My summer league takeaways.

[danglertx]

These are my takeaways.  I've watched every game twice minus the time the games were blanked out and I feel like I have a pretty good handle on the players.

The most important takeaway is obviously Olynyk.  I think he is going to be a very solid player.  I'm not worried about his defense like some others.  Is he a great rebounder?  No.  Is he a lock down defender?  No.  But defense is more about want than the length of your arms.  He will be fine.

Secondly, Pressey looked like he can be a backup point guard.  Again, defense is about want and with his potential career on the line you could really see the effort.  Once he got acclimated to the speed in the first half of the first game he really cut down on the turnovers and he can really shoot the rock.

Fab Melo.  The guy should be cut.  Another year in the D-League isn't going to help fix his problem.  Like Pressey this guy's career is on the line and you don't see any hustle out of him.  He is 7ft and he can't rebound, his defense is mostly trying to take charges and he is anything but intimidating.  A more refined jump hook isn't going to change the fact that he doesn't have "it."  It being drive, aggression, effort, heart, desire, will, or whatever you want to call it.  A ball can land 5 feet from him and he won't move for it.  He can get his dunk blocked and just smile about it.  More development isn't going to change that.

I get that people like Iverson's effort.  I didn't see the rebounding people talk about.  Maybe someday he can be a Greg Kite type.  Other than that I don't see much of a future for him with the C's.

Finally, everyone else in the summer league were basically flotsam.  They all have big holes in their games and don't do anything so well that it overcomes the holes in their game.

[bigal534]

I couldn't agree more with this post.

I'll add I think KO's offensive game is much more polished than what I thought he was made out to be. He has a huge arsenal of moves, taking some from Dirk, McHale, etc.

Some of you will blow this comment out of proportion, but he does some things for his size that remind me of a hybrid Bird, McHale, Dirk, Duncan mix.

I AM NOT SAYING HE IS ANY OF THESE GUYS.

However, his offensive game is advanced, and if he can justice his feet a bit and keep his defender in front of him and grab some boards, he cooould win NBA ROY.

Fab melo needs to be cut, I've been saying that from the second we drafted him.

Pressey will be out backup PG for sure, if he keeps working hard.

[Finkel lives]

I see two players on the Celtic's summer league team who can contribute to an NBA roster: KO and Pressey. Iverson looks slow with no jumping ability. Melo seems to be thinking about every thing he is doing on the court which is a HUGE red flag.

[SHAQATTACK]

Fab Melo..... too nice of guy, no heart for NBA ruff and tuff basketball .    Right gifts, but no IQ for BB or heart.     He doesn't scrap for rebounds,  stand around and watches the ball sail thought the air and thus never picks up on how a play will develop ,  where the ball might be going,  or anticipates HOW the play might unfold to put him self in a position to make a good play

Iverson plays hard, needs a lot of work ....not NBA ready ....maybe one day.

Pressey   can make the plays and works like a point guard should on the court.   He is not a chucker
and attempts to make a good play .   all heart and cool on the court .  He deserves a fair shot at a backup up role on the Celtics.

KO was the best pick the Celtics had any chance of getting .   Turned out much better than I thought.     Really most of the 7 ft guys in this draft look overrated after watching KO work.  He was the best in this draft .

[slamtheking]

pretty good assessment but I think Iverson has some potential as a 3rd-string center.

In an ideal situation, KO would be best off being the first big off the bench as a scorer off the bench in the frontcourt.

Pressey shows enough promise to bring along to camp.  would prefer a vet backup for Rondo but Pressey's not a lost cause.

Melo is a player I didn't want Danny to pick because I knew he'd need at least 2 years of D-League to develop--if he EVER developed.  He may have improved over last year, but not enough IMHO.  I'll give him another year in D-league to develop that aggression for the ball but if he can't make the team next year as a backup center, cut him loose.  I'd say do it now but it's not like the C's have other options at center to take his place on the roster.  (I don't see Iverson/Melo as an either-or situation)