Waiting for the Other Shoe to Drop
Let me give you some numbers:
30/10/2
22/11/0
17/7/4
35/13/1
What are we looking at?
Zach Randolph’s first four games of the regular season, in points, rebounds, and assists.
For the season, we’re looking at 26/10.3/1.8.
Last season, we had 18/8/1.9.
For his best season, 03-04, we had 20.1/10.9/2. He was almost an All-Star that year.
If he can maintain his current level of play, he will be an All-Star this year. Guaranteed.
But that’s a big “if.”
Zach’s had his share of problems off-court*, which I won’t discuss because I’m not interested in debating his place on this team right now. What I’m more interested in is this: why the improvement?
I can think of three reasons: Jarrett Jack, Darius Miles, and Nate McMillan.
Jarrett give Zach a point guard that actually does what a PG is supposed to do: set up plays and distribute to scorers. He is what this team needed. He’s what Zach needed. Jarrett Jack, in many ways, is the key to success for our team.
Darius is off-the-court, perhaps (read “hopefully”) for the entire season. He isn’t stinking practices up with his attitude. He isn’t stinking the court up with his attitude during games. And Zach, who is a mirror for whatever dominant personality is foremost in his sights, is therefore not reflecting Darius this season.
He’s reflecting Nate McMillan. We’ve seen Zach driving the lane, crashing the boards, and even playing defense this year. That’s a reflection of his tough-as-nails coach.
As the season progresses, Zach can do two things: play this way all year, which he’s capable of, or else let it all go to hell again, which he’s also (sadly) all-too-capable of. If the team values him, they’ll find a way to keep Darius from ever donning a uniform again. And if Zach values what he’s doing, he’ll finally practice what he’s been preaching all summer and focus on being the player we’re paying for instead of screwing up off-court and on.
I’m hoping that Zach will keep that other shoe from dropping. I’m hoping against hope. Because, sadly, history is the best teacher.
Discuss.
(*I promised reader TKrueg that I’d make sure to point out, whenever I got on a “naughty Zach” streak, that he objects to that line of thought. So, objection noted.)
I’ve had some hard words for Z-BO in the past and I stand by those words… that said, he seems to be acting more professional, on and off the court.
He is playing better basketball… he has had his hand held long enough to coast on his own, kind of like a kid going off the training wheels of a bicycle.
I hope the three Z-BO hit at the end of the game does not delude him into thinking he has anything in common with reggie miller… I also hope he continues to play as a PLAYER of this TEAM under the DIRECTION of the COACH.
I generally dislike CAPS but I wanted to highlight something I think was missing last year
He continues like this and I’ll be courtside hollering praise
I think there’s a chance that Z-Bo is a sponge, and if what’s around him is good, then he’s pretty good, and if what’s around him is bad, well look out.
I watched the game tonight and I was impressed (paddling some Laker ass didn’t hurt at ALL, either). I want to like them, I really do.
Part of what I thought was interesting (my dad called me at halftime) didn’t have anything to do with either team specifically-apparently rules have changed and the game has been “cleaned up” a lot since now I guess any lip to the ref gets you a techincal, no questions asked. It was really a good game!
I agree with all your reasons for Z’s improvement, but surely a big one is that he’s not hampered by injury this year as he was last, no?
Darn, I thought about taping the lakers game tonight but decided not to…. Now I wish I had.
Anyone look at Zach’s eyes while he was talking last night???
No offense to him, but I never knew one of his eyes stayed open all of the time ala Ralph Nader. Has this been the case all of his life, or a recent development?
Personally I hadn’t seen this before so I think it’s recent, but I may be way off.