Sensing playoffs motivates Foyle

Discussion in 'Golden State Warriors' started by Montay, Oct 10, 2005.

  1. Montay

    Montay JBB JustBBall Member

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    LAIE, Hawaii - The Warriors ran lines after Saturday's morning training camp session at BYU-Hawaii. They were divided into three groups by position, the big men going last.

    And there was Adonal Foyle, the Warriors' ninth-year center, leading the pack -- outrunning 19-year-old Andris Biedrins, outhustling first-round draft pick Ike Diogu, outworking athletic rookie Deji Akindele.

    "Letting them know they ain't got nothing on me," Foyle said through a laugh. "I teach them, but I have to whip them every now and them. They need to know, 'Hey, don't get it twisted. I still got some in the tank.'"

    This is the new and improved Foyle. He's in as good a shape as he's been in the last few years, no doubt as strong as ever. He added 10 pounds of muscle during his rigorous summer workouts. It's mostly visible in his upper body, in those newly chiseled biceps.

    The Warriors' starting center has some pep in his step, some life in his limbs. It's all because he finally can sniff the playoffs.

    "I've always been motivated," said Foyle, 30, who has his trainer and a massage therapist with him in Hawaii. "But (it's easy) to be motivated when you have a team behind you that can support you. I always work hard. I always bring a lot to the game. But we're so close now. For the first time in my career, I feel close. If you have anything left, you want to give it all because you want to be a part of that."

    No longer limited by his concern for gaining too much weight, Foyle spent the summer hitting the weights -- hard. He worked on his entire frame, not just his lower body as normal. He also went to a big man camp in Orlando, Fla., where he was schooled by Hall of Famer Robert Parrish and former Warriors star Clifford Ray.

    The result is a stronger, healthier Foyle -- which is a far cry from the Foyle who showed up at training camp last year.

    "Last year he came out of shape," Warriors assistant coach Mario Elie said. "First day of practice, pulls a hamstring. This year, Adonal's out there every play. He's dealing with these young guys. They're banging, knocking him down, but he keeps getting up and he keeps fighting through that. He sees that we have something special."

    Foyle said he didn't find any extra motivation in the trade rumors involving Chicago Bulls center Eddy Curry, the drafting of Diogu or the constant talk about the Warriors' need for a scoring center. He said he's been around long enough not to be bothered by such talk. Even more, he said he invited the competition and help.

    Foyle's only inspiration was the playoffs, the smell of which tickled his nose after the team's acquisition of Baron Davis in the middle of last season. He wanted to be ready for the magical season they're all expecting.

    The hope is that a healthy start leads to a healthy season. Foyle said he'll probably lose the added muscle mass during the season because he can't keep up his Arnold Schwarzenegger routine. But he trusts the hard work and added strength will ward off nagging injuries and keep him from burning out in January or February, leaving him with some petroleum for the stretch.

    Foyle's improved conditioning is not expected to make him an offensive juggernaut, however. He's not going to try to prove he's the low-post offensive threat the team needs.

    Instead, he's comfortable playing the role he has perfected. Instead, he's going to give the team what he's always given, just at a more sustained and consistent pace.

    "My game is very ugly," Foyle said. "Somebody described my game as bitter and rough. It's like pungent wine. At first you're like, 'Ugggh.' As you watch and you savor, it grows on you.

    "I will do what I always have done," he added. "Running the floor, diving for loose balls, getting rebounds, starting the break, blocking some shots, clearing the paint, setting screens, finishing when I get my little putbacks, making my post moves, shooting my free throws. I'm doing everything. Pouring water, getting the towels, whatever it takes to make the playoffs, I'll be doing it on the sideline or on the court."

    http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctime...rs/12864420.htm
     
  2. Warriorfansnc93

    Warriorfansnc93 JBB JustBBall Member

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    Good. I hope he is motivated. I am sure he is probably the most motivated he has ever been. Hopefully he will put up the kind of numbers we all expected out of him last year and then some...
     
  3. upsidedownside7

    upsidedownside7 JBB JustBBall Member

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    Glad Foyle put down the Amici's pizza and decided to get his act together.
     
  4. CohanHater

    CohanHater JBB JustBBall Member

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    10 lbs of muscle is no joke considering how strong Foyle was before. If he was running and lifting then he should look like a monster out there. Good to know that the team is ready to go.
     
  5. wtwalker77

    wtwalker77 JBB JustBBall Member

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    First off Foyle has always been one of my favorite Warriors. I don't think there's a better person in the NBA.

    That being said, the one thing that has kept Foyle from ever being more than a third tier center is his hands. The man simply has hands of stone and there's no way to improve it, you're either born with it or not.

    The good news is that for the first time in his career, Foyle is playing with an excellent pg. Baron is going to get Foyle the ball in the right places and he's going to make the passes as easy for Foyle to catch as possible. He's also going to know when NOT to pass to Foyle... *cough* fast-breaks *cough*

    Ok, enough of the bad stuff, I'm back to eagerly waiting for the first time Foyle embarrasses someone trying to dunk over him.
     
  6. Custodianrules2

    Custodianrules2 Cohan + Rowell = Suck

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    Foyle is a very hard worker and he does the little things that nobody on the team really does. If he can play like he did in 2002-2003, I am cool with it because there were times where he just deserved to be starter. He is what he is, a hustle player with the shotblocking prowess of Theo Ratliff that will give what he can. Let's hope it's enough because the Western Conference is usually decided by their big men (and their guards, most importantly playmaking point guard). We need rebounding help in the worst way as well as the defense.

    I'm glad Adonal admits his game is pretty ugly and that doesn't stop him from trying. Somebody described his game as bitter and rough like a bad wine, well I can describe it as drinking urine straight from the tap. It'll keep you alive if there's no fresh water available, but you'd rather drink it than die. As soon as that rare bottle of pellegrino shows up, we're drinking the hell out of it. Hopefully, Biedrins is the bottle of pellegrino, but he's a question mark. He looks something like a hustle Jeff Foster with shotblocking skills or a younger Tyson Chandler. It's hard to figure him out, but he could be a power forward. Anyway, good job for Foyle, but man there were better centers on the market that year and it's hard to tell if Mullin did anything to pursue those guys when Mullin's first move was to lock Foyle up almost immediately.

    Okay, maybe Foyle ain't that bad, but you know me. I exaggerate over the players that I am not a fan of.
     
  7. Montay

    Montay JBB JustBBall Member

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    With Baron running the show Adonal can be an important role player. Baron will reward his hustle he just has to be ready to catch the ball. And as CR2 states Adonal's hands are his weakness. Man with Amare going down and the Lakers rebuilding we have a great opportunity to win. Tonight the summer wait is over and all us watchers get to see the Warriors run with the new look Lakers. Adonal does things a winning team needs. If he stays healthly I think he'll have the best season of his career. He has been working hard to get in this position.

    Bring it!
     
  8. AnimeFANatic

    AnimeFANatic JBB JustBBall Member

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    So... NOT making the playoffs for 8 years didn't motivate him?
     
  9. Custodianrules2

    Custodianrules2 Cohan + Rowell = Suck

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    Well, I think Adonal Foyle is the type that seems he would set goals for himself each and every season. It's what winning personalities do. I think one of his goals in the past was to start at center for a team and he did. Now the next step is to try to help the team get to the playoffs now that they have a franchise player to step up. Adonal, being a bit of an 8th pick overall bust, also knows he can only do so much because he's not that talented of an nba player. He plays within himself, although he'll take that ill advised shot on the break like Wtwalker mentioned every once in a while, and he'll sometimes shoot the midrange jumper which is scary because he shoots free throws worse than a blind folded Shaq with his eyes missing. Yes, I it's redundant, but it's only to accentuate the imagination further. He's real bad!

    I mean I believe Foyle can knock down those jump shots and free throws, but in game time when touches for him are rare, he'd probably think about it too much and then miss it badly. There's not that much to his finesse game anyway because he can't even score with his left hand near the basket. His right hand is only okay, but his hookshot is uglier than sin.
     
  10. AnimeFANatic

    AnimeFANatic JBB JustBBall Member

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    He gained 12 lbs of muscle this off season. He should have done that every off season of his career. He'd be freaking huge.
     
  11. Custodianrules2

    Custodianrules2 Cohan + Rowell = Suck

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    <div class="quote_poster">Quoting AnimeFANatic:</div><div class="quote_post">He gained 12 lbs of muscle this off season. He should have done that every off season of his career. He'd be freaking huge.</div>
    Maybe it's the trainers Foyle had? I know Monty is into getting his basketball players into the football type of conditioning where guys can be strong as running backs without sacrificing mobility. Of course that doesnt apply to guys like Childress or Borchardt. Those guys were always stick figures. It seems like their body types couldn't gain the freshman 15 if they tried.

    Mark Grabow, John Murray and Tom Abdenour are all supposed to be pretty good, but I think each player hires their own personal guys for the offseason if they choose to be somewhere else. I really don't know the details of who he worked out with and or who made sure he was doing the muscle development safely and routinely. Maybe it's there in front of me but I missed it? All I'm saying is the trainers may give advice on where they think Foyle should be both strength wise and athletically and Foyle goes out and tries to achieve that.
     
  12. REREM

    REREM JBB JustBBall Member

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    back in my younger days when I played sports a lot,I didn't have good hands. After working many years in restaurants and construction trades,I have very sure and quick hands,of course now I have no speed,no hops,but the point is that "bad hands" can improve.

    I don't see a guy making $8 mill taking a summer job doing sheetrock,or potscrubbing or making salads but there are drills one could devise. In football,often a player can let it rip,ride the adrenalin and get wild. Basketball demands more cool and restraint,especially when it comes to shooting and ballhandling,yet it's a fast action game,where quickness matters,where there's power and contact. That's a tough mix to balance. Meanwhile there's your multi-million $ career on the line-about 10,000 screaming freaks in the seats and TV looking to replay every screw-up.
    It's a lot to cope with. Some adapt fast. Some adapt slow,some never adapt. Big men are in the league because there is a limited supply of big men. They won't all have the instincts of an All Star. Foyle can improve his offensive abilities some,especially if he's a regular,but blocking shots is why he is in the league. He has to keep them honest by scoring when open,by being an option. He doesn't need to score a lot.
     
  13. Custodianrules2

    Custodianrules2 Cohan + Rowell = Suck

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    <div class="quote_poster">Quoting REREM:</div><div class="quote_post">back in my younger days when I played sports a lot,I didn't have good hands. After working many years in restaurants and construction trades,I have very sure and quick hands,of course now I have no speed,no hops,but the point is that "bad hands" can improve.

    I don't see a guy making $8 mill taking a summer job doing sheetrock,or potscrubbing or making salads but there are drills one could devise. In football,often a player can let it rip,ride the adrenalin and get wild. Basketball demands more cool and restraint,especially when it comes to shooting and ballhandling,yet it's a fast action game,where quickness matters,where there's power and contact. That's a tough mix to balance. Meanwhile there's your multi-million $ career on the line-about 10,000 screaming freaks in the seats and TV looking to replay every screw-up.
    It's a lot to cope with. Some adapt fast. Some adapt slow,some never adapt. Big men are in the league because there is a limited supply of big men. They won't all have the instincts of an All Star. Foyle can improve his offensive abilities some,especially if he's a regular,but blocking shots is why he is in the league. He has to keep them honest by scoring when open,by being an option. He doesn't need to score a lot.</div>

    That's very interesting, REREM. While we can only hope for the best for Foyle, it's hard for him to catch most passes when he's such a hustle guy, not that coordinated in some aspects, and he's clearly not used to being thrown the ball that much. He looked ready in preseason as long as the passes weren't at the knees and he didn't hesitate to score a little. BTW REREM did you ever work as a bricklayer, Jerry Rice style? His old man was a bricklayer and used to throw him bricks as a kid as a summer job. That got his hands soft and strong. I wonder if Foyle should be catching bricks? While Barnett's talking about Dunleavy, Dunleavy can be shooting them, and Foyle can be catching them. [​IMG]
     
  14. Run BJM

    Run BJM Heavy lies the crown. Staff Member Global Moderator

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    <div class="quote_poster">Quoting REREM:</div><div class="quote_post">back in my younger days when I played sports a lot,I didn't have good hands. After working many years in restaurants and construction trades,I have very sure and quick hands,of course now I have no speed,no hops,but the point is that "bad hands" can improve.</div>
    I agree that no one is born with "good hands" but I'm fairly sure that most people with "good hands" played alot of sports in school. Football, Baseball, basketball, these all help you to train yourself to predict the trajectory, speed, etc of the ball. Foyle probably didnt play sports much as a kid and after your teenage years its probably difficult to learn something instinctive like that. I really dont think Foyle will improve anything, other than his conditioning, for the rest of his career. I think his gained muscle and lost body fat should allow all of his numbers to go up.
     
  15. CohanHater

    CohanHater JBB JustBBall Member

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    Lots of things lead to "Bad hands" Poor footwork, Bad eyesight, slow hand speed, poor focus, or just being too simple to computate multiple things at the same time. Foyle's no idiot, and he has good focus on defense. I think his main problem is his footwork. He's just not graceful. Of all the the causes of poor hands, this is the easist to fix, but it takes endless practice.
     
  16. DutchWarriorFan

    DutchWarriorFan JBB JustBBall Member

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    I like Foyle's positive attitude, and if his 5 blocks in the first preseason game are an indication for the regular season to come then i'll be happy with him.
     
  17. mylie10

    mylie10 JBB JustBBall Member

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    RunBjm has it cold! Foyle grew up playing soccer. Nothing against soccer players, but hand eye co-ordination is learned by most Americans early on, playing baseball, football, and basketball. Foyle didn't start playing bball until he was older. I believe this is where his troubles handling passes stems from. When your young learning is much easier. As you get older grasping certain things becomes more difficult, and takes much longer.

    My problem with Foyles conditioning is that it took him 8 years to realize how important it is to be in game condition right at the beginning of camp. Especially last year for Foyle! He knew he was being counted on being the guy, because of Dampier's departure. He came in out of shape, and quickly fell out of favor with Monty, who turned to the ultra professional C-Rob.

    I hope Taft pulls his head out and realizes how important conditioning is for him. Especially if you have back issues. It's so important not to carry extra weight.
     
  18. AnimeFANatic

    AnimeFANatic JBB JustBBall Member

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    IF only Foyle played Goalie when he played soccer... Maybe his hands would catch them passes then.
     
  19. Custodianrules2

    Custodianrules2 Cohan + Rowell = Suck

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    <div class="quote_poster">Quoting mylie10:</div><div class="quote_post">RunBjm has it cold! Foyle grew up playing soccer. Nothing against soccer players, but hand eye co-ordination is learned by most Americans early on, playing baseball, football, and basketball. Foyle didn't start playing bball until he was older. I believe this is where his troubles handling passes stems from. When your young learning is much easier. As you get older grasping certain things becomes more difficult, and takes much longer.
    </div>
    I think it's generally just because Foyle's big at 6'9-6'10 and it's harder for big guys to handle some passes. A lot of passes thrown at big guys are sometimes right at the knees.
     
  20. Warriorfansnc93

    Warriorfansnc93 JBB JustBBall Member

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    <div class="quote_poster">Quoting custodianrules2:</div><div class="quote_post">I think it's generally just because Foyle's big at 6'9-6'10 and it's harder for big guys to handle some passes. A lot of passes thrown at big guys are sometimes right at the knees.</div>

    That is no excuse because Biedrens has some of the best hands I have ever seen on a big man. He catches balls passed behind him that he has no business even attempting to catch. With Foyle I think his thing is he is not an offensive minded player. Between that and not expecting to get the ball other than offensive rebounds he just is not ready for a pass. I saw an article a few weeks ago where Jrich told Adonal to keep his hands up to his chest or something. This is a basic fundamental skill. Its like the triple threat position. You should always have your hands in a position to catch a pass. That is part of moving without the ball. When you are cutting to the hoop or trailing a play you should always be ANTICIPATING the pass or where it could come from. That is the problem with Adonal, he is not expecting it, thus not anticipating it...
     

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