Zach Edey MONSTER 30 points and 21 rebounds performance in March Madness first round

[url]https://twitter.com/DraftExpress/status/1774589213159170393[/url]

[QUOTE]Zach Edey's 40 points will draw headlines, but his defensive impact was most notable from an NBA standpoint. Helped hold Tennessee to 7 made half-court 2s, stepping outside the paint with impressive mobility and showing excellent timing contesting shots with his 7'10 wingspan.[/QUOTE]

Zach ranked 13th on ESPN's latest mock draft from Givony and Woo.

[QUOTE]Edey put forth one of the best performances in NCAA tournament history while leading Purdue to the Final Four behind the first 40-point, 15-rebound performance since Bo Kimble did so in 1990. This was a career-high scoring effort for Edey in the most important game of his college career.

Perhaps more important (and more notable from an NBA standpoint) was the way Edey shut down the paint, helping hold Tennessee to just seven made 2-pointers in the half court all game. He did an outstanding job of bothering shots with his length, coming up with several impressive possessions operating out of a drop while making the Volunteers think twice about even attempting shots with him in the vicinity.

He stepped outside the paint on several occasions showing impressive mobility in sliding his feet and 7-foot- 4 frame and continued to work hard deep into the second half while playing all but 33 seconds of the 40-minute contest. Clearly battling fatigue, Edey's defensive impact did drop off somewhat in the second half, which is concerning at the NBA level.

Beyond that, Edey's sheer skill-level catching and finishing out of the pick-and-roll, utilizing polished footwork and using both hands finishing inside the paint was impressive to see. He didn't receive anywhere near the same type of whistle as he usually does in Big Ten play, as Tennessee's big men were allowed to grab, hold, push and essentially foul him on every possession. His physicality and competitiveness playing through relentless contact was on display as he drew 22 free throws. He made some smart passes out of double-teams and got his teammates a number of easy baskets with his screening. In the paint, he dominated the offensive glass, as usual, being impossible to dislodge in front of the rim once he established position.

Already coming into this game a projected lottery pick, this was exactly the type of performance that could further propel him into the top 10 for one of the many teams that already has bought into the impact he'll surely make in the NBA. This effort also could go a long way in convincing the holdouts of just how impactful his tremendous size, length, strength, toughness, skill level and intensity can be at the next level. Edey has been viewed by most NBA teams ESPN has spoken with as a lock first-round pick for months now, but his standing has improved considerably with his late-blooming trajectory (he has only been playing basketball since age 15), competitiveness and the fact that he is still a young senior at age 21.

Edey will have another high-profile contest awaiting in Arizona against red-hot DJ Burns Jr. and NC State and, if both Purdue and UConn advance, a dream big-man matchup with Clingan in the championship game. -- Givony[/QUOTE]

ZZZZZ

How many of Edey's points were outside of 5 feet? I'm guessing zero. It will be hard to make a living just off 5 foot jump hooks in the NBA.

I've never seen any 7 footer just routinely let guys shoot inside without trying to contest. That is why he hasn't fouled out of a game in the last two years.

Tankathon moved him up from 33 to 32 in their latest mock. :lol

[QUOTE=tontoz;14896984]ZZZZZ

How many of Edey's points were outside of 5 feet? I'm guessing zero. It will be hard to make a living just off 5 foot jump hooks in the NBA.

I've never seen any 7 footer just routinely let guys shoot inside without trying to contest. That is why he hasn't fouled out of a game in the last two years.

Tankathon moved him up from 33 to 32 in their latest mock. :lol[/QUOTE]

14 of them came from 15 feet.

I think we’ll know more if UConn and Purdue meet in the final. Donovan Clingan is the only guy in college who can physically match up, and he’s a legit NBA prospect.

If Edey is able to handle that matchup I think it’ll go along way towards his stock. If Clingan wins, which would not surprise me, then he won’t be drafted in the first round at all.

[QUOTE=ShawkFactory;14897000]I think we’ll know more if UConn and Purdue meet in the final. Donovan Clingan is the only guy in college who can physically match up, and he’s a legit NBA prospect.

If Edey is able to handle that matchup I think it’ll go along way towards his stock. If Clingan wins, which would not surprise me, then he won’t be drafted in the first round at all.[/QUOTE]

It'll be interesting. Clingan is like 250 right now I think while Edey is around 295-300. Zach did well last season against Derrick Lively who is 7'1" and has a 7'7" wingspan.

[QUOTE=Im Still Ballin;14896993]14 of them came from 15 feet.[/QUOTE]

I didn't watch the game but I heard he got some cheap foul calls. His shot chart tells the story. I seriously doubt NBA teams will let him post up right in front of the rim over and over.


[IMG]https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/g195/tontoz/IMG_20240404_144059.jpg[/IMG]

Why does Edey make tontoz meltdown so hard?

[QUOTE=tontoz;14897006]I didn't watch the game but I heard he got some cheap foul calls. His shot chart tells the story. I seriously doubt NBA teams will let him post up right in front of the rim over and over.


[IMG]https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/g195/tontoz/IMG_20240404_144059.jpg[/IMG][/QUOTE]

Looks kind of like Jokic's shot chart from two years ago:

[img]https://i.ibb.co/X38z3T4/DEN-vs-IND-on-03-31-2022.png[/img]

[QUOTE=Im Still Ballin;14897009]Looks kind of like Jokic's shot chart from two years ago:

[img]https://i.ibb.co/X38z3T4/DEN-vs-IND-on-03-31-2022.png[/img][/QUOTE]



Jokic attempted almost 300 3s two years ago. Jokic has shot over 50% from 10-16 feet the last 3 years.

[QUOTE=tontoz;14897013]Jokic attempted almost 300 3s two years ago. Jokic has shot over 50% from 10-16 feet the last 3 years.[/QUOTE]

And? What's that got to do with anything?

[QUOTE=Im Still Ballin;14897017]And? What's that got to do with anything?[/QUOTE]

It means that Jokic has variety to his game. He is a good shooter from everywhere. He actually leads the fast break at times.

When Edey dribbles he looks down at the ball like a little kid. I don't see much skill. He just takes advantage of younger/ much smaller players. i don't see a lot that will translate to the NBA.

[QUOTE=tontoz;14897018]It means that Jokic has variety to his game. He is a good shooter from everywhere. He actually leads the fast break at times.[/quote]

Cool. Variety and shooting ability are features, not requirements. Shaq's offensive game was far more one-note and at his best, it could be argued to be as good as anyone's ever. Points scored are points scored; it doesn't matter how they come about as long as they do. Doesn't matter if it's a fancy fade-away shot from 16 feet or a drop-step dunk.

[QUOTE=tontoz;14897018]When Edey dribbles he looks down at the ball like a little kid. I don't see much skill. He just takes advantage of younger/ much smaller players. i don't see a lot that will translate to the NBA.[/QUOTE]

You don't see much skill because you don't understand what it is.

[QUOTE=Im Still Ballin;14897033]Cool. Variety and shooting ability are features, not requirements. Shaq's offensive game was far more one-note and at his best, it could be argued to be as good as anyone's ever. Points scored are points scored; it doesn't matter how they come about as long as they do. Doesn't matter if it's a fancy fade-away shot from 16 feet or a drop-step dunk.



You don't see much skill because you don't understand what it is.[/QUOTE]



Having watched basketball since the 70s i think i understand it pretty well. Comparing him to Shaq is laughable. Shaq had legit athleticism as well as size. Shaq made HOF bigs look like kids.

Edey is playing against actual kids. Pretty big difference.

But the real dealbreaker for me is his interior defense. The following clips are just from the first half against Gonzaga.

[video=youtube_share;alKkPc8MZgc]https://youtu.be/alKkPc8MZgc?feature=shared[/video]

[video=youtube_share;XU8uSoWTHUo]https://youtu.be/XU8uSoWTHUo?feature=shared[/video]

[video=youtube_share;S4uI3HY1ZW4]https://youtu.be/S4uI3HY1ZW4?feature=shared[/video]

[video=youtube_share;J6FQHzoyU5w]https://youtu.be/J6FQHzoyU5w?feature=shared[/video]

[video=youtube_share;7l8vP3Yswgo]https://youtu.be/7l8vP3Yswgo?feature=shared[/video]

[video=youtube_share;FwnTXOb0HMk]https://youtu.be/FwnTXOb0HMk?feature=shared[/video]