James Robinson has had a productive first half to the summer. As being part of the gold-winning USA U18 squad, he played with a lot of top freshman talent. Robinson was something of a surprise to make the U18 squad. Even acknowledged by the U18 and Florida coach Billy Donovan.
“We weren’t sure we were going to keep him. We cut the team from 25 to 14 and then kept guys around to 12. He was originally on the outside looking in. But once we started practicing we saw that he’s a winner and a great role guy. He’s a typical Pitt player. Jamie [Dixon] will love coaching him. I’m not sure of his impact on the team but people will say, ‘Where did this guy come from?’ The kid is a winner. I liked coaching him. He was the same guy every day.”
If you watched any of the FIBA you saw that Robinson is a very strong kid. He’s decisive and definitely a facilitator as a point guard. He sees the court and knows how to control the tempo. His game is predicated on directing and decisiveness. The more comfortable he is with his teammates and what the team wants/needs the better he is.
He is not a slashing, fast guard. He will not blow past guys on the perimeter. Most of his teammates — and opposing guards looked almost a step faster than him in the U18. He is much more in the mold of Fields and Knight. Guys who ere at their best within the system — on either side of the ball. It made them appear swifter at times because they saw and knew what to do before an opponent. Not a surprise, as even the recruiting sites noted that speed and explosiveness were not his strengths.
There is no question that Robinson is the future leader of Pitt’s basketball team. He’s been on Pitt’s campus a little less than two weeks and wants to be a part of this team. No one thinks it was a coincidence that he was put on the summer league team with Steven Adams, Lamar Patterson and Trey Zeigler. He and Coach Dixon also know he has work to do before he gets to that point.
“Whatever I can do to help the team,” he said, “that’s what I’m going to try to do.”
That is the kind of attitude that coach Jamie Dixon admires, especially when it comes attached to a highly motivated, top-60, four-star guard.
“He knows he’s got a lot of work to do,” Dixon said, watching Robinson, Adams and fellow Class of 2012 freshman Chris Jones at the Pro-Am Summer League on Monday in Greentree.
“He realizes he’s got to play the same way he plays and he doesn’t have to change. Just play solid and make his teammates better.”
Robinson has no problem with that. One of the benefits of being on the U18 squad was playing with a lot of big men. Getting more work — at what was essentially the college level — in feeding big men inside. And doing it in a much more competitive set of games than in just the summer league. The summer league and the limited team and individual practices at Pitt will help help build the chemistry with his Pitt teammates. Especially Steven Adams.
Robinson finds his teammates with regularity. In his next two summer league games, he totaled 18 points, 11 rebounds and six assists, and only turned the ball over once.
That type of assist-to-turnover ratio should fit well into the Panthers offense and should also benefit the 7-foot Adams.
“I’m going to need Steve, and the team’s going to need Steve,” Robinson said.
“Hopefully they can rely on me for something throughout the season.”
With Robinson playing summer games with three presumptive starters, it is obvious that he will have a significant role this year. How significant the minutes, and how big an impact will depend on how well Robinson grasps playing both ends for Dixon and how Travon Woodall does once he recovers from the surgery to repair the sports hernia.
“A true old school center, Anya is comfortable in the paint and likes to throw his body around down low. Anya is a good rebounder and is very strong. He has extremely long arms which makes up for being a little bit short. Still needs to run the floor better and show the desire to be great at all times. With that said, Anya is one of the most productive players in the class down low.”
On Monday night, the very first play of the game, former Pitt walk on Griffin Abel (6’4″), took two dribbles at the three point line and blew by Robinson like he was standing still (he was). Robinson switched men and was gaurding former Pitt walk on, Nick Rivers, who also took him of the dribble repeatedly with ease. Robinson then switched to guard 47 year old Tracy Foster (Former UAB, NBA), who proceeded to bust a couple threes over him.
I tried to watch Jamie’s reactions, but he was feverishly working the Blackberry, probably texting “Robinson’s ball defense OMG SMH” to Knight.
On the flip side, Adams and Zeigler have been the two toughest defenders in the league this summer.
Adams combination of agility, quickness, fundementals and length allow him to be very patient on defense. He blocks and alters a ton of shots WITHOUT FOULING. He moves his feet laterally very well. He is able to square up on much smaller, quicker players and stay in front of them. He did a very credible job of defending against former Pitt legend Chevy Troutman.
And Zeigler is a beast. He did the best job of keeping Gilbert Brown out of the lane of any player I’ve seen in four years(other than Brown himself). He is also tall enough to contest shots and rebound.
Presuming both Adams and Zeigler are starters (30 minute men), Pitt will be MUCH, MUCH improved on defense this season.
Jamie can hide one defensive liablity. Last he couldn’t hide five of them!!!!
Unfortunately, “crying” Crean’s hiring of one of Anaya’s coaches (AAU?) makes it doubtful he goes any where except Indiana.
If there is any solace the rumor on Anya is that he plays half-assed a lot of the time. Which with his size ability is understandable but could be a drag on the team. Its no sure thing that he’ll be a DEjuan Blair.
Zeigler as elite defender could be the biggest thing that happens this coming year (other than Adams dominating).
link to blogs.sites.post-gazette.com
Until Anya commits to IU, I will remain hopeful
I wish him the best.
More importantly I read a report from two on scene people on Adams defense of Chevy Troutman and they said Trouman ate up Adams and spit him out. That Adams could not stop Troutman.
The next day I read that Adams did very well defending Troutman limiting his ability to get clean to the basket.
My question is would Adams even be guarding Troutman. Would the points Troutman scored in the paint after he beat his man, the forward.
My point is that on defense we focus on the man with the ball we often fail to see quick blind side picks and failure to switch or fight through the pick because of lack of communication in pick up games. You can look awfully bad oense in a pick up game when your on your own with no help.
Often in a game defenders play to the stronger of the opponent to force him in a direction of play up tight if the opponent is not a good outside shooter expecting help. Greentree is not a good measure for defensive abilities of backcourt or else Patterson and Wright would not be putting up 20’s each game.
Dear god you live in a world of hyperbolic black and white.
No one. NO ONE said Robinson was bad. He is a very, very promising player. He does, however, have flaws. His speed/athleticism is one of them. It has been observed. It has been noted by recruiting services. It’s there. It could be seen in the U18 games.
It doesn’t mean people are down on him. It is recognizing part of his game that is weak and has to be worked on to improve. It is one of the reasons he shouldn’t be presumed to be a 25-30 minute a day player from game one of his freshman year. And when it doesn’t happen, it isn’t because Coach Dixon has some favoritism towards upperclassmen or Woodall.
Remember the rules of the blog if you have a different opinion tell your dog do not write it here because your dog is more tolerant and considerate to others opinions.
Enjoy calling each other pin heads
I am argumentative and opinionated. Like most of you I have no real insights to my opinion they are simply my beliefs (beliefs are the lowest form of thought).
Not for my sake can I leave this blog but for those who so vehmently disagree with me that they look forward to my blog with a viciousness reserved only for me. I am not grandizing I counted throufh many blogs and mine by far are the ones that a personal negative reference is made.
You need me to stir the pot.
I’m just saying, if Pitt needs Robinson to play thirty minutes a game, something has gone terrible wrong. Woodall is a pretty good player.
Big news will break on JoePa next week. Bowl bans, loss of scholies and possible death penalty on the table.
Kepp up the good work Chas and Reed and all of Pittblather.
With sincere and utmost respect, and I’m sorry to say this, but, the truth must be told.
You are over the top, hyper sensitive. I know you will say I am picking on you because of this.
I’m not, that is your personality, and we all have different ones. However, a blog may not be the best place to be if you are a sensitive person.
We all go back and forth. Chas’ comment “you live in a hyperbolic world of black and white”.
Then you say he is a hypocrite for not showing the same civility he demands??
If that is your idea of uncivil, I’d hate for you to work where I do!!
How is that comment a lack of civility? This is a bunch of football fans and basketball fans, that banter back and forth. I’ve been told I’m nuts on many occaisions about football and basketball.
I give it back a few times about my opinion and banter back and forth…………then move on.
It’s what we all do.
How many times I was bashed for supporting Graham (until the final fiasco when I saw the light). I always support a new coach for at least a couple years till I see what he can do.
Many of us get bashed for yelling about Sunseri, the other group gets bashed for defending him.
I got a few shots from people when I suggested that Gibbs just doesn’t seem like a happy kid. Never seen him smile in 4 years. A lot agreed, some said how do you know, that’s just his game face.
When you put opinions out there, others are going to have differing ones.
And sometimes people will say, “you’re crazy, you don’t know what you’re taling about”.
It doesn’t mean they hate you, it’s a blog, there is banter and people will disagree with you.
I hope you keep posting, please, just stop with the posts about getting picked on. It really stands out from all of the other posts and makes people cringe.
If anything, tell someone to go to hell, tell me to go to hell, just stop with the picking on me posts.
Now, I’m gonna help you. Don’t even respond to my post. Just move on, post away your opinion on Pitt football and basketball and enjoy.
Join us though, don’t fight us.
I tend to ramble, and have been told about it on many occaisions.
Hell, I’m rambling now.
I also talk about expansionocalype a lot. How many comments I’ve had “oh no, not more expansion talk”.
Chill out man. No one on here is after you.
Laugh at yourself. I laugh at myself. I know I talk about expansionopalypse and sometimes post comments that challenge “War and Peace”.
This should be an enjoyable place for people, but being a blog, you have to realize people sometimes take jabs.
Let it roll off your back and keep posting.
I hope to hear from you about Mark Myers this fall!!! ha ha You should be laughing, it’s a joke dude!!
Laughing with you, not at you.
Heck, there has been a handful of times when I thought it was me against the world in going against the popular opinion of this site …. and in the end, have been right (not benching Stull in favor of Tino, and Fraud being a snake oil saleman, etc) more times than others are willing to admit. I was ridiculed last Jan when I expressed my concern about Fraud but kept plugging away.
I will always offer opinions but may introduce facts if I get off my lazy ass and do some research or just stumble upon a useful link. My opinion on Pitt basketball is that they will be a much better team next year. They will make the big dance and will get to the Sweet 16. Dixon will use last year as motivation and becomes a better coach as a result of learning from mistakes and parlays the pressure of getting to the Final 4 into a Final 4. How does that sound for wishful thinking?
Tino still sucks but should be much better this year.
Give Chryst a chance but his recruiting doesn’t excite me yet
JoePa poops his pants. That is my one fact.
IMHO, Dixon only made two mistakes: (1) He failed to recruit a quality post player to replace Gary McGhee prior to last year; (2) He recruited a “head case” PF named Khem Birch. Both were recruiting and not coaching failures.
All else last season was the perfect storm of injuries and the added lineup disruptions they caused–despite what some fans may believe.
So, there isn’t much Dixon needs to learn. If Adams is close to being as good a post player as Gary McGhee was in 2010-11, all will be well; otherwise, not so much, and any hypothetical improvement in Dixon’s coaching will have had little to do with it either way–his coaching was just fine last season (perhaps even excellent) given last season’s circumstances, IMO.
Feel free to disagree, of course.
@TX, you always have good stuff, and I believe we mostly agree, sometimes down to a tee, so no wonder I like your stuff.
Ditto your whole comment. I’m probably a little happier with his recruting than you, being his first 6 months, but, I can see how people would question a bit too.
I’m hoping he’s a heck of a coach, I have a good feeling about him.
Pitt hoops, I’m probably over-pumped, need to tone myself down a bit early, but, in the end, I see some great things for these guys.
Way early on this, but I’m hoping Adams will stay for at least a second year, to have him going into the ACC.
@Bowling Green, thanks, and another one I’m usually on the same page with and enjoy his posts.
**ps** don’t anyone tell me to go to hell tonight, because it’s right on my back porch!!!!
Holy smokes, I thought when it got over 100 degrees it usually a dry hear.
Holy swampfest batman!!!!
“this is a ******in fat mans nightmare”!!!!!!!!
Re: the heat. “I’m a fair guy, but this ****ing heat is making me absolutely crazy.”
Whoever’s fault I’ll say it again, Birch wasn’t assimilated.
@TXPanther–you are entitled to your opinion. However, that Dixon retards his younger players learning curve by not allowing them to make mistakes is simply myth, IMO.
Players don’t learn by making mistakes that go uncorrected. That only leads to mistakes becoming habitual. Rather, they learn from their mistakes by having them identified for them so they can correct them going forward.
drw – I think there was a question somewhere in there? Chevy Troutman played center for his South Hills Audi team because he was the only non-guard who showed up. Kyle Goldcamp, who normally plays center was not there. So yes, Chevy and Adams guarded each other for most of the game. Neither player dominated the other. Chevy had a few good drives to the hoop and Adams did well inside. But I stick by my comment that Adams did a “credible” job defending the much quicker, smaller forward.
On Robinson, both Rivers and Abel were able to beat him off the dribble going to their strong hand (right) without any ball screens.
I am an unabashed fan of the summer league. It gives some insight into the individual players games. It is not the be all and end all in terms of predicting contributions in the upcoming season. Sometimes it does (Blair before his freshman year dominated and it carried over to the season) and sometimes it doesn’t (John Johnson last summer). The red flags that were raised about Birch last summer turned out to be worse than imagined.
This summer the play of Adams, Zeigler, Patterson and Zanna (and to a lesser degree Wright) have given me some optimism that Pitt has a chance to be much better this year.
