PrintLandry On The Rise
Rockets' forward emerging as go-to guy in third season
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Jason Friedman
Rockets.com Staff Writer
HOUSTON - “Carl!”
Rockets’ Head Coach Rick Adelman and Assistant Jack Sikma are up off the bench again, shouting in the direction of their third-year power forward with a look of exasperation on their faces. Time and time again over the last two-plus seasons, this scenario has played itself out during games, as Houston’s coaching staff attempts to curtail and correct the follies so typically associated with youth.
For the uninitiated, such constant criticism and scrutiny might make it appear as if Carl Landry were a lost cause, destined to end up as little more than NBA fodder, a symbol of unrealized expectations and potential.
The reality, of course, is that Landry is anything but.
Little more than two and a half years removed from his college career at Purdue, Landry has blossomed into an early candidate for Sixth Man of the Year, combining his bouncy athleticism with a devastatingly efficient offensive game to give the Rockets a lethal 1-2 punch at the power forward spot alongside starter Luis Scola. His per 40-minute averages practically leap off the page (24.8 points and 9.1 rebounds per game), as does his .581 career field goal percentage. From a player efficiency standpoint, Landry ranks among the ten best forwards in the NBA.
Yet those sparkling numbers only tell part of the tale. Yes, Landry has taken great strides since bursting on to the scene midway through his rookie year. But there remains significant room for improvement. So understand that when the Rockets’ coaches are showering Landry with tough love, it’s only because they see a player who still has so much more to offer.
“He’s got to realize that we need him to be big every game for us,” explains Adelman. “When we’re trying to post him up and trying to go to him, he’s got to demand the ball and understand that he has the ability to score against anybody in this league, I don’t care who it is. It’s just another step he has to take, that he is one of our go-to guys.”
Few could have conceived that Landry would ever acquire that “go-to” label upon his entering the league as a second-round pick in the 2007 NBA draft. That he’s done so is a testament to his natural ability but also to the hard work he’s put in both on his own and with the Rockets’ player development staff. During his second season he added a sure-thing midrange jumper to his arsenal and this year Yao Ming’s absence in the middle has allowed him to show off his highly refined low-post game as well.
Perhaps more than a few eyebrows were raised when Adelman named Landry his best post player (non-Yao division) before the season began but it’s become difficult to quibble with that assessment after watching the variety of ways Landry has managed to finish down low. He does so with extraordinary balance and footwork, enabling him to summon the spirit of Barishnikov while spinning around and leaping over defenders on his way to the basket. Combine those moves with dead-eye shooting from the charity stripe (89.6%) and it’s little wonder that Landry is making the transition from energy guy to crunch time assassin.
“Carl has shown the skills necessary to be a good low-post player,” confirms Sikma. “He’s got good footwork and he’s got good trunk strength to hold his position. His first step is strong.”
But, as with all things Landry, satisfaction with the status quo is not part of the Rockets’ playbook. Like clockwork, Sikma deftly switches gears and reverts to preaching the theme of constant improvement.
“Getting used to getting bumped, expecting it and keeping his balance are still key things he can work on,” he begins. “I think his mix has been good but if you’re talking about improvement, he needs to focus on recognizing what’s working and what’s not. Sometimes I think he takes tougher shots than he needs to or maybe chooses to takea tougher shot than he needs to.
“And then turnovers, in the sense of just knowing they’re going to swipe and putting that into the formula and saying, ‘Hey, because they’re really coming, this move won’t be available or it will be risky because they’re really in there digging.’ So I think it’s more just understanding the situation, gaining the experience and becoming even moreefficient.”
To his credit, Landry’s self analysis often mirrors that of his coaches. Talk to him about his rapid improvement on the offensive end and he’s likely to switch the subject and quickly point out his shortcomings on the defensive end. For good reason, too, as that’s unquestionably the aspect of his game which requires the most work.
“Defense wins games and I’m always saying I need to work on my defense,” admits Landry. “Sometimes I get in foul trouble and I think I make stupid fouls. And sometimes I’m out of position when I feel like I can be there a half-second earlier. It’s just my basketball IQ and defense is an area I need to work on. It’s just something I need to get used to. In college I really didn’t play much defense.”
That matter-of-fact admission elicits a howl from Landry, the sort of infectious guffaw which makes the 6-9 forward such a favorite of fans and teammates alike. It’s that personality which allows him to handle the constructive criticism he receives in stride, the same way he takes a bounce pass in the lane before powering his way toward the rim for a ferocious two-handed slam. He knows his name will be bellowed above the din of the crowd many more times to come. He also understands why it’s imperative he listen. Because then, and only then, can he hope to consistently hear “Carl!” in a different sense – as that of a player who has fully realized his potential and taken his place among the best two-way forwards in the game.
And-1s: Landry is slated to start in place of the injured Luis Scola for Wednesday night’s game 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 required seven stitches and did not return. Monday morning, he underwent an extensive eye examination which revealed no structural damage to the eye itself. Scola will be held out of Wednesday’s game due to swelling around the eye and will be listed as day-to-day thereafter… Following Monday’s practice, Rick Adelman was asked about the progress being made by Tracy McGrady, who is attempting to return to action after undergoing microfracture surgery on his left knee back in February. Adelman confirmed that there is still no set timetable in place for the guard’s return. “It's just a process,” Adelman said. “I can't tell you what the timetable is, but he's practicing, he's working. That's what we're going on. We'll figure that (the timetable) out when we get to it. He looks OK. He looks all right. He's just got to keep pushing himself and try to take each step.”
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