McRoberts looks to expand game, role

greenway84 · Post #1 » by **greenway84** » Fri Jul 3, 2009 9:40 pm

McRoberts looks to expand game, role by Conrad Brunner

There's something more to Josh McRoberts this summer.

Most obvious is the added bulk, around 20 pounds of upper-body muscle aimed at adding more power to his forward play.

But you have to pay attention to practice during the Pacers' rookie and free agent camp to notice the other additions because they're much more subtle.

Watch him wrap a behind-the-back pass from the left block to a cutter for a layup, or take a pass at the left elbow and drop it inside to Tyler Hansbrough for a dunk. Or just watch him shoot free throws after practice and notice how he makes almost all.

Full article here:
http://my.nba.com/thread.jspa?threadID=5800027862

Nice read, enjoy.

grewich · Post #2 » by **grewich** » Sat Jul 4, 2009 12:16 am

is there any chance that he could be a decent bench player? what if he could average 7pts & 5rbs?

Dunthreevy · Post #3 » by **Dunthreevy** » Sat Jul 4, 2009 3:49 pm

grewich wrote:is there any chance that he could be a decent bench player? what if he could average 7pts & 5rbs?

Like it says in the article, he averaged 5 pts and 3rebs in the last 7 games of the season and he was only playing limited minutes in those. If Josh can get a solid 15 minutes a night, I could see him averaging 6 and 4 without much of a problem, especially if his shooting is improving.

I loved reading the article because I'm really pulling for McBob. He gives everything he has whenever he gets on the court and you have to respect that. Anyone that went to the games last year and got there early enough to see the warmups, surely saw Josh McRoberts doing some freakish things during warmup drills. Some of the dunks he does in warmups are dunk contest worthy (not this new dunk contest crap where it's all about the props either). He's one of the most athletic players we have on our roster.

rhcpjf4 · Post #4 » by **rhcpjf4** » Sat Jul 4, 2009 4:30 pm

I do respect that he gives it his all when he is out on the court. But to say he is our athletic player and be a decent bench player is a stretch. He has no jumper whatsoever and looked lost in the post. He is a fringe player at best and even if he wasnt as bad as he is, would you guys really want a back up to be Josh McRoberts??? I just dont see it.

Dunthreevy · Post #5 » by **Dunthreevy** » Sat Jul 4, 2009 4:35 pm

rhcpjf4 wrote:I do respect that he gives it his all when he is out on the court. But to say he is our athletic player and be a decent bench player is a stretch. He has no jumper whatsoever and looked lost in the post. He is a fringe player at best and even if he wasnt as bad as he is, would you guys really want a back up to be Josh McRoberts??? I just dont see it.

Did you see him play at all last season? And I said he was ONE OF our most athletic players, not THE most athletic player we have. Listen to what some of our other players and coaches say, and they all say the same thing about him. That's probably his biggest asset right now is his athleticism. There's a reason he's compared to Chris Andersen, and it's not because of his hair or tattoos.

greenway84 · Post #6 » by **greenway84** » Sat Jul 4, 2009 5:18 pm

I was a huge mcbob hatter when we got him in the trade. i tend to not like hometown boys. ever since steve alford. but i have to admit me he really won me over. bit of a bromance. but seriously the kid if he continue to work hard will alright in this league.

Dunthreevy · Post #7 » by **Dunthreevy** » Sat Jul 4, 2009 5:21 pm

greenway84 wrote:I was a huge mcbob hatter when we got him in the trade. i tend to not like hometown boys. ever since steve alford. but i have to admit me he really won me over. bit of a bromance. but seriously the kid if he continue to work hard will alright in this league.

Exactly the same case with me. I despised him before we got him and all the way up until I actually watched him get minutes.

mrbrad86 · Post #8 » by **mrbrad86** » Sat Jul 4, 2009 10:00 pm

I am a huge fan of McBob. I really want to see him make an impact on this team. Hopefully he can get some more playing time and proof all the McBob hatters wrong.

8305 · Post #9 » by **8305** » Sat Jul 4, 2009 11:57 pm

I think McRoberts has more up side than Hansbrough. He is longer and more athletic but not nearly as driven (at least to this point). That's why Tyler has the guaranteed contract and money.

But if Josh is beginning to get it and understand just how hard he will have to work he's talented enough to have success in the league. If I were giving him advice I would say study Chris Anderson. There is a place in the Pacer rotation for a guy like Anderson.

Post #10 » by **Gremz** » Sun Jul 5, 2009 10:08 am

Well id we get him for the qualifying offer (highly likely), then he'll be in a contract year, thus increasing the chances of him performing.