Pops Mensah-Bonsu Could Be The NBA’s Best Shot Blocker
With no disrespect to Josh Smith, Pops Mensah-Bonsu could be the NBA’s best shot blocker. While it’s tough to crack the leader board averaging 7.3 minutes per game, Pops has been killing it the past four games – including two blocks in two minutes against the Hawks, and another two against the Rockets (the team that dropped him after four games earlier this season). Now I’m not saying that Mensah-Bonsu is an All-Star, but in his biggest appearance of the year (24 minutes in a preseason game against his current squad), he did log five blocks to go along with 17 points and seven boards. Check out the following two videos – blocks of Joel Anthony & David Andersen – and tell me that he shouldn’t play.
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December 17th, 2009 at 8:09 pm
Rizwan says:
Not saying he would crack everyone’s rotation but why the fuck do Toronto, who need all the help they can get with interior toughness and D overall, not play him more often!
December 17th, 2009 at 8:17 pm
Scott says:
Fans in Toronto have been saying this for a long time. Though in all fairness Amir Johnson has played fairly solid positional D this year, and has been one of the bright spots off a horrid bench.
Still Pops should get a lot more burn, dude has that grit and intensity they’re missing.
I feel like we’re the Mavs during Dirks first few years. Bosh is already gone, and if this becomes Bargs team, man I hope he brings it harder.
December 17th, 2009 at 8:27 pm
@home says:
Pops has been getting a little more burn of late – but still, he does not know what’s up.
He has the motor and the bunnies but has no clue whats going down defensively on the average possession – he helps on everything leaving corner shooters on the regular.
I also would not call him quite the offensive liability but he tends to forget that he is the 5th option on the floor.
If he ever learns his role he would be a serviceable 8-9 man off the bench (and that’s pushing it)….
December 17th, 2009 at 8:56 pm
Bron42 aka Had Springs before slamball says:
Nothin new, anyone who saw him a gw or London knows this is what he does. His offense is just suspect but like people said on a soft team like that raptors he should be gettin more burn.
December 17th, 2009 at 9:07 pm
TomGfromCanada says:
i agree, pops need more pt
December 17th, 2009 at 9:15 pm
Pet Society Help says:
Highlight blocks, but too bad there’s no free safety or rover position in basketball, that would be his for the taking.
December 17th, 2009 at 9:37 pm
Irishballer says:
pops could do it with a little more pt, but birdman holds the crown as the nba’s best shot blocker
December 17th, 2009 at 10:22 pm
Jake says:
Man! My boy Joel got hurt on that one. Joel Anthony is occasionaly on the end of some of those, however he doles em out to. I’m watching the Heat play Orlando right now, and he just made Gortat shed a tear.
Go Heat
December 17th, 2009 at 11:22 pm
dave says:
pops looks good in those vids..but im wonderin if tats it??
December 18th, 2009 at 5:18 am
M Intellect says:
Pops is repping the LDN!
December 18th, 2009 at 5:33 am
CreativeBonsu says:
Nice Article.
I would defiantly say he is up there. LeBron currently holds the title but Pops would be a good contender if he had the same PT as King James
Follow Pops: http://www.twitter.com/44isback
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December 18th, 2009 at 7:09 am
weng santos says:
Unfortunately, the NBA is addicted on offense.
The Mutombos, Wallaces, and Ratliffs are a dying breed.
If even a soft team like the Raps can’t use him, there’s no hope.
December 18th, 2009 at 8:51 am
karizmatic says:
He’s a good shot blocker but like some of the other comments up here is his basketball IQ really high enough to be serviceable? I would play him though…the Raptors need exactly that kind of enforcer, and if they don’t want to use him, I’m sure they could engineer some sort of trade with the Magic who would definitely use him as an enforcer with Dwight Howard.
December 18th, 2009 at 10:38 am
Buddahfan says:
I would bring him in ahead of Johnson for a handful of games and see how it goes.
December 26th, 2009 at 8:20 pm
Kris says:
Pops is really great. I dont know why Triano doesnt give him the PT he needs to flurish. People question his IQ, ok well how’s he suppose to get it without the experience. Make him sit on the bench and watch? I watch at home!! all the games I can…doesnt make me an all star! HE needs play time!!simple as that!!so much upside and he’s exactly the enforcer the raptors needed…especially while evans is down. Id still play pops over evans any day!
December 26th, 2009 at 8:36 pm
kristen says:
Since I cant afford to go to the games, all y’all that go to the games should start a chant…”WE WANT POPS!!….”
The only chance I get to see him is on tv….during the last 2 mins of the game