Sayeed as a Pro

[ValleyGriz]

What is everyone’s take on him getting an NBA shot? I see him definitely getting at least a summer league invite if not a G-League roster spot. My only concern is his ball handling. He is able to get points down low with his quickness, but this may not work with NBA/G-League players. Also, I don’t know if he can create his own shot off the dribble yet.

That being said, I haven’t wanted a player to get an NBA look this bad sense Cherry. The kid is a beast and won’t allow anyone to out work him.

 

[CleanHOUSE]

What is everyone’s take on him getting an NBA shot? I see him definitely getting at least a summer league invite if not a G-League roster spot. My only concern is his ball handling. He is able to get points down low with his quickness, but this may not work with NBA/G-League players. Also, I don’t know if he can create his own shot off the dribble yet.

That being said, I haven’t wanted a player to get an NBA look this bad sense Cherry. The kid is a beast and won’t allow anyone to out work him.

His game fits college better at this point i would say, in NBA he has guard size, but his game is more that of a Power Forward has great body control and his face up game in the lane is his best weapon. He to short and slender to be a PF in NBA, if you put him at guard he doesnt have a NBA range or touch from outside...now that could improve if he just get to focus on basketball. I remember as a Frosh he had great body control right away but his shooting touch has always been a bit stiff, but that has improved massively to the point where he can drain jump shots in bunches if he gets hot, but I would say Vasquez already has a purer shooting stroke than him. As you mentioned his ball handling is a little loose as well. But I hope he gets a shot and I wouldn't put it past time if he gets a chance to do basketball as a job to develop a NBA level outside shooting stroke.

 

[IdaGriz01]

What is everyone’s take on him getting an NBA shot? I see him definitely getting at least a summer league invite if not a G-League roster spot. My only concern is his ball handling. He is able to get points down low with his quickness, but this may not work with NBA/G-League players. Also, I don’t know if he can create his own shot off the dribble yet.

That being said, I haven’t wanted a player to get an NBA look this bad sense Cherry. The kid is a beast and won’t allow anyone to out work him.

His game fits college better at this point i would say, in NBA he has guard size, but his game is more that of a Power Forward has great body control and his face up game in the lane is his best weapon. He's too short and slender to be a PF in NBA, if you put him at guard he doesn't have a NBA range or touch from outside...now that could improve if he just get to focus on basketball. I remember as a Frosh he had great body control right away but his shooting touch has always been a bit stiff, but that has improved massively to the point where he can drain jump shots in bunches if he gets hot, but I would say Vasquez already has a purer shooting stroke than him. As you mentioned his ball handling is a little loose as well. But I hope he gets a shot and I wouldn't put it past time if he gets a chance to do basketball as a job to develop a NBA level outside shooting stroke.

Sadly, he wouldn't even be considered a big guard in today's NBA. No way he'd fit as a power forward ... just not enough bulk. And, as you say, he would need to substantially improve his outside shooting to fit in at guard. What he does best -- get inside and open for jumpers -- is not a big part of today's NBA. Of course, that could change at any time ... coaches are always trying "new" stuff.

Not saying he won't get an NBA chance, but think it's not very likely. But with his skills, he will surely play somewhere as a pro.

 

[citygriz]

The athleticism of NBA players is off the charts. I've often said, more NBA players could make it in the NFL than vice versa.

Then come the nonpareil skills: The shooting, the range of the shooting (thanks Steph), the ball skills. So many players in the NBA are so good that you take their athleticism and their skills for granted. And if you ever switch from watching an NBA game to a Big Sky game, as I frequently do, the Big Sky players look eight-year-olds providing halftime entertainment.

As for Sayeed, there is only one position he could play in the NBA: Point guard. The positives are, he has the athleticism, and he played that position in high school.

The negatives are, he has done little at Montana to improve his point guard skills. Yes, his inside moves add dimension to his game. But his outside shooting and handle fall far short of NBA standards.

Could he overcome that? I believe he could. But it would take dedication and a tireless work effort to get there.

But even if he doesn't make it in the NBA, he will carve out a nice niche for himself in the professional ranks, somewhere. He is one of the most gifted talents I have seen in my years of following Griz basketball.

 

[flatheadgriz406]

If Martin Brunig didn't get an NBA chance, I find it hard to believe Sayeed will. Which is a bummer on both accounts. How Ahmad didn't even get a workout is crazy to me as well.

 

[MTbest]

International Leagues, definite yes!

 

[Hoops watcher]

Having watched Lilliard vs the Griz and how effortlessly he sliced and diced the whole defense almost at will it gives you an idea of the next level that is NBA talent. The key is effortlessly, no wasted motion and so smooth that it looked easy when he went to the rack by the whole D or splashed a 25 footer in their face. No offense to any of these other gents mentioned but very few are that good. Can Sayeed develop his game over time to reach that level? It's a long shot but anything is possible, I suppose.

 

[CleanHOUSE]

Having watched Lilliard vs the Griz and how effortlessly he sliced and diced the whole defense almost at will it gives you an idea of the next level that is NBA talent. The key is effortlessly, no wasted motion and so smooth that it looked easy when he went to the rack by the whole D or splashed a 25 footer in their face. No offense to any of these other gents mentioned but very few are that good. Can Sayeed develop his game over time to reach that level? It's a long shot but anything is possible, I suppose.

Yeah I agree I actually remember being underwhelmed by Lillard because from they hype I expected a highlight show from him, but he would end up with a easy 27pts. There was not a lot of crazy highlight shots because he was able to just glide through the defense at will and end up with easy layups, sometimes what stood out more was how bad he made the D look rather than his skill. In baseball they call it easy gas when a pitcher doesn't have go max effort and grunt to throw 98mph...Lillard had that easy power.

 

[citygriz]

But I recall vividly a championship game where Lillard had the ball for a last-second shot but Will Cherry tied him up, Montana possession, ballgame. He did not slice through us at that critical moment.

 

[citygriz]

But I recall vividly a championship game where Lillard had the ball for a last-second shot but Will Cherry tied him up, Montana possession, ballgame. He did not slice through us at that critical moment. In fact, I don't believe Weber won a championship during Lillard's reign.

 

[IdaGriz01]

... There was not a lot of crazy highlight shots because he was able to just glide through the defense at will and end up with easy layups, sometimes what stood out more was how bad he made the D look rather than his skill. In baseball they call it easy gas when a pitcher doesn't have to go max effort and grunt to throw 98mph...Lillard had that easy power.

"Sneaky fast" was once a term for that, I think. I recall back in high school facing a guy like that. Didn't have his full growth, obviously. But he'd be like "Ho hum, another batter another pitch" ... and the ball would be in the catcher's mitt before you could blink. He had pretty good location and movement, but hadn't yet learned to vary his speed to keep batters off balance. I actually hit "not bad" against by letting him do the work -- basically stick the bat out and hope the ball found a hole. Everyone expected him to make it big (and I heard there were scouts around at times). But then he "threw his arm out" and went no where. Looking back, I sometimes wonder if there'd have been a better outcome had it happened after "Tommy John" surgery was developed.

 

[Hoops watcher]

But I recall vividly a championship game where Lillard had the ball for a last-second shot but Will Cherry tied him up, Montana possession, ballgame. He did not slice through us at that critical moment.

You forget the other 10 times he wasn't tied up. He could have scored 40 a game in the Big Sky had his coach wanted him to or had he been selfish. One thing we always wondered is why he didn't attack more. He'd let his mates get shots on 5 possessions in a row at times instead of completely dominating the ball. There was no mistaking who the best player on the floor was.

 

[Hoops watcher]

Having watched Lilliard vs the Griz and how effortlessly he sliced and diced the whole defense almost at will it gives you an idea of the next level that is NBA talent. The key is effortlessly, no wasted motion and so smooth that it looked easy when he went to the rack by the whole D or splashed a 25 footer in their face. No offense to any of these other gents mentioned but very few are that good. Can Sayeed develop his game over time to reach that level? It's a long shot but anything is possible, I suppose.

Yeah I agree I actually remember being underwhelmed by Lillard because from they hype I expected a highlight show from him, but he would end up with a easy 27pts. There was not a lot of crazy highlight shots because he was able to just glide through the defense at will and end up with easy layups, sometimes what stood out more was how bad he made the D look rather than his skill. In baseball they call it easy gas when a pitcher doesn't have go max effort and grunt to throw 98mph...Lillard had that easy power.

This is a very good analogy to describe him. You'd blink and he'd be past 3 defenders on the way to the rim and you just think at the moment he doesn't LOOK that fast, how did he do that.