POWE-ND

Posted by: Avinash on Tuesday, June 10th, 2008

n1225467_40060346_7222

So I just got back from Vegas, and despite all the money I’ve lost right now, I feel quite vindicated. While some of you doubters might have thought that the NBA Finals was the Powe-show, I don’t think any of you are doubting now.

[youtube NWy1gcJ9d_0]

Oh yeah. As we get ready for Game 3, it’s time to talk more Powe, all the time.

Here’s Leon’s story during the halftime show:

[youtube 2LQu-7lpdx0]

Inner thoughts of Leon Powe during his coast-to-coast at the Blowtorch.

Rod Benson: It was an especially great night for Leon to drop 21 because ABC played the story of his childhood and how much he has overcome at half. I’ve heard it a thousand times. What they don’t tell you is that he is so humble and so nice when he has every reason to not be. He actually gave me his last packet of Kool-Aid when we were roommates my senior year. His last one. It wasn’t red either. I think it was a Strawberry-Kiwi twister. That’s love.

They don’t tell you that when I started my D-League career in Austin, I wasn’t allowed to choose the jersey number that I’d worn for years. I was forced to wear number 4 because back then the Toros were the affiliate for the Spurs and the Celtics. Guess who had just decided to wear number zero? Leon Powe. I let it fly because he is a card-carrying member of the Boom Tho movement.

Steve Conroy of the Boston Herald: “I’m always ready to go in there and play whatever minutes and produce whatever you need me to do. That’s what I’m going to do,” Powe said. “It’s just about being prepared and being the consummate professional. It’s your job to stay ready, whether (coach Doc Rivers) calls you that day or he doesn’t call you. But if someone’s hurt and you have to go, you have to make sure that you can do the job. And I know that I can.” So far, the evidence backs that up.

Bob Ryan of the Boston Globe: Powe was Exhibit A of what effort, plus strong inside moves, can do for someone. There are times you look at him and say, “If only he were 6-11, he would be a monster,” but it doesn’t always work out that way. In all likelihood, he plays harder at 6-8 than he would at 6-11 or 7 feet. He has developed a game that suits Leon Powe, and it will keep him gainfully employed in the NBA for the next 10 or 12 years.

Monte Poole of the San Jose Mercury News: New roster in place, Powe sat through 23 of Boston’s first 37 games. Then Garnett went down with an injury, and Rivers needed a frontcourt presence. The candidates were Powe, Brian Scalabrine and Glen “Big Baby” Davis. Each was tried, until it became evident Scalabrine is a stiff and that Big Baby could grow wings and still not keep up with Powe. “Really, it was a team effort, because all of a sudden we had to fill a role,” said Powe, typically modest. “KG was a big part of our offense, so we had to find a way to get it done. Lucky enough, we had a lot of other guys on the bench – including myself – that could play.” Powe’s goal with every appearance is to deliver a message: A 6-7 power forward isn’t undersized when you count the three-inch flame atop his head.

Celtics247: Leon Powe is a man. Not a kid, not a boy… a man’s man. The second-year bruiser provided the postseason performance of his life in Game 2, tallying 21 points and getting to the free throw line 13 times in just under 15 minutes of action. Powe drove the lane, created contact, provided high activity, and finished with an array of thunderous slams both in transition and in the half-court setting. Heck, he even took one coast to coast, three-quarter court. “Experts” across the country have been quick to crown Los Angeles’ bench as the superior one, but Leon “The Show” Powe had something to say about that in Game 2.

Hardwood Paroxysm (awesome image of Powe too if you click here): Here’s your basic two possession sequence for Pau Gasol. Offense: Brilliant spacing. Focus. Set post. Lure defender to weak side. Slip to the strong. Catch ball. Finish with European authority. Ha. Just kidding. Finish with actual authority. Defense: Steady. Steady. Steady. Ah-ha! I have you now, Rajon Rondo/Paul Pierce/Kevin Garnett! Wait. What? You can pass again? Wait. Who is this “Powe” guy? Oh, sonofa! Again!

Leon Powe Fan Site: I gotta say, when Leon was at the free throw line in the 4th quarter and the crowd was cheering “Leon Powe! Leon Powe! Leon Powe!” I had chills. I’ve been watching Leon since he was a basketball player in high school and I’ve followed his career since then. When the crowed began chanting his name I started to think back to all the times when I’d get excited because Leon was on the floor for the last 30 seconds of a blow out game in the regular season. Or I was thinking back to all the times where people would argue that Leon should be playing in the D-League. That was if they even knew who Leon was, which most didn’t. It was so surreal to hear the Boston Celtics fans chanting Leon’s name in the 4th quarter of an NBA Championship game. There isn’t a much higher praise in basketball than having your name chanted throughout the rafters in Boston. Leon Powe once a 12th man, now a piece of history.

It’s almost time to revel. Two games away from crowning a Golden Bear NBA champion. Although with Doc Rivers involved, we wouldn’t be surprised to see Big Baby Davis get Powe’s minutes to screw it all up.

MORE POWE.



Topics: Alumni, Blogs, Cal Basketball, Media, NBA, Players

Related Articles
    None Found

Comments are closed.