Did Joey Dorsey just break out for Rockets or was Memphis a one-game wonder?
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2010 12:04 AM CST
By Clutch
Copyright 2010 ClutchFans.net
"Ray Lewis with a basketball."
That's what Joey Dorsey, shortly after being picked by the Rockets with the 33rd pick in the 2008 draft, called himself.
Unfortunately, in his first two seasons in Houston, the 6-foot-8 forward/center has looked more like Jerry Lewis with a basketball.
In his rookie season, his work ethic was a huge problem. He did not take it very well that he was sent to the D-League. He saw absolutely no significant playing time. In fact, Rockets coach Rick Adelman extended minutes to Brian Cook over Dorsey in the 2009 playoffs despite a desperate team need for an inside presence after season-ending injuries to both Dikembe Mutombo and Yao Ming.
And there was also the ¡Ay, caramba! element: When sending him to the Rio Grande Valley for NBDL action, the Rockets had to take away his passport to keep him from making frequent trips to Mexico.
By this season his work ethic seemed to get on track, but it was his "feel for the game", or lack of it, that was heavily criticized internally. Understanding the team schemes, knowing where to be on the floor, staying out of immediate foul trouble -- all big problems for Dorsey that have kept him nailed to the pine.
With Daryl Morey and company holding a team option on the next two years of Dorsey's contract, it's been unanimous that he won't be back next year.
Now comes the wrench.
Friday night, with the Rockets in Memphis where Dorsey starred in college, Adelman turned to the big man after Carl Landry picked up two quick fouls with 6:10 left in the second quarter and the team down one.
Dorsey made an immediate impact.
He was active. He crashed the offensive glass. He stamped return to sender on a Zach Randolph turnaround. He set a head-snapping pick on Jamaal Tinsley. He suddenly looked like a Baltimore linebacker, adding a unique facet of interior defense to the Rockets that has been missing most of the season. In just 19 minutes, he picked up 7 points and 12 rebounds, including 6 offensive.
Calling this performance against a key West opponent on the road "surprising" would be an understatement, but don't tell that to Carl Landry.
"Not at all," said Landry. "I know what he's capable of doing. This is his second year in the league and he's proven it in practice every day. He's proven it in the development league. I'm not surprised. It was just a matter of time before he got his opportunity and tonight he did and he showed what he can do."
But can Dorsey continue to provide this kind of spark, or was this homecoming a one-game wonder? Shane Battier, who said Dorsey is "still learning the game", was pretty clear on what he will have to focus on moving forward.
"Throw Joey in there and you know you're going to get toughness and you'll get rebounding and he blocked a few shots tonight," said Battier. "The key for him is bringing his athleticism with the mental side of the game. Against the really good teams in the playoffs, you can't be just athletic. You got to use your brain too, but Joey has improved in that aspect a lot since Day 1."