[Dazzling Dunks and Basketball BloopersParticipant]

In 1985 Mark Eaton blocked 456 shots, a mark that has not been challenged since, and until recently I never imagined would be. Over the past 2 decades, as the floor has become more spread and moved away from the basket, the prevalence of blocks has generally gone down and the shot-blocking specialist (ex. Eaton, manute bol, Shawn Bradley, etc.) has basically vanished from the league. While I believe, wemby will be far from a shot-blocking specialist, I believe he will obliterate the record books when it comes to this stat.
While most blocks occur near the basket, Wemby is unique in that he has the ability to block shots basically all over the floor, with his combination of length, movement and instincts. He will not only be able to swat dunks and layups, but also threes, mid-range and floaters. Shots guys used to think were not blockable will suddenly become very blockable when he’s on the floor. It will fascinating to see how teams and players will adjust to something they’ve never seen before. I don’t think 500-600 blocks in a season (or possibly even more) is out of the question for this guy if he can stay healthy enough.
I’m still not quite sure how the rest of his game will translate, but I’m almost certain that this guy will be the greatest shot-blocker in modern nba history at least from virtually the second he steps on the floor.

[HitsterParticipant]

The likes of Bol, Eaton and Bradley were blocking specialists when the vast majority of scoring was done in the post area as you say. But I’d much more think of Wemby as a player like say Hakeem than as those great defensive anchor specialists. How even great defensive players like Mount Muitombo would have coped in the modern NBA has been questioned let alone the specialist defensive guys.

Of the defensive greats its often said Ben Wallace with his smaller height and strength would have had the speed to have been the most effective shot blocker of them in the modern NBA. I was looking at Dennis Rodman’s stats and despite being one of the best rebounders ever, he blocked relatively few shots. But Wemby’s build is much more like Rodman’s than Big Ben’s so could he be a similar threat on rebounds.

I’ll be most interested to see how Wemby’s presence on court will affect the 3 point shooter, will they have to alter their arc with him on court or even the taller guys on the team take the 3 point shots. I can see Pop looking to employ a big body in the paint alongside Wemby so they can do the banging and Wemby can float in and out of the paint.

Whether he can beat Mark Eaton’s record I don’t know but if he stays sound I’d probably back him more to reach 3k career blocks. Hakeem’s record would be an even greater feat but if he could top the one season record or get near to it a few times it might be possible.

[HitsterParticipant]

When Wemby blocked Kyrie on virtually the first play I was thinking you called it perfectly Dazzling Dunks.

Wemby’s debut wasn’t ground shattering but we saw his 3 point range, his ability to pick up the alley oop or anything near the basket to tip in or catch and get a shot in. If he does get his version of the sky hook going he can totally dominate. Then how do you guard him a guy anywhere near his size would not be able to keep up with him and soon get into foul trouble and a smaller guy who can match him speedwise and back into him Wemby can still shoot over him.

[HitsterParticipant]

Wemby is looking scarily good at both ends of the court so far and typically the team I support have been on the receiving end.

[Author]

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