A thread for Pavel Podk.. ehh Chris_Sanders

[slinslin]

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Whats wrong with that knee already?

http://www.nba.com/suns/news/podkolzineqa_040621.html

Question: What do you think of Phoenix?

Pavel Podkolzine: This is my first time here in Phoenix and this is a great time.

Question: What do you know about Mike D’Antoni?

Podkolzine: I know Mike D’Antoni for three years. I played in Italy and my first year in Italy, he was a coach in Benetton Treviso, and he won a championship. So, I know him.

Question: How did your workout go for the Suns?

Podkolzine: Everybody did a great job.

Question: What do you think about your draft positioning at this point?

Podkolzine: I don’t know. The draft is not easy. I don’t know where I go. Maybe in Phoenix, maybe 15th, maybe 20. I don’t know.

Question: What did you do over the last year to improve your chances of getting drafted higher than after you pulled out of the draft last year?

Podkolzine: Last year I played in more games, and more and more minutes on the court. More movement. I go up.

Question: How close do you think you are to contributing at the NBA level?

Podkolzine: If I come in the NBA next and work hard, do the great workout every time and get more minutes, I think I can be a player.

Question: What kinds of things have teams asked of you during the workout process?

Podkolzine: Everybody has come seen me in Italy and everybody knows about me. In the last two months, I did the Treviso big man camp, the Euro big man camp.

Question: What areas do you feel you need improvement?

Podkolzine: Everything. Work. Work, work, work.

Question: What do you think about the play in the NBA?

Podkolzine: In the NBA there are great players like Ben (Wallace), Shaq. Everybody’s a big player. But first is work. If you work hard, you play, if not, you don’t.

Question: What would it be like to play for D’Antoni?

Podkolzine: I want to play for Mike D’Antoni because he speaks Italian and the other coach speaks Italian, so this is a great Italian team.


He wants to play for the Suns because 2 coachs speak italian?
Hey Pavel if you ever get here put your ass infront of a dictionary and learn english because your teammates aren't going to talk italian with you.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

Come on, how can you not like a kid who says nothing comes without work?

 

[Chris_Sanders]

I didn't even know we were working him out.

 

[slinslin]

From the Boston Herald

The Celtics face a challenge, especially where Podkolzine is concerned. Though the Siberian reportedly has his pituitary gland disorder under control thanks to new medication, his actual value is still a mystery. For the second straight year, he came off the bench for the Italian team Varese, where he backed up Dan Callahan, the former Northeastern standout and Bedford native.

There is concern over Podkolzine's lack of minutes and reports that he didn't enjoy the best of relations with his Varese teammates. His durability is also in doubt, most recently evidenced by a broken left hand.

 

[pokerface]

I've read Pavel stuff before and he always seems a little on the arrogant side. Not exactly what he says but how he says it...his shortness and directness. Frankly that doesnt turn me off but turns me on. I think he's got too much pride (or whatever) to allow himself to be a total bust...thats just a gut feeling I have. The question in my mind is how good is his body and will it allow him to be the player he want to be. It's strong but is it durable? Is he healthy?

 

[Chris_Sanders]

If I was Pavel I wouldn't have gotten along with my teammates as well.

I remember that one report where the guys never passed him the ball in the post and made him do nothing but set screens at the three point line for him.

And again, remember Pavel has been playing basketball for 2 years. 2.5 years ago he worked on a farm in freakin Siberia.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

What's funny is I had just about given up on us drafting him...then they bring him in. Just odd.

 

[slinslin]

Well Chris I doubt they are reading your thoughts because I read about Pavel being one of the guys who would still workout about a week ago or so on suns.com.

 

[pokerface]

What's funny is I had just about given up on us drafting him...then they bring him in. Just odd.

Yeah just a couple days ago I was wondering "Where's Pavel"...like is he top secret or do the Suns not care about him?

I think they do care though. Interesing reading about D'Antoni's connection with him. I mean do we dare pass on this guy??

OK he's a project but I'd still be excited if we got him. If there ever was a project worth working on I think its Pavel. If he paid off the rewards would be HUGE in every sense of the word!

 

[Chris_Sanders]

Well Chris I doubt they are reading your thoughts because I read about Pavel being one of the guys who would still workout about a week ago or so on suns.com.

I don't go to Suns.com so that explains it. Everything I want to read gets posted here