OT: - DraftExpress's Jonathan Givony on Alex Karaban | Page 2 | The Boneyard
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OT: DraftExpress's Jonathan Givony on Alex Karaban

HooperScooper said:
Why would you say he hasn't been efficient at UConn? Please explain. Last year he wasn't but his first 2 years and this year so far he's been pretty efficient.
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I think I was thinking of his yearly 3 point shooting slumps he goes on which I guess didn’t affect his yearly averages all too much.

He hasn’t been a 50/40 guy (even though he’s been close), which should be the bar he wants to hit to have the efficiency necessary to make a way at the next level. So far so good on that this year.
 
REB1094 said:
Maybe I’m being a debbie downer but I don’t think Karaban’s NBA profile has really changed at all since his sophomore year. Stretch 4 that is a great passer and very smart player who always knows where to be. Limited athletically and defensively (although his defense has improved every year)

So if he was a fringe first round pick after sophomore year and probably somewhere between 30-40 after junior year, not sure why he’d jump into the top 20 now unless he pops off in March and plays himself up a few spots like Hawkins and Andre did
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He’s a 2nd rd pick but I don’t see him getting real nba PT his game just doesn’t translate… wonder if he’s eligible for a 5th yr
 
HuskyHawk said:
My main concern with Alex comes from what @aceboon mentioned above. He's not quick enough to defend 1s or 2s. Many NBA 3s would blow by him but there are enough less athletic shooters in the league that he can get by. Then there's 4s, where he gives up a lot of size and athleticism to many of them. You like him on LeBron? Giannis? Banchero? Mobley?

I don't see any position where he'd be an average or better NBA defender. So his offense would need to be really special. I truly hope he has a long, successful career, but I wouldn't be surprised if most of it is in Europe, where I think his game fits better.
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Why would he be playing against starting 4s? He will be a backup 4 who will play against backup opposing 4s. If Sam Hauser can carve out a backup spot I'm sure Alex can too.
 
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HW611 said:
And even with Cam he has to be a 50/40/90 guy to do this.

Karaban hasn’t shown to be a very efficient player during his time here which would be absolutely needed if he wants a chance at the next level.
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Cam for his areer in college (half against much lower competition than Karaban) was only a 46.8/41.7/87.8 in college. He never was about 50% in college, though he did have four years about 40% and one about 90% from the FT line.

Karaban is currently at 47.6/38.2/84.5. He's not far off Cam's college stats against much better competition (SC- and SH- are actually pretty identical).
 
When you really watch us play it becomes obvious that Alex is our Most Important Player. He's our leader who knows Hurley and staff game strategies and is charged with running the team or at least ensuring that everyone is where they need to be.

He is our Kemba/Bazz/Taliek leader. He is sacrificing points to make sure our team has the best shot (assist). He boxes out his man so he can't rebound allowing another teammate to get the board (and credit).

He is not concerned about numbers other than the team's victory. As senior he has the green light, and the right to be selfish if he wanted to and no one could question it. He's not playing like that, he's our coach on the floor, motivating, instructing, correcting and challenging his teammates. He takes what the defense gives him with efficiency.

I really believe Alex is indispensable (MIP) and the one player we need playing to win the Championship. We can win without Mullins, Reed and even Ball. But without Alex I really doubt we can go all the way.

Just saying he's a 2x Champion and the oldest and most experienced player on the court in every game, and he's ours. Enjoy this college version of a D1 player because Alex is rare and takes me back to the 80s when Seniors ruled.
 
3rdbass said:
Why would he be playing against starting 4s? He will be a backup 4 who will play against backup opposing 4s. If Sam Hauser can carve out a backup spot I'm sure Alex can too.
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Because backups don't just get matched with other backups. Hauser turned himself into at least an average defender and is quicker than Alex and honestly a better shooter. But he's not as strong and isn't as good around the basket or rebounding. I am super hopeful that Alex, freed from being the target of defenses, will use his savvy and skills to become an NBA player. He can, I just worry about his defense.
 
HungryHu5ky said:
He’s a 2nd rd pick but I don’t see him getting real nba PT his game just doesn’t translate… wonder if he’s eligible for a 5th yr
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he's 23 years old and will have been 4.5 years, let it go
 
caw said:
Cam for his areer in college (half against much lower competition than Karaban) was only a 46.8/41.7/87.8 in college. He never was about 50% in college, though he did have four years about 40% and one about 90% from the FT line.

Karaban is currently at 47.6/38.2/84.5. He's not far off Cam's college stats against much better competition (SC- and SH- are actually pretty identical).
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Didn't realize that AK finished the 2024 regular season at 50/40/90, the postseason brought him below. I think the other 50/40/90 player referenced in the graphic for that season was also Cam.

 
REB1094 said:
Maybe I’m being a debbie downer but I don’t think Karaban’s NBA profile has really changed at all since his sophomore year. Stretch 4 that is a great passer and very smart player who always knows where to be. Limited athletically and defensively (although his defense has improved every year)

So if he was a fringe first round pick after sophomore year and probably somewhere between 30-40 after junior year, not sure why he’d jump into the top 20 now unless he pops off in March and plays himself up a few spots like Hawkins and Andre did
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I think Karaban’s game has come together this year. From a basketball perspective it is great what he contributes in ways many may not fully appreciate. With the addition of Mullins he has the luxury of taking what the game gives him without having to force or rush things. His defense is also much better than during his first two years. He just needs to fine a fit on a pro team in which he can continue in his current role.
 
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aceboon said:
Didn't realize that AK finished the 2024 regular season at 50/40/90, the postseason brought him below. I think the other 50/40/90 player referenced in the graphic for that season was also Cam.

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AK really feasted on the cupcakes in 2023-2024 shooting 72 out of 113
64% fg's against the cupcakes Northern Arizona, Stonehill, Mississippi Valley State, Manhattan, New Hampshire, Arkansas Pine-Bluff, DePaul 2×, Georgetown 2×, Stetson. He shot 119-271 fg's 44% against the non-cupcake schedule in 2023-2024.
 
HuskyHawk said:
Because backups don't just get matched with other backups. Hauser turned himself into at least an average defender and is quicker than Alex and honestly a better shooter. But he's not as strong and isn't as good around the basket or rebounding. I am super hopeful that Alex, freed from being the target of defenses, will use his savvy and skills to become an NBA player. He can, I just worry about his defense.
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He makes up for his lack of athleticism with good anticipation and length. I think he would do good guarding NBA 4s. I think 3s would be too quick for him but I would never underestimate his drive to succeed.
 
3rdbass said:
He makes up for his lack of athleticism with good anticipation and length. I think he would do good guarding NBA 4s. I think 3s would be too quick for him but I would never underestimate his drive to succeed.
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His defense has also very noticeably improved each season at UConn. Combined with him continuing to get physically stronger, I could definitely see him holding his own guarding NBA forwards.
 
3rdbass said:
He makes up for his lack of athleticism with good anticipation and length. I think he would do good guarding NBA 4s. I think 3s would be too quick for him but I would never underestimate his drive to succeed.
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With Karaban I keep thinking of the saying good things happen to good people. So some how, some way I think Karaban is going to make it in the NBA.
 
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