The skinny on Zach

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/chris_mannix/10/12/randolph.knicks/index.html

With his skills, Randolph in good shape to help Knicks

For Zach Randolph, conditioning is overrated.

Now wait, that didn't come from him. Don't start cursing NBA players as a bunch of bloated behemoths who haven't run a suicide since college. Don't demonize the lot of them for Jerome James.

No, that statement on Randolph's fitness is more of a personal observation. In fact, sitting in front of his locker at Madison Square Garden, Randolph was a bit puzzled when I asked him the question: When it comes to your game, does conditioning matter?

Come again?

Well, I repeated, you're not exactly known as a high flyer. So is the extensive reporting on your physical condition somewhat overrated?

"You know," Randolph said before pausing to ponder the question a little more. "I'm a player. No matter what, I can go out there and play."

The thing is, he's right. While Randolph will never win any Mr. Universe contests, the truth is the 6-foot-9, 251-going-on-281-pound power forward plays above the rim about as much as Andrew Golota punches above the belt. Randolph is a power player with finesse skills.

"Great timing," an Eastern Conference scout said when asked for an assessment of Randolph's abilities. "He's a tough rebounder, which they need, and the guy can score from anywhere."

That much is true. While the buzz here over the summer was how two wide loads like Randolph and Eddy Curry could coexist in the paint, Randolph has used the preseason to showcase his versatility. In the Knicks' preseason opener against Philadelphia, Randolph made his first four shots -- all from outside 12 feet. After struggling through the first quarter against Maccabi Tel Aviv on Thursday night, Randolph recovered nicely to finish with 15 points on 7-of-14 shooting.

"It's refreshing having him out there," Knicks guard Stephon Marbury said. "He's a difficult matchup."

Sure looks that way, though the adjustment period is far from over. Curry's shoulder injury will likely keep him out until the end of next week, meaning Randolph and Curry won't have much time during the preseason to develop their on-court chemistry. Marbury admitted that he has been overly concerned with feeding Randolph "at the beginning" of games; it will be crucial for the Knicks that Marbury run the offense effectively.

"This team has to share the ball. Bottom line," the scout said. "There are too many scorers out there."

Then there is the matter of defense.

"Randolph doesn't play any," the scout said. "Neither does Eddy."

Which means if Isiah Thomas is worth his salt as a coach, he is spending all his free time devising zone schemes and trapping defenses designed to take the defensive pressure off of his big men. Press more. Point Nate Robinson in the direction of the opposing point guard and tell him to cover that guy like a sweater. Utilize the defensive skills of Wilson Chandler and Jared Jeffries. Do something.

The growing consensus among NBA types is that the Knicks are a playoff team, albeit one that is likely to be in a dogfight for the last two postseason spots with four or five teams in the Eastern Conference. The talent is there. New York just has to find the right ways to use it.

Zach's a good player. He could be a GREAT player, though, if he were in top shape.

There's always all of this 'if' stuff going on with these players. No expectations at all, because everyone knows how a cheap ass team we have.

Zach's game isn't predicated on his athleticism. He's a skill player. Bird was NEVER really in great shape from a purist standpoint, he wasn't fat, but he was kind of soft physically. He had almost no muscle to speak of, but it didn't matter. He didn't have to jump high or use blinding speed to beat his man. Some players use saavy, change of pace and perfect timing to get it done. To me that's Zach.

The writer mentions that he hopes Isiah is devising schemes to help hide our deficiencies on D and it think we saw some of that with the way he was using the bench guys. I think it can work as long as everyone sticks to their roles. It seems that they know what they have to do and so far everyone seems to be on board.

Posted by codeunknown:

Posted by nixluva:


The writer mentions that he hopes Isiah is devising schemes to help hide our deficiencies on D and it think we saw some of that with the way he was using the bench guys. I think it can work as long as everyone sticks to their roles. It seems that they know what they have to do and so far everyone seems to be on board.

So far? You mean 2 pre-season games in? We should be pleased that mutiny hasn't struck yet?

I thought that funny too. Or how about him liking the way Isiah's using the bench. Because usually in the 2nd preseason game of the year it's starters all the way?

Posted by Bonn1997:

Posted by Bobby:

if zach can keep his run to push playoff production, conditioning would be of moot point.
but if he goes out like last season, and knicks are playing for playoff spot, fickle fans will blame zeke for not having z-bo in shape....you should see this coming

If he had less fat, his conditioning would be better. If you play basketball at a fast-paced, high level, you know that it's easy to get worn down if you're not in top shape and then all your reactions are slower on defense. You start out for the first few minutes with great energy and then you slow down until you get a rest. (I know this from first hand experience because I'm not in top shape and I've been playing full court ball on Fridays with a lot of very good, mostly varsity athletes. It's a lot fun but I'd like to shed about 6 or 7 lbs of fat.)

[Edited by - bonn1997 on 10-12-2007 7:57 PM]

having less fat is the result of good conditioning. not playing bball at a fast pace, high level does mean you are out of shape either. i dont know what is the team's mandate for body fat but what riley is doing to walker should be of concern to knicks fans and z-bo. checkout this article:

OrlandoSentinel.com
NBA
Pat Riley 'irritated' by Antoine Walker's conditioning
By Ira Winderman

South Florida Sun-Sentinel

October 11, 2007

MIAMI

Pat Riley sees the possibilities in Antoine Walker. It is why he so much wants to make things work with the veteran forward.

But Riley also sees the deficiencies in Walker's conditioning. And that has the Heat coach "beyond irritated."

In an unusual display of candor, Riley said before Wednesday's 106-100 overtime exhibition loss to the Hawks that Walker is behind the team's conditioning goals and might not be deemed fit enough to play more than 20 minutes per game until January.

"It's beyond irritating," Riley said. "I'm beyond being irritated. I was irritated the first year when I signed him. I was really irritated last year. I'm beyond irritated. I don't have time to be irritated."

Riley rarely discusses players' conditioning figures, but said Walker reported to camp earlier this month at 262 pounds and 15 percent body fat. The 6-foot-9 veteran is listed in the team's media guide at 245 pounds.

"Antoine is a long ways away from making his conditioning goal," Riley said. "He'll probably make it by January, if he makes it."

After the loss, Riley tempered his comments, saying that Walker had lost six pounds since the start of training camp and now is down to 256.

"I just wanted to let it out there," he said. "I'm not ripping him."

Riley suspended Walker for four games at midseason last season for failing to meet team conditioning standards. The players' union is appealing those fines.

"It's a whole different thing between Antoine and myself," Riley said. "That's who he is; that's what his belief is."

Walker, 31, said he did not see it as an issue, noting he has been limited by Achilles tendinitis since the start of camp and also was robbed at gunpoint over the summer at his Chicago home.

"My Achilles is holding me back," he said. "We'll see when the time comes. I don't worry about it.

"The last four months have been rough for me."

Riley said it is nothing personal.

"He's in good condition," Riley said. "But he's not in optimum condition and what I would like to is get him in optimum condition. That's all we're trying to do."

Walker played an uneven 16 minutes Wednesday, with four points on 2-of-6 shooting, three rebounds and three assists.

Riley said Walker is "in good enough playing shape to play 15 or 20 minutes," an amount that almost certainly would preclude a spot in the starting lineup.

"He is not in my doghouse," Riley said. "It's just disappointing to me."

Walker has this season and next season guaranteed on his Heat contract, with both the Heat or Walker able to void the remaining two seasons on the deal beyond that.

"I'm always saying, 'I wonder what he would be like at 235 and seven percent?' " Riley said. "I dream of those numbers. And I know he could get there. Maybe he can't. We've talked to doctors about it and they say, if he wanted to, he could.

"We need him. We need his offense, his versatility."