ABM

What's the skinny on our boy? Wasn't he the "dark kept secret" of the 2003 draft?

I would think, by now, he would be emerging?

Fork

Well, he's averaging 18.4 minutes per game, 5.9 pts, 7.7 rebounds, 2.1 blocks per game for Verviers-Pepinster

http://www.rbcverviers-pepinster.be/.../statsfiba.php

__________________
When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross. -- Sinclair Lewis, 1935

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ABM

Thanks!

I found another site on him, as well -->Here

I even heard that he logged some PT in the Rocky Mountain Revue?

At any rate, I guess he's at least still a year or two away from putting on an NBA uni.

STOMP

In his first training camp (2003) reports were that he was the fastest Blazer big in the running drills, but he was very skinny and had little clue on how to play. This year Cheeks claimed his skills progression was night and day from the year before and that he had put on some quality weight. Supposively he excells on defense and the boards.

There aren't too many athletic centers in the league, let alone 7'3 athletic centers. My fingers are crossed that he's thought to be ready for the roster next season, but it's probably at least another couple of seasons before he might start earning PT.

STOMP

Paxil

From his stats along I'd say he made a huge leap this year.

STOMP

I wonder what exactly is keeping his minutes so low... conditioning, lack of skills, age, ??? He's putting up good stats in those limited minutes it seems like he should be getting more. Anyhoo, considering this is only his 2nd year of organized ball, it's a pretty impressive line IMO.

STOMP

Fork

My French is relaly bad, but when I was on the Verviers-Pepinster website, I was checking out their forums...as near as I can tell, he's nursing an injury of some sort. Not enough to sit out, but he is dinged up.

Also, from what I read, he throws some wicked elbows. And the fans over there are shocked at how good he looks.

__________________
When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross. -- Sinclair Lewis, 1935

If you sit by the river long enough, you will see the body of your enemy float by. -- Japanese proverb

Draco

I expect little from him.

Maybe with a lot of work he'll be a shorter shawn bradley.

Yawn.

Draco

without bradleys blocks...

STOMP

Well since probably none of us have seen him play, I don't know if anyone knows what exactly to expect from him...but projected out to 48 minutes he's blocking 5.5 shots a game in Europe. To put that in perspective, Theo is averaging 4.2 blocks per 48. Thats a pretty solid clip already, and I doubt he's peaked in his 2nd year of organized ball.

I really cringe at the Bradley comparison though, as few players have accomplished so little with so much. According to multiple sources, Bradley is an all time dog as far as working out. Supposively for much of his career, he did absolutely no weights or cardio conditioning.

STOMP

STOMP

oops...

Paxil

Good point stomp... you have to remember Euro doesn't equal dollar... Euro is worth more now.

dkap

Bradley is a guy that had a chance at revolutionizing the game defensively. 7'6", long arms (as opposed to Yao who is all body), agile ... even a surprisingly good touch at an early age for a big man. From that perspective, any similarities to him are a very good thing. But Bradley apparently had his head firmly planted up his butt and never came close to realizing that potential. Like STOMP said, no way can any of us who've never seen Nedzad play predict with any certainty how he'll develop upstairs.

Dan

riehldeal

first off bradley was probably born with his natural feel for basketball and obviously his size and he clearly did nothing in terms of hard work to develop his skills and advance/improve them by any means.....nedzad on the other hand, is/was not a natural basketball player and had a late growth spurt if my memory serves me correctly, therefore everything he has accomplished thus far (which is alot based on those numbers he is averaging this season) is a direct result of ALOT of hard work and good work ethic.....so he is already light years ahead of shawn and he hasnt even stepped foot in the NBA

Merry X-Mas everybody!

PorterIn2004

In Bradley's defense, one version of his story I heard a few years ago from a friend is that, early on, Bradley did try going into the gym....only to basically be laughed out of it. And I can certainly imagine something like that happening. At 6'5", 200 pounds, and having never been in a weight room before, wandering into Willamette's gym as a freshman and finding all the football players there etc.... I felt hugely out of place and like they probably were amused to see me fumbling around from free weights to machines and so on. I've changed a lot since then (and have the perspective that I probably didn't register on their radar) but, if I hadn't had a friend who knew the ropes, I'd likely have not kept at it.

Back to Bradley, it seems to me that if Dirk, Michael Finley, or any of the various other star players he's had around him over the years had bothered to really befriend him and help him reach his potential (even if out of their own self interest), things might've turned out very differently.