Pekovic -- Not The Problem

[AbeVigodaLive]

Pek is one of our biggest problems even with his recent offensive surge. Let's first keep in mind that Pek is spoon fed points down low and has no other dimension to his game. He is an average man on man defender, but fails miserably when it comes to help defense, particularly in the PnR, but also doesn't contest shots. Some posters have wondered why the opposing PG has been torching the wolves as of late if Ricky is supposed to be a good defender. The answer is that Pek just isn't quick enough to hold up his end.

Some of this has to go on Adelman because he needs to understand Pek's limitations and account for that somehow. The most likely idea is to bring weakside help.

Either way, I think 12 mil/yr was too much. Pek doesn't create his own offense other than on offensive rebs, but I would guess that a third of those opportunities were due to his own missed bunnies.

Interestingly, I remember reading a couple weeks back from that Zach Lowe guy that Pekovic was deceptively good on the pick-and-roll.

[mjs34]

Pek is one of our biggest problems even with his recent offensive surge. Let's first keep in mind that Pek is spoon fed points down low and has no other dimension to his game. He is an average man on man defender, but fails miserably when it comes to help defense, particularly in the PnR, but also doesn't contest shots. Some posters have wondered why the opposing PG has been torching the wolves as of late if Ricky is supposed to be a good defender. The answer is that Pek just isn't quick enough to hold up his end.

Some of this has to go on Adelman because he needs to understand Pek's limitations and account for that somehow. The most likely idea is to bring weakside help.

Either way, I think 12 mil/yr was too much. Pek doesn't create his own offense other than on offensive rebs, but I would guess that a third of those opportunities were due to his own missed bunnies.

Interestingly, I remember reading a couple weeks back from that Zach Lowe guy that Pekovic was deceptively good on the pick-and-roll.

I have no idea what he is basing that on. Pek is continually late, and almost never gets high enough to actually stop the PG's momentum. He clearly doesn't have the foot speed to be effective.

[JasonIsDaMan [enjin:7981157]]

I never thought he was horrible at the P'n'R, but if he this year, maybe it relates back to his injury and/or conditioning. Late last year, he hurt his leg so badly that he couldn't sign autographs at the Cub Foods in Eagan. It might have taken longer to heal than anticipated, which left him behind in conditioning.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

18/12 against the Heat and 18/5 against a big time frontcourt in the Pistons. Pek keeps playing good ball. Though, he does miss some easy ones, I'll take his production all day every day.

[AbeVigodaLive]

I never thought he was horrible at the P'n'R, but if he this year, maybe it relates back to his injury and/or conditioning. Late last year, he hurt his leg so badly that he couldn't sign autographs at the Cub Foods in Eagan. It might have taken longer to heal than anticipated, which left him behind in conditioning.

I think his lack of conditioning had more to do with his agent advising him to do nothing to jeopardize the $60M waiting on the table for him.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

Pek is one of our biggest problems even with his recent offensive surge. Let's first keep in mind that Pek is spoon fed points down low and has no other dimension to his game. He is an average man on man defender, but fails miserably when it comes to help defense, particularly in the PnR, but also doesn't contest shots. Some posters have wondered why the opposing PG has been torching the wolves as of late if Ricky is supposed to be a good defender. The answer is that Pek just isn't quick enough to hold up his end.

Some of this has to go on Adelman because he needs to understand Pek's limitations and account for that somehow. The most likely idea is to bring weakside help.

Either way, I think 12 mil/yr was too much. Pek doesn't create his own offense other than on offensive rebs, but I would guess that a third of those opportunities were due to his own missed bunnies.

Just reading through old threads, looking to see what people have said negatively about Pek, whether it's justified or not.

Let's first keep in mind that Pek is spoon fed points down low and has no other dimension to his game.

Spoon-fed points down low, sure, without a doubt. I think it's fair to give credit to Pek, though, because he gets extreme position and seals off his defender very well. Working for position is half the post move, the other half is making the bucket. Tough to take credit away from him for doing what big men are taught to do.

Also, Pek has two other dimensions to his game. He draws fouls at a pretty good rate and he's starting to show off that 16 footer that we all thought he had since he's a decent FT shooter. Also gets his fair share of putbacks, but I realize those are considered trash points. You don't score 18-19 PPG by being one-dimensional. That's the main idea of this.

He is an average man on man defender

I don't have an advanced statistic for you at the moment, but Pek's man defense should be considered above average. I have yet to see an opposing big work Pekovic this season. It doesn't happen. He doesn't allow anybody, ANYBODY, to gain good post position on him before the entry pass. When the opposing big does have the ball, Pek very rarely gives up position by being backed down. You have to either go up with a strong hook shot that will be contested, or you have to have a counter move likely resulting in a tougher shot. Pek's man defense is strong, much better than just average if you ask me.

I do agree that his help defense needs work and he's not a rim protector by any definition, but he more than makes up for it with other contributions. Not many centers in the game can get you 18-30 points a night and he seems to be doing it routinely. $12M is starting to look very fair, hell, might even be a bargain. He's got a legit case for an All-Star bid for crying out loud.

[Loose Goose [enjin:8265301]]

Still haters because what? He's not the perfect Center? I am shocked that a Wolves fan watching these games could hate on this guy, he's AWESOME! Name a better Wolves Center in our history? Hell he's the best scoring Center in the Western Conference!!!!!!!!!! But he can't block shots like D12 or DJ, yeah he's not perfect.....get over it!

[mjs34]

Pek is one of our biggest problems even with his recent offensive surge. Let's first keep in mind that Pek is spoon fed points down low and has no other dimension to his game. He is an average man on man defender, but fails miserably when it comes to help defense, particularly in the PnR, but also doesn't contest shots. Some posters have wondered why the opposing PG has been torching the wolves as of late if Ricky is supposed to be a good defender. The answer is that Pek just isn't quick enough to hold up his end.

Some of this has to go on Adelman because he needs to understand Pek's limitations and account for that somehow. The most likely idea is to bring weakside help.

Either way, I think 12 mil/yr was too much. Pek doesn't create his own offense other than on offensive rebs, but I would guess that a third of those opportunities were due to his own missed bunnies.

Just reading through old threads, looking to see what people have said negatively about Pek, whether it's justified or not.

Let's first keep in mind that Pek is spoon fed points down low and has no other dimension to his game.

Spoon-fed points down low, sure, without a doubt. I think it's fair to give credit to Pek, though, because he gets extreme position and seals off his defender very well. Working for position is half the post move, the other half is making the bucket. Tough to take credit away from him for doing what big men are taught to do.

Also, Pek has two other dimensions to his game. He draws fouls at a pretty good rate and he's starting to show off that 16 footer that we all thought he had since he's a decent FT shooter. Also gets his fair share of putbacks, but I realize those are considered trash points. You don't score 18-19 PPG by being one-dimensional. That's the main idea of this.

He is an average man on man defender

I don't have an advanced statistic for you at the moment, but Pek's man defense should be considered above average. I have yet to see an opposing big work Pekovic this season. It doesn't happen. He doesn't allow anybody, ANYBODY, to gain good post position on him before the entry pass. When the opposing big does have the ball, Pek very rarely gives up position by being backed down. You have to either go up with a strong hook shot that will be contested, or you have to have a counter move likely resulting in a tougher shot. Pek's man defense is strong, much better than just average if you ask me.

I do agree that his help defense needs work and he's not a rim protector by any definition, but he more than makes up for it with other contributions. Not many centers in the game can get you 18-30 points a night and he seems to be doing it routinely. $12M is starting to look very fair, hell, might even be a bargain. He's got a legit case for an All-Star bid for crying out loud.

For a guy that gets to the line at a nice rate and gets extreme position, would it shock you to hear that he is 19th in the league in TS% among centers. His rebound rate is 34th among centers. What is really shocking is that for a defender who "rarely gives up position" he is 43rd in the league on defensive rebound rate for centers.

For a guy that is being paid for his offensive prowess, I don't understand why he isn't closing out games for us. Lip pointed out the two passes Ricky put in his hands late in the 4th, and he couldn't handle either.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

Pek is one of our biggest problems even with his recent offensive surge. Let's first keep in mind that Pek is spoon fed points down low and has no other dimension to his game. He is an average man on man defender, but fails miserably when it comes to help defense, particularly in the PnR, but also doesn't contest shots. Some posters have wondered why the opposing PG has been torching the wolves as of late if Ricky is supposed to be a good defender. The answer is that Pek just isn't quick enough to hold up his end.

Some of this has to go on Adelman because he needs to understand Pek's limitations and account for that somehow. The most likely idea is to bring weakside help.

Either way, I think 12 mil/yr was too much. Pek doesn't create his own offense other than on offensive rebs, but I would guess that a third of those opportunities were due to his own missed bunnies.

Just reading through old threads, looking to see what people have said negatively about Pek, whether it's justified or not.

Let's first keep in mind that Pek is spoon fed points down low and has no other dimension to his game.

Spoon-fed points down low, sure, without a doubt. I think it's fair to give credit to Pek, though, because he gets extreme position and seals off his defender very well. Working for position is half the post move, the other half is making the bucket. Tough to take credit away from him for doing what big men are taught to do.

Also, Pek has two other dimensions to his game. He draws fouls at a pretty good rate and he's starting to show off that 16 footer that we all thought he had since he's a decent FT shooter. Also gets his fair share of putbacks, but I realize those are considered trash points. You don't score 18-19 PPG by being one-dimensional. That's the main idea of this.

He is an average man on man defender

I don't have an advanced statistic for you at the moment, but Pek's man defense should be considered above average. I have yet to see an opposing big work Pekovic this season. It doesn't happen. He doesn't allow anybody, ANYBODY, to gain good post position on him before the entry pass. When the opposing big does have the ball, Pek very rarely gives up position by being backed down. You have to either go up with a strong hook shot that will be contested, or you have to have a counter move likely resulting in a tougher shot. Pek's man defense is strong, much better than just average if you ask me.

I do agree that his help defense needs work and he's not a rim protector by any definition, but he more than makes up for it with other contributions. Not many centers in the game can get you 18-30 points a night and he seems to be doing it routinely. $12M is starting to look very fair, hell, might even be a bargain. He's got a legit case for an All-Star bid for crying out loud.

For a guy that gets to the line at a nice rate and gets extreme position, would it shock you to hear that he is 19th in the league in TS% among centers. His rebound rate is 34th among centers. What is really shocking is that for a defender who "rarely gives up position" he is 43rd in the league on defensive rebound rate for centers.

For a guy that is being paid for his offensive prowess, I don't understand why he isn't closing out games for us. Lip pointed out the two passes Ricky put in his hands late in the 4th, and he couldn't handle either.

Lol look at the guys at the top of that list and then try and act like that's not a skewed stat you just said. He's 8th on that list for starting centers. There's also guys like Jordan, R.Lopez, Splitter and Drummond that aren't anywhere near the scorers that Pek is. 43rd in defensive rebound blah blah blah. He plays next to Kevin Love for crying out loud. Get a grip.

So we lost last night because of Pekovic? 30 & 10 wasn't good enough? Right. Lol sjm, you're hating for no good reason. You have something against Pek. You never wanted us to re-sign him. You blindly think $12M is too much per year and the only basis you have for your argument are skewed advanced stats.

[Lipoli390]

I agree with Cam and Q. Pekovic has found his game the past month and is now giving this team what we expected from him. As QSaid, if there's a problem it's the defensive weakness that comes from playing Love and Pek together. But the combined offense those two provide more hand offsets the defensive liability.