on Livers' athleticism
Thought I'd share something that came to me last night in watching the Purdue game.... let me preface by saying I have watched very little Michigan basketball so far this season.... a half of the Maui Classic I think it was, and also a later game where Robinson was a major liability....
As a freshman in 88-89, had season tickets the Glen Rice team NCAA title run, and also had season tickets my fifth year for the Fab Five..... and I say this... ever since the Fab Five, until last night I really haven't seen on Michigan since, the elite body type and athleticism that was present with those five exceptional players, Juwan, Jimmy, Ray, Jalen, and Webber.. a body type that seemed as if they were grown men playing with physically immature boys....they were supremely skilled but with it, they were a cut-above in athleticism... I don't know if Livers will have the former, but he sure seems to have the latter...
Now, seeing Livers last night, it hit me, and I was getting that thought manifesting early in the year, that Livers just might be the first player at Michigan, since the Fab Five, that has this elite body type and athleticism.... otherwise it has been, or has seemed, just average phsyiques, but Livers is different... I am saying nothing about skill or talent, but he might very well be in the discussion for having the body type and athleticism that was reminiscent of those five. Maybe Robert Traylor would have also been one (EDIT: and GR3 maybe) ... but I thought I'd mention this to those who didnt see the Fab Five live and can better understand it.... imagine Livers types, five of them, starting. Since the Fab Five we have had very skilled players, but it has never been a Livers athlete 'cut-above' type combined with the high skill. Beliein needs to find more of these.
Anyway, I was very glad to see this, enough to create a post.
GO BLUE.
January 10th, 2018 at 11:41 AM ^
I think GR3 might have a word with you...
January 10th, 2018 at 11:43 AM ^
UGHH>... you are right..... the Big Dog's son, GR3, was maybe the only one.... I forgot about him.
January 10th, 2018 at 11:46 AM ^
Point: Livers had 10-15 lbs on GRIII.
Counterpoint: GRIII is the reigning NBA dunk contest champ.
January 10th, 2018 at 11:47 AM ^
Did you see Livers dunk last night? He dunked the ball down, and had a ton more energy left, and if he learns to pull the arms way back, he has the power to trade for it.... it was an awkward dunk he had and could have been THUNDEROUS... was good as it was, but believe me the kid left alot more energy to be had...
January 10th, 2018 at 3:10 PM ^
January 10th, 2018 at 12:31 PM ^
GRIII played out of position his two years at Michigan at the 4. Put him at a 3 or 2 and he would have destroyed most 2 and 3's.
January 10th, 2018 at 4:39 PM ^
He didn't have the handles or jumpshot for the 2 or 3. He was a great cutter for the 4 spot. If he was just an inche or two taller he would have been a perfect 4.
January 10th, 2018 at 12:17 PM ^
Or Brent Petway
January 10th, 2018 at 1:38 PM ^
I loved Brent Petway. Irrationally. Maceo Baston, too. Both guys were athletes with a decent basketball IQ and would have chopped off an arm to be on a team that scored more points than their opponent.
January 10th, 2018 at 2:41 PM ^
Petway also had the amazing haircut in the design of our football helmet.
January 10th, 2018 at 11:43 AM ^
TL;DR - Livers is very athletic.
January 10th, 2018 at 11:43 AM ^
Charles Matthews?
January 10th, 2018 at 11:45 AM ^
Matthews, not quite... I am calling it like I see it... Livers physically could have passed for one of them.
January 10th, 2018 at 11:47 AM ^
January 10th, 2018 at 11:49 AM ^
now you are getting into SKILL......and that isn't part of the discussion here.... Livers passes the eye test when it came to elite body type, to me, at least.
January 10th, 2018 at 11:51 AM ^
January 10th, 2018 at 11:53 AM ^
January 10th, 2018 at 11:57 AM ^
January 10th, 2018 at 11:47 AM ^
January 10th, 2018 at 11:54 AM ^
January 10th, 2018 at 11:59 AM ^
January 10th, 2018 at 12:11 PM ^
January 10th, 2018 at 11:52 AM ^
January 10th, 2018 at 10:10 PM ^
January 10th, 2018 at 11:53 AM ^
January 10th, 2018 at 11:56 AM ^
January 10th, 2018 at 12:01 PM ^
January 10th, 2018 at 12:38 PM ^
Steve Grote
January 10th, 2018 at 12:02 PM ^
but not great, and certainly not in the elite category. Watching him extensively in HS, he's always been a good athlete that has good straight line speed, lateral movement and verticality.
That said, he requires space to really get good lift. In other words his verticality shows up in transition, but doesn't really manifest itself often in tight spaces/half-court situations in the same manner that a GR3 type athlete does. His lateral movement on defense though has been quite impressive, his ability to switch and defend guards for 2-3 dribbles has been a big plus for us on the defensive end.
Scouting him in HS, the biggest concern I had was motor/physicality...........and Isaiah has improved that a TON. He's done a 180 in terms of effort level/multiple jumps for rebounds/defensive rotations.
January 10th, 2018 at 12:03 PM ^
Says hello from about 2 feet above the rim
January 10th, 2018 at 12:07 PM ^
Bernard Robinson and GRIII who just won the NBA slam dunk title both come to mind.
January 10th, 2018 at 2:45 PM ^
January 10th, 2018 at 12:08 PM ^
How in the world can anyone forget the Roman God-like Spike Albrecht ?
January 10th, 2018 at 12:15 PM ^
Brent Petway had some pretty sweet dunks!
January 10th, 2018 at 12:45 PM ^
Air Georgia was a fun player to watch, and he maintained that skill in his rather extensive career overseas (mostly in Greece, as I recall). There are a couple people that I have seen who have quite a few Petway highlight reels among their YouTube collections.
He won the first D-League Slam Dunk Contest, I think.
January 10th, 2018 at 3:12 PM ^
January 10th, 2018 at 12:35 PM ^
January 10th, 2018 at 12:40 PM ^
He had that elite "giant" size that Michigan has rarely had on the team. He was listed at 6'10" (245lbs) in the title game.
January 10th, 2018 at 12:43 PM ^
some of Michigan's bigtime athletes over the last 20 years. But I will say he has been a big boost to this team so far. He shows a lot of energy and is very active on both ends of the floor. A lot of rebounding is effort and whether it's because of his jumping ability, effort, or both, I don't care. I just like seeing him making things happen.
January 10th, 2018 at 1:55 PM ^
He is athletic but still has a thick build (yes, TWSS). That is what makes him good at rebounding. He does not get pushed out of position and can still out jump many people.
January 10th, 2018 at 1:53 PM ^
A couple have already been mentioned, but throw in Jarrod Ward. Never delivered on the hype and the knee injury slowed him down, but he was an athlete in a 6-9 body. Also Dion Harris and Horton were good athletes. Never felt like they couldn't keep up with an opposing player.
Mo Taylor was another guy. Very good athleticism. Horrible attirute and motor.
January 10th, 2018 at 2:02 PM ^
Livers isn't even the most athletic player on this team. I really like his game and how he's progressing, but this is pretty insane. And we don't even need to get to GR3, who could very well could have been the most athletic player in Michigan basketball history.
January 10th, 2018 at 2:33 PM ^
January 10th, 2018 at 3:14 PM ^
January 10th, 2018 at 3:28 PM ^
But also love the confidence, swag and enthusiasm. Love watching this kid and glad he's with the good guys!!
GO BLUE!!
January 10th, 2018 at 4:42 PM ^
Livers is ceratainly an above average athlete, but nothing generational. At minimum, THJ and GRIII are for sure ahead of him athletically. Manny Harris is another name that hasn't been mentioned in this thread but is probably more athletic than Livers.