Dear Sonics forum members, I would like to retract all former negative statements that I made about Robert Swift. After watching him in person tonight against New Jersey I am forced to admit, the man is a beast. He and Luke Ridnour together, have a ridiculous amount of chemisry. They connected at least three times for alley-oops. However, this wouldn't be a post by Jurassic if I didn't say something negative, so here is a list of things that Swifty needs to do before I am fully impressed. 1. Perform the way that he did tonight on a consistant basis. 2. Learn to defend--not just stick a hand in the opponent's face and give them an angry look--but actually stay in front of them. 3. Give up fewer offensive rebounds to the other team. 4. Perform the way that he did tonight against big men who aren't scrubs and aren't playing in the second half of a back-to-back (NY played in Portland last night). 5. Continue to get garbage points (tip-ins, put backs, etc), but also play the post and score when given the ball (he only did this once tonight). Oh and Casual, feel free to say "I told you so".
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Jurassic:</div><div class="quote_post"> 1. Perform the way that he did tonight on a consistant basis. 2. Learn to defend--not just stick a hand in the opponent's face and give them an angry look--but actually stay in front of them. 3. Give up fewer offensive rebounds to the other team. 4. Perform the way that he did tonight against big men who aren't scrubs and aren't playing in the second half of a back-to-back (NY played in Portland last night). 5. Continue to get garbage points (tip-ins, put backs, etc), but also play the post and score when given the ball (he only did this once tonight).</div> All valid, but the kid is basically in his rookie season as far as playing time goes. The progress he has made under Bob Hill has been tremendous, and all those things are going to come with more minutes. I take back saying I'd think about trading him for Gerald Green.
The defense I saw in preseason. I was concerned about how tentative he was on offense, however. That hesitancy is gone now, and he is starting to assert himself on offense, and his defense is actually benefitting from it. He moves his feet WAY better than JJ ever did and did some nice stuff last night. The other big thing last night that I was happy with was the way Vladi and Petro closed out the lane in the second half. The Nets scored on both possessions, but they had to do these little gimpy runners that are like 20% shots instead of getting the 90-95% dunk/layups that we gave up all year as players split the bigs and got to the basket. They actually crashed into each other closing out the lane...good stuff.
I understand that guys evolve, but his emergence has been a bit unbelieveable. I give a ton a credit to Bob Hill for having enough confidence in Bobby to play him the minutes that Bob Weiss wouldn't. I am obviously not in the Sonics practices, but something had to tell someone that this kid wasn't as far away from contributing as it obviously seemed four weeks ago. If a kid ever had a light switch be turned on, it should be patented as the Swift switch. To be perfectly honest I think that not only does he fill the hole left by BGJ but he might not even fit in that same hole anymore. BGJ was a better screener, finisher, and interview (and maybe shot blocker) for the Supes than Bobby but Bobby seems to be poised to be better in every facet of the game than BGJ (except screening--which is a very underestimated aspect of the game) and do it on a consistent basis. Mark it down folks, you can R.O.B. Swift. Rely On Bob.
I agree with Shiek on the things BGJ was better at. The nice thing, though is that he can learn all of those things as he gets more experience. The things BGJ was not good at, he wasn't EVER going to learn. I think Swift is a better shot blocker than BGJ, but he hasn't got his timing down yet. JJ blocked what was in his face, Swifty is getting in the way of shots from behind, in front and three steps away from him. When he gets his timing figured out I see him getting many more credited blocks. Everyone I have talked to(fans from open practices and some folks with media creds) has raved about Swift at practices, but he was a different player in games until a few weeks ago. The floor time that Hill gave him has let him give up worrying about things and is letting him play. I think that knowing the minutes are his even if he screws up is letting him just go out and play, and obviously the kid can play.
I too have to retract my words, especially at the Knicks game when I openly mocked and ridiculed Swift when he got dunked on by Big Game James. Really, I didn't see this coming, all indications were that Swift was a big mistake - too slow, too weak, not enough skills. But he's showing good feet, good hands, a nice touch and some basketball smarts. He needs to get stronger, he still looks like he weighs 225 and needs to get to 260 or so. Between he and Petro we might have a true 2-headed monster especially on defense where they can guard the hoop and allow Luke, Ray and Rashard (if he stays) to gamble and reach to their full potential.
Yeah I'm enjoying this as well. Some of the rebounds he gets..when I see him go up for them I'm like "No way he can't get that", and the guy just snatches the ball out of the air. I heard KC say that Swifty is up to 255lbs now...and Ehlo was pointing out a few games back that Swifty is more toned and "His muscles are showing up, he's more cut!!"
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting monty001:</div><div class="quote_post">Yeah I'm enjoying this as well. Some of the rebounds he gets..when I see him go up for them I'm like "No way he can't get that", and the guy just snatches the ball out of the air. I heard KC say that Swifty is up to 255lbs now...and Ehlo was pointing out a few games back that Swifty is more toned and "His muscles are showing up, he's more cut!!"</div> Really? Wow that's good weight gain in a year - well he needs to get to 275 then, as long as he doesn't lose his quickness (did I really say that?)
He is a little bit like Yao when he first came into the league though, in the sense that his frailness is restricted to his upper body. He has strong, sturdy legs and that's a very good foundation to build on - even now he's not getting moved too easily out of the post and can plant himself for rebounds.
I just got back from Seattle, and I got to go to the Jailblazers game. Swift was active and does show promise, but he was so bad on defense I wished he was back on the bench (and I watched closely being the first time I have been able to watch him play big minutes at this level). He almost seemed to be scared of Joel and Dolph. He also never seemed to know where he was supposed to be, but I can give him a break on that being as there are 10 year vets with the same affliction. I found myself (along with many in my section) trying to coach from the stands. "SET A PICK SWIFT!!!" when we weren't yelling "PASS THE BALL!!!" at Flip.
Tonight the kid had 4 turnovers in 31 minutes, although I'd be nervous going up against Yao (or Deke for that matter). Although 3-3 fg and 7 boards, solid.
yeah i haven't been able to watch the recent games with swift playing big minutes, but those numbers are not bad at all..
They appear to be getting more than expected out of Swift. He is still struggling against the premier bigs, but there are only 4 or 5 in the league that earn that tag... He would have been a must have on the Sophmore all-star team if he had started earlier in the year. We'll have to see what comes out of next year. I hope they give Hill a chance to bring in players for his system and get a real training camp. With Luke, Ray, Lewis and Swifty there is some nice potential. They need to fill in the gaps on the bench and find someone to contribute consistently at the four spot. Nick looked good with Swift the last two games.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting psheehy:</div><div class="quote_post">Nick looked good with Swift the last two games.</div> I think it's time to insert Nick into the starting lineup - he'll give Swift some help on the interior both on the boards and on defense. As it is now with Vlad, I'm sure he feels like he's on an island in those respects. Plus with season being bust, what's the point of giving Vlad all these opportunities. Most assuredly we're going to lose him at the end of the season, I don't want to lose Nick as well.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Roland Hood:</div><div class="quote_post">I don't want to lose Nick as well.</div> Right back at ya stud.
i got to say i am pretty impressed with the fact that the centre situation is finally solved (at least it seems this way for now) now...what about PF? obviously radmanovic won't help much... who's going to start? or is it going to be rotation
Hill called out Swifty in the post game. Said it was the first time they got "nothing" out of Robert so far. Also said that it is Robert's job to break pressure for Luke in the backcourt on "made" shots, but he keeps "forgetting." Ouch.
