NBA Comparison: Dimitris Diamantidis (offensively), Zoran Planinic

Strengths: A combo guard with good scoring instincts and advanced passing ability … Has a natural feel for the game and is able to see plays well before they materialize, allowing him to deliver passes that seem impossible to make ... At 6'6 he has great size for a guard (as it allows him to see over top of defenders, but it also makes him a difficult matchup) … He has good potential to play in a pick and roll system, because he is good at keeping his dribble alive and drawing the rotation … Has crafty moves off the dribble, and uses his long strides to get past defenders ... Can use either hand to finish at the basket ... Split time between both guard positions, and was able to bring a nice mix of attributes to both spots … Showed the ability to operate without the ball and come off screens … Has become a better shooter from the outside, stretching his range and improving his percentages ... Solid contributor on the glass as well as in the steals department ... Plays with a lot of passion and confidence, he is not afraid of throwing difficult passes or taking big shots … Has proven that he can perform in key moments against top level collegiate competition … Continued to improve various facets of his game throughout his career …

Weaknesses: Lacks the first step to explode by defenders ... Has a hard time turning the corner, and usually has defenders riding his hip ... He is not an aggressive player and has trouble against defenders who get into his body … Not a great finisher inside, he doesn’t have great strength or body control to complete plays through contact … Can be very erratic with the ball and with his passing (taking way too many risks)... Shoots a slight set shot, which takes longer to release and allows the defense to recover ... Not a great shooter off the dribble, does not have great rhythm and elevation, which is the cause of inconsistent results from midrange ... Does not project well as a defender at the next level, lacks the lateral quickness and does not put forward much of an effort on that end ... Will have a hard time containing either guard position off the dribble … Is an arrogant player, which is sometimes a positive, but he needs to learn to control his emotions and not cross the line …

Borko Popic - 06/26/2010

Borko Popic is a lead scout/contributor to NBADraft.net. Please check out his premium website / scouting service hooprospects.com, an essential tool for Pro teams from around the world.

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