Is Millsap the Man?

[RonnieBrewer (Ronnie Brewer)]

Jazz: Is Millsap the Man?
By Travis Heath
for HOOPSWORLD.com
Oct 19, 2006, 14:43
Last Updated:  Oct 19th, 2006 - 14:52:57

Now starting for the Utah Jazz at power forward from Louisiana Tech . . .
Paul Millsap?

For nearly two decades, Jazz fans became accustomed to having a dominant
player from Louisiana Tech starting at power forward.  Heck, his last name
even started with an M.

As a result, it's easy to understand why a number of Jazz fans got excited
when the team drafted Millsap in hopes that he could someday grow into the
second coming of that Malone guy.

Well, there will never be another Karl Malone.  Period.  That doesn't mean,
however, that Jazz fans shouldn't get excited at all about Millsap.

The guy is a natural on the boards on both ends of the floor.  He has great
rebounding instincts, and he's just one of those guys that seems to be a ball
magnet.

In addition, some NBA fans may not be aware that he led the entire NCAA in
rebounding for three consecutive seasons while at Louisiana Tech with a per
game average of 13.3 last season.

Rebounding is really a lost art in the league today, and if a guy can rebound
at a high rate, he will have the chance to stick in the NBA for a long time.
This is true regardless of what a guy can bring to the table on the offensive
end.

For an example you don't have to look any further than Reggie Evans of the
Denver Nuggets.  He was the best per-minute rebounder in the NBA last season
and his offense was . . . well, let's just say it could have used a little
work.  However, he's been such a force on the boards in his short career that
he got $24 million from the Nuggets this summer.  And just for the record,
Evans' offense has improved each season he's been in the league.  That said,
you probably won't see him dominating in the low block in an NBA arena near
you anytime soon.

Jazz fans should use Evans as a prototype for what Millsap can become with
some time and a little bit of blood, sweat, and tears.  Not to mention the
fact that Millsap's offensive ability is much further along than Evans' was
during his rookie campaign.

Despite Millsap's potential and propensity for cleaning the glass, he was
having a relatively quiet preseason -- that was until his performance Monday
against the Detroit Pistons in which he dropped in 11 points and grabbed 6
boards.  Perhaps the most impressive component of his line, though, was that
5 of the 6 boards Millsap snagged came on the offensive glass.  His work on
the offensive boards also led to most of his points.

Jazz head coach Jerry Sloan likes players who can do the little things and
unfortunately in today's NBA climate, good fundamentally sound rebounding has
become one of those things.  As a result, don't be surprised if Millsap gets
some minutes this season when Sloan becomes frustrated with some of his bigs
-- which if you have listened to some of his comments recently might already
be happening.

While Millsap may get a chance to contribute some this season, the real payoff
with him will probably come three or four years into the future.  If he can
continue to develop his offensive game, it's not outlandish to believe that
he could be a 10-and-10 player.

Karl Malone he is not, but being Paul Millsap might just be enough for the
future of the Utah Jazz at the power forward position.


http://www.hoopsworld.com/article_19009.shtml

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