Game 1 assessment:
1. Pritchard looked solid, really should not play anymore this summer. Need more PT for the others, particularly guards.
2. Romeo disappointed me in his ball handling and attacking the hoop. He needs to be more assertive, and less careless. Not sure if he is capable of pulling that off. He needs to take more than 9 shots. He should attack hoop as much as possible, this is his best skill. His 3 point shot is better than most here say, but he is not going to be making them at that clip. League average is what I expect.
3. Nesmith didn't show any growth from last season. Remains very helter skelter. Not worried about his 1/8 3 point shooting, but if he isn't hot, what else can he do, really?
4. Yam was fun, but I don't see us signing him this season. Too many roster/salary considerations. He also needs to get stronger. BUT Ime will love his defensive pressure, so maybe he gets a spot.
5. Begarin is bigger than I thought. Taller and heavier. I like that. He is super athletic. Hitting his first two 3s was a huge confidence booster. Still quite raw. But see him developing as a wing, and even some power forward (small ball), but not making this roster. Come visit us in a year a two (if not packaged in a trade).
6. Carson Edwards: everyone killed him. I thought he played very well. I think he is the victim of his prior track record. He actually makes good basketball decisions. Too bad.
5. Virginia kid: He will kill us on defense. I can't believe we already signed him to a two way. Yes an elite 3 point shooter, but the bad defense will make him unplayable.
If you watched last season you would know what else nesmith brings. He earned minutes despite not making his shots early in the season because of these.
I watched every single minute. I get it. He has a lot of energy. He plays hard, reckless. But it will be his jumper that makes or sinks him. That is why we drafted him 14th. I think he will be fine for that reason. Let us hope.
I'm not sure why you're concerned. In his 20 games over April and May his shooting percentages were 50/42/86 in 14.5MPG. That's elite efficiency, and a much more significant sample size than one Summer League game.
You could also throw out the first two months, and he shot .392 from three the rest of the season. His rookie year was a tale of steady improvement. Has sidestep moves, especially to his left, to get an open three, and I thought he did a good job attacking closeouts. Has a nice high-arcing 10-footer off the dribble. Uses his length.
I’m a believer. The task for him is to become a third wing who keeps a defender at home on him so that the Two Jays can operate one on one, and takes an opponent’s wing scorer on defense. Good start!
Needs a
lot of work on his body, needs work on his left hand.