05-15-2005, 04:40 AM
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#1 (permalink)
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-LIFETIME MEMBER-
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Toronto
Age: 21
Posts: 17,553
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Doing the dirty work gives Foster his identity
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All of which brings us, in a very circuitous way, to Jeff Foster, who has merely been the biggest player in this Pacers-Pistons series thus far.
What? You didn't see that one coming? And you call yourself an NBA expert?
"I don't know why people are surprised," Jermaine O'Neal said after Saturday's practice. "We're not surprised. You look at his rebounds per minute and figure it out for an entire game."
When did math become part of this job?
OK. Nine rebounds every 26.1 minutes, or 16.6 boards over 48 minutes, which, if he'd played enough minutes, would have ranked sixth in the NBA.
But it's his offensive rebounding numbers that are astounding. He's led the league the past two seasons in offensive rebounds per 48 minutes -- how's that for an arcane statistic? -- and during the regular season had 205 offensive boards in 1,594 minutes for an average of . . . well, tell your sixth-grader to do the math.
Kid needs the practice.
So, why hasn't he been putting up these extraordinary numbers all year? Mostly, it's been injuries. Now that he's relatively healthy, he's producing more energy than a nuclear power plant. In the process, he's become Indy's version of Dennis Rodman. Except for the Dennis Rodman part.
After cursory review -- very cursory -- Foster has no tattoos or body piercings. Nor does he own a wedding dress, although that is just an assumption on my part and not an independently verifiable fact.
At first glance, it seems like all Foster does is run around like his pants are on fire, but there is a kind of science to offensive rebounding.
"You can tell when a shot's going up -- you're basically standing under the basket -- you can see where it's going to hit on the rim and where it's going to go," he said. "Someone said 75 percent of shots go long and 25 percent go short. I just try to pin the guy and get over into a position where it'll go long.
"Most teams defensively are help-side oriented. So the guy that's guarding me has to go over and help, which allows me to pin the guy and get position."
I said it was a science. I never said it was an exciting science.
Foster does something else that is not seen often enough in the NBA. He boxes out. Before Foster came along, the previous unofficial box-out was performed in 1978.
"That's one of my biggest pet peeves," Foster said. "It's something you learn at a young age. A lot of guys are too reliant on athletic ability and get away with it."
The problem for Detroit now is finding a way to guard Foster. But how do you defend a tornado? You can't plan to stop somebody who isn't really part of the offense.
"They (the Pacers' coaching staff) called one play for me this year," Foster said with a smile.
Associate coach Mike Brown was passing by at the time, and looked askance at Foster.
When? he wondered.
"This year, first round, we called X-5 when I had Delonte West on me," Foster said. "I know for sure there was just one last year. It was also against Boston in the playoffs, and I had Paul Pierce on me."
The result? Foster remembered scoring both times.
Still, he doesn't expect another play until the first round of the playoffs next season.
And couldn't care less.
"I don't need any plays," he said. "I'll just stick with getting the garbage baskets."
Between Foster and Dale Davis, the Pacers have more garbage men than the New York City Department of Sanitation.
Which always comes in handy.
Especially during a bloodbath.
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http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dl...TS01/505150411
Long article, but it's really good.
Foster has been a beast in this series, average 9.7 points and 15 rebounds per game.
Hopefully he can keep it up.
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Doing the dirty work gives Foster his identity
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