NBA
Comparison: Pau Gasol
At
just 18, is one of the top overall prospects in Europe. Very precocious
feel for the game. Excels in many aspects. Can shoot from long range,
battles for rebounds. Struggles defensively, but just needs time
to develop his strength. Has very good agility and can run the floor.
Great offensive touch. Could grow another few inches. Talk in Europe
is that he will be better than Pau Gasol. Will probably end up at
7-1.
On
Tzikistvili being a top 5 pick. "Well if I was a GM I wouldn't
do it, you've got Ming, Gooden, Williams, Wagner, Woods, Stoudamire
and others. But there is a Gasol factor here. Gasol had a lot of
hype from Spain but didn't showcase himself to NBA suits before
the draft and didn't put up dominating numbers in Spain, but showed
promise. Memphis took a gamble and we know the rest. Same goes for
Tziki he has great promise (although I think Gasol is a better player)
and people will have to take a gamble here if they want to use a
high pick on him. But i think a later lottery slection would be
more realistic for him, from the 7th to 15th pick."
-Uros Velkavrh
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Tsika (as we call Nickoloz Tskitishvili ) is a heck of a player
and comparing him to Gasol is not off the mark. Anyway he's very
very raw. Before landing in the NBA, Pau Gasol played a major role
in the Spanish ACB league and Euroleague as well. He was the go
to guy of the Barcelonna team (one of the best teams in Europe).
Tsika plays only 14 minutes per game in the Italian league, and
6 minutes in Euroleague, and his stats are as follows:
Italian league 7,7 ppg, 2 rpg, 74% 2FG, 42%3FG, 0,4 assists per
game.
Euroleague 1,5 ppg, 1 rpg, 60%2FG, 0,2 apg.
As you see, he definitely needs to spend at least another year in
Europe in order to develop his skills. Talking about his skills...very
gifted. Great athlete, he's a natural SF, with range from 3 (I'm
not to sure that at the moment he has NBA range from 3 point distance),
very quick. He runs the floor very well, he can even post up. He
has to work on his body in order to get stronger and be able to
hold the post. Anyway good post moves. He can put the ball on the
floor, quite good as offensive rebounder, a decent defensive rebounder.
He has to work a lot on defense. He's got very long arms (good shot
blocker) but he tends to get into foul trouble (2 fouls on average
in 14 minutes...which translates to roughly 6 fouls every 48 minutes).
Due to the young age, he's not very consistent. If you consider
that he's only 18 years old...well the sky is the limit!!!! Let's
say that after another season spent in Europe he can be in the top
five pick of the 2003 draft.
4.21.02
He needs to play at least one year in Europe as one of the main
players, and not only play 10 minutes every other match. He needs
to show he's a go to guy, improve defensively and playmaking, but
the sky is the limit for his potential! I believe he won't declare
for 2002 draft, and will wait until next year. He knows he can be
drafted very high. But he's to raw to be drafted in the first 10
picks (in the 2002 draft). Next year he can go as high as picks
numbers 4-5. That's why I think Mike D'antoni has suggested to him:
Stay another year in Treviso, get your playing time, and then declare
for the draft.
-Gabriele Giannini - Olympia Milano
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