CruzDude
Senior Member sharing a brew with bajaden
Observations from floor level of Kings games 3 and 4
These are my thoughts on what I was seeing the past 2 games at VSL. We all have to keep in mind that a summer league is really two groups of players: the team draftees and any signed FA's with 2 or less years in the NBA, and the rookie FA's trying to impress their team, or any team enough to get invited to Training Camp in October. Winning is always a goal but not at the expense of getting a good evaluation of position players or players not seen in game like conditions.
Last year the Knicks went 5-0 in summer league yet were in the lottery. The Spurs were 1-4 but went to second round of playoffs. The Kings had 3 draft choices playing and summer league is as much about them as anything. The other 10 players are all FA's (Free Agents) showcasing their skills in NBA game like conditions.
Everything about summer league is like the NBA except for three major items: there are four 10-minute quarters instead of the NBA 12-minutes, the referees are primarily free agents themselves showcasing their ref abilities (or lack there of) to try for a sacred spot as one of only 58 refs in the league, and every player is allowed 10 fouls before fouling out.
Not every player on a team necessarily plays. For reasons I'll find out tomorrow, big John Bryant from Santa Clara and 24 year-old Victor Stowes have not played in any game. Yet they both suit up for every game and take their place on the bench. Interesting, no?
1. Tyreke is as advertised and even more. Reminds me of Big-O, Oscar Robertson and likely has quicker first step. Court vision is good but needs to be wider. Played toward triple double on monday but had poor game wednesday nursing a sprained index finger. Only 5 points on 1/5 shooting, 6 reb and 3 ast in 23 min. In locker room after seemed finger was very sore from way he sagged on chair and was cautiously attended to by Kings trainer. Excellent FT shooter and was 17/19 in monday's game.
2. Jason Thompson (JT) had his worst game ever on Monday then one of his best games ever on Wednesday. Played every minute wednesday but ran out of gas early in 4th quarter. Showed all his skills. Only got credit for 2 blocks wednesday but really had 5 or 6, some were fouls and others had fouls called on others on same play. Stayed away from outside shooting on all but 2 occasions. No fear down low on defense or offense. Had 5 off and 5 def rebounds and scored on most offensive rebs. Very dominant down low this game. But he was playing the 5, not his normal position at the 4. Maybe putting a little fear in Spencer if Greene shines at the 4 spot?
3. Jon Brockman. Fantastic defensive game monday but only 2/6 shooting. Wednesday was very quiet defensively but felt much better in his offensive game hitting 4/6 FG and 3/6 FT. Big not is he has not had a TO in last 2 games!! Landed in first row saving a swatted steal and hit the deck a number of times going after balls. (come to think of it so did Omri, twice!). See my interview with him in Kings Rap.
4. Landry is 4/8 shooting 3's and seems a natural scorer. Definitely a SF at 6-7 and 230 but may not have the quickness defending many SF. Excellent FT shooter (100% last 2 games) and is shooting 50% for 3's. A tweener.
5. Matthews is definitely a shooter-scorer 2-guard. Has zero assists last two games but 14 and 11 points. At 6-5 and 220 has decent size but to me did not show good defensive skills vs. smaller, quicker guards. Hard to place him yet.
6. Jerel McNeal and Brian Roberts are both point guards with McNeal having the advantage by an inch and 25 lb. But with Evans as the BMOC, they only got 18 and 11 minutes per game respectively. Neither seemed to show they belong in NBA yet. Actually several guys from the D-League Select team impressed me the more: 6-3, 215 G Curtis Stinson and 6-7 G-F Gary Forbes and 6-5 G Othyus Jeffers. But they were much more all shoot first and ask questions later. Beat the Kings but they also created the mis-matches due to the large drop off after the 3 Kings draft choices.
TEAM. Very poor defensive rotations as D-League team won points-in-the-paint 56 to 44, and really bad transition defense as DLS won fast break points 19 to 5. A bunch more fast breaks were fouled in open court resulting in side out. Had Tyreke been 100% score would have been closer but he wasn't into the in-the-paint defense either. Could well have been his finger was really bothering him. In locker room after the game there was only one item on the marker board in 18" tall letters: 105, the points allowed. The three draft choices showed their worth but hard to say if anyone else has a real shot at a roster spot so far. Friday will be everyone's final shot before training camp in October.
John Bryant (the 6-11 and 275 guy from Santa Clara) and Victor Stowes have yet to play in summer league and Toolson got his first floor time wednesday but did nothing in his 8:24 playing time. His stroke looks really good but obvious he was nervous.
So, no startling revelations or diamonds in the rough outside of the Kings 3 draft choices. And really good choices at that!
These are my thoughts on what I was seeing the past 2 games at VSL. We all have to keep in mind that a summer league is really two groups of players: the team draftees and any signed FA's with 2 or less years in the NBA, and the rookie FA's trying to impress their team, or any team enough to get invited to Training Camp in October. Winning is always a goal but not at the expense of getting a good evaluation of position players or players not seen in game like conditions.
Last year the Knicks went 5-0 in summer league yet were in the lottery. The Spurs were 1-4 but went to second round of playoffs. The Kings had 3 draft choices playing and summer league is as much about them as anything. The other 10 players are all FA's (Free Agents) showcasing their skills in NBA game like conditions.
Everything about summer league is like the NBA except for three major items: there are four 10-minute quarters instead of the NBA 12-minutes, the referees are primarily free agents themselves showcasing their ref abilities (or lack there of) to try for a sacred spot as one of only 58 refs in the league, and every player is allowed 10 fouls before fouling out.
Not every player on a team necessarily plays. For reasons I'll find out tomorrow, big John Bryant from Santa Clara and 24 year-old Victor Stowes have not played in any game. Yet they both suit up for every game and take their place on the bench. Interesting, no?
1. Tyreke is as advertised and even more. Reminds me of Big-O, Oscar Robertson and likely has quicker first step. Court vision is good but needs to be wider. Played toward triple double on monday but had poor game wednesday nursing a sprained index finger. Only 5 points on 1/5 shooting, 6 reb and 3 ast in 23 min. In locker room after seemed finger was very sore from way he sagged on chair and was cautiously attended to by Kings trainer. Excellent FT shooter and was 17/19 in monday's game.
2. Jason Thompson (JT) had his worst game ever on Monday then one of his best games ever on Wednesday. Played every minute wednesday but ran out of gas early in 4th quarter. Showed all his skills. Only got credit for 2 blocks wednesday but really had 5 or 6, some were fouls and others had fouls called on others on same play. Stayed away from outside shooting on all but 2 occasions. No fear down low on defense or offense. Had 5 off and 5 def rebounds and scored on most offensive rebs. Very dominant down low this game. But he was playing the 5, not his normal position at the 4. Maybe putting a little fear in Spencer if Greene shines at the 4 spot?
3. Jon Brockman. Fantastic defensive game monday but only 2/6 shooting. Wednesday was very quiet defensively but felt much better in his offensive game hitting 4/6 FG and 3/6 FT. Big not is he has not had a TO in last 2 games!! Landed in first row saving a swatted steal and hit the deck a number of times going after balls. (come to think of it so did Omri, twice!). See my interview with him in Kings Rap.
4. Landry is 4/8 shooting 3's and seems a natural scorer. Definitely a SF at 6-7 and 230 but may not have the quickness defending many SF. Excellent FT shooter (100% last 2 games) and is shooting 50% for 3's. A tweener.
5. Matthews is definitely a shooter-scorer 2-guard. Has zero assists last two games but 14 and 11 points. At 6-5 and 220 has decent size but to me did not show good defensive skills vs. smaller, quicker guards. Hard to place him yet.
6. Jerel McNeal and Brian Roberts are both point guards with McNeal having the advantage by an inch and 25 lb. But with Evans as the BMOC, they only got 18 and 11 minutes per game respectively. Neither seemed to show they belong in NBA yet. Actually several guys from the D-League Select team impressed me the more: 6-3, 215 G Curtis Stinson and 6-7 G-F Gary Forbes and 6-5 G Othyus Jeffers. But they were much more all shoot first and ask questions later. Beat the Kings but they also created the mis-matches due to the large drop off after the 3 Kings draft choices.
TEAM. Very poor defensive rotations as D-League team won points-in-the-paint 56 to 44, and really bad transition defense as DLS won fast break points 19 to 5. A bunch more fast breaks were fouled in open court resulting in side out. Had Tyreke been 100% score would have been closer but he wasn't into the in-the-paint defense either. Could well have been his finger was really bothering him. In locker room after the game there was only one item on the marker board in 18" tall letters: 105, the points allowed. The three draft choices showed their worth but hard to say if anyone else has a real shot at a roster spot so far. Friday will be everyone's final shot before training camp in October.
John Bryant (the 6-11 and 275 guy from Santa Clara) and Victor Stowes have yet to play in summer league and Toolson got his first floor time wednesday but did nothing in his 8:24 playing time. His stroke looks really good but obvious he was nervous.
So, no startling revelations or diamonds in the rough outside of the Kings 3 draft choices. And really good choices at that!
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