Suns.com: Lampe back in town and working out again

[George O'Brien]

Suns.com: Lampe back in town and working out again

July 28, 2004: Just because summer league play is over doesn't mean summer work is over for Maciej Lampe. The second-year center/forward has returned from Salt Lake City after helping the Suns post a 7-2 record in summer league action and was back on America West Arena's practice court Wednesday working out with the team's training staff.

"We played well as a team," he said of the team's efforts at the Vegas Summer League and Rocky Mountain *****. "I’m not used to playing so many minutes so it’s kind of different for me. I could have done a lot better in a lot of things, but I’m happy with what I did overall. I thought I improved little by little. There were some ups and downs, but I’ll be ready in October. Last year, I had a better summer league than this year, so hopefully I’ll have a better season this year than last year.

"Me and (Jackson) Vroman played good together on defense and that helped us out to get a lot of wins. He’s good. He’s an aggressive guy. He takes charges, gets on the floor. We’ll see what he does for us during the season."

Lampe admits he still needs work on nearly every aspect of his game as he approaches his first full season in Phoenix after being traded to the Suns from New York last January. He will attend a camp in Las Vegas hosted by former Suns assistant coach Tim Grgurich and then return to the Valley to spend the rest of the offseason working with the staff to keep improving and prepare for October's training camp.

 

[George O'Brien]

I was disappointed with most of Lampe's summer league play, but I am impressed that he is willing to hang around Phoenix and its 110 degree heat to work with the Suns training staff. Since the Suns are not likely to get a top center this summer, his growth as a player could have a huge impact on this season's results.

 

[Goldfield]

IMO Lampe has a ton of upside.

I dont know if he can help this team for afew more years. Or if he even fits in since we need a defensive minded center.

But if hr stops launching up shots everytime he touches the ball, and works real hard on the defensive end. He may be a heck of a player.

There is no denying he has to have one of the sweetest looking shots thought.

And at 19, he has a real good body...

 

[JS22]

The Suns need to keep Lampe around for as long as possible. I cant think of a center who has his pure shooting touch, and people keep forgetting that he is only 19.

Too many people already want to ship Lampe out because they don't think he will develope into anything. He's 19 years old, 6'10" 250, and has the shooting touch of a guard. The last thing Phoenix should do is trade this guy. Give him atleast 4 more years and he very well could be a force.

 

[George O'Brien]

The Suns need to keep Lampe around for as long as possible. I cant think of a center who has his pure shooting touch, and people keep forgetting that he is only 19.

Too many people already want to ship Lampe out because they don't think he will develope into anything. He's 19 years old, 6'10" 250, and has the shooting touch of a guard. The last thing Phoenix should do is trade this guy. Give him atleast 4 more years and he very well could be a force.

The coaches say he is 6'11" 275.

Much of his off season work has been in the weight room. Strength and agility is the key factor for a center on defense - that plus being willing to bang. If he can handle the physical part of playing defense, the footwork and anticipation will come with experience.