NBA Comparison: Marcus Banks
Physically, Celurri is certainly what the NBA looks in all of its
players. Celurri possesses a thick-set build, at 200 lbs. for the PG position, and to top that, he possesses superior athleticism
and quickness both of which would make an impact in the NBA immediately. Rarely are players blessed with what Celurri has,
and he uses that to the fullest defensively, where he is really a defensive force for his Brazilian team Marcielos Fuer. He
is able to body up his man with his huge body, and he possesses a 6'8" wingspan, and coupled with his leap and quickness,
he really makes his matchup think twice. His man often has trouble shooting over him, because he plays disciplined defense
and often doesn't leave his feet, letting his physical tools do the rest. However, when his man is dribbling, this is where
Celurri often takes advantage, showing great anticipation skills and often guessing correctly as he is simply a steal waiting
to happen. He often puts himself in win-win situations, is a good gambler and to top that, a great defender. Celurri already
has that reputation of being a defensive stopper for his team.
Celurri also attacks the basket extremely well, and that would
another strong suit of his game which is clearly superior to many NBA PGs. He is athletic and quick enough to get from
Point A to Point B in a flash, and his body helps to ward off defenders in his quest to get to the basket. His ballhandling
skills are not that good but his physical tools often help him to attack the basket regardless. Once near the basket, he has
the body and the athleticism to finish well whether by drawing contact, or simply by dunking. He often shows his dunking prowess
via transition game, where he is extremely dangerous acting as the finisher.
Celurri's biggest weaknesses are the other parts of his game necessary
for your typical PG: jumpshooting and passing the ball. Celurri shows flashes of potential in both areas, but not really consistent
enough. In shooting the ball, Celurri gets decent lift and has good form, it's just that the results aren't there because
he hasn't practiced this aspect of the game well enough. His range is questionable as well, because even though he shoots
from Brazilian three point range, it's only around 22% from that area. However, he has shown some ability to hit the mid-range
shot at times, with a little more consistency than any of his other shots.
Celluri's passing ability also shows flashes, but he is clearly
uncomfortable with the role and hasn't fully adjusted to it. He can handle the ball some, but at this point he is either a
drive-or-dish passer after attacking the basket or a static passer. He shows some glimpses of court vision at times but he
often makes the simple pass, not doing anything spectacular and rarely getting assists. His ballhandling skills (see below)
may have some part in that, as he is not adept and comfortable at handling the ball through pressure. He is unselfish, partially
due to the fact that he doesn't shoot well, but he hasn't made up for that with his passing much. Thus, he may be a bit of
a liability on the offensive end at times, but he more than makes up for that defensively.
Another weakness of Celluri's game is his ballhandling skills.
He is subpar in that area and this often shows in the fact that he is extremely turnover prone. He does not ward off defenders
well, losing the ball in pressure situations and not showing a good feel dribbling the ball (maybe due in part to his large
hands) regardless in half-court sets. Celluri's jumpshot is bad enough, but he lacks the ball handling skills to create for
himself or for others. When he attacks the basket, he normally moves in one direction and shows little creativity--using his
physical body more than his skills.
All in all, Celluri is still a very raw prospect who needs a lot
of polish on the offensive-side of the ball. However, his physical tools and his suffocating defense are simply too hard to
ignore--despite his liabilities he has shown a certain level of propensity for winning games simply by his defense. He has
a good NBA build, and being a 1988 Brazilian prospect, still has a lot of time to improve. Defense, especially perimeter defense,
is hardest to attain in the NBA and shooting and passing are easily correctable or taught. Thus, Celluri has a lot of potential
(rarely are players found with his type of build) and is willing to improve as well.
