Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Spurs' Hill enjoying summer with a swagger

LAS VEGAS — In the most superficial of ways, the George Hill who walked into the UNLV basketball complex for this year's NBA Summer League was the same George Hill who showed up last year.
He's still 6-foot-2, still weighs 190 pounds. He's still got the same freak-show wingspan and the same impish smile.
Yet in the manner that counts most in his quest to be a No. 2 point guard the Spurs can count on, this George Hill is nothing like that George Hill.
“He's got a swagger,” said Spurs assistant coach Don Newman, who is running the summer league squad. “When a guy comes out and starts having success, they get that swagger back. That's what you're seeing from George.”
Entering his second year in the league, Hill was bent on proving he could be a capable backup to All-Star Tony Parker at the point.
Three games in, his point is taken.
Hill scored 20 points on 7-of-11 shooting and had nine assists Thursday as the Spurs defeated Oklahoma City 85-76 at UNLV's Thomas & Mack Arena, producing his third consecutive stellar outing.
It was a showcase night for several Spurs players, including newly signed rookie forward DeJuan Blair (20 points), swingman Malik Hairston (16 points) and Ian Mahinmi (13 points).
But Hill again stole the show. He's averaging 20.3 points in three games in Vegas and shooting 52.8 percent from the field. He has been one of the top guards in the summer league and, arguably, the best point guard.
In short, he is a far cry from the rookie who infamously shot 8 percent — 2 of 25 — during his first summer league foray last season.
“A year has done wonders for me,” Hill said. “I came back here with more experience, more confidence. I'm just more comfortable.”
Confidence and comfort are much easier to come by when you've been through all that Hill has in the past 12 months.
He's already played in big NBA games and on big stages. He's gone toe-to-toe with reigning Rookie of the Year Derrick Rose. He's guarded Kobe Bryant in the clutch. He's played in playoff games, albeit belatedly.
After that, Vegas doesn't faze him anymore.
On Thursday, Hill turned in the best July game of his life. Afterward, he had a one-on-one powwow with coach Gregg Popovich in the arena bleachers, which Hill characterized as a productive, positive meeting.
Hill's goal for the summer has been a straightforward one.
“I want to earn Pop's trust,” Hill said. “When the game's on the line, I want him to be able to put the ball in my hands.”
So far in the summer, Hill has passed the test with flying colors.
All three of the Spurs' victories here have come down to the fourth quarter. Two of them have come down to the final minutes.
Hill has had the ball in his hands on each occasion. He punctuated Thursday's victory, easily the most lopsided yet, with a soaring dunk down the middle of the lane.
“You come to summer league, you want your guys to get tested,” Newman said. “We wanted George to be in situations like this, where he has to make decisions in crunch time. The more often he's in those situations, the better he's going to get.”
Teams can go broke reading too much into summer league performances. Hill knows this better than anyone.
Still, he would like to think his summer league redemption counts for something.
“You always want to play well, and get your confidence up,” Hill said. “Hopefully, I can carry some of this with me when I leave.”
If he does, the Spurs will have found their backup point guard.

Source

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Former Piston Amir Johnson looks to turn potential into production with Bucks

LAS VEGAS -- For years, Amir Johnson has gotten by on potential.
He's 22 and has been in the NBA four seasons. Judging him on potential won't cut it anymore.
It's all about production now, something the former Pistons forward is looking to do with his new team, the Milwaukee Bucks.
"It's time for me to step up and establish myself in the NBA," Johnson said this week.
He will get that opportunity this season with the Bucks, who were part of a three-team trade last month with Detroit and San Antonio that netted them Johnson.
Milwaukee general manager John Hammond spent seven seasons as Joe Dumars' right-hand man in Detroit, having input on several personnel moves, including the drafting of Johnson.
"He (Hammond) was the one who helped me get through my seasons in Detroit when he was there," Johnson said. "He was constantly talking to me, getting me on point. I think he's really helped me with my NBA career."
Hammond's faith in Johnson, as well as Johnson's expiring contract that comes off the books next summer, factored heavily in his decision to pursue the 6-foot-9 forward.
"Amir has a tremendous, tremendous amount of potential," Hammond said. "You see that potential every time he plays. But he's at a point where he has to do what he does best more consistently. I think he understands how important it is for him to be more productive, and he'll have opportunities to be just that this season."
Johnson, who signed a three-year, $11 million deal with Detroit in 2007, will be part of a loaded free-agent class next summer that should include Cleveland's LeBron James, Miami's Dwyane Wade, Toronto's Chris Bosh and Utah's Carlos Boozer, to name a few.
And with the salary cap expected to shrink even more next season, teams will be able to land proven talent for a lot less. And for players such as Johnson who are big on potential with little production to back it up, their options will be limited significantly.
"I'm feeling a little pressure," Johnson said. "But I know if I go and work hard on my game, I'll be alright."
Johnson also should benefit from playing with Bucks center Andrew Bogut.
In Detroit, power forwards Rasheed Wallace and Antonio McDyess often played center. Because the Pistons' big men frequently guarded the nearest big man to them at the time, Johnson sometimes found himself trying to defend a center, who in many instances was significantly stronger.
"It was tough for me," Johnson said of trying to defend true centers. "Having Bogut, that'll help me focus on my main position, guarding 4s (power forwards)."
Improving as a defender remains one of Johnson's biggest areas in need of growth.
His athleticism and length give him the potential -- there's that word again -- for being a great help-side defender.
But as a Piston, Johnson far too often was on the bench because of early foul trouble.
Even in summer league where the competition is watered down from what he will see in the regular season, foul trouble remained an issue.
Players are allowed to pick up 10 personal fouls in summer league games (compared to six for NBA games) before they foul out of a game. Johnson averaged 6.8 personal fouls in Milwaukee's five summer league games.
"That's something I definitely have to cut back on and get better at," said Johnson, who averaged 2.8 fouls per game last season despite playing just 14.7 minutes per game. 

Monday, September 28, 2009

Jazz keep Millsap to tune of $32M

The Utah Jazz confirmed Thursday that they will match the offer sheet Paul Millsap signed with the Portland Trail Blazers.
A formal announcement is expected Friday.
Millsap, 24, signed last Friday with Portland for $32 million US over four years, with $10.3 million US up front.
Because he was a restricted free agent, Utah had the right to match the offer to retain him.
Millsap filled in nicely for injured starter Carlos Boozer last season, averaging 13.5 points, 8.6 rebounds and 30.1 minutes in 76 games (38 starts).
He also had a string of 19 straight double-doubles.
Boozer, who missed 41 games with a knee injury, will likely be traded to lower Utah's player payroll, which stands at more than $80 million US with Millsap's salary.
Millsap is a 52.3 per cent shooter as a pro, having averaged 9.4 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 22.8 minutes in 240 NBA games (41 starts) since he was drafted in the second round (47th overall) by the Jazz in 2006.

Sunday, September 27, 2009

Former Huskies Jon Brockman and Spencer Hawes reunited with Kings

LAS VEGAS — Spencer Hawes was preparing to jet home to Seattle last month when he got the news: Jon Brockman, his good friend and former Washington teammate, had been drafted by the Portland Trail Blazers, then traded to the Sacramento Kings.
Hawes and Brockman had been teammates since their AAU days with Seattle's Friends of Hoop. They won national summer tournaments together. They won Pac-10 games together. Now they were going to be reunited in the NBA in Sacramento.
Hawes, the Kings' center, was so excited he still was text-messaging friends when he settled into his first-class seat that night and, as the plane was about to push back from the gate, a flight attendant asked him to shut off his phone.
"You don't understand," Hawes said. "We just traded for Jon Brockman."
The flight attendant didn't care. She was more concerned about the FAA than the NBA. She asked again, firmer this time.
"Just a few more texts," Hawes said.
"I don't want to have to take you off the plane," she said.
Reluctantly, Hawes put away his phone and continued spreading the news when he landed in Seattle.
Brockman was in ninth grade and Hawes was in eighth the first time they played together.
"He was a tall, skinny kid with bad knees," Brockman said of Hawes when he joined his Friends of Hoop AAU team. "He came to play with us, and he struggled. I remember his first tournament, [former O'Dea High School and Stanford guard] Mitch Johnson just lit into him.
"It's funny, but from that moment on, it seemed like every time I saw him, he just kept getting better. You could visibly see his improvement, step by step."
Knowing that Hawes, now in his third season with the Kings, is a teammate is comforting to Brockman. He laughs about the fact that he was Hawes' mentor when Hawes joined the Huskies. Now the roles are reversed.
"I think Spence will tell you this: He was kind of shocked and a little lonely at times in his rookie year," Brockman said at lunch this week at a Las Vegas hotel. "Now, the fact that one of my best friends is on my team with me, and he's been through it all, I'll be able to go to him for advice. It's like I went from being the big brother at Washington, to the little brother here."
Unlike Hawes, Brockman has no guarantees. At times in the NBA Summer League he has struggled with his defense. And his shooting has been hampered by a sprained right index finger suffered in the first quarter of the first game.
But Brockman has played these games in Las Vegas just as he played at Washington.
On Wednesday, against the D-League Select team, he saved a loose ball, jumping over the first row of seats and crashing into the press table. Typical Brockman.
"I've seen exactly what he's advertised as being," new Sacramento coach Paul Westphal said. "A guy that will get rebounds in any league. He's a guy that understands the game really well. He's great at rotating and taking charges, plugging up where he's supposed to plug up.
"I think that his shot looks good, but he's not hitting his free throws. I think that he has the ability to knock down the open shots if they're going to leave him open. But really he's everything that people say he is. He's a rock out there. He does what he's supposed to do. He gets his rebounds."
The Kings won't ask him to change his relentless fury. The Kings won't demand he add a three-point shot to his repertoire. They want Jon Brockman to be Jon Brockman.
"Guys are paid to do what they do well," Brockman said. "I know, on our team, we have a lot of scorers. Guys who can fill the cup. Guys who are great passers. That's what they do. For me, I look at what I can do to help the team, and that's rebounding."
In his first four games, all Kings losses, Brockman has averaged 6.2 points and 7.7 rebounds, playing 18.7 minutes per game. He is 9 of 20 from the free-throw line.
He appears leaner and looks to be in the best shape of his life.
"He looks more like an NBA player now than he did in college," Dallas Mavericks assistant coach Dwane Casey said. "He's done a great job of getting ready."
Brockman will make the Kings' roster if he can grab rebounds and if he is willing to beat up on his teammates, including Hawes, in practice. He will stay in the league for a decade if he develops a midrange jumper.
"I feel confident I can hit that 15-foot jump shot," he said. "But I know that I don't have to take a ton of them to try and prove myself. I need to rebound and make hustle plays, and that's going to get me where I need to go."
The 6-foot-7 Brockman laughs whenever he hears the rap that he is undersized.
"Oh, well," he said. "That's not going to change." He thinks he can play the game the way former Sonic Reggie Evans plays. He has the potential in his game to be the next Paul Millsap or Jason Maxiell.
Former Sonics coach Westphal said Brockman reminds him of another ex-Sonic.
"Paul Silas was a bit of an undersized guy who got rebounds any time he played," Westphal said. "Paul didn't make it in this league by scoring. He was where he was supposed to be, and he got his rebounds. I think Jon has a lot of that."
Are there minutes for Brockman this season?
"I think the best thing about Jon is you always know what to expect from him," Westphal said. "He's going to be where he's supposed to be at both ends of the floor. You can count on penciling him in for more than his share of boards."
Brockman never will dazzle the league with his aerial game, but he can win over fans with his 24/7 aggression.
"I'm not a SportsCenter-highlight-type player," he said, "but I can dunk. I can do all that kind of stuff, too. I've got a couple trick dunks I can do. But that's not what I'm going to get paid to do."
Yeah, Brockman, who always played the game as if his livelihood were on the line, now will get paid to play.
"Sometimes I'll wake up and lie in bed and think about what I have to do today. I have to play ball. I have to lift weights," Brockman said. "Then all of a sudden it will hit me: That's my job now. It's like the court is now my office. This is what I've always wanted to do. This is my dream job, and to know that I'm doing it now is a cool feeling."
The coolness of Jon Brockman getting drafted into the NBA is all Spencer Hawes wanted that flight attendant to understand.

Saturday, September 26, 2009

Vegas: Daye Impresses New Coach

The Detroit Pistons are a team that will undoubtedly have a new look to them in 2009-10. With a new coach in John Kuester, new veterans in Charlie Villanueva and Ben Gordon, and three new rookies in Austin Daye, DaJuan Summers, and Jonas Jerebko – all of them playing well at the Vegas Summer League – things are good right now for the red and blue.
"I feel very blessed to come back to organization that I was fortunate enough to work for in '04 and won a NBA championship," said Kuester after watching his summer league Pistons top the New York Knicks 96-73. "I'm very excited about all that.
"Any time you take a new job and you are able to have been there, that's a huge plus. Having been there in '04, it's very special."
Kuester is excited about all the different elements his team will have. Along with the five new faces will be - barring a trade - veterans Tayshaun Prince and Rip Hamilton, plus a pair of point guards who already were looking pretty good.
"Rodney Stuckey is becoming an outstanding basketball player and Will Bynum came on strong at the end of the year, so we have some firepower offensively," Kuester noted. "What's going to be a big part of our whole transition is to focus on what's going to be important – that's defense in the beginning."
Defense is important, but this team will be able to run with anyone in the NBA, provided they can make stops and get boards. The young guys will definitely need to pay attention to veteran leadership – the experience of Prince and Hamilton will tell them what it takes to be successful in the NBA, and what it takes to win a title.
"I'm sure they'll want to get up and down, but they'll understand what's important is making sure we do a good job rebounding the ball, which will enable our fast break."
And what about those rookies? Wednesday's game may as well have been labeled the 2009 Detroit Rookie Class Coming Out Party. Daye led the team with 27 points and 13 rebounds, but not to be outdone Summers added 26 and eight while Jerebko finished with a double-double himself, 13 and 12.
"They did a great job today with the way they shared the basketball, the way they defended, and the way they rebounded," beamed Kuester. "I was very pleased to see how they aggressively went to the basket also."
Daye was beaming after the game too.
"I had a terrible game last game so I wanted to make up for it today, and I think I did a good job of that."
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He's also convinced the NBA game will show off his talents better than he could at Gonzaga. It's not that he was held back, it's more a product of simply working in a different system.
"At Gonzaga I was asked to do different things and I was fully on board with those things, and here I'm being asked to play a little bit more," explained Daye. "I think my game is more of an NBA game than college because of my length, my athleticism, and my shooting ability."
Daye is showing that in Vegas, averaging 16.3 points and 8.5 rebounds in Detroit's first four games (Summers leads the team with 19.5 points). He's also stoked to play with Summers, whom he has known for awhile.
"At LeBron James' Skills Academy we played with each other and in camps before that," Daye said about how long he has known Summers. "He's a great player – I'm just happy for him to be my sidekick."
Sidekick? Really? Does he know he's the sidekick?
"We're both sidekicks to each other!" backtracked Daye with a laugh. "Every day I'm trying to match what he's doing and he's trying to match what I'm doing. We're best of buds here."
Sometimes being a rookie and trying to fit into a veteran team, even a team with relatively young veterans (apart from Hamilton), can be difficult. However, the trio of rookies on this Pistons team is getting along great, creating a support system so they can lean on each other to help get through the ups and downs. Daye feels this will be key to becoming successful pros.
"We push each other to be better," Daye said. "Whenever one of us is getting down we try and pick each other up. It's important to have that. Three rookies on one team, it's definitely going to help."
So what's next? Is this the start of something truly special? Daye cautioned against reading too much into a one game performance, but he was clearly pleased with what he was able to do and absolutely believes it's a good start.
"I'm just happy with my performance today," he said. "I don't want to do too much, I just want to go out there and play my game. If my game is 27 points and however many rebounds, I'm fine with that." 
Daye is fine with it? Without a doubt new coach Kuester and the Pistons organization will be fine with it as well.

Friday, September 25, 2009

NBA Summer League Day Seven Preview and Live Game Thread

The exciting game today is the San Antonio Spurs against the Oklahoma City Thunder.  The tip off is at 7:30 Spurs time in the Thomas & Mack Center.  This will be my first game outside of the Cox Pavilion.
The Spurs will look to maintain their unbeaten record.  You may think it is JUST Summer League, but these guys still want to win.  As Ian said, "It just feels good to win those games".
The rest of the schedule gives me no excitement.  We've seen everybody at least twice now.
Star-divide
Another 6 on tap today with the guys I would watch if you want to do your own microscope.  Rosters are behind the links.  The scoreboard and game feeds are at NBA.com.  This will be your last chance to see the Raptors, Bucks, Rockets, and Warriors.

Thursday, September 24, 2009

NBA - Lamar Odom as a Free Agent

Is he worth $9 million to $10 million per season?
Lamar Odom is a very good NBA forward, however he will be turning 30 years old in November. 
This past season he won a championship ring with the Los Angeles Lakers before becoming a free agent.  If his contract is going to cost $9 million to $10 million per year, is he a smart risk?
Odom was used sparingly as a starter in 2008-09, something that he was not accustomed to.  In 665 NBA games in his career so far, Odom has not started only 60 games but 46 of those non-starts were from last year alone.  Of course, with that his minutes per game declined significantly last year, well below his previous averages, and points per game totals fell as did most other statistics.
Often when an athlete approaches 30 years old and his statistics start to decline it is a sign of aging, but in Odom's case, that doesn't appear to be the issue.  The Lakers had enough depth in their lineup and in big men that Odom's decline in per game averages this past season were actually just the result of increased competition for minutes within the Lakers team itself as opposed to a decline in Odom's abilities.
When Odom's statistics are examined on a per minute played basis they show that he is still the same quality player that he was before.
If the Lakers are going to keep at the same high level, then signing Odom or a player of his calibre will be important.  With all the free agent action over in the East, no one is conceding the 2009-10 NBA season and the Lakers would be smart to keep a deep club as a safeguard to slumping players and possible injuries.
NBA signings, trades, and roster changes can affect the futures market

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Vegas Stuff: With Randolph, Warriors can make 'big' plans

Random stuff from the NBA summer league in Las Vegas, per your request:
* Golden State big man Anthony Randolph has been the Shaquille O'Neal of the summer. Or at least, Randolph has looked like a young O'Neal in Vegas. Randolph may not be overly physical like Shaq, and he's nowhere close to as dominating in the low post, but he sure has been putting up O'Neal-like numbers. As we all know, it's only summer league -- but the bottom line is Randolph looks athletic, passionate, skilled and best of all, big. That translates well to any level of competition, and heavens knows, the Warriors could use all of the above.
* The 6-foot-11 Randolph tallied a Vegas-record 42 points in a game against Chicago a couple of nights ago, then told NBA.com he was disappointed he only grabbed three rebounds. "That's not good for a 6-11 guy to only have three rebounds," he told Art Garcia, and amen to that. So in a game against Houston, Randolph yanked down 10 boards (to go with 20 points).
* None of this is to say Randolph is the second coming of O‘Neal -- or even Amare Stoudemire. But his performance in Vegas should make it easier for Warriors fans to deal with the fact Stoudemire isn't likely to be traded to their team. With Randolph and center Andris Biedrins (and even forward Ronny Turiaf off the bench), the Warriors frontcourt is getting more reliable by the season.
* This has been a crazy summer of NBA free agency, as the league is making almost as much news in July as it did in January. (Rumor has it baseball held its All-Star Game the other day, just in case you didn't notice.) But with stars like O'Neal, Vince Carter, Rasheed Wallace and eventually Allen Iverson switching uniforms, summer play has been a bit overshadowed as well. It's too bad, because there have been a lot of young guys giving their teams hope for the future -- even if no one seems to notice.
* Now that I've stepped off my soap box, you should also know that second-round pick Chase Budinger is looking like someone who may be able to contribute immediately. And the agile swingman out of Arizona sure will get every opportunity in Houston. Ron Artest is gone, having signed with the L.A. Lakers, and Tracy McGrady stands a good chance to be moved, too. And Artest and McGrady just happen to play the same positions as Budinger (as does veteran Shane Battier). Couple that with the fact Budinger is averaging 16 points on a remarkable 66 percent shooting from the field in Vegas (including 62 percent on 3-pointers), and you have to think the young man will get every opportunity to play.
* Yes, I know the Rockets signed Trevor Ariza, who also plays the same position as Budinger. But we're talking about a guy who averaged a career-high 8.9 points per game last season. So Ariza is hardly a lock to play all 48 minutes every night.
* Back to the Warriors. All eyes, of course, have been on lottery pick Stephen Curry, the wildly popular guard out of little Davidson. As I wrote last time, Curry has been OK. He hasn't struggled to get off his shots -- he's just struggled to make them. Through four summer games, Curry is averaging 19.5 points, but shooting a miserable 31 percent from the field.
* Back to the Rockets. Keep an eye out for 2008 second-round pick Joey Dorsey, a 6-8 forward who has been playing center on Houston's summer team. Dorsey played in just three NBA games last season, as Rockets coach Rick Adelman couldn't find minutes for him in a frontcourt that included Yao Ming, Chuck Hayes and Carl Landry. But with Yao expected to be out for most or all of next season, minutes will be available.
* Dorsey isn't going to score much at this level (he's averaging 9.7 points per game in Vegas), but he is one of those guys who's willing to do the dirty work near the rim, a la Landry. Through three games, Dorsey is grabbing 14.3 rebounds and 2.7 blocked shots.
* Two big men who were once expected to be regular NBA contributors and are now clinging to their careers are playing for Toronto's summer team: Center Patrick O'Bryant (Warriors, Boston) and power forward Paul Davis (L.A. Clippers). Former journeyman point guard Smush Parker is also playing for the Raptors.
* As for Raptors first-round pick DeMar DeRozen ... the 6-7 forward is looking good with averages of 16.3 points on 47 percent shooting through four games. He's had two games of 20 points and another of 15, displaying a real know-how when it comes to getting to the basket and finding ways to put the ball in it once there.
* Milwaukee rookie Brandon Jennings hasn't sold me on his statement that he's better than Ricky Rubio (a stance he has since backed off) -- and I'm not exactly sold on Rubio to begin with. But Jennings has looked pretty doggone solid in Vegas.
* Jennings is a 6-1 point guard who bypassed college to play pro ball in Italy last season, and has been compared (favorably and otherwise) to Minnesota's Sebastian Telfair. And so far, Jennings has proven that he does indeed have potential, with averages 15 points, 8.5 assists, and most impressively, 4.2 steals per game.
* Of course, as one scout told me, "No way does Jennings average that many assists during the regular season." When I asked why, the scout simply said, "Because the Bucks' regular-season team isn't as good as their summer league team." He was only half-joking.
* Reader Marc Donald writes, "What do you think of No. 1 overall pick Blake Griffin (Clippers) after two summer games?"
* Dear Marc, the same thing I thought about Griffin during the college season -- he'll be a solid NBA contributor for a long time, a steady big man who will play well in all areas and have a big night from time. But he has a long way to go before we start talking about the All-Star Game.
* Other top summer performers: Nick Young, G, Washington (26.5 ppg); Andray Blatche, C, Washington (24.0); Eric Gordon, G, Clippers (21.5); Dante Cunningham, F, Portland (21.5); Darren Collison, G, New Orleans (21.0); Adam Morrison, G/F, Lakers (20.8); George Hill, G, San Antonio (20.5); Othyus Jeffers, F, Dallas (20.5); and Marcus Thornton, G, New Orleans (20.5).
* Don't worry, I had barely heard of Jeffers, too -- but I can tell you I love watching this guy. He's 23-years old, played college ball at Illinois-Chicago, and despite standing 6-5, his natural position is power forward. He spent last season with Iowa of the D-League, where he averaged 21.0 points, 9.0 rebounds and 2.1 steals in 47 games. But as Draft Express noted, Jeffers has a "great build, an outstanding wingspan, and phenomenal athleticism," and is "very explosive around the rim and possesses an outstanding first step." Basically, this guy is gonna help somebody.

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Day Six Summer League Roundup


  • The Knicks' Toney Douglas continued to struggle shooting the ball, but he performed his primary function as floor general quite well. He gave the Knicks what they needed at the point -- game management, penetration and kicking, creating for others, and, most of all, solid on-ball defense at that position. Douglas now has 21 assists to only two turnovers in his two games. Not bad for a guy who started out as a combo guard. 
    Austin Daye The Pistons' order of the Daye
    (Garrett Ellwood/NBA via Getty Images)
  • Jordan Hill is at his strongest when he's facing up to the basket, but too often he rushes himself when he has the ball in the post. Several times on Wednesday, he lost track of where he was on the block, then flung an off-balanced shot up from close range. Hill also seemed a little passive as a post defender, even against the likes of Trent Plaisted. Hill stayed in close proximity on defense to his assigned man, but rarely tried to knock his guy off his spot. In general, the closer Hill was to the basket, the less comfortable he was.
  • You have to love a player who's useful at any spot on the court. Austin Daye is that guy for Detroit. He's a new wave three -- able to work as the ballhandler on the pick-and-roll, drive to the cup from the perimeter, post up against most small forwards, use a screen the right way, and hit from long range. Against the Knicks on Wednesday, he finished with 27 points and 13 rebounds. 
  • DaJuan Summers was the butter and egg man down low for the Pistons. I can't quite figure out whether to classify him as a small or power forward. IMG's Mike Moreau referred to him as a "Power 3." Whatever he is, Summers continued to leverage his ability to face up for opportunities to get inside. There's a lot of offensive weaponry there, and he can clean the glass, too. His scoring line: 24 points on 9-for-15 shooting from the field, and 5-for-7 from the stripe. 
  • Joe Alexander did a much better job off-the-ball finding space on the floor where teammates could hit him for open looks -- not just on the perimeter, but in Scola-territory along the baseline at 15 feet. The Alexander-Taj Gibson matchup was an interesting one and it was anything but a pitching duel. Alexander finished 9-for-16 from the field, Gibson 6-for-9. Gibson was able to exploit his length against Alexander, while Alexander used his versatility and triple-threat skills to beat Gibson. Meanwhile, Gibson became the second player in Summer League to rack up 10 fouls. The Spurs' Ian Mahinmi was the first Tuesday against Denver. Gibson now has 19 fouls in two games. 
  • Summer League is the perfect setting for an athlete like Amir Johnson to show off his wares under the basket. Johnson was an efficiency machine inside for the Bucks: 17 points on 11 possessions, along with eight rebounds. He owned the paint, gobbling up offensive boards, going up strong with the putbacks, either converting or getting fouled (11 free throw attempts for the game). Defensively, he was smart and physical, blocking shots and igniting breaks with sharp, quick outlet passes to Brandon Jennings
  • After sitting out Phoenix's first Summer League game on Monday with back spasms, Earl Clark displayed his full range of skills in his inaugural effort on Wednesday. He initiates the bulk of his offense along the perimeter, but he can do so many things from there to disarm the defense: a pretty touch pass into the post off a dish from his point guard, a catch-and-shoot, a dribble drive and pass-off that results in a hockey assist. He also showed his defensive flexibility, bothering guards and bigs alike.  
  • DeMar DeRozan is far more polished than advertised. He uses his quickness to build his game. As Mike Moreau said in David Thorpe's twitter thread, "Demar DeRozan really comes off the curl with speed, balance and elevation-very controlled. Will come off a decade's worth of pindowns."  He also rarely takes a bad shot -- uncommon among rookies and in Summer League, and particularly uncommon among rookies in Summer League. 
  • Jason Thompson was an entirely different player Wednesday. He claimed his spot down on the block, called for the ball, forced the action off the dribble, made hard back cuts when he was fronted, backed his guy in with force when he wasn't, and worked his tuchus off on the offensive glass. His totals: 31 points and 10 rebounds. 
  • Tyreke Evans didn't start for the Kings against the D-League Select team, and was very deferential when he checked in at the start of the second quarter and throughout the second half. He went 1-for-5 from the field, 3-for-4 from the line, with three assists in 23 minutes. Despite the off night, the change of speed on his dribble-drives was still ungodly.
  • Chase Budinger has a beautiful stride into his catch-and-shoot motion -- we know that -- but Wednesday night he also showed the athleticism to put it on the deck, weave through traffic, and finish strongly. He moved well without the ball to get open looks, and even absorbed a few bumps on defense to stay in front of his man, something he'll have to do this fall to stay in the Rockets' rotation.
  • Andray Blatche continues to be  one of the most confounding talents in the league. He flashed moments of sheer dominance Wednesday night with swift, whirling post moves off good recognition that made his defenders look silly. At other times, he tried to improvise and failed spectacularly. Blatche could be a top-shelf talent, but his preference for raw instinct over tactical strategy on a given play renders him inconsistent. He needs a plan. Still, between the potent face-up game at the top of the key, and the fancy footwork and explosiveness down low, it's hard to take your eyes off him. Let's see how he fares this season against NBA talent.
  • Dante Cunningham: NBA body, NBA aggressiveness, NBA defense ... NBA player? He didn't put up the most efficient line of the night (22 points on 23 possessions), but his physicality made the Rockets' defense work. He often chose to back his defender in with a dribble or two, then launch a mid-range jumper with good elevation. When he recognized there was something better, he'd build a head of steam and get to the rim. More than anything, he was out there with a purpose, moving with the offense, mindful of where Jerryd Bayless was at all times. 
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Monday, September 21, 2009

Dorsey attempts to prove worth

The grace period, if there ever was one, was over.
Joey Dorsey had played in just three NBA games, and not many more practices. It was time, however, to work and perform like a NBA player among the summer-league hopefuls.
Dorsey was so far removed from the Rockets’ rotation, that when Yao Ming and Dikembe Mutombo went out for the season during the playoffs, Dorsey still could not get playing time. A second-round pick on a crowded roster, he has another chance to demonstrate his potential to contribute to the Rockets and knows if he shows nothing this time around he could quickly run out of chances.
Dorsey may not have reached his summer-league goal — “to dominate” — but he has played well in the ways the Rockets expected a year ago. Through four NBA Summer League games, he might not have proved himself, but he has earned another long look. He defended with strength and tenacity, ran the floor with energy, and most of all, hit the boards hard.
“This is why I worked out so hard, to prove to them they did draft a good player,” Dorsey said. “Everybody was sitting around, talking about I might never play in the NBA. I’m just trying to prove to everybody that I am dedicated to playing basketball. I want to show them that I do want to play this year.”
Heading into tonight’s summer-league finale, Dorsey is the tournament’s top rebounder, averaging 12.8 boards in 31 minutes per game. He averages 9.5 points on 59.1 percent shooting. He also has shown the rust accumulated in a season spent sitting out with plantar fasciitis and growing out of shape.

Waiting on timing

“I’ve been trying to tell everybody that,” Dorsey said. “Like, sometimes I have a wide-open dunk and I’m hesitant to go up and dunk. I’m looking to pass because I haven’t played in a while, but I’m getting back to it. It’s timing. That’s it. Once I get my timing back, I’ll be good.
“My conditioning, it’s not there yet. But I’m playing well, trying to rebound, block shots and everything. It’s coming along. I’m starting to box out and go after every rebound.”
Dorsey showed no hesitation Wednesday, finishing a spin move with a slam on his first touch of the game. It was, however, his only basket of the first half. The 6-8 center twice grabbed rebounds of missed free throws in the first quarter, but had only one other rebound in the half. He had a pair of strong blocked shots, coming over to help defensively. But he threw an elbow after fighting for position, drawing a technical foul.
Led by Chase Budinger’s 17 points, the Rockets held on for an 87-82 victory over the Trail Blazers to move to 4-0 in summer league. Dorsey had a stronger second half, getting eight rebounds to finish with 11, along with nine points and three blocked shots.

Two out of three not bad

The Rockets will want more from him. But with Dorsey showing far more in four summer-league games than he did in his three NBA games — and all the months on the team before and after those games — they finally have reason to consider him heading in that direction.
“Joey’s doing well,” Rockets general manager Daryl Morey said. “We wanted three main things from Joey. We wanted a defensive presence. We wanted rebounding. And we wanted to cut out the mental errors.
“On the first two, he did what we wanted. He really impacted the game defensively and he really helped out on the boards in a major way. Mental errors, he probably has to cut those in half, but overall, a lot of progress from a tough first year.” 

Sunday, September 20, 2009

Adam Morrison rides a hot hand in Las Vegas

Reporting from Las Vegas -- Reading the reviews might have been the first mistake for the Lakers' Adam Morrison.

"I had a lot of criticism after my first year," Morrison said of his rookie season with the Charlotte Bobcats in 2006-07, having been the third overall pick in the NBA draft.

"I remember one website saying I was the worst player in the NBA. All that stuff."

The 6-foot-8 forward is trying to find himself in Las Vegas -- along with his shot -- in the friendlier, light-on-defense confines of the NBA Summer League, at the wise suggestion of Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak.

Keeping it in perspective because, after all, this is summer league, not the heart of the NBA season, things are going well. He has averaged 20.8 points in four games. He scored 20 points against the Clippers on Monday, and had 17 points the next night against Oklahoma City.

"He's a shot maker . . . and it looks to me like he's playing with confidence," Kupchak said during Monday's game.

Said Clippers General Manager and Coach Mike Dunleavy: "I think he's made a good recovery from his knee injury. He has the ability to score. He's the main focal point of their [summer] team, but I still think he's doing a lot of good things that show separation. Potentially, he can create himself a role with the Lakers."

Morrison was less pleased with his performance after the Thunder game but opened up to reporters about his struggles since his Gonzaga days, when he was the go-to guy and Wooden Award finalist.

He stood in the hallway outside the locker room at Thomas & Mack Center and answered questions about his confidence (improved) and his knee (better) and helpfully repeated his answers if a newcomer joined the scrum.

Morrison realizes there is much on the line, starting in Las Vegas. He will turn 25 on Sunday, but this represents a career juncture for him.

"Yeah, it's my contract year," he said. "If I don't perform well, I might not be in the league. It's definitely a big year."

In Charlotte, it got worse for Morrison before it would get any better. He suffered a torn ligament in his left knee in an exhibition game against the Lakers in October 2007 that required surgery.

"It was terrible," he said.

Not only because of the pain and career-threatening nature of the injury, but Morrison felt a chance to correct the pro record had been wrested away, pulled out of his control.

He was jokingly asked whether the critical website in question had asked him for an interview after he was traded to the Lakers in February along with Shannon Brown for Vladimir Radmanovic.

"Not really," he said. "A lot of people thought I was terrible and done for good and one of the worst picks of all time," he said. "I heard all of that. It was tough to swallow.

"Like I said, to come back and get hurt and not get the chance to prove myself was probably the worst."

He praised the Lakers for giving him this opportunity, saying he felt his confidence soaring even in practice, and even though he was on the bench in their run to the title.

The message? Well, his career is not six feet under.

"A lot of people left me for dead," Morrison said. "A lot of people said I couldn't play. And [the Lakers] gave me a chance to get healthy, and I'll get a chance hopefully to prove I can play."
 
Source

Saturday, September 19, 2009

Total package: Clippers' Griffin has combo of speed, power

LAS VEGAS — It hasn't taken long for top NBA draft pick Blake Griffin to cause commotion on a team often starving for publicity.
After his 27-point effort in an NBA Summer League game this week, the Los Angeles Clippers' rookie power forward returned with the team to their hotel. While in a narrow corridor, a group of fans noticed Griffin and surged forward in hopes of meeting him and getting an autograph.
"Mostly grown men, so it wasn't really my crowd," Griffin, 20, said. "It was a little crazy, but it died down."
If Griffin continues to make the strides that are expected, it won't be long before those across all demographics will be jockeying for position when he approaches. In two games here, Griffin has averaged 21.5 points and 10.5 rebounds while shooting 69.2%.
"He's playing great, doing all the things we thought he could do," said Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy, watching Griffin play from a courtside seat at UNLV's Thomas & Mack Center while assistant Kim Hughes runs the team. "He rebounds, he handles the ball, he scores, he passes and he runs a lot."
Ever the perfectionist, Griffin doesn't fully agree with Dunleavy's assessment that he's playing great. Griffin gave himself a "B-minus" in his debut Monday, despite the 27 points and 12 rebounds. In that 93-82 win against the Los Angeles Lakers, Griffin said he forgot some plays and believed he could have done better defensively.
After he scored 16 points and grabbed nine rebounds in an 88-86 win Tuesday against the New Orleans Hornets, Griffin declined to grade himself. He said he did better remembering plays and on defense but wasn't pleased with his energy level.
"Yeah, definitely," Griffin said when asked if he's a perfectionist. "My biggest thing is, when you have a good game, you have to minimize your mistakes. You pass the ball, you rebound the ball, you score well, you do all those things well. You don't have any holes in your game."
So far, Hughes isn't finding many holes. "What's scary about him and unique about him is he combines speed and power," Hughes said. "Not many guys do that. LeBron (James) does. (Griffin is a) 'big' that combines speed and power. He reminds me a little bit of (former ABA and NBA star) George McGinnis."
Lakers forward Adam Morrison compares Griffin, who is listed at 6-10 but measured at 6-81/2 without shoes at the NBA draft combine, to another undersized power forward.
"He's like (Charles) Barkley in that he's a guy who's a smaller (power) forward, but he's really athletic and can put it on the floor and shoot," Morrison said.
Griffin likes to use the backboard, which he often does after a spin move. He can make the highlight shows with his dunks, but he will go to the finger roll.
"That's kind of the way I learned it," Griffin said of his throwback ways. "I love using the glass. It gives me a comfort level. I guess that's old school."
Maybe that's why he was so popular with those grown men.
•Reviews have not been as kind for 22-year-old Memphis Grizzlies center Hasheem Thabeet, the No. 2 draft pick. He's averaging 7.5 points and 4.0 rebounds.
"Thabeet didn't really impress me," said Hall of Famer Walt Frazier, who served as MSG's analyst for the New York Knicks' game Tuesday against the Grizzlies. "He wasn't very assertive."
•Golden State Warriors forward Anthony Randolph, so-so last season as a rookie, is making quite an impact. Randolph, 20, is averaging 26.8 points, including tying the Las Vegas single-game record Tuesday with 42 points against the Chicago Bulls.
•Morrison, the No. 3 pick in the 2006 draft who didn't get into a single playoff game this season for the Lakers, is determined to show he's worthy of some time next season. Morrison, 25, is averaging 20.8 points in four games.

Friday, September 18, 2009

COL: Selig Got This One Right

Bud Selig has had a tumultuous run as the commissioner of baseball, but after seven years of being a rule, it’s clear he got at least one thing right – having the All-Star game determine home field advantage for the World Series has re-invigorated the game, and created an added intensity to an otherwise meaningless exhibition.

Bud Selig has presided as commissioner of baseball over some of the most difficult times the sport has ever experienced. Selig was acting commissioner when the 1994 strike forced the cancellation of the World Series, and also seemed to turn a blind eye to the rampant steroids abuse that increased throughout the 1990’s and into the beginning of the new millennium.
Selig also made a much maligned decision in 2002, allowing the All-Star game to end in a tie when the managers had used up all of their available pitchers, and didn’t want to force those pitchers to continue throwing for a potentially endless amount of innings.
But that black eye on Selig and baseball has been turned into a positive – Selig announced that the following All-Star game in 2003, there would be something new on the line. Home field advantage for the World Series would now to go the League that wins the All-Star Game.
This decision was met with much controversy and still is met with criticism, but in this writer’s opinion, the decision has brought renewed interest to the game and has helped make the game more competitive. It has also helped solve the debate of the best and most fair way to determine home field advantage between two teams who share only a handful of common opponents, who probably didn’t even meet in the regular season, and whose leagues might not necessarily be balanced talent-wise.
The competitiveness of the game simply cannot be questioned – these teams have taken it up a notch.
This was evident in Tuesday’s night game in St. Louis. On a ball hit to the left centerfield wall, when the ball bounced away from left fielder Justin Upton, Curtis Granderson turned on the burners and legged out a triple. With one out, and strong hitter Victor Martinez up and untested youngster Adam Jones on deck, NL manager Charlie Manuel did the same thing any baseball manager trying to win a game would do – intentionally walk Martinez, and force the young Jones to take the plate to try and give his club the lead.
The results from the game bare the results out as well. Since the rule change, the average run differential in the game has been less than two runs, including five one-run games in seven games played. In the ten years prior, the average run differential was nearly four runs, and there were just two one-run games.
And the fans have responded to the change, even in an era in which All-Star game viewership is on a strong and steady decline.
In 2002 (the year of the tie), the MLB All-Star game received a 9.5 television rating. That number has largely held steady, with a 9.3 rating in 2008, and early returns expecting a solid return as well for 2009.
Compare that to the NBA’s All-Star game, a comparable sport when it comes to viewership and a midseason All-Star game. In 2002, the NBA posted an 8.2 rating for its game. Even with the switch to cable network TNT, in 2003, the game garnered a 6.6 rating. The 2009 version of the NBA All-Star game? Just a 4.2 rating.
So, in a time period in which the NBA has lost nearly half its viewership of its All-Star game, the Midsummer Classic has held steady, in no small part due to the game once again becoming an actual ‘game’, and not just a meaningless exhibition in which many stars would rather be elsewhere.
The other factor, of course, how is it fair to determine home field advantage?
Overall record, while it works in some sports, has a tough time holding up in baseball. In the NBA, a team will play about one third of its games against teams from the other conference. That’s a huge mix, and allows records to balance out. Even with the implementation of interleague play, teams still only play 15-20 games against teams of the opposite league, and don’t face them all.
What does this mean? It means that with a strong schedule mix, a superior conference will likely see their records improved because of their boost in wins from playing the other conference. This same affect is largely minimized in such a small mix like what we have in baseball.
This is prevalent yet again this year. In 2009, the AL had a .548 win percentage against teams from the NL. Given that we’re still talking about hundreds of games, it’s fair to say that playing in the American League, on the whole, provides a more difficult road to success.
In other words, let’s just use for example last year’s two World Series participants. Tampa had 97 wins, and Philadelphia had 92 wins. But let’s say those win totals were reversed – Philly sported 97 wins in the regular season, Tampa had 92. If we were just to use overall record, Philadelphia would earn home field advantage. Yet in 2008, the AL had a .591 win percentage over NL teams. So which teams likely had a tougher road and more success in that road? Philly’s 97 wins wouldn’t quite be so impressive, and in all likelihood less deserving of home field.
Had Tampa had the opportunity, like NBA teams do, to beat up on some of the clearly weaker NL competition, they likely could have pulled out more wins, and likewise, Philadelphia with a tougher schedule, would have put together fewer wins. And while Philadelphia would have still triumphed in their division, they would have done so with fewer wins, and vice versa for Tampa. So, awarding the Phillies home field for having a better record but against weaker opponents would simply put; be unfair.
The best way to find a fair way to determine home field is have it be at the league level, and the only league vs. league game currently held is the All-Star game – so until MLB decides to hold the World Series at a neutral site in some capacity (another debate for another day), there has to be a fair way to determine the team with home field advantage. And the All-Star Game is it.
Critics can continue to complain that an exhibition game should never determine an advantage for the league crown, and they probably have a point. But so long as there is not a better way to determine it, and so long as it helps bring intensity and a competitive nature to the game (and in turn, keep fans tuning in), this is a rule that should be here to stay.
Source

Thursday, September 17, 2009

Las Vegas NBA team not in cards anytime soon

For now, Las Vegas will have to be content with its lone tie to the NBA, as the host city for the annual Summer League.
Commissioner David Stern said the league is not in a position to add members, and relocation is not an option because there is no NBA-quality arena in Las Vegas.
"It's more about the economy than the arena," Stern said. "The idea of expansion, of building arenas, it's waiting to see if the economy has bottomed out, what it's going to do."
But while Las Vegas might have to wait for a team of its own, the NBA Summer League isn't going anywhere.
"This is a fixture for us now," Stern said. "The people in Las Vegas have shown their support for the summer league, and we love being here."
Stern announced Tuesday a 10-member owners committee has been formed to begin negotiations with the NBA Players Association on a new collective bargaining agreement. Talks will open Aug. 4, and the current CBA expires in 2011.
"We need to look for a system that pays our players at the top of the heap but at the same time returns the league to profitability," Stern said after a meeting of the NBA's Board of Governors at the Palms. He added that less than half of the league's 30 teams made money last season.
The decrease in revenue is reflected in the NBA's salary cap for the 2009-10 season. This year's cap will be $57.7 million, a reduction of about 5 percent from 2008-09, when the cap was $58.68 million.
• BANKS' RECORD TIED -- Marcus Banks' Summer League scoring record of 42 points was tied Tuesday by Golden State forward Anthony Randolph, who led the Warriors to a 95-83 win over Chicago at Cox Pavilion.
Randolph, a second-year player from Louisiana State, had 19 points at halftime and 33 after three quarters. He tied Banks with two free throws with 2:18 left but never got another shot attempt.
Banks set the record at the Thomas & Mack Center against Cleveland in 2007 while playing for Phoenix.
"I knew when they put me back in I had a shot at the record, but I'm not disappointed," Randolph said. "Right now, I'm tired. It's hard to score 42 out here."
• WATSON LOOKING -- Las Vegas guard C.J. Watson is still testing the free agency waters. He and his agent, Mike Higgins, met with Golden State Warriors general manager Larry Riley at the Thomas & Mack Center to talk about a possible return for 2009-10.
Watson appeared in 77 games for the Warriors last season, starting 18, and averaged 9.5 points and 2.7 assists.
• WINK SITS -- Former UNLV guard Wink Adams didn't play in the New York Knicks' 90-86 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies at Cox Pavilion.

Source

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Las Vegas Comes To You Via Webcast

For years fans have been disappointed with the lack of summer league coverage. While Kobe Bryant, Lebron James, and Dwight Howard may not be participating anymore, summer league is where most rookies make their professional debut and play extensive minutes. For some first-year players it's the most amount of playing time they'll see all year, while for others it's a showcase to prove that they're ready for the NBA game. Either way, there's definitely a demand to see what goes on in Las Vegas by those who cannot make it to Cox Pavilion to see the games in person. Thankfully, something has finally been done about the lackluster coverage.
For the first time all of the games in Las Vegas are available both live and on demand via NBA.com for just $15 (recently reduced to $9.99). In the past NBA TV covered select games, but this year that wasn't the case and it's turned out to be a blessing in disguise.

"We didn't have a choice," said Warren LeGarie, the Executive Director of the NBA Summer League, when asked about the decision process behind making the switch to the internet. "NBA TV moved to Turner Broadcasting and they made the decision that they weren't going to do the games for television this year."

There's no better way to describe summer league other than underappreciated. Far too many people are unaware of the level of talent that assembles in Las Vegas and just how good the games actually are. To a certain extent even the NBA may be unaware of just how marketable of a product the Las Vegas Summer League is, but that should change with the switch to on demand.
"It's new to everybody, so it's unfair to blame (the league)," LeGarie stated. "We just literally got this done, the tightening up of the packaging one day prior to the launch so everyone's trying to do their part to get this out so that people know that no matter where you at if you've got a computer, internet, and $15 you're in business. It's not only for the live games, you can pull up archive games. It's video on demand."
While the players are what ultimately draw people to watch the summer league games, a quality broadcast is absolutely vital. That's why when the decision was made to put the games on demand LeGarie went to one of the best in the business to handle the play-by-play: NBATV's own Ricky Kamla.
"He brings authenticity," explained LeGarie. "It's very simple; it makes this game believable because he's one of the believable guys. He lives and breathes basketball. He's the perfect summer league guy for us. We couldn't ask for a better arbiter of what summer league is about."
For Kamla accepting the offer was one of the easiest choices he's ever had to make. His love for the game of basketball is well documented and over the years he's become very familiar with just how great the summer league experience actually is.
"I was pumped up when they asked me," Kamla revealed. "I've been doing this for four years. I love coming out to Vegas. I'm not a big Vegas fan, the city is alright but I'd rather be in Phoenix, L.A., or Miami. The city isn't the draw; the ability to scout young talent is the draw. I'm not a huge NCAA fan nor do I have the time to watch it I'm spending my time completely immersed in the NBA for nine months so in terms of that that's what I'm excited about coming out here to see James Harden, Stephen Curry, and second-year guys like Anthony Randolph. That's why I'm out here and that's why I'm pumped. Warren LeGarie and Albert Hall, who put this thing on, they've been gracious enough to invite me out here and it's a lot of fun. Its 10 days of being an NBA fanatic there's nothing else going on other nine innings of boring baseball so it's fun to be out here."
After covering the league for four years Kamla has not only been vastly entertained but he's also come to learn the real importance of the camp.
"I think it's important to the NBA to get the rookies into their system," Kamla stated. "It's kind of like minicamp in the NFL where shortly after the draft bam these guys are in the system working and learning the plays, so in that aspect it's important. I think it's more important for the players, the fringy guys. I see Michael Bramos of the Detroit Pistons, flying to Vegas I had no idea who he was. He could have been Michael Bramos CEO of whatever company. I had no idea who he was. He came out here with a quick trigger, nailing J's and he had a two-handed flush on Omri Casspi. A guy like him, it's an opportunity for him. He's not going to become a household name having a good game here in Las Vegas but it's an opportunity for a guy like me to know who he is. More importantly scouts and general managers from NBA teams, D league teams, and international teams to know who you are. It's wonderful for the fringe players who are looking to make $90-$300 grand playing the game they love."
Even though most of the top ten picks are in attendance in Las Vegas along with countless other legitimate NBA players there are still those who don't feel like summer league is worth their time. As Kamla explains though, if you consider yourself a die-hard NBA fan and you aren't watching then you're not a die-hard at all.
"Well if you are a hardcore NBA fan and you are thinking that summer league isn't worth your time then you need to turn in your hardcore basketball fan card," said Kamla. "This is what it's all about. If you are really into the NBA and you want to sink your teeth into it you will watch this and you will pay the $15 on NBA.com, which by the way is giving it away. If you're a fan of all kinds of sports and if you dig sitting down on Sunday afternoon wasting a beautiful day watching golf then you're not going to necessarily be into the NBA Summer League, but if you're an NBA junkie you'll love it."
For those who are unfamiliar with summer league and the great action that occurs during it, Kamla breaks down his best memory:
"There's a play that immediately springs to mind. Sebastian Telfair and Gerald Green were on Boston's team maybe three years ago. It was a 2-on-1 and Telfair was on the right side and there was a defender on his left. Green was trailing him and Telfair faked like he was going up for the lay-up. He went between his legs back to Green who caught it, leaned in, and did like a Jordan windmill. It was unbelievable, I was fortunate to be the play-by-play guy to call a play like that. Another one was seeing Kevin Durant for the first time in person in a courtside seat. The stroke was effortless; he was so focused and special. I would also mention Rodney Stuckey; I fell in love with him here and Aaron Brooks too. That's what it's about for me. I don't watch these guys play at Eastern Washington or Oregon. I want to see them play NBA basketball and this obviously isn't the real deal but it's on the way and the players are on their way so that's what I get excited about."
If you've already made the wise investment of $15 for all of the action in Las Vegas there's no reason to worry about this being a one-time thing. The feedback so far on putting the games on demand is very positive and should become commonplace as the years go on.
"I think we're in the next step," LeGarie asserted. "It's always an ongoing organic process. We're always trying to push the envelope and find new areas to freshen it up. Opening up a second gym two years ago was something new - it's never been done before. We found that people were skeptical but once they saw that it added to this whole ambience there was this buzz in the air from people having a choice of where to go. Constantly we're exploring new ideas to make this a fresh and exciting concept."
As one of the several thousands who have purchased the online all-access pass to the Vegas Summer League it's safe to say LeGarie, Hall, and the rest of the crew have been successful in making this a fresh and exciting concept. The webcast will catch on in a big way because its value is unmatched. You may not be able to purchase a parking spot at an NBA arena for $15 but for that amount of money you can have Las Vegas brought to you.
If you've yet to purchase your Las Vegas Summer League pass there's no reason to fret. You can still do so
here and because of all of the games being archived it can be like you haven't missed a second at all!

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Warriors' Randolph scores 42 points in summer league game

LAS VEGAS — When you talk with people about Warriors forward Anthony Randolph, they just shake their heads and roll their eyes.
"I'll give him two years," said one NBA Western Conference executive, who said it was team policy not to comment on other teams' players. "In two years, he'll be making people say 'Wow.' If he's not an All-Star, people will be asking, 'How didn't he make it?' "
Randolph has been perhaps the most dominant player in this year's summer league. He put together his best performance Tuesday as the Warriors defeated the Chicago Bulls 95-83 at UNLV's Cox Pavilion. Randolph scored 42 points, tying the record for a Las Vegas summer league game. (Marcus Banks and Von Wafer each scored 42 in 2007.) Randolph also had four steals, three blocked shots and no turnovers.
In four games, Randolph is averaging 26.7 points on 60.9 percent shooting with 8.5 rebounds.
"He's very unique," said Warriors assistant coach Keith Smart, who's coaching Golden State's summer league team. "That's why it's hard for us to tell him, 'Don't do this and don't do that,' because his window is so big. We never thought he'd be able to post up and make a play, pass it out or shoot it. We never thought he could face a guy up and shoot a jumper."
Randolph, who fell to 14th in the 2008 NBA draft largely because of his immaturity (physically and mentally), was always regarded as a player with loads of potential. But it's already materializing,  giving the Warriors one of the most intriguing young players in the league.
Randolph, 20, is a half inch shy of 7 feet and says he has added about 10 pounds of muscle this summer, putting him at 220. He has the agility of a small forward and some perimeter skills, complementing his intensity on the court.
Onlookers marvel at his long frame and athleticism, which have helped him produce dunks and acrobatic plays.
Opposing teams all but shudder at the noticeable improvements in his jumper, knowing this only makes him harder to defend.
Warriors management is giddy about his defensive intensity and the firmer grasp he has on his emotions.
"He's slowing down the pace of his game," said Memphis Grizzlies second-year power forward Darrell Arthur, a fellow Dallas native. "He's more under control. He has a jumper now. He can handle the ball. He's better this year than he was last year."
Randolph's progress — a product of his steady hard work, according to the Warriors' staff — is a luxury for Golden State. With Randolph already identified as a core piece of the team, his ability to upgrade his production from last season would solidify a vital position for the Warriors' offense.
The Warriors need someone who can command a double-team. They need someone who can protect the basket and crash the boards. In addition to that, Randolph — at his best — can create offense off the dribble and go coast to coast. And, as a bonus, he can bring the thunder.
Tuesday, he did just that. In the final seconds of the first quarter, Randolph cut back door and took a pass from Stephen Curry. He had an open lane, but Bulls forward Luke Zeller closed hard. Randolph proceeded to throw down a left-hand dunk through the hard foul of Zeller, drawing a chorus of gasps and cheers from the crowd.
"You can't teach that," said Washington Wizards All-Star forward Antawn Jamison, a former Warrior. "Even when I went up against him last year, it wasn't anything easy. He's definitely one of those guys who can be at the All-Star level. Once he understands the concepts of the game and gets comfortable in (Coach Don) Nelson's system, he's going to be scary."
With 5:06 left, Smart drew a few boos from the crowd when he pulled out a clearly exhausted Randolph though he was just two points shy of the summer league's single-game scoring record. But with 2:16 left, Smart put Randolph back in the game. Moments later, Randolph picked off a pass and was fouled on the fast break, then made the two free throws to tie the record.
The boos rang out again when the clock expired without Randolph getting another shot. The way he has been playing, it's unlikely Randolph will hear many more boos.

Monday, September 14, 2009

Lakers pull offer to Lamar Odom

Lakers owner Jerry Buss, an avid poker player, called Lamar Odom's bluff at the negotiating table Tuesday, following through with his threat to pull the offer to Odom.

The Lakers admitted that the offer Buss presented to Odom and his representatives has been available for over a week, but that because the unrestricted free agent never responded, Buss grew upset and broke off all negotiations.

"Yes, we have taken the deal off the table," Lakers public relations director John Black said. "Talks have broken down for the time being."

Black was asked if talks could resume in the future.

"That's within the realm of possibility," he said.

Lakers team officials, who were not authorized to speak about the negotiations, said Buss offered Odom a deal for $9 million a season for four years at $36 million, or $10 million a season over three years for a total of $30 million.

Odom and his agent, Jeff Schwartz, were looking for $10 million a year over five seasons.

Neither Schwartz nor Odom could be reached for comment Tuesday.

Team officials also said Buss was not happy that Odom and Schwartz have been talking with the Dallas Mavericks and Miami Heat President Pat Riley about a deal, but have refused to talk to the Lakers.

The Heat and Mavericks can offer Odom only the mid-level exception of $5.8 million, but can give him a five-year deal up to $34 million.

Many in the Lakers' organization believe that Odom wants to accept Buss' offer -- and so do those close to Odom -- but he has failed to convince his agent.

If the two sides do begin negotiating again, Lakers sources said Buss, if he's willing to talk, will lower his offer to Odom.

Those same sources said Buss is a man of principle who sticks by his decision.

Those sources were mindful that when Shaquille O'Neal said during an exhibition game in Hawaii in 2003, "Now, you're gonna pay me," while looking for a contract extension, Buss was angry and never forgot that.

After the 2004 season, Buss traded O'Neal to the Heat, in a deal that brought Odom to the Lakers.

It was widely known that Odom, who will be 30 in November, would have to take a pay cut because of his age, the declining economy and the small number of teams that were far enough under the NBA salary cap to make a legitimate offer to him. He was on the Lakers' books for $14.1 million last season, the final year of a six-year, $63-million contract he signed with Miami in 2003.

But the Lakers felt as if they made a fair offer to Odom, Lakers sources said, and are baffled as to why he didn't accept it.

Now it might be too late to get a deal done.

Odom proved his worth during the Lakers' championship run in the playoffs by averaging 12.3 points, third-best on the team, and 9.1 rebounds, second-best on the team.

He averaged 32 minutes a game in the playoffs, a lot of it because center Andrew Bynum was either in foul trouble or ineffective.

In those cases, Pau Gasol moved to center, Odom came off the bench to play power forward and the Lakers were often a better team.

Odom was solid against Orlando in the NBA Finals, averaging 13.4 points and 7.8 rebounds. He had 17 points and 10 rebounds in Game 5 as the Lakers clinched the title with a 99-86 victory.



Staff writer Mike Bresnahan contributed to this story

Source

Sunday, September 13, 2009

Frye comes home to play for Suns

PHOENIX (AP) — Channing Frye grew up cheering for the Phoenix Suns. Now he'll play for them.
"It feels good to be home," Frye said at a U.S. Airways Center news conference Tuesday. "I know I'm comfortable here. I know I can win in this state."
The 6-foot-11, 250-pound Frye agreed to a two-year contract with the second year at his option. He will earn about $2 million next season.
The Suns formally introduced Frye, not that he needed it. His news conference was held in the arena where he led St. Mary's High School to the 5A state championship in 2001.
Frye went on to become a star at the University of Arizona, and four years later, he's back in the desert.
"Just having an opportunity to play here, I take a lot of pride in this Suns uniform," said Frye, who will wear No. 8. "Probably more than any other team I've played for, this is that home team."
The 26-year-old Frye said he chose the Suns over Cleveland, Denver and Washington. That was a business decision, but there also may have been some emotion involved.
Frye spoke of growing up a Suns fan. He attended church with former Suns star Kevin Johnson, and he said his favorite player was Elliot Perry, who suited up for Phoenix from 1993-96 and again in 2000-01.
"As soon as I was a free agent, I was like, 'I hope Phoenix calls,'" Frye said.
Frye's signing comes after the club unloaded center Shaquille O'Neal and his $20 million contract in a trade with Cleveland. The lithe Frye is a very different player than the lumbering O'Neal, who wasn't a good fit with the uptempo Suns.
"This is an important signing for us, obviously, following the Shaq trade," Suns general manager Steve Kerr said. "We felt like it was really important to add some depth in the frontcourt, and Channing was No. 1 on our list.
"Channing fits our style perfectly because of his ability to run and shoot with range, and he's our kind of person, too — a great teammate with high character and someone who is very community-minded," Kerr said.
Frye was a highly touted NBA prospect after four standout seasons at Arizona, where he earned first-team All-Pac-10 honors in his junior and senior years. He finished his career with 1,789 points, ninth on the school's career list, and helped lead the Wildcats to within one game of the Final Four in March 2005.
"It just feels good to be around my U of A alum," Frye said, nodding to Kerr, another former Wildcat.
"Oh, here we go," Suns coach Alvin Gentry said with a smile. "I knew that wouldn't take long."
Frye was drafted eighth overall by the New York Knicks in 2005.
He averaged 12.3 points and 5.8 rebounds per game as a rookie and was named to the NBA's All-Rookie first team.
But Frye's scoring and rebounding averages have dropped every year since.
The Knicks traded Frye to Portland after two seasons. Last year, Frye played in only 63 games, averaging 4.2 points and 2.2 rebounds in 11.8 minutes per game.
The Suns expect more from Frye, and they say they'll give him more time on the floor.
"I think he's going to be in a situation here where he'll get some consistent minutes, and I think over the past couple of years, that's been the negative about it, in that he just hasn't had consistent minutes," Gentry said. "I think he's going to be a terrific player for us. I think he was made to play in this system right here."