LAS VEGAS - The message to Thomas Robinson for the final two games of summer league is to slow down.
To go along with poor shooting (35.1 percent) the rookie power forward is averaging 5.3 turnovers through three summer league games.
"He's going so fast," said Kings coach Keith Smart. "He's got to get to where he sees the floor and how that space opens up to be able to attack offensively. He's shown he can pass the ball, that he's a willing passer. Obviously his energy with how he plays on both ends of the floor and throughout the game is a huge plus. So the guy rarely wants to come out of a practice, wants to come off the floor and he rarely complains about anything. So he has the capacity to learn, willing to get better and that's only going to help him speed the process of learning the play game."
Robinson hasn't lacked for effort. He's constantly fighting for position and trying to take rebounds from opponents.
Smart just doesn't want to see Robinson play out of control.
"You've got to have tenacity and a little physicality and he has that already," Smart said "You just have to clean up the skill part and slow him down. All the rookies that come in here are all going to be too fast and he's no exception to that."
Robinson's struggles on offense can be attributed to speed - well not using it correctly.
Robinson was trying to post up bigger players instead of stepping out to drive by them. It's also about Robinson not settling for jump shots, especially against smaller players.
"Understanding personnel, what he can do, when he needs to do it, that's going to help," Smart said. "And he'll get tot hat point because he's a willing student. I can see that already. He loves to be taught."
About Comments
Reader comments on Sacbee.com are the opinions of the writer, not The Sacramento Bee. If you see an objectionable comment, click the "report abuse" button below it. We will delete comments containing inappropriate links, obscenities, hate speech, and personal attacks. Flagrant or repeat violators will be banned. See more about comments here.