Tacko Fall gets his wish to work out with Joel Embiid

https://celticswire.usatoday.com/2019/07/30/tacko-fall-gets-his-wish-to-work-out-with-joel-embiid/



Tacko Fall gets his wish to work out with Joel Embiid



By: Quenton S. Albertie | July 30, 2019 8:07 am



Shortly before the start of the Las Vegas Summer League circuit, Boston Celtics rookie center Tacko Fall told reporters that he hopes to work out with former Celtics big man Kevin Garnett and one of the best centers in the game in Joel Embiid, the Philadelphia 76ers’ most valuable player.

Over the weekend, one Fall’s wishes was granted, as trainer Drew Hanlen of Pure Sweat would pit the 7-foot-6 Senegal-native against Embiid, a native of Cameroon.

Per the Boston Globe’s Adam Himmelsbach, “This weekend, Fall is returning home to Senegal to take part in the NBA’s “Basketball Without Borders” program there. Hanlen and his most famous client, 76ers center Joel Embiid, will be there, and Hanlen is eager to see Fall work against perhaps the game’s top center.

“I’ll throw him up against Joel a little bit and he’ll get to work out some with Joel,” Hanlen said, “which will be a really good experience for him.”

Embiid has long been considered one of the most talented big men in the league, displaying a level of skill that’s generational. At 7-foot-0, 250 pounds, Embiid is strong, physical and nimble, showing an ability to put the ball on the floor, shoot from a variety of angles and score from all three levels effectively.

He’s at his best when he’s closer to the rim, where his combination of quickness, strength, footwork and touch make him one of the toughest players to guard. A two-time All-Star and twice named to the All-Defensive team, Embiid is also dominant defender and provides a menacing presence in the paint.

There’s plenty that Fall can learn from a player with Embiid’s talent, as the third-year center can do it all. Score inside, score outside, defend, facilitate, rebound.

Last season, Embiid averaged 27.3 points, 13.6 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.9 blocks and 0.7 steals per game, filling up the box in ways a lot of players can only fantasize about doing.

Fall may not possess the natural ability of Embiid but with hard work and time, he could definitely stand to improve as a scorer (particularly in terms of using footwork to gain ideal position) and rebounder. Despite his height advantages, Fall isn’t as dominant a rebounder as he could be and it seems to be combination of him inconsistently asserting himself on the boards and his lack of physical strength.

Aside from scoring in the paint and rebounding techniques, a lesson Fall can learn from Embiid is how to use his combination of height and intelligence to be a facilitator for the Boston offense, using his long arms as a pendulum that defenders can’t reach.

Of course, such information could be dispersed over the course of a weekend but  Fall would need to practice extensively for improvements in those areas to be made. Fortunately for him, there’s nobody that believes he won’t be able to turn his raw ability into bonafide skill.


bob
MY NOTE: Tacko is 290# and "lacks physical strength"?! That's not good. It's one thing if you're a Bol Bol type of stick figure but if you're 290# and lack strength that is a definite negative. He may need to drop 25#. If I find video of his workout with Embiid I'll post it here.


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I would not be too concerned about the strength issue.  Tacko has the physical profile (frame) to add more muscle but he will need to be on an NBA level strength training regiment.

This young man is highly intelligent.  He appears to be the type of player that will be compliant with developmental priorities as set forth by his coaches and trainers.

He remains a project but deserves an opportunity.

I think that it is wonderful that Fall is searching out additional opportunities to continue to get better.

This kid may not make it, but the Cs need to give him at least a year of their time to see if he CAN make it.
Cripes, Yabusele got two full seasons and even an extra summer league season.

Two words: weight room.