Post by ohhaithur on Aug 15, 2010 17:01:52 GMT -5
LaFrentz makes practice his practice
By Rick Astley
May 29th, 2003
Raef LaFrentz working on using his B potential
It has been less than eight hours since the coffin was nailed shut on the Jazz’ promising 2002 season. The plane from Houston landed four hours ago.
A group of twelve battered and bruised veterans are scheduled to pack up their personal effects from the Delta Center at noon, five hours from now, and go their separate ways for the summer. Many to forget about basketball for a few weeks, spend time with their families or travel.
While most of the team sleeps in, resting off the beating they took at the hands of the Houston Rockets, one player is up early.
Just a few miles up the road from the Delta Center is the Zion’s Bank Basketball Center, the Jazz practice facility and a second home to Utah power forward Raef LaFrentz.
While the lights in the administrative offices aren’t on and only the overnight security guard is in the building with him, LaFrentz is getting ready for next season.
Left-handed layup after left-handed layup clanks off the rim as LaFrentz works on his bolstering his inside scoring from a modest B-.
As a promising center coming out of Kansas, the 6’11” LaFrentz was selected with the third overall pick in the 1998 NBA Draft by the Denver Nuggets. While a torn ACL shortened his rookie campaign, LaFrentz quickly proved doubters wrong about his ability to stick in the NBA.
“I had been told since high school that I wasn’t enough of a bully to make it in the league,” said the shy LaFrentz. “I take pride in my defense and shooting but teams want a prototypical grinding center inside nowadays. Even though I was a top 10 rebounder for a while in Denver I never really fit their system.”
Due to a drastic move by Commissioner David Stern, LaFrentz got a chance to take his talents to a team better suiting his needs in the Creation Draft.
“When the Creation Draft was announced Mike [Higgins, Raef’s agent] told me he expected me to be a mid-second round pick,” LaFrentz said.
As pick after pick came in, however, that was not to be.
Even with teams going with young players to build around, LaFrentz was almost inexplicably left on the board. The near-unanimous sentiment was the demon Raef couldn’t shake, his inside scoring, was making him unpickable.
Until the Jazz stepped up.
“Jerry [Sloan] and User [Ohhaithur, Jazz GM] called me up and asked if I would be willing to move to permanent power forward,” the Iowa native recalled. “All I remember saying was ‘hell I’ll play point guard!’”
As he watched the rest of the picks come in, LaFrentz knew he had found the right spot. A team that was clearly focused on defense and picked up big bodies to help him on the glass.
With the right formula, the Jazz went to the NBA Finals last year despite an injury to 2002 Team MVP Gary Payton. It was a combination of LaFrentz and Vlade Divac that made the difference.
“We’re lucky to have guys who pride themselves on their team defense as much as their individual statistics,” Head Coach Jerry Sloan told me. “Last year ‘The White Out” really carried us when Glove went down and I couldn’t be more proud of those guys.”
The White Out, the tongue-in-cheek nickname for the two A-rated Caucasian defensive stalwarts on the Jazz, created trouble for the big men of the Western Conference for months by "erasing" their shots.
LaFrentz and Divac, "The White Out"
While their efforts came up short at the hands of the unstoppable Toronto Raptors, Raef was in the gym the next day pounding away working on his inside scoring and rebounding.
“The season never ends for me. I’m always looking to get better. The Jazz put their trust in me and I’m trying my best to prove them right.”
While increasing his scoring, rebounding and blocks in his second season with the Jazz, the year was rough for him.
In a constant effort to improve, Jazz President and General Manager User Ohhaithur has gotten a reputation around the league for making numerous deals to solidify depth. Even at the expense of team chemistry.
“It was real tough man,” LaFrentz confided. “I was real close with Johnny Carill and Ken Johnson. I understood why they were moved since they weren’t playing and all, but it’s still tough to lose friends like that.”
While the biggest moves were done, possibly the most important was yet to come.
“Pac-Man [Robert Pack] was really my rock while he was here. We were roommates and as a veteran, he always knew what to say to get me up after down games. I understood why he was moved, and I love [Chris] Whitney, but it’s just a part of the business you never get used to.”
LaFrentz struggled after the Pack move, including a 5 for 16 effort in a blowout loss the day Pack left the team.
“I’m usually a strong guy, mentally that is, but I broke down after the game. I wasn’t sure if I was going to bounce back.”
While four of the five starters for the Jazz have remained constant in spite of the twelve Jazz trades, unity has been compromised in the constant search for a wing partner for Corey Maggette.
The Jazz, and Raef, did bounce back and made a run to the Western Conference Finals. In one of LaFrentz’ biggest tests, he managed six blocks per game against A-rated inside scorer Amare’ Stoudamire in a five-game victory over the Suns. While things seemed to be looking up, the team got blown out of the water by a stronger Rockets squad.
Knowing Jazz ownership, they will not be content with the way the season turned out. Are more deals coming? While 13 current Jazz players are under contract for next year, will GM Ohhaithur blow the squad up?
“I’m ready for anything. I love these guys and I know we can get better with the guys we have. I know we can win. I can’t control who is here next season but I know as long as I’m a member of the Jazz I’m never going to stop trying to get better.”
And then he went to go practice on his right hand.
By Rick Astley
May 29th, 2003
Raef LaFrentz working on using his B potential
It has been less than eight hours since the coffin was nailed shut on the Jazz’ promising 2002 season. The plane from Houston landed four hours ago.
A group of twelve battered and bruised veterans are scheduled to pack up their personal effects from the Delta Center at noon, five hours from now, and go their separate ways for the summer. Many to forget about basketball for a few weeks, spend time with their families or travel.
While most of the team sleeps in, resting off the beating they took at the hands of the Houston Rockets, one player is up early.
Just a few miles up the road from the Delta Center is the Zion’s Bank Basketball Center, the Jazz practice facility and a second home to Utah power forward Raef LaFrentz.
While the lights in the administrative offices aren’t on and only the overnight security guard is in the building with him, LaFrentz is getting ready for next season.
Left-handed layup after left-handed layup clanks off the rim as LaFrentz works on his bolstering his inside scoring from a modest B-.
As a promising center coming out of Kansas, the 6’11” LaFrentz was selected with the third overall pick in the 1998 NBA Draft by the Denver Nuggets. While a torn ACL shortened his rookie campaign, LaFrentz quickly proved doubters wrong about his ability to stick in the NBA.
“I had been told since high school that I wasn’t enough of a bully to make it in the league,” said the shy LaFrentz. “I take pride in my defense and shooting but teams want a prototypical grinding center inside nowadays. Even though I was a top 10 rebounder for a while in Denver I never really fit their system.”
Due to a drastic move by Commissioner David Stern, LaFrentz got a chance to take his talents to a team better suiting his needs in the Creation Draft.
“When the Creation Draft was announced Mike [Higgins, Raef’s agent] told me he expected me to be a mid-second round pick,” LaFrentz said.
As pick after pick came in, however, that was not to be.
Even with teams going with young players to build around, LaFrentz was almost inexplicably left on the board. The near-unanimous sentiment was the demon Raef couldn’t shake, his inside scoring, was making him unpickable.
Until the Jazz stepped up.
“Jerry [Sloan] and User [Ohhaithur, Jazz GM] called me up and asked if I would be willing to move to permanent power forward,” the Iowa native recalled. “All I remember saying was ‘hell I’ll play point guard!’”
As he watched the rest of the picks come in, LaFrentz knew he had found the right spot. A team that was clearly focused on defense and picked up big bodies to help him on the glass.
With the right formula, the Jazz went to the NBA Finals last year despite an injury to 2002 Team MVP Gary Payton. It was a combination of LaFrentz and Vlade Divac that made the difference.
“We’re lucky to have guys who pride themselves on their team defense as much as their individual statistics,” Head Coach Jerry Sloan told me. “Last year ‘The White Out” really carried us when Glove went down and I couldn’t be more proud of those guys.”
The White Out, the tongue-in-cheek nickname for the two A-rated Caucasian defensive stalwarts on the Jazz, created trouble for the big men of the Western Conference for months by "erasing" their shots.
LaFrentz and Divac, "The White Out"
While their efforts came up short at the hands of the unstoppable Toronto Raptors, Raef was in the gym the next day pounding away working on his inside scoring and rebounding.
“The season never ends for me. I’m always looking to get better. The Jazz put their trust in me and I’m trying my best to prove them right.”
While increasing his scoring, rebounding and blocks in his second season with the Jazz, the year was rough for him.
In a constant effort to improve, Jazz President and General Manager User Ohhaithur has gotten a reputation around the league for making numerous deals to solidify depth. Even at the expense of team chemistry.
“It was real tough man,” LaFrentz confided. “I was real close with Johnny Carill and Ken Johnson. I understood why they were moved since they weren’t playing and all, but it’s still tough to lose friends like that.”
While the biggest moves were done, possibly the most important was yet to come.
“Pac-Man [Robert Pack] was really my rock while he was here. We were roommates and as a veteran, he always knew what to say to get me up after down games. I understood why he was moved, and I love [Chris] Whitney, but it’s just a part of the business you never get used to.”
LaFrentz struggled after the Pack move, including a 5 for 16 effort in a blowout loss the day Pack left the team.
“I’m usually a strong guy, mentally that is, but I broke down after the game. I wasn’t sure if I was going to bounce back.”
While four of the five starters for the Jazz have remained constant in spite of the twelve Jazz trades, unity has been compromised in the constant search for a wing partner for Corey Maggette.
The Jazz, and Raef, did bounce back and made a run to the Western Conference Finals. In one of LaFrentz’ biggest tests, he managed six blocks per game against A-rated inside scorer Amare’ Stoudamire in a five-game victory over the Suns. While things seemed to be looking up, the team got blown out of the water by a stronger Rockets squad.
Knowing Jazz ownership, they will not be content with the way the season turned out. Are more deals coming? While 13 current Jazz players are under contract for next year, will GM Ohhaithur blow the squad up?
“I’m ready for anything. I love these guys and I know we can get better with the guys we have. I know we can win. I can’t control who is here next season but I know as long as I’m a member of the Jazz I’m never going to stop trying to get better.”
And then he went to go practice on his right hand.
