La Bomba

It's roughly two hours until tipoff and Rudy Fernandez practices alone on the arena floor before a recent Trail Blazers game.

The time has come to work on "La Bomba."

Fernandez jogs from half court, collects a pass from assistant coach Kaleb Canales and fakes a shot from the three-point arc. After a hesitation, Fernandez drives toward the hoop and lofts a high-arcing floater near the free throw line as assistant coach Bill Bayno sprints toward him hoisting giant black pads with raised arms.

Splash.

Since returning from microdiscectomy surgery on Jan. 13, Fernandez has endured inconsistency as he has worked his way back into midseason form. But one thing that has remained consistent is his tireless pursuit at expanding his offensive repertoire to feature more than three-point shots. The second-year guard is intent on improving his driving ability and the weapon he practices most often is the tear drop, an Old School move that few in the NBA use.

"I think I'm a good shooter but I can do a lot more," Fernandez said. "I can go to the basket and I have the ability (to make) layups. I play hard and want to go to the basket more. I think it's a good move, a good shot, because in the NBA there are a lot of big men and athletic (players) ... and it's tough situation for them to block the shot."

For Fernandez, a critical element of his future is the evolution of his offense. The tear drop is an especially difficult shot to defend because it's virtually impossible to block, particularly when a lanky and athletic 6-foot-6 player such as Fernandez is attempting it. And because so few players in the NBA use it, it's unconventional and often surprising.

Players who do feature it -- a short list that most notably includes San Antonio's Tony Parker, Phoenix's Steve Nash -- are multifaceted offensive forces. The tear drop revolutionized Tony Parker's game, elevating him from a prospect into an All-Star. It helped Nash become an MVP.

Because Fernandez is such a respected shooter, a simple pump fake frees him up to drive the lane unabated.

Once he reaches the free throw line, the threat of a tear drop then opens up multiple possibilities. If a front line player approaches to offer help defense, Fernandez can dish to a suddenly open teammate for an easy layup or dunk. Or Fernandez can simply lob the shot.

"I want him attacking," McMillan said. "I like the fact that he's going to the paint. I like the aggressiveness. I think we need that. I think that's something he needs to add to his game. He should be a guy that can get to the rim and get to the free throw line because he goes hard, he knows how to draw fouls."

So why does Fernandez call it "La Bomba?" It's an ode to one of the most respected native Spanish players, Juan Carlos Navarro, who plays in the Spanish ACB League. Fernandez' relationship with Navarro dates to when he was 17 and playing on the Spanish National Team. Navarro, who's nickname is "La Bomba," was a mentor and one of his trademark moves is the tear drop.

Fernandez works on the challenging shot for extensive stretches during most practices and before every game with Canales.

"It's another move for me and I think every player needs to always work on improving," Fernandez said.