ich glaube einige vergessen hier das ak gerade mal 24 und booz erst 23 jahre alt ist. beide stehen immernoch am anfang ihres vollen leistungspotentials. also ich sehe da noch nen riesen upside. beide haben in der offseason hart geschuftet und ihre körper mehr als verbessert, d.h. andrei hat an muskeln ca. 7kg zugelegt und booz hat seinen körperfettanteil von 9% auf 6% reduziert. also ich denke die physische grundlage für eine gemeinsame breakoutseason ist gelegt - daraus folgend werden sich natürlich ihre statistiken verändern (steigende werte in verschiedenen kategorien). wenn sie fit bleiben und beide miteinander eingespielt sind, gehören sie für mich zu den top 3 forwardduos der liga (neben marion/staudemire und artest/o'neal).
von wem ich aber noch einen viel größeren leistungsanstieg erwarte ist mehmet okur. ich glaube der wird hier von vielen am meisten unterschätzt. jerry sloan sei wohl mehr als beeidruckt in welch einer großartigen körperlichen verfassung sich memo befindet. im camp rennt er wohl wie kein zweiter den court hoch und runter ohne massive konditionelle einbrüche, wie letztes jahr, zu erleiden. naja lest mal selbst, hab hier nen artikel.
Finally fit, Okur is impressing Sloan
Jazz center expected to start tonight, his 5th in preseason
By Tim Buckley
Deseret Morning News
ANAHEIM, Calif. — Mickey has huge ears. Donald's got that big beak. And Goofy's, well, just plain goofy.
There is one character around these parts, however, who lately seems flaw-free.
Like so many who do the theme park thing here, Mehmet Okur is just visiting — in Anaheim with the Jazz for tonight's preseason game against the Los Angeles Lakers. No matter where they've been this month, though — Eugene, Ore; Indiana; Toronto; Timbuktu — even Jazz coach Jerry Sloan seems hard-pressed to find a blemish in the big Turk.
"He's played awfully well," Sloan said of Okur, whose second Jazz training camp and preseason is quite a reversal from the first.
"In comparison to a year ago, you're looking at a different player. He seems to play with a lot more confidence. He's running well. He seems to be much happier."
That's not all.
"He can really shoot the ball. He can pass the ball. He has some post moves," Sloan added. "We really like the way he's come back."
With a nod toward that sentiment, Sloan has started the 7-foot center in all four of the Jazz's preseason games to date and plans to make it five straight tonight.
If the tram Okur has taken gets where it seems headed, that starting streak could continue right into the regular season. That would be quite a switch from last season, when Okur was the only Jazz player not to miss a game — but started just 25 of 82.
From minutes to a place in Sloan's opening lineup, of course, nothing is guaranteed: "You know," the Jazz coach said, "that always takes care of itself — who is able to produce, and who is not."
That Okur has so far, though, is testament to an offseason of intensive training and international play.
The same cannot be said of 2004, when a title ring won in a mostly reserve role with the Detroit Pistons, a new six-year, $50 million contract from the Jazz and wedded bliss conspired to keep Okur from reporting to Camp Sloan in optimal shape.
"He had a little trouble last summer — because he got married," teammate Andrei Kirilenko said.
Who can blame a guy for forgetting his sit-ups while he is still honeymooning with a former Miss Turkey?
Okur's summer of 2005, however, presented no such excuses — and none need to be made.
With his minutes increasing from 15 in the 2-2 Jazz's preseason-opening win at Toronto to nearly 28 in last Thursday's exhibition victory over Portland, Okur is averaging 7.8 boards and 9.8 points in 23 minutes per game.
He has one double-double, two double-digit rebounding games and three double-digit scoring games.
"You know," Sloan said, "it's amazing how conditioning can really help you — and I think he's a perfect example of that. He seems so much farther ahead."
Sloan has not spoken specifically with Okur about taking on a bigger role, but that is only because he feels no need.
"I think he knows that. I think he's willing to accept more responsibility, because he can handle it," he said. "You shy away from responsibility when you're not in great shape and you can't handle it.
"But he's stepped up to the plate and really been aggressive on everything we've done — so that's a pretty good indication he's ready to take on more and do more things."
On top of his primo physical condition, Okur's mind also seems to be a much-better place.
"As you can see, his emotional, his psychological, thinking (is) on a great level — because he's taking care of the team, he's trying to be involved in everything," Kirilenko said. "He's thinking about winning. That's important."
Okur confirms as much.
"Last year I come off the bench and tried to do my job out there," he said. "Some part I did, some part I don't."
This year, "It don't matter, starting lineup or coming off the bench. I'm going to try to do my job. If he lets me play in the starting first five, I'm playing 100 percent. Coming off the bench, I'm playing 100 percent. I don't care. It don't matter. I just want to go out there and play hard."
There is at least one voice, however, hoping Okur continues to be used as he has been so far in October.
It belongs to the only other Jazz player who has started in Utah's first four preseason games.
"I feel good playing with Memo," Kirilenko said. "When he's on the floor, he's helping me a lot. I feel it. I just feel like we've got a little connection. He's just using me, (and) I'm using him."
Like their own little Disney.
das hört sich doch gut an oder?!
ich sags gerne nochmal die letzte saison der jazz kann einfach nicht als maßstab genommen werden, das team zu bewerten! die playoffs sind das ziel, keine frage, und die werden sie auch erreichen.