landry vs the other PF's

i wanna see landry play

 

I've noticed the term "undersized" thrown around a lot. I was going to start a thread about this term in general but then noticed the topic come up strong in this thread. I was looking at some "undersized" players and compiled a list from all the positions. These are all still active players though a couple are close to being gone. And a few didn't take very long to make an impact.

PG HT WT
TJ Ford 6'0" 165
C. Paul 6'0" 175
D. Stoudamire 5'10" 174

SG
C. Mobley 6'4" 215
D. Wade 6'4" 212
R. Allen 6'5" 205

SF
R. Jefferson 6'7" 230
C. Butler 6'7" 228
B. Bowen 6'7" 200

PF
Ke. Thomas 6'7" 245
D. Lee 6'9" 249
D. West 6'9" 240

C
E. Okafor 6'10" 252
M. Camby 6'11" 230
A. Mourning 6'10" 261

Now, the SF position was a bit of a baffler since its used in multiple different ways from team to team. That and I haven't heard anyone griping about the size of SF's to know the general idea on what people here expect in size.

retired players who could make this list may include Barkley, Malone (pick one), Stockton (although he's over 6' even if only an inch.).... Oh, and some center that we all rave about here... Hakeem I think his name is. Rant and rave about how well he did as an "undersized" player and then when the big-wigs draft a couple people who don't fit the "ideal" size it starts a huge OMGWTFBBQ. Hypocrites.

 

You could put Hakeem in there at around 6'10"

Hit me the same way. And as buffed as he is now, imagine a year or two of NBA training? He looks like he could be a beast down low, and still give us a mid-range game. I'm beginning to think we pulled out a gem with Landry.

 

Thanks Sooner, it's funny that in shoes Milsap measures 6'7 1/4, but the NBA lists him at 6'8. Landy is 1 1/2 inches taller than Milsap, but Milsap has a descent reach on him, plus his vertical jump was 28.5 no step and 32.5 with steps and he benched 185 lbs 15 times.

I guess Landry will be listed at 6'9.

 

Actually Purdue players are known for being buffed. Coaches there put a premium on weight training.

 

I've been watchin Landry play for the last 4 years. I wouldn't worry about the torn acl...he's finally back to 100%. Against Oden (the NBA's next great defender), he went for 16 and 24. He can shoot, he can score inside, and he can handle the rock. He averaged 19 pts and 8 rebs in college and he's already in better shape from workin out before the draft. He has all the natural ability that's needed to be a great player: finished 5th out of all players in the combine. And best of all, he wants to be in Houston and do whatever it takes to be the best player he can be. Rockets fans, we won't be disappointed.

 

I think this is a good article about how well Landry may play against NBA calibur players. Here's the wrapup on the NCAA Florida/Purdue Game. That Florida team was stacked. Five players from the Gators, including three of the first nine picks, were selected in the two rounds of the draft.

Atlanta got Al Horford with the 3rd pick.

Minnesota Timberwolves got Corey Brewer with the No. 7 pick.

Chicago Bulls got Joakim Noah with the ninth pick.

Minnesota got backup Chris Richard the 41st pick.

Portland got Guard Taurean Green at No. 52.

By contrast all Purdue had was Landry at 31. He's been overshadowed in the Big Ten by other teams. Wisconsin's Tucker was rated better than Landry but I don't see that he's any better. Tucker was picked at 29. Wisconsin won more games than Purdue and was highlighted more on TV. That's all.

In the type of offensive system that Landry played in his offensive output was limited. It was the grind it out Jeff Van Gundy style defensive basketball. Slow it down keep the score low system. I think that Landry will be contending for minutes once the season starts.

The one thing I didn't like when I read this article was how 6-10" Al Horford backed down Landry several times during the game. That's not good but then you have to adjust your system to make up for the deficiencies. Still that was a Center backing down a Power Forward. It happens. Rockets still need a "Big" to matchup against other 7 footer PF's and guys like Al Horford.

On the other hand, Florida had 3 guys on their front line Horford 6-10, Noah 6-11 and Brewer 6-9 with reserve F/C Chris Richard at 6-9. That's one darn big lineup! It's no wonder that 6'7" Landry got backed down.

Still I like Landry's attitude. Here's what he said before the Florida game lol

"If our shots are falling," he said, "Florida has no chance."

Sitting on a dais in the interview room, Landry suddenly looked as startled by his own comment as the gathered media did. And when Purdue coach Matt Painter arrived at the press conference shortly thereafter, the coach was in full damage control. "Please erase anything Carl said from the transcript," he said. "He's not all there."

Florida's comments about Landry after the game.

At the end of the game, Horford and Noah each took a moment to find Carl Landry, Purdue's tallest player at 6-foot-7, and credit him for his inspired play. He scored 18 points and had 10 rebounds and four assists. "I give [Landry] a lot of respect," Noah said. "He's a warrior. There was not a single play when he gave up going for the rebound or for the shot. I feel bad for him because I know how hard it is to lose in the tournament."

http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaab/recap?gid=200703180210

Box Score
http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaab/boxscore;_ylt=AnGZm6_WVSXCHE5KKlPXWHASvbYF?gid=200703180210

NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- Al Horford flexed his biceps and offered an imposing stare as he posed for television cameras.

Florida's most physical player had reason to show off a little bit.

Horford had 17 points and nine rebounds and helped the defending national champions withstand a game effort by plucky Purdue in a 74-67 victory Sunday in the second round of the NCAA tournament.

"I guess they felt like they were going to make Al score one on one," teammate Corey Brewer said. "They made a bad decision."

Ninth-seeded Purdue played just about how it wanted against the Gators -- slowing down the tempo, rebounding well with a smaller lineup and keeping the game close much of the way.

But the top-seeded Gators took advantage of their tournament experience. They never panicked and made several clutch shots down the stretch to advance to the round of 16.

Horford had three big buckets in the final minutes, and Brewer hit a spinning jumper and then made six consecutive free throws to seal Florida's 14th consecutive postseason win.

"We knew we had to make plays down the stretch to win," said Brewer, who finished with 17 points and eight boards. "We couldn't get frustrated because they were going to be physical; they were physical the whole game. We just took it upon ourselves and just made plays."

Especially Horford.

"If I'm in a rhythm and I'm feeling comfortable, I want to get the ball and I want to make plays for the team," he said.

The Gators (31-5), trying to become the first team to repeat as champions since Duke in 1992, advanced to play fifth-seeded Butler in the Midwest Regional semifinals Friday in St. Louis.

Carl Landry led Purdue (22-12) with 18 points and 10 rebounds. David Teague and Chris Kramer added 14 each.

"They just made big plays," Teague said. "They capitalized on a couple of turnovers and a couple of miscues ... and that is what champions do: they step up and make plays down the stretch.

"That was the difference in the ball game."

Florida trailed by five points in the first half and was down at halftime for the first time in nearly three weeks.

But the Gators slowly started to impose their will on the undersized Boilermakers. It started with the 6-foot-10 Horford, who backed down the 6-7 Landry all game. Horford's post presence also opened several outside shots.

Florida missed most of them in the first half -- the Gators were 2-of-10 from behind the arc -- but Taurean Green hit consecutive 3s to put the team ahead 43-38 with 12:35 remaining.

Landry came up big for Purdue, helping keep the Boilermakers close.

But Lee Humphrey had another 3-pointer with about 6 minutes to play that put the Gators up by five.

Horford and Brewer did the rest.

Horford had three low-post baskets in the final 3 minutes and finished 7-of-9 from the floor -- his only two misses were jumpers that rimmed out in the first half.

Brewer was 8-for-8 from the free throw line. Joakim Noah had nine points and nine boards.

The Gators were 6-of-8 from the floor and 14-of-14 from the free throw line in the final 6:43.

"Guys knew what time it was," Horford said. "We weren't executing well all game. When it came down to it, we knew it was going to be a grind, and we were able to execute the game the right way and get the shots that we wanted."

Green and Humphrey were off most of the game. They finished a combined 5-for-15 shooting and 4-of-14 from 3-point range.

Horford picked up the slack, especially when Purdue stopped double-teaming him late in the game.

Horford stared toward the Purdue fans after a late dunk and pounded his chest. Noah was on the other side of the floor riling up the Florida section that included the team's three famous fathers -- former tennis star Yannick Noah, former NBA player Tito Horford and former UNLV star and college coach Sidney Green.

Now, the fathers and sons are moving on.

"This is fun right now," coach Billy Donovan said. "They should enjoy winning. I know they wouldn't enjoy the other side of it if we were going home and this was over, so we need to enjoy this.

"They need to be kids and have fun and enjoy this experience because they've worked hard to get to this point."

 

The article says he's 6-7 so whatever height he ends up at..the boy can still play. His agent says 6'9" so that's in shoes. Is Corey Brewer also measured 6'9" or is he listed now at 6'10". Is Al Horford an inch taller too? lol

 

Will he replace Hayes as the back up?

 

He could actually suprise people like Craig Smith did for the Timberwolves. Craig played for an unheralded program in Boston College and was a the 36th pick in the 2006 draft. Craig was projected as possible 2nd rounder to undraftable. Craig Smith and Landry are the same type of basketball players. Chiseled, hard working, very athletic, can rebound and score. If you look at Craig Smith's stats last year, I think Landry should be able to be about the same. I watched the NCAA tournament and Craig Smith was unbelievable. He could jump from the foul line and dunk. He was blocking shots he had no business blocking. I thought to myself when I watched him play that he would have an incredible NBA career but yet..he wasn't on anyone's must get list.

Landry will be similar and I think given minutes, time in the weight room and experience that he will be a a solid contributor if not eventually a force to be dealt with.

Carl Landry Report from NBA.COM

http://www.nba.com/draft2007/profiles/CarlLandry.html

 

Not to mention he was second on the team in steals with 40. How many PF's lead the team in steals? That's usually the pesky quick guards with all the steals. He'll be very good defensively. Morey has done his homework.

 

I like the picking Landry for this team. He was my favorite of the three picks in this year's draft. He's undersized but he is a hard worker and reminds me a little of Kenny Thomas. I think he can get some consistent burn with the Rockets and be in the rotation as a backup PF or part time starter if the Rockets can't get another big man.

 

I believe your argument is somewhat faulty. You have pointed out many undersized people who have become great. You don't mention the manifold number of players who were unable to cut it in the NBA due to their size...or the many college players that do not put themselves up for draft due to their size. I don't think that people are arguing that undersized players are all worthless, but most likely will not be too useful.

 

This is why it's funny when I hear people talk about Landry being undersized. I wonder what Sheldon Williams listed height for the Hawks is and how many times he benched 185 lbs.

 

I loved the Landry pick. The Brooks Landry combo was awesome. I think the addition of Landry gives us the ability to use a PF by commitee. All we need to do is pick up a bruiser like Eduardo Najera, Mikki Moore, or Amir Johnson and not try to get an all star or scoring PF.

 

yea but those pfs u listed aren't really great defenders. It was the same problem Utah had with Boozer against San Antonio. Undersized foward are fine on the offensive end, but defensively is where they get exposed.

 

Uhh.. the reason Utah lost had nothing to do with Boozer. He outperformed Duncan and Deron outperformed Tony. Too bad about the rest of the team.

 

Well we could do this. We could bring in Lior Eliyahu as a PF and stand pat. Then we would have a bunch of young very hungry power forwards and the rest of the squad would be made up with Yao/Tmac/Battier and a slew of very quick young guards.

Then we could just wait and see what comes up and see if a trade makes sense and use our guards as trade assets as we have too many of them now.

 

Some of you guys will body-slam me for saying this but I think Landy has a bigger upside than Shelden Williams because he is more skilled on offense. Landry was the "go to" guy on a borderline tournament team. He can shoot the ball and put it on the floor. Williams was the #2 cog on a very good Duke team. I don't think Landy is as physically strong as Williams but he has skills on offense that make up for his lack of height. I said from the beginning that Shelden Williams wouldn't do that well in the NBA because most PFs and Cs at the pro level are very strong, unlike the paper tigers he went up against in college. The only time I saw Williams meet his match was against Big Baby, and Big Baby had his way. Williams looked lost and a little intimidated.

If Landry plays with confidence and hits the mid-range jumper, he will crack the rotation as a rookie.