Thomas Robinson: "“I feel like I know I can came back here and work every day"

[caseyholdahl]

Greetings ladies and gents. Long time, no post.

It's not as busy down at the practice facility as it usually is this time of year with draft workouts, but there's still basketball being played down there in Tualatin. I've had a chance to watch some of the workouts and have put together a few stories after talking to some of the players. The most recent being this piece about Thomas Robinson's offseason ...

“I feel comfortable,” said Robinson after a recent workout at the team’s practice facility in Tualatin. “I feel like I know I can came back here and work every day. I can go home and come back here and work! It’s just a fact of being comfortable. That’s all I want. I love it here. I just like the feeling of being comfortable, that’s all.”

Immediately after the Trail Blazers were eliminated from the 2014 postseason, Robinson took “a solid seven days off” relaxing with friends and family on the east coast before getting back to work on the court. Now back in Portland, he has put in hours and hours of practice with Portland’s coaching staff in an effort to replace some of the less endearing parts of his game with skills more useful within Terry Stotts’ system.

“I’m not trying to do nothing crazy out here,” said Robinson. “I’m just trying to either break bad habits or get used to doing stuff that I need to do next year. So I’m not in pickup trying to score 1,000 points or nothing. Even working on a move consistently that I’ve been working on, getting used to catching and shooting or catching and making a pass instead of catching and holding (the ball). Really just trying to find my teammates. I’m trying to do that, get into the swing of things and be good at finding my teammates.”

 

[PapaG]

I have no doubt that Robinson has the athletic ability and the work ethic to become a solid NBA player, so long as he realizes he's never going to be a 20ppg player on a good to great team.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

That's great, because his biggest weakness was being a ball-stopper. He just gave the impression that getting the ball put him into some kind of trance, so if he can break out of that, he'll be much more of an asset.

Casey: are you able to say anything about the workouts? Anybody standing out? Who's participating that wasn't a Blazer last year?

 

[caseyholdahl]

That's great, because his biggest weakness was being a ball-stopper. He just gave the impression that getting the ball put him into some kind of trance, so if he can break out of that, he'll be much more of an asset.

Casey: are you able to say anything about the workouts? Anybody standing out? Who's participating that wasn't a Blazer last year?

It's mostly just drills and individual skill work, so it's hard to pick a "stand out." I haven't really paid much attention to the non-roster guys.

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

I think the fan's reaction to his key plays in the playoffs definitely made his summer a lot nicer.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Casey, when can I come down and try out for the team?

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

Casey, when can I come down and try out for the team?

http://acropolispdx.com/auditions.php

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Audition Dates:
Pre - Audition Workshop (optional) - Sunday, June 9th @ LA Fitness - Beaverton

Preliminary Rounds July 13th-14th, 2014 at Portland Community College (PCC) Sylvania Campus – Health Technology (HT) Building

Finalist Interviews July 17 - 19 at the MODA CENTER

Final Round on July 20, 2014

Times:
Saturday, July 13th: Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. Auditions to immediately follow registration.
Sunday, July 14th: Dancers report at 9:00 a.m.
Wednesday, July 17th - Friday, July 19th: Finalist Interview times TBD
Saturday, July 20th: Dancers report for The Finals at approximately noon.

Where:
Portland Community College (PCC) Sylvania Campus - Health Technology (HT) Building
12000 SW 49th Avenue
Portland, OR 97219

I have the legs of a dancer and the body of Raymond Felton.

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

Those were actually 2013. 2014 is coming soon, PER THE BLAZERS FACEBOOK.

 

[Haakzilla]

HAAK, when can I come down and try out for the team?

July 19th & 20th --> http://www.nba.com/blazers/blazerdancers-audition

 

[The_Lillard_King]

Safe to say Robinson is a a board favorite around here. Many are excited about his potential and appreciate the effort he being. Some even comment on not wanting the Blazers to get a vet PF because it will take minutes away from Robinson.

Please let him know his energy and effort are greatly appreciated by Blazer fans!

 

[BlazerCaravan]

I have no doubt that Robinson has the athletic ability and the work ethic to become a solid NBA player, so long as he realizes he's never going to be a 20ppg player on a good to great team.

Probably, but let's give him two more years... you never know!

 

[PapaG]

Probably, but let's give him two more years... you never know!

He'll turn 24 years old next season. He's not a primary scorer, and never should be.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

It's mostly just drills and individual skill work, so it's hard to pick a "stand out." I haven't really paid much attention to the non-roster guys.

Jeez, inside access is WASTED on you!

 

[PapaG]

Jeez, inside access is WASTED on you!

I'd much rather hear about random Euros who have no chance of ever being elite NBA players.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

I'd much rather hear about random Euros who have no chance of ever being elite NBA players.

I just follow Kevin Pritchard on Twitter to get that effect.

 

[jlprk]

I have no doubt that Robinson has the athletic ability and the work ethic to become a solid NBA player, so long as he realizes he's never going to be a 20ppg player on a good to great team.

As Board Policeman, your #1 job is to protect Aldridge from all rivals, even his PF teammates.

 

[PapaG]

As Board Policeman, your #1 job is to protect Aldridge from all rivals, even his PF teammates.

I'm quite sure Robinson doesn't view himself as LMA's rival, but rather his teammate. Says a lot about you though, doesn't it? Did you even read the article?

 

[PapaG]

I just follow Kevin Pritchard on Twitter to get that effect.

I think you misspelled Fran Fraschilla.

 

[PDXFonz]

No rep, didn't read

I actually saw this on twitter earlier. Love Trob and his mentality. I can't wait to see him in 3 years (hopefully as a blazer)

 

[BlazerCaravan]

I think you misspelled Fran Fraschilla.

Possibly.

 

[KingSpeed]

It's always a turn on for me when I see Fran. I wish I was there when he pulled down his pants in the locker room during one of his pep talks. Hot.

 

[ripcityboy]

If somebody had told me Thomas Robinson would become a valuable player to the Blazers, I would have laughed all the way to the playoffs.

 

[Eastoff]

If somebody had told me Thomas Robinson would become a valuable player to the Blazers, I would have laughed all the way to the playoffs.

which is why I take everything you say with a cube of salt ;]

 

[HailBlazers]

I've had a chance to watch some of the workouts and have put together a few stories after talking to some of the players. The most recent being this piece about Thomas Robinson's offseason ...

Enjoyed the piece Casey.

For a player who has been somewhat of a ball-stopper by his own admission in his first two seasons, understanding the importance of ball movement, particularly in an offense dependent of what Stotts refers to as “flow,” and how he can use his athleticism to open things up for himself and his teammates has been a revelation. Robinson has made a habit of putting his head down on drives to the basket with the sole intention of going to the rim regardless of the defense, with limited success (he shot 25 percent on drives last year, the worst mark on the team for any player with at least 10 drives). But now, thanks in part to help from Portland’s coaching staff, Robinson is out to change that.

“Knowing that when I drive, thinking that I’ve faster than everybody that I just drive and try to get to the hole every time,” said Robinson of one of the “bad habits” he’s trying to break. “Now, I can use my driving ability to drive and kick. After that, things open up for me, It becomes a lot easier because I’ve found myself driving one time and kicking it, then driving the next time and the rim is wide open just because I kicked it the play before.”

T-Rob can become a really good player with a tweak like this to his game.

 

[caseyholdahl]

Casey, when can I come down and try out for the team?

Dance team tryouts are soon Sly. Get limber.

 

[BrianFromWA]

Wookiee's been boycotting since Ione left.

 

[Natebishop3]

I'm really looking forward to what TRob can do in the summer league.

 

[blazerboy30]

I'm really looking forward to what TRob can do in the summer league.

Don't get your hopes up. Summer League is never a place where bigs shine.

 

[Natebishop3]

Don't get your hopes up. Summer League is never a place where bigs shine.

He had a pretty good summer last year.