Another Day of Work for Zach and JJ
posted: 7/25/2006 at 8:06 PM
It was our second day in Atlanta and we were fortunate enough to be able to attend workouts for two very important Trail Blazers. Both players, as you know, are not only working to get ready for the NBA season, but are also rehabbing. Zach Randolph had knee surgery before last season, and was never close to being 100 percent last year, and Jarrett Jack, who had surgery on his ankle earlier this summer, has made tremendous progress and is well ahead of schedule in his process.
I'll start first with Zach. He is as fit as I have seen him, and his desire and self-awareness, is also extremely healthy. We were shooting video of Zach and interviewed him for a story we're putting together. One thing he kept telling me today is that he feels "brand new," and is very happy to be working pain free. He's also thinner and stronger than I have seen him. I took some photos of his workout session today and his weight session, and you can view those photos by
clicking here.
You'll also see some photos in there of Zach's daughter, McKinley, who turns one on Friday. Zach took us back to his hotel after the workout and we got a chance to see him with McKinley. You've never seen a prouder father, and it was fun to see him follow her around, up and down the hallway at the hotel. These are moments I wish all Zach fans could witness. One thing that can't be argued is that Zach has a big heart and is a very good guy. He's the first to admit he hasn't always made the best choices in certain situations, but if you spend time around him you can't help but like him.
Blazers player development/assistant coach Bill Bayno put Zach through a very tough workout today on the campus of Georgia Tech University. They went through shooting drills, post-up moves (with the right hand, Zach's weak hand, almost exclusively), and ran some full court conditioning exercises. Bayno told me it was Zach who suggested he run the brutal end-to-end drills.
He told us several times, during his water breaks, that he couldn't do this kind of a workout last summer while he was recovering from knee surgery. He was basically stuck riding a bike and that was about it. Zach says he wasn't anywhere near full strength when the season began last year, and that the knee gave him trouble from time to time. It just wasn't strong enough. Now, with the help of strength coach Bobby Medina, who's also here in Atlanta, they are getting the knee "better than new." As I mentioned earlier, the rest of Zach's body is in phenominal shape. I'm sure you'll notice that looking at the pictures.
Bayno, who will continue to work with Zach for the rest of the week in Atlanta, told me his goal is to help Zach to a "career year." He says his post moves are so quick and strong at this point, and that his touch around the basket, as we all know, is something you just can't coach. Some complained last season that Zach ended up settling for the outside shot too often, and he agrees with that. Medina explained that today by saying Zach's knee was getting worn down in the post, where it took a beating. Randolph was also double-teammed all the time, and teams tried to attack him physically. Medina's goal is to get Zach strong enough to wage war in the paint this season, and not have to go outside as much.
Both Medina and Bayno told us several times how great it's been working with Zach, and how committed he is to getting himself in the best possible shape. Keep in mind, this is July. "We're not going to have any steps backwards this summer," promises Bayno. Both also said that Zach is carrying himself with the maturity of a veteran star, and truly appears ready to have a breakout season.
As for Jarrett Jack, he is mixing workouts in with his class load at Georgia Tech. He made a promise to his mother, after he declared himself an early-entry candidate for last year's NBA Draft, that he'd continue with his studies and would earn a degree. He told me this evening he's about 7 classes shy of earning a degree in Business. He's got finals coming up next week.
Jarrett's workout tonight was on Cremins Court on the Georgia Tech campus, the home of the Ramblin Wreck. We were the only people in the arena, and I was even instructed earlier in the day by an official how to turn the lights out when we left. I talked with Jarrett about playing on the court where he starred for GT. He said that, yes, he does get a lot of attention on campus, and is truly the BMOC. He said it's not unusual for students to ask for autographs and pictures while he's walking to class. Jarrett lives in a condo on campus, one street away from the basketball arena. He's got a roommate, who's also a student.
In 2004, as a sophomore, Jack led Georgia Tech to the Final Four. His junior season ended on a sour note. In the 2005 ACC Tournament Jack injured his ankle, and then played his first NBA season basically on one leg. Earlier this summer he had surgery on that ankle. Doctors were amazed with what they found during the surgery. Medina told us that doctors said 85 percent of the tissue in Jarrett's ankle was "unhealthy tissue" and they wondered how he was able to play at all. The ankle isn't 100 percent yet, but Jack says it's getting there. Just this week he was cleared to play full-court hoops. He's been doing that in the mornings here in Atlanta with some other NBA and college players.
The one consistent theme we continue to hear, from all these players, is that they're coming to Portland earlier than usual to get ready for the NBA season. By the first of September just about every player will be in Portland, playing, and getting set for training camp. Jarrett said he'll be in Portland on September 3rd. He's got tickets to Georgia Tech's first football game, versus Notre Dame, on September 2nd here in Atlanta.
Thanks to Bill Bayno, Bob Medina, and Darnell Valentine for being so accomodating here in Atlanta. Also, thanks to my travelling partners, TV producer Scott Zachry, and photographer Jeff Curtin. Curtin speaks NASCAR, so he gets along well here in the South. After a near crash in our mini-van, while flying through downtown Atlanta, he uttered "hey, rubbin's racin'!" 'Nuff said.
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Hey MB,
I'm getting really excited about JJ's progress.
Lets hope he kicks butt this year, and remind him how much we hate the Lakers. Ask him what school Georgia Tech students hate the most, and say thats 1/6th the hatred we have for the Lakers.
(ok, thats probably not true, but just tell him we'd love it if he had huge games against the Lakers and lead us to wins against them. Mother of Pete, we hate the Lakers.)
Was it a mistake for Jack to play last year on his injured ankle? Would it been 85% unhealthy tissue if he didn't play and had the surgery earlier? Will this ankle be a chronic problem for him or should this take care of it?
Btw, I really respect him for playing injured last year and am a big fan of his, so don't get me wrong I'm just wonder if it would have been best for him not to do it.
Zach looks really great! He looks and sounds like he's dedicated to having a great season. I'm a big fan of his as well and look forward to seeing him tear it up this season!
You can delete this part but why do I have to make a blog of my own just to make a simple post? I had a user name but it wouldn't accept my password is this why? There was no other option for choosing a identity but as a blogger. Why? I'm the biggest Blazer fan you could find but man this just is right. I guess you don't want people to be interactive?
Mike, as always, thanks so much for keeping us all in the loop! As has been stated on many occasions, yours is the best source for getting the "skinny" on all things Blazers-related. Thanks again.
Oh, I was truly hoping to hook-up with you guys yesterday while you were in town. OK, I'll let it go.....this time. ;) Seriously, though, I know you had far more important things to do, and take care of, than accommodate my Blazer Jones.
Hope to see you sometime this coming season. We're already working on the next Blazer Bash!!
ABM
KEEP WORKIN' ZACH!
October (pre-season) cant come soon enough!
Check out what R.Kamla from NBA.com has to say about Roy and Aldridge:
http://www.nba.com/features/livinglasvegas_060726.html
Webster is the Man! Look at that guy. Keep Working Martell!
I cringe whenever I hear anything about Zach having a "career year". Zach's main problems are that he's too selfish on offense, refuses to play any semblence of defence and he seems more concerned about stats than winning. I've never doubted he would be OK physically, but he needs a complete mental adjustment about his approach to the team and how he plays.
Great to see Zack with his daughter. Much better than hearing stories about him "thugging" about and carrying guns. I think this guy is a champion with fire in his heart. I send him my best. --shepp
Wow, Mike, nice legs...
You've got a great looking Blog MB, I was hoping they'd hook you up like this when you started blogging. Nice to see they've added comments and rss, as well.
Keep up the good work!
It's great to see Zbo and Jack looking fit.
I hope Travis takes over the SF spot this season. If Outlaw has a break out year we may be in for some good basketball.
1. Jack, Dickau, Rodriguez.
2. Roy, Dixon, Lenard.
3. Outlaw, Webster, Miles.
4. Randolph, Aldridge,LaFrentz.
5. Przybila, Magloire.
D. Miles is probably our most talented small forward. Z Bo is a great talent and presence in the post. If both of these players are able to have a team first mentality, on and off the court, I'll be the first to admit I was wrong when calling and hoping for them both to be traded. Prove me wrong guys, I really want to be.
I've always been a fan of Jacks, and am really looking forward to seeing him and Blake have great careers at the point.
Love the blog, thanks again for a great update Mike.
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