[TimesPicayune] DEFENSE FIRST
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DEFENSE FIRST
Dedication to the defensive game could make Arizona's
Iguodala the first guard taken in NBA draft
Thursday, June 17, 2004
By Benjamin Hochman
Staff writer
What's wrong with Andre Iguodala? Ask the guard what will
make him a sure-fire lottery pick in next Thursday's NBA
draft, what makes him stand out among the standouts, and
just listen to what he says:
"I think I set myself apart from a lot of players
defensively, being able to go out there and stop players."
Defense? Who says that? Definitely none of the top guards
in this year's mix, who assembled last weekend in Chicago's
Wyndham Hotel. Bombarded with questions about their talents,
every guard brought up his ball-handling, shooting or
passing.
Iguodala was the only one whose answer was distinctive, and
it's his passion for defense that makes him distinctive in
the minds of those who make the picks.
"I think he's a versatile player," said Rob Babcock, general
manager of the Toronto Raptors, who pick eighth. "He'll
defend. He's a good athlete."
The 6-foot-6 Iguodala, who played collegiately at Arizona,
has the physical ability to play the 1, 2 and 3 positions,
although he is most comfortable at shooting guard. He likens
comparisons to Scottie Pippen. He's a passionate but humble
player.
He was third in the Pacific-10 in assists (4.9). But he's
hardly the offensive juggernaut one would assume the possible
top guard in the draft would be -- he averaged 12.9 points in
his sophomore season for Lute Olsen's Wildcats, while making
23 of 73 3-point attempts (31.5 percent).
But he can defend.
"A lot of guys have a couple years of getting better defensively,
and that's keeping them off the court because they can't defend
-- I think that's what's going to put me on the court," said
Iguodala, who is expected to be a top-10 pick and could be the
first guard selected in the draft, depending on what happens
with high school player Shaun Livingston. "I think you have to
take pride in playing defense; that's the base of winning. A lot
of teams struggle because they can't stop teams from putting the
ball in the hole. Detroit is a good example of defense right now."
Last year's NBA draft was heavy on guards, with four going in the
top eight, including LeBron James (Rookie of the Year), T.J. Ford
and Dwyane Wade. This year's class of guards features more
intangibles, be it Iguodala, who doesn't dominate offensively;
Livingston, who is a 6-7 point guard; or Ben Gordon, who is a
sharpshooter from national champion Connecticut who demands to
play the point.
A guard could go as high as the second pick next Thursday,
assuming the Los Angeles Clippers don't trade down. Los Angeles
could snag Livingston (although Dwight Howard also is enticing)
and some mock drafts have Chicago at No. 3 drafting Iguodala.
Look for point guards such as Gordon and Devin Harris of Wisconsin
to go a little later in the lottery, perhaps to the guard-needy
Atlanta Hawks at No. 6 or Phoenix Suns at No. 7.
"First of all, very few point guards are going to come in and do
very well," Denver Nuggets general manager Kiki Vandeweghe said.
"It's just a position that takes a while, whether they've been to
two years of college or no college. They're still very, very young."
That might be tough for a player like Gordon to stomach, who in
his words is, "ready right now to come in and contribute to a team.
"I think I'm versatile. I possess size, strength, speed and
experience. I'm a good scorer and I have passing ability."
"I've talked to him a lot," said Cleveland Cavaliers coach Paul
Silas, whose team drafts at No. 10. "He has a good way about him.
He understands, he speaks well and he certainly plays well. The
shooting part was great -- the worry was can he play the point?
That's something that whoever gets him will have to see."
Harris, like Gordon, just finished his junior year, and he, like
Gordon, flirts with being 6-3.
"(Harris) comes from a good program that moves the ball, which
allows you to do more things," Sacramento Kings scout Jack Mai
said. "He's 6-3 with good speed and can shoot it."
The oft-smiling Harris has the ability to make a splash in the
NBA because of his knack to score consistently from long range
(75 3-pointers made as a junior), as well as use his long arms
and quickness to play defense.
HORNETS CLAIM GUARD: The Hornets have claimed guard Alex Garcia
off waivers from the San Antonio Spurs, the team announced
Wednesday.
Garcia, 6-3 from Brazil, played in two games for the Spurs last
season, averaging 1.5 points and one steal in a total of 6 ½
minutes.
He missed the first 33 games of the season while on the disabled
list with a broken foot, an injury he sustained against the
Hornets in an Oct. 22 preseason game.
Garcia went back on the disabled list with a knee contusion Jan.
9 after San Antonio obtained guard Charlie Ward.
In Brazil's Paulista League in 2002-03, Garcia earned first-team
all-league honors by averaging 17.9 points, four rebounds and
four assists for Ribeirao Presto.
. . . . . . .
Staff writer Jimmy Smith contributed to this report. Benjamin
Hochman can be reached at bhochman@timespicayune.com or (504)
826-3405.
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