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I like what I read about Owens

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  • I like what I read about Owens

    Now this is what I like to hear. A tough defensive minded point guard.



    http://www.nba.com/pacers/news/notebook_071007.html


    WEEKEND NOTEBOOK
    "Spectacular" D has Owens on rise


    By Conrad Brunner | Oct. 7, 2007
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Of the many ways it is possible for a player to impress Jim O'Brien and begin the climb up the depth chart, the foremost is to defend. Not far behind is to play hard consistently.
    Consider the first week of training camp, then, a major success for Andre Owens. Trying to become the first Indianapolis native in 15 years to make the Pacers roster (Randy Wittman was the last in 1992), Owens has made a distinctly positive impression on O'Brien.


    Pacers Preseason Central


    "Andre has been spectacular at the defensive end – spectacular," O'Brien said. "Right now, Jermaine O'Neal and Andre Owens are our best defensive players. We thought, (team President) Larry (Bird) thought, Andre was going to be a guy that could play in this league a long time. There's a reason why he started at Utah – he just outworked people. Jack Ramsay said to him, 'I heard good things about you during the summer.' Andre said to him, 'I just outwork people. That's what I do.' And he does.

    "He and Shawne, Stephen Graham and Kareem (Rush) really benefited greatly from the summer. Their footwork is superior and their defense is really, really at a high level. But Andre has been absolutely terrific."

    With Jamaal Tinsley locked in as the starter and Travis Diener signed from Orlando to be the backup, Owens' role is as-yet undefined. But O'Brien believes his performance thus far is just what he needs to develop into a rotation player.

    "Without a doubt," said the coach. "That's what he wants to do, he wants to be a factor in the rotation. All these guys, every one of them, knows that playing time is always up for grabs – always."

    Owens, 26, starred at Perry Meridian High and played his first collegiate season at Indiana University but transferred to Houston after his freshman season. Owens was undrafted after his senior year but made Utah's roster, appearing in 23 games through the 2005-06 season. He was waived by Golden State during camp a year ago and spent the season with the Anaheim Arsenal of the D-League.

    He worked out for the Pacers early in the offseason and earned a spot on the summer-league team, where he continued to impress. The 6-4, 200-pound Owens has been one of the standouts of training camp, as well.

    "Coach wants me to be a scoring point guard and that's what I'm going to do – and play a lot of defense," he said. "That's how it's going to be."

    Though he was hospitalized for I.V. fluids and lost six pounds Thursday earlier this week when felled by food poisoning, Owens was back at practice Friday.

    "There's a reason why they call me 'Pit Bull,' " he said with a smile. "I'm tough. I bounce back."

    He wasn't about to let a little something like food poisoning become a deterrent.

    "Nah," he said. "I'm always hungry."

  • #2
    Re: I like what I read about Owens

    My most enduring memory of Owens:

    This was during a postseason game played at Greencastle between Terre Haute North and Perry Meridian. The game was close with about 40 seconds to go, Terre Haute North up by one. Perry inbounds the ball to Andre Owens, who begins dribbling up the court. Alan Goff of Terre Haute North completely picks Andre's pocket, dribbles to the basket and dunks two handed right on his head, and wins the game. I guarantee that even though this was like 8 years ago, it was humiliating enough that if you asked him about it today, Andre still remembers that play.

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    • #3
      Re: I like what I read about Owens

      Originally posted by Unclebuck View Post
      "Coach wants me to be a scoring point guard and that's what I'm going to do – and play a lot of defense," he said. "That's how it's going to be."
      Hmm.
      This space for rent.

      Comment


      • #4
        Re: I like what I read about Owens

        Reminds me of what I've read about Heywoode Workman.

        Comment


        • #5
          Re: I like what I read about Owens

          Interesting.

          I really thought that Diener would come in here and suprise people. Be the backup to Jamaal without a doubt. However it sounds like Andre will have something to say about that.

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          • #6
            Re: I like what I read about Owens

            Originally posted by rommie View Post
            Interesting.

            I really thought that Diener would come in here and suprise people. Be the backup to Jamaal without a doubt. However it sounds like Andre will have something to say about that.
            I don't think we have heard or read anything about how Diener has looked. There were some things about him prior to camp actually starting, but since then, nothing

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            • #7
              Re: I like what I read about Owens

              I read something about him this week on Pacers.com I think (Diener). Quotes from Jim saying you can tell he loves being in the gym or some such thing. Maybe it was in the Star.

              Comment


              • #8
                Re: I like what I read about Owens

                This is the third thread started by Unclebuck in the past two days on the subject "I love defense."

                Is no one else going to offer any balance? The Dick Harter thread petered out from the irreverent comments. But no one has come back in any of these threads to put defense in its proper place.

                Defense is to basketball what metallurgy and aerodynamics is to auto racing. It is what a sewing machine is to a beautiful woman. It is what forestry is to a violin concerto.

                Yes, yes, a thousand times, yes -- defense matters. Nobody wants to watch a team of matadors give away a lot of easy baskets and lose a game. Defense ought to keep the other team honest, and make them earn their points. But when NOT SCORING becomes the goal, the game is screwed up.

                Basketball is about scoring points. The team that scores the most points wins the game, every time.

                I want to root for a team that can protect a lead. I want to believe that my team can deny an opponent a score when the game is on the line. But I'd a heck of a lot rather see the Pacers win 115-110 than 73-68.

                Over-emphasis on defense just results in less basketball -- not better basketball. And we probably all have different ideas of what constitutes "over-emphasis." I'm just saying that the game suffers when that point is reached -- not tangling with Unclebuck about how much is enough.

                Defense and ineptitude work together to deprive the players and the fans of what matters. If a team scores only 68 points in a game, it could be because their opponent played really stellar defense, or because they couldn't score. The effect is the same. It is never a good thing when any sport develops along lines that obscures the effect of skill from the effect of ineptitude.

                And that is what happens when a priority on defensive slows down the game, sacrifices offensive rebounds for the sake of getting back to thwart the opponent's fast break, or puts defensive players on the floor who can't handle the ball, rebound or score at a pro level.

                Back in high school, during a pick-up game after lunch I was guarding a kid named Marvin. He was a year ahead of me, and a bit of a thug. And I was guarding him very close and aggressively -- keeping a hand in his face all the time and denying him any chance at a shot. After a while, he got tired of me and just heaved the ball at my face as hard as he could from 4 feet away. I got a black eye out of it, but I sort of understood his point.
                Last edited by Putnam; 10-07-2007, 04:38 PM.
                And I won't be here to see the day
                It all dries up and blows away
                I'd hang around just to see
                But they never had much use for me
                In Levelland. (James McMurtry)

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                • #9
                  Re: I like what I read about Owens

                  Putnam, the thread I started about Dick Harter was started back in June. Also, the threads I've started over the past few days have all ben in direct response to articles on pacers.com or Indystar.com. It isn't like I'm starting a new thread every other day that is based soleyl upon my wild theories.

                  I don't apologize for loving defense and I think if the Pacers are going to be a good team this season (make the playoffs) the defense going to have to be excellent. And I think a new coaching staff can make a huge difference with the defense, so that is why I've been fixating on defense (OB has been talking about it also)

                  There is no doubt that the team that scores the most points always wins. But you can also say - the team that gives up the least number of points in any given game, always wins. So which is it. Obviously it is both, and good offense helps the defense and good defense helps the offense.

                  Beyond all that I just love to discuss defense - I just enjoy it more
                  Last edited by Unclebuck; 10-07-2007, 05:24 PM.

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                  • #10
                    Re: I like what I read about Owens

                    Originally posted by Unclebuck View Post
                    Beyond all that I just love to discuss defense - I just enjoy it more
                    We all know you'd rather see a 70-68 win than a 130-128 one.
                    This space for rent.

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Re: I like what I read about Owens

                      Originally posted by Unclebuck View Post
                      But you can also say - the team that gives up the least number of points in any given game, always wins.
                      I love defense just as much as the next guy...but how many times has this philosophy come to bite us in the *** in the past few years?

                      I don't like the mindset. I hate it when we take a lead with a couple minutes left, and focus all of our energy on stopping the opponent rather than scoring first. How many games have we lost like that?

                      I think you need the score-first mentality in the NBA. That is not to say defense should be neglected. I just think you need the score-first mentality.

                      If you look at teams like the Suns and the Warriors, the emphasis is heavily placed upon executing on the offensive end. Their defense will often thrive as a result of good offense. Even a team like the Spurs is looking to execute perfectly on the offensive end every time...and if that doesn't work out for them, they hustle their butts off and get back to play defense. But I think it goes in that order...offense first. Particularly in this league. It doesn't even have to do with teams in general. Take a look at some of the great players in today's day and age. A lot of them attribute their great defensive performances to successful output on the offensive end.

                      Not to mention, from a fan's perspective it's much more fun and engaging to watch those high scoring games. What were the TV ratings like for the 2004 ECF?

                      Loved the post, Putnam.
                      Last edited by sweabs; 10-07-2007, 07:54 PM. Reason: Had to credit Putnam's post.

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Re: I like what I read about Owens

                        So, leaving aside the metaphysical discussions of the best way to please the basketball gods, let's go back to Owens for a second. Is this guy an NBA-quality player? Is there anyone who's seen him play that can say whether he'll be an adequate backup? Fine, so he can defend. But can he shoot? Run the team? Take his man off the dribble?

                        Coach is saying Owens should be a "scoring" point guard. What does that mean, exactly? He's also a defensive point guard. If he could both score and defend, wouldn't he be in the league already? Or does this just mean he's incapable of passing the ball to the right guy?

                        Thoughts? Informed opinions?
                        This space for rent.

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Re: I like what I read about Owens

                          How can defense not be as important or more important than offense? Didn't anyone get sick and tired of watching Jordan's defender run away from him to keep Michael from initiating any kind of contact to draw a foul? Who couldn't score against a team with no defensive pride? What team can have pride without playing exceptional defense? Every single team that has won an NBA championship that I can recall was a top defensive team, or was the best defensive team.

                          However, those teams usually play spectacular offense. The '80s Lakers and early '90s Pistons are good examples. The Lakers may have played the best offense in the league, while the Pistons played the best defense in the league. Both teams could also play the other way. That Piston team would be in the top in points per game today. Magic was the weakest defender for the Lakers and was a 6'9" point guard!

                          The greatest team of all time, the '86 Celtics, would beat teams on both ends of the court almost every night.

                          Both ends are important and the Pacers will have to learn to play both ends. When they become dedicated to playing the whole game, the Pacers will finally be fun to watch.

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Re: I like what I read about Owens

                            Originally posted by Anthem View Post
                            So, leaving aside the metaphysical discussions of the best way to please the basketball gods, let's go back to Owens for a second. Is this guy an NBA-quality player? Is there anyone who's seen him play that can say whether he'll be an adequate backup? Fine, so he can defend. But can he shoot? Run the team? Take his man off the dribble?

                            Coach is saying Owens should be a "scoring" point guard. What does that mean, exactly? He's also a defensive point guard. If he could both score and defend, wouldn't he be in the league already? Or does this just mean he's incapable of passing the ball to the right guy?

                            Thoughts? Informed opinions?
                            I was thinking that maybe Owens might be similar to JR Bremer was for Jim when he coached the Celtics. Granted JR ended up starting I think and I don't see Andre doing that here for the Pacers but as a young guard sort of coming out of no where and having a big impact.

                            I still am not really for sure the type of half court offense we will run, is it going to be just giving the ball to our best players in isolation type plays, and then shooting threes when we are open? If this is the case I think that Andre can run the team. Push the tempo, get it to Jermaine, Danny, etc, and shoot the three when you are open.

                            Oh and as far as the whole defense, offense thing I think it is pretty simple. You need a well balanced team. On defense you need to play good team defense and on offense you need to be efficient, do the little things. Not really rocket science. I don't think a coach needs to put more empahsis on one more than the other unless a team needs more work on on than the other. Anyways i'm done rambling about this, for now.
                            Last edited by Young; 10-07-2007, 08:52 PM.

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Re: I like what I read about Owens

                              Originally posted by Anthem View Post
                              We all know you'd rather see a 70-68 win than a 130-128 one.
                              The thing that I worry about is that I think some of you would rather see the Pacers lose 120-118 then win 72-70.

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