Bill Simmons on Dre and Josh Smith

[Hotmayo]

everybody says drummond has conditioning issue. why is that, because of his weight?

because people will complain about anything, they just need to complain.

Drummond is in INSANE physical condition.

How so? He seems winded at 20-25 minutes.

[treefi]

I think it's more about Andre learning how to pace himself for longer stretches. Andre is nearly 300 pounds and frequently sprinting on offense and defense, he jumps higher than his opponent all the time on offense and defense. Andre was a 300 pound teenager last year who was so athletically elite he made a habit of chasing down his own misses for scores. Usually multiple times per game with great consistency, sorta like uh... Moses Malone.

Give him until at least the start of the regular season before you question his "conditioning". You know who else would be winded in summer league? Every single starting Center in the NBA because they are resting and recovering from last year still...

Clearly, he is not out of shape. He just needs learn how to be a 7'0" 300 pound big man in the NBA. Yeah, sure... Taking the ball past half court as PG randomly just because you can and then driving to the basket because you know you can dunk is very, very exciting and SCARY freakish impressive... but probably not a good idea when you are 300 pounds.

[Clarity]

Again, people just want something to complain about lol

...and people will overreact anytime someone raises an issue about a player like you are now.

Dismissing a silly fabrication isnt called overreacting. Creating a silly fabrication is more likely the overreaction.

so when Drummond was asking to sit during games last season because he was gassed it was just a figment of our imagination?

Drummond is an amazing prospect. He has the athleticism and size to become a true force in the league. But he is fair from perfect. he obvious flaws, but they aren't any reason to think he won't be incredible in the future. he needs work on his conditioning and he needs to improve his fundamentals. Pretending it doesn't exist is just silly.

Fundamental improvement, of course. The conditioning issue is silly. No 7 footer in the history of bball has had 2 guard endurance. Let alone an athletic freak like Drummond who expels so much energy. I remember Oden used to be dead at the 7 min mark of the first half at Ohio State. Every athletic big ive ever watched has been this way.

[Clarity]

I think it's more about Andre learning how to pace himself for longer stretches. Andre is nearly 300 pounds and frequently sprinting on offense and defense, he jumps higher than his opponent all the time on offense and defense. Andre was a 300 pound teenager last year who was so athletically elite he made a habit of chasing down his own misses for scores. Usually multiple times per game with great consistency, sorta like uh... Moses Malone.

Give him until at least the start of the regular season before you question his "conditioning". You know who else would be winded in summer league? Every single starting Center in the NBA because they are resting and recovering from last year still...

Clearly, he is not out of shape. He just needs learn how to be a 7'0" 300 pound big man in the NBA. Yeah, sure... Taking the ball past half court as PG randomly just because you can and then driving to the basket because you know you can dunk is very, very exciting and SCARY freakish impressive... but probably not a good idea when you are 300 pounds.

Good post

[Sheeeeed]

Dismissing a silly fabrication isnt called overreacting. Creating a silly fabrication is more likely the overreaction.

Yeah because you did such a great job before dismissing a so called silly fabrication.

Again, people just want something to complain about lol

The overreaction is you acting like we're saying hes out of shape, fat, lazy and what not. I know he's a physical specimen, but that doesn't mean sure get a pass for being gassed after getting 20-25 minutes of play. I'd buy the pacing argument a little more if he was averaging 30 minutes a game.

[Clarity]

The overreaction is you acting like we're saying hes out of shape, fat, lazy and what not. I know he's a physical specimen, but that doesn't mean sure get a pass for being gassed after getting 20-25 minutes of play. I'd buy the pacing argument a little more if he was averaging 30 minutes a game.

I didnt say you said any of that. I was simply saying the conditioning issue is a smidgen over blown by some of you, its a non issue. Hes in amazing shape & will get better as he goes along.

Michael Wallace at ESPN quoted Drummond in his latest story on him (great read btw)

"I've got young legs, man," Drummond said Tuesday after finishing with his second double-double in as many games this week. "I can run around all day. I played 35 minutes today and didn't even realize it. I'm not even tired at all."

[ComboGuardCity]

Or because he hasn't played competitive basketball since April...

Most of the players in the summer league haven't played since April either. Drummonds issue is something that's been an issue since his 1st season.

This, some people just wear blinders.

Please find me a big man who hasn't looked tired in summer league. Ever.

[Natopher]

Most of the players in the summer league haven't played since April either. Drummonds issue is something that's been an issue since his 1st season.

This, some people just wear blinders.

Please find me a big man who hasn't looked tired in summer league. Ever.

It's not just about him looking tired. It's that he was out of shape at UConn. He appeared to be out of shape and got tired easily in games last year, and it looks like the same might happen again this year. He still has time to get into better shape and build up his endurance. But the endurance he has right now isn't going to cut it during the season. Same with last season.

[ComboGuardCity]

This, some people just wear blinders.

Please find me a big man who hasn't looked tired in summer league. Ever.

It's not just about him looking tired. It's that he was out of shape at UConn. He appeared to be out of shape and got tired easily in games last year, and it looks like the same might happen again this year. He still has time to get into better shape and build up his endurance. But the endurance he has right now isn't going to cut it during the season. Same with last season.

I agree he was getting tired last year. No doubt about it. I just think to make proclamations based on summer league or tell people who are not concerned that they are wearing blinders. If after the first month of the season he looks exhausted then its time to worry. Now, its just an overreaction.

[Sheeeeed]

I didnt say you said any of that. I was simply saying the conditioning issue is a smidgen over blown by some of you, its a non issue. Hes in amazing shape & will get better as he goes along.

I know. I'm simply saying people seem react like someone said those things when ever the conditioning issue gets brought up. Some posters here act like you shouldn't point out faults with the players or the team. It would very boring around here if everyone agreed on everything.

Michael Wallace at ESPN quoted Drummond in his latest story on him (great read btw)

"I've got young legs, man," Drummond said Tuesday after finishing with his second double-double in as many games this week. "I can run around all day. I played 35 minutes today and didn't even realize it. I'm not even tired at all."

I think hes just trying to play it off, because he looked completely gassed near the end of the Thunder game. No man, especially one in the NBA is going to talk with a reporter and say hes tired.

[DetroitPistons]

Drummond's conditioning may not be at it's peak but people are really blowing it out of proportion. He played 20min per game last year because Frank is a moron, not because he couldn't go longer. He was getting around 30min per game at the end of the season after finally getting the starting job. He will only get better.

[Natopher]

Before the All-Star Break (before he got injured) he was averaging 19.7mpg. After he came back he was averaging 25.7. And he was having conditioning problems. You can't blame the fact that he asked to come out of some games last year on Frank.

[DetroitPistons]

Drummond also usually played his minutes in very large chunks. Giving him an extra breather here and there would help. I'm really not worried about this at all.

[Natopher]

Drummond also usually played his minutes in very large chunks. Giving him an extra breather here and there would help. I'm really not worried about this at all.

That's actually a good point. I had forgotten that Frank liked to have players play entire quarters at a time.

[Spider156]

This is gonna be random and completely off topic but I didn't want to start a thread about it. I'm tired of Dan Feldman. I like the things he says but wow is he pessimistic. I hate it. It's like write a piece that's actually fun to read and show some enthusiasm. I really don't like his pessimistic opinion.

[Clarity]

I didnt say you said any of that. I was simply saying the conditioning issue is a smidgen over blown by some of you, its a non issue. Hes in amazing shape & will get better as he goes along.

I know. I'm simply saying people seem react like someone said those things when ever the conditioning issue gets brought up. Some posters here act like you shouldn't point out faults with the players or the team. It would very boring around here if everyone agreed on everything.

Not even in the same atmosphere as you Fox Newsers who literally claim the world is ending daily.

I do agree that it would be very boring if we all agreed though, for sure.