INTERVIEW WITH COACH ENGLISH mostly about TRob

[CruzDude]

Good interview with Coach English just after Kings-Raptors summer league game.

In the interview he discusses TRob, Jimmer, Mitchell and others. A good set of info about the top 4 or 5 summer league players.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9340_T5Ykeo

 

[Bricklayer]

Paraphrasing:

Q: what skills do you guys have to work with him (TRob) on

A: we definitely have to work on his post up game, his post up defense, and his weak side defense


About covers it, but has a projecty sound to it.

 

[ElRey]

Brickie, I don't know about calling Trob a project. AT the very worst, you know he'll compete and he will rebound the ball. He just needs to adapt to the NBA game. Demarcus learned the same thing that he cannot just turn around and shoot over NBA length. I agree with Alex English that he needs to develop his faceup jumpshot if he is to maximize his potential. Trob isn't tall enough to just turn around and shoot fadeways over NBA sized PFs and centers. But at the same time, he has excellent speed for a PF. Mix up that faceup jumpshot with drives to the rim, postop moves, and a hook shot and he will be deadly. He has the drive and athleticism to succeed, so I am not too worried about him.

Whiteside on the other hand is a project. dude always look completely lost out there and just seems so immature. It's guys like Demarcus and Trob who has that competitive fire who are most likely to continue to improve and work on their game to be great players.

 

[mac]

Brickie, I don't know about calling Trob a project. AT the very worst, you know he'll compete and he will rebound the ball. He just needs to adapt to the NBA game. Demarcus learned the same thing that he cannot just turn around and shoot over NBA length. I agree with Alex English that he needs to develop his faceup jumpshot if he is to maximize his potential. Trob isn't tall enough to just turn around and shoot fadeways over NBA sized PFs and centers. But at the same time, he has excellent speed for a PF. Mix up that faceup jumpshot with drives to the rim, postop moves, and a hook shot and he will be deadly. He has the drive and athleticism to succeed, so I am not too worried about him.

Whiteside on the other hand is a project. dude always look completely lost out there and just seems so immature. It's guys like Demarcus and Trob who has that competitive fire who are most likely to continue to improve and work on their game to be great players.

Well it depends where you want to draw the line. There's "NBA-ready" (which TRob was supposed to be), "Needs to adjust" (which TRob appears to be) and "Project" (Honeycutt/Whiteside).

 

[Section 101]

Well it depends where you want to draw the line. There's "NBA-ready" (which TRob was supposed to be), "Needs to adjust" (which TRob appears to be) and "Project" (Honeycutt/Whiteside).

Think people are getting this mixed up. From what I have heard they have said he has an NBA ready body. Not that his game is NBA ready.

 

[Kingster]

Yes, Robinson is a project. And he is talented. He just needs some time to fully demonstrate it on the court. We saw brilliant flashes of some of that talent last night. He really seemed to let the game come to him a lot more than in previous games. When he's not "the man" and has some very good players around him, especially a good point guard, I expect it will be easier for him to relax more. When you get a talented project-type player that has a great work ethic, you're not going to see that work ethic manifest itself with great play until some time has passed. I have very high hopes for this guy down the line.

I sure was encouraged that English talked about working with him on his D. I was wondering if anybody on the coaching staff even cared. Also, English reiterated what I've been saying. When asked about facing bigger guys in the NBA, English said: "He can't just turn around and do a jump shot over those guys. His value is turning and facing and driving guys to the basket." Sure, they need to work with him on his post up game, but he's not going to make a living on that in the first couple of years in the NBA. He's got a great first step and he should be able to use it immediately starting next year.

 

[CruzDude]

Coach also discusses Jimmer, Mitchell and Lee.

 

[Bricklayer]

He's got a great first step and he should be able to use it immediately starting next year.

That is going to have to be his weapon -- I haven't seen him actually use his leaping ability for much, but his speed is impressive and the ability to bring the ball along for the ride rare amongst bigs. Except all of a sudden that doesn't help Cuz. Guys are going to be sagging back playing 8 feet off him, and right back into the lane in front of Boogie.

Mentioned this before but the ideal great center pairing is a tough defensive minded PF with a good midrange jumper. Spots up with it, holds his defender from going to help, is there for the kickout.

 

[Kingster]

That is going to have to be his weapon -- I haven't seen him actually use his leaping ability for much, but his speed is impressive and the ability to bring the ball along for the ride rare amongst bigs. Except all of a sudden that doesn't help Cuz. Guys are going to be sagging back playing 8 feet off him, and right back into the lane in front of Boogie.

Mentioned this before but the ideal great center pairing is a tough defensive minded PF with a good midrange jumper. Spots up with it, holds his defender from going to help, is there for the kickout.

Barring some rookie brain freeze, I think he can hit the open 18 footer, so I don't think too much sagging on Cousins will occur. IMO, the learning curve for him is going to be when he gets pressed by the defender at the 18 foot arc and he is forced to make decisions with the ball. I think it might take him a while to slow that part of the game down and make the pass (or take the shot) at the right time. Wouldn't surprise me early on to see turnovers until he gets comfortable with that part of the game. We'll see.

As far as his speed and his dribbling is concerned, unlike some other fast power forwards, you're going to be able to outlet to him at the half court line and have him beat his man with the dribble down the court; you won't have to just get him the ball within 10 feet from the rim for fear that he's going to mishandle the ball.

This team is definitely one of the faster teams in the league now. Conservatively, they must be in the top 3rd of the league. By adding Brooks and Robinson to IT, Tyreke, and Thompson, that's a pretty fast group. Ironically, we have a zillion 3s, but none appear to be of the speedy variety, assuming T-Will is not resigned. If you add a speedy 3, then it's approaching an Indy 500 type team.

 

[CruzDude]

see below

 

[CruzDude]

Good interview with Coach English about top group of summer league performers.