How Much ‘Ya Bench? The Pre-Draft Combine Results Are In
Photo. Chad GriffithWe love it when the results of the NBA Pre-Draft combine are released. It’s always entertaining when guys are consistenly measured out to be 2-3 inches shorter than they’ve been listed at in college, always banishing a handful of players into that “‘tweener” realm.
But the best part for us? The results of the vert tests and the bench press. (You might remember last year’s combine, where Kevin Durant got a zero on the bench). DraftExpress has all the results and analysis from Orlando HERE (make sure you click on the first link to get the breakdown grid).
Some quick initial reactions to the results:
Michael Beasley only measured out to 6-7 without shoes. Not great for him.
Patrick Ewing Jr. has this draft class’ best vert with a 42″ leap … but he only put up 185 lbs. twice.
Joe Alexander is an animal. He put up 185 24 times and at 6-7, has a 38.5″ inch vertical.
We’re disappointed in Joey Dorsey. The guys is built like Optimus Prime but only did 185 lbs. 19 times.
June 5th, 2008 at 12:59 pm
Jeffrey says:
1st. Yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Finally!!!
By the way, I don’t care about the pre-draft results. I care about the nba results as in how he does in the association.
June 5th, 2008 at 1:03 pm
Jas says:
The results don’t make much sense. OJ Mayo has a bigger vertical than Derrick Rose. How could that be?
June 5th, 2008 at 1:07 pm
shake&bake says:
It’s always interesting to see what these guys test at. Alexander is a man. I’m just happy the NBA doesn’t put as much into the combine as the NFL does.
June 5th, 2008 at 1:10 pm
Jim says:
Man, Alexander is a beast, wow. Burn some couches in Morgantown.
As far as the vertical, Jas, I don’t think it’s that accurate of a test of your ability to get up in game situations. For what it’s worth I had a roommate who consistently had a good 2 or 3 inches less than me who was my height but he could get off in traffic and off the bounce a lot better than I could. Maybe my pigmentation limited my ability to convert on anything but dropsteps and fastbreaks…
June 5th, 2008 at 1:14 pm
djKianoosh says:
@Jim, LOL. nice one.
I always thought Beasley was more a tweener than a power forward. I think I said this a while back, he could be a devastating wing player if he develops a consistent outside shot.
June 5th, 2008 at 1:15 pm
yallallreadyknow says:
is there anything more meaningless in the draft(ee) process than this?
dime…tell us some more important shit…
…like is anyone going to do a joakim noah and wear a raggidy bow tie on draft night?
June 5th, 2008 at 1:18 pm
Kobeef says:
Ok - let’s just all accept that numbers aren’t everything and that there are pleny of freak athletes that do jack in the NBA…BUT…they are something.
My top 5 observations from the combine:
1. Where are CDR and Brandon Rush? These guys are the best “prototype” SG’s in the draft (both are 6′6″ or 6′7″ solid athletes and solid shooters) butt they were both no-shows?
2. Before you jump on the hype-wagon about Beasley being short keep in mind that he is a bit taller than Carmelo and just a bit shorter (less than an inch) than Al Horford who are starting SF’s and C’s in the NBA…which logically means Beasley can be a starting PF.
3. Brook Lopez and DeAndre Jordan have surprisingly similar results for guys that are supposed to be at opposite ends of the athlete spectrum (Jordan turns out to be less dwight howard and more Andrew Bynum)
4. OJ Mayo is always labeled as overhyped but his results clearly place him as one of the elite combo-guards in the draft. I could see Mayo in NY.
5. Jerryd Bayless has a body like a t-Rex. I know numbers aren’t everything but with his TJ Ford-esque wingspan he better learn to be a PG if he wants to stay in the NBA.
June 5th, 2008 at 1:40 pm
Remy Nguyen says:
What about the “Jordan Factor”, the ability to take over a game?
How is that measured?
Who have and who does not?
June 5th, 2008 at 1:46 pm
MoxWestCoastRep says:
I’m calling for Joe Alexander to be tested for HGH.
Wow
June 5th, 2008 at 1:57 pm
K Dizzle says:
“only” 19?
Is that a disappointment?
June 5th, 2008 at 2:01 pm
MoxWestCoastRep says:
K diz- let’s bust some Celtic ass tonight!
Go Lake show
June 5th, 2008 at 2:01 pm
marcus the great says:
lol @ benched 185 ONLY 19 times. lol i understand you expect him to do more but damn. how many times can YOU put up 185?? i’m at around 5-8 times so i’m impressed
June 5th, 2008 at 2:14 pm
jimmhumm says:
Kobeef I understand what your saying but that’s based on system. Also Beasely and Melo are two entirely different players. As far as Beas’ being a PF it can work look at Larry Johnson or Elton Brand. However busts like Chris Porter (6′5) do happen. It depends on the player and his build. LJ was built like a truck. CPorter was like 215 dripping wet.
June 5th, 2008 at 2:21 pm
Wikipedia says:
I don’t understand what’s the deal when these guys go out there and can barely get 2 reps on the bench test, especially the post players. What are they doing all year in preparation for the draft camp? Eating twinkies?
How about Ty Lawson getting 14 reps? Two times more than Javale McGee, Brook Lopez and DeAndre Jordan.
June 5th, 2008 at 2:25 pm
doc says:
Too bad lifting weights dont equate to game on the court.
June 5th, 2008 at 2:28 pm
Wikipedia says:
It doesn’t but it helps. It helps you finish that and one when getting bumped in the air and it helps you from getting bumped off the ball when Bruce Bowen puts that hand check on you when trying to beat him off the dribble.
June 5th, 2008 at 2:32 pm
Diego says:
@Kobeef
Horford is not that short.
June 5th, 2008 at 2:36 pm
christian b says:
knicks should pick up joe alexander
June 5th, 2008 at 2:40 pm
bigdoggchad says:
Horford is 1.5″ taller than Beasley but their wingspan and standing reach are almost identical. So beasley will be fine he has long arms.
June 5th, 2008 at 2:42 pm
Chuck...Haters come in all fashions and forms so bear arms says:
Numbers aren’t everything, but trust me, it helps going to the rack when you have a 40′ vertical and can jump over your man any time you want! O.J. Mayo and Alexander are in some good shape and I like alexanders attitude regarding the game and wanting to put in that work.
@Jas
A 40′ vertical still ain’t nuttin to cough at homey!
FYI everyone
Rose is going first in the draft. Beasley isn’t as big OR athletic as everyone thought!
6′8 with a 35 inch vertical! I thought dude was AT LEAST in the 40′ the way dude be booming!
June 5th, 2008 at 2:46 pm
DaPro says:
No doubt numbers alone shouldn’t be used to gauge a player
Beas is a solid athlete and has a nice j
He might struggle to get his shot over taller players but he will adjust
June 5th, 2008 at 3:01 pm
doc says:
In the league when you jump you arent going off the vert most the time anyway.And a dude who lifted the bar 0 times averaged 20 so it dosent mean shit.
June 5th, 2008 at 3:04 pm
Kobeef says:
Al Horford = 6′9.75 with shoes and has a wingspan of 7′0.75 and a standing reach of 8′11
B’easy = 6′8.25 with shoes and has a wingspan of 7′0.25 and standing reach of 8′11
If Horford can average a double-double playing C in the NBA then B’easy can play PF. That said, the more I hear the more I think Miami might trade B’easy for a veteran player and Elton Brand is high on the list. Clippers could re-build with Thornton, B’easy, Kaman and Eric Gordon.
Rose’s numbers are awesome. Look for Hinrich to be moved and Chicago to look to a young-core of Rose, Deng, Tyrus, Smokaim Noah and Larry Hughes as the future.
June 5th, 2008 at 3:12 pm
Chuck...Haters come in all fashions and forms so bear arms says:
@Kobeef
You know how the NBA Gm’s are though?
You know they ain’t thinkin as clear as you are.
Clearly Miami wants Rose and isn’t really enthusiastic about picking up Beasley and YES you are right they should trade him for the vet they want in Brand if that’s the case.
And I now believe that Chicago should pick up Rose and trade Kirk for a forward who can score in the post and just resign Duhon. But somehow someway Riles and Paxson gone mess it up!
So those rosters you postin ain’t gone see the light of day!
June 5th, 2008 at 3:17 pm
Diego says:
Definitely could see Chicago taking Rose and trying to move Hinrich. If they can move Hinrich, they potentially could save a lot of $ too.
June 5th, 2008 at 3:22 pm
Chuck...Haters come in all fashions and forms so bear arms says:
@Diego
That’s what I was thinking. Hinrich is still a good pg, I just think dude was trying to do too much last year with the olympics and all that, and all that chicago had going on last year as far as distractions. I could see him in Indiana. If Jermaine O’neal wasn’t so injury prone lately that would be a nice trade if you added in a few peices.
June 5th, 2008 at 3:23 pm
DaPro says:
Hortford has a more refined post game and plays better with his back to the basket than B’easy
B’easy can extend the defense, I think someone mentioned DC before and I can see B’easy becoming what everyone wanted DC to become
June 5th, 2008 at 3:34 pm
Chuck...Haters come in all fashions and forms so bear arms says:
@doc
he averaged 20 cause he was the only option.
They had NO other scorers at all!
We’ll see what he does this year. I say Durant doesn’t average more than 18, he’s also a defensive liability because of his size. Look up how many points he gave up every night for the person he’s defending.
June 5th, 2008 at 3:43 pm
Chuck...Haters come in all fashions and forms so bear arms says:
@doc
Rudy gay 25 and 10 11/7
Carmelo 32 on 10/31
he played SG against heat 11/14 Ricky Buckets dropped 19
12/19 he played SG against Hornets Mo pete dropped 25.
These are just random stats I’m throwin out. Dude is too weak LITERALLY to hold anybody in the L, he scored 20, but so what if you can’t hold ANYBODY in the league. His strength needs to significantly improve if he’s going to be a REAL force in the league at BOTH ends, and he lacks exactly what was portrayed at the pre draft workout. Strength.
June 5th, 2008 at 4:04 pm
Kobeef says:
@Chuck
The Heinrich to Indiana scenario is really interesting.
That would be a good move for both teams; Indiana gets a real PG (finally) and Chicago get a real low-post scorer in O’Neal. Chicago would need to add something (Gooden?). Starting 5’s:
PG = Rose
SG = Hughes
SF = Deng
PF = Tyrus
C = O’Neal
Indiana
PG - Heinrich
SG - Dunleavy
SF - Granger
PF - Gooden
C - Murphy
June 5th, 2008 at 4:19 pm
DaPro says:
That if JO goes back to playing on the block
He has become more of a jump shooter from 15 in because of the injuries, still luv his defense though
June 5th, 2008 at 4:54 pm
Chuck...Haters come in all fashions and forms so bear arms says:
@Kobeef
You know Celts made an interesting point one day about hughes. Dude is a shooting guard that can’t shoot.
What can you do with that?
He can play some D, but I never knew his shooting percentages were as low as they were until I did some research and dude really can’t shoot.
Chicago needs to try and package him with any deal they plan on doing, he would be good as a perimeter defender but that’s really it. Not to mention he stays hurt.
June 5th, 2008 at 4:55 pm
Kudabeen says:
Don’t forget that Alexander also posted the second fastest times getting up and down the court..Faster than Rose, Mayo, etc. Pretty sick.
These numbers say more about the players work ethic than anything else. I see a guy like Joe is a gym rat with talent, I snatch him up. He was my sleeper from a while back.
On the same Draftexpress.com site didn’t they scout Mayo as not being an elite athlete? I know I read that from some “expert” there or on espn. 41 inch vert isn’t elite?
On the benching thing:
It doesn’t determine strength so much as it shows that a player has the technique to bench. I don’t think Garnett would bench more than 8. Does that make him weak? I’ve never been big on that. Some guys have mirror muscles and others actually go on the floor and produce. That’s just the way it is. Personally I’ve never felt comfort benching after getting a little taller. When I was 5′8 5′10 I was much better at it. then my arms got longer and it is physically uncomfortable before it gets tiresome. I know it’s technique, but it’s just not a priority. I have also carried refrigerators up and down stairs unassisted. We use different muscles to do what we do.
I wish we could watch the combine. I have a feeling that guys were not going all out, but wish I could see it like the NFL combine. If a guy like Dorsey got up 19 reps, but finished strong and got up with looking too fatigued you know he had more in him and can gauge is desire…
Joe Alexander, Best Athlete in the Draft…
Who predicted that?
June 5th, 2008 at 5:07 pm
doc says:
chuck Melo had 32 and Rudy Gay had 25 so that means he weak?If he was the only option that means he’s the shit.He wont average 18 next year?You must be the only one that know Kobe going there next year because thats the only way that happens.
June 5th, 2008 at 5:11 pm
Kobeef says:
@Kubadeen
I won’t get into it but there are real, physical reasons why it is harder for guys with longer arms to bench so you need to think about that when you look at someone like Dorsey who has really long arms. One reason is that the distance is longer for a guy with long arms.
@Chuck
Hughes is more of a scoring guard than shooting guard but he still gets the job done and brings some other things to the table that make up for it (passing, D, rebounds). He averaged 22- 5- 6 in Washington so he can play. Hughes and Crawford are two of my favourite SG’s in the league because they are old-school do-it all ballplayers.
June 5th, 2008 at 5:18 pm
Kudabeen says:
What I posed was at hypothetical on what being able to see guys perform would mean. I was using Dorsey as an example because for some reason people was questioning his effort… I know about the physical reasons associated with benching, but I also know that it is not a prime measure of bball strength and performance. These guys aren’t linemen.
I would put more on a big man’s vert and how much he squats more than his bench numbers, but maybe it’s just me. 19 is an awesome number for Joey, I just want to see it…
June 5th, 2008 at 8:29 pm
Chuck says:
@doc
my whole point was that he needed to step his D up and get stronger, dude is 6′9, you think he gone be playin d on chris paul or something?
June 5th, 2008 at 11:41 pm
daquest?on a.k.a Heavy Artillery says:
i told yall m beasly was 6 7