IMO, yes and no. Yes, because obviously once you're getting consistent minutes, you don't feel the need to "audition" and are more comfortable taking what the defense gives you. I totally agree, AF. But no, because IMO that's Ike's nature, and frankly I don't want homeboy to change. He's a dirty dog. He has a nose for that backboard, and he's going to get there one way or the other. He can finish better with his off-hand than many PFs can finish with their primary. Dude can wheel-n-deal spin-move and bank in a funky spin with his left out of the double team. He's nasty like that. So part of it is that he just has a will to put that little orange round thing through that metal circle. One way or another. So while I do agree that if he gets consistent minutes, he'll learn/look to pass more, I think at the same time part of what makes the guy so intimidating to defenders is that fact that he, you, and I all know that if that ball touches his mitts, it's going through the hoop one way or another. You can either catch an elbow in the jaw or just get the f out of the way. I don't want Ike to lose that because of coaching. Now, I've been saying that if he learns to become a threat as a passer out of the double, that'll make his scoring easier. And it's true. But the art of passing should become a weapon of Ike's, not a focus. He should learn to use it so that, against a team like the Lakers, when he's going one on one with Turiaf, Ike can say "what Phil J, you wanna send Kwamae over here to double? I dare you..." and be able to dump the dish to Beans for the jimmy-jam if Phil chooses to send the double. But I'm not looking for Ike to rack up 5-7 assists, lol. He just needs to be able to keep the defense honest. What Ike does is take that little round thing and put it through the hoop. There's no changing that. there are only a handful of pure-scorers in college every year, and this guy is the cream of the crop. Excellent draft pick. Teach him to keep the defense honest with the pass, then watch him put his hard-hat on, grab the lunch-pail, and go to work in the paint.
I agree AlleyOop. If anything. get to the line, Ike or miss intentionally and get the offensive board back. We don't want another kickout pass that's going to lead to another outside brick!
