[Mr. BasketballParticipant]

Sofoklis Schortsanitis – Greece – Clippers: He is an absolute beast. He is over 300 pounds but is finally in game shape. He is nicknamed “Baby Shaq” and lives up to his named based on his overpowering play. He is still just 23 years old! most likely will come over next year when his contract in Greece. Here is a sample of Big Sofo’s play: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dW1mWoG1AjE&fmtl=35

He is the guy who led Greece past the U.S. in the 2006 world championships. He is in even better shape now then he was then. He is currently playing in the Eurobasket 2009 and is doing fairly well:

http://www.eurobasket2009.org/en/cid_toT,ovGDH2EaLKL67XnPo2.playerID_389…

[QHaynes20]

why do you post only clippers talk?

[Mr. BasketballParticipant]

what else is there to talk about right now? its the offseason, he is doing very well in Eurobasket currently, so i feel like its not just clipper news. its eurobasket news.

[QHaynes20]

lol, sorry bro the last 2 topics you post were mostly about the Clips.

Makes me think if the clips had nothing going for them right now- you wouldn’t be on the site….

I dont care…im just saying

[Mr. BasketballParticipant]

so whats ur opinion on this guy?

[OrangeJuiceJonesParticipant]

“what else is there to talk about right now?” uuuummmm…… how about the 29 other teams?

“its the offseason” yeeeeeaaaaa….. 29 other teams are in the offseason, too. Face it, if this guy’s rights were owned by the Grizzlies, then you would have never created this topic.

I don’t think this guy is gonna come over anytime soon. He makes more money in Greece than he would on an NBA team.

[MagikKnickParticipant]

lol..i thought i was the only one who noticed ‘clippers’ only talks about the Clippers
kinda funny actually…

But on topic, how tall is he? because he looks a bit short…to play some Center in the NBA, but i guess everyone looks short on YouTube…

[OrangeJuiceJonesParticipant]

He’s about 6’7, 6’8 if you’re generous. He’s kinda short to play power forward in the NBA, and it doesn’t look like he has the explosiveness to make up for it. I’m not saying this off of one YouTube clip, I’ve seen this guy play in the euro league and the Olympics. His game is much better suited for European basketball.

[GreekParticipant]

Have you ever seen him to play? he is 205cm and that makes him 6’9. He doesnt have explosiveness???? Tell me 1 player since prime Shaq who can be the same explosive while curring 300+ pounds. Tell me 1 guy who has better lateral movement on that weight. He has lots of bad things but for sure those are not his athleticism. If he ever go to NBA instantly will be the strongest player of the league. He has stamina issues, he cant keep his weight down, he has some attitude problems too, but as an athlete is a freak of nature. His ability to finish inside is amazing and now he is learning how to pass out of the double team.
And his game is much more suited to NBA who everybody is playing 1 on 1. Tell me 1 guy who can handle him by his self. Dont say DH couz on 2006 he failed.

[JoeWolf1]

From what I’ve seen and the research I’ve done on him, he looks like the second coming of Priest Lauderdale only a few inches shorter. Maybe if he is in better shape he could make it in the NBA, but right now, I don’t think he’d be more than a 6-8 mpg backup center.

[McWinningParticipant]

dont know much about him but he seems a lot like ”Big Baby”.

[sheltwon3Participant]

Dude looks good and could do well in the NBA especially if he can shoot a 15 footer. He seems so strong and most players would have issues guarding him. Also I think it is go that clippers gives the latest stuff on the clippers. Sometimes you need people dedicated to one team.

[doubledribblerParticipant]

Birdzilla stole my answer. I think he looks similar too and has some weight issues like big baby. I don’t ever see the guy being a starter, but I think he can carve out a nice bench role. He would do extremely well against 2nd stringers. The only thing that I think he would really have to be conscious about working on other than his weight is offensive fouls. Refs are going to have a lot of issues calling fouls when he’s playing like they did with Shaq because not only is the guy 300lbs but because he is so short that gives him more leverage against the taller guys that he’s going to be going up against. Meaning you are going to see some guys fall really hard.

Anyways, I’m not sure why people are complaining about clippers posting only about the clippers. Who cares? It’s relevant and it’s about basketball. I’m not a Clippers fan, but lots of people love to talk about their team, so I can’t blame him. Personally, I’m sick about hearing about Lebron every other post, but that’s just me.

[JoeWolf1]

I don’t liken him to Big Baby at all except for his stature. Big Baby has become an excellent mid range jump shooter. He has really worked on that part of his game and it payed off, by the playoffs he was money from 17 feet and is around a 73% free throw shooter now. Big Sofo doesn’t have that kind of mid range game at all. He is around a 50% free throw shooter and really just a low post player. Sofo is more explosive than Davis, I think I’ve seen Davis dunk it like 2 times and I’ve probably seen him play 15-20 times since college. Sofo has weighted as much as 375 and in my opinion he really has to be down around 300 consistently to stand a chance in the NBA. Guys with weight issues haven’t faired well in the NBA. Shaq is really the lone exception, and that’s in part to his 7’1” frame. Its easier to carry 330 pounds around if it is more spread out and proportioned to your size. Big Sofo is 5 inches shorter than Shaq. Priest Lauderdale the guy that comes to mind, but he was 7’4”. I think a more accurate comparison would be Mike Sweetney

[quincey hodges]

hes still not in game shape..did u see his last game..he can only go for a couple min and benifits greatly from euro rules

[JoeWolf1]

yeah, I hear you weight is a major issue for him.

[Mr. BasketballParticipant]

that statement looks retarded now…

Big Sofo vs. Slovenia in the consolation game: 23 pts, 6 rebounds, 2 blocks, 2 steals, 32 minutes, 7 of 9 shooting, and 9 of 12 free throw shooting.

32 minutes and he played well throughout seems like he is in shape. for those who think he is not in game shape, he is down to 300 pounds now all the way from the 375ish he was at a year ago. btw, slovenia is a very good team.

[QHaynes20]

He looked good against…..European players.

NBA players- I think he will need to lose more Lbs. He will need to be able to run. I don’t think he will be able to.

[quincey hodges]

key statement is against slovnian…liek i said before he plays better in a european style game where he can play zone not man..did u watch the game or u just repeating stats..and slovania isnt that good of a team

[QHaynes20]

he cannot handle a run n gun team or any team thats runs for that matter.

Plus, I dont think he has a jumper so that limits him offensively.

[Mr. BasketballParticipant]

actually, he does have a jumper.

@quincey hodges: if there not good, then how did they get to the semi finals? they have 3 nba players.

[QHaynes20]

can i get a little video of his jumper? I never saw it.

QH is saying, You cannot compare a euro team to a NBA team. He will have to deal with back to back, night games to day games, strong big men to smart big men

I just dont think he is coming over any time soon

[Mr. BasketballParticipant]

Qhaynes: the eurobasket thing has been back to back games most nights and he has gotten better an better everytime out. he has the best stats per 36 in the whole tournament. pau, rubio, and parker are all in it.

here is a video of him taking some shots in an all-star game (it shows his good touch):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVCWptVLz-8&feature=related

[marcusfizer21Participant]

In Greece he is known as Sofoklis Schortsanitis … In the WWE, he is known as Mark Henry…LOL

[JNixonParticipant]

^Lol..clever.

And I think the Mike Sweetney comparison is dead on. Sorry to say, if he had true NBA ability at his size he would be here already. He isnt an NBA player. I remember that Greece team, they had quite a few fromer draft picks, but they never played in actual games, they were just draft picks. He would be a limit more than a contributor if he played given his lack of speed and conditioning, especially for a young and athletic like the Clippers

[Mr. BasketballParticipant]

hes a lot more conditioned than he has been in the past. he is in the best shape of his life. the 23 pts and 32 minutes today was something he would have never done b4. he is very different now. when he beasted Team USA he was not in this great of shape and he was still out running a lot of americans. he is definitely nba-ready now. here is a clip of him vs the US: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1f_x9obHeOg&NR=1

[GreekParticipant]

As i said on my previous post Big Sofo has his serious issues. Last season his team send him to Switzerland, to a very expensive clinic. There he got a medical and psychological treatment, couz he has some serious anger problems too. As he is now he can play 15-20 quality minutes to any team in the NBA, and he doesnt need jump shot to be effective. Who can keep him away from the basket? Now he is on his best shape of his life. My worries is if he can keep it up, and if an NBA team can give him the special treat that he needs.

If the next season, be without trouble i bet that he will try to play there.

[JNixonParticipant]

The same arguments can be made about Big Baby and Sweetney, they’re strong immovable guys too down low but you have to have a jumper if your that short. Dwight Howrd and all the big shot blockers will either swat his shots in post D or is helpside. You also have to realize there is a 3 second rule that there isnt in Olympic play. It’s more than plopping in the post and trying to overpower guys. That isnt going to fly unless you are extremely physically gifted as a post guy (Shaq, Dwight Howard etc….). If he was that physically gifted he would be in the NBA already and would be an all-star level player at least….

[QHaynes20]

this dude would have a taste of LBJ nuts if he came into the NBA this year or next.

He is not fast, even that clip Clippers put up there- he walked up the court!

Please, he is not gonna be a big baby type because big baby played in the USA and he knows tendencies of American players

At best, he’s a 10th man off the bench

[MkadozaParticipant]

This forum sounds like were making an argument for Eddy Curry minus 2 inches. from what I’ve seen of this guy, who is he gonna defend? He cant play center where he’s gonna have to protect the paint, and as a power forward, he would get beat down the court every time. Also, as has already been mentioned, Euro rules allow for easier post play, and the general style of play is slower and more methodical. He’s at best a bench player in the league with no real position and exploitable weaknesses.

[JNixonParticipant]

He’s not even a 12th man, he’s more of a limitation than a contributor. He is not an NBA player, just because he played good in the Olympics doesnt mean he’s going to be a good player, for the 1 millionth time!

[European BallerParticipant]

I am Greek so I know more facts about him. He is not 6-8 or 6-9 and he is not 375 pounds. Greek national team trainers have his official stats as 6-10 for height, 7-2 for the wingspan, and 308 pounds for the weight. So he is 6-10 308 and not something like 6-8 or 6-9 375.

[quincey hodges]

im not sure you realize that the game is different over there just because there were 3 nba players on the other team doesnt mean much. his game is best suited for europe like i said..he comes over here and he would never be a starter. he wouldnt struggle just to be a 6th man. this is basically the same thing clipper does all the time when talking about a future clipper or current clipper. he over states there worth….also lets tell the whole story….in 9 games hes averaging 11pts 3reb and 18 min a game…hes not in great shape and he also gets in foul trouble. during the season he averaged 5pts and 1 rebound. he had plenty of games where he didnt score or get a rebound. that doesnt sound like a beast

[Mr. BasketballParticipant]

if he came to the clips he would be at best a 4th big. i know that. the season stats are before he lost 70 pounds and got in shape.

[European BallerParticipant]

He would be a great player in NBA for 15-20 minutes. His problem is he fouls too much and he can only play so many minutes because he is so big. But there is not ANY NBA player can guard him. You are fooling yourself totally if you believe that any player in NBA can match him on defense.

Sofo has a poor work ethic. So I am not sure he will amount to much more than he has already. But his ability is without doubt. He would demand double team in NBA every time he got the ball.

[quincey hodges]

nope i dont believe he would be a great player in the nba.. hes not even a very good player while playin gfor his euro team..he doesnt even dominate over there

[quincey hodges]

these stats are from the games they are playing now in the euro championshis that started this month. and you brought up what he did in the 2006 games against the u.s but you failed to mention what he did against the u.s in the 2008 Olympic Games 3pts 2 reb…even in better shape now hes not dominateing..very poor rebounder also

[JoeWolf1]

I don’t want to be too much of a hater, but anyone with that ability, but a poor work ethic and they had to lose 70 pounds to even play effectively is always a risk to put it back on.

[European BallerParticipant]

It is funny some of these comments. There is NO player in NBA that can guard him. He will be in the NBA and be a good player. There is no doubt about this.

[JNixonParticipant]

There is nothing but doubt lol…

[PureshooterParticipant]

He reminds me of Robert Traylor…which isn’t a good thing. Everybody keeps talking about how this guy can score, but he looks like a serious defensive liability to me.

[quincey hodges]

how you figure theres no one who can guard him European Baller when he doesnt even dominate in europe…he averaged 5pts and 2 rebs a game!!!!!!!..yet you feel he would come to the nba and domintae..lol..he didnt even dominate when they played the u.s.a last year unless you call 3pts and 2 rebounds dominating

[European BallerParticipant]

I will never post in this topic again. I cannot believe posts here. He would destroy any NBA defender one on one. This topic really has shown me that average NBA fans do not know basketball very well.

[PureshooterParticipant]

I hate to break it to you, but these are all opinions based on a player hypothetically jumping to the NBA. Any of us could be wrong, including yourself, but the fact is that other players in a similar mold have had mild to poor performances in the NBA.

[quincey hodges]

im just wondering why are we all so off base by saying he wont destroy nba players one on one when he doesnt detroy th players he plays against over there during the season and he played against nba players in last years olympic and over had 3pts and 2 rebouds!!1..how you figure he will dominate nba players European Baller???..you have provided no proof that its even possibel for him

[Mr. BasketballParticipant]

he was not in shape till this tournament so we are ignoring the stats in the season and in the olympics. he is now committed because the clippers have reached out to him to get him motivated to come to the U.S. and be in shape.

also:

“Sofoklis Schortsanitis / Greece, 6-9, C (11.9 ppg, 3.4 rpg) / Rights held by the Los Angeles Clippers

The player known in Europe as Baby Shaq was one of the surprises of the tournament. Big Sofo is a force in the paint with his more than 300 pounds of weight and after leaving behind some of his conditioning problems, he was almost unstoppable in Poland. He has pretty good athleticism considering his massive size and is a real threat in the low post, where he usually finishes with monster dunks. Schortsanitis had a year off because of his weight issues, but he was in decent shape in Poland. Very good at setting screens, he should improve his consistency from the charity stripe.”

-hoopsworld (http://hoopshype.com/articles/eurobasket_sardinero.htm)

[European BallerParticipant]

Just so some here understand. His height is 2.05 m without shoes and 2.08 m with shoes. So this means in NBA he would be considered 6-10. It seems Americans think he is much smaller for some reason saying he is 6-7 to at most 6-9.

[auberParticipant]

Bottom line Sofo can play. He definitely needed more seasoning coming out of Europe. I’ve actually owned him in my keeper league years ago. I think a realistic description would be a more inside oriented Reggie Evans/Elton Brand Mix. He’s a very bullish type of player who I think could realistically put up 16-8 in the NBA right now. Just an over powering combination of force and athleticism. Especially in times where the Power Forward position is transitioning itself into more of a hybrid mold over your typical back to the basket big man. Guy’s got a place in the NBA someday. You can fact that.

[thetruthParticipant]

auber aint seen you in a while man

[auberParticipant]

Yea dude I’m back in the pool watching my dog for the night so I thought I’d check this place out. It’s too much of a pain in the ass to try and go on here with my ps3 man. So I’m waiting for my laptop to get fixed in the next 2 weeks or so and I’ll be back on regularly.

[thetruthParticipant]

good to hear from you

[twotrill25Participant]

Wow a black greek dude
figures to be the only successful greece player lol

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