Andre Drummond to workout with Hakeem this summer

[valet]

Y! SPORTS

See you in the 1st round Lebron in '13.

Detroit Pistons big man Andre Drummond was one of the most impressive rookies in the NBA this season, a dynamic force who managed many impressive stat lines despite playing only 20.7 minutes per game. His per-36-minute averages of 13.8 ppg, 13.2 rpg, and 2.8 bpg suggest a player who could eventually turn into one of the most impactful interior players in the league. There are good reasons to be bullish about his future.

On the other hand, Drummond can look exceedingly raw, like a player who gets by on his athleticism and intuition rather than his refined sense of the game. Drummond must recognize this issue, because he has hired a pretty famous coach to instruct him on the finer points of his position. From Perry A. Farrell for the Detroit Free Press:

Is Hakeem (The Dream) Olajuwon in Andre Drummond’s future?

The Hall of Fame center, one of the game’s all-time great offensive players, is expected to work with the Pistons’ center-forward over the summer to help him with his offensive game, which is still in the infant stages.

Drummond has been at the practice facility recently. He took about a two-week break, according to Pistons.com, before getting back into the gym to work on his game.

Olajuwon has earned acclaim for his post work with star players such as LeBron James and Dwight Howard, and Drummond's hope must be that one of the best centers of all time will help him develop some much-needed go-to moves inside. These sessions don't run cheap, either, so Drummond must be serious.

Of course, Hakeem is far from a sure bet to improve Drummond's game, and not just because a few practices can't replace a whole offseason of workouts. Last summer, Olajuwon helped out JaVale McGee, who saw little improvement in his post game despite needing similar rudimentary instruction. McGee is a singular player and shouldn't be taken as precedent for anyone, but it's possible that Hakeem is better used as someone who can add to a readymade offensive game than as someone who can construct those abilities from nothing. After all, we're only talking about a few meetings — it's not as if Olajuwon will serve as Drummond's personal coach for a protracted length of time.

Plus, on a very simple level, it's arguable that developing a few post moves isn't Drummond's greatest need at this point in his career. While Drummond certainly isn't any kind of go-to player in the post (his impressive 60.8 percent shooting came on only 5.7 attempts per game), he scores enough on putbacks and dunks to justify major minutes. The real issue for Drummond is that he can't shoot foul shots at anything resembling a respectable clip. At only 37.1 percent this season, he's an obvious mark for Slay-A-Dre tactics, putting his long-term viability as a scoring option into question. Drummond can have all the post moves he wants, but they won't matter if teams have reason to hack him any time he gets the ball. There's even an argument that this deficiency endangers him, since his high-flying ways and immense strength could cause teams to foul him very hard in mid-air with some regularity.

There's no reason that Drummond can't work on his post moves and free-throw shooting at the same time, but he could be following a popular path of development that doesn't necessarily correspond to his particular needs. Every player has a different set of skills, gaps, and even learning style, to the point where a one-size-fits-all approach can often be a distraction rather than a solution.

 

[NYC Rebel]

 

[NormanConnors]

Y! SPORTS

See you in the 1st round Lebron in '13.

 

[Brozay]

Why does he have to be in our division...

Dude is gonna wreck shyt next season. By the end of year 3 I think he'll be the best center in the league.

 

[Flight]

Teach him the ways of the post Hakeem.

 

[FAH1223]

If you're a Pistons fan, this is very encouraging. He's doing this AFTER his rookie season... not after a few years in the league.

A couple moves in the post and improved free throw shooting and he may well become the best Center in the league in a couple years.

 

[*Hulks Up*]

Greg Monroe needs to join him, they both could use the off season with Hakeem. Drummond was beasting on raw athletism, would love to see his game after. No reason Dre couldn't be a top PF up there with Duncan, Blake, Ibaka and Josh Smith

 

[Reggie]

This is a good look for him. But I still think more players should be looking to Kevin McHale (probably not now since he coaches the Rockets) and Charles Barkley on how to play in the post. Not all of them will be able to be as graceful as the Dream was. Some of them just need to use brute strength like Shaq. He would be perfect for Drummond I think.

 

[Hard Hitta]

 

[Rev]

Awesome. Hopefully he does it a couple times.

 

[NYC Rebel]

This is a good look for him. But I still think more players should be looking to Kevin McHale (probably not now since he coaches the Rockets) and Charles Barkley on how to play in the post. Not all of them will be able to be as graceful as the Dream was. Some of them just need to use brute strength like Shaq. He would be perfect for Drummond I think.

shyt.....on the real...I'd get Sydney Green or Mark Aguirre to set up a low post school of learning and shyt. The type of niqqas who'd show up and teach niqqas while wearing small ass shorts with one pin stripe on some White Shadow shyt.

 

[NormanConnors]

Greg Monroe needs to join him, they both could use the off season with Hakeem. Drummond was beasting on raw athletism, would love to see his game after. No reason Dre couldn't be a top PF up there with Duncan, Blake, Ibaka and Josh Smith

that would be but Monroe actually isn't bad in the post imo..has nice touch/foot work, some range on his jumper. he just isn't athletic. he's in that ZBO range but with more size.

 

[OG Talk]

@Malta

 

[NormanConnors]

shyt.....on the real...I'd get Sydney Green or Mark Aguirre to set up a low post school of learning and shyt. The type of niqqas who'd show up and teach niqqas while wearing small ass shorts with one pin stripe on some White Shadow shyt.

Aguirre's post game dude could score before he got to the Pistons and just needed to play a role

 

[NYC Rebel]

Aguirre's post game dude could score before he got to the Pistons and just needed to play a role

dude was the most unathletic low post dominant scorer I ever watched play. Pear shaped ass niqqa used to GO in the blocks.

I'm glad these young niqqas today are living in a post "jordan down our throats" era of the NBA and want to develop their games beyond what was at one time thrown onto everyone.