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Saturday, August 19, 2000
If there's any current NBA player Pete Newell knows well, it's Austin Croshere. Croshere hungry
to return to NBA finalsBy Pat Bigold
Star-BulletinNewell, who recalled that Croshere used to slip in to watch his Big Man Camps as a high schooler in Los Angeles, said he marvels at the blue-collar player's "resolve."
In fact, he said it's the "greatest asset" the 6-foot-9, 235-pound fourth-year Indiana Pacer forward possesses.
"He has the ability to really focus on what he needs to do," said Newell, who yesterday wrapped up his Pete Newell Big Man Camp at Kamehameha Schools.
He thinks the time has come for Croshere to be a starter in the NBA -- as a small forward -- and he believes that's what new Pacers head coach Isiah Thomas plans to do with him.
In the NBA Finals against the eventual champion Los Angeles Lakers, Croshere was a force off the bench.
He averaged 24.2 minutes and 15.2 points (on 54 percent shooting) in the six games. He made 86 percent of his 45 free throws and averaged one block per game.
"He only played about eight minutes the year before in the playoffs," said Newell, who's had Croshere in camp since the summer before he was going to be a senior at Providence College.
"From that year to this year there was a quantum leap because he was really one of the star players of the playoffs," said Newell. "In the finals against the Lakers, they had a hard time matching up with him. He could out-quick the bigger forwards, and the smaller forwards he was posting up and scoring on."
For the 1999-2000 season, Croshere averaged 10.3 points on 23.3 minutes. As a bench-dweller, he averaged 2.9 points on 9.3 minutes in 1997-98 and 3.4 points on 9.2 minutes in 1998-99.
In his first two seasons with the Pacers, he had 90 rebounds. Last season, he had 516.
"It was a good coming-out year for me," said Croshere. "I sat on the bench for two years behind experienced players, and then the trade of Antonio Davis created some playing time for me and I like to think I made the most of my opportunity."
For his efforts, Croshere earned himself a new, plumper contract with the Pacers, and a virtual promise that he'll play a bigger role in upcoming seasons.
But if you listened to Croshere after a session at the Big Man Camp, you don't hear much about what he deserves from the NBA. You hear about what he needs to stay in the NBA.
When he talks about why he comes to Big Man Camp every summer, he downplays his talent.
"For a player like me who doesn't have great athleticism, quickness or jumping ability, it's important for me to have the fundamentals, the groundwork, the footwork," he said. "Ultimately that's gotten me to where I am. If I'm going to continue to improve, that's how it's going to be done."
Newell said he does think Croshere can jump, and he thinks he can run, too.
But he said one of his most important improvements was in strength.
"A year ago one of the things he lacked was strength," said Newell. "Now, he's strong enough to play a lot of the forwards. He can take most of those 3s (small forwards)and post them up and beat 'em up good because he is strong."
Going to the finals and losing left Croshere hungry.
"I felt like we left some business unfinished, and if we brought back the core team, we could get back there and take it a step further," he said.
He said that even though Indiana lost point guard Mark Jackson (fifth all-time in NBA assists) to Toronto, the team will be ready for another serious run.
"The previous year we lost Antonio Davis (also to Toronto) and we were OK," he said, "and hopefully other players will step up."
Croshere, who was retired head coach Larry Bird's first draft pick in 1997, said he and Bird finally became close last season.
"There wasn't much dialogue when I was on the bench," he said.
Croshere said Thomas embodies the Bird philosophy.
"Isiah will be a little more outspoken and a little more hands-on than Larry was," he said. "But there's no right or wrong philosophy . The bottom line is to win, no matter how you do it."