Really thought I would have all this done by the end of last week. I was going to lump all the big men together, but given the panning of his first couple months (Insider subs.) nationally, followed by his game against the oh-so-overmatched Bethune-Cookman Wildcats (wildcats? Really? Well, it’s… generic.), along with another near double-double versus Delaware St., and the spirited defenses of him in by Coach Dixon. It just seemed that Steven Adams probably deserved his own spot.
At the very start of the season, Adams was facing the expectations. And after only one game, it prompted Joe Starkey to issue a warning.
We all agreed on these central facts:
• Adams is legitimately oblivious to the hype and harbors no desire to be “the man.” How that plays out — say, late in games when somebody has to be the man — will be interesting.
• His game is part raw and part refined. He‘ll block a layup, then step out to block a 3. He snaps a wicked outlet pass. He spots open men and gets the ball to them quickly, sometimes creatively.
On the other hand, he‘ll probably want to curtail those one-armed rebounds, judging from one coach‘s reaction, and his low-post game is undeveloped. Pitt didn‘t throw it to him inside until nearly eight minutes in.
• Man, can Adams run. He‘ll trail the break like a speeding freight train and finish with a flying alley-oop dunk. Which is precisely how he scored his first collegiate basket.
The rebounding with only one-arm is a common big man bad habit. Especially for freshmen big men who infrequently went up against players of similar size or physical strength. It was a very frustrating sight in several games. Adams was there for the rebound but either stabbed at it with only one hand — allowing a smaller defender to either go up and snatch it or knock it free — or let himself be bumped out of position because he wasn’t expecting anyone to be able to move him.
And it has only been in the past few games where he has started to shed that habit. Corralling and securing rebounds with both hands. Being more prepared and able to absorb contact. It’s a noticeable change in the stats. In the first 8 games, Adams had 35 rebounds. In the last 4 games: 39.
The rebounding — especially at the offensive end has jumped. 20 offensive rebounds in the past 4 games. Arguably, the only reason the number isn’t higher is the lack of opportunities. Pitt has shot over 6o% in the past two games and 59% the game before that.
The improvements are being noted by his teammates and Adams.
“Early in the season I think he was thinking too much,” junior forward Lamar Patterson said. “When you think too much it’s hard to play your game. You worry about little stuff that doesn’t even matter. It just doesn’t even feel natural. But he’s starting to not think as much and just play his game.”
Adams agreed with Patterson’s assessment.
“That’s probably spot-on,” Adams said. “I’ve been told that by all the coaches. I know I think too much. I’m just too nervous to make a mistake. I was playing like a robot, really.”
For Patterson, the struggles Adams endured were not a surprise. He was a freshman three years ago and knows how hard it is to make the transition from high school to Pitt.
“This program is built to move you along gradually,” Patterson said.
…
“That’s what you expect making the transition from high school,” Patterson said. “Everyone expected him to be ready right away, but it takes time. He’s getting his feet wet. He’s starting to get more comfortable out there and it’s starting to show in his game.
“As a freshman, it’s all mental. The college game can break you. You want to do well. It’s change of speed. He has to get up to speed, but he’s definitely getting there now.”
Also worth noting, despite his apparent obliviousness to the hype and importance of Big East play. He has been surprised and even a touch intimidated at the noise and excitement from the fans.
“Apparently it’s big,” he said. “Should be good.”
Adams said that he gets a little nervous when he first runs out in front of so many fans at Petersen Events Center.
Told that once the Big East season opens the crowds will be even bigger and louder, Adams laughed remembering the overtime win against Oakland.
“Oh my God, I couldn’t hear myself think,” he said. “Just constant yelling. It was cool, though.”
More adjustments that he is making and will have to make. It will be curious to see how he responds in an actual hostile venue.
His presence in the lane is huge. On defense, teams are acutely aware that there is a 7-footer there to defend inside. Even if teams don’t go directly at him to challenge, Pitt’s defense is noticeably better with him on the court. The backcourt can play up on the guards. There are better chances for steals. It helps mask some of the weaknesses in Talib Zanna’s defense.
Offense is a different issue. He is still struggling against more physical teams inside — something to watch with some concern when the Big East play begins. How much will he get moved out of the paint on offense. Both for being in position to grab offensive rebounds and to be in position to receive passes at spots where he can score (which, right now is within only a couple feet of the basket). His 60% field goal percentage is nice, but if he can’t be in position to score enough, it becomes a misleading stat it is coming from nights of going 3-for-5 from the field. As for free throws, um, that really, really needs work.
Michigan had him so agitated and pushed around, that he committed quick fouls and was not as much of a factor in that game. He is going to see a lot of that starting right before the New Year with Cinci. There isn’t going to be time for him to get stronger in the weight room this season, so he is going to have to absorb more punishment, and learn to hold his ground without using his arms — and getting called for fouls.
I think Pitt fans have shown early patience with him. At least it seems that way. Trying to figure out the reason, I think it is in no small part because he has that big, goofball, kid attitude. That he is out there having some fun and clearly still learning to play at this level. But there is also a little self-interest. With Adams being a little slower to catch on to the game, it increases the chance that he sticks around for at least another year. Giving Pitt even greater potential in 2013-14 for that squad to be truly special.
His potential is obvious, beyond simply the size. He already has good footwork. He has a certain fluidity in his movements to go with his athleticism. He’s very different from the recent big men of Gray, Blair and McGhee. In that way, as fans, we are still trying to figure out what we’ve got.
Simply put, he has better physical skills than any center we have ever had and he has virtually zero experience at any truly competitive level of basketball.
Here is what I expect to see. January filled with bumps and bruises, February putting the pieces back together, March coming out as a force.
All three have gotten better and will get better. Zanna’s improvement from last year is excellant. Taylor looks to have a solid senior year and Adams (needs a good nickname) is getting better with every game.
Yesterday, was the first time that the guards and forwards seemed to focus on getting them the ball inside, really fun to watch.
Chas is also right on about the Adams intimidation factor, no more easy layups for opposing guards.
Preseason is almost over. Can’t wait for Cinci.
really???
You thinking of Mark Blount? Not sure Bennett(pride of Peabody HS) is a good comparator.
Let’s not forget that Charles Smith played mostly C for Pitt. Even as one of their top 3 all time players, he used his full eligibility playing for Pitt.
When I see them pull out close victories against ranked teams, I will be a believer. On any given night they can probably compete with anyone, but who is going to make the last second shot to win at the buzzer?
By the way Steven Adams is no Patrick Ewing, not even close. Maybe he will leave after this year and no one will blame him, but he may not be ready for the Big East let alone the NBA.
Robinson is great but let’s see how he does against Big East guards.
Let’s see how they all do in hostile environments.
I think we are better than 27, but I doubt we crack the top 10 this year.
With a signing bonus and big $ contract, he MUST go.
As much as I would love to see him stay for another year(s), it is not likely we will.
Allthough, it depends on what kind of upbringing he had.
Has a big family, I think 17 kids or something??
Are they well off in New Zealand or struggling.
I would hope we could have him for at least two years.
Recently, he has improved his rebounding. Last night on a couple occasions, when the shot went up he was behind his man, out of position. With cat like quickness he stepped in front, boxed him out, went up strong with two hands and grabbed the board. He has great feet and if he masters those fundamentals, he’ll be a force on the glass.
He is really good at setting the ball screen. Last night, for the first time he really started looking for the ball off the pick and roll. And the guards actually got it to him a couple times for easy hoops. He has good hands, decent hops and can finish strong. Combine this with the already good passing and surprising shooting, this offense could be lethal.
He is still picking his spots to be aggressive. As he gets more comfortable, he will be more and more active and assertive.
His defense is good now, but even Jamie said, in his postgame interview with Hillgrove, that he can get much better. He is still thinking too much and is often out of position. Jamie said that on one of his blocks he was supposed to slide much more quickly to help and could have prevented the drive vs. being under the hoop and having to block the shot.
The good news for us Pitt zealots (not “sycophants”), is that Pitt doesn’t need Adams to be the man. He needs to be a force on defense (possible), make some plays within the context of the offense (possible), and rebound (likely). He is an unselfish guy and is perfectly willing to play his role, and with continued improvement that could be good enough for Pitt to have a very good year (ie 3rd in BE and sweet 16).
A quick scan of the NBA draft sites gives us even more good news. Most have Adams as around the 20th best NBA prospect and some have him as the #1 pick in the 2014 draft. That would be the ideal scenario and would most likely have to include a trip to Dallas in April, wbb. I’d say 60/40 he stays, I would have said 70/30 he leaves before the season started.
Omar, you are correct about Zanna. The Pitt coaches have said for years that he has NBA potential. Think how good he’d be now if N. Robinson hadn’t stolen so many minutes from him over the last two seasons.
Both Moore and Zanna have benefitted from Adams’ presence on the floor.
and Sam Clancy was a great center but was
only 6 foot 5 but he was a mile wide huge chest
and arms.
Thanks for the excellent analysis on Adams. If any teams actually project him as the top pick in 2014, there is no way he is sneaking outside the lottery in 2013. There are not many elite players in a given draft class. I am sure most NBA teams would choose to pick a potentially elite player rather than a player who is currently further along but only rates as being a solid player at the NBA level.
player to be a first round draft pick.
billy knight eric mobley jerome lane c smith
and vonteego cummings
He’s is lacking confidence and too nice at the moment, no surprise given his upbringing. that said, once he gets the confidence and fire inthe belly he will be an absolute freak.
Don’t be surprised if he does stick around for more than 1 year. His girlfriend is actively being recruited to play for 3 of the schools in the area.
but at pitt he played center
try this book tales from the pitt panthers
google books it says freshmen center
mell bennett i tryed just looking up roster
from the year but it would not come up.
my memory said he played center but i knew you would not except that that is why i went to the book.
JR, and I don’t mean Ewing.
He’s the one who I’m more afraid of going pro after one.
Paragraphs, please. You can’t be that far removed from English 80.
Nice analysis, you hit the notes. I would also add that I was extremely impressed with his showing/hedging on high ball screens yesterday. Much improved.
Zanna’s ability to run the floor is unlike anything I’ve seen from a Pitt big man. He is up and down and up and down quicker than most guards.
I also must give a shoutout to the guards for their unselfishness…Woodall with 2 shot attempts? Robinson 3? and 17/4 A/T ratio. Basketball poetry
James Robinson looks like Mr. Smooth too. I think next year’s squad could be shades of Fields-Young-Blair.
The starting center that year was 6’8 Jim Bolla, who also was the starting center the year before for the team that made the Elite 8 and finished in Top 10. Now it could be that Bennett played some center while Bolla was resting, but Bennett played mostly forward.
i remmber the talk abought him being a 6 foot 7 center and was he big enough .
and the book says mel bennett pitt freshmen center just saying.
i know he played foward in the pros
Adams is window dressing and a defensive luxury.
Seriously, if you don’t remember Mel Bennett, like I didn’t (slightly before my time), google him. Tremendous Afro and nerd glasses combo. Reminds me of Coolidge on the “White Shadow”.
Had he been only one year older and played with the 1974 Billy Knight Pitt team I believe we would have won the National Championship in ’74.
I believe some of Mel’s teammates were Keith Starr (played in the NBA for the Chicago Bulls), Tom Richards from Moon HS & Kirk Bruce.
Pitt went to the NIT in Mel’s only season at Pitt.
He then was drafted in the 1rst Round by the either the Spirit of St. Louis or the Virginia Squires. Can’t remember since the ABA folded shortly thereafer and remaining teams were merged into the NBA. He went the ABA route like Billy Knight, because was ABA was paying higher contracts than the NBA offered.
Good analysis Dan.
I see Pitt as a classic peak at the right time team.
Pitt could get away with a small Center since it played the Amoeba defense under Coach Tim Grgurich who then took that Amoeba to UNLV as Jerry Tarkanian’s top Asst. and helped them to the NC in the 1990 era and two NC games. Later took it to the Seattle Supersonics in the NBA which made them the top defensive team in the NBA and they reached the Finals one year.
The Amoeba was an ever changing match up type zone defense that morphed into a 1-3-1 trap with Guard Dwayne Wallace running the baseline at the back of the trap. You also had Sammie Ellis at forward, Carlton Neverson & Lennie McMillan Undersized as the team was, it gave opponents fits, even for a half the team that made up the ’82 National Champions UNC Tarheels with James Worthy, Sam Perkins & Matt Doherty in the ’81 NCAA’s.
It was really a fun defense watch create turnovers and general havoc on the court.
I’m not said “Hornman” — but we sat close by in the adjacent section and he is one of my favorite memories from going to games at Pitt stadium. He was a rock star in that part of the stadium. Back in the late 70s thru 80s there were a lot points scored and many good times. Cavanaugh and Marino at QB didn’t hurt.
For some strange reason, Hornman and the notorious bathroom troughs are my most vivid memories of the old Pitt Stadium.
With it’s ever watchful eye on the playing field.
I think it read “Go Pitt” in script of course.
Also loved how you could actually look down into the stadium & playing field when you walked on the sidewalk going towards the VA hospital.
There’s a great article on Bleacher Report outlining all the positive effects building an on-campus stadium would have on the program.
I totally agree !!
While he is surrounded by enough talent to make Pitt a pretty good team this year, I believe next year is The Year of the Cat. But I’m getting ahead of myself — and will enjoy the reast of this season especially when I don’t have to watch them on computer