<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">?The slashing (Brandon) Roy was outrageous. The crowd basically handing him the Rookie of the Year trophy after an exceptional first half.? ? Tom Kertes, writing for the New York Knicks? Web site, on the Entertainers? Basketball Classic at Rucker Park this summer ?It goes beyond numbers. Roy has a vibe, a poise and an aura that screams star ? both Roy and (Randy) Foye will be terrific pros, but Roy is a cut above. Simple as that. ? he will probably win Rookie of the Year this year ? and go down as the signature player from this draft.? ?NBA TV?s Rick Kamla, from Las Vegas Summer League Such accolades may not be easy to live up to, considering the opening of the Trail Blazers? training camp is still a week away and he hasn?t yet stepped onto a court as an NBA player. But Brandon Roy isn?t getting bogged down by others? expectations. ?I?m getting excited for it all to start, but I know I?m a rookie who still has a lot to learn,? the former University of Washington All-American says. ?I?m not going to worry about what anybody is saying about me.? Well, except for Nate McMillan, Portland?s second-year coach, who hints that Roy?s versatility may play into a bench role early this season. ?It?s too early to say he definitely won?t start,? McMillan says. ?There are a lot of positions open going into camp. What you try to do is see what combinations work well together. ?But Roy can play with Martell (Webster), he can play with (Jarrett) Jack, he can play with (Juan) Dixon in the backcourt. Once we get into camp, we?ll have to see how everything turns out.? Roy would love to be a starter, but he won?t have a problem with whatever role his coach envisions. Coming off the bench ?would be fine,? Roy says. ?My goal is to come in here and do whatever Coach McMillan sees fit. He?s a great coach and will guide me toward what?s best for my career. I?ve never played in this league. I have to trust that he?ll help me become a better player.?</div> Source
Wow this place is like a graveyard.... I think I'm the only person who's rooting for the Blazers. Anyway, there's not really much to talk about in this article, he's just saying that he won't mind coming off the bench, which is what I expected from a guy like Roy. Roy for ROY, by the way.
The guy is definitely more nba ready than the others. If he's anything like Manu Ginobilli, then I think he's going to make an impact in this league. He's got some incredible feel for the game and unlike a lot of shooting guards in the league, he can actually shoot, pass, drive. He may not be that athletic as a leaper, but he's quick and I think quickness matters a lot for a guard when trying to sell a juke or a move off the triple threat position. Guys like Steve Nash don't need to be athletic, they just need to be quick, be able to shoot, make smart decisions with the ball, and change directions with the ball without losing it off somebody's foot or their own. I think Roy could also be a good defender which could make him a commodity for when you need defensive guys. Considering this draft might lack real superstars, he could be the best impact available like a Mike Miller (rookie year) but way better on defense, shot creating and probably more consistent.
Lots of peeps say Brandon Roy is not that athletic or that quick. But they also said the same things about guys like Boozer or Nash. Quickness and athleticism are only important if the guy knows how to use it and stay under control. Sometimes I think how scouts rate nba basketball players is outdated. They are looking at too many other things rather than important stuff like fundamentals like shooting, dribbling and passing and guys who can handle pressure. That's probably why the nba has drafted so many nba flops because of "upside" and guys needing to be bigger or faster. However, guys can have all the fundamentals in the world and not be strong physically or mentally to hack it in the nba.
