<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">SALT LAKE CITY -- There was a time when Danny Fortson sported a flat top. And as inconceivable as that fact may be, there was also a time when Fortson was a polished scorer who ran the floor and dominated the paint. Fortson was a force at the University of Cincinnati nine years ago. He remained in school for his junior year just to polish his offensive game in preparation for a distinguished NBA career as a scoring power forward. At 6-foot-6, 265 pounds, Fortson was a space eater inside with brilliant low-post moves and a nice touch around the basket. Now, as a journeyman NBA veteran, the only time Fortson displays his touch is during free-throw drills in practice. Fortson has been reduced to simply a banger, an enforcer who is known more for his roughhousing tactics than any other aspect of his game. Fortson doesn't necessarily relish that reputation. He realizes the amount of work he put in during his years at Cincinnati and as a prep star in Pittsburgh. "There was a reason I finished second in scoring to Oscar Robertson at Cincinnati," he said. "I could score." Yet, he is no longer a scorer. Sonics coach Bob Weiss points out Fortson's apprehension when he gathers the ball beyond 6 feet of the basket. A player who used to have a solid medium-range jumper will pass up an open shot and drive with full momentum toward the nearest defender looking for contact. A player who scored 22 points with 11 rebounds in 24 minutes in his first NBA start bangs until he is near the basket instead of using some of his past graceful moves to create a shot. Perhaps no other player in the NBA has undergone such a dramatic transformation as Fortson, who has averaged nearly as many fouls this season as points. The genesis of this transformation -- or offensive decline -- could be traced to Fortson's rookie season with the Denver Nuggets, he said. Fortson was taken 10th in the 1997 draft by the Milwaukee Bucks and traded to the Nuggets. "It was a joke my rookie year," he said. "Bill Hanzlik was my head coach, no disrespect to him. But we didn't have nothing together. We had nothing. We were all lost." "That's how the league is," he said. "They tell you who you are, what you should do and who you are going to be. I saw myself when I came in as definitely one of the best scoring forwards there was. I knew what my potential and capabilities was but it seemed everywhere I went, they wanted me to start fights and stop playing basketball. I'd rather play basketball." Weiss would love to see Fortson on the floor instead of in the locker room after being ejected or on the bench with foul trouble. In Fortson's two seasons with the Sonics, he has turned into a fan favorite because of his physical play. In a Western Conference that's known for its finesse and fastbreak, Fortson is a rare enforcer, conjuring memories of Dave Corzine, Mark Olberding and Dennis Rodman. Yet, Weiss said he realizes that Fortson could be of even more value to the Sonics as a scorer. The Sonics lack a low-post scoring presence and haven't had one in years. The last time a Sonics center or power forward averaged 10 or more points per game was Vin Baker in 2001-02. "We all see what Danny can do," guard Ray Allen said. "You can look at how he shoots free throws and see what touch he has around the basket. And if he could score maybe nine points per game, it would make it easier for us. All he needs is to be a threat down there in the post, and I remember when he used to be a scorer. He's got that in him."</div> Source
It would be interesting, I myself always wondered what happened to his ability to score. It's hard to change now, so I don't know if it can happen, but it would help the team a lot. He'd probably have to lose some weight to be able to be a decent scorer though.
Yeah, it's pretty simple. He plays against guys at least two inches taller than him and he's lucky if he gets two inches off the floor when he jumps.
I saw Fortson in high school when he was about 50 pounds lighter and was unstoppable on the block. Fortson stopped being a scorer when he stopped being in shape. Last season he was easily capable of getting over 15 points a game with how many rebounds he muscled. He has never been a back to the basket scorer in the league b/c he can't shoot over people three to four inches taller than him. No knock on him b/c he's found other ways to help a team. As much as I talk about other players on the Sonics the key to this team's success lays on the shoulders of Altoona's finest (which is Fortson). No one in the league can change the complexion of a game like he can and if we are able to get 18 productive minutes out of him w/o him getting suspended than we will be a much fiercer team to deal with in the remaining 3/4 of the season. Stop hating on Fortson in these threads. There is no Sonic that I'd rather have in the trenches than him, period.
I am never hating Fortson (except maybe over his off-the-court ignorant ramblings) in this thread or any other. He needs to get his temper under control and be aware that it takes a shut mouth to regain the officials swallowing of whistles. (look at Rasheed Wallace, he learned to shut his mouth and without changing his game gets the calls HIS way more often than not) Danny knows how to get his hands on the ball and what to do with it when he does. We don't have that combination in any other player in the post (except maybe Nick who needs more experience). He can score or draw the foul, and can hit a fair amount of his freebies. On the other end of the floor he knows how to remind those eager guards whose paint it is, and isn't afraid to provide additional tutoring should someone forget their previous education. Without JJ's big a** around to take up space near the basket on defense we need a little more Baltimore Catechism style education in the paint for the Supes. (that is the kind that prefers rulers on knuckles and paddles with "texture" to more modern forms of educational "encouragement")
