Well, I guess dragic is developing ok. I'm impressed Phoenix won a road game without nash. I see a few flashes of brilliance out of the kid occasionally so he's ok in my book. (I was expecting too much out of him earlier, since it's probably easier for a young player to go from college to the NBA than come from a foreign country as a young player)
It's not just that. Look at his professional basketball history. I don't think it's possible to come to the NBA with less experience than he did. So that he's able to hold his own right now is crazy impressive.
I wonder how hard he will hit the rookie wall.
Agreed wit last 2 posts...
I watched some of his few games closely...
I think he has a bright future infront of him if he works hard and looses all the fear.
Right now it is obvious he is intimidated by everything and has a hard time adjusting to the system, culture, language etc... He is "the foreigner" on the team with Diaw and Barbosa being seasoned players already.
Apart from that... that win over Sacramento was impressive. Even though i think Kings coach ed up a lot not to set more pick and rolls for Beno. (Beno has been extremely good lately offensively and was able to dominate Dragic 1 on 1... not to mention Shaq can't defend pick and roll)
I am also really impressed with Beno lately. He is running the team really well with assits and scoring. (and not turning the ball too much) But every game there are some situations where he is really shaken up when falling down etc. (more than some other players) Meaning... little bumps and bruises get too him too much.
Rasho tonight against the Hawks:
21 points; 7 rebounds; 5 assists; 3 blocks; 2 steals
Rasho doing it big time!
Fear the Sho!
bravooooooo
how are you girls?
Rasho's best attribute? Nothing. And everything.
Mike Wells and I were working into the embers of Tuesday night, tying up loose ends after the Pacers' 113-96 victory over Atlanta, when The Indianapolis Star's stellar beat writer interrupted his typing, looked over and asked a question that has been rattling around in my head ever since:
"What would you say is Rasho Nesterovic's best attribute as a player?"
I started to answer but realized nothing came to mind. Or better put, everything came to mind. Rasho's greatest strength is that he doesn't have a greatest strength. He does everything pretty well. He's one of the most fundamentally sound big men I've ever seen. On nights like Tuesday, when he racked up 21 points, seven rebounds, five assists, three steals and two blocked shots, it's plain to anyone who watched.
But nights like these are exceptions. Normally, Rasho's a 10-and-5 guy with a few assists and a blocked shot or two mixed in, not the kind of numbers that get your attention -- unless you happen to really like watching good professional basketball players at work.
Or, if you're someone who understands and appreciates the game at a level most of us can never begin to approach. Someone like, for example, Jim O'Brien.
He didn't hesitate at all when I repeated Wells' question to him.
"I would say his basketball IQ," said the coach. "I think he understands the game of basketball. He understands in particular what we're trying to accomplish offensively. He understands the strengths of his teammates. He understands the weaknesses of his teammates. He's a very, very good communicator.
"Physically, I'd say his best attribute is probably passing the basketball."
Which partially explains one other group that truly appreciates Rasho's game: his teammates.
"He's what you call a good pro," said T.J. Ford, who spent two years with Rasho in Toronto. "He carries himself the way a professional should. He doesn't have a big name. He never has. But if you ask around the NBA, they know he's a solid player."
There is someone you simply shouldn't ask, though, when the time comes to heap praise upon the 7-foot veteran from Slovenia. That would be the 7-foot veteran from Slovenia.
So, Rasho, what's your best attribute?
"I don't think about that," he said. "During the game, you just try to make every pass good, every shot good, every defense good. You are just in the flow of the game."
How did you feel about your big statistical night?
"I don't know the box score," he said. "I mean, this is just stats. It means nothing."
Many have said that. Few mean it. I'll never forget the one player (now retired) who shall remain nameless who looked a TV reporter squarely in the eye, said he never even looked at the box score because stats were for losers. As soon as the reporter turned off his camera and turned to walk away, the player reached under his chair, grabbed the box score and began complaining to the guy in the next locker about how the stat crew missed a couple of his assists.
Rasho's a guy who means it. It's a big reason he has never been on a team that failed to make the playoffs. You can look it up: five seasons in Minnesota, three (including a le) in San Antonio, two in Toronto, none fell short of the playoffs.
"Don't think I don't know that," O'Brien said.
Which brings us to the one statistic that may best explain his game: my beloved plus-minus. In the four games since Rasho has returned from the sprained ankle, the Pacers have outscored their opponents by 54 points when he's been on the floor. When he's been on the bench, the Pacers have been outscored by 41.
"Lawrence Frank from the Nets told me when we got him that he felt Rasho was one of the most underrated centers in the league," O'Brien said. "He just knows how to play basketball."
When you get right down to it, that's the most important attribute a player can hope to have.
http://my.nba.com/thread.jspa?threadID=5700026793
That last bolded part says it all.
Great article!
I just wish he could play good play games this year... (if they get there)
Long time, no see! Kako si kaj? ( <---- Is that correct? Has been so long since I have chatted with you guys to practice.)
Wonderful article Ploto. Thanks for it and all of them that you post.
Last night against the Hornets, Beno had 14 points, 4 rebounds, 7 assists, 1 steal and no fouls.
Was +13.
I wish I had League Pass for Friday- Indiana plays Orlando. Sho & Hedo
Angelca you forgot 5 TO.
Beno's stats have been rather nice lately with the exception of the TO to AST ratio. If he can fix that in a reliable manner I'll go hunt for some crow
Angelca you forgot 5 TO.
Beno's stats have been rather nice lately with the exception of the TO to AST ratio. If he can fix that in a reliable manner I'll go hunt for some crow
When Beno fixes the TO to AST... you mean.
As for my forgetting to mention the TO's... score one for selective memory.
I knowWhen Beno fixes the TO to AST... you mean.
As for my forgetting to mention the TO's... score one for selective memory.
And as I said he is almost proving me wrong. The AST to TO is quite important for a PG, otherwise I would already be on the lookout for crows in the Slovenian skies
you're awsome, your slovenian rulesLong time, no see! Kako si kaj? ( <---- Is that correct? Has been so long since I have chatted with you guys to practice.
I think most of us will have to do that if he continues with such play and doesn't get injured soon.I'll go hunt for some crow
As for Sacramento... they have some nice talent and could be really compe ve next year.
One question for you experts out there.... Kevin Martin, how is his game (defense) outside of scoring? I never watched Kings play too much with him on the floor yet.
Is he a defensive liability because he is so skinny? (yeah yeah, i know a player named T-Prince)
Sho in tonight's game against Hedo and Orlando ( which Hedo and Orlando won in overtime):
6 points, 9 rebounds, 8 assists, a steal and a blocked shot.
I watched the online scoreboard updates at the AT&T Center for the Orlando/ Indiana game and watched the game highlights online when I came home.
It was great to see that Sho was in the game at crucial times- the last part of the fourth and also the last portion of the overtime period.
It speaks well of Sho's coaches confidence in Sho.
Seeing him getting blocked on the last possesion was slightly less great to see.
Rasho had a terrible shooting night, they shouldn't put the ball in his hands in the dying seconds of the game. He was one of the reasons they lost this one, unfortunately
On a night that Rasho had a career high 8 assists combined with 0 turnovers, he also unfortunately had the worst shooting night in years. He shot great the first quarter, but after foul trouble left him on the bench the rest of the first half, he never got going shooting-wise in the second half. He was dead- between battling Howard, running like maniacs up and down the court, and his ankle bothering him... He was so frustrated that he could not get anything to go in, but to his credit he worked at getting other guys going. I did not like that last play of regulation. They did a good job of making it tough on Howard, but he is so athletic that he recovered and blocked the shot. I also will point out that Rasho did an excellent job on Howard. Howard only had about 10 points when Rasho was in the game, and the rest was the second quarter when Rasho was on the bench in foul trouble (Poor Hibbert). Jeff was doing a nice job on Howard, as well. I wish JOB had given Rasho a short breather in OT and let Jeff handle Howard for a minute. All they were going to do in OT was hack him if he got the ball anywhere close.
Now, the only one who shot worse than Rasho tonight- Hedo. He was 1-13 and had 3 points.With the most assists by any Pacers' player this season, other than
T.J. Ford, Rasho Nesterovic led the Pacers with a career-high eight tonight. Nesterovic has led the Pacers in assists (including ties) in each of the last two games.
Since returning from a sprained ankle that kept him on the sidelines for four games, Nesterovic has handed out 20 assists, grabbed four steals and committed just four turnovers in the last five games.
PS I can not believe the Nets beat the Raptors in TOR- and a Vince Carter 3 sent the game to OT. Trying to watch both at once!
Silly willy nilly, you can't combine something with nothing.
Pacers lose another close one. Rasho had a very nice fourth quarter tonight- I have no idea how he found the energy. After last night's OT game, he played 22 minutes in the second half tonight. I LOVE getting to see Rasho play, but I am a little concerned about him playing too many minutes.
He was 5-10; 3-4 FT's for 13 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 blocks- but an uncharacteristic 4 TO's.
Next up Games in Dallas and Houston on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Tattle tale.
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