Summer Reading is a series on what each Philadelphia Seventy-Sixer needs to do this off season in order to bring the Sixers back to the playoffs in ‘07–08. Each member of the Sixers will get a reading list, we’ll start with Bobby Jones, and end with Andre Iguodala (Least minutes per game to most).
Vital stats: 17.5 minutes, 46% from the floor, 35% from three, 61% from the line, 1.9 RPG, 0.4 APG, 0.57 SPG, 0.34 BPG, 6.6 PPG.
Suggested reading: Desire, by Nicole Jordan, Blue Collar Blues, by Rosalyn McMillan, Backboard Fever, by Clair Bee et al.
Extra credit: Lobbying for Defense, by Matthew R. Kambrod.
Suggested viewing: Working Girl
The Rub: The book on Rodney Carney coming out of Memphis was that he was a deadly outside shooter, a high-flying finisher and a shut-down defender. In his rookie year, he displayed one of those qualities. His dunks were thunderous, but pretty much every other part of his game was lacking.
On the offensive side, I really don’t care. His jumper could use a mechanical fine-tuning, he could work on creating his own shot. Those are what we’ll call “nice-to-haves,” what isn’t optional if Carney is going to be a productive member of the rotation next year is defense and rebounding. He needs to be able to lock down a wing threat from the other team, and for God’s sake, he needs to grab a rebound or two. His rebounding numbers are absolutely pitiful. He’s a long, athletic swingman, he needs to work on his technique some, but more than that, he needs to work on his desire. Rebounding is a mindset more than anything, and he’s got the wrong disposition for it.
Hit the weights, and when you’re on the floor, Rodney, act like every rebound belongs to you. There’s a very good chance the Sixers will draft a player who will move ahead of Carney on the depth chart immediately after being drafted. If Rodney wants to see 17.5 minutes per game again next season, he’s going to have to improve greatly.
Up next: Steven Hunter
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I think we have to blame Cheeks if we still have so many question marks reguarding Carney
It's true he has to work on the aspects you talk about (reboundig, defense, I would also add FREE THROWS - 60% is horrible for a swingman - and using the left hand) but he should have played more and with more consistency...
he passed from a starter status to several DNP-CDs, that's simply dumb personnel management, especially when your teams plays for... nothing ! he got onlty garbage time minutes also in the second part of the season, when Iguodala, Miller etc were on the court 40+ minutes per night... simply idiotic
I have the feeling this guy got game, next year will be the key for him. But he has to work hard NOW (=offseason)