Call him ‘Crazy,’ but rook rockin’
Intense Portis is battling for playing time
Every NBA team can use a little “crazy.’’
That’s where rookie Bobby Portis comes in. All 6-11, 250 pounds of him.
“This is me — ‘Crazy Eyes’ Portis,’’ he said when asked if anyone had asked him to tone down the intensity. “I’m going to be bugging out there. I’m going to try to play as hard as possible.’’
That’s exactly what he has done during the first week of his first NBA training camp.
Then again, that’s what was expected from the 22nd overall pick when he fell to the Bulls.
“First of all, Bobby, he’s getting better every day,’’ coach Fred Hoiberg said.
“In the Summer League, he comes in, and now he comes here, and he’s got Pau Gasol and Joakim Noah and Nikola [Mirotic] and Taj [Gibson] and some really good vets, so he’s kind of feeling his way these first few days.
“But you can tell he’s getting more comfortable. He’s always playing with energy. That’s the one thing you know about him.’’
Will that energy get him playing time once the regular season starts?
That’s what Portis is battling for. When Kevin Garnett is your role model, expect nothing less. The problem is there are at least four obstacles in Portis’ way: Gasol, Gibson, Noah and Mirotic.
“All of us are competing, you know,’’ Portis said. “Me, Taj, Joakim, Pau and Mirotic — we’re all competing. We’re all trying to fight for those minutes. We’re all trying to play the big role and help our team be successful. It’s not about backing down. It’s about stepping up and making your teammates better.’’
During his two seasons at Arkansas, Portis was a model of consistency, averaging 15 points and 7.9 rebounds and totaling 104 blocks in 70 games.
Then in the Summer League, Portis averaged 14.5 points and 8.7 rebounds and provided glimpses of a nasty disposition, drawing a couple of technicals.
“All the time,’’ Portis said about taking the court with an edge. “I’ve had this since I was a kid. One of the first things that one of my coaches taught me to do was just play hard. That’s a big trait any player can have. You play hard, the coaches like that. That’s something that always stuck with me and will continue to stick with me because if you play hard, good things happen.’’
The good news for Portis is that Gibson is coming off ankle surgery, and that could open up some minutes. Then there’s Mirotic, who has been getting more and more looks at small forward. Noah, 30, and Gasol, 35, aren’t getting any younger.
In other words, it might be a logjam, but it’s a fragile one.
“[Portis is a] great player,’’ Noah said.
“Very polished for his age, well beyond his years. The sky’s the limit for him if he keeps working the way he’s working.’’
Noah won’t have to worry about that changing.
“I’m just taking that nickname from what everybody else is calling me,’’ Portis said. “Everyone always talks about my eyes being bugged and everything. That’s something I’m going to take and run with. I like that name.’’