A Big Year for Corey Brewer
by wyn on Sep 5, 2008 2:53 PM CDT
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As Corey Brewer prepares for his second NBA season there are just as many, if not more, questions about him than there were his rookie season.
After being drafted to play alongside KG, the jovial swingman became part of the new, young core when Garnett was traded. He showed flashes of his high skillset in a few games last year:
- In a five-game stretch in December, Brewer averaged 9.8 boards with a high of 18 against Atlanta.
- He averaged 22.8 minutes over 79 games, a testament to his conditioning and energy.
- Averaged a steal per game (1.5 per 36 minutes) and had multiple steals in 22 games.
And he also showed some terrible holes in his game:
- He shot 37.4% from the field, and looked shaky to the naked eye on everything from corner threes to dunks (in fact I recall one game where Corey was stuffed by the rim... ouch).
- Although he was able to get into passing lanes for steals, he was often out-muscled by bigger swingmen.
To top it all off, his positions (shooting guard and small forward) have become even more crowded than they were last year:
- Guys not named Corey Brewer who will log minutes at shooting guard: Randy Foye, Rashad McCants, Mike Miller, Rodney Carney
- " small forward: Mike Miller, Ryan Gomes, Rodney Carney
Corey's been working out at the Target Center for part of the summer and no doubt working on his bulk and shot. But last year's performance coupled with the number of players he'll have to compete with means that the former lottery pick will have his work cut out for him.
I'd like Corey to succeed; he's a hard-worker, has a good attitude, and possesses a skillset that could be very helpful to a team that will likely struggle defensively this year. It's certainly too early to make a final decision on Brewer's role with the team, but after being touted as an NBA prospect he needs to prove that he deserves serious minutes sooner rather than later.
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I really think it’s a question of timing/rhythm with him. If this guy – 6’9, jumps to the moon, super-quick – is getting stuffed by the rim, it’s because there’s something that’s just slightly off: he thinks (wrongly) that someone’s going to block his shot, doesn’t have a sense of where people are on the floor…just hasn’t quite found his comfort zone. Once he does, I think he’s going to be really, really good. I just hope it’s for us.
I agree.
Skyner and I were talking about it this weekend and I think Corey’s #1 problem is mental. He’s got the skills and physical tools, he just needs to calm down and not beat himself up when he screws something up.
You could see it in Summer League. Missing layups is 100% mental (and he missed lots). You don’t get drafted nr 7 if you didn’t show through college and individual practices that you can at least make a lay-up.
by Wim (Belgium) on Sep 8, 2008 4:36 AM CDT up reply actions
I'm always amazed...
when I see Brewer averaged 22 minutes a game last year. It never felt to me like he was on the court enough.
I’ll leave it to others who know their way better (lazy excuse for being lazy): can we get some average mpg stats for rookies? I felt the same about Foye in his first season but I’m not really so sure anymore. Rookies need to adapt to the shedule of the NBA, so is it usual to give them much time? I think that’s an interesting though Pants_
We do have a special situation since there aren’t much team’s with so much young players, which would make it logical for Brewer to be out there more (because there’s no veteran player in front of him in the rotation).
Well...
I’m working on my own season forecast right now, and this is actually part of my bit on Brewer. I don’t have it split out by rookies, but for people his age or younger, they average 58 games, 23 starts, and 1251.5 minutes, while Brewer served 79/35/1803. But the average youngster shot 45.7/34.1/74.6, while Brewer shot 37.5/19.4/80.0.
According to ESPN, Brewer had the 17th most MPG of any rookie, and the 6th most GP of any rookie (they don’t have the rookie averages).
Averages would prolly have to be taken from only lottery picks or first round because the view would be skewed then :). Maybe if I need to do something this evening I’ll see if I can find out :d
by Wim (Belgium) on Sep 6, 2008 11:38 AM CDT up reply actions
Power Forward?
To me, Corey Brewer has two choices. Improve his shoot ing and become a tall shooting guard like Prince or bulk up and become a Power Forward in the mold of Dennis Rodman? He can certainly rebound and play defence. After watching his shot for a season, it seems like it will be much easier for him to add 20 pounds rather than make three pointers with the game on the line. What do you think?
He’d be more of a SF in the mold of rodman than a PF. Not big enough for that.
Don’t forget that bulking up isn’t as easy as you’d think. Adding weight while staying in the same conditioning isn’t easy.
Other than that, I think you got a point
by Wim (Belgium) on Sep 8, 2008 11:01 AM CDT up reply actions
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