Would You Rather He Were Here?

[ABM]

Working with our bigs?

http://blog.oregonlive.com/blazers/2010/08/former_trail_blazer_bill_walto.html

Former Trail Blazers center Bill Walton is teaching the finer points of the position to one of the league's young big men this summer (unfortunately, it's not Greg Oden). Celtics legend and current president of basketball operations for the Indiana Pacers Larry Bird called in a favor to Walton, who is spending the summer working with Pacers center Roy Hibbert.

Week with Walton an immersive experience for Hibbert, Conrad Brunner, Pacers.com:

"My responsibility, my job is to help Roy build the foundation, give him the tools he needs to learn, give him the ability to learn how to compete and then to be able to transpose that in the body, mind, spirit and soul of someone who's 23 years old and with the weight of the world on his shoulders," said Walton. "In this league, you win when you control the paint and, as a 7-2, 260-pound winner of the genetic lottery, that's what he has to do for this franchise.

"He has to control the paint. It's not his choice, it's his responsibility, it's his duty, it's his obligation. He has to learn how to do that on an individual basis. He has to learn how to do that on a team basis. It's a matter of how hard he's willing to work not just physically but mentally, as well, and to train his mind so that in the heat of battle he can make the correct decisions that are going to allow him to become a great champion and return the Pacers to their rightful place among the hierarchy of the NBA."

One of the best centers in the history of the sport, Walton won two NCAA titles under the late John Wooden at UCLA, then two NBA titles, the last as Larry Bird's teammate with the Boston Celtics in 1986. He subsequently was named to the Basketball Hall of Fame and was selected as one of the top 50 NBA players of all-time.

Who better to turn to for a crash course in the fine art of playing center in the NBA?

"Larry asked me and I work for Larry Bird. I always have," said Walton. "Larry Bird is the reason that I have the life that I do have. He gave me a chance, a chance to be on his team 25 years ago and I owe Larry everything -- the chance to be able to give back, the chance to be able to do whatever I can to help him in his goals and his dreams."

 

[Driew]

If he can teach Oden to not get injured then sure--until Oden can play a season it doesn't matter if we have a big coach for him.

 

[maxiep]

If Big Bill is meeting with Hibbert in Indianoplace, then there's no reason we can't have Walton meet with GO.

 

[jlprk]

This is about the 3rd time he's given lessons to a Pacer center, including Rik Smits. Reading his long long quote, you can see that if he'd shut up and grow an ego, some team would hire him as Asst. Coach.

 

[Rhal]

What i'd give to bring Sabonis over to work with GO...

 

[mgb]

What i'd give to bring Sabonis over to work with GO...

To teach him to flop?

 

[DeanMoriarty]

We can't say if bringing in a legendary center will help a player improve or not.

Great players don't equate to great teachers or coaches.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Yes. Walton was one of the best big men in basketball history. It's insane that this team hasn't reached out to someone like this.

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

Walton talks a good game now. But, can he teach & coach- or just talk?

 

[Nikolokolus]

Why the hell is it the team's responsibility to reach out to former big men to work out with Oden? Is G.O's "go" phone broken or something? Can't he contact Hakeem, Walton or whomever himself and try to get better on his own?

 

[Pinwheel1]

This is about the 3rd time he's given lessons to a Pacer center, including Rik Smits. Reading his long long quote, you can see that if he'd shut up and grow an ego, some team would hire him as Asst. Coach.

Who says he wants to be an assistant coach and travel around the country with his bad health. I am guessing he is just happy working a couple of months a year giving lessons to young big men and living in a warm climate.

The dude does love to talk. That's why he can always get cush tV gig.

But I would like to see him give GO some pointers next off season if both are healthy.

 

[maxiep]

To teach him to flop?

Obviously, we bring Sabas in to teach Greg how to drink vodka.

 

[maxiep]

Did someone take over Pete Newell's big man camp?

 

[Further]

I have been very happy with Oden and his growth when he is on the floor. He has only played one season worth of games and when on the court he is currently a top 5 center in the league.

Getting a week worth of training from someone who although a great basketball player, is not used to coaching and monitoring the health of a player, could be a move that hurt Oden if he got injured again. If Oden plays most of a year then he start stuff like this, but right now all his training needs to be with strength and conditioning coaches, with his coaches, or with other coaches that understand the nature of his body and health.

 

[andalusian]

Obviously, we bring Sabas in to teach Greg how to drink vodka.

No, no, no, we bring Sabas to teach Greg to send nekkid pitchers of hisself to girls that can drink vodka.

 

[maxiep]

It's possible that GO isn't ready for advanced instruction. Our first job is to get his knee right. Second is to get him into basketball shape (as opposed to generally in shape). After that he can work on the finer aspects of his game.

The sad thing is after three years, we still haven't achieved step two. The good news is that means we have yet to see the real GO.

 

[blazerboy30]

I don't care who it is, but hopefully somebody is cramming this into G.O's head like Walton is saying:

"He has to control the paint. It's not his choice, it's his responsibility, it's his duty, it's his obligation. He has to learn how to do that on an individual basis. He has to learn how to do that on a team basis. It's a matter of how hard he's willing to work not just physically but mentally, as well, and to train his mind so that in the heat of battle he can make the correct decisions that are going to allow him to become a great champion and return the [Blazers] to their rightful place among the hierarchy of the NBA."