Byron spoke about Upshaw today and absolutely raved about him during Upshaw's recent scrimmages he's had with the team the past couple of weeks. He said he recognized Upshaw's talent before and during SL but felt he might have been a little too heavy during that time to have a real impact for a longer extended period of time. Byron said that hasn't been the case at all very recently; he said he has seen Upshaw block more shots in these recent scrimmages than he had in all of SL. Sounds like Upshaw is making an impression...
I think it was during Julius' interview that this "tall drink of water" that is Upshaw kept wandering around in the background. Dude is an honest 7 footer. Hibbert in his own superb interview said matter of factly that Uphaw is more athletic than him. I've mentioned it before a couple times seeing that too heavy, out of shape guy that Bob was in Summer League, move his feet like a mutha following some guy with the proper form from the top of the key driving all the way down to the rim keeping between him and the basket. My knee jerk impression was that it was Willie Cauley Stein lite esque. And he is a bigger, more valuable player than WCS if we can "FIX" him.
I honestly feel like we can fix him and he is open to being fix. He has a great opportunity here and we have a whole lot of resources at our disposal. Hibbert and Metta will be huge for him.
I hope he does well, I really, really hope. I feel like too much is being put on him having to go out and impress to win a spot over Sacre, when to me he's obviously a project with potential while Sacre has topped out at tall/big and 6 fouls.
Thanks Byron. Now that you have ruled out Kelly as a 5 option, I hope. Genius. Hey if Kelly can't cut it as a 3rd string stretch 4...... please don't be thinking up weird s*** to put him at the 5.
I have the same expectations. He hasn't played in a game since summer league, and he's had to sit out the first 2, I'm not expecting a lot. If he gets a couple blocks and boards, maybe even scores, he will have done more than Sacre so far though.
Let's keep our eyes open on how well he moves his feet, in addition to how long his wing span with his height blah blah blah, and his shot blocking skills as a "Paint God". I think he's really quick! Maybe "Bob" could even play some "small ball" 5 with in your face rejection capabilities? :jack:
Solid effort by Upshaw. Had a real nice block, sent it "air mail special". But yeah still very raw. If they have to choose I have a feeling it'll come down to between him and Black. Scare is gonna be on based on being experienced and Black is too short. I don't know just theorizing. Don't know why we can't keep all four and just send Upshaw down to DL to get playing time and experience.
Because we don't have that many spots and Sacre sucks and needs to go. But that's only one man's opinion.
thought he had a rough stretch in the first half (I haven't watched the second half). generally late on rotations, scola and others got a few shots up right in his mug, and he wouldn't pass the ball on offense. nice turnaround jumper (bad shot selection on that one, though), and a really nice up fake and drive. he certainly has some tools, maybe enough to send sacre packing, but not enough to make me go away from black as my primary backup c.
He should get the nod over Sacre based on potential. I don't see Sacre getting much better than what he is now. Upshaw has the potential to be a solid big man at some point in his career. He is still raw and definitely needs more conditioning work, but there is no way I would keep Sacre over him.
Upshaw looked good...and bad. He needs PT. They already know what they got in Sacre and Black. I look for Upshaw to get major minutes the rest of preseason so they can see what he brings to the table.
I sure hope there is no indecision about Tarik. You need to keep this guy. I've been on the bandbox to keep roster spots for Metta and "Bob", but that's with me assuming no way in hell they don't also bring back "Boom Boom". Make it so Mitch!
Sacre and Kelly simply need to get on with their lives and do so outside of LA. Black is better than them combined and Upshaw has the potential and tools to be better than either of them dreamed to be. I'm a little surprised a Scott was as down on Upshaw's game the other night as he was, unless he's trying to keep expectations low.
