With a horde of media members, bright lights, video cameras and microphones surrounding his stall in the Trail Blazers' locker room, Patty Mills sheepishly swiveled around in his chair and quipped:
"What, are you guys waiting for me?"
The Blazers had just defeated the Phoenix Suns 106-99 Tuesday night and Mills had played a significant, if not starring, role. His final statistical line was mostly modest -- nine points, seven assists and three rebounds in 29 minutes -- but perhaps teammate Wesley Matthews summed it up best when he said Mills had been the "player of the game."
The second-year point guard from Australia, who assumed a more prominent role because starting point guard Andre Miller had been suspended for the game, was a blur of energy, excitement and electricity at a time the reeling Blazers desperately needed such traits. It was only Mills' fourth game since joining the rotation as Miller's backup, and it was easily his most impressive and important performance in a Blazers uniform. The previous 17 games he has played a total of 6 mintues.
"He's earning the right to be out there and play more minutes," Blazers coach Nate McMillan said. "He has a high basketball IQ ... he's a very good passer, he sees the floor well and he's very crafty with the ball."
Mills turned in the highlight of the night -- a driving no-look pass through traffic that resulted in a three-point play for Rudy Fernandez. He also recorded six assists in the first half, swished two clutch pull-up jump shots in the third quarter and successful harassed All-Star point guard Steve Nash with his high-energy defense. And Mills did it all with exuberance and flash.
One week ago, before McMillan elevated Mills into the player rotation before the Blazers' game at the Boston Celtics, Mills' NBA career seemed destined to be defined by the upbeat antics and effervescent personality he revealed off the court.
But that personality has also surfaced on the court since Mills entered the rotation. The Blazers are just two games removed from a demoralizing string of six consecutive losses in which they fell to some of the NBA's cellar dwellers. Players admitted their confidence had wavered, and as the team returned to Portland from its worst trip in years, the Blazers were emotionally drained and depressed.
It might just turn out that Mills' upbeat personality has spread through the locker room at a time the Blazers desperately needed it.
"He's never sad," Nicolas Batum said after the Phoenix game. "He's always smiling. And now everybody has a smile on his face. We didn't see that the last two weeks. Everybody was thinking too much, feeling too much. Now we have two wins in a row. We need (Patty's) energy and I think everybody can grab onto that energy."
That Mills has reached this position is nothing short of astonishing. The Blazers' management group didn't expect him to show up for training camp in the fall because rookie Armon Johnson had earned the Blazers' 15th and final roster spot during summer league. And even after he showed up, Mills' odds of making the team featured the words, "slim," and "none." He's not even listed in the Blazers' media guide.
But Jeff Pendergraph tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee, opening a door for Mills to be added to the roster just before opening night. The Blazers traded Jerryd Bayless before the regular season and Johnson assumed backup point guard duties. But after a strong start, Johnson struggled and McMillan went to Mills, who has registered 17 points and eight assists on 7-for-12 shooting the last two games -- both Blazers victories.
The recent success is a byproduct of Mills' patience and mental fortitude.
"It was hard," Mills said after practice Wednesday. "But I just knew this opportunity was going to come at some stage. I believed that, whether it was now or in a couple years, it was going to come one day. I've listened to the guys ... They've been telling me to be patient and just be ready because you never know when your time is going to come. You'd be an idiot not to listen to them and that was ringing inside my head the whole time."
Now Mills has a chance to be the catalyst behind what potentially can be a dynamic -- and much-needed -- second unit. Mills is effective in pick-and-roll sets and he's most dangerous in a fast-paced style that features fast breaks and transition offense. With Rudy Fernandez and Batum running the wings, the second unit -- which offered so little during the Blazers' losing streak -- can evolve into a legitimate and fun-to-watch weapon.
Mills has been given a chance. He hopes it's only the beginning.
12.08.2010
12.03.2010
LEBRON RETURNS
I thought the snarky signs and chants would bother him. I thought he would be freaked out by the security guards ominously flanking the Heat bench, and maybe even by news that they were serving fans beverages in paper cups as a safety precaution. I thought Miami's lack of cohesion in its first 19 games would doom him over everything else. If you're walking into a potential ambush, you need to be strong, you need to trust each other, you need to know who you are.
Did I think the Cavaliers would win? Actually, yes. I thought the fans would push them to another level, that it would play out like a sports movie: the overachieving underdog taking down the big bully. When TNT's Kenny Smith said he had never felt such electricity in an arena before a regular-season game, I was convinced even more. The fans were ready for a war. As LeBron was warming up, an unmistakable "A--hole" chant reverberated through the building. A few seconds later, TNT showed us a fan wearing a "Lyin' King" T-shirt, another holding a "Quitness" sign, then eight fans standing in a row with T-shirts that spelled out "B-E-T-R-A-Y-E-D."
When the starting lineups were introduced, the booing for LeBron almost sounded like a beehive. He seemed to enjoy it.
Before the opening tap, LeBron let everybody know he was gonna bring it by whipping the powder defiantly into the air like he used to do for each home game when he was with Cleveland. Why not? They hated him, anyway. LeBron was making it clear: I am not backing down.
"I really love the looseness of LeBron James," Reggie Miller said.
The teams traded baskets as the fans either booed or yelled out indecipherable chants. At one point, we could clearly hear an "Akron hates you!" chant. Almost on cue, LeBron drew a foul and strode to the free throw line, accompanied by so many yells, boos and chants that it blended into one giant haterade.
And … freeze!
Stop it right there: 3:35 mark, first quarter, Cleveland leading by two. As LeBron (two points to that point) was making both free throws, Miller and Steve Kerr had this exchange:
Miller: "There's no way that you can possibly prepare for something like this, and knowing that all eyes have been on you since you made that decision … [you're] in that stationary position, with time not going off the clock, at that free throw line, everyone's looking at you. You wonder what's going on in that 26-year-old's mind."
Kerr: "I wouldn't wish it on anybody."
I wouldn't wish it on anybody.
Was that the tipping point? Those six words? That specific moment? Five months of vitriol cresting with LeBron at the line for the first time -- just him and the fans, their first chance to truly let him know how they felt -- and LeBron simply shrugging them off? It's a fascinating 15 seconds to rewatch. As he steps to the line, the noise begins to swell. TNT cuts to the crowd. We see someone booing LeBron and wearing a "VICTIM" T-shirt. We see a close-up of someone with a mustache angrily screaming "BOOOOOOO!" We see a wide shot of fans waiving "BENEDICT ARNOLD" and "MISS IT" signs. There's a close-up on LeBron, then a wide shot. He makes the first free throw. He turns to his bench and smiles, as if to say, "Wow, this is crazy."
Then, TNT cuts to the crowd. We see two "QUITNESS" signs, a sign with LeBron and Pat Riley that says "LeQuit and the Cheat," and a sign with Charles Barkley and the caption, "Punk Move, 'Bron." Panning back, we see another sign: "What should you do? BEG FOR MERCY." Everything bounces off him. Everything. His second free throw doesn't even touch the rim.
And we were off. On the next two possessions, LeBron scored on a gorgeous reverse layup and a long jumper. Miami by four. Timeout. Wade took a breather, and LeBron took over like he always does when Wade sits: setting up a James Jones 3, swishing a jumper over a double-team, then finding Juwan Howard for an open jumper. Just like that, Miami had ripped off a 16-0 run and grabbed a double-digit lead. The game was never the same. As Kerr pointed out later, it was like watching a March Madness underdog hanging with a 1-seed but being unable to overcome the talent disparity.
LeBron's confidence surged as the second quarter closed. He started yapping at his old buddy Boobie Gibson (sitting on Cleveland's bench), as everyone who grew up in the Rick Mahorn/Charles Oakley era waited for one of the Cavaliers to stand up and punch him in the face. Nope. Nothing. For the Cavaliers fans, this probably felt like the bastard brother of their team quitting in those final 90 seconds of Game 6 in Boston this past spring. Show some fight. Show some pride. Show something, for God's sake. It was a pathetic moment. LeBron punked them!
"It was impressive," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "It takes a special player and a person to be able to respond to all of this scrutiny."
It continued in the third quarter, when LeBron exploded for 24 points and made a variety of outrageous shots. No Cavalier knocked him down, bumped him, shoved him, swore at him … they just took it on the chin. In retrospect, that was my big mistake with picking a Cleveland upset: thinking the Cavs cared about avenging their honor after their leader basically told them, "You guys suck, I'm leaving." How sad that the Celtics took LeBron's decision more personally than his former teammates did.
Lebron played some of the best basketball of his career, scoring 36 points in a devastating 27-minute stretch that re-established Miami as a contender. James sat on the bench for all of the fourth quarter, with dozens of security guards and police lining the team's entrance to the court and guarding against objects thrown at him.
This was the LeBron we had been missing all season: attacking LeBron, larger-than-life LeBron, ball-always-in-his-hands LeBron, force-of-nature LeBron, guy-who-could-absolutely-beat-you-in-a-playoff-series LeBron. For one night, he reinvented the Heat, assumed control and relegated Wade to sidekick status … which is how it should have been all along.
Full disclosure: I don't care about "The Decision" anymore. He handled it wrong. He got bad advice. He can't take it back. Whatever. Any people who say they handled their mid-20s perfectly are lying. But as a basketball fan, I thought watching his talents get wasted these first five weeks was somewhat tragic. He will never be Magic Johnson; Magic made everyone better and dominated games without necessarily scoring, whereas LeBron's scoring opens up the game for everyone else. Big difference. And he will never be happy awkwardly trading possessions with Wade.
On Thursday night, LeBron finally looked like LeBron again. Maybe he needed his old court. Maybe he needed to taste the bile of 20,000 passionate Cav fans. But I thought it was one of his greatest nights; instead of folding which a lot of people would of done, he rose to the occasion and even relished it. Of course, greatness usually has a casualty: in this case, Cleveland. The fans made their point (and then some), never disgraced themselves and were betrayed only by their own players. They deserved better in July; they deserved better Thursday night.
The King is gone. You buried him, and then, he buried you. If it's any consolation, you finally brought the best out of him.
Did I think the Cavaliers would win? Actually, yes. I thought the fans would push them to another level, that it would play out like a sports movie: the overachieving underdog taking down the big bully. When TNT's Kenny Smith said he had never felt such electricity in an arena before a regular-season game, I was convinced even more. The fans were ready for a war. As LeBron was warming up, an unmistakable "A--hole" chant reverberated through the building. A few seconds later, TNT showed us a fan wearing a "Lyin' King" T-shirt, another holding a "Quitness" sign, then eight fans standing in a row with T-shirts that spelled out "B-E-T-R-A-Y-E-D."
When the starting lineups were introduced, the booing for LeBron almost sounded like a beehive. He seemed to enjoy it.
Before the opening tap, LeBron let everybody know he was gonna bring it by whipping the powder defiantly into the air like he used to do for each home game when he was with Cleveland. Why not? They hated him, anyway. LeBron was making it clear: I am not backing down.
"I really love the looseness of LeBron James," Reggie Miller said.
The teams traded baskets as the fans either booed or yelled out indecipherable chants. At one point, we could clearly hear an "Akron hates you!" chant. Almost on cue, LeBron drew a foul and strode to the free throw line, accompanied by so many yells, boos and chants that it blended into one giant haterade.
And … freeze!
Stop it right there: 3:35 mark, first quarter, Cleveland leading by two. As LeBron (two points to that point) was making both free throws, Miller and Steve Kerr had this exchange:
Miller: "There's no way that you can possibly prepare for something like this, and knowing that all eyes have been on you since you made that decision … [you're] in that stationary position, with time not going off the clock, at that free throw line, everyone's looking at you. You wonder what's going on in that 26-year-old's mind."
Kerr: "I wouldn't wish it on anybody."
I wouldn't wish it on anybody.
Was that the tipping point? Those six words? That specific moment? Five months of vitriol cresting with LeBron at the line for the first time -- just him and the fans, their first chance to truly let him know how they felt -- and LeBron simply shrugging them off? It's a fascinating 15 seconds to rewatch. As he steps to the line, the noise begins to swell. TNT cuts to the crowd. We see someone booing LeBron and wearing a "VICTIM" T-shirt. We see a close-up of someone with a mustache angrily screaming "BOOOOOOO!" We see a wide shot of fans waiving "BENEDICT ARNOLD" and "MISS IT" signs. There's a close-up on LeBron, then a wide shot. He makes the first free throw. He turns to his bench and smiles, as if to say, "Wow, this is crazy."
Then, TNT cuts to the crowd. We see two "QUITNESS" signs, a sign with LeBron and Pat Riley that says "LeQuit and the Cheat," and a sign with Charles Barkley and the caption, "Punk Move, 'Bron." Panning back, we see another sign: "What should you do? BEG FOR MERCY." Everything bounces off him. Everything. His second free throw doesn't even touch the rim.
And we were off. On the next two possessions, LeBron scored on a gorgeous reverse layup and a long jumper. Miami by four. Timeout. Wade took a breather, and LeBron took over like he always does when Wade sits: setting up a James Jones 3, swishing a jumper over a double-team, then finding Juwan Howard for an open jumper. Just like that, Miami had ripped off a 16-0 run and grabbed a double-digit lead. The game was never the same. As Kerr pointed out later, it was like watching a March Madness underdog hanging with a 1-seed but being unable to overcome the talent disparity.
LeBron's confidence surged as the second quarter closed. He started yapping at his old buddy Boobie Gibson (sitting on Cleveland's bench), as everyone who grew up in the Rick Mahorn/Charles Oakley era waited for one of the Cavaliers to stand up and punch him in the face. Nope. Nothing. For the Cavaliers fans, this probably felt like the bastard brother of their team quitting in those final 90 seconds of Game 6 in Boston this past spring. Show some fight. Show some pride. Show something, for God's sake. It was a pathetic moment. LeBron punked them!
"It was impressive," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "It takes a special player and a person to be able to respond to all of this scrutiny."
It continued in the third quarter, when LeBron exploded for 24 points and made a variety of outrageous shots. No Cavalier knocked him down, bumped him, shoved him, swore at him … they just took it on the chin. In retrospect, that was my big mistake with picking a Cleveland upset: thinking the Cavs cared about avenging their honor after their leader basically told them, "You guys suck, I'm leaving." How sad that the Celtics took LeBron's decision more personally than his former teammates did.
Lebron played some of the best basketball of his career, scoring 36 points in a devastating 27-minute stretch that re-established Miami as a contender. James sat on the bench for all of the fourth quarter, with dozens of security guards and police lining the team's entrance to the court and guarding against objects thrown at him.
This was the LeBron we had been missing all season: attacking LeBron, larger-than-life LeBron, ball-always-in-his-hands LeBron, force-of-nature LeBron, guy-who-could-absolutely-beat-you-in-a-playoff-series LeBron. For one night, he reinvented the Heat, assumed control and relegated Wade to sidekick status … which is how it should have been all along.
Full disclosure: I don't care about "The Decision" anymore. He handled it wrong. He got bad advice. He can't take it back. Whatever. Any people who say they handled their mid-20s perfectly are lying. But as a basketball fan, I thought watching his talents get wasted these first five weeks was somewhat tragic. He will never be Magic Johnson; Magic made everyone better and dominated games without necessarily scoring, whereas LeBron's scoring opens up the game for everyone else. Big difference. And he will never be happy awkwardly trading possessions with Wade.
On Thursday night, LeBron finally looked like LeBron again. Maybe he needed his old court. Maybe he needed to taste the bile of 20,000 passionate Cav fans. But I thought it was one of his greatest nights; instead of folding which a lot of people would of done, he rose to the occasion and even relished it. Of course, greatness usually has a casualty: in this case, Cleveland. The fans made their point (and then some), never disgraced themselves and were betrayed only by their own players. They deserved better in July; they deserved better Thursday night.
The King is gone. You buried him, and then, he buried you. If it's any consolation, you finally brought the best out of him.
11.09.2010
New Orleans Hornets
Approaching the 30-minute post-practice mark Monday at the Alario Center, New Orleans Hornets Coach Monty Williams surveyed the scene on the two practice floors and saw activity at all four baskets, led at separate locations by All-Star captains Chris Paul and David West.
Six weeks ago, when this team convened for training camp, there were seven new faces on the roster and before the preseason ended, the number had swelled to nine.
Yet two weeks into the regular season, the Hornets (6-0) are one of two unbeaten teams in the NBA, along with the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers (7-0).
General Manager Dell Demps, admits the speed in which this group has created a bond, and resulting chemistry, is surprising.
"I would say a little bit, " Demps said. "I think it's a credit to the guys and the coaching staff. They've really worked hard at it, and it's good to get some fruit from all the labors."
And Demps is quick to credit Williams, the youngest coach (39) in the league, for the unexpectedly quick transformation into a cohesive unit.
"As you can see, we finished practice 20 minutes ago, and guys are still going at it -- and they'll probably be here for a while. I think they enjoy being around each other, but it also helps to have certain leadership on the team with Chris and the starting group and Willie (Green) on the bench. Those guys kind of hold it down and keep the groups together."
What most impressed Paul after Saturday night's win at Milwaukee, coming 24 hours after an emotional upset of the Heat at the Arena, was the single-minded cohesion the Hornets exhibited in the second of a back-to-back, as well as the team's complete acceptance of Williams' defense-first philosophy.
"The craziest thing is we're still not where we need to be defensively, " said Paul, though the Hornets rank third in total defense through Sunday, allowing 91.5 points per game. "I think that says a lot about our team. Everybody understands that it's all about winning. Right now, this team is mad when other teams score."
Six weeks ago, when this team convened for training camp, there were seven new faces on the roster and before the preseason ended, the number had swelled to nine.
Yet two weeks into the regular season, the Hornets (6-0) are one of two unbeaten teams in the NBA, along with the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers (7-0).
General Manager Dell Demps, admits the speed in which this group has created a bond, and resulting chemistry, is surprising.
"I would say a little bit, " Demps said. "I think it's a credit to the guys and the coaching staff. They've really worked hard at it, and it's good to get some fruit from all the labors."
And Demps is quick to credit Williams, the youngest coach (39) in the league, for the unexpectedly quick transformation into a cohesive unit.
"As you can see, we finished practice 20 minutes ago, and guys are still going at it -- and they'll probably be here for a while. I think they enjoy being around each other, but it also helps to have certain leadership on the team with Chris and the starting group and Willie (Green) on the bench. Those guys kind of hold it down and keep the groups together."
What most impressed Paul after Saturday night's win at Milwaukee, coming 24 hours after an emotional upset of the Heat at the Arena, was the single-minded cohesion the Hornets exhibited in the second of a back-to-back, as well as the team's complete acceptance of Williams' defense-first philosophy.
"The craziest thing is we're still not where we need to be defensively, " said Paul, though the Hornets rank third in total defense through Sunday, allowing 91.5 points per game. "I think that says a lot about our team. Everybody understands that it's all about winning. Right now, this team is mad when other teams score."
10.26.2010
KEVIN DURANT - 50/40/90?
Only five players in NBA history have shot 50 percent from the field, 40 percent from 3-point range and 90 percent from the free-throw line. Could Kevin Durant be the sixth?
Kevin Durant could soon become the sixth.
In just his fourth season, Durant looks to be on the cusp of joining the 50-40-90 club. It's a society of shooting efficiency so great that its five members are either already in the Hall of Fame or likely headed there someday.
The numbers stand for field-goal percentage, 3-point percentage and free-throw percentage. Since the NBA instituted the 3-pointer for the 1979-80 season, Larry Bird, Mark Price, Reggie Miller, Steve Nash and Dirk Nowitzki are the only players to compile the percentages in each category while meeting the league's requirements to qualify. Bird accomplished the feat twice. Nash has recorded those numbers four times, including each of the past three seasons.
With Durant, it seems to not be a question of if he'll join the club, but when.
Last season, at just 21, Durant made 47.6 percent of his shots from the field, 36.5 percent of his 3-pointers and 90 percent of his foul shots. Two seasons ago, Durant hit 42.2 percent of his 3-pointers.
And by all accounts, this will be Durant's biggest year yet.
The Thunder's star forward has quickly become more knowledgeable about the game. In each of his previous three seasons, Durant has added a new wrinkle to his offensive repertoire to make him a more complete scorer. Last year, Durant boosted his free-throw attempts from 7.1 per game to a league-leading 10.2 per game.
Now, after a summer of bulking up and experiencing his first bout with a more physical international game, Durant could return as an even better finisher at the rim and in the paint.
Durant also has shown more awareness when it comes to hoisting 3-pointers. Rather than settle for long-range shots, Durant now looks to beat his man off the dribble more often and work his way to the rim for more high-percentage shots or earn a trip to the foul line.
But duplicating the free-throw percentage might ultimately prove to be the most difficult challenge. Durant made just 21-28 foul shots in six preseason games, good for 75 percent.
History says, however, that whenever it is that Durant does add his name to the exclusive 50-40-90 club it will be nothing but good for the Thunder.
Kevin Durant could soon become the sixth.
In just his fourth season, Durant looks to be on the cusp of joining the 50-40-90 club. It's a society of shooting efficiency so great that its five members are either already in the Hall of Fame or likely headed there someday.
The numbers stand for field-goal percentage, 3-point percentage and free-throw percentage. Since the NBA instituted the 3-pointer for the 1979-80 season, Larry Bird, Mark Price, Reggie Miller, Steve Nash and Dirk Nowitzki are the only players to compile the percentages in each category while meeting the league's requirements to qualify. Bird accomplished the feat twice. Nash has recorded those numbers four times, including each of the past three seasons.
With Durant, it seems to not be a question of if he'll join the club, but when.
Last season, at just 21, Durant made 47.6 percent of his shots from the field, 36.5 percent of his 3-pointers and 90 percent of his foul shots. Two seasons ago, Durant hit 42.2 percent of his 3-pointers.
And by all accounts, this will be Durant's biggest year yet.
The Thunder's star forward has quickly become more knowledgeable about the game. In each of his previous three seasons, Durant has added a new wrinkle to his offensive repertoire to make him a more complete scorer. Last year, Durant boosted his free-throw attempts from 7.1 per game to a league-leading 10.2 per game.
Now, after a summer of bulking up and experiencing his first bout with a more physical international game, Durant could return as an even better finisher at the rim and in the paint.
Durant also has shown more awareness when it comes to hoisting 3-pointers. Rather than settle for long-range shots, Durant now looks to beat his man off the dribble more often and work his way to the rim for more high-percentage shots or earn a trip to the foul line.
But duplicating the free-throw percentage might ultimately prove to be the most difficult challenge. Durant made just 21-28 foul shots in six preseason games, good for 75 percent.
History says, however, that whenever it is that Durant does add his name to the exclusive 50-40-90 club it will be nothing but good for the Thunder.
DAVID LEE - BLUE COLLAR
After David Lee tweaked his quadriceps in practice Oct. 4, he went home and estimates that he iced it "about 65 times." He spent the next day, an off day, at the Warriors' training facility and returned early the next morning to test his leg.
All of that, just so he wouldn't miss Wednesday's practice.
Yes, we're talking about practice!
Those are not the actions of a typical NBA All-Star.
Lee's the type of guy who puts no stock in a phrase like "All-Star status," because he has had plenty of days filled with phrases like "above average," "good enough" and "end of the bench."
"There are some guys in the league who can sit out every practice and take a couple of casual jumpers right before the game - not even go through the layup lines - and go out there and perform," the power forward said. "I can't do that. I'll have an anxiety attack.
"I have this fear of failure. I have this fear about not getting any better, about somehow starting to level off, and I can't allow that to happen."
So Lee practices.
First. Longest. And hardest.
When coach Keith Smart granted "veteran days off" to Monta Ellis, Stephen Curry and Dorell Wright during training camp, Lee declined. When Andris Biedrins joined Ellis, Curry and Wright on the sideline during the last portion of Monday's practice, Lee was still sweating away with the reserves.
He is like the tennis player who realizes he'll never be as good as the wall, so he keeps slamming forehand after backhand. It's like he's doing a day-to-day experiment to see how much further he can push his body.
"I've gone from the last guy on the bench to the captain, and my work ethic hasn't changed," said Lee, who was acquired by the Warriors in a sign-and-trade deal after five seasons in New York. "In a lot of ways, I still see myself as the last guy on the bench, and that drives me.
"I had to pinch myself (at the All-Star Game) last year in Dallas. When I came into the league, I was hoping to hang on as the last guy on the bench for eight to 10 years."
A PHILOSOPHY OF WORK:
Lee, 27, seems to be indulging in false modesty for a 6-foot-9, 250-pound man who was one of three players in the league to average 20 points and 10 rebounds a game last season. But his original goal of finding a way just to stick in the league probably was logical five seasons ago.
That's when the Knicks drafted him with the final pick of the first round. Coach Larry Brown said Lee was eighth on the depth chart on a team that didn't have eight power forwards. He averaged 5.1 points and 4.5 rebounds a game as a rookie.
"I realized that I had to outwork everyone," Lee said. "I had to go after every rebound and bring an energy that no one else could match. That's the only way I could get on the court."
He knew what to do once he got there. Lee averaged a double-double in three of the next four seasons, including 20.2 points and 11.7 rebounds last season.
Lee had pulled similar transitions in college and high school. At the University of Florida, Lee was plodding through a mediocre career until he decided to flip the switch.
"I was still trying to burn the candle at both ends," Lee said. "Basketball was secondary to being cool."
"I've got a big contract, I've been an All-Star and I've accomplished a lot of things that should make me personally happy, but I haven't been to the playoffs. I haven't won a championship," Lee said. "If I average a double-double and am an All-Star, but we win 25 games, in my opinion, my season has been a failure and I expect to be reviewed as a failure."
What if the Warriors win a championship?
"Oh, I'll always find something new to chase."
All of that, just so he wouldn't miss Wednesday's practice.
Yes, we're talking about practice!
Those are not the actions of a typical NBA All-Star.
Lee's the type of guy who puts no stock in a phrase like "All-Star status," because he has had plenty of days filled with phrases like "above average," "good enough" and "end of the bench."
"There are some guys in the league who can sit out every practice and take a couple of casual jumpers right before the game - not even go through the layup lines - and go out there and perform," the power forward said. "I can't do that. I'll have an anxiety attack.
"I have this fear of failure. I have this fear about not getting any better, about somehow starting to level off, and I can't allow that to happen."
So Lee practices.
First. Longest. And hardest.
When coach Keith Smart granted "veteran days off" to Monta Ellis, Stephen Curry and Dorell Wright during training camp, Lee declined. When Andris Biedrins joined Ellis, Curry and Wright on the sideline during the last portion of Monday's practice, Lee was still sweating away with the reserves.
He is like the tennis player who realizes he'll never be as good as the wall, so he keeps slamming forehand after backhand. It's like he's doing a day-to-day experiment to see how much further he can push his body.
"I've gone from the last guy on the bench to the captain, and my work ethic hasn't changed," said Lee, who was acquired by the Warriors in a sign-and-trade deal after five seasons in New York. "In a lot of ways, I still see myself as the last guy on the bench, and that drives me.
"I had to pinch myself (at the All-Star Game) last year in Dallas. When I came into the league, I was hoping to hang on as the last guy on the bench for eight to 10 years."
A PHILOSOPHY OF WORK:
Lee, 27, seems to be indulging in false modesty for a 6-foot-9, 250-pound man who was one of three players in the league to average 20 points and 10 rebounds a game last season. But his original goal of finding a way just to stick in the league probably was logical five seasons ago.
That's when the Knicks drafted him with the final pick of the first round. Coach Larry Brown said Lee was eighth on the depth chart on a team that didn't have eight power forwards. He averaged 5.1 points and 4.5 rebounds a game as a rookie.
"I realized that I had to outwork everyone," Lee said. "I had to go after every rebound and bring an energy that no one else could match. That's the only way I could get on the court."
He knew what to do once he got there. Lee averaged a double-double in three of the next four seasons, including 20.2 points and 11.7 rebounds last season.
Lee had pulled similar transitions in college and high school. At the University of Florida, Lee was plodding through a mediocre career until he decided to flip the switch.
"I was still trying to burn the candle at both ends," Lee said. "Basketball was secondary to being cool."
"I've got a big contract, I've been an All-Star and I've accomplished a lot of things that should make me personally happy, but I haven't been to the playoffs. I haven't won a championship," Lee said. "If I average a double-double and am an All-Star, but we win 25 games, in my opinion, my season has been a failure and I expect to be reviewed as a failure."
What if the Warriors win a championship?
"Oh, I'll always find something new to chase."
10.13.2010
STEVE NASH - THE BEST SHOOTER EVER?
Is Steve Nash the best shooter to play in the NBA, at least since the NBA incorporated the three-point line. While my belief is based primarily on observation, the numbers support the theory. John Hollinger, the creator of the player efficiency rankings, ranks Nash as the all-time #1 shooter based on a combined shooting range (CSR) which adds 2-point percentage, 3-pt % and FT%.
According to Hollinger’s rankings, four players are career 180 Shooters: Nash(184.9), Steve Kerr (181.2), Reggie Miller (180.7) and Mark Price(180.7). Also, Steve Nash and Larry Bird are the only players to finish multiple seasons in the even more difficult 90-50-40 club (90% FT, 50% 2-pt FG% and 40% 3-pt FG%). Bird accomplished the feat twice, while Nash has accomplished the feat four times ('06, '08, '09, and '10). Based on the numbers, I do not see much room to argue for anyone else.
If we agree that Nash is the best shooter of all time, why don’t more players emulate him?
According to Hollinger’s rankings, four players are career 180 Shooters: Nash(184.9), Steve Kerr (181.2), Reggie Miller (180.7) and Mark Price(180.7). Also, Steve Nash and Larry Bird are the only players to finish multiple seasons in the even more difficult 90-50-40 club (90% FT, 50% 2-pt FG% and 40% 3-pt FG%). Bird accomplished the feat twice, while Nash has accomplished the feat four times ('06, '08, '09, and '10). Based on the numbers, I do not see much room to argue for anyone else.
If we agree that Nash is the best shooter of all time, why don’t more players emulate him?
9.27.2010
Peyton Manning - A Savy Leader
The undrafted rookie wideout who’d been plucked off the practice squad a day earlier had a suggestion for Peyton Manning at a key stage of Sunday’s game, and the NFL’s best quarterback rightfully could have rolled his eyes and told the kid to shut up and block somebody.
After all, logic suggested that allowing an untested player to improvise an end-zone route against the Denver Broncos might play out like a horror flick for the Indianapolis Colts.
Well, Manning listened.
Veteran nose tackle Jamal Williams said after his Broncos had suffered a 27-13 defeat to the defending AFC champions and their future Hall of Fame quarterback, “He’s a monster, man. F*#%*@g Peyton Manning.”
That’s as good a description as any of an all-time great at the height of his powers.
On Sunday, Manning showed up at Mile High without two key wideouts Pierre Garcon and Anthony Gonzalez. He was going with three unfamiliar newbies on his offensive line as well.
White, perhaps the rawest receiver Manning has broken in over the course of his 13-year career, was a former Michigan State walk-on who signed with the Colts as a free agent after being blown off in April’s NFL draft. He was released after a strong preseason and signed to Indy’s practice squad, earning a promotion Saturday after starting wideout Garcon was ruled out with a hamstring injury.
With the Broncos making a concerted effort to take away Manning’s top targets, White joined second-year wideout Austin Collie as prime options.
As Manning said after the game, “It’s hard to play with 10, right? You have to play your reads. You try to give White some plays that he knows and give him a chance.”
With five minutes left in the third quarter and the Colts trying to extend a 13-10 lead, Manning had to be a bit surprised when White sidled up to him with a second-and-5 from the Denver 9-yard line ahead and offered his unsolicited input.
Um, excuse me, Peyton. So, uh, I was thinking that maybe, since the defender seems to be cheating to the inside that, uh, we might be able to fool him, Sir. If you think it’s a good idea, that is…
“I probably should have called him ‘Mr. Manning’, right?” White acknowledged afterward. “He’s probably thinking, ‘Who is this kid? Get the hell out of here.’ ”
What White actually said to Manning – “My guy’s playing me inside. I think I can get him on the slant and up” – was enough to inspire the crafty quarterback’s trust. In fact, the young receiver had already laid the groundwork when few others were watching.
After the game, Manning made a point of stressing that his familiarity with White was a product of countless repetitions during offseason workouts.
“The NFL is trying to get rid of offseason workouts,” Manning said. “Offseason workouts – that’s how we’ve gotten our edge over the years. It’s how you really develop a player and improve your craft.
“Without the offseason, how do we get anybody ready to play? I’ve thrown to Blair White since we picked him up in April, and there’s no way he’s ready to play Sunday if I don’t have those reps with him. In training camp, there just aren’t enough reps to get familiar with a guy near the bottom of the depth chart. You’ve got be able to throw to him in the spring – otherwise I wouldn’t feel good about rushing him out there.”
Even if White never catches another NFL pass, he’ll feel warm and fuzzy about the nine-yard touchdown grab that put Indy up 20-10: As he’d humbly suggested, White ran a slant on cornerback Perrish Cox, who bit on Manning’s cold pump fake, then turned it back outside as the perfectly delivered ball settled gently into his hands.
Manning threw 43 passes on Sunday, completing 27 for 325 yards and three TDs, with no interceptions or sacks. Those are impressive numbers and it’s not too early to proclaim that Manning, who won an unprecedented fourth MVP award last year, has a solid shot at No. 5.
What Manning has done so far in 2010 is complete 70 percent of his passes for nine TDs and zero interceptions. The Colts, who’ve won 12 or more games for seven consecutive seasons, are 2-1, tied for first atop the AFC South.
After all, logic suggested that allowing an untested player to improvise an end-zone route against the Denver Broncos might play out like a horror flick for the Indianapolis Colts.
Well, Manning listened.
Veteran nose tackle Jamal Williams said after his Broncos had suffered a 27-13 defeat to the defending AFC champions and their future Hall of Fame quarterback, “He’s a monster, man. F*#%*@g Peyton Manning.”
That’s as good a description as any of an all-time great at the height of his powers.
On Sunday, Manning showed up at Mile High without two key wideouts Pierre Garcon and Anthony Gonzalez. He was going with three unfamiliar newbies on his offensive line as well.
White, perhaps the rawest receiver Manning has broken in over the course of his 13-year career, was a former Michigan State walk-on who signed with the Colts as a free agent after being blown off in April’s NFL draft. He was released after a strong preseason and signed to Indy’s practice squad, earning a promotion Saturday after starting wideout Garcon was ruled out with a hamstring injury.
With the Broncos making a concerted effort to take away Manning’s top targets, White joined second-year wideout Austin Collie as prime options.
As Manning said after the game, “It’s hard to play with 10, right? You have to play your reads. You try to give White some plays that he knows and give him a chance.”
With five minutes left in the third quarter and the Colts trying to extend a 13-10 lead, Manning had to be a bit surprised when White sidled up to him with a second-and-5 from the Denver 9-yard line ahead and offered his unsolicited input.
Um, excuse me, Peyton. So, uh, I was thinking that maybe, since the defender seems to be cheating to the inside that, uh, we might be able to fool him, Sir. If you think it’s a good idea, that is…
“I probably should have called him ‘Mr. Manning’, right?” White acknowledged afterward. “He’s probably thinking, ‘Who is this kid? Get the hell out of here.’ ”
What White actually said to Manning – “My guy’s playing me inside. I think I can get him on the slant and up” – was enough to inspire the crafty quarterback’s trust. In fact, the young receiver had already laid the groundwork when few others were watching.
After the game, Manning made a point of stressing that his familiarity with White was a product of countless repetitions during offseason workouts.
“The NFL is trying to get rid of offseason workouts,” Manning said. “Offseason workouts – that’s how we’ve gotten our edge over the years. It’s how you really develop a player and improve your craft.
“Without the offseason, how do we get anybody ready to play? I’ve thrown to Blair White since we picked him up in April, and there’s no way he’s ready to play Sunday if I don’t have those reps with him. In training camp, there just aren’t enough reps to get familiar with a guy near the bottom of the depth chart. You’ve got be able to throw to him in the spring – otherwise I wouldn’t feel good about rushing him out there.”
Even if White never catches another NFL pass, he’ll feel warm and fuzzy about the nine-yard touchdown grab that put Indy up 20-10: As he’d humbly suggested, White ran a slant on cornerback Perrish Cox, who bit on Manning’s cold pump fake, then turned it back outside as the perfectly delivered ball settled gently into his hands.
Manning threw 43 passes on Sunday, completing 27 for 325 yards and three TDs, with no interceptions or sacks. Those are impressive numbers and it’s not too early to proclaim that Manning, who won an unprecedented fourth MVP award last year, has a solid shot at No. 5.
What Manning has done so far in 2010 is complete 70 percent of his passes for nine TDs and zero interceptions. The Colts, who’ve won 12 or more games for seven consecutive seasons, are 2-1, tied for first atop the AFC South.
9.24.2010
Mary Lou Retton
One of the most inspirational moments in my years serving as Chairman of Psychology on The U. S. Olympic Committee’s Sports Medicine Council was witnessing the first perfect 10 ever scored by an American gymnast in the summer games, by Mary Lou Retton in the Los Angeles Summer Games in 1984.
Mary Lou wasn’t born a classic gymnast. She didn’t have the movements of a ballet dancer. She was just 4 feet 9 inches tall, with a compact, muscular body. She said, “I knew I wouldn’t look graceful in floor exercises, or doing those ballerina moves. But I was a good sprinter and I had a lot of power and explosiveness. So I could do some things some of the other girls couldn’t do.”
By the age of 14 she was West Virginia State Champion, and winning gymnastic meets throughout the world. But as young as she was, she was mature enough to realize she needed to do much more. “I needed someone pushing me,” she said. “I needed some other girls around me who were shooting for the same goal I was.”
So, at a time when most teenagers are thinking about anything but commitment, Mary Lou Retton made an enormous sacrifice. She left the comfort of her home in Fairmont, West Virginia, and moved to Houston, into the home of a family she didn’t know, just for the opportunity to train under one of the world’s greatest, but most demanding, gymnastic coaches, Bela Karolyi.
While other kids were watching TV, going to a movie, hanging out with friends, and going on trips, she was practicing four hours a day, seven days a week. Karolyi changed everything she had been doing for eight years, from the way she tumbled to the way she ate.
A grind? No doubt.
Fun? Not much.
Then why? Because winners work at doing things the rest of the population won’t even consider trying. She may not have enjoyed the routine, but she loved the sport, the challenge, and the dream. Then, just a few weeks before the summer games, her right knee suddenly locked. Fragments of torn cartilage had broken loose and had become wedged in the knee joint. Less than 10 days after arthroscopic surgery, she was back in the gym for a full workout. There was no time to lose, only time to get ready to win.
In her final event, the vault, Mary Lou needed a 9.95, a near-perfect performance, to tie the Romanian favorite for the gold medal. One writer described her effort this way: “She raced down the line, sprang off the vault, twisted at high altitude, and landed as still as a dropped bar of lead, yet as soft as a springtime butterfly.”
She scored a perfect 10, the ultimate. But to the surprise and awe of spectators, officials and myself, she went ahead and executed the optional, second vault. Incredibly, the result was the same again: a perfect 10.
The only two individuals not surprised were Mary Lou Retton and her coach, Bela Karolyi.
In an interview, I heard her remark that her self-talk leading up to those two perfect vaults went something like this: “Relax. Concentrate. Thanks for all the car pools, Mom. This vault’s for you. Let’s go!”
Mary Lou wasn’t born a classic gymnast. She didn’t have the movements of a ballet dancer. She was just 4 feet 9 inches tall, with a compact, muscular body. She said, “I knew I wouldn’t look graceful in floor exercises, or doing those ballerina moves. But I was a good sprinter and I had a lot of power and explosiveness. So I could do some things some of the other girls couldn’t do.”
By the age of 14 she was West Virginia State Champion, and winning gymnastic meets throughout the world. But as young as she was, she was mature enough to realize she needed to do much more. “I needed someone pushing me,” she said. “I needed some other girls around me who were shooting for the same goal I was.”
So, at a time when most teenagers are thinking about anything but commitment, Mary Lou Retton made an enormous sacrifice. She left the comfort of her home in Fairmont, West Virginia, and moved to Houston, into the home of a family she didn’t know, just for the opportunity to train under one of the world’s greatest, but most demanding, gymnastic coaches, Bela Karolyi.
While other kids were watching TV, going to a movie, hanging out with friends, and going on trips, she was practicing four hours a day, seven days a week. Karolyi changed everything she had been doing for eight years, from the way she tumbled to the way she ate.
A grind? No doubt.
Fun? Not much.
Then why? Because winners work at doing things the rest of the population won’t even consider trying. She may not have enjoyed the routine, but she loved the sport, the challenge, and the dream. Then, just a few weeks before the summer games, her right knee suddenly locked. Fragments of torn cartilage had broken loose and had become wedged in the knee joint. Less than 10 days after arthroscopic surgery, she was back in the gym for a full workout. There was no time to lose, only time to get ready to win.
In her final event, the vault, Mary Lou needed a 9.95, a near-perfect performance, to tie the Romanian favorite for the gold medal. One writer described her effort this way: “She raced down the line, sprang off the vault, twisted at high altitude, and landed as still as a dropped bar of lead, yet as soft as a springtime butterfly.”
She scored a perfect 10, the ultimate. But to the surprise and awe of spectators, officials and myself, she went ahead and executed the optional, second vault. Incredibly, the result was the same again: a perfect 10.
The only two individuals not surprised were Mary Lou Retton and her coach, Bela Karolyi.
In an interview, I heard her remark that her self-talk leading up to those two perfect vaults went something like this: “Relax. Concentrate. Thanks for all the car pools, Mom. This vault’s for you. Let’s go!”
9.14.2010
Welker Proves Skeptics Wrong Again
In January, doctors suggested to Wes Welker(notes) that his ripped-up left knee would take about one calendar year to heal. The New England Patriots receiver had torn both his ACL and his MCL. For added fun, he also needed rotator-cuff surgery.
The 2010 season, they said, was all but shot.
“You know doctors,” Welker said with a smile Sunday. “What do they know?”
Welker’s story as an undersized, unwanted everyman who became the most prolific pass-catcher in the NFL was already bordering on saccharine Disney sports-flick levels. Then came Sunday, when he shaved a remarkable three-plus months off the predicted recovery time and returned to action 252 days after his massive injury.
He wasn’t just “back,” either. He was back, immediately displaying the darting speed and slippery form that helped him lead the league in receptions two of the past three seasons. He caught eight passes for 64 yards and two touchdowns in the Patriots’ 38-24 victory over Cincinnati.
“It was awesome,” quarterback Tom Brady said.
Like a bad Hollywood script, the ending was entirely predictable, at least to the people who know Welker. The doctors may have focused on the actual medical tests when predicting a recovery time. Everyone else just considered the name of the patient.
“I knew in February he was going to be back out on the field opening day,” said Brady, who had to overcome his own ACL injury prior to last year’s season opener. “The determination he has is pretty remarkable.”
This is what Welker does: upend conventional wisdom, surprise critics and make the improbable seem like no big deal.
“There [were] different scenarios kind of talked about, like [injured reserve] and ‘save my body’ and different things like that,” he said Sunday. “But that’s just not in me. I can’t sit there and watch my team out there playing.”
He said this in his calm, dry drawl. On the field, he’s a burst of energy. Off it, he’s a laid-back, matter-of-fact, take-it-all-in kind of guy. There wasn’t going to be a lot of look-at-me emotion postgame. Maybe it all still seems so tenuous. Welker was a prep star in Oklahoma City, a state player of the year, who didn’t receive a single scholarship offer in light of his diminutive size – now listed at 5-foot-9, 185 pounds, then even smaller and lighter. He thought about walking on somewhere. He thought about joining the Navy.
Eventually, another kid backed out of a scholarship with Texas Tech and the Red Raiders took a late flyer on him. He wound up scoring 31 touchdowns for Tech – including eight on punt returns, which still stands as a NCAA record.
It wasn’t enough to attract NFL interest. Forget about being drafted; he wasn’t even invited to the NFL scouting combine. His height and weight were considered so un-NFL-like they weren’t even worth measuring. He was deemed as nothing more than the byproduct of then-Tech coach Mike Leach spread offense.
Welker managed to secure a tryout with the San Diego Chargers anyway, made the team and then was cut after the first game. The Miami Dolphins picked him up as a special-teams player and, over three seasons, began using him more and more as a wide receiver. They were never sold on him, though, and ultimately traded him to New England.
That was 2007, and since then Welker has become the only player in NFL history to catch at least 110 passes in three consecutive years. Last year, he caught 123 – tied for second most for a single season in NFL history.
People stopped doubting Welker, at least until his left knee crumpled as he tried to make a cut in the season finale in Houston. The critics had always wondered how long he could hold up in the NFL. And while the injury didn’t come on a hit, the result was the same. When he returned, they wondered if he would still have the water-bug speed so essential to his game.
Welker cared only about getting back on the field by Sept. 12. He told his doctors as much.
“They were kind of like, ‘Well, let’s wait and see where we’re at when we get there,’ ” Welker said. “So I tried to put it in their heads early. … I think when they saw my quad and how all the muscles were the same size as the other side, they were a little bit shocked but at the same time very cautious.”
Welker flew much of his family in for the game Sunday, acknowledging this was a bit of a rebirth. He’s vowed not to take a moment of being a NFL player for granted. When he caught the first pass of the season, the Gillette Stadium crowd roared with admiration. So, too, did his teammates. Then he brought home the first Patriots TD. And then another.
Other than having to wear “a stupid knee brace that I hate and can’t wait to burn,” the day was better than he dreamt.
“It’s kind of a special deal,” Welker said. “It was definitely a cool thing.”
Welker isn’t the most feared receiver in the league; he’s just the most frustrating to attempt to cover. He’s found a way to make his size an advantage. His low center of gravity allows him to push away from stronger defenders and create space. He’s a master at avoiding hits and is consistently among the league leaders in yards after the catch.
And, of course, he catches just about everything thrown in his direction.
He’s the perfect complement to Randy Moss, the Patriots’ fast deep threat who “takes the top off the defense” and allows room for Welker to work underneath. Conversely, Welker prevents defensive backs from focusing solely on Moss. The combo will be a handful for the Jets in next Sunday’s early-season divisional clash.
Welker’s loss was crushing to the Patriots last season – the team was listless and ineffective in a playoff loss to Baltimore. Sunday, it looked like the powerhouse of old, with the return of the NFL’s unlikely star raising everyone’s emotions.
Welker would just shrug at all the fanfare. His play was a surprise only to those foolish enough to still doubt him.
The 2010 season, they said, was all but shot.
“You know doctors,” Welker said with a smile Sunday. “What do they know?”
Welker’s story as an undersized, unwanted everyman who became the most prolific pass-catcher in the NFL was already bordering on saccharine Disney sports-flick levels. Then came Sunday, when he shaved a remarkable three-plus months off the predicted recovery time and returned to action 252 days after his massive injury.
He wasn’t just “back,” either. He was back, immediately displaying the darting speed and slippery form that helped him lead the league in receptions two of the past three seasons. He caught eight passes for 64 yards and two touchdowns in the Patriots’ 38-24 victory over Cincinnati.
“It was awesome,” quarterback Tom Brady said.
Like a bad Hollywood script, the ending was entirely predictable, at least to the people who know Welker. The doctors may have focused on the actual medical tests when predicting a recovery time. Everyone else just considered the name of the patient.
“I knew in February he was going to be back out on the field opening day,” said Brady, who had to overcome his own ACL injury prior to last year’s season opener. “The determination he has is pretty remarkable.”
This is what Welker does: upend conventional wisdom, surprise critics and make the improbable seem like no big deal.
“There [were] different scenarios kind of talked about, like [injured reserve] and ‘save my body’ and different things like that,” he said Sunday. “But that’s just not in me. I can’t sit there and watch my team out there playing.”
He said this in his calm, dry drawl. On the field, he’s a burst of energy. Off it, he’s a laid-back, matter-of-fact, take-it-all-in kind of guy. There wasn’t going to be a lot of look-at-me emotion postgame. Maybe it all still seems so tenuous. Welker was a prep star in Oklahoma City, a state player of the year, who didn’t receive a single scholarship offer in light of his diminutive size – now listed at 5-foot-9, 185 pounds, then even smaller and lighter. He thought about walking on somewhere. He thought about joining the Navy.
Eventually, another kid backed out of a scholarship with Texas Tech and the Red Raiders took a late flyer on him. He wound up scoring 31 touchdowns for Tech – including eight on punt returns, which still stands as a NCAA record.
It wasn’t enough to attract NFL interest. Forget about being drafted; he wasn’t even invited to the NFL scouting combine. His height and weight were considered so un-NFL-like they weren’t even worth measuring. He was deemed as nothing more than the byproduct of then-Tech coach Mike Leach spread offense.
Welker managed to secure a tryout with the San Diego Chargers anyway, made the team and then was cut after the first game. The Miami Dolphins picked him up as a special-teams player and, over three seasons, began using him more and more as a wide receiver. They were never sold on him, though, and ultimately traded him to New England.
That was 2007, and since then Welker has become the only player in NFL history to catch at least 110 passes in three consecutive years. Last year, he caught 123 – tied for second most for a single season in NFL history.
People stopped doubting Welker, at least until his left knee crumpled as he tried to make a cut in the season finale in Houston. The critics had always wondered how long he could hold up in the NFL. And while the injury didn’t come on a hit, the result was the same. When he returned, they wondered if he would still have the water-bug speed so essential to his game.
Welker cared only about getting back on the field by Sept. 12. He told his doctors as much.
“They were kind of like, ‘Well, let’s wait and see where we’re at when we get there,’ ” Welker said. “So I tried to put it in their heads early. … I think when they saw my quad and how all the muscles were the same size as the other side, they were a little bit shocked but at the same time very cautious.”
Welker flew much of his family in for the game Sunday, acknowledging this was a bit of a rebirth. He’s vowed not to take a moment of being a NFL player for granted. When he caught the first pass of the season, the Gillette Stadium crowd roared with admiration. So, too, did his teammates. Then he brought home the first Patriots TD. And then another.
Other than having to wear “a stupid knee brace that I hate and can’t wait to burn,” the day was better than he dreamt.
“It’s kind of a special deal,” Welker said. “It was definitely a cool thing.”
Welker isn’t the most feared receiver in the league; he’s just the most frustrating to attempt to cover. He’s found a way to make his size an advantage. His low center of gravity allows him to push away from stronger defenders and create space. He’s a master at avoiding hits and is consistently among the league leaders in yards after the catch.
And, of course, he catches just about everything thrown in his direction.
He’s the perfect complement to Randy Moss, the Patriots’ fast deep threat who “takes the top off the defense” and allows room for Welker to work underneath. Conversely, Welker prevents defensive backs from focusing solely on Moss. The combo will be a handful for the Jets in next Sunday’s early-season divisional clash.
Welker’s loss was crushing to the Patriots last season – the team was listless and ineffective in a playoff loss to Baltimore. Sunday, it looked like the powerhouse of old, with the return of the NFL’s unlikely star raising everyone’s emotions.
Welker would just shrug at all the fanfare. His play was a surprise only to those foolish enough to still doubt him.
9.13.2010
KEVIN DURANT - TOO UNSELFISH
Kevin Durant is too unselfish.
That's the one criticism U.S. coach Mike Krzyzewski has of the Oklahoma City Thunder forward so far in the Americans' preparations for the world championships. He's watched Durant pass up too many shots.
A team's best player can't do that. Krzyzewski freely bestows that distinction on the 21-year-old Durant and is confident the other players on this young squad agree. It's hard to argue, considering Durant last season became the youngest to win the NBA scoring crown.
"They look to him all the time," Krzyzewski said. "They're OK with Kevin shooting. If he misses, they want him to shoot again. They know. They've seen it."
He needs to keep shooting even in games like Thursday's intrasquad scrimmage at Radio City Music Hall, when Durant was 4 of 12 and missed all five 3-point attempts.
"He's our guy," elder statesman Chauncey Billups said. "He's the go-to guy. He's the guy who for us is going to be the scorer and do all the things that Kobe, LeBron did on the Olympic team."
Durant sounded a bit conflicted upon being told his coach wanted him to be less unselfish.
"I thought I was doing a better job of finding the open man, but I guess he wants me to be more aggressive," he said.
"I don't want to be a guy that comes out here and tries to take all the shots," Durant added. "We have a lot of scorers here, so I just want to be a complement on the floor."
But he's noticed his point guards, Billups and Rajon Rondo, reminding him when he's not assertive enough.
"Certain situations during the game, I'm just letting him know we have to go through him down the stretch," Rondo said. "There's going to be some games where he has to take us home and not be so passive and be aggressive. The coaches obviously are drawing up plays to put him in situations to score the ball."
Durant averaged 30.1 points in his third NBA season to earn All-NBA first team honors. He led the Thunder to the playoffs, where they pushed the eventual champion Lakers to six games in the opening round.
"Be yourself," Lakers veteran Lamar Odom said of his advice for Durant. "He led the league in scoring. If he could lead this league in scoring, too, that would help."
No pressure.
But that's the prominent position Durant finds himself in even though this is his first stint on the national team. The U.S. heads into the world championships in Turkey later this month looking to win to clinch a berth at the 2012 Olympics.
"Everyone says Kevin Durant's the leader. He may be our best player; that doesn't mean you're the leader," Krzyzewski said. "Let him just be the best player. Let Chauncey and Lamar, those guys be the leaders."
The Americans play an exhibition Sunday against France at Madison Square Garden, the next chance for Durant to show he's not passing up on the shots a team's best player needs to take.
"Kevin wants to be an outstanding player," Krzyzewski said. "He wants to be the best. So being in this environment with this caliber of player, how he asserts himself here in a different environment will help him even more when he goes back to his current environment."
That's the one criticism U.S. coach Mike Krzyzewski has of the Oklahoma City Thunder forward so far in the Americans' preparations for the world championships. He's watched Durant pass up too many shots.
A team's best player can't do that. Krzyzewski freely bestows that distinction on the 21-year-old Durant and is confident the other players on this young squad agree. It's hard to argue, considering Durant last season became the youngest to win the NBA scoring crown.
"They look to him all the time," Krzyzewski said. "They're OK with Kevin shooting. If he misses, they want him to shoot again. They know. They've seen it."
He needs to keep shooting even in games like Thursday's intrasquad scrimmage at Radio City Music Hall, when Durant was 4 of 12 and missed all five 3-point attempts.
"He's our guy," elder statesman Chauncey Billups said. "He's the go-to guy. He's the guy who for us is going to be the scorer and do all the things that Kobe, LeBron did on the Olympic team."
Durant sounded a bit conflicted upon being told his coach wanted him to be less unselfish.
"I thought I was doing a better job of finding the open man, but I guess he wants me to be more aggressive," he said.
"I don't want to be a guy that comes out here and tries to take all the shots," Durant added. "We have a lot of scorers here, so I just want to be a complement on the floor."
But he's noticed his point guards, Billups and Rajon Rondo, reminding him when he's not assertive enough.
"Certain situations during the game, I'm just letting him know we have to go through him down the stretch," Rondo said. "There's going to be some games where he has to take us home and not be so passive and be aggressive. The coaches obviously are drawing up plays to put him in situations to score the ball."
Durant averaged 30.1 points in his third NBA season to earn All-NBA first team honors. He led the Thunder to the playoffs, where they pushed the eventual champion Lakers to six games in the opening round.
"Be yourself," Lakers veteran Lamar Odom said of his advice for Durant. "He led the league in scoring. If he could lead this league in scoring, too, that would help."
No pressure.
But that's the prominent position Durant finds himself in even though this is his first stint on the national team. The U.S. heads into the world championships in Turkey later this month looking to win to clinch a berth at the 2012 Olympics.
"Everyone says Kevin Durant's the leader. He may be our best player; that doesn't mean you're the leader," Krzyzewski said. "Let him just be the best player. Let Chauncey and Lamar, those guys be the leaders."
The Americans play an exhibition Sunday against France at Madison Square Garden, the next chance for Durant to show he's not passing up on the shots a team's best player needs to take.
"Kevin wants to be an outstanding player," Krzyzewski said. "He wants to be the best. So being in this environment with this caliber of player, how he asserts himself here in a different environment will help him even more when he goes back to his current environment."
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