NBA Scouting Reports, Pacific Division (Part One)

Overview: A developing left-handed Latvian big man who is really starting to come into his own as one of the better centers in the game. Came into the league at age 18, and still has a great deal of upside. Has excellent size and very good athleticism for a big man. Shows great mobility in transition and when defending the pick and roll. Doesn’t have astounding bulk, but plays stronger than most NBA centers. Didn’t have a lot of success early in his career, but found a niche perfectly tailored to his skills in Don Nelson’s system. Skill-level is fairly poor, but isn’t asked to be anything he’s not. Understands his strengths and sticks to them. Rebounds the ball extremely well and produces incredibly efficiently on the offensive end. Shows great competitiveness. Plays with so much adrenaline that he has a very difficult time from the free throw line. Despite his experience level, Biedrins is so young that it wouldn’t be surprising to see him improve significantly.

Offense: A raw offensive player, but is efficient enough at the simple things he does well (and plays with such shot-happy teammates) to not make that much of an issue. Always amongst the league-leaders in field goal percentage. Gets more than half of his shots off of cuts and offensive rebounds. Gets another third from post ups and pick and rolls. Does most of his damage by working off the ball and using his terrific hands to simply catch and finish, which he’s amongst the league’s best at. Uses his strength to muscle his man underneath. Makes an effort to read ball handlers as well. Sets good screens and knows how to roll to the basket to set himself up to make a play. Gets the ball in the post with his back to the basket, but not very frequently. Very raw down there. Almost exclusively turns over his right shoulder. Needs to work on his off hand, and improve his footwork. Known for his struggles at the line. Has improved his mechanics to an extent, but still has an unorthodox release. Has improved remarkably from 30% in his second season to over 62% in his fourth season. Decent passer for a player his size. Not very assertive. Rarely puts the ball on the floor to score, and if he does, it’s only with his left hand. One of the most active offensive rebounders in the League.

Defense: Very hard worker and the only one on Golden State’s roster who’s role revolves around the defensive end. Good weakside shot blocker. Very tough on the block. Uses leverage to push his man off his spot. Tries to go straight up on shots, but makes some mistakes. Commits quite a few fouls when rotating to meet weak-side penetration. Very effective one-on-one in close in comparison to the average player. Great rebounder. Scrappy in the paint. Good timing. Anticipation will come around in time. Experience will only make him better.

Overview: A veteran shooting specialist who can put up big scoring numbers every now and then. Has good size for either forward position, and is a solid athlete. Mostly known for his perimeter stroke, but can do more than just shoot from outside. Still doesn’t shoot suitable percentages from the outside considering his role. Does a decent job rebounding the ball. Had a stellar career at Providence. Never found similar success on the NBA level. Can still be a spot-player near the end of a team’s bench, thanks to his skill-level, versatility and feel for the game, although injuries have taken their toll.

Offense: Gets more than half of his offense from spot ups and pick and pops. Loves to shoot the three ball-- between 40-50% of his attempts from the field come from beyond the arc. Has a fundamentally sound stroke with range past the three-point line. Will knock down his open shots with consistency. Shoots the same shot every time. Doesn’t elevate before he releases, but his height helps him get it off over recovering defender. Won’t put the ball on the floor to score unless he has a wide open lane. Solid ball handler. Good passer. Knows his role and plays appropriately. Won’t do much from the midrange. Doesn’t take contested shots at the rim, and thus finishes at a good rate inside. Still serviceable in spurts as a shooter, but his efficiency isn’t as good as it used to be.

Defense: A very mediocre defender due to his lack of athleticism. Utilized in situations more liberally when he can defend mediocre offensive centers. Gives it his all on the defensive end. Has a tough time making an impact. Commits smart fouls. Doesn’t try to block many shots. Pretty solid rebounder despite his shortcomings. Not a liability when played in spurts like he has been in Golden State.

Overview: An undersized shooting guard (6-3 in shoes) who has become a very talented combo only two years after leaving Lanier High School for the NBA Draft. Has incredible quickness and leaping ability. Runs the floor as fast as anyone in the game. Isn’t very strong, but has put on some weight since entering the League. Has fully transitioned his offensive game to the NBA, and is one of the most efficient guards you’ll find. Won the NBA Most Improved Player Award after coming into his own in his second year pro. Still needs to develop his point guard skills, but the former second-round pick has already vastly outplayed his draft slot. Has the potential to be a great player due to his age and rapid development.

Offense: Gets almost a third of his offense in transition, a testament to his speed. Another third comes from pick and rolls, with the final third coming from spot ups and isolations. Has become a very dynamic scorer early in his career. Can spark fast breaks by himself. Still trying to find his range. Has improved his shooting stroke, but isn’t always consistent. Could try and hammer out his footwork to avoid rehashing his mechanics. Gets to the rim more often than he pulls the trigger from the outside. Only 4% of his field goal attempts came from beyond the arc in 07/08. Quick first step and impressive crossover allow him to get into the lane without a lot of trouble. Goes to the line at a good rate and shoots a respectable percentage. Capable of driving and finishing with either hand, although he’s better with his right. Gets creative when finishing at the rim and displays great leaping ability. Good pull up jump shooter from mid-range. Needs to learn to keep the same rhythm on his set shots that he does on those off the dribble. Will turn the corner on pick and rolls with little trouble. Good offensive rebounder for his height. Could stand to work on his point guard skills, although he’s not turnover prone at all. Will need to show he can handle more minutes running the offense, something that he did infrequently up until 2009.

Defense: A mediocre defender, as he lacks both size and length at the shooting guard position and isn’t aided in the least bit his poor fundamentals. Plays too many minutes, which likely hampers his effectiveness. He tends to bite on every pump fake and only occasionally will get into an aggressive stance. He does have excellent lateral quickness and is highly adept at getting into the passing lanes, making him fairly effective when asked to play pressure defense. He is also a fairly solid rebounder considering his size.

Overview: A combo forward with decent athleticism and great offensive skills. Has good height for a small forward and decent size for a power forward. Shows the mobility to play on the perimeter and the bulk to receive some time in the post, although he doesn’t defend or rebound anywhere near well enough to justify the minutes he plays at the 4. Has fulfilled much of the promise he showed as prep at St. Patrick’s, where he won the Naismith Award as a senior. Didn’t make an impact in Indiana immediately. Developed a nice inside-outside game during his time with the Hawks. Got a chance to be the go-to-guy in Atlanta. Still doesn’t make his teammates better, and often appears to be playing for himself. Effort and body language is extremely poor at times. Brings a unique offensive dimension to Don Nelson’s system, but isn’t an ideal fit. Could be a more productive player on a team with less offensive options. Cousin of fellow NBA player Dahntay Jones.

Offense: A big time scorer at either forward position—versatile, although not terribly efficient. Gets about a third of his offense as a spot up shooter, with another third coming from isolations and fast breaks. Will get a few touches in the post and set picks out on the perimeter from time to time as well. Harrington gets to play to his strengths on the offensive end. Fantastic catch and shoot player from three-point range, although his shot-selection can be mediocre at times. Not nearly as good pulling up off the dribble. Likes to try and get to the rim when he drives. Solid ball handling ability. Average passer. Doesn’t turn the ball over at all. Good finisher at the rim. Has great instincts for how to put the ball in the rim. Usually likes to pop out to the perimeter after his teammates dribble off his screens. Doesn’t have to work very hard off the ball since his teammates can create for him. Will run the secondary break well, and can finish the fast break as well. Can bring the ball up the court if needed, which is a nice asset from your power forward. Can put points on the board in bunches against slower players that have to respect his drive. Shoots a pretty good percentage from the line. Turns over his right shoulder almost exclusively with a man on his back. Shows a nice fade away turning that way.

Defense: Often asked to guard back to the basket power forwards and centers, which he seems to have little patience for. Gets posted up at will, lacking the height or strength to contest. Fundamentals appear to be lacking, doesn’t put very much effort in on the perimeter. Gets beat way too easily. Conditioning is average, appears to have lost a step athletically for that reason. Doesn’t rebound well at all for his position.

Overview: An above average athlete with good offensive skills who is an ideal fit for Don Nelson’s offensive system. Has good size, strength, and skills by NBA standards. Runs the floor well, and really knows how to space the floor and get open in transition. A terrific offensive player whose consistency isn’t nearly as questionable as it once was. Still has lapses in judgment on the floor, and doesn’t always play winning basketball. Took the long route to the NBA. Spent time in the CBA, Venezuela, and the Dominican Republic after failing to make it to the University of Arizona out of Oak Hill Academy. Hasn’t been a model citizen by any stretch of the imagination, but has become a leader for Golden State.

Offense: Golden State’s most formidable swingman. Has emerged recently due to the way he fits into Don Nelson’s offense. Not a very efficient offensive player, but he sure can put points on the board. Gets almost one fourth of his offense from one-on-one isolations with another third coming from spot up and transition situations. Solid set shooter, but is more streaky than consistent. Doesn’t have a very quick release. Very aggressive. Can handle the ball, but has a tendency to get sloppy at times. Uses all kinds of hesitation moves. Extremely instinctive getting to the rack and scoring, although not particularly explosive elevating around the rim. Will push the break himself periodically. Likes to drive right, but finishes well when going to the rim with either hand. Tries to bully his way inside. Not afraid of contact. Goes to the line at a high rate and shoots a very good percentage. Runs the floor well. Knows when to break out of his lane to receive passes for easy baskets on fast breaks. Thrives as a passer now, something that wasn’t true about him earlier in his career. Keeps his head up and looks for his teammates. Tries to force some passes into traffic leading to turnovers. Shot-selection can be very poor at times. Doesn’t always know his limitations. Gets caught up in his own offense and has a tendency to force the issue. Shoots around 40% from the field, which makes it very difficult for his team to win games when he’s carrying such a heavy load.

Defense: An inconsistent defensive player who’s effectively largely depends on the effort he brings on any given night. Has good size and length and can brings great competitiveness when he’s focused, making him outstanding defending on the ball. Not quite as aggressive defending off the ball, though, doesn’t fight through screens and doesn’t really take responsibilities on this end. An exceptionally poor rebounder at his position, which is surprising considering his physical tools and how bad his teammates are in this area.

Overview: An athletic swingman who can put the ball in the basket with the best of them. Has prototypical size for a shooting guard. Possesses great strength for his position. A top-notch run and jump athlete. Misses games with injuries each season. Shoots the ball pretty well from the outside. Can beat his man off the dribble. An excellent slasher. Finishes at the rim with authority. Gets to the line at a superb rate, amongst the best in the league. Somewhat turnover prone. Makes some plays on defense, but is too aggressive at times. Contributes on the glass. Only needed one season at Duke to ready himself for the League. Can put up big numbers when the offense is geared towards him. Can still be effective as a complimentary player.

Offense: Gets his offense in a wide variety of ways. Uses his athleticism well in one-on-one situations and fast breaks, his jump shot and footwork spotting up and running off of screens, and his strength when posting up and grabbing offensive rebounds. Does more damage with his athleticism than his skills offensively, but is fairly efficient considering the rate he scores at. Finishes at the rim extremely well due to his explosive leaping ability and strong build. Loves to get out and run in transition. Capable of using his dribble to get to the rim as well. Tends to drive right where he can either pull up or go to the rim. Will attack the rim when he drives left. Not a great shooter off the dribble, but still capable. Will fade away for no reason when he pulls ups at times. Good catch and shoot guy. Doesn’t shoot with a lot elevation, but has good touch and form. Has improved his 3-point shooting throughout the years, but still doesn’t rely very heavily on this part of his game. Will knock down turnaround jumpers in the post, or bully smaller guards. Solid ball handler and passer who gets a little too aggressive with both at times. Very athletic and skilled player who expends most of his energy on the offensive end.

Defense: A average defensive player who has the athleticism to be a whole lot more. Has the athleticism and strength to defend almost any perimeter player. Displays great lateral quickness. Doesn’t always get in a good defensive stance or close out hard. Contests shots, but appears a bit disinterested defensively. Will make an effort when he knows he has to. Good rebounder for his position. Commits quite a few fouls for a guard.

Overview: A physical specimen who still has room to grow as a player. Native of Guadeloupe. Has prototypical size and athleticism for the NBA small forward position. Shows great lateral quickness and leaping ability. Uses his physical assets on the defensive end. Still a work in progress offensively. Possesses good scoring tools, but is extremely inconsistent, particularly with his ball-handling skills. Plays with enough aggression to put up decent numbers when he sees the floor. Watched Kelenna Azubuike take most of his minutes in Golden State, and thus decided to sign as a free agent in Orlando.

Offense: Gets almost half of his offense from spot up situations. Makes significant contributions in transition and one-on-one situations. Shoots a slow, but fluid jumper without a lot of elevation. Nearly half of his shots are from outside the three-point line. Shoots a decent percentage from that range. Good shooter off the dribble, thanks to his high release point and consistent follow through. Quick first step helps him get separation. Lacks the ball-handling skills to consistently create his own shot. Struggles to change directions with the ball and beat his man off the dribble. Can finish at the rim once he’s in the paint, particularly when operating in transition. Likes to try and elevate over defenders rather than fake them off the floor and find lanes for easier baskets. Doesn’t get to the line at a high rate, and is susceptible to being fouled due to his lack of consistency from the stripe. High energy player. Great offensive rebounder for his position. Runs the floor well and is aggressive in spurts. Could still stand to improve his skill-level.

Defense: A talented defensive player solely based on his athleticism and physical gifts. Always gets in an athletic stance and makes him man shoot over him. Good shot blocker and off ball defender. Very good at bothering mid to short range shots. Long arms and vertical leap help more the closer his man gets to the basket. Will makes some mistakes, but has started to use the raw tools he has to his advantage.

Overview: Role-playing power forward who overcame a debilitating illness to return to the explosive form that made him a great collegiate player. Native of Martinique. Possesses very good strength, adequate size (6-9 in shoes) and excellent length (7-1) for the power forward position. Can get up and down the floor pretty well for his size. Extremely explosive when attacking the rim. Can get off the floor quickly when grabbing rebounds. Has played his way into good physical condition after his major heart surgery. Brings great energy to the floor each time he gets in the game. Goes after every rebound, and is fairly effective on the glass. Isn’t a polished offensive player, but knows how to make an impact by being active, even if he isn’t quite as efficient as you might hope. Plays very hard on the defensive end, but is a bit too foul prone. Was a force at during his career at Gonzaga. Won the WCC Player of the Year Award in 2005. Fits the triangle offense well. A very outspoken, humble person off the floor. One of the best teammates a player can ask for in terms of support. Brings a lot to the table as a person and player.

Offense: A prototypical hustle power forward who doesn’t function as one in the triangle offense. Gets his touches from spot up opportunities, shots off of cuts, post ups, and transition baskets. Displays an average shooting stroke, but is capable of knocking down jumpers from the midrange. Won’t put the ball on the floor unless he can fake his man off the floor away from the basket. Good finisher at the rim. Goes up strong, seeks out contact, and puts the ball down with authority. Solid foul shooter—improving year by year. Could stand to improve his offensive efficiency. Doesn’t like to turn over his left shoulder in the post. Needs to work on his left hand to become more effective. Runs the floor hard. Sets good screens. Surprisingly good passer. Posts an excellent assist to turnover ratio for a power forward. Works very hard to gain position and go after offensive rebounds. Still has quite a bit of room to improve within a team concept.

Defense: A very good defender who plays with enough energy for two players. Fights tooth and nail for position on the block. Does a great job contesting post shots. Very aggressive. Will commit some fouls just by the nature of his game. Moves his feet well and does a good job denying penetration when his man gets the ball in the high post. Always boxes out and pursues rebounds. Excellent shot blocker. Will get on the floor when the ball gets loose in the lane. Great motor. Defensive intensity matches the way he approaches the game in general.