Guest Post: Boris Diaw vs. Italy Eurobasket Analysis

by Ben Swanson on Sep 8, 2011 1:49 AM EDT

photo via www.eurobasket2011.com

Zebulon Benbrook, the proprietor and manager of the SB Nation OKC Thunder blog, Welcome To Loud City, is in Lithuania for Eurobasket and was kind enough to write us some analysis of how Boris Diaw played against Italy last week.

Boris Diaw was definitely the savior for France in his game. While most of the team was focusing on finding open jumpers, Diaw was always finding ways to get open on the weak side of the paint, fool a soft Italian defender, or draw defenders to himself so he could make an easy pass. Diaw wasn't a guy who had an array of moves that could allow him to score in most situations. Rather, he did certain plays really well, and it served to help France keep a steady lead throughout the game.

Hit the jump for more Diaw analysis!

Defensively, he was fantastic. He forced Gallinari, one of Italy's three main offensive options, into several off-balance shots and kept him to 38% shooting and offensive irrelevance in the first quarter.

Even though I said Diaw didn't possess an array of moves, I must admit that he definitely went outside the box in the fourth quarter. He was really good at finding ways to break down the Italian defense, shown especially by a play late in the game where he faked a handoff to a player cutting to the three point line and used the open space to drive for two foul shots. To cap it all off, on the next play, he drove into the lane and used a couple of crafty fakes on his defender for a clutch score to put France up by three late. They never looked back.

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That’s Diaw I know. I kinda wanna know what kinda offensive set they are running. Diaw knows its a contract year. He’s gonna ball. What team would possibly need Diaw’s skillset for a final playoff push. And what would it take to get him. Or do we just let him expire. Get rid of Tyrus, let Biyombo get solid backup minutes at PF and center. And just let Diaw expire UNLESS we get a decent pick

by focuslja on Sep 8, 2011 6:44 AM EDT reply actions

Even if he "balls..."

What will that mean? 13-6-4? That’s still pretty mediocre out of a starter who plays as many minutes as he does. I’d love to see him excel, but I just don’t think he has the ability.

Advance apologies if the contents of this sports-based post offended you. I'm just aiming to educate the masses. My law professor says they're asses.

Panthers '011: This is what we've been waiting for...we get to overpay the core of a 2-14 team!

by MichaelProcton on Sep 9, 2011 3:06 PM EDT up reply actions

y does it matter

We aren’t tryn to make the playoffs right? If he does avg 13 6 4, that’s more than enough to trade him. That’s pretty good. If he gets back into shape, he can play more SF. That’s a pretty attractive offer to teams needing that final push into the playoffs. But even if that’s all he does for us, he’s still off the books at season’s end. Hell the Clips, Bucks, Magic, Spurs would def benefit from a PF that can bring that versatility. Those are the teams I personally think if we do try to deal will be the main names we’ll see

by focuslja on Sep 10, 2011 10:54 AM EDT up reply actions

13-6-4 is basically what he's averaged for his whole career.

Yet nobody’s fallen all over themselves to take him off our hands.

Advance apologies if the contents of this sports-based post offended you. I'm just aiming to educate the masses. My law professor says they're asses.

Panthers '011: This is what we've been waiting for...we get to overpay the core of a 2-14 team!

by MichaelProcton on Sep 10, 2011 11:02 AM EDT up reply actions

he wasnt expiring either

The Spurs didn’t need him when they had the leagues best record. Now its their last shot with Duncan. Diaw fits and can do more than Blair and Novak. Clips don’t have that guy off the bench and def none once Griffin leaves. And if he gets into shape he can backup SF too off the bench (Clips hopes were dashed with Wilson leaving). The Bucks are looking to be in the playoffs and Diaw may be better suited than Gooden. Diae is the perfect fit in ORL bc he is what they lost with Lewis. But Lewis was pretty one dimensional. A stretch 4. And he can switch to 3 when Hedo is out and be a point foward and Ryan Anderson can stretch 4. He fits and all those teams can throw us a first and maybe a young piece.

by focuslja on Sep 10, 2011 11:17 AM EDT up reply actions

We definitely have a better chance of dealing him because he's expiring

But worst case, he comes up off the books anyway.

My heart pumps no Kool-Aid

by Bring Back Primoz on Sep 10, 2011 1:21 PM EDT up reply actions

LOL...nobody's trading for Diaw at $9 mil to be their backup.

Advance apologies if the contents of this sports-based post offended you. I'm just aiming to educate the masses. My law professor says they're asses.

Panthers '011: This is what we've been waiting for...we get to overpay the core of a 2-14 team!

by MichaelProcton on Sep 10, 2011 2:01 PM EDT up reply actions

on an expiring?

probably so. Esp if they are lacking at the PF position. Diaw isnt the typical banger but he can give you ten pts if you need it. We might be able to come up on a young player in our own right. Players like Randy Foye or James Posey or Kirk Hinrich wont do much in helping their team’s final playoff push. So in turn we give up Diaw for a the player and a pick. Im sure we could manage. Not necessarily those players but just an example. Besides, at the end of the season, win lose or draw, he’s off their books. And their player is off ours.

by focuslja on Sep 11, 2011 2:18 AM EDT up reply actions

Diaw's last game

3 points (0-5 FG), 5 reb, 1 ast, 4 to, 1 stl vs Turkey

Lemonade was a popular drink and it still is,
I get more props and stunts than Bruce Willis
- Guru, of Gangstarr

by Ben Swanson on Sep 8, 2011 7:17 AM EDT reply actions

SMH...

"I could never be a thug, they don't dress this well." - Malice

by Julius Coxswain on Sep 8, 2011 12:42 PM EDT up reply actions

+1

1 good game out of how many? That’s the Diaw we all know already.

Bobcats Basketball is my only pro sports passion...

by andrewlail76 on Sep 8, 2011 12:43 PM EDT up reply actions

what are his total stats

For the few games so far. Brutally inconsistent. But hey, my fav Bobcat

by focuslja on Sep 8, 2011 8:27 AM EDT reply actions

Your fave Bobcat?

Why am I not surprosed…

Bobcats Basketball is my only pro sports passion...

by andrewlail76 on Sep 8, 2011 12:44 PM EDT up reply actions

Surprised even

Bobcats Basketball is my only pro sports passion...

by andrewlail76 on Sep 8, 2011 12:44 PM EDT up reply actions

who else is there?

Jax, Wallacee, Felton, Oak are gone. DJ would be it but I’m sure he’s out the door soon.

by focuslja on Sep 10, 2011 10:57 AM EDT up reply actions

10.2 ppg (51.1 FG%), 5.2 rpg, 2.3 apg, 1.7 topg

Game by game scoring goes as such:
14 (v. Latvia)
6 (v. Israel)
2 (v. Germany)
21 (v. Italy)
15 (v. Serbia)
3 (v. Turkey)

Lemonade was a popular drink and it still is,
I get more props and stunts than Bruce Willis
- Guru, of Gangstarr

by Ben Swanson on Sep 8, 2011 2:11 PM EDT up reply actions

Bizzare.

And it’s not like you can chalk it up to quality of competition. It’s not like Israel has an imposing frontcourt.

Advance apologies if the contents of this sports-based post offended you. I'm just aiming to educate the masses. My law professor says they're asses.

Panthers '011: This is what we've been waiting for...we get to overpay the core of a 2-14 team!

by MichaelProcton on Sep 9, 2011 3:07 PM EDT up reply actions

Inconsistent

Yet its like you pretty much know what you’re gonna get once the stats are totaled.

by focuslja on Sep 10, 2011 10:59 AM EDT up reply actions

That doesn't help much at all!

You knwo what that tells you? It means you pretty much have no idea what you’re getting on a game-to-game basis.

Advance apologies if the contents of this sports-based post offended you. I'm just aiming to educate the masses. My law professor says they're asses.

Panthers '011: This is what we've been waiting for...we get to overpay the core of a 2-14 team!

by MichaelProcton on Sep 10, 2011 11:01 AM EDT up reply actions

and that is different

from his WHOLE career how? You are correct about the inconsistency but those stats look just like his career stats. At the end of the day, his avg will be 12.5.5 give or take.

by focuslja on Sep 10, 2011 11:07 AM EDT up reply actions

It is significantly more valuable to have a player you can count on game in and game out.

Diaw is not that player. You think playoff teams will want him knowing he could come up with a 4-3-3 game in a playoff elimination game?

Advance apologies if the contents of this sports-based post offended you. I'm just aiming to educate the masses. My law professor says they're asses.

Panthers '011: This is what we've been waiting for...we get to overpay the core of a 2-14 team!

by MichaelProcton on Sep 10, 2011 1:53 PM EDT up reply actions

Today's game vs Lithuania

4 points (1-8 FG, 2-4 FT), 5 reb, 2 ast, 1 blk

Ouch.

Lemonade was a popular drink and it still is,
I get more props and stunts than Bruce Willis
- Guru, of Gangstarr

by Ben Swanson on Sep 9, 2011 3:51 PM EDT reply actions

There's our Boris

Bobcats Basketball is my only pro sports passion...

by andrewlail76 on Sep 9, 2011 4:26 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Did they win?

Lets not forget they have a pretty strong squad. So his 4ppg and 5rebs isn’t as bad there as when he does here.

by focuslja on Sep 10, 2011 11:02 AM EDT up reply actions

LOL...which makes Brendan Haywood an All-Star, right?

They were playing LITHUANIA! Any NBA player should put up good numbers, much less a career starter who some hope will magically net us some great value in a trade.

Advance apologies if the contents of this sports-based post offended you. I'm just aiming to educate the masses. My law professor says they're asses.

Panthers '011: This is what we've been waiting for...we get to overpay the core of a 2-14 team!

by MichaelProcton on Sep 10, 2011 1:54 PM EDT up reply actions

9mil expiring contract is value in itself.

by focuslja on Sep 11, 2011 2:22 AM EDT up reply actions

He took 8 shots. That’s a considerable amount of the offense. That was a case of winning despite Boris’ play.

Lemonade was a popular drink and it still is,
I get more props and stunts than Bruce Willis
- Guru, of Gangstarr

by Ben Swanson on Sep 10, 2011 1:56 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

Im not making a case for Diaw

but a team with Parker, Batum, Diaw, Pietrus (if he’s playing) is really playing super hard. They dont have to. He took 8 shots and made two. That means he wasnt hitting. He isnt necessarily a volume scorer and with the players on the squad, he probably doesnt have to force shots up if he isnt hitting them.

by focuslja on Sep 11, 2011 2:22 AM EDT up reply actions