Time for these youngsters to elevate their game
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Sports: BasketBall
The learning curve is different for everyone. Some of the kids bounce into the NBA as prodigies immediately putting masterpieces onto canvas and showing right away that they're destined for big things. Nobody had to wait to see that Derrick Rose was beyond the kindergarten finger painting.
Then there are those who have the talent and have demonstrated the skills, but need to take their games to a higher level in order for their teams to succeed. So here are a handful of young guns that are being counted on to take the next step forward when training camps open:
After a forgettable summer that included the online photo, the bizarre comments on Twitter and a stint in rehab, there isn't an up-and-comer in the league with more to prove than the Miami Heat sophomore. Nobody ever doubted his ability to put the ball into the basket, but now all of the questions are about his character, his commitment to being a professional and to live up to the responsibilities he has to his teammates and the organization. Is he a cornerstone that Dwyane Wade can rely on and commit to or is the former No. 2 overall pick a mistake? No second-year player will be under a greater microscope from the very first dribble.
The lightning bug out of Oregon bided his time coming off the bench for 1 1/2 years. Then the Houston Rockets traded veteran Rafer Alston just ahead of last season's trade deadline and turned the starting point guard job over to him for the final 35 games. He's got a first step that's a blur and gets him all the way to the basket for layups and an outside shot that can go on sizzling streaks. But Brooks still has to prove that his tiny stature isn't too much of a detriment in the point guard rich-and-rugged Western Conference. He's also got to show that he can balance getting his own points with spreading the ball around to his teammates in the offense. The Rockets picked up Kyle Lowry from Memphis because of those questions.
After showing that they can put up plenty of points and score with the best of them, the Indiana Pacers say they're making a commitment to toughening up their defense this season. They could be helped significantly in that regard if the 7-foot-2 shot-blocker and rebounder could find a way to stay on the court and out of foul trouble that so frequently had him shackled to the bench in his rookie year. He averaged more than 3 fouls while playing just 14 minutes a game in his first pro season and has to channel that aggressiveness into smarter play. While everybody will be looking at rookie Tyler Hansbrough's ability to translate those collegiate honors into the NBA, a solid, dependable season in the middle for Hibbert could get the Pacers the stops they want (and need).
Even without much offensive range, everybody knows he can be the dominating inside presence the Portland Trail Blazers hoped for when they made him the No. 1 overall pick in the 2007 draft. Of course, what nobody knows is whether Oden will be able to dance around the injury problems that sidelined him for 103 of the first 164 games of his NBA career. After the microfracture knee surgery cost him the 2007-08 season, he only made it through 13 minutes on Opening Night a year ago before suffering a foot injury and then was sidelined for three more weeks in February with another knee problem. While the Kevin Durant, the No. 2 pick from '07, continues to put up highlight reel shows and threatens to one night jump right through the roof in Oklahoma City, it is time that the Blazers' big man shows that he can be the anchor they need in the middle of their lineup and not a ball and chain shackled to the injured list.
Four years into his NBA career and Williams has demonstrated the speed and the slick moves to keep pace with the high-scoring, high-octane style of lead dog Andre Iguodala in Philadelphia. Whether he's come off the bench or been inserted into the starting lineup, Williams has shown steady improvement and could be on the verge of exploding into the big-time. But with quarterback Andre Miller gone to Portland, this time around Williams is also going to have to be the trigger man in the Sixers' offense. He's never really played the point before and backup Jrue Holiday is just a rookie. Running new coach Eddie Jordan's motion offense, the Sixers say they don't need a traditional point man. But it will help if Williams gets off to a smooth start and learns early to mesh with Elton Brand's inside game so that the Sixers don't spend the first half of the season searching for an identity again.
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