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ian aint ever going to make it
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/b...i.19a488e.html
Spurs' Mahinmi showing potential
Web Posted: 07/18/2006 11:32 PM CDT
Johnny Ludden
Express-News Staff Writer
SALT LAKE CITY — Through four games at the Rocky Mountain Revue, Ian Mahinmi has shown the type of potential that made the Spurs gamble a first-round draft pick on him a year ago.
His next goal is to show some muscle.
Mahinmi had his most disappointing game in the summer league Tuesday, committing eight fouls and five turnovers in 17 minutes. Considering Mahinmi is only 19 and has never faced NBA-type compe ion, Spurs officials have been fairly pleased with his performance the past week.
But they also acknowledge he's going to have to get stronger.
"For a 19-year-old, he has a confidence and presence I didn't expect," said Spurs assistant coach Mike Budenholzer, who has been guiding the summer-league team. "He's been a pleasant surprise. But he's going to have to learn to play without fouling."
The Spurs drafted Mahinmi, a 6-foot-10 forward/center from France, with the 28th pick in 2005, viewing him as a two- to three-year project. He is quick and athletic but is listed as weighing only 210 pounds.
The second-youngest player at the Rocky Mountain Revue, Mahinmi impressed coaches in practice before the league started. In his first game against Dallas, he collected seven fouls in 23 minutes — players aren't disqualified until their eighth foul — but still had a defensive presence. He followed with a 13-point, eight-rebound, two-block performance against Seattle.
Mahinmi was the best player on the floor for the first two quarters of Monday's loss to Atlanta, totaling 14 points and seven rebounds in just 13 minutes. He opened the game with a 15-foot jump shot, used his quickness to draw fouls from Hawks defenders, cut to the basket well and aggressively tried to establish position inside.
The second half, however, was a different story. Hawks rookie forward Shelden Williams repeatedly outmuscled him for rebounding position. Mahinmi resorted to holding or pushing off and picked up five fouls in nine minutes.
Tuesday brought more of the same. With Spurs coach Gregg Popovich and general manager R.C. Buford again watching from the stands, Mahinmi became frustrated trying to battle Philadelphia's 265-pound forward, Harold Jamison. In one 30-second sequence, Mahinmi picked up an offensive foul trying to clear space under the basket then drew another foul trying to protect the rim on the other end.
Mahinmi finished with two points and five rebounds before fouling out in the third quarter of the 87-61 loss.
Most summer-league games are filled with fouls, in part, because the league uses them to train younger referees. But Mahinmi also is going to have to become stronger to keep from getting pushed around.
"It's a big change," said Mahinmi, who likely will return to France for at least one more season. "(The players) are more fast, more athletic. I had some cool games, but I'm still going to have to work hard."
Notable: Spurs officials don't have a good feel for whether Denver and New York will match their offers to centers Francisco Elson and Jackie Butler. The Nuggets, who needed a shooting guard, saved some money by acquiring J.R. Smith from Chicago, though they still appear interested in re-signing forward Reggie Evans.
Both teams have until Thursday to match the Spurs' offer.
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ian aint ever going to make it
He should learn a lot more in Pau this coming season.
The compe ion is a lot better, and I'm sure the Spurs have already set a weight program for him.
The seldom used timvp double-whammy move. Let Elson go and sign Reggie Evans.though they still appear interested in re-signing forward Reggie Evans.
Both teams have until Thursday to match the Spurs' offer.
8 fouls?
I'm guessing you can't foul out in Summer League games.
From above article.— players aren't disqualified until their eighth foul —
Look at me, Mr. "I read the whole article".
Johan Petro averaged over 5 fouls a game in 11 minutes per game last year in the Rocky Mountain Revue. I'm guessing that the rules from the French League to this summer league don't get lost in translation.
That said, I'd rather Mahinmi foul too much at this point than be looked at as a soft player.
Unless he's fouling too much because he is a soft player.
Meaning he can't hold his ground, and ends up reaching/hacking...like the article says.
who knows maybe he could be the next Ben Gordon like Aldridge.
RE: the fouls.
Eight fouls gets you disqualified?
That must be an RMR rule, because I distinctly remember Sebastian Telfair getting 10 fouls in Vegas this summer.
If that's in reference to me, you're misinformed.
who knows maybe he could be the next Ben Gordon like Aldridge.
I never compared Ben Gordon to Aldridge. Ever.
Trivia time -- Who is the only player among the summer league leaders in scoring, rebounding, steals and blocks?
http://www.nba.com/media/jazz/rmr06leaders_day4.pdf
(too bad they don't list the leaders in fouls and turnovers)
Wow.
the refclown who gave him 8 fouls sure is worst then the clown who couldnt count 3 yellow cards for that croatian dude.
It was Rudy Gay you compared to Ben Gordon.
Even worse.
This is true.
Give the guy a break- he's 19, it's his first North American taste of basketball and all things considered, he's played pretty well.
Two years from now, he will be our starting center.
Now that teams know to use muscle on him it may be hard for Mahinmi to hve more games with good numbers. I've always heard that weight training isn't a big part of Euro player preparation. I wonder if Ian's been doing much lifting to date.
i'd be surprised if the spurs haven't taken steps towards or prodded him into weight training.
Couldn't agree more. I played with some 19 yr olds who are taller, but I bullied them because of them being so skinny.
Bring the kid over now.
Have him practice against Duncan, and do the weight room thing here in SA.
I think 10 to 15lbs should be fine.
Extract from a Mahinmi interview made for a french magazine in December 2005 :
You follow too a specific muscular strengthening program ?
I do for sure more weight training tham my teammates. It's logical because I'm young and I need to get more muscles. Howeve, I haven't a specific program. I use specific methods send by Spurs and I mix them with Le Havre's methods. I try to do a good mix with the help of Le Havre's physical coach.
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