recognize how Sengun screws up the spacing and "Development" of
KPj and Green and Nix and JC and TyTy. He gives you no spacing!!
Sengun defender camps out in the paint disrupting PnR, Hand offs, etc.
________________________________________________________________________

Now here it is for Sengun in the post
.........................................0 (rim)............................................
$.....................#..................................#....$o
Bari 29.4%...........................................Sengun
.................................................................................#
................#.....................................................................$
...............$..............................................................Green 36.2%
...........KPj 34.4%..........................#
......................................................$
.................................................EG 37.0%

"SPACING GALORE !!"

So here you can see that Sengun has plenty of spacing to post up.....with
maybe the exception of Jabari's man. This is why Sengun can progress
and develop. Sure all of you Sengun only fans like this.....but at the same
time most of you are saying screw KPj, Green, TyTy, Nix, JC who are
facilitators that need that spacing.....and can't progress because
of Senguns defender.

Bruno gives Silas a lob threat over the top. As long as the center
has his man camped out in the paint......it might as well
be Bruno's man in PnR.

The other place to put Sengun is as the Dunker Spot.....which still screws
with the spacing as Senguns man still camps out in the paint (back line).

As I've noted Post Up touches are down to about 5 per game with some of the
best post up players in the game. If Senguns gets 5 touches in the Post....
that leaves about 85 more possessions in which he is screwing up spacing
for others. Imo, he can get those as a bench player.

 

Their second best player has missed two consecutive postseasons. Their third best offensive player also missed tons of games. Jokic had to carry the offense for the last two seasons. They still made the playoffs every year. The last time they were fully healthy, they made it to the conference finals while their core were just at the beginning of their prime. I expect them to be contending when Murray gets back to his preinjury form.

The point is, you can contend even if your center is not a good defender. There are ways to hide your star's defensive deficiency if he provides enough offense for you.