Bender vs Sabonis

[Eddie20]

These two have often been talked about and compared vs each other. However, it looks like they have met before and Bender completely dominated the matchup. This was July 2014, so Bender was 16 and Sabonis 18.


Bender     vs      Sabonis

Minutes  29 - 26
Pts         34 - 2
Reb        14 - 11
Ast         2 - 1
Stl          2 - 1
Blk         2 - 2
FG         10/14 - 1/8
FT          5/7 - 0/0
3PT        3/5  -  0/1
TO's         0 - 1

Full game
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T111y-x5Wm8

Box Score
http://www.fibaeurope.com/compID_8aYeHlfuGF-mF5IqO8aFH1.season_2014.roundID_10067.gameID_10069-B-4-2.html

[loco_91]

TP for digging this up. I don't usually advocate drawing conclusions from one game, but... this one is pretty unambiguous.

[Eddie20]

TP for digging this up. I don't usually advocate drawing conclusions from one game, but... this one is pretty unambiguous.

Bender is often criticized for his lack of playing time on his team, but it's clear that when he's playing against players more or less his age, this being an under 18 tourney, he excels.

[CFAN38]

It is also interesting to note that they had very similar stats over the entire tournament. Give the two year age difference this speaks volumes to benders talent.

[Eddie20]

It is also interesting to note that they had very similar stats over the entire tournament. Give the two year age difference this speaks volumes to benders talent.

Right. Now imagine how Bender would've done in the NCAA's and where he'd be ranked. Then you remember that due to his age he'd actually be a High School senior. Scary!

[Tr1boy]

yes 2 years ago

Where Sabonis has progressed and Bender has.....

Well we don't know


A nice Sabonis clip vs. Tennessee

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JLAcOh0wGc

Check out this link. Has like 6 or 7 Sabonis game highlights from last season. 

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC97nsfY_mBLgoiWWJq3HhpA/videos?view=0&shelf_id=0&sort=dd

[Tr1boy]

Sabonis flashing his rebounding skills. Very quality rebounder

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-fk5kHLiN9U

[meangreenmachine]

Just a few minutes watching Sabonis and you can tell he has learned a lot from his father. Even if he ends up being only half the player his father used to be, he is well worth a draft pick in the teens...

[ederson]

TP for digging this up. I don't usually advocate drawing conclusions from one game, but... this one is pretty unambiguous.

Bender is often criticized for his lack of playing time on his team, but it's clear that when he's playing against players more or less his age, this being an under 18 tourney, he excels.

Excels
Check the FIFA youth tournaments. You will find a lot of players statistically better than Bander. 

[mrceltic]

TP to the guys above. Now i hope we draft both. (I'm just probably fatigued by our bigs' weight issues)

[Spilling Green Dye]

I am starting to come around to  Bender.  Maybe most of the previous videos I watched were of bad games, etc.  The one video embedded in the article does have a key takeaway:  strong fundamentals.  As someone who grew up emulating (or at least trying to) Kevin McHale, it is nice to see a player who can finish consistently around the rim without needing to dunk it.   His outlet passes are also very good.

Still, I worry about the slowness of hit outside shot, his lack of boxing out (a key fundamental piece), and of course how skinny he is.

[Eddie20]

yes 2 years ago

Where Sabonis has progressed and Bender has.....

Well we don't know


A nice Sabonis clip vs. Tennessee

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JLAcOh0wGc

Check out this link. Has like 6 or 7 Sabonis game highlights from last season. 

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC97nsfY_mBLgoiWWJq3HhpA/videos?view=0&shelf_id=0&sort=dd

Seriously? HL videos vs Tennessee? That's weak, man.

Sabonis has definitely improved, but you can't compare his level of competition going up against players his own age and in a very weak conference to what Bender is going up against. It's one thing to be a student/athlete and it's quite another to be a professional playing and practicing against grown men. To think Bender hasn't improved since that shellacking he gave Sabonis is illogical.

[TheSundanceKid]

What impresses me with Bender is how he affects the game even though plays aren't run for him. He defends well and gets his assists. 9.06% assists while he's on the floor, not bad for a guy who in playing on the fringe of the team

[TwinTower14]

yes 2 years ago

Where Sabonis has progressed and Bender has.....

Well we don't know


A nice Sabonis clip vs. Tennessee

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JLAcOh0wGc

Check out this link. Has like 6 or 7 Sabonis game highlights from last season. 

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC97nsfY_mBLgoiWWJq3HhpA/videos?view=0&shelf_id=0&sort=dd

Seriously? HL videos vs Tennessee? That's weak, man.

Sabonis has definitely improved, but you can't compare his level of competition going up against players his own age and in a very weak conference to what Bender is going up against. It's one thing to be a student/athlete and it's quite another to be a professional playing and practicing against grown men. To think Bender hasn't improved since that shellacking he gave Sabonis is illogical.

Completely agree and I love the use of shellacking.

[TwinTower14]

I am torn on Bender and Murray. I do think there is a small chance that Bender leap frogs one of the top two. Just a hunch...

I am also of the thought now that nobody is going to touch the Cavs for the next 3 years anyway, so I would like to keep the pick and keeping building with the young.