Yeah, unless you're a shotblocker or you grab a ton of rebounds, there's not a lot of stats that prove your worth defensively. Which is probably a good thing really if you're in the business of scouting under-appreciated talent. We just picked up a guy who may be one of the top 5 perimeter defenders in the league for a couple of second round picks. That's as close as it gets to a free giveaway in the NBA and all because he doesn't have much of an offensive game. You probably aren't going to win with a team that can only defend, but if you know how to scout and develop that side of the game you have a definite advantage in this league. Not that many teams do it well.
Kings vs Raptors - Summer League Game 3
- Thread starter nebs
- Start date
Well that should shut up the Chicken Littles for a bit. Or maybe they're ready to declare McLemore as the GOAT? Knee-jerk is knee-jerk I suppose.
Absolutely nothing has changed regarding my opinion of McLemore. I still see him topping out as the third option on a contender with his polished game off-the-ball. Summer league is an awful setting for showcasing what McLemore can do.
Option 1: Cousins
Option 2: ????
Option 3: McLemore
Just for fun, Summer League Stats:
Ben McLemore: 16ppg on 33% shooting
Steph Curry: 17ppg on 33% shooting
Paul George: 15ppg on 33% shooting
Absolutely nothing has changed regarding my opinion of McLemore. I still see him topping out as the third option on a contender with his polished game off-the-ball. Summer league is an awful setting for showcasing what McLemore can do.
Option 1: Cousins
Option 2: ????
Option 3: McLemore
Just for fun, Summer League Stats:
Ben McLemore: 16ppg on 33% shooting
Steph Curry: 17ppg on 33% shooting
Paul George: 15ppg on 33% shooting
I didn't manage to watch this game, but I will catch the replay tonight. On paper, McLemore seemed to have himself a good game, which is a good sign. It's quite amusing how that happens to coincide with a lack of negativity towards McLemore. Hopefully, his confidence goes up and so do his shooting percentages.
Was thinking along the same lines. Peja relied on Webber, Divac, Christie et al to set him up, but he was still the second-leading scorer on a contending squad. If Ben is a (potentially better defending) Peja at the 2 spot, he'll have turned out to be a fine pick at #7 in this draft.
Edit: could also do a mid-2000s Pistons with Cuz as Sheed and Ben as Rip. Even Luc as Prince (and he IS a prince!). Still need a Billups and Ben Wallace, though, and those are tough to find.
Edit: could also do a mid-2000s Pistons with Cuz as Sheed and Ben as Rip. Even Luc as Prince (and he IS a prince!). Still need a Billups and Ben Wallace, though, and those are tough to find.
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IT, MT23, The Jimmer and JT are at summer league practice . Does our franchise player need to be there too? IF he wants to be the leader on this team, Cuz should think about it. Show commitment to winning . Get an early jump on the new system that is being implemented . I don't know what his current commitments are, but something to ponder.
Here's the schedule:
http://www.nba.com/2013/news/07/17/las-vegas-summer-league-seedings/index.html
http://www.nba.com/2013/news/07/17/las-vegas-summer-league-seedings/index.html
I think most of us are forgetting about Thornton. He is still with us guys. Non-defending SG, but that is not our problem anymore. He will be a big challenge for Malone and I hope the coach really would make a lot of difference in making him give his best in defense.
Option 1: Cousins
Option 2: Thornton
Option 3: McLemore
Starting Five:
C- Cousins
PF- Thompson
SF- Mah Boute
SG-Thornton
PG-Vasquez
Bench: McLemore, Landry, Patterson, Aldrich (or Mozgov) and Salmons.
I hope this is good enough for Wiggins for losing Tyreke.
Option 1: Cousins
Option 2: Thornton
Option 3: McLemore
Starting Five:
C- Cousins
PF- Thompson
SF- Mah Boute
SG-Thornton
PG-Vasquez
Bench: McLemore, Landry, Patterson, Aldrich (or Mozgov) and Salmons.
I hope this is good enough for Wiggins for losing Tyreke.
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Don't forget Isaiah Thomas off the bench and to a lesser extent Jimmer.
If that is indeed the starting lineup then it isn't too hard to envision Thornton putting up 20-22 ppg as the #2 option on offense. If he does, and McLemore starts really rounding out a couple months in then Thornton becomes a fairly attractive trade piece at the deadline. A guy who can get hot and really fill it up and who at that point only has half a season before he's an easy to move ending contract could bring back a significant piece.
If that is indeed the starting lineup then it isn't too hard to envision Thornton putting up 20-22 ppg as the #2 option on offense. If he does, and McLemore starts really rounding out a couple months in then Thornton becomes a fairly attractive trade piece at the deadline. A guy who can get hot and really fill it up and who at that point only has half a season before he's an easy to move ending contract could bring back a significant piece.
If Malone is a defense-first kind of coach, I can see these two, (midget IT and shoot-and-nothing-else Jimmer) at the very end of the bench.
Nothing these two guys can give when you have Salmons (who we need to play a little bit of PG duties), especially with the smallish Thornton and McLemore as our primary SGs in this team.
Nothing these two guys can give when you have Salmons (who we need to play a little bit of PG duties), especially with the smallish Thornton and McLemore as our primary SGs in this team.