- Joined
- Aug 26, 2011
- Messages
- 6,061
- Reaction Score
- 19,134
AB isn't a natural rebounder - and isn't the first seven footer who tends to be flat-footed and appear to be watching while smaller, more agile players react to the ball better. If you throw a lob to him and be can measure the ball's flight, he looks really athletic and can go get it. If he is trying to read an unpredictable carom, he's more apt to look frozen. That's a part of his game that's always going to be a little frustrating, but if he had great rebounding instincts and could go get rebounds out of his area regularly, he wouldn't be here any more.
He's obviously a role player - but he's in scouting reports and he changes the way teams approach us on both ends. There will be games when his rim protection changes games in our favor and you do have to account for him on offense. As mentioned above, DHam hit some shots in the paint that were easier for because the bigs stayed at home and didn't step up to contest, and he also had some kickouts to the corner because there was a concerted effort to clog the paint when he started his dribble drive. The timing was also a little off on the lob to start the second half but AB made a good adjustment to go for the catch first with a little traffic and finished strong over a defender.
Ultimately though, we are very rarely going to have games when all of our rotation guys play up to their abilities. Someone is almost always going to have an off day or the matchup won't be in their favor and they'll have to defer on the court or have minutes reduced.
He's obviously a role player - but he's in scouting reports and he changes the way teams approach us on both ends. There will be games when his rim protection changes games in our favor and you do have to account for him on offense. As mentioned above, DHam hit some shots in the paint that were easier for because the bigs stayed at home and didn't step up to contest, and he also had some kickouts to the corner because there was a concerted effort to clog the paint when he started his dribble drive. The timing was also a little off on the lob to start the second half but AB made a good adjustment to go for the catch first with a little traffic and finished strong over a defender.
Ultimately though, we are very rarely going to have games when all of our rotation guys play up to their abilities. Someone is almost always going to have an off day or the matchup won't be in their favor and they'll have to defer on the court or have minutes reduced.
