NBA Basketball Sports News in Philippines: Greg Monroe

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Wednesday, February 20, 2013

NBA News 2013: Andre Drummond believes he ‘could be great’

Detroit Pistons logo 2001–2005. The return of the traditional colors. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Detroit Pistons rookie center Andre Drummond wasn’t able to participate on Friday night in the BBVA Rising Stars Challenge with a back injury. Selected by Shaquille O’Neal as part of Team Shaq, Drummond was on hand to talk about his rookie campaign.

“It’s great that the coaches really named me to be here and Shaq actually chose me as well with his third pick,” said Drummond, disappointed that he wasn’t able to play. “It’s great being out here and great being noticed but I’m going to stick to being an assistant coach and stick alongside Shaq.”

Drummond is sidelined another three to five weeks with a stress fracture of the left lumbar vertebra.

Through 50 games, Drummond averaged 7.3 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.7 blocks a game. The Pistons may have a special combination with forward/center Greg Monroe and Drummond, once the two fully develop.

Right now Drummond is just trying to heal and learn how he can impact the NBA game.

“I think from the first game, I think [Coach Lawrence Frank] can vouch for me too, I think from my first game up until now I’ve gotten better on a daily basis,” he said. “I just work hard, that’s really what it comes down to – giving 100 percent every single day.”

Drummond was improving dramatically, prior to his injury. In a recent one-point loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, he pulled down 11 boards and blocked four shot, while scoring nine points. Drummond he’s just scratching the surface.

“I’m getting a glimpse of what I could be,” Drummond said. “I’m not really going to get big-headed at all. I just know that it’s all effort and energy and hard work that it’s going to take for me to be good.”

Drummond doesn’t want to settle on being just “good.”

“I think I could be great one day,” he said.

http://www.hoopsworld.com/andre-drummond-believes-he-could-be-great/

Monday, February 11, 2013

NBA News 2013: Pistons push Drummond to get healthy

Detroit Pistons famous "Bad Boys era" logo 1979–1996. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Long term, there is nothing wrong with Andre Drummond’s back that a little rest and some of his mother’sJamaican cooking can’t fix.

But in the short term, the news that Drummond will be out for four to six weeks is a small blow to the Detroit Pistons because the rookie from Connecticut has created a buzz among fans.

The last 2 1/2 months of the season was going to feature Drummond paired with teammate Greg Monroe, allowing the frontcourt of the future to grow accustomed to playing together. It’s a pairing coach Lawrence Frank has used more as the season has progressed, so the injury is a setback for those plans.

Still, Frank said before the Pistons beat the Milwaukee Bucks, 105-100, on Saturday that Drummond has to get to work.

“Right now his job is to get healthy,” Frank said before the game. “That’s his job.

“He has to do everything he can to rehab and listen, follow the directions of our training staff and doctors to get himself right.”

Frank said the coaching staff will make a point to keep Drummond involved, showing him game film and letting him learn by watching.

“He gets a chance to look at the game in a different way, and I think he’s already noticed some things,” Frank said. “You turn every negative into a positive, and you get better intellectually and physically when you’re injured.”

Drummond, 19, has been placed in a special custom brace. He will be evaluated on a regular basis, said team doctor Ben Paolucci.

http://www.hoopsworld.com/pistons-push-drummond-to-get-healthy/

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

NBA News 2010: Fantasy Basketball: Wall, McGee impress in summer league

Image by K. Todd Storch via Flickr

If you're reading about fantasy basketball in July, then chances are you're more than a casual NBA fan. And if you're more than a casual fan, you'd be absolutely out of your mind not to try to attend at least one NBA summer league in your lifetime (before the lockout).

Yes, it is a league comprised of rookies, less-heralded young vets and also-rans. And it is dangerous to place too much stock in the results of the games. But some of these players do end up making an impact, both in the regular season and in fantasy leagues.

John Wall, PG, Washington Wizards: Let's start with the obvious. Wall had the best performance in the summer league, and that includes the previous week in Orlando. He's got "it," he's got speed, he was consistent, he's incredibly mature, he adjusted and cut down on turnovers, he got to the line and converted, and he's going to be a Day One starter on a rebuilding team that will give him all the minutes he can handle.

DeMarcus Cousins, PF/C, Sacramento Kings: Cousins was the only rookie to even scrape Wall in the "Dripping With Prodigious Talent" category in Las Vegas. Unfortunately, he also displayed the lack of maturity that cost him several spots in this year's draft. After a couple of monster games, Cousins slumped, got into foul trouble (getting a perfect 10 in one game) and came off as downright surly at times, having a couple of what John Waters would refer to as "glamour fits."

Rodrigue Beaubois, PG/SG, Dallas Mavericks: It was something of an off week for the lightning-fast Beaubois, mainly due to the fact that he was playing/learning point guard. The Mavericks are grooming him to be their floor general of the future, but Beaubois will see big minutes this fall alongside Jason Kidd at the 2.

Ed Davis, PF, Toronto Raptors: Davis didn't dominate, but he still had a quietly efficient week in Vegas. I'm not saying he's going to set the league on fire, but Toronto has a Chris Bosh-sized hole in the middle that Davis should step right into.

Greg Monroe, PF, Detroit Pistons: Monroe gathered steam as the week went on, showing the offensive polish that's going to eventually translate into solid fantasy production. He saved his best for last, going for 27 points and 14 rebounds in his finale versus the New York Knicks.

DeMar DeRozan, SG, Raptors: DeRozan is precisely the kind of player you have to remind yourself not to get too caught up with in the summer league. That being said, he was undeniably impressive, posting averages of 21.0 points and 4.5 rebounds per game.

Reggie Williams, SF, Golden State Warriors: Williams carried over his strong finish to the regular season with a dominant week in Vegas. As long as Don Nelson is the coach in Golden State ("how long" being the question as of this writing), Williams will have the chance to be a very good fantasy player.

J.J. Hickson, PF, Cleveland Cavaliers: It's hard to place too much stock in any Cavalier at the moment, but Hickson seems sure to be one player who won't be dealt in Cleveland's post-"The Decision" player movement frenzy.

JaVale McGee, C/PF, Wizards: McGee appears to be one longtime summer leaguer who's poised to make the jump to full-time fantasy contributor. McGee is still growing -- literally, still growing -- having added an inch to his previously 7-foot frame since the beginning of the 09-10 season. He's fully stocked in the athleticism department, but showed newfound signs of aggression in Vegas. McGee's bigger body, badder attitude and seemingly guaranteed starters' minutes all spell big-time sleeper potential.

http://sports.espn.go.com/fantasy/basketball/fba/story?id=5395747