Skal to the Blazers!!

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Scalma said:


Layman is gonna be matched up against Morris. That’s a tough matchup, especially on the boards. If he struggles, could we see Skal?
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Wow, in the Simons' awesomeness I didn't realize how amazing Skal's line was! I definitely liked what I saw, but I wouldn't have guessed he posted those numbers!
Honestly, I'm not at all concerned about getting a stand-in for Nurk - give those minutes to Skal so that he's well integrated into the team before Nurk comes back. Meyers is an adequate back-up for 2-3 months, when you figure Collins will be getting some of those back-up minutes as well.
 
BBert said:
I still can't believe we ditched Biggie and got Skal in return. I don't know if Olshey had compromising photos of someone on the Kings, if the Kings GM lost a bet, if the Kings scouts/front office is stupid, or if Olshey really is that good of a salesman. Whatever, even if Skal never starts, this counts as point: Olshey.

:cheers:
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100% in OLSHEY we trust! After tonight’s game (watching picks Trent and Simons) and with the additions of Skal, Curry, Hood, Kantor - come on.....Neil earned his paycheck this past year!
 
The Professional Fan said:
Didn't even cross my mind. I didn't know who he really was. Your statement makes a tremendous amount of sense
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Honestly, I didn't know much about him either. Other than that he was rumored to be a good defensive C. And since Kanter doesn't even know how to pronounce the word (and Meyers is mostly inept at the game) it only makes sense that Skal should have been integrated into our rotation. But hey - I'm sure Terry knows what he's doing...
 
blue9 said:
Honestly, I didn't know much about him either. Other than that he was rumored to be a good defensive C. And since Kanter doesn't even know how to pronounce the word (and Meyers is mostly inept at the game) it only makes sense that Skal should have been integrated into our rotation. But hey - I'm sure Terry knows what he's doing...
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Or not, but whatever. I saw what you saw tonight (or previously knew)......this kid needs minutes. As long as he can contribute that blatant skill set we need, I'd give him many minutes. And my god, Skal at his best would change this team
 
TorturedBlazerFan said:
Skal had a couple step 3’s tonight that I had no idea he had that in his toolbox.
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Yeah I knew he had some range...if left wide open, but he hit a couple of 3's where he sized up the defender and shot over him. That surprised me.

What I am not sure about is his ability to cover the perimeter? He would get more minutes if he could also guard stretch 4's. He looks fairly agile.
 
What I saw from Skal last night that encouraged me was that he was more physical and assertive than in previous views. I think I mentioned earlier in this thread that practicing against Nurk, Enes (and even Meyers is physical on the block and Zach will battle despite being lean) would be beneficial to him, because he was always seen as a finesse/passive big man. He either was going to be toughened up going against our bigs or he was going to be destroyed.

He made a move late in the game last night where he stepped through two defenders from the mid-post, I don't think got a foul called and he managed to keep balanced and finished with a strong reverse layup. That's a different Skal than I'd seen before. The two tip jams were pretty incredible, too, because he wasn't at the front of the rim; he went over people at the front of the rim.

Still think he has a lot of maturing to do in terms of defense and rebounding, but I saw a bit of the Skal I thought might be there coming out of Kentucky.
 
riverman said:
I realized last night that Skal is a PF...didn't know he could shoot with range though...pair him with a defensive minded center and you've got something.
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It very well could be that Nurk/Zach/Skal are our 3-big rotation for several years going forward. I'm OK with that.
 
yuyuza1 said:
Morris has been absolute trash in OKC btw
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He’s been great in April. Only 5 games but the playoffs are all about momentum and there was probably also an adjustment period going to a new team (plus being injured for awhile.) He’s going to be a problem, as he seemingly always is against Portland.
 
Why do the Morris' hate the Blazers?
 
PCmor7 said:
What I saw from Skal last night that encouraged me was that he was more physical and assertive than in previous views. I think I mentioned earlier in this thread that practicing against Nurk, Enes (and even Meyers is physical on the block and Zach will battle despite being lean) would be beneficial to him, because he was always seen as a finesse/passive big man. He either was going to be toughened up going against our bigs or he was going to be destroyed.

He made a move late in the game last night where he stepped through two defenders from the mid-post, I don't think got a foul called and he managed to keep balanced and finished with a strong reverse layup. That's a different Skal than I'd seen before. The two tip jams were pretty incredible, too, because he wasn't at the front of the rim; he went over people at the front of the rim.

Still think he has a lot of maturing to do in terms of defense and rebounding, but I saw a bit of the Skal I thought might be there coming out of Kentucky.
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Yeah what I loved is he showed a variety of moves last night. It wasn’t just a guy getting hot shooting the ball. Like the jab to create space at the one minute mark in the video above. I don’t see many bigs do that. I think it’s been mentioned before, but he’s got a bit of Aldridge in him on the offensive end.
 
Scalma said:
Yeah what I loved is he showed a variety of moves last night. It wasn’t just a guy getting hot shooting the ball. Like the jab to create space at the one minute mark in the video above. I don’t see many bigs do that. I think it’s been mentioned before, but he’s got a bit of Aldridge in him on the offensive end.
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Ma, I just want to say, those 13 hours of labor were worth it. We thank you.
 
Hoopguru said:
Looks like Skal could end up being a really decent big forward.
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Yeah, and I think we have remember that he didn’t start playing basketball until he was 12 or 13. Similar to Nurkic in that regard. He grew up playing soccer and volleyball. So he’s still more raw than most players his age. It’s crazy when you watch guys like Nurk and Skal show off a versatile skill set while showing plus instincts, and then compare to someone who’s been playing the sport for a lot longer still hesitate to inbound the ball. It’s why I believe the mind is what ultimately separates players at the highest level, not talent.
 
Skal looked GREAT. Remember this skinny kid at Kentucky?:

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Looks like he's been in the weight room.

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He was making moves I teach my guards.

That jab step/rip through to the three pointer is next level for a player his size.

The jab step through 2 defenders to finish strong on the left side was beastly.
 
dviss1 said:
Skal looked GREAT. Remember this skinny kid at Kentucky?:

usa-today-8820984.0.jpg


Looks like he's been in the weight room.

5caecfb5ac806.image.jpg


He was making moves I teach my guards.

That jab step/rip through to the three pointer is next level for a player his size.

The jab step through 2 defenders to finish strong on the left side was beastly.
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Needs. To. Play.
 
What encourages me about that video is how fluid Skal looks, and how he seems to be filling out.

There's never been a question about his shooting touch or his athletic potential ... really like his first step. But he just hasn't looked ultra-coordinated. He seemed awkward. It made him play smaller than he was.

Here he's smooth. He's getting nice extension on his shots with a very high arc. The touch still is there.

Man, if he could get it together in the next year or two, he'd be a heck of an asset for the Blazers.
 
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