Of course, everyone knows that Pek was actually an extremely nice guy, and by all accounts his teammates loved him. Unfortunately, foot and ankle issues derailed his career and he was forced to call it quits at the age of We ranked Pekovic No. He also landed No. Mailbag: Who could be the third star on the Minnesota Timberwolves? Next: Top 3 all-time Wolves players at each position. More Nylon Calculus ». View all NBA Sites. More Atlantic News ». More FS Atlantic News ». View all Atlantic Sites.
More Central News ». More FS Central News ». Nikola Pekovic didn't made too many strides in his game since last season, and with the way he looks on the court, it's questionable just how much he's still improving these days. Pekovic is not a typical European big man, relying mostly on his physical attributes rather than on the fundamental part of the game. Pekovic is a threat only within 12 feet of the basket, where he can use his very good size, brute strength and solid mobility to overpower opponents and gain good position on the block.
That's basically his offense, gaining position near the basket where he can receive the ball and then going up for a strong finish. Pekovic doesn't have any problems establishing himself for a post entry pass considering that he possesses great strength, not only for a youngster. However, when it comes to catching the ball and finishing around the rim, his hands and lack of soft touch are exposed. Defensively, Pekovic once again shows his toughness by forcing contact and being physical with his opponent, but once outside of the key, he suffers staying in front of his man because of poor lateral quickness.
This might be a serious problem when talking about his NBA upside considering the up-tempo direction the league seems to be heading in. Pekovic doesn't show good awareness on either end of the floor, lacking some natural instincts and possessing a basketball IQ which seems below average. His poor understanding of the game is noticeable from the fact that he made just 2 assists in the entire competition, compared to 15 turnovers.
Pekovic will occasionally pull up for a mid-range shot, but with poor results. His shooting motion should be more fluid, which hinders him from achieving a consistent release point on his shot.
From a physical point of view, Nikola has what it takes to play in the NBA, but at the moment it's rather tough seeing what "extra" he can bring to an NBA team.
With that said, Pekovic is still only 20 years old and there is certainly hope for him to develop his skills down the road. The first round looks far away currently, but there is a more than good chance that someone will take a shot at him in the 2nd round and stash him in Europe. Jonathan Givony DraftExpress. Dimitris Ritsonis DraftExpress. Nikola Pekovic is the antithesis of your prototypical European big man, actually relying way more on his physical tools than his fundamentals.
Pekovic is very strong for his age, both in the upper and lower body. He knows how to use his physicality to establish good position on either the offensive or defensive block or to put a body on the opponent and force him into a tough shot. Nikola also has nice size at and is a very solid athlete. He is a typical bruiser, who does most of the damage within a few feet of the basket, and shows good positioning and understanding of how to box-out his opponent and secure rebounds.
Pekovic is also a very good man to man defender in the low post, showing impressive balance and composure to stay in front of his man. In terms of scoring, Pekovic relies more on his teammates, since his skill-set is modest in this department. Once he gets in a good situation Pekovic will finish with strong results, showing decent touch and reactivity around the basket. He is also a below average passer by all standards and at times shows a questionable basketball IQ.
Crucial for Nikola in order to be a candidate for more than a 2nd round pick will be to show an expanded skill-set. He has really nice basic skills for a center - size, athleticism, strength and toughness - but lacks the technical ability which would enable him to become a more proficient player. A tremendous force down low in this championship, Pekovic looked like the most mature big at this stage. He looked awfully strong out there, particularly compared with his rivals, but also fairly athletic.
Pekovic played very well off the ball, setting picks, establishing position near the basket, looking for spaces in the paint or taking advantage of defensive rotations. He easily dunks the ball showing nice explosiveness. He played some one-on-one in the low post, but trying to receive close to the basket, so he just needed some simple move to deliver a semi-hook while outmuscling his opponent.
Showing a solid stroke from the mid-range area, he also ran well the court. On defense, he used his mobility and body quite well. He loves The Godfather , he loves fishing and he can bench press a bus. Despite his physical prowess, Pekovic has been encouraged by teammates to be a more vocal player in the post. He has a world of talent going one-on-one in the post, and with his strength he is difficult to stop. Few centers in the league can slow him down, and Pekovic has been hesitant to call for the ball at times even though he is hard to miss.
Yet another example of Pekovic's "cuddly" side, don't call him that in person , is this charming viral video. Not much needs to be said about this one. Any video of a 6'11" behemoth like Pek prancing through the deserts of Egypt is worth watching. He also enjoys meat. In all seriousness, Pekovic's value to the Timberwolves is immeasurable. He is heading into restricted free agency this offseason, and his teammates clearly love him on and off the court, just as the fans do.
0コメント