Reflections on POB?

[Bruiser]

Hey yo!

I didn't watch last night's game and I'd like to get some of your impressions about POB.
Every input is welcome.

Any thoughts? Kind regards.

[underneathtoDJ]

I think 6 minutes is too short of a time to really get a good gauge on POB, but I noticed a couple things as I was casually watching the blowout, so feel free to correct me if I'm wrong:

Offensively, showed a nice turn around jump shot for his first basket giving him a Garnett-esque shake before hand. I honestly can't remember the other basket he made.

Defensively, he seemed to be a bit lost. While he hustled back on defense well, I thought there were a couple of possessions that he seemed to lose his man, but mostly just to be a help defender.

I think we need to curtail any expectations or criticism for POB based off of his limited playing time last night, but I think what we can gather is that he's still a project, but one that has some potential. With our frontline, I don't seem him getting much playing time, but he's an interesting guy to have at the end of the bench.

[BillessuR6]

I could see why Doc doesn`t play him. It really seems like he doesn`t play at C`s speed and takes possessions off. He just isn`t alert enough on every play. He also looks kind of soft, he needs to put up weight, because he can`t hold ground and establish position.

That fadeaway jumper in the post he took, looked phenomenal but he needs to improve in a lot of areas. I am pretty sure Clifford can make a useful center out of him. The guy has some tools he just needs to get tougher, meaner, more dynamic, intense! He needs to become an instigator!

[Dave_From_NB]

Unfortunately it seemed typical garbage time minutes by everyone on the floor, no flow, no defense, just 10 guys playing playground ball. He seems a significant better offensive touch than Perk and Davis, but the defense either is a significant downgrade or it's a reflection of the garbage time.

[ParticleMan]

He's obviously got skills, but you can see he really has no clue what he's doing out there on either end. To his credit he was running around a lot, at least trying to be active. But in one sequence he got faked out of his shoes on a jumper, then soon after he lets amir (iirc) slide inside him for a putback dunk. he is late on recognizing when to challenge shots. but he also did some nice things out there, the turnaround was nice, and he finished hard on that feed from tony(?).

he's clearly a project. he's like a rookie out there. you can see he basically got no coaching whatsoever in GS. with clifford here and some good role models, i think he'll be fine, but if he is actually able to contribute this year that would be a mild surprise. his teammates really seem to be cheering for him.

[Zin5]

Basically to reiterate what everyone's said, since most of it's been right: He's definitely skilled offensively, but he looked definitely lost on both ends. There were a few times where I was trying to figure out what the hell he was doing out there on both sides.

However, despite the fact that it was garbage time, he seemed to be putting in a lot of effort, even if he wasn't sure what he was supposed to be doing. It was the first time we've seen him in a real game in green and it was limited, so I'm going to assume he just doesn't have enough experience in the system or he was nervous out there. The effort he was putting in, on both ends of the court, was very encouraging though.

[return2glory]

He didn't look too good. The turn around jumper he made was good but I felt like that shot could easily be blocked because he doesn't have a high point of release like KG. One of the stupid announcers said that it looked like Robert Parish's shot. I looked nothing like Parish's shot because Parish shot the ball way above his head, with his arms fuly extended.

Sure enough, he got his 2nd turn around shot blocked in his face. It was kind of embarressing to see. He also got dunked on twice. He plays at a slow pace, isn't strong enough to bang, and doesn't get up his feet fast.

At this point POB is a project but he has a bad understanding of the game on the offensive end. I was discouraging to see his shot blocked in his face. You gotten to know if you can't get a shot off, you have to lean into the player to get him off balance.

If POB can show some hunger and work hard on his game and in the weight room, he will become a good player. If not, then he will be like the Candy man.

[sully00]

He is athletic for his size and not in just a being able to run for a big man he looks like a basketball player on the court not just a 7'. At the same time he also looks as green as can be, like rookie who hasn't been in an NBA game, age wise it isn't issue but certainly is if it never changes.

[MyInsatiableOne]

I was at the game last night and saw him in person...his two shots he made were nice, but otherwise he looked almost uncoordinated and gangly out there...really lost, especially on defense. Very raw...needs more work in practice, I'd say!

[lojowo]

While watching POB last night, a thought came to me.

Doc showed that he doesnt like to break up his bench rotation due to injury or suspension, that is why he use Scal when Garnett was suspended for the 1 game.

If Perk goes down or is suspended, will Doc use POB as his replacement in the starting line up? Or would he go Garnett and Scal as the bigs?

I hate the idea of Garnett being leaned on from the start of the game by bigger starting centers.

POB did play well with the starters in preseason, maybe he can hide is flaws with the starters.

[bawstin]

To his credit he was running around a lot, at least trying to be active.

I couldn't disagree more. I was at the game last night and was totally focused on POB & Pruitt when they went in.

I was so disappointed in POB. His skills are good, but his effort and his conditioning are awful. Right now he *should* be playing like Perk a couple of years ago, or Leon and Baby last year -- throwing himself all over the place and going after everything, fouls be damned. But I swear to god he's half-a$$ing it out there, especially for a guy who has so much to prove.

Pruitt looked good, he's starting to put it all together. Watching him made me realize just how many different things NBA players need to do to succeed. He was doing so many things right last night but he was getting pushed around when he was making cuts. He needs to make those cuts more physically instead of trying to run around people.

But again, very disappointed in what I saw from POB.

[cloverleaf]

I'd say it's easy to be a disappointed in him, but he's also almost 2 1/2 years younger than Powe, 1 1/2 years younger than Giddens. Let's be a little patient and see if Clifford Ray can get through to him. He's just about exactly what a good team should want in the 12th spot on the bench.

[MVP16]

I thought he looked better then the last time he played. He seemed to be more comfortable with the defensive rotations, although he is still some time away from being good enough to be part of the regular rotation. He showed a nice touch with the turnaround jumper which he has shown during the preseason. One of his biggest problems though is his lack of strength. He seemed to get pushed around in the paint way too easily. Perk/Powe need to take him to the gym.

[Kids Are Alright]

Man, did anyone else watch the preseason? Sure, he's no stopper, but he can run and he can shoot inside and out. Sort of a Candyman lookalike out there. Still, he's not undersized in terms of length, something none of our bigs can boast of, and he's not an idiot, based on preseason, so I think that he may come along if toughness can be taught.

Big Al was the world's biggest softy in his first couple of years on the defensive end. I'm trying to think of an analogy in terms of big men that played like POB that have panned out....hmmmm, David Robinson, Z, Rasheed, Kareem, nope, none of those guys, let me try again, Blount. Argggh.

[cloverleaf]

Feelin' a little schizo on POB there, Kids Are Alright?

[Dogen]

No interlopers from the Golden State board yet? Hmmmm... a couple of them boys seemed to be salivating for an 'I told you so' moment.

POB looked about how I expected, but maybe a little more lost than I thought. He is a project, and does need to learn the offense, defense, and put on some weight, and strength, and also, yeah, pick up the intensity about 10 notches. That's quite a bit. He'll likely not crack the rotation this year unless someone goes down or he really gets his ass in gear in the next few months. Glad we're not depending on him. Glad we're not overpaying him or locked into big contract. Glad he's young with a lot of talent and may yet pan out.

[celticfan42487]

Pruitt looked like a basektball player that doesn't know his way.

Patrick O'Bryant looked like a talented player that picked up a basketball yesterday.

Did anyone, ANYONE, see the quietest block on him? He's 7 feet tall and he got blocked by a guy who knowes how much smaller then him on a fadeawayer because Patrick has no clue whatsoever about positioning, let alone what shot he should take at any time.

I really can't beleive how bad he looks. He could be a great highschooler player and a project of a college player right now.

[Cyclical]

From the little we've seen of him, rather than write a lengthy diatribe about the guy I'd simply describe him as talented yet soft. Currently not a good match for the Celtics. Pretty much 180 degrees from Perk. Maybe things will change... maybe not.

[threrf23]

Pruitt looked like a basektball player that doesn't know his way.

Perhaps, but his decision making wasn't bad and his jump shot looks really sweet. His ballhandling was listed as a weakness pre-draft, and that shows. But then, Chauncey Billups' ballhandling looked horrible after he entered the league - I have to admit that I was happy when I found out he had been traded back in the day. Pruitts strengths/weaknesses are similar to what Billups' were at the same point in his career.

Patrick O'Bryant looked like a talented player that picked up a basketball yesterday.

Did anyone, ANYONE, see the quietest block on him? He's 7 feet tall and he got blocked by a guy who knowes how much smaller then him on a fadeawayer because Patrick has no clue whatsoever about positioning, let alone what shot he should take at any time.

I really can't beleive how bad he looks. He could be a great highschooler player and a project of a college player right now.

I kinda agree with you. I don't know if I would go so far, or write off his potential. But I've seen enough to say to myself "you know, maybe there was actually a legit reason the Warriors decided to cut him." Perhaps the coaching he received in GSW was subpar, but it didn't halt the development of Andris Biedrins.

[vwoodruff]

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