bleedingTNorange
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- Jan 9, 2012
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"Just a few random thoughts from hoops practice today.
It's a broken record by now, but Stokes is consistently impressive. Today it seemed like the only time Martin could really get anything productive going in practice was to put Stokes on the sidelines. Otherwise, everything seemed one-sided, which was most apparent on the defensive end where open driving lanes and second chances were virtually non-existent when Stokes was patrolling the paint.
There was a good bit of 5-on-5 work today, and in that you could really see some of the things Martin has complimented Trae Golden for, he's just so much more prepared to lead this year. He's not remotely shy about being vocal, whether it's to give encouragement or to pointedly tell one of his bigs to get in the post and take his man the next trip down court.
I've said it for the past couple of days, but once again, McBee is really shooting the basketball, and not just from three. He knocked down several jumpers in scrimmage situations today after putting it on the floor and creating some space. Kenny Hall also continues to show that he's put long hours into honing his shot. It's definitely a 'see-it-to-believe-it' deal, but Hall has been draining 15-footers with regularity since the start of practice.
In a more general sense, the tenor of practice is just unbelievably competitive. I'm not saying that it's not at other places, but I will say I have a hard time seeing everyone in the country bringing the kind of intensity to the practice floor that Martin does on a daily basis.
Drills are intense and scrimmage situations where score is kept can get physical in the extreme. At the same time though, player know not to ask for fouls. Martin wields his whistle like it costs him $1,000 dollars every time he blows it. A defensive play that results in a drawn charge might get a quick whistle, but if you go into the paint and get hammered, chances are you better learn to take it like a man.*
No doubt this team is ready to start the season. Practices are becoming a physical grind to say the least."
-Rob Lewis
It's a broken record by now, but Stokes is consistently impressive. Today it seemed like the only time Martin could really get anything productive going in practice was to put Stokes on the sidelines. Otherwise, everything seemed one-sided, which was most apparent on the defensive end where open driving lanes and second chances were virtually non-existent when Stokes was patrolling the paint.
There was a good bit of 5-on-5 work today, and in that you could really see some of the things Martin has complimented Trae Golden for, he's just so much more prepared to lead this year. He's not remotely shy about being vocal, whether it's to give encouragement or to pointedly tell one of his bigs to get in the post and take his man the next trip down court.
I've said it for the past couple of days, but once again, McBee is really shooting the basketball, and not just from three. He knocked down several jumpers in scrimmage situations today after putting it on the floor and creating some space. Kenny Hall also continues to show that he's put long hours into honing his shot. It's definitely a 'see-it-to-believe-it' deal, but Hall has been draining 15-footers with regularity since the start of practice.
In a more general sense, the tenor of practice is just unbelievably competitive. I'm not saying that it's not at other places, but I will say I have a hard time seeing everyone in the country bringing the kind of intensity to the practice floor that Martin does on a daily basis.
Drills are intense and scrimmage situations where score is kept can get physical in the extreme. At the same time though, player know not to ask for fouls. Martin wields his whistle like it costs him $1,000 dollars every time he blows it. A defensive play that results in a drawn charge might get a quick whistle, but if you go into the paint and get hammered, chances are you better learn to take it like a man.*
No doubt this team is ready to start the season. Practices are becoming a physical grind to say the least."
-Rob Lewis
