Landry On The Rise

Rockets' forward emerged as the go-to guy in third season


Carl Landry has taken the game to new heights this season.
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Jason Friedman
Rockets.com Staff Writer
Houston - "Carl!"
Rockets coach Rick Adelman and Assistant Chief Jack Sikma is from the bench again, yelling at their third-year power forward with a look of irritation on their faces. Many times during the two-plus seasons, this scenario has played itself out during the game, as the Houston coaching staff efforts to reduce and improve the stupidity that is usually associated with youth.
For those who do not know, such as constant criticism and supervision may look as if Carl Landry was in vain, ultimately destined for nothing more than fodder NBA, which is a symbol of hope and unrealized potential.
Reality, of course, is that Landry is anything but.
A little more than two and a half years removed from college career at Purdue, Landry has developed into the early candidates Sixth Man of the Year, combines athleticism with rocking melt efficient offensive game to give the Rockets a deadly 1-2 punch at the power forward spot starter with Luis Scola . His per 40 minute average of nearly jumped from the page (24.8 points and 9.1 rebounds per game), as well as career .581 field goal percentage of his. From the players point of view of efficiency, Landry ranked among the ten best forwards in the NBA.
But they only sparkling numbers tell part of the story. Yes, Landry has taken a big step since exploded in the middle to the scene through a rookie year. But still there is room for significant improvement. So understand that when the Rockets' coach was showered with love Landry strong, it was only because they see a player who still has much more to offer.
"He must realize that we need him to be great every game for us," said Adelman. "When we try to post him and tried to leave him, he must demand the ball and understands that he has the ability to score against anyone in this league, I do not care who it is. This is just one more step he must take, that he was wrong one of our go-to-person. "
Only a few can understand that Landry would never get that "go-to" label on him entering the league as a second-round vote in the 2007 NBA draft. That he did so is evidence of natural ability, but also for the hard work he put in the second on his own and with the Rockets' player development staff. During the second season, he added thing is certain-midrange jumper to the barn and this year the absence of Yao Ming in the middle has allowed him to exhibit a very smooth low post game, too.
Maybe more than a few raised eyebrows when Adelman called Landry the best post player (non-Yao division) before the season starts, but it becomes difficult to argue with the assessment that after watching the various ways Landry has successfully completed the down low. He does so with balance and footwork is incredible, enabling him to summon the spirit Barishnikov while spinning and leaping over defenders on his way to the basket. Combine those moves with dead-eye shot from the charity line (89.6%) and that's a little surprising that Landry is making the transition from the energy crisis when a man for murder.
"Carl has shown the skills necessary to become a good low-post player," Sikma confirmed. "He's got good footwork and he has a good trunk strength to hold the position. The first step is strong."
But, as with all things Landry, satisfaction with the status quo is not part of the Rockets' guidelines. Like clockwork, Sikma deftly switch gear and switch to the theme of constant improvement sermon.
"The way that used to get together, expect it and are still the key balancing things to do," he began. "I think, has a good mix, but if you talk about improvement, he recognized the need to focus on what works and what does not. Sometimes I think he took a picture tougher than she needs or may choose to shoot takea tougher than he needs .
"And then turnovers, in the sense that they would only know to swipe and enter that into the formula and say," Hey, they really come, this step will not be available or will be at risk because they 're really there to dig . "So I think it was more just to understand the situation, gain experience and even become moreefficient."
To credit, self-analysis Landry often mirrors that of coach. Talk to him about a rapid improvement in the offensive end and he tends to switch the subject and quickly shows flaws in the defensive end. For good reason, too, because there was no doubt aspects of the game most in need of work.
"Defense won the game and I always said I had to work on defense," admitted Landry. "Sometimes I get in foul trouble and I thought I was stupid offense. And sometimes I'm out of position when I felt like I could have half a second before. It's just my basketball IQ and defense are areas I need to work on . It's just something that needs to get used to. At university, I really did not play much defense. "
Hal-of-fact acceptance led to howls of Landry, type of infection that made laugh out loud like a 6-9 forward and fan favorite teammates together. It's that personality that allows him to handle constructive criticism he received in peace, in the same way he took a bounce pass in the lane before turning on the way to the edge for two-handed slam malignant. He knew his name would be shouted at the crowd frenzy more time to come. He also understands why it's important he listened. Because of that, and only then, can he hope to consistently hear "Carl!" In a different sense - as did the players who have fully realized the potential and took his place among the best two-way forwards in the game.
And-1s: Landry is scheduled to start in place of the injured Luis Scola to the game Wednesday night against the Los Angeles Clippers. Scola was forced to leave Sunday night's contest in Oklahoma City during the opening quarter with a cut on his right eyelid. He needed seven stitches and did not return. Monday morning, he was undergoing extensive eye exam showed no structural damage to the eye itself. Scola will be held on Wednesday out of the game because of swelling around the eyes and will be listed as day-to-day after that ... After practice on Monday, Rick Adelman was asked about the progress made by Tracy McGrady, who tried to return to action after undergoing microfracture surgery on his left knee in February. Adelman argued that there is no timetable set in place to guard again. "It's just a process," Adelman said. "I can not tell you what the schedule, but he practiced, he was working. That's what we're going. We will find that (schedule) out when we got there. He looked OK. It seemed fine. He just must continue to push myself and try to take every step. "