How was the game?!

[cardsunsfan]

I love your gametime chats guys but the only problem is there isn't the same about of posts about the game itself Sounds like Lampe did well tonight. How did he look?

 

[scotsman13]

personally i thought that lampe looked good. i dont know the last time that i have seen a big man who can shoot the ball that well from outside, about the only player that i can think of off the top of my head who shoots the ball that well was larry bird.

 

[Chaz]

I was impressed with Lampe's speed. He moves so well for a big guy.

While he has shown more strength than Zarko, for example, He really has to work on denying position in the paint to play at center.

His shot is very smooth and he was dead on last night. Not only has he shown the ability to shoot he has shown he can fake, escape dribble, and pull up and hit. For an 18/19 year old player he is very impressive. He just needs to learn to defend and not foul (like most of the team). The refs are not giving him the same leeway they seem to be giving other player on the court.

The future is very bright for Lampe if he keeps working and playing hard.

 

[Joe Mama]

At one point he got the ball on the perimeter with the shot clock winding down. When he got the ball he was very well defended. He pump faked, spun, and hit a fadeaway jumper, but the shot clock expired just before he released the ball.

Lampe still has a lot to work on, especially defensively. However I think it's pretty obvious that he should have been a top 10 draft pick last summer. The only players I can think of off the top of my head that I would rather have from last year's draft are...

LeBron James
Carmelo Anthony
Dwain Wade
Chris Bosch

I have a feeling that Darko would also be on that list if he played for a team like the Phoenix Suns where he was getting regular minutes. I have a hard time believing Detroit was as excited as they were about him if he really isn't that good. I also think that Lampe could be as good or better than Chris Bosch down the road. Right now I would rather have Chris Bosch though.

Joe Mama

 

[slinslin]

Josh Howard and Marquis Daniels are EXTREMELY impressive. I think I would rather have those 2 than Barbosa and Zarko.

Also you forgot Kirk Hinrich who is really a good PG simply struggles with his shooting like Jacobsen in his rookie season.

TJ Ford can't shoot and is small but he made a big impact for the Bucks. Without him they are only half as good.

And Michael Pietrus is playing great since he is starting and has the Warriors on a 7 game winning streak.

Just read on Insider today that Warriors coach Eric Musselman is already calling Mickael Pietrus the best defender in the league. Yes, that's not a mistake.

Since Muss has decided to give Pietrus more than 20 minutes per game 7 games ago, they have, coincidentally, gone on a 7 game winning streak. During the streak, the usually soft-D of Golden State has held their opponents to under 90ppg. Mike held Steve Francis to 6-16 w/ 7 turnovers and TMac to 18 points on 5-14 shooting.

 

[elindholm]

Mike held Steve Francis to 6-16 w/ 7 turnovers

That's not too different from an average day for Francis, but I take your point.

 

[George O'Brien]

Josh Howard and Marquis Daniels are EXTREMELY impressive. I think I would rather have those 2 than Barbosa and Zarko.

Also you forgot Kirk Hinrich who is really a good PG simply struggles with his shooting like Jacobsen in his rookie season.

TJ Ford can't shoot and is small but he made a big impact for the Bucks. Without him they are only half as good.

And Michael Pietrus is playing great since he is starting and has the Warriors on a 7 game winning streak.

Just read on Insider today that Warriors coach Eric Musselman is already calling Mickael Pietrus the best defender in the league. Yes, that's not a mistake.

Since Muss has decided to give Pietrus more than 20 minutes per game 7 games ago, they have, coincidentally, gone on a 7 game winning streak. During the streak, the usually soft-D of Golden State has held their opponents to under 90ppg. Mike held Steve Francis to 6-16 w/ 7 turnovers and TMac to 18 points on 5-14 shooting.

Of the guys named, only Josh Howard and Daniels were taken after Zarko and Leandro.

BTW, of all the players named, I'm not sure I would trade Lampe for any of them. I really like the potential that Lampe presents. He could prove to be the most dominating offensive center the Suns have ever had. Now that he is shooting mid range shots rather than three's, he is becoming very accurate. He is already hitting 44.9% without getting many layups. He is going to force opponents to defend him once his teammates start feeding him the ball at the high post.

As I predicted a few months ago, his progress will be based on how quickly he becomes strong enough for the position and becomes an adequate defender. Young centers generally struggle so I'm not surprised he is not as ready as smaller players to start.

 

[cardsunsfan]

The only problem I see is he doesn't sound like he's using his height and hopefully later his size. That outside shot could be a great asset if he becomes bigger. I wish I could be a trainer for the Suns! I could get him to gain a lot of muscle He would probably be eating six meals a day and it would be a pain in the ass but it would really help him out. I wonder how many of those guys have a strict training regimine?

 

[cardsunsfan]

Thanks for all the info guys by the way! I can't wait to move back to AZ. I am so sports deprived. I live in Fresno now and even though there are a lot of teams to choose from in CA I just can't switch over.

 

[George O'Brien]

The only problem I see is he doesn't sound like he's using his height and hopefully later his size. That outside shot could be a great asset if he becomes bigger. I wish I could be a trainer for the Suns! I could get him to gain a lot of muscle He would probably be eating six meals a day and it would be a pain in the ass but it would really help him out. I wonder how many of those guys have a strict training regimine?

Lampe needs to get stronger, but his problem is as much technique as pure strength. He doesn't get leverage and uses his hands improperly. Another problem is that he is not agressive enough about going for rebounds and blocking out. But he is 19 years old, so I think it will come.

If anything Zarko has a bigger strength problem than Lampe. I'm skeptical that he will ever be physical enough to play inside but he needs to gain strength even if he is strictly an SF just to play defense.