I dunno...12 points 9 boards in his first game, 17 points 12 boards and 6 steals in his second game...I'm starting to get excited... But then again, you just have to look at last year's Rocky Mountain Revue to see that summer stats don't necessarily mean production in the regulars season. Their "all revue team" was the following: MVP Lonny Baxter 18.5/6.7 Deshawn Stevenson 19/4 Qyntel Woods 28/6.5 Maciej Lampe 17.2/7 Joe Johnson 20/5 John Salmons 19/4
Johnson and Salmons did also show improvement during the year (well Johnson moreso due to Marbury's trade). I think his strong play at least proves he'll come in and provide some real energy off the bench.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Zhone:</div><div class="quote_post">Johnson and Salmons did also show improvement during the year (well Johnson moreso due to Marbury's trade). I think his strong play at least proves he'll come in and provide some real energy off the bench.</div>And don't forget Salmons when Iverson was out for a while. I'm big on Joe Johnson because the guy can do a lot of things. He can handle the rock, he can pass, he can shoot, he has good vision of the court, he can defend. He's got good bulk. He's well rounded and he'll get better. But back to Biedrens. I'm more interested in seeing this guy and if his defense is as good as they say. His scoring will come along easily once he develops some footwork, he spends some more time in the weight room, he grows into his body and learns a variety of offensive moves. A little drop step, a skyhook shot, maybe use shoulder fakes a little more to catch someone off balance so he can bang his way closer to the rim. The nice thing about him is if he grows to 7'1 he'll be hard to guard, especially because he moves a bit fast for a power forward. I wonder if he's more athletic than Pau Gasol because they said Biedrens has a pretty high vertical and he's quick.
Alot of people were comparing him to Gasol when he first entered the league. I am definately excited. How many blocks did he have?
He will at least be better than Darko was this year. I don't think that he will be as good as Gasol during his rookie year, because Gasol was already older and playing for a real European top team before joining the NBA. Anyway, as a European I guess lots of those highly drafted Europeans nowadays will be real busts, but I don't think Biedrins will be one of them. Like Tskitishvili, this guy was averaging 1.0 ppg in the Euroleague at age 19 (a year older than Biedrins is now), which fool drafts this guy at nr 5? Europeans have been underrated, now they are overrated. They will be rated at real strength very soon. Number 11 for Biedrins is wordth the guess .
The SJ Mercury had a nice positive article about his play in the summer league. Here's a snippet of the beginning: <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> It was a blink of a flash of a blip of a moment, easily lost amid the summer league marathon of fouls and fumbles. One subtle move by a large and surprisingly rambunctious 18-year-old millionaire. One move. But Warriors chief Chris Mullin, perched high above the action at the Long Beach Pyramid on Tuesday night, broke his train of thought and jerked forward when he saw Andris Biedrins slice through traffic, signal for the ball, then convert a stylish layup. It was a moment that I, for one, barely noticed while seated next to Mullin, gabbing away about future personnel moves. But by the look on Mullin's face, it might have been the first tiny fulfillment of everything he believed about the 6-foot-11 Latvian before acquiring him with the 11th pick in the NBA draft. ``Bam! Did you see that?'' Mullin said, gesturing to Mitch Richmond and Rod Higgins nearby. ``Not a lot of guys do that -- move to the spot where you can get the pass on your way to the basket.'' ``That,'' Mullin said with a nod, ``is what he can do.''</div> http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews...rts/9150098.htm
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting chuck.be:</div><div class="quote_post">He will at least be better than Darko was this year. I don't think that he will be as good as Gasol during his rookie year, because Gasol was already older and playing for a real European top team before joining the NBA. Anyway, as a European I guess lots of those highly drafted Europeans nowadays will be real busts, but I don't think Biedrins will be one of them. Like Tskitishvili, this guy was averaging 1.0 ppg in the Euroleague at age 19 (a year older than Biedrins is now), which fool drafts this guy at nr 5? Europeans have been underrated, now they are overrated. They will be rated at real strength very soon. Number 11 for Biedrins is wordth the guess .</div>Yo Biedrens was in a professional Euroleague circuit wasn't he?
Indeed, the first year, he averaged 3ppg and last year 18.6 ppg and 8.2 rpg. FIBA Europe League is not the best league in Europe however (ULEB Euroleague is), but being able to make 18ppg for a 18-year old boy, means something (even in a bad team, skonto was 3-11).
I liked that article on Biedrins. Its nice to see Kawakami saying something good about the Warriors for a change. It looks like Mullin is very impressed with Biedrins basketball IQ and instincts so far, that's a very good sign.
The description from Mullin via Kawakami shows that he's got some court sense, that translates well whether he's in high school or the NBA. How many times you see Dampier or Foyle make that cut ? (BTW, I saw Jamison make that cut so many times without anyone delivering the ball, if Jamison only had someone who appreciated his off the ball skills. I hated that.)
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting philsmith75:</div><div class="quote_post">The description from Mullin via Kawakami shows that he's got some court sense, that translates well whether he's in high school or the NBA. How many times you see Dampier or Foyle make that cut ? (BTW, I saw Jamison make that cut so many times without anyone delivering the ball, if Jamison only had someone who appreciated his off the ball skills. I hated that.)</div> I said the same thing for about 3 years on the espn message board. If he played with Kidd or Stockton, Jamison would have easily been a 25 ppg scorer and a perennial all star.
That's a nice find, Zhone. You know Philsmith and Walker, I actually liked Jamison because he's a nice guy and nothing can make him mad (not even Warrior fans booing him when he shows up in the Arena with a Dallas uniform on) but I always hated how he had all these physical tools to play defense and he wouldn't play it. Also I didn't respect him when he retreated to the lockeroom rather than stick up for Murphy/Mills when they got into that fight with Wells and the other blazers the year before. Murph and Mills be representing thugtown. But back to that Biedrens guy. I am excited about him playing. I was high on that guy when Walker got me all hyped up on him before the draft.
