Guerschon Yabusele making a name for himself

http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/celtics/2017/09/bulpett_celtics_big_man_guerschon_yabusele_making_a_name_for_himself



Guerschon Yabusele making a name for himself




Steve Bulpett



Thursday, September 28, 2017




Credit: AP photo
Boston Celtics forward Guerschon Yabusele, foreground, pulls down a rebound from San Antonio Spurs center Alex Kirk during the first half of an NBA Summer League basketball game Thursday, July 7, 2016, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)


NEWPORT, R.I. — Guerschon Yabusele was working out in the weight room at the Celtics’ practice facility last spring, rehabbing from May surgery on both his ankles. Fellow Frenchman Mathias Lessort walked by on his way to a pre-draft session with the C’s and looked at his buddy with disdain.

“They call you the Dancing Bear,” he said. “You cannot even dance.”

It’s even funnier when you think of him saying it with that French accent,” said Celtics assistant coach Micah Shrewsberry, who laughed again when reminded of the moment.

More important to the Celtics is that Yabusele, the 16th overall pick in the 2016 draft, can play. And there seems to be no question about that — just welcome amazement from his teammates.

At the mention of his name, Al Horford’s eyes grew wide and a smile washed over his face.

“That kid can play,” Horford said of the 6-foot-8, 260-pound brute who was stashed and played last year in China before a late-season and playoff cameo with the Maine Red Claws. “You look at his body and the way that he can move ... he can really shoot the ball. He has a really good feel for the game. He just has a really good feel, and he plays hard, so I just think that people are going to love him.”

What people have known of Yabusele thus far was mainly attached to the Dancing Bear nickname given him by Shrewsberry during summer league in 2016. But he won’t be some end-of-bench favorite for whom fans chant at the end of games. Yabusele figures to be in the rotation.

After just three days of training camp, Horford didn’t want to go too far, but he said, “I think he’s going to have an opportunity.”

Then he added, “I had no idea. I had no idea that he could play like this. This has been a really good surprise.”

Surprise? Kyrie Irving had never even heard of the guy.

“I hadn’t until we got here,” he said. “Then I found out he had surgery on both ankles and he’s just getting back to playing. He’s a big body, man. He’s in the paint going against Baynesie (Aron Baynes) every single day. That’s a tough cover.

“He’s one of those young guys that we need to implement into our offensive and defensive principles so he can be good for us. I’m learning all these guys’ different strengths, figuring out where they like the ball and all that stuff.”

Brad Stevens is keeping things in dry perspective, based on Yabusele’s physical situation and the fact that it is, indeed, too damn early to nominate the Dancing Bear for the Hall of Fame.

“I thought Guerschon, especially considering he hasn’t done anything live really until this week coming off of that double ankle (surgery) in the early part of the summer, he had been working his way up to live play, and he’s done a good job,” said the coach as the Celts wrapped up their time at Salve Regina and prepared to bus home. “He’s had a good start. You know, he’s going to learn the spacing of things, he’s going to learn kind of what we’re trying to do on both ends, but he’s very smart and he provides another big body that can shoot the ball and pass the ball.”

And it’s clear Yabusele has put the last year to good use.

“It’s been so long since he was here, I would say that he just looks like a lot of these guys when they go from 20 to 22 (Yabusele turns 22 in December), a lot more polished,” Stevens said. “He looks a lot better than he did at the start of summer league practices (15) months ago.”

As Yabusele put it, “I have more experience and I’m more mature and understand the game more. My body’s definitely different. I’ve got more weight and more strength, and I’m more lean.

“I think I’m ready to play and do what the coach wants me to do and help the team as much as I can.”

That could mean banging inside as Horford works the high post or stepping outside to the arc — he was draining 3’s after practice Thursday — or providing physical defense to wear down an opposing scorer. Whatever the case, Yabusele seems excited for the chance.

“It’s been great,” he said. “I’m really happy to be around the team, to be with the guys. I was watching them last year, and it’s a good feeling to be part of the team and come out to play and practice with them and just be around to learn and get better.”

In turn, his mates are enjoying learning about Yabusele and what he can do for them.

“When you come and nobody knows your name and nobody knows who you are, they don’t know what to expect,” said the Bear. “I just want to help my teammates and play with a lot of energy and do my best to win the games.”

And if that includes dancing?

“Oh, Mathias,” said Yabusele. “That’s my friend.

“But yes, I think I can dance,” he added. “Definitely.”


bob


.

This is going to be one tres amusante year.

.....would love to see him emerge and be that brute we need

Thanx Bob,
This is the one I've been waiting for. For all those people who thot my shades were too green when I said he would be a rotation player...I'm not alone. He has laced up NBA sneakers and is about to put them to use. Let's see just how well he will actually make the transition. I have no worries that his offensive game will be on display early. On those highlight reels he could close out to the arc and block the 3. He will be a great interview. If he's playing against Baynes does that mean he's playing with the new three? He is at least 4 years from entering his prime. With the acquisition of Kyrie, Danny has opened a 10 year window.

17goingon18

Ours dansant!!

YABA DABA DO!!!

Him, Semi and Theis are all going to have opportunities to break into the rotation. Hoping he does well. He was the 16th pick in the draft.

cowens/oldschool wrote:.....would love to see him emerge and be that brute we need

Cow,

I'd love to see that myself.  Can you imagine!?  A player almost as big as Sully (1" shorter but at the weight Sully should have been) but QUICK on his feet?

To be honest, though, I'm a touch concerned he'll be more of a finesse player.  I hope I'm wrong, I hope I'm just worrying over nothing, but I didn't see a lot of pure muscle moves in his Chinese highlight films.  He wasn't playing against brutes but I still didn't see him overpower players down low much.  Excellent shooting range?  Check.  In fact I just posted a video on one of the Camp threads showing him hitting 7 of 11 from 3pts straight out in 38 seconds.  Excellent foot work for a big man, able to weave his way past defenders?  Check.  Plenty of highlights of him faking the outside shot and, when they bite, he dribbles past them.  We'll see if he can do it against NBA players and not just a bunch of Chinese players defending like they were a bunch of folding chairs.  But "here I come, try and stop me" moves?  Not so many.

He has the body to hold his own down low.  A little short, 6'8", but an excellent wingspan (7'0") and built like a brick shithouse but does he have the mentality to be a brute? We'll start finding out Monday, 10/2, vs Charlotte I hope.


bob


.

I agree Bob, probably more finesse, not so much a brute. But I dare anyone to take a charge when he has a head of steam. By New Year's I expect that we will all have to modify our preconceived notions as we come together in appreciation of what he brings to the Celtics.

It's a good sign though that he's playing against Baines. Has to play tough to compete against that guy.

bobheckler wrote:

cowens/oldschool wrote:.....would love to see him emerge and be that brute we need

Cow,

I'd love to see that myself.  Can you imagine!?  A player almost as big as Sully (1" shorter but at the weight Sully should have been) but QUICK on his feet?

To be honest, though, I'm a touch concerned he'll be more of a finesse player.  I hope I'm wrong, I hope I'm just worrying over nothing, but I didn't see a lot of pure muscle moves in his Chinese highlight films.  He wasn't playing against brutes but I still didn't see him overpower players down low much.  Excellent shooting range?  Check.  In fact I just posted a video on one of the Camp threads showing him hitting 7 of 11 from 3pts straight out in 38 seconds.  Excellent foot work for a big man, able to weave his way past defenders?  Check.  Plenty of highlights of him faking the outside shot and, when they bite, he dribbles past them.  We'll see if he can do it against NBA players and not just a bunch of Chinese players defending like they were a bunch of folding chairs.  But "here I come, try and stop me" moves?  Not so many.

He has the body to hold his own down low.  A little short, 6'8", but an excellent wingspan (7'0") and built like a brick shithouse but does he have the mentality to be a brute?  We'll start finding out Monday, 10/2, vs Charlotte I hope.


bob


.

well your guess is as good as mine, but he could be a lot of versions of good players, he could be like 2 oldtimers Gus Johnson and George McGinnis, but different ofcourse in different eras, actually with his surprising speed and quickness for a big man may be much much more something than those 2, who in their time have a few all NBA first and second team selections and a lot of all star games. So we will see.

Yabusele is part of the Rondo trade to Dallas.

What a steal if Yabu plays well for the Celts.

If he can rip down contested rebounds I will be very happy.

Dboss

dboss wrote:If he can rip down contested rebounds I will be very happy.

Dboss

It remains to be seen, but what I saw from him in the summer league of 2016, Yabu was not a great rebounder.