Read on Twitter
Some thoughts on Kispert after watching a little more of him.
Kispert Scout - A Synthesis of Scanning and "Range" (thread):
Kispert Scout - A Synthesis of Scanning and "Range" (thread):
"Range" (of Movement)
As a shooter, the first thing that stands out to me is his feet. They are ELITE. Reminds me of Bertans in that he has a seemingly unlimited range of adaptive movement solutions when playing off the catch.
As a shooter, the first thing that stands out to me is his feet. They are ELITE. Reminds me of Bertans in that he has a seemingly unlimited range of adaptive movement solutions when playing off the catch.
This obviously has implications for his shooting profile/projection (which I’ll get to later), but the next thing that pops for me is the his processing speed in catch situations. The shot-drive-pass decisions are lightning quick.
There is a debate among coaches over whether players should “catch and see” or make the decision before they catch (while the ball is in the air). CK is an extreme example of the latter. In many cases, he’s making a decision before the ball even leaves his teammate’s hands.
And his “range” (the above-mentioned adaptive movement solutions in his feet) is one of the things that allows him to do that. But make no mistake, this isn’t just happening in his feet.
It’s also happening in his brain.
It’s also happening in his brain.
Scanning
CK is a relentless “shoulder-checker” off-ball on D. It’s kinda funny to watch how much his head swivels checking for man & ball sometimes. But it was also interesting to see his shoulder-checking on O, which is not something I’ve seen (or looked for) in previous scouts.
CK is a relentless “shoulder-checker” off-ball on D. It’s kinda funny to watch how much his head swivels checking for man & ball sometimes. But it was also interesting to see his shoulder-checking on O, which is not something I’ve seen (or looked for) in previous scouts.
You can see it in transition and when he cuts thru to corners in HC offense. He’s an elite scanner of the field of play, which provides the base for this kind of decisiveness on O, and again in my limited sample he looked to me like a very very decisive offensive player.
This "scanning" obviously has very positive implications for his off-ball movement on O. It's very good
As a spacer he is tremendous: his reaction to the movement of the ball and to penetration is really controlled and there are a few plays where what he’ll make a off-ball movement that doesn’t seem to make sense, but then his team scores and I’m like “oh that’s why he did that.”
He has an understanding of what should happen in specific O sets, and he knows the gravity he commands, so a lot of those movements I was seeing were ones that basically allowed his team to play 4v4. His cutting (arc to paint) is very very good, but by now that should be obvious.
Synthesis of Scanning & “Range"
I started looking at Kispert bc of some of the mechanical qualities in his shot, specifically his Bertans-esque feet (he’s “natural" hop shooter who also shows the ability to organize into different variations of 1-2).
I started looking at Kispert bc of some of the mechanical qualities in his shot, specifically his Bertans-esque feet (he’s “natural" hop shooter who also shows the ability to organize into different variations of 1-2).
But as I watched more my interest & focus shifted to his quick/decisive reactions, which led me to “scanning.” I tend to isolate certain skill areas (esp. shooting) when I’m evaluating, but what I’m always looking at on tape is actually a combination of mechanics/form + reaction.
Watching CK has given me a further insight into the connection between “range” and reaction, although that’s not really something I can put into words
“Range” Theory and Examples
This idea about “range” comes from a squash coach, and it’s about your feet. We talk about footwork as being essential in bball, and it’s even more essential in squash because the players who have the most range have the most potential for improvement
This idea about “range” comes from a squash coach, and it’s about your feet. We talk about footwork as being essential in bball, and it’s even more essential in squash because the players who have the most range have the most potential for improvement
and also more strategic options for breaking down their opponents by targeting what specific shots they struggle with, then forcing them into situations where they have to move in a way that is outside of their “range”.
Kids who start playing and have a lot of training when young tend to develop less range, and that puts a ceiling on their development. Most of them usually reach point where they are getting beat by players with less experience but more range aka more movement possibilities.
We see that in basketball for sure, but it obviously takes on different forms because the structure of the game itself is so different from squash
Embiid and Ambi-legs-terity
I was just thinking about/watching Embiid this week and re-confirming my observations about his loss of “ambilegsterity” since he came in the league. This is a catch-all term I made up and it basically just means "pivoting off both feet” or “balance”.
I was just thinking about/watching Embiid this week and re-confirming my observations about his loss of “ambilegsterity” since he came in the league. This is a catch-all term I made up and it basically just means "pivoting off both feet” or “balance”.
Embiid ++ambilegsterity as a prospect at Kansas and in year 1. I saw much more “range” in his reactions. He used a lot of different self-organizations on the catch (shooting and attacking), and he was initiating and countering in the post on both feet (LF standard, RF “goofy”).
That decreased a little in season 2, but was still there (career-high 41pt game vs. Lakers). But his ambilegsterity is gone now - he is a LF pivoter only, and his shot is a very heavy-footed plant-and-step (LF plant, RF slowwww step in)
That decreased a little in season 2, but was still there (career-high game vs. Lakers). But his ambilegsterity is gone now - he is a LF pivoter only, and his shot is a very heavy-footed plant-and-step (LF plant, RF slowwww step in)
How did he lose ambilegsterity and range? A combination of things including weight gain and also probably injuries, but mostly I would attribute it to training and practicing within a more rigid structures and with more specific coaching directives.
Some of that training/practice led to very positive developments for his game, but he lost his ambilegsterity and range along the way, and because of that the ceiling for his development is lower IMO.
Kispert Shooting Scout - Hands Comp, Note on Projection of Role, and the other RANGE
Hands Comp
CK will likely get comped to wing shooters (Harris, McDermott, Klay) and may also get some movement shooter comps like (JJ, Dunc Robinson).
CK will likely get comped to wing shooters (Harris, McDermott, Klay) and may also get some movement shooter comps like (JJ, Dunc Robinson).
LOL @ the white-on-white comps and all that, but there are similarities in their games, particularly with McDermott re: feet (shooting footwork, also D footwork - they’re both sliders).
But if you compare shooting forms (at the top) you’ll find that all of those guys have higher release points than CK.
The best comp for CK’s hands is Dame. They look very similar, both in terms of release height and the compactness of ball movement from Pos 1 to Thru
The best comp for CK’s hands is Dame. They look very similar, both in terms of release height and the compactness of ball movement from Pos 1 to Thru
Projection of Role
CK's hop bias has implications on his projection as a movement shooter, and that he might not be the kind of corner shooter that guys like Klay, JJ, DRob.
CK's hop bias has implications on his projection as a movement shooter, and that he might not be the kind of corner shooter that guys like Klay, JJ, DRob.
From Dame we know that release point height has implications for shooting range above the break, and with CK that is something for scouts to consider in projecting role and thinking about how he might be used within an NBA offense.
I’ll suggest that CK as a movement shooter would be fine but with his shooting profile it would not be the best use for him. I haven’t thought that much about that tho, just my instinct
The Other RANGE
We may not see the kind of deep-range shooting from CK the rest of this season, but that doesn’t mean that it’s a question mark or that UVA was an aberration. UVA’s D strategy relies on all contesting 3s at or around the arc.
We may not see the kind of deep-range shooting from CK the rest of this season, but that doesn’t mean that it’s a question mark or that UVA was an aberration. UVA’s D strategy relies on all contesting 3s at or around the arc.
They will let you shoot, but only w/a hand in your face. CK knew that and said: “actually, you’re gonna let me shoot and you're not get a hand in my face.” His shooting range is deeeeeeppp and I think will only continue to get deeper.
Fun Stuff
#1 - Leggo! We out!
CK is a +++D communicator. He’s getting louder and louder as the season goes on, and more recently showing some flashes of Melo-level talk - listen to him on the D possession after he makes this 3
#1 - Leggo! We out!
CK is a +++D communicator. He’s getting louder and louder as the season goes on, and more recently showing some flashes of Melo-level talk - listen to him on the D possession after he makes this 3
#2 - Twin-terview
Kispert has a twin sister and she interviewed him for her vlog - it’s great:
Kispert has a twin sister and she interviewed him for her vlog - it’s great:
@threadreaderapp unroll, por favor
