Bismack Biyombo showing improvements early

[Plowright]

Took this article from Hoopsworld, It is great to see Biz getting some love from the media and people applauding his work ethic!

Bismack Biyombo Showing Big Improvements Early

Once it became clear last season that the Charlotte Bobcats were working themselves toward record-breaking mediocrity, the NBA world in general stopped tuning in to their games. Nobody wanted to watch that train wreck, but those that turned their attention elsewhere missed something interesting happening out in Charlotte: rookie center Bismack Biyombo started to get kind of good.

Okay, so “kind of good” isn’t exactly a glowing report on a former top-ten lottery pick, but Biyombo was supposed to be a project—a raw prospect with the physical tools to eventually transform into one of the league’s most talented defensive players.

Instead of waiting years to see flashes of that, we got very rapid development right away from Biyombo. He had 11 double-digit rebound games last season, and ten games in which he blocked four or more shots. That’s a good start, and probably better than anybody expected for the young man’s rookie season.

“When we started nobody believed in me,” Biyombo told HOOPSWORLD in Las Vegas. “When [the Bobcats] drafted me, they gave me a chance to show what I could do out there. Down the road I showed who I was going to be and how things were going to be in the future.

“I’m not going to say a lot,” he added, “People can keep watching games and keep seeing how much better I’m getting. Of course there is always negativity, and that kind of helps you to get up there and work hard and get better.”

Biyombo, who everybody in the Charlotte organization is just enamored with not only because of his physical tools but because of his likeable, gentle demeanor, has worked very hard to get his game to this point. He’s already improving faster than anyone expected, and at 19 years old he’s still got plenty of time to establish himself, not that it will be easy.

“It’s just a challenge for me. I always go to the gym with that kind of challenge, saying I want to get better and prove to people at some point that they’re wrong,” Biyombo said, immediately breaking into a smile of gratification.

He, like the rest of his team, knows the immediate goal for 2012-2013 is to get out of the league basement.

“We’re just hoping, for one thing, to play a better game and to win more games. Do things that we didn’t do last year and be better as a team and as people. Just keep moving forward.”

Biyombo, who after the interview made it expressly clear that he wanted to thank God for blessing him with an incredible whirlwind of a year, is the poster child for progress in this organization.

With the addition of veterans like Ben Gordon, Ramon Sessions and Brendan Haywood, as well as second-overall pick Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, progress seems inevitable. But nobody on this team is easier to root for than Biyombo, the kid who could help make the Bobcats appointment television this year rather than a team to be ignored completely.

There is also a video interview at the end http://www.hoopsworld.com/nba-sunday...f-trade-rumors

[DashGlobal]

Clearly has improved his ft shooting and post moves (still has a ways to go)

[notdeadyet]

I honestly think Dunlap will have a huge impact on his development. I think it was a Summer League broadcast where the announcer said besides regular team practices every day, Dunlap was working with him late at night on improving his FT's. With his tireless dedication to improvement, I have no doubt we'll continue to see his overall game improve.

[QC Thundercats]

I think we all can see that Biz has the potential to be a monster on defense. What I was most interested in seeing was how he's coming along on the offensive side.

First thing I noticed was his shooting form is actually pretty solid. You can see he fully extends and follows through on his free throws, and he keeps his movements very consistent. He doesn't have alligator arms and pull his arms short when shooting, or solely rely on all muscles to chuck the ball up like other bruising big men, but there seems to be an actual fluidity and touch on his outside shots.

Near the basket seems promising too. When players like Diop, Ryan Hollins, Reggie Evans, or Ben Wallace get near the basket, they just toss the ball towards the goal and hope that the ball rattles in. What I've seen with Biz is that he has pretty decent touch close to the basket. It looks natural when he swoops in with the left hand, or puts it in off the glass. This shows to me he at least has the natural feel and spatial understanding of how to put the ball in the hoop that a lot of big men never get. Now he just needs to learn how to get his shot off easier.

Post moves are going to take a little while to learn. You can at least see he's being drilled how to drop his shoulder and make a drop step to get a hook off, or how to make a quick spin off the entry pass towards the basket. Next is for him to keep working on his footwork and utilizing pump fakes. One step at a time of course.

It'll still be another season or two before he starts getting much more consistent, although with his work ethic, I wouldn't be surprised if he's on a much faster scale.

[Jennings]

I love Biz. He's shown great improvement. He does have a ways to go, but he's still a teenager. Remember at the first of the year he couldn't catch the ball. It's going to be fun to watch.

[Ghost Kat]

If Biz was any more raw he'd be a zombie. Blocking shots and biting faces

[Katmandu]

It'll still be another season or two before he starts getting much more consistent, although with his work ethic, I wouldn't be surprised if he's on a much faster scale.

Lock him in a room with Hakeem Olajuwan and Kevin McHale videos.