Gardner a Top 20 College Star; Compares with Zach Randolph

[keefe]

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1659525-nba-player-comparisons-for-top-20-college-basketball-stars-of-2013-14-season/page/5

[GGGG]

"To state the obvious, Davante Gardner doesn't even have a fraction of Zach Randolph's deadly mid-range scoring ability. However, the two forwards play very similar games when they get closer to the hoop.

The 6'8", 290-pound Golden Eagle and the 6'9", 253-pound Grizzly both do most of their damage below the rim, but their exceptional strength and wide bodies still let them eat up rebounds in bunches."


IOW, Gardner is like Randolph...except when he isn't.

[Galway Eagle]

Could very well display some deadly midrange game.  He certainly showed flashes of it towards the end of the year. 

[Lennys Tap]

Davante is great at scoring and getting to the line with his variety of post moves, but my guess is we'll see more of his mid range game this year - anybody who hits 85% of his free throws merits more shots from up to 18 feet.

[keefe]

Davante is great at scoring and getting to the line with his variety of post moves, but my guess is we'll see more of his mid range game this year - anybody who hits 85% of his free throws merits more shots from up to 18 feet.

I would think he is focusing on that part of his game this summer but he is limited in his ability to rotate and elevate. As Goose said, it is likely physical and a function of weight and conditioning. If he could develop a reliable mid range game it would really make him devastating. He has a lightening quick first step that would leave most 4/5's defending him flat footed.

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

"To state the obvious, Davante Gardner doesn't even have a fraction of Zach Randolph's deadly mid-range scoring ability. However, the two forwards play very similar games when they get closer to the hoop.

The 6'8", 290-pound Golden Eagle and the 6'9", 253-pound Grizzly both do most of their damage below the rim, but their exceptional strength and wide bodies still let them eat up rebounds in bunches."


IOW, Gardner is like Randolph...except when he isn't.

Yea, to be fair to DG, I think he MIGHT have some midrange game, but when he's so efficient near the hoop, not many coaches are going to let him try that (at the collegiate level).

[PuertoRicanNightmare]

Davante showed nice touch in the first Syracuse game last year. If I remember correctly he had a couple 10-12 footers. And we know he's got a nice stroke from the line.

[frozena pizza]

Yea, to be fair to DG, I think he MIGHT have some midrange game, but when he's so efficient near the hoop, not many coaches are going to let him try that (at the collegiate level).

Exactly.  I don't think his midrange game is a weakness at all and could probably score from there much more if he wanted to.  I think where he can improve is on defense and passing out of double teams.

[GGGG]

Yea, to be fair to DG, I think he MIGHT have some midrange game, but when he's so efficient near the hoop, not many coaches are going to let him try that (at the collegiate level).

He *might*, but he hasn't had the body of work to say so definitively. 

[Lennys Tap]

He *might*, but he hasn't had the body of work to say so definitively. 

As a senior with an outstanding shooting stroke, I think Buzz green lights Smoove more next year. Course I've been wrong a thousand times or two.

[Dr. Blackheart]

The Dancing Bear's duck under versus Butler Ii was a piece of fine art in the open court.

[77ncaachamps]

Bad comparison.

Zach is a little taller, has longer arms/reach, and can get up and down the court faster.

[Sunbelt15]

Two big guys with total finesse games and great hands, good comparison. Zach has the upper hand in mobility and elevation. Damn, has D. Gardner ever dunked in a game?

[wojosdojo]

Two big guys with total finesse games and great hands, good comparison. Zach has the upper hand in mobility and elevation. Damn, has D. Gardner ever dunked in a game?

Fwiw, yes. A few times - and every time I love it more.

[Atticus]

Ill be disappointed if this frontcourt of Hibbert and Randolph dont produce a national championship. 

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

He *might*, but he hasn't had the body of work to say so definitively. 

True.

Maybe the fairest comparison would be Randolph as a college player vs Gardner as a college player.

I don't recall specifically, but my guess would be that Randolph showed a little outside ability and did the vast majority of his damage inside of 2ft... just like Gardner.

As he's become a pro, Zach has had to round out his game to be effective.

[Dawson Rental]

Bad comparison.

Zach is a little taller, has longer arms/reach, and can get up and down the court faster.

And weighs less, which is probably why Zach was picked 19th in the draft after his freshman year.

[ATL MU Warrior]

Two big guys with total finesse games and great hands, good comparison. Zach has the upper hand in mobility and elevation. Damn, has D. Gardner ever dunked in a game?

Zach Randolph has pretty much the exact opposite of a "finesse game."  He is a bull out there.

[MerrittsMustache]

Best-case for Gardner, in NBA terms, would be Michael Sweetney (before his massive weight gain, of course). Sweetney was a better rebounder and DG is not going to be a top 10 pick, but both are short PF who use their bodies well and have the ability to score the basketball in limited minutes.

For his NBA career (4 seasons), Sweetney averaged 6.5 ppg on 48.5% shooting in just 15.5 minutes/game.

[77ncaachamps]

Best-case for Gardner, in NBA terms, would be Michael Sweetney (before his massive weight gain, of course). Sweetney was a better rebounder and DG is not going to be a top 10 pick, but both are short PF who use their bodies well and have the ability to score the basketball in limited minutes.

For his NBA career (4 seasons), Sweetney averaged 6.5 ppg on 48.5% shooting in just 15.5 minutes/game.

Good comparison. DG is a better FT shooter.

But when I see him run, it's a struggle.

DG is a GAMER to the nth degree, and I hope he gets a flyer as a late second rounder but probably more of a FA.

[77fan88warrior]

Correct me if I'm wrong but one of our better runs against Syracuse in NCAA was when DG was hitting mid-range jumpers and running offense through free throw line? seemed like we got away from it and things went south from there. Could hve been in game adjustments........................

[MUSF]

True.

Maybe the fairest comparison would be Randolph as a college player vs Gardner as a college player.

I don't recall specifically, but my guess would be that Randolph showed a little outside ability and did the vast majority of his damage inside of 2ft... just like Gardner.

As he's become a pro, Zach has had to round out his game to be effective.

You're probably right, but that is a tough comparison to make.

Randolph left MSU after his Freshman year. Who knows how much his game would have developed if he stayed four years. Regardless of outside vs. inside game, I think Randolph would have been a much better college player than Gardner. He was significantly more athletic and probably would have been much better defensively.

Side note, MSU would have been a serious dynasty if Randolph and Maurice Taylor didn't bail early.

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

You're probably right, but that is a tough comparison to make.

Randolph left MSU after his Freshman year. Who knows how much his game would have developed if he stayed four years. Regardless of outside vs. inside game, I think Randolph would have been a much better college player than Gardner. He was significantly more athletic and probably would have been much better defensively.

Side note, MSU would have been a serious dynasty if Randolph and Maurice Taylor didn't bail early.

Yea, don't get me wrong, I think Zach is a FAR better player than DG ever could hope to be.

I'm just saying that if you want to compare their styles, it's hard to compare an NBA veteran's all-around game to a younger college post player.

[joe pop]

I really dont understand why everyone has this desire to compare players to NBA all stars.  Davante wont ever be what Randolph is but he is a great college player.  Way too slow for the NBA, i guess its possible he could find a niche but we'll see.

[keefe]

I really dont understand why everyone has this desire to compare players to NBA all stars.  Davante wont ever be what Randolph is but he is a great college player.  Way too slow for the NBA, i guess its possible he could find a niche but we'll see.

Well, it could be worse. We could mimic Dodds putting numerous NBA players in a blender to create college player comparisons. Can there be any device more inane and insipid?