Walton Quick To Inspire The Best Out Of Hibbert
by Tom Lewis on Aug 4, 2010 7:50 PM EDT
in Indiana Pacers News
Email
PrintI can't speak for Roy Hibbert, but after reviewing Bill Walton's first full day working with the Pacers' center at the Fieldhouse, I'm fired up and ready to dominate the paint!
I assumed Walton would leave plenty of verbal sticky-notes of inspiration on Hibbert's game to go with the raw, technical instruction, but this is ridiculous. Bruno's Caught in the Web captures the day and reveals a quote-filled cornucopia of Walton hyperbole that should have Big Roy ready to run through a brick wall by the end of the week.
Here's a mere sampling of Walton's description of his expectations for Hibbert:
"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."
Seriously, that's just a sampling. Read the whole thing because there are better quotes that will simply make you laugh out loud...in a good way. For me, the timing on this was perfect. Let me explain after the jump.
After reading this True Hoop post today, I enjoyed the same feelings I'm sure Henry felt when he wrote it, and the same feelings he was hoping to, well...inspire in his readers. I share Henry's belief-in-the-greater-good way of going through life. The post on Magic's ability to lead by inspiring the best out of people (even in High School!) affirmed the way I try to treat the people I manage at the day job.
Then I read the report from the Fieldhouse and see the "inspire the best" philosophy in practice. In Walton, I see the perfect mentor for Roy Hibbert who has shown a craving to max out his winnings from the "genetic lottery," as Walton put it. Hibbert is bright and coachable, but also emotional. He gets excited. Likes to joke around. Knows when he's screwed up.
Now he has Walton as a mentor who appears hell-bent on inspiring Hibbert to heights he has yet to consider. This should be a fun storyline to follow.
15 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Favorite part
and return the Pacers to their rightful place among the hierarchy of the NBA.
Insanity is just a state of mind.
Do you ever get the feeling Bill's on acid?
“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.”
Anyway, good for him and good for HIbbert. I hope this means an All-Star is in the making?
/fingers crossed
"You're hitting the wrong person. Don't you know you're hitting Ron Artest?"
Come visit The Fantasy Ninjas. We'd love to hear from you.
Interesting
Forget about Walton, the Pacers need a bigger practice player to bang with Roy. He’s not going to learn anything by battling with a 6’2 guard in the post.
All kidding aside, I really like this. Unlike most, I’ve actually enjoyed Bill Walton as a commentator. Sure, he grates on the ears a bit, but I do think he knows the game. The sexy choices to mentor Roy are guys like Olajuwon, Ewing, etc., but Walton brings a different element; an old school mentor for young big man with an old school game. Not too shabby of a choice, Larry.
Roy is the X-Factor to how good this team can become. If he can bring his rebounds to around 10 and get 14 points a game I say we’re a Lance Stephenson/ Paul George breakout away from being in the playoffs no problem.
I Hope...
…tohe Pacers and not Roy are paying for Walton
by FortWayneKarl on Aug 5, 2010 12:19 AM EDT via mobile reply actions
Walton is clearly high....
“This is a very young team with a dynamic coach, an upbeat, fun, entertaining style,”
I’m fine with everything but those two words “dynamic coach” ugh makes me cringe
Good point
Upon reading that I hoped for a minute that the Pacers had hired a new head coach and just hadn’t announced it yet…sigh…
"You're hitting the wrong person. Don't you know you're hitting Ron Artest?"
Come visit The Fantasy Ninjas. We'd love to hear from you.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jArUB6mB6hs
Yes!
by BenD on Aug 5, 2010 9:29 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Young Dwight Howard!
Roy looked great. Also nothing funnier than Bill Walton telling him how to lift, that was classic.
That was very cool
I think its cool how Walton has that much repect for Bird and how respected Walton is says alot about how Huge of a deal Bird really is. I think we are going to see a huge jump in Hibberts game this season and I have a feeling he is going to get noticable better as the season progresses. I just can wait to see how the young guys on this team develope. I have a feeling that along with Granger..Hibbert, George, Stephenson or Rolle or maybe even one of the other young guys are going to come out this season and surprise the league.
Good as Danny is
Roy’s success is the key to becoming a perennial playoff team again. I really like Danny, but let’s face it, he’s more or less a spot up shooter. Deny him the ball on the spot up and he’s lost a major part of his game. That’s really not a hard thing to do for a lot of teams when they need to. Now, a massive 7’2 gregarious behemoth sealing his man on the low block who can hit the hook in either direction, hit the 15 footer, AND be an extremely deft passer for a man his size? There aren’t too many guys in the NBA today with Roy’s potential skill set. Roy’s the most important player on our team, offensively and defensively. With Roy’s already above average passing Walton’s a great person to teach him the finer aspects of it.
I’m glad to see him lifting, I just hope it’s the right lifts. Walton was a great, great, player but I have no reason to believe he knows a thing about lifting weights. Roy needs to get a lot stronger in the lower body and his core, I hope he’s working with professionals in the field to do so. Too often he gets rooted off the block just from being weak, he’s got all the technique in the world, he’s just not strong enough right now. Lower body mass and conditioning is what the big fella needs most. All that said, it’s great to see Roy working every single day to get better, and even better than that, it’s great to see the franchise pushing his face out there a little more. He’s probably the most likable guy on the team right now, the franchise needs to get him out there and make people realize it.
٩(͡๏̯͡๏)۶ The sky is falling!
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recent FanPosts
In Association With
Ball Don't Lie - NBA - Yahoo! Sport
- Days of NBA Lives: Wherein Roy Hibbert tap-dances to Maine
- Grizzlies Valentine’s Day cards are the key to love
- Kevin Love would like the NBA to take the MLB’s approach on All-Star games
- Kobe Bryant fires a few hilarious salvos at Jeremy Lin
- Brandon Jennings states the obvious regarding his 2014 free agency, everyone goes nuts
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
