Some SL Perspective

[Asher77]

Posted this on another thread... A. Gordon, the 4th pick many wanted over Smart did this today.

MIN       FGM-A   3PM-A  FTM-A   +/-   OFF   DEF   TOT   AST   PF   ST   TO   BS   BA   PTS
    25:32   0-3     0-1         4-4    -13      0      0      0      0      2     0     1      0      0     4

He might be a great player in the future and so might Smart. I posted this as an example that things could be worse than Smarts 3-15 shooting day but also that a couple games don't mean much.

Gordon's day was so ugly tho, how do you play 25 Min summer league and get zero rebounds, zero assists, zero steals, and not even hit a shot.   

Let's pretend we drafted him for a min and we will all feel so much better about Smarts couple days on the court.

[green147]

Not worried about either. They're both going to be ballers. Smart sooner than Gordon.

[CelticsFanFromNYC]

Posted this on another thread... A. Gordon, the 4th pick many wanted over Smart did this today.

MIN       FGM-A   3PM-A  FTM-A   +/-   OFF   DEF   TOT   AST   PF   ST   TO   BS   BA   PTS
    25:32   0-3     0-1         4-4    -13      0      0      0      0      2     0     1      0      0     4

He might be a great player in the future and so might Smart. I posted this as an example that things could be worse than Smarts 3-15 shooting day but also that a couple games don't mean much.

Gordon's day was so ugly tho, how do you play 25 Min summer league and get zero rebounds, zero assists, zero steals, and not even hit a shot.   


Let's pretend we drafted him for a min and we will all feel so much better about Smarts couple days on the court.

THANK Y0U .. If we g0 but the 1st tw0 SL games .. Elfrid Payt0n is clear cut f0r r00kie 0f the year! Came cl0se t0 a tripple d0uble sh00ting 100 percent fr0m the field... That better then j0rdan did his 1st summer league game!

[BigAlTheFuture]

It's summer league. People need to chilllaxxxxx.

[Snakehead]

Good point with that.

I just look for aspects to their game that start to show.  Like for example, with Smart so far I am impressed with his defense and I can take that from his game.  I also am a bit worried about his shot selection but otherwise, I'm happy with how he has played.

But the season will be such a different situation anyways.  Smart isn't going to be playing where he is one of the best players on the court so he won't be able to jack like that in good conscious, and he shouldn't want to anyways.

But also, for example, Olynyk played badly when the team did last game.  And I don't worry about him obviously.

[hpantazo]

i'm curious but haven't been able to find this anywhere, what were Dwayne Wade's stats for his first summer league games?

[droopdog7]

So perhaps they both will suck?

Anyway, stats are cool and all but the important part is to watch the games anyway.  Are we seeing any transferable skills in Smart?  What we do know is that shooting is not his strengths right now (but he can get better).  And we know he has the tools to defend.

What is unclear to me thus far is what kind of an overall offensive player Smart will be.  I would be a bit concerned that he has had trouble finishing in summer league.  He'll have to develop some kind of an in between game or he will continue to struggle.

[LarBrd33]

Magic fans seemed pretty disgusted that they took Gordon that high... but he's also 18 years old and expected to be a raw prospect with a potentially bright future.  He's got physical tools that might make him special.  Nobody is expecting that to happen immediately, though.  He's a project.

Smart is an undersized shooting guard who can't shoot and is expected to be one of the most "NBA Ready" prospects in the draft... so seeing his struggle is a bit more worrying.

Shouldn't lose your mind over it, though.  He's going to be a solid defender off the bench.

[LooseCannon]

i'm curious but haven't been able to find this anywhere, what were Dwayne Wade's stats for his first summer league games?

Wade averaged 13.4 points, 6.0 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 2.0 steals in five games in Orlando in 2003.  Tayshaun Prince and Keith Bogans were the top scorers that year.  I can't find anything about his shooting percentage.

That was the year when Kedrick Brown and Brandon Hunter both outscored Lebron James (and Marcus Banks almost did) in the Reebok summer league in Boston.

[Sketch5]

Magic fans seemed pretty disgusted that they took Gordon that high... but he's also 18 years old and expected to be a raw prospect with a potentially bright future.  He's got physical tools that might make him special.  Nobody is expecting that to happen immediately, though.  He's a project.

Smart is an undersized shooting guard who can't shoot and is expected to be one of the most "NBA Ready" prospects in the draft... so seeing his struggle is a bit more worrying.

Shouldn't lose your mind over it, though.  He's going to be a solid defender off the bench.

The "NBA Ready" thing was about his defense. It's always been iffy on the offensive side. People have said he'll be able to use his PG skills  right off and making the smart plays and find people pretty well. Which on the most part he has done. I would hope the shooting gets better, and once the season starts, he should be able to get to the rim better were teams have to respect the other guys on the floor more. The lanes have been really clogged the last couple of games.

[coffee425]

i'm curious but haven't been able to find this anywhere, what were Dwayne Wade's stats for his first summer league games?

Wade averaged 13.4 points, 6.0 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 2.0 steals in five games in Orlando in 2003.  Tayshaun Prince and Keith Bogans were the top scorers that year.  I can't find anything about his shooting percentage.

That was the year when Kedrick Brown and Brandon Hunter both outscored Lebron James (and Marcus Banks almost did) in the Reebok summer league in Boston.

If the summer league's best players reflected their stats, good thing WE got Keith Bogans. Banner 18, on its way!

[Celtics4ever]

It should be called Scrubber League because of the scrubs.   The basketball played is of decidedly low quality.  Guys take bad shots trying to gun their selves to be noticed.  Rooks who do not know how to play and have adjustments to pro range and pro play and play against some guys who have played overseas and are men with developed bodies are exposed as projects.   Guy won't pass to certain guys because they are playing for a spot.

I am glad it's on NBA TV because I would be angry if I had to pay for it.

[hpantazo]

i'm curious but haven't been able to find this anywhere, what were Dwayne Wade's stats for his first summer league games?

Wade averaged 13.4 points, 6.0 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 2.0 steals in five games in Orlando in 2003.  Tayshaun Prince and Keith Bogans were the top scorers that year.  I can't find anything about his shooting percentage.

That was the year when Kedrick Brown and Brandon Hunter both outscored Lebron James (and Marcus Banks almost did) in the Reebok summer league in Boston.

Very interesting. Thanks for the info. TP.

[Asher77]

I wanted Smart to light it up but I am realistic enough to know it makes little long term difference. He has shown good defense as expected and I have been impressed with his passing.

I watched today's magic game and Gordon was awful so it got me thinking about all the posters who are analyzing Smart and being critical based on his limited touches. I was laughing thinking about Magic fans and what they must be posting after Gordon's game if Smart got it as bad as he did and wasn't even in the same realm of a poor performance.

Of course, us folks from Boston are known for our laid back mentality while those guys down in Orlando live and die this stuff