RealGM: Tuesday Summer League Notes

#1
http://realgm.com/src_feature_pieces/948/20100714/notes_from_vsl_(tuesday)_derozan_lawson_caracter_ed_davis_&_more/

He says some good things about the Kings, though hardly enough. But this quote got me going :confused:

Derrick Caracter might be my player of the day for Tuesday (Ryan Thompson was the first winner of the prestigious award). Defensively, he contested nearly every shot Cousins took on him and he didn't veer from the limits of his offensive game.
Cousins was clearly more impressive than Caracter yesterday and even shut him down in the 2nd half. Laker fan I suppose?
 

Bricklayer

Don't Make Me Use The Bat
#3
http://realgm.com/src_feature_pieces/948/20100714/notes_from_vsl_(tuesday)_derozan_lawson_caracter_ed_davis_&_more/

He says some good things about the Kings, though hardly enough. But this quote got me going :confused:



Cousins was clearly more impressive than Caracter yesterday and even shut him down in the 2nd half. Laker fan I suppose?
First of all, his notes about Cousiins almost border on don't get-it-ness, perhaps intentional. Secondly I have said repeatedly in the past that Perna may own a site, but he just isn't one of the better basketball minds on the net. Normally he wallows around trying to hide behind waves of PERs and other "advnaced" stats rather than actually analyzing anythnig, and when he does actually try he is wrong as often as right. This also had the feel of somebody who was riding Character's jock and/or made poredictions about Cousins and was unwilling to change direction. Giovny of draftespress also does that.
 
#4
Wow, that guy's clueless. I only got to watch the highlights and read the running notes during the game, but the key point to me was Cousin's ability to facilitate the offense like a 6'11 point guard while simultaneously being the best big man on the floor.

And all this guy can talk about is his big frame for tip ins and rebounds? It's like he read Lord of the Flies and decided the main theme was "How to Survive a Plane Crash"
 
#5
If Ryan Thompson was the winner on Monday, it sounds like he's just trying to do something different and point out a player that isn't obvious.
 
#6
First of all, his notes about Cousiins almost border on don't get-it-ness, perhaps intentional. Secondly I have said repeatedly in the past that Perna may own a site, but he just isn't one of the better basketball minds on the net. Normally he wallows around trying to hide behind waves of PERs and other "advnaced" stats rather than actually analyzing anythnig, and when he does actually try he is wrong as often as right. This also had the feel of somebody who was riding Character's jock and/or made poredictions about Cousins and was unwilling to change direction. Giovny of draftespress also does that.
So he is like the Eric Musselman of journalism...
 
#7
I thought Caracter played pretty well considering that the Lakers' guards were hogging the ball, and Cousins has about 6 inches on him in reach.
 
#8
I thought Caracter played pretty well considering that the Lakers' guards were hogging the ball, and Cousins has about 6 inches on him in reach.
Caracter played pretty well and has been throughout this summer. However Cousins also saw a lot of double teams yesterday too, so it wasn't exactly a mano a mano matchup. I don't remember the Kings having to double team Caracter.
 
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#9
Interesting tidbits about Caracter:


Caracter was a child prodigy that was getting noticed in middle school. A skilled beast of player. He was one of the top ranked high school players, even ranked ahead of Greg Oden and Kevin Durant once. Attended all the elite high school basketball camps and was nicknamed "baby Shaq."

Transferred from one high school to another due to academic issues. 3 different high schools in 4 years.

Received scholarship at Louisville with high expectations, but was eventually kicked off the Louisville team by Rick Pitino for numerous work ethic, weight, and behaviorial issues. Reportedly suspended for 16 games and twice signed and violated behavioral contracts Pitino drew up.

Transferred to UTEP, where he averaged 14 pts and 8 rebs.

Has a load of talent, but is his own worst enemy.
 
#11
Interesting tidbits about Caracter:


Caracter was a child prodigy that was getting noticed in middle school. A skilled beast of player. He was one of the top ranked high school players, even ranked ahead of Greg Oden and Kevin Durant once. Attended all the elite high school basketball camps and was nicknamed "baby Shaq."

Transferred from one high school to another due to academic issues. 3 different high schools in 4 years.

Received scholarship at Louisville with high expectations, but was eventually kicked off the Louisville team by Rick Pitino for numerous work ethic, weight, and behaviorial issues. Reportedly suspended for 16 games and twice signed and violated behavioral contracts Pitino drew up.

Transferred to UTEP, where he averaged 14 pts and 8 rebs.

Has a load of talent, but is his own worst enemy.
Supposedly he's turned it around a bit since then.
 
#13
They seemed to go back and forth in the first half, but in the second half I thought Cousins took over that match-up. Or at the very least I didn't notice Caracter much after the break and Cousins seemed to settle in and figure things out nicely.
 
#14
Interesting tidbits about Caracter:


Caracter was a child prodigy that was getting noticed in middle school. A skilled beast of player. He was one of the top ranked high school players, even ranked ahead of Greg Oden and Kevin Durant once. Attended all the elite high school basketball camps and was nicknamed "baby Shaq."

Transferred from one high school to another due to academic issues. 3 different high schools in 4 years.

Received scholarship at Louisville with high expectations, but was eventually kicked off the Louisville team by Rick Pitino for numerous work ethic, weight, and behaviorial issues. Reportedly suspended for 16 games and twice signed and violated behavioral contracts Pitino drew up.

Transferred to UTEP, where he averaged 14 pts and 8 rebs.

Has a load of talent, but is his own worst enemy.
I believe I heard one of the announcers mention (can't remember what game) that Caracter had lost around 40 lbs recently.
 
#16
Watched a lot of Caracter when he was at Louisville. He has talent and could end up being a solid, solid player at the NBA level. Pitino completely d-bagged him though and really dropped the hammer on this kid harder and more often than he probably should have. I'm sure it's just because he knew the kind of potential he had but still, too tough on him.
 
#17
http://realgm.com/src_feature_pieces/948/20100714/notes_from_vsl_(tuesday)_derozan_lawson_caracter_ed_davis_&_more/

He says some good things about the Kings, though hardly enough. But this quote got me going :confused:



Cousins was clearly more impressive than Caracter yesterday and even shut him down in the 2nd half. Laker fan I suppose?
Let's look at this positively. If Caracter contested "EVERY" shot that cousins took, and defended him so tough the entire game, AND Cousins stat line was 19pts 12rbs, we have a Mega Super Star in the likes of Shaq on our hands.
 
#18
Cousins was clearly more impressive than Caracter yesterday and even shut him down in the 2nd half. Laker fan I suppose?
Yeah, because Caracter taking it to the #5 pick means he's a homer. *rollseyes

Seriously? The guy was competitive and played well, better than Monroe and any other big man that Cousins has been matched up with. And he was the 58th pick.
 
#19
Seriously? The guy was competitive and played well, better than Monroe and any other big man that Cousins has been matched up with. And he was the 58th pick.
Agreed, he's been the 2nd best big at Vegas. If the Caracter issues don't make him implode, LAL may have gotten a real steal in this draft.