The way the Bulls are loading up on guards this off season, I'm beginning to think Ayo's roster spot is not that secure let alone a renegotiation. If Ball is healthy, Ayo might not see much court time.
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Kofi’s box score from last night
BTW, Holmgren ended with 23 points
BTW, Holmgren ended with 23 points
Ayo by the numbers was one of the very best on-ball defenders last year in the league. He's going to be a piece and get tick.
Ayo isn't even playing summer league because he's a sure part of the rotation. He'll be fine. 36 year old Dragic is not going to cut into Ayo's minutes.
Chet looked like the Wisconsin center the night Kofi went off for 37 points. Chet looked very skilled but life inside the paint in the NBA is a whole different story. I see Chet playing like KD and never entering the lane on offense or defense. Yes Chet can block shots but given his other skills no reason to risk injury by playing him inside.
He won't supplant Ayo in the depth chart but he will play minutes and those minutes come from somewhere. Same for Dalen Terry. Ayo played a lot of minutes last season because Ball and Caruso missed a lot of time last season. What happens if they stay healthy this season (admittedly a big IF with regards to Ball)? I know we all love the hometown hero thing, but I wonder if Ayo's career prospects wouldn't be better off somewhere else. I also wonder if he's not playing in summer league to prevent something, such as injury or poor play, that would negatively affect his trade value.
I think Ayo has solidified his reputation as a least a rotational player in the NBA. If the Bulls don't have tick for him, he certainly has trade value. I assume he isn't playing because they would rather see their draft picks and UDFAs play. I think his play during the season earned him the summer off. I don't think he is a guy they are worried about being in shape, and injuries are always a concern. No reason to risk it. If he continues his steady play, he's going to be in a position to earn a contract that will set him up for life.
Agree with all of that. This is a contract year for him and I'm just thinking there are probably teams he could play a bigger role on. My worry isn't that Ayo loses his rotation spot, it's that he only plays minutes consistent with his rotation spot. He started 40 games last season, because of injuries. There are teams in the league that can give him that again, but I don't know that the Bulls are one of those teams unless they turn out to be as unlucky injury-wise this season as they were last season.
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Based on one clip sure. He's a lot stronger than people think he is just because he's skinny. There was a very good article posted on ESPN about his development from a kid and his workouts. One of the things they mentioned is going for functional strength and explosiveness not mass but also that he is already stronger than KD was coming out of college. You can see him bodying up both Kofi and Tacko, stuffing them both. They were also a combined 3-9 from the field so it's not like they were dominating.
sacraig
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Holmgren looks totally lost in the paint on some of those plays, but he's otherwise just an absolute freak of nature.
This is the correct fear. Injuries gave him an opportunity that he took advantage of. Circumstances change. I remember when Frank Williams finally starting get tick on the Knicks and was producing and looking like a solid NBA pg then boom... Knicks trade for stephon Mayberry and Frank's Knicks career was essentially over in a moment.
People questioning his strength are just looking at pictures, not film. He plays a lot stronger than he looks. That doesn't mean he's going to be backing down a bunch of veteran NBA big men, but he won't get broken like tooth pick either.
I'd buy Holmgren stock right now, if that were a thing. He's a matchup problem.
Homecoming 2019
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The train is leaving the station, this kid is going to be a super star in the league. He has a lot of bulletin board material from the haters who only look at his weight. 7'1" (3" taller than Durant) players just don't handle or shoot like him, ever.
Tako Fall is no Kofi.
Kofi went right over Holmgren multiple times.
Holmgren may be the next closest thing to KD but remember KD does not guard anybody in the paint either. Holmgren is a SF with ridiculous height. He is going to have to get a lot stronger to handle NBA defense and a 82 game schedule.
Kofi went right over Holmgren multiple times.
Holmgren may be the next closest thing to KD but remember KD does not guard anybody in the paint either. Holmgren is a SF with ridiculous height. He is going to have to get a lot stronger to handle NBA defense and a 82 game schedule.
Holmgren is a shot blocking machine
Yes but not if you can body him out the way. Kofi did it twice and dropped the ball in the hoop.
Kofi has excellent footwork and protected the ball from Holmgren. Once by bumping Holmgren out of the way and the 2nd time by keeping his body between Holmgren and the ball.
Holmgren has great size and coordination. However he tries to get between Giannis and the hoop he will end up on the IR.
Kofi has excellent footwork and protected the ball from Holmgren. Once by bumping Holmgren out of the way and the 2nd time by keeping his body between Holmgren and the ball.
Holmgren has great size and coordination. However he tries to get between Giannis and the hoop he will end up on the IR.
So what in getting out of this page.. yall are ready to give Lieb the keys to the caddy.
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MoCoMdIllini
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A more athletic Brad Sellers?
Goillinikobd
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Box score from yesterday. Notice that the entire bench was + and all the starters were -
Kofi was the only true center who played for Jazz
Kofi was the only true center who played for Jazz
The post simply isn't a priority with NBA players today so he's going to have problems scoring unless he finds other ways than waiting for a post feed. He got a chance to show his jumper and it wasn't pretty.
I watched him on rebounds and in my opinion he doesn't do what he has to do to make an impact against top quality players: he just drifts in and hopes the ball bounces in his direction. That might be fine if he was secure in his position but as he needs to make an impact right now he needs to go after those balls with intensity. He looks like just another player which is disappointing.
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