They Were Wrong About Zach Edey...

Was Zach Edey's status as a prospect a case of "overthinking", or are there serious concerns about how his game translates to the NBA level?
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[@jayws9294]

The word generational is thrown around way too freely

[@HoopVenue]

It was arguably one of the 5 greatest college basketball seasons ever. Idk how you define generational but that feels like an acceptable label to me.

[@aallen1376]

​@@HoopVenuegot his ass

[@chuck1026]

I don’t think it is Wemby has that potential and Edey was undoubtedly a generational college player…these days players who could become that good in college go to the NBA early

[@stevenbresselsmith6906]

Every year we hear it

[@chuck1026]

@@stevenbresselsmith6906 ya because media wants to hype things up…I don’t think that takes away from either Wemby or Edey as being generational in their respective leagues last year…usually 7-4 guys are not as skilled coordinated or athletic..generally they are more like Boban

[@michaelcullen5955]

I could be wrong, but I feel like timing on shot blocking is less of an innate ability and more something you can practice just by playing and getting reps

[@EbonysUnderAttack]

I disagree

[@xgenclips]

I completely disagree, shot block timing can be practiced yes but there’s an innate ability some players have to track the ball on the floor which can translate to being a great shot blocker naturally

[@Jest3rdaclown]

JJJ can definitely help him with that ability but he has to kinda figure that out. I’m sure he’ll get it down eventually, but there’s definitely gonna be a ceiling to it. With jjj tho I’m sure his length and frame will be more than enough to be of use to the grizz.

[@Grind2Excellence]

Why does 6’4 Wade have the most blocks alll time? It’s not reps

[@Davivd2]

I'm not worried about his defense. Rudy Gobert has similar mobility and nobody ever complains about it. I know that Rudy really makes up for it with his strengths, Edey's strengths are similar and he's a rookie. He'll learn. What I am concerned about is his offense. Zach Edey is fools gold. Can he set screens and get offense rebounds? Yes. But that's all he's going to give Memphis. I've watched him play 3 games and EVERY basket that he scored was from a drop pass into the dunker spot, or from a post up. None of his post ups shown here are with Ja Morant on the floor.Ja Morant was 4th in the league in usage rate before his suspension. This team is going to go through Ja for offense. That means Edey is not posting up, clogging up the lane for Morant. Edey will set screens and not get a whole lot of pick and roll touches (he's got a lot of growing to do as the roll man). Edey will also get drop passes and lobs in the dunker spot. He will get offensive rebound put backs. His post up game will not happen at all when Ja is on the floor. I expect him to be a Steven Adams 2.0 it's 2024, not 1994. Post up touches are not going to go to him in the regular season. Also, I'm going to reveal my age here a bit and tell a story. Coaches like to decide what a player is going to be and put them in a box. Players can either live in that box, or be so damn amazing that they don't listen to their coach, and get some back up from management to keep doing what they do, and then the coach gets fired and the player can thrive. Case in point: Kurt Thomas. He was another generational big man in college. He averaged 30 points per game in division one college. That's almost unheard of. Kareem Abdul Jabbar type of college numbers. He also fell in the draft. What's really crazy was that this was in the 90's when post play was big, but I digress. The Knicks got Thomas in the late first round. I watched every Knicks game that I could the following season, thinking that Thomas was going to be the steal of the draft. He never got into the game. Finally, one game late into the season, with Patrick Ewing out due to injuries and foul trouble (IIRC Someone else got injured mid game too) Jeff Van Gundy had to put Tomas in the game. Thomas goes straight to the block, posts up, and scores. Van Gundy glares at him. Next time down, Thomas on the block, posts up and shoots. Van Gundy is yelling at him. Thomas goes like 3 for 4 over the next 8 possessions or so. Van Gundy is pissed. He yanks Thomas from the game. Kurt Thomas played 20 years in the NBA. All that he ever did was rebound and shoot put backs on offensive boards. This is exactly what is going to happen to Zach Edey.

[@DNOTE831]

Youre worried about his offense but hes the 5th option anyway so who cares?

[@WorldWideWeasel]

in Memphis and Ja defense, Ja didn't play a lot of preseason game maybe 3-4 games. Also Ja only played about 20 mins a piece give or take a minute. A lot of times Ja and Edey weren't on the court together either. Edey got a lot of play with Yuki and Jaylen Wells. Few runs with Desmond Bane as well. I have a few reason on why that was the case - but i think your overacting on preseason. First couple of games the Grizz admitted they needed to use Edey more. Notice in game 3 or 4 the ball was coming to him more and he had more post up. Keep in mind the last time this team had a big that can score (A center) was with Jonas V...That was like 5 years ago.. so they have to get use to having a big man threat in the paint to feed.

[@imray9400]

With all your basketball knowledge and film breakdown you should make your perfect starting 5

[@NoaSukai]

keep an eye out for Yuki and Edey they’re the asian Kobe and Shaq

[@cheap272]

Shame we will never see the nets version of ben simmons and killian hayes

[@opiniononion]

Edey is asian?

[@S3verusMyG]

@@opiniononion Look at him bru

[@leomarlonestrada5954]

@@opiniononion His mother is Chinese.

[@sandman7883]

Nah, more so like John Stockton and the mailman

[@douglindauer7327]

Best analysis of Edey that I've seen. Thanks for the good work. As far as Edey goes, one thing that everyone seems to miss is his trajectory of improvement. He is going to work on every aspect of his game and improve it, and fix those areas if you can go by what he's done every year for the last 6 years ( or whatever it is) since he started playing basketball. Plus it seems like he can be a genuine 3 pt threat. He'll start hitting a couple of them every game, if they get the ball to him. He's smart and he listens and he's got the raw ability. I expect to see him in the all star game either this year or next. We all just hope he stays healthy. He played a lot of minutes every night at Purdue, 30+ I believe, and he never missed a game for injury. He'll get more and more minutes as the season wears on. I expect a double double every night. We'll see, right?

[@sachinabsolum6083]

another thing to note is how quickly he is improving. only started playing basketball mid high school, went from practically not contributing first year of college to ending as one of the most dominant college players ever. I think he could take another jump again in the next 2-3 years

[@uJcei]

Bingo. Remember the clowning he got his freshman and sophomore year🤣he was so goofy. And then just like that he became a beast. He’s well worth the pick and ‘risk’ grizzlies took on him

[@Mrpostman1567]

Edey is a baller

[@godenhwang2603]

About his defense, I do think guys like Chet and Wendy are better defenders by a lot. But against the few post juggernauts like Jokic and Embiid I think Edey will do better. Like I have no idea how Jokic will attack Edey in the post, of course Jokic has his ways so I’m not sure.

[@dboii9741]

Jokic is still gonna try and be physical and find a way because he’s one of best offensive players we’ve seen

[@Greenbean-g7c]

@@dboii9741i don’t think physically Jokic is gonna be able to dominate edey but who knows

[@bobthabuilda1525]

Jokic will play him like he does Wemby: he will use floaters to neutralize the height/length advantage. Jokic has great touch and if Wemby and Gobert can’t stop him no one really will

[@Davivd2]

It's funny. Jokic likes to use his weight to play bully ball, but when he runs into one of the few physical defenders in the league, he doesn't like it. I can still remember what Dwight Howard did to him in the playoffs. Then again, Jokic can step out and shoot 3's on Edey all day long. He didn't really have a 3 point game in 2020 on the level that he does now.

[@Greenbean-g7c]

@@Davivd2 yeah I agree. How much does edey weight compare to Jokic?

[@akwesirobinson1710]

If he learns and master the sky hook he going to dominate

[@mrevilducky]

I've been hearing comments like this for 30 years. It's never going to happen bud

[@Nerdlikehistory]

@@mrevilduckyhe already has a very efficient hook shoot

[@clouddueitt6577]

@@mrevilducky”Joel Embiid at home:” type of template fr

[@RCHAMPION615]

He would dominate but he wouldn't be unstoppable. Wemby with a skyhook though....

[@judith7727]

Notable Matchups edey won against on film Derick lively(college) Walker Kessler Nikola Vucevic Donovan clingan Jamarion Sharp Myles Turner James Wiseman

[@clouddueitt6577]

😭 that Myles Turner dunk will live on for a while even if edey doesn’t develop

[@maco34576]

nice analysis, SUBBED broski

[@tonydavis6487]

@9:34 Edey was definitely throwing those elbows like the big man Shaq. Gafford got leveled 😂

[@thebreakdown8843]

Great video Papi Venue

[@jaaacktractive]

12:07 "I'm gonna pass it. I'll really pass! Ok pass."

[@PhilDavisplus]

Edey is a no-brainer. He takes up a lot of space in the paint and those long arms are enough to get a driver to think again. I think he has tremendous potential.

[@leomarlonestrada5954]

Edey is a victim of the stupidity of the current trend. For one thing, I believe that there is something fundamentally wrong with a team's defense if the center is being forced into a situation to defend a guard in the perimeter. A center's job is to defend the lane and the rim. That is it. Edey has a better upside compared to the Number 1 and Number 2 picks from the 2024 draft.

[@skdog3_385]

Great video HV, what do you think Edey’s ceiling Is, 5-6 years from now barring health?

[@geechiedan68]

I think there is a more growth coming in Eddy game. He only started playing in high school.... He is still learning the game. I think either the passing or shooting will develop in the next couple years. I think he will be a solid starter in the NBA for a long time.

[@alexwersch3961]

Make a breakdown on Donovan Clingan please!!!!

[@alreadytookenname]

I hope he ends up as a more defensive/offensive capable steven Adams type player.

[@crisispizzza]

in what world is timing not something you can improve on

[@Yo4Sho901]

Im so glad Memphis grabbed him. He was my mock pick for the Grizzlies

[@MsJohnks]

Most of the "good defensive possesions" are against rotational players. Is easier to defend Mathurin and Turner pick n roll, that Haliburton and turner for example or Olivier Maxence Prosper as a handler than Luka. He was not so great against starting fives even at preseason. And of course it's essential the handler not to be a good shooter, because "under" at screens is the only option for Edey

[@zainsyed9050]

I feel like you can get better and learn how to time blocks over time. Definitely a skill Edey will learn as he gets more reps.

[@Brickwilliams]

Edey is a monster, only concern is injuries

[@coffinblind]

lane defence going up

[@lexthanexpected]

Leagues gone too far away from big bodies. Talking head media got everyone brainwashed thinking huge dudes without modern shooting/handles like Gobert are detrimental to a roster, even when he wins a DPOY and helped his team to a WCF. Will be interesting to see Zach against some bigger bodies in the regular season. Pacers, Mavs and Heat arent huge teams, even Vuc isn’t a 7 footer. Excited to see him against his peers.

[@bfrost7]

bro if i was a 7'4 center the first move i would master would be the dream shake, then the hook shot. how do you go through high school and college and not learn these if you're that tall at that age.

[@wompwomp-22-celtics]

3:13 nah he just missed😔

[@corn204]

I can't believe Edey can basketball and here's why!

[@insanepolygon]

High basketball IQ and skills will trump athleticism anyday. Just look at James Wiseman. Even a crappy Pistons team has moved on from him. Phoenix and Sacramento could have drafted Doncic, but didn't because they thought he wasn't athletic enough and drafted Ayton and draft bust Marvin Bagley. Nikola Jokic was drafted 41st in the second round. Timberwolves passed on Curry twice to draft 2 point guards that are not even in the league anymore.

[@malooch]

“They” are usually wrong.

[@DMaintain]

The next Steven Adam

[@dboii9741]

Edey will be fine in the league his rim protection is good, he will get exploited at times just because he is naturally slow footed but he will be good plus he’s gonna have triple J ready to swat a ball into the stands from the weak side.

[@20cs65]

Zach edey’s floor is Rudy gobert

[@GreaterSociety]

The so caled experts were wrong. But i wasnt

[@jenevielcudao5418]

He greater than Wemby

[@Kevzlegit]

1 in 5 men suffer from Edey.

[@jenevielcudao5418]

He will destroy Wemby

[@frz_-]

ROTY

[@lukeypukey9843]

tall ahh sneako hooping

[@EchoDragonHawk]

I can’t unsee it now 😭

[@j0llyl257]

We got a rudy gobert regen

[@cheap272]

Out of the lottery was pretty crazy by some people but i still refuse to believe he will ever be healthy enough to be a starting center on a contender beyond 1 or 2 lucky years

[@joachimfoxwell]

😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@crocowithaglocko5876]

Why is that I’m simply curious about your opinion

[@michaelstevens3959]

He’s been an iron man up to this point, as long as he stays controlled and plays off two feet I think he could have a healthy career

[@icongotyou1408]

@@crocowithaglocko5876I’m waiting on this myself

[@KatCombat]

This guy played hockey as a teenager his body can hold up to nba physicality

[@wompwomp-22-celtics]

second

[@Flizop]

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