| 04 October 2009
The tick-tock is getting louder than the 60 Minutes clock and we're gearing-up for that KTAR broadcast that will bring the Suns first pre-season game to the airwaves less than 48 hours from now. The game against the Belgrade Partizans may not be the most challenging but it will provide an opportunity for hardcore fans to see just how well Alvin Gentry has handled the daunting task of sorting out the roster.
Sure there are miles to go before we sleep - and before the regular season starts. But the early view that the Suns would carry only 13 players on the payroll seems to be fading. And the fate of Goran Dragic is one of the questions that Coach Gentry has to address as it comes down to crunch time. Hopefully the Batle of Belgrade will help settle his fate.
A stumbler during last season who showed occasional flashes of skill, Dragic started only one game while appearing in 55. He hit 246 points in 728 minutes on the floor (about a point every three minutes) and nailed 37 percent of his three-point attempts. But the stats don't tell the whole story. No, Dragic's lackluster performance in the beginning of his rookie year left him tagged as a player whose presence on the court often did more harm than good.
--Please Continue Reading--
The beginning of the season was Dragic's worst stretch with his shooting percentage hanging a little above 26 percent two weeks into the season and he averaged turning the ball over 1.43 times per game. If he had been taking a turn on the starting lineup - was Terry Porter ever that desparate ? - it would have worked-out to almost four turnovers per game. Not an auspicious start to his pro career.
None of that paints a pretty picture. But there is some evidence that he has turned the corner. Just listen to what the Slovenian has had to say.
"I'm much more prepared," Dragic told one interviewer. "It was a long and tough summer. I'm much more confident in myself." And more than just words, there was his startling performance in the last game of the NBA's Summer League when he burned up the court in Vegas by draining 7-of-9 shots from the field for 21-points. Along with racking-up enough points to make his mother blush, Goran also pulled down five rebounds and seven assists.
He then joined the Slovenian National Team and made his mark in a game against the Spanish team headlined by the LA Lakers Pau Gasol and the spitfire guard Ricky Rubio. During Dargic's duel with Rubio, the Suns player showed real point guard potential with a team-high 19 points with six steals and three rebounds.
So with the tales of two Gorans, the question is - which one do we get come if he steps foot on the court when the fun really starts?
Alvin it is your turn and - Coach - have fun.
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