Kori Ellis
10-14-2005, 06:12 AM
This article is written by poster ro50, who wrote for us in the past covering one of the NBDL teams. This season he is going to try his hand at writing about the NBA.
Around The NBA: Three Of A Kind
By Ronak Patel
FullSportPress
The NBA fraternity - fans, advertisers, and even the media - are no different than those in Hollywood or the music industry. They are always searching for the breakthrough star that can create a stir.
Last year in the NBA, particularly during the months of April, May and June, we observed a wily, loosely haired wonder from Argentina who captivated the world with his daring dashes through the lane and a flair for the dramatic. His name: Manu Ginobili. In front of a global audience, the now four-year guard elevated his game to All-Star proportions and nearly became the NBA Finals MVP. The honor instead went to Tim Duncan following the Spurs’ seven-game Finals victory over the Detroit Pistons. The widespread media attention Ginobili gained in the playoffs was truly indicative of his breakout season as he wowed viewers on a nightly basis.
Now as we embark on the 2005-06 NBA campaign, several players around the league are destined to become breakthough performers. Maybe not Manu-type breakthroughs, but the following three players certainly have a chance to gain some reputation in the league. This list doesn’t include the obvious names such as Dwight Howard of Orlando or Josh Howard of the Mavericks. Why? Because that would be too easy.
1. Al Jefferson, 6’10, 265, PF, Boston Celtics - If Jefferson didn’t forgo college basketball to make himself eligible for the 2004 NBA Draft, the University of Arkansas would be a top five preseason pick and a sexy favorite to go all the way. But unfortunately for Razorbacks coach Stan Heath, his team is now one of the many teams that will be on the bubble come March. Meanwhile Jefferson, who committed to Arkansas while in high school, played 71 games last year in the Shamrock green. The youngster out of Mississippi impressed Celtics’ brass with his maturity, size and play under the basket. The 20-year-old, who is nicknamed “Big Al”, averaged 6.7 points and 4.4 rebounds per game last year. While those stats may not sound noteworthy, his numbers came in just 14.8 minutes a game. This season, he should become the Celtics’ starter at power forward. Jefferson possesses a tremendous low-post game (myriad of mini-hooks and back to the basket moves) and while he doesn’t have the defensive side down yet, that will come with time.
2. Nenad Krstic, 7’0, 257, C, Nets - The guy Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich wanted back in the 2002 NBA Draft has turned out to be quite a player for the New Jersey Nets, who selected him before the Spurs could. Krstic, who hails from Serbia and Montenegro and played overseas before coming to the NBA last season, was supposed to be a rookie this year. But after Kenyon Martin bolted to the Denver Nuggets during the summer of 2004, Krstic was rushed in and thrown into the NBA fire. The owner of soft hands and an impeccable work ethic, Krstic averaged 10 points and hauled down five rebounds a game. In games where he scored in double-figures, the Nets went 29-12. Now he’s poised to take his game to the next level after a year of getting his feet wet. With all the talk of Jason Kidd playing with high-flying wings Richard Jefferson and Vince Carter for an entire year, the key to the Nets’ fortunes is in the hands of Krstic.
3. Josh Smith, 6’9, 225, SF/PF, Hawks - The young man dubbed by college basketball analyst Jay Bilas as “a future bust” during ESPN’s telecast of the 2003 NBA Draft, Smith excelled his first year in the league with the Atlanta Hawks. Smith, who jumped from high school to the pros, gain notoriety by winning the NBA slam dunk competition last February. But what was lost in that accomplishment was that this kid could actually play some ball. On a morbid Hawks team, Smith averaged 9.7 points and 6.2 rebounds while playing stout defense and starting 59 games. Smith has gotten lost in the Hawks news shuffle with the arrival of Joe Johnson from the Phoenix Suns and draftee Marvin Williams, the 6-9 forward out of North Carolina. But make no mistake, while he works on expanding his game (jump shot and moves down low), it will be a treat to see him on the receiving end of alley-oops via Johnson at NBA arenas across the country.
Other names to keep an eye on: Andre Iguodala, 76ers, SF; Travis Outlaw, SF, Trail Blazers; Shaun Livingston, PG, Clippers; Sebastian Telfair, PG, Trail Blazers; Trevor Ariza, SF, Knicks.
Around The NBA: Three Of A Kind
By Ronak Patel
FullSportPress
The NBA fraternity - fans, advertisers, and even the media - are no different than those in Hollywood or the music industry. They are always searching for the breakthrough star that can create a stir.
Last year in the NBA, particularly during the months of April, May and June, we observed a wily, loosely haired wonder from Argentina who captivated the world with his daring dashes through the lane and a flair for the dramatic. His name: Manu Ginobili. In front of a global audience, the now four-year guard elevated his game to All-Star proportions and nearly became the NBA Finals MVP. The honor instead went to Tim Duncan following the Spurs’ seven-game Finals victory over the Detroit Pistons. The widespread media attention Ginobili gained in the playoffs was truly indicative of his breakout season as he wowed viewers on a nightly basis.
Now as we embark on the 2005-06 NBA campaign, several players around the league are destined to become breakthough performers. Maybe not Manu-type breakthroughs, but the following three players certainly have a chance to gain some reputation in the league. This list doesn’t include the obvious names such as Dwight Howard of Orlando or Josh Howard of the Mavericks. Why? Because that would be too easy.
1. Al Jefferson, 6’10, 265, PF, Boston Celtics - If Jefferson didn’t forgo college basketball to make himself eligible for the 2004 NBA Draft, the University of Arkansas would be a top five preseason pick and a sexy favorite to go all the way. But unfortunately for Razorbacks coach Stan Heath, his team is now one of the many teams that will be on the bubble come March. Meanwhile Jefferson, who committed to Arkansas while in high school, played 71 games last year in the Shamrock green. The youngster out of Mississippi impressed Celtics’ brass with his maturity, size and play under the basket. The 20-year-old, who is nicknamed “Big Al”, averaged 6.7 points and 4.4 rebounds per game last year. While those stats may not sound noteworthy, his numbers came in just 14.8 minutes a game. This season, he should become the Celtics’ starter at power forward. Jefferson possesses a tremendous low-post game (myriad of mini-hooks and back to the basket moves) and while he doesn’t have the defensive side down yet, that will come with time.
2. Nenad Krstic, 7’0, 257, C, Nets - The guy Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich wanted back in the 2002 NBA Draft has turned out to be quite a player for the New Jersey Nets, who selected him before the Spurs could. Krstic, who hails from Serbia and Montenegro and played overseas before coming to the NBA last season, was supposed to be a rookie this year. But after Kenyon Martin bolted to the Denver Nuggets during the summer of 2004, Krstic was rushed in and thrown into the NBA fire. The owner of soft hands and an impeccable work ethic, Krstic averaged 10 points and hauled down five rebounds a game. In games where he scored in double-figures, the Nets went 29-12. Now he’s poised to take his game to the next level after a year of getting his feet wet. With all the talk of Jason Kidd playing with high-flying wings Richard Jefferson and Vince Carter for an entire year, the key to the Nets’ fortunes is in the hands of Krstic.
3. Josh Smith, 6’9, 225, SF/PF, Hawks - The young man dubbed by college basketball analyst Jay Bilas as “a future bust” during ESPN’s telecast of the 2003 NBA Draft, Smith excelled his first year in the league with the Atlanta Hawks. Smith, who jumped from high school to the pros, gain notoriety by winning the NBA slam dunk competition last February. But what was lost in that accomplishment was that this kid could actually play some ball. On a morbid Hawks team, Smith averaged 9.7 points and 6.2 rebounds while playing stout defense and starting 59 games. Smith has gotten lost in the Hawks news shuffle with the arrival of Joe Johnson from the Phoenix Suns and draftee Marvin Williams, the 6-9 forward out of North Carolina. But make no mistake, while he works on expanding his game (jump shot and moves down low), it will be a treat to see him on the receiving end of alley-oops via Johnson at NBA arenas across the country.
Other names to keep an eye on: Andre Iguodala, 76ers, SF; Travis Outlaw, SF, Trail Blazers; Shaun Livingston, PG, Clippers; Sebastian Telfair, PG, Trail Blazers; Trevor Ariza, SF, Knicks.