BRAMA, Mar 22, 2004, 1:00 pm ET
Ukrainian Titans: Why is Vitaly Potapenko Smiling?
– by Max Pyziur
Seattle Super Sonics'
Vitaly Potapenko (FILE)
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The Seattle Supersonics 2003-2004 season has been nothing less than a roller
coaster ride. Conversely, Vitaly Potapenko's season, the team's center,
has been a consistent, albeit gradual, ascent.
Having offensive threats such as Rashard Lewis, Ray Allen, and Vladimir
Radmanovic along with a string of hot-handed, eager-to-please rookies the
Sonics have nevertheless seen themselves fall to such lesser opponents
as the Washington Wizards and the Atlanta Hawks. However, serious
challenges such as the Houston Rockets and the Los Angeles Lakers tap some
sort of residual energy and they deliver victories. At this late point in
the season with twelve games left they sport a blemished record of 32
wins and 38 losses with three teams ahead of them for the eighth seed in
the NBA's Western Conference Playoffs. Nevertheless, they have been
holding on, having won their last five games.
Vitaly Potapenko started the season at the back of the proverbial bus with
two strikes against him before he even came up to bat (to coin an analogy
from another professional sport): 1) his previous year's contributions
were minimal because he was still rehabilitating from a knee injury,
consequently he wasn't integrated into the team's rotation; 2) having been
acquired in a trade the Sonics were committed first to Jerome James and
Calvin Booth - two players playing the same position as Vitaly that they
had directly signed and were developing.
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3/21/2004 AP Photo: Seattle SuperSonics Vitaly Potapenko, right, of the Ukraine, shoots over Orlando Magic's Andrew DeClercq, left, during the second half in Seattle
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3/21/2004 AP Photo: Orlando Magic's Juwan Howard, left, drives against Seattle SuperSonics' Vitaly Potapenko, right, of the Ukraine, in the first half in Seattle
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Nevertheless, Vitaly persevered in his training and nurtured his
patience. As James and Booth faltered by showing their offensive and
defensive inconsistencies Coach Nate McMillan called on Vitaly to do the
dirty work of cleaning up after them, i.e. confounding opposing teams big
players as well as directing his fellow teammates such as Vladimir
Radmonovic where to move in order to distract and counter adversaries.
At the end of January Vitaly became the team's starting center with Coach
McMillan demoting James and Booth to supportive roles.
Vitaly's playing is short on glamour and high on distraction. When other
teams have no answer for Houston Rocket's 7'5" giant Yao Ming Vitaly's
6'11" approach is that of a lumberjack's. Singing peculiar praises of
Vitaly after the Sonics February 29th victory over the Rockets, teammate
Jerome James said,
"All V (Potapenko) did tonight was take a few hacks at him;
Just like chopping wood. You keep taking hacks, he'll fall.
And that's what (Yao) did. He fell. And he fell hard, man."
Vitaly's defensive work has always overshadowed his offensive contributions.
Nevertheless, as his playing time has increased so too have his points
per game (ppg), moving from being marginal to that of being substantial.
At the beginning of the season in November he averaged 1.8
ppg; this month the number stands at 11.1 ppg.
In yesterday's Sonics 84-67 win over Orlando Vitaly had two things to
celebrate - his 29th birthday and a season high 21 points (on 10 of 13
shooting and 1 of 1 free throws).
Definitely something to smile about.
Mnohaya Lita (Happy Birthday in Ukrainian) Vitaly!
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