Jacobsen coming around
By Mike Tulumello, Tribune
MINNEAPOLIS - If Casey Jacobsen turns out to be not much more than the non-factor of last season, the Suns’ decision to draft him in the first round two years ago will be viewed as anywhere from a reach to a significant gaffe.
If he turns out to be more like the player filling it up Friday against the world champion San Antonio Spurs, then the Suns got quite a deal.
So which will it be?
Jacobsen isn’t likely to have many games like Friday’s, when he hit 6-for-6 from the field (5-for-5 from 3-point range) for 17 points while playing a career-high 41 minutes.
Yet the larger point is that at least he’s heading in the right direction from last season, when he struggled even to hit free throws (68 percent, an anemic number for an NBA guard).
His perfect night from long range puts him at 43 percent, good enough to crack the NBA’s top 10. Which is exactly why the Suns drafted him where they did.
And yes, those free throws are going down, too. He’s hitting 84 percent.
Coach Mike D’Antoni figures that at every level — when he was setting scoring records for California high school players and doing the same at Stanford — Jacobsen probably was told that he couldn’t make it, that he wasn’t quick enough.
"At every level he’s figured it out," the Suns coach said. "We’re hoping the same thing happens with us."
That’s the way it looked Friday, prompting D’Antoni to say, "If he starts shooting like that, we’re talking serious stuff."
Jacobsen says hard work in the offseason and the simple opportunity to play consistent minutes is the reason for the upward turn.
"I know my role. And I’ve accepted it.
"Last year, I was trying to find it."
So Jacobsen needed to elbow his way into the Suns’ rotation through improving his skills in the offseason.
He emphasized putting his legs into his shot, and — as with every offseason — tried to improve in three specific areas: free throws ("I shot hundreds and hundreds a day"), shooting off the dribble and midrange shots.
All in all, "I’ve gotten better, but I’ve got a long ways to go."
Of course, "You can work all offseason long. But if you only play five minutes, there’s only so much you can do."
Then again, if you don’t produce in those five minutes, you can’t expect much more time. This season, he’s producing.
BONUS SHOTS: D’Antoni had pledged not to use Maciej Lampe, the 18-year-old rookie, in a close game. But he broke the vow Friday at home vs. San Antonio, and the Suns paid the price. Lampe entered a close game early vs. the defending champs and took an ill-advised shot that helped the Spurs on an 11-3 run while he was in the game. The Suns spent much of the rest of the game fighting to catch up and ended up losing by two points.
D’Antoni admitted afterward that he goofed. "I was loose with my substitutions," he said.
http://eastvalleytribune.com/index.php?sty=16207
By Mike Tulumello, Tribune
MINNEAPOLIS - If Casey Jacobsen turns out to be not much more than the non-factor of last season, the Suns’ decision to draft him in the first round two years ago will be viewed as anywhere from a reach to a significant gaffe.
If he turns out to be more like the player filling it up Friday against the world champion San Antonio Spurs, then the Suns got quite a deal.
So which will it be?
Jacobsen isn’t likely to have many games like Friday’s, when he hit 6-for-6 from the field (5-for-5 from 3-point range) for 17 points while playing a career-high 41 minutes.
Yet the larger point is that at least he’s heading in the right direction from last season, when he struggled even to hit free throws (68 percent, an anemic number for an NBA guard).
His perfect night from long range puts him at 43 percent, good enough to crack the NBA’s top 10. Which is exactly why the Suns drafted him where they did.
And yes, those free throws are going down, too. He’s hitting 84 percent.
Coach Mike D’Antoni figures that at every level — when he was setting scoring records for California high school players and doing the same at Stanford — Jacobsen probably was told that he couldn’t make it, that he wasn’t quick enough.
"At every level he’s figured it out," the Suns coach said. "We’re hoping the same thing happens with us."
That’s the way it looked Friday, prompting D’Antoni to say, "If he starts shooting like that, we’re talking serious stuff."
Jacobsen says hard work in the offseason and the simple opportunity to play consistent minutes is the reason for the upward turn.
"I know my role. And I’ve accepted it.
"Last year, I was trying to find it."
So Jacobsen needed to elbow his way into the Suns’ rotation through improving his skills in the offseason.
He emphasized putting his legs into his shot, and — as with every offseason — tried to improve in three specific areas: free throws ("I shot hundreds and hundreds a day"), shooting off the dribble and midrange shots.
All in all, "I’ve gotten better, but I’ve got a long ways to go."
Of course, "You can work all offseason long. But if you only play five minutes, there’s only so much you can do."
Then again, if you don’t produce in those five minutes, you can’t expect much more time. This season, he’s producing.
BONUS SHOTS: D’Antoni had pledged not to use Maciej Lampe, the 18-year-old rookie, in a close game. But he broke the vow Friday at home vs. San Antonio, and the Suns paid the price. Lampe entered a close game early vs. the defending champs and took an ill-advised shot that helped the Spurs on an 11-3 run while he was in the game. The Suns spent much of the rest of the game fighting to catch up and ended up losing by two points.
D’Antoni admitted afterward that he goofed. "I was loose with my substitutions," he said.
http://eastvalleytribune.com/index.php?sty=16207
