Geno update

http://www.fiveborosports.com/ssp/news?news_id=3428

Lawrence back home after strong first season overseas
By Joseph Staszewski
 
July 3, 2009
 
Eugene Lawrence had heard all the stories from his friend and peers, some good and some bad, about playing overseas.
 
For the former St. John’s star, his first season outside the United State could not have gone better. The 6-foot-1 point guard said he won the Extraliga lPlayer of the Year and Rookie of the year awards. He was the Nitra team’s best scorer, dropping in 26 points to beat Pezinok in the fifth and deciding game for the league championship.
 
“It was a good experience for my first year,” Lawrence said. “I was pretty much the youngest on the team. I had an older team. They all pretty much schooled me and took me under their wing.”
 
What his teammates helped the most with was aiding him in adapting to the league’s style of play. Lawrence, a Brooklyn native, said it is more physical and required plenty of court smarts. All the teams play as a unit, with a team mentality and a deep understanding of the game.
 
“It’s real different,” he said “You have to adjust to the style of play. It’s grown men over there. It’s a whole different mentality.”
 
Lawrence is back in New York City for the summer before heading to the Czech Republic in August to start his next season overseas. Until then he is playing all over the street ball circuit including the Tri State Classic, the West 4th league and Pro City at Hunter College.
 
Lawrence, who helped lead Lincoln along with Sebastian Telfair to a PSAL Class AA city title as a senior, was at the Tri State Classic at Col. Charles Young Playground Friday night in Harlem. He scored eight points and dished out six assists for Ohh-way Records in a 102-76 win over You Better Pray.
 
“Now that I am out of school, I am trying to get as much run in as a can and stay in shape,” Lawrence said.
 
He displayed his usually quick first step and a smooth crossover that wowed the crowd a few times. There were plenty of pinpoint passes that showed a great touch. He hit Anthony (Africa) Pimble for a two-handed alley-oop in transition that got some oh’s and ah’s from the fans. But it is still the heart with which Lawrence plays that is his most valuable attribute.
 
“It’s his toughness,” Ooh-way Records coach Tony Rosa said. “He is a tough-minded guard. That is the biggest thing when you see him. He’s very much a pro. His whole attitude is very professional. I love having him on my team.”
 
Lawrence says he still keeps an eye on his old squad at St. John’s. He thinks, with talented juniors returning, Anthony Mason Jr. back from injury, and a good recruiting class that the Red Storm can made some noise in the Big East next season. While Lawrence peeks in on SJU his focus is working this summer in preparation for hopefully another strong year overseas.
 
“It’s good runs,” he said of the street leagues. “You have to bring your ‘A’ game every day.”

That's my boy!  Born winner.

it appears norm's total inability to coach x's and o's held lawrence back.

it appears norm's total inability to coach x's and o's held lawrence back.

That is probably why the fans hate every PG that we have.  PG is an extension of the coach and what a crappy coach to be extended from. 

Wow --- f'n Norm.  Great job Geno.

it appears norm's total inability to coach x's and o's held lawrence back.

... he played in the Czech Republic, and barely caught a sniff of the NBA. Let's not make Geno - a kid who gave his all for St. John's - into Jason Kidd or Deron Williams!

Nice work, Geno.

Quote from: newsman13 on July 05, 2009, 11:01:41 PM

it appears norm's total inability to coach x's and o's held lawrence back.

... he played in the Czech Republic, and barely caught a sniff of the NBA. Let's not make Geno - a kid who gave his all for St. John's - into Jason Kidd or Deron Williams!

Nice work, Geno.

Let's also not try to minimize his accomplishments.  Not everyone makes the NBA and there are great players whose games don't translate to the next level for one reason or another.  He's getting paid six-figures to play ball and that is something 99.99% of the the men in this world would do in a second if they could.

Yeah, it's the Czech Republic, but he is still playing against professionals and his league is loaded with very good former American college stars.

All joking aside I hear he is getting paid very good money

Quote from: peter on July 06, 2009, 06:48:32 PM

Quote from: newsman13 on July 05, 2009, 11:01:41 PM

it appears norm's total inability to coach x's and o's held lawrence back.

... he played in the Czech Republic, and barely caught a sniff of the NBA. Let's not make Geno - a kid who gave his all for St. John's - into Jason Kidd or Deron Williams!

Nice work, Geno.

Let's also not try to minimize his accomplishments.  Not everyone makes the NBA and there are great players whose games don't translate to the next level for one reason or another.  He's getting paid six-figures to play ball and that is something 99.99% of the the men in this world would do in a second if they could.

Yeah, it's the Czech Republic, but he is still playing against professionals and his league is loaded with very good former American college stars.

For certain.  I'm not minimizing his accomplishments, he's done well for himself; sorry if it came off as a bash on Geno.  I'm just saying, no reason to turn this into a blind "Bash Norm" session.  Norm is not a good x and o coach (and in many cases, I question the player development), but would Geno have been that much better under another coach?  Are you certain of that?

And people - not sure if you were included, but many people - ripped Norm for playing Geno big minutes, or not replacing him with a "Big East level" point.  He wouldn't have had the opportunity to show some of what he could do without Norm. 

All I'm saying is that talking about Norm's ability with that kind of certainty w/r/t Geno - especially considering he managed the ball, had chances to make shots, dealt out assists, and played strong defense - is a bit of conjecture.  Let Geno's accomplishments stand on their own, and kudos to a player with lots of heart and guts.

Quote from: Marillac on July 06, 2009, 09:03:07 PM

Quote from: peter on July 06, 2009, 06:48:32 PM

Quote from: newsman13 on July 05, 2009, 11:01:41 PM

it appears norm's total inability to coach x's and o's held lawrence back.

... he played in the Czech Republic, and barely caught a sniff of the NBA. Let's not make Geno - a kid who gave his all for St. John's - into Jason Kidd or Deron Williams!

Nice work, Geno.

Let's also not try to minimize his accomplishments.  Not everyone makes the NBA and there are great players whose games don't translate to the next level for one reason or another.  He's getting paid six-figures to play ball and that is something 99.99% of the the men in this world would do in a second if they could.

Yeah, it's the Czech Republic, but he is still playing against professionals and his league is loaded with very good former American college stars.

For certain.  I'm not minimizing his accomplishments, he's done well for himself; sorry if it came off as a bash on Geno.  I'm just saying, no reason to turn this into a blind "Bash Norm" session.  Norm is not a good x and o coach (and in many cases, I question the player development), but would Geno have been that much better under another coach?  Are you certain of that?

And people - not sure if you were included, but many people - ripped Norm for playing Geno big minutes, or not replacing him with a "Big East level" point.  He wouldn't have had the opportunity to show some of what he could do without Norm. 

All I'm saying is that talking about Norm's ability with that kind of certainty w/r/t Geno - especially considering he managed the ball, had chances to make shots, dealt out assists, and played strong defense - is a bit of conjecture.  Let Geno's accomplishments stand on their own, and kudos to a player with lots of heart and guts.

I doubt we'll like any PG that plays for Norm.  Look at how we perceive Boothe now.  Check out the posts two years ago saying how much better we'd be with him in Geno's stead.  I called it then.

With Norm as the coach we will always be looking at the next kid.  The next kid will always be better until he is no longer a freshman and then we will look ahead. 

It looks like Norm can develop players for the "next" level.

I dont care what country Geno is playing in. If he is getting paif well for doing what he loves then great for him. He's getting to play in places he probably never even heard of. That's pretty cool and an experience that he'll remember for the rest of his life

I don't know much about his situation, but if he puts effort into learning the language and embracing the culture, Lawrence will live a pretty sweet life for the next 15 or so years. And if he's smart with his money, he'll return to a spacious mortgage-free house here after his playing days are over and have plenty of cash left over. And he'll probably have a hot busty European woman on his arm.

Sounds pretty damn good to me.