Summer League Observations (merged)

[Yogi]

Moore had the toughest matchup.  Reggie Jackson is ridiculously athletic, strong and has a monstrous wingspan.  Moore was out played, but not as badly as you would expect a 50's pick to be by a 20's pick.

If he's going to get outplayed in a Summer League game, imagine what will happen to him in the NBA.

He got outplayed slightly by the best player on OKC's team.  Maybe the highest draft pick to play in the game with the exception of guys like Brackins.  Moore was maybe the 4th or 5th best player on the floor if you look at all the people who played and their production.

[SHAQATTACK]

Joeeph.... although he did not score as much as Sully..... I tell you , this guy is crazy atheltic, he was in the air looking down on EVERYBODY a couple times ....I'm like whoa ...hang time !!!!  Grade B

Joseph 's shot is fine as frogs fur.  He is blazing fast for a man his size and is strong looking.

Wow with time .... this Kid with some defensive instruction could play some nice minutes on a player like Joe Williams or D WAde. OR Ray Allen and make em work on defense as well.


I was impressed with Fab Melo.  He play hard and steady and WITHIN  his limits.  He is really smooth for 7 ft and doesn't waste energy in his movement. He is very fluid. KG will have fun training his new PITBULL.  Grade C+

I also noticed when Melo was in the line up , not alot of points were scored inside.  He definelty intimidated inside.

Of Course Sully was the polished hi draft pick most thought he would be.  Looking very much ahead of 90% of the guys on the court skills wise.  Grade B+

Williams played hard , good effort, maybe TOO anxious.... he wasn't afraid of battling under boards and runnin gthe court.   Grade C+  


That kid on OKC  Reggie JAckson ...GOt my only Grade A  . IS is a wildman  , like Pietrus and Wade combined.

[BostonNative]

and was it just me or did yall feel like Melo had a crap load of stamina? I did not see him huffing and puffing and i also saw him quickly run from goal to goal.He doesn't need to sprint either!

[erisred]

I am not sure what game you guys were watching, but while Jones was solid, Sullinger was much more efficient and scored more points in less minutes.  Melo had some nice flashes and good defensive instinct.  E'Twaun Moore struggled against the best OKC player Reggie Jackson, but worked his way through and iced the win at the end. Sean Williams after a strong start started making some bad plays.  Christmas did outplay Moore but he did have the much easier matchup.  JaJuan Johnson was pretty solid.  Still seems unsure of himself.  Hopefully that will change with more practices.

I agree with every one of those points.

Plus, Kris Joesph looked as good as I thought he would. Joesph can play with the best of the college guys, he can play with these guys, he can play with D-League guys, and I think he's going to prove to be able to play with NBA guys. His problem is that his game is so quiet he goes unnoticed.

Christmas might be this years Matt Jennings. Whatever happened to Jennings?

[tarheelsxxiii]

I still miss little Nate and Perk


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2QjBqowmn_Y

[SHAQATTACK]

and was it just me or did yall feel like Melo had a crap load of stamina? I did not see him huffing and puffing and i also saw him quickly run from goal to goal.He doesn't need to sprint either!

Exactly,  I commented , he seemed to be smooth and not waste energy , He was after the ball like crazy and never seemed to run down.  I suspect him growing up playing soccer has given him the LONG lasting type of muscle mass to provide long period of extreme play... sounds alittle like his new trainer (KG) endless energy.

Melo presence changed the game, they went away from which ever side he was on .. , and OKC shot alot form the outside with Melo guarding the paint. Yes he RAW ...but the tools are there and we NEED A YOUNG CENTER .  Very decent for his first appearance.  I expect to see some crazy better stuff once KG gets to work with him a few times.  

I forgot to comment JJJ , was not looking prime time. Williams beat him out working under the bucket. He may not make the team.  His grade D

Moore drew a hard assignment , and he was game for the task , though obviously out match in reach and height.  Moore can dribble well, and he is confident. He didn't get rattle by the smoothering D put on him.  I grade him B-

[DinoRadjaLives]

Sullinger was very impressive, reminds me of a more polished Bass. Not as athletic or explosive. Def a home run for Danny and the front office. Not an All Star but a solid NBA starter.

Fab Melo has a long way to go could be taking same path as Perk. Won't see starter role until year 3. Pretty mobile for a big man but has trouble rebounding, noticed a lot of one handed jumps instead of going up hard for a rebound. Hope we can sign Steams or we r in trouble.

Kris Joesph reminds me of a young Rick Fox, a def spot on this team.

Moore is not a PG in the least. He is a spot up shooter in the mold of Daniel Gibson. Don't see a spot on this team for him

JJJ was very disappointing IMO, Forced a lot of shots, didn't play on the block that well. Defense looks spotty. A less talented version of Walter McCarty.

Williams looked good defensively, rebounded well, but his basketball IQ is close to 0. Got taken out for a random 3pt shot attempt.

[Celtics4ever]

I just watched the game.   I already regret not drafting PJ3.  He was decent and showed had he had "it".   Box score aside he looked good and the athletic ability showed.   I was more impressed with him than with any other big.  This kid played with a chip on his shoulder.  He can shoot.

Sully looked to have a high skill level and knows how to use his body.   He had a better box score than Jones but wasn't playing him JJJ was most of the time.  Sully just kind of coasted.  Scored within the flow of the game.  Nice shooting touch too for the most part.

I actually liked some things I saw from Melo.   He was mobile and active as a defender.   I have said for several days I thought he has bad hands.   This impairs his rebounding.   But he has an NBA body today and good defensive timing.  I actually think he could make Steams expendable but he needs to work at it.  Melo looks like he could guards 4 and 5's easy.  He really sits down into his stance on D almost like Bradley.

Joseph has a nice touch and a nose for the ball.  I too think he could make the team.

Moore played decent but I agree he could be gone.   He really doesn't have a position and does't possess a speciality.   Does everything ok but excels at nothing.

JJJ rebounded well.   But his defensive against Jones3 was abyssmal.   Still looked lost on D.

[hardlyyardley]

DinoRadjaLives....you nailed it with the Joseph/Fox comparison.....maybe things will cjange as the week goes on.

[cltc5]

I really hope we can keep joseph.  He's a baller.  Moore looked good, and should see significant more minutes on a team that needs a SG/PG. Not sure he's what we need right now.  JJJ can go anyday now...he's just turrible...pushed around can't find a shot. Sully looked good.  Melo will be good. Christmas was aliright I guess.  I'd definately keep are 3 rooks and maybe moore.  Williams maybe too for length.  The rest can go.  PJ3 looked good early, but looked frazzled once he got double teamed.  He's a baller, but i could see the motor lag he was criticized for.

[bfrombleacher]

JJJ can go anyday now...he's just turrible...pushed around can't find a shot.

He had to create his own shot, off the dribble. Going up against PJIII certainly didn't help.

[slamtheking]

sully looked decent.  not a world-beater but could end up contributing this year.

Melo is at least a 2-year project.

Joseph looks like a player.  I could see him making the team at the end of the roster.

Moore -- still has a knack for making shots that I don't expect to go in.  didn't see much in the way of PG skills.  if they plan to use him as a back up SG, he might stick.  if not, I would not be surprised to see him moved in a deal.

JJJ - liked how he started on the boards but was hoping his offense would look better.  Hoping it's just a 1-game glitch.  he has to know he's competing for his future and playing time.

the rest -- just summer league roster filler.

[mctyson]

Just finished watching the repeat.  My observations:

E'twaun Moore is a complete gunner.  If he keeps that up he will be cut.  And I was a fan of his last season...

...in contrast, Dionte Christmas was great all around.  He was the best player on the court (for the game) in my opinion.  Hit a variety of shots, from 3's to hard drives in the paint.  He rebounded as well.  But most importantly, he looked for teammates and passed the ball.

Sullinger is as advertised.  Those of us who watched him in college knows he'll do this stuff every night.  Like an analyst said, he is a Triple A Bond.  17 and 9.

I thought Melo actually looked really good.  He was very active on defense and I counted 4 blocks, one of them a great one on an attempted tip in by PJ3.  That's all we need out of this kid, hustle, defense, shot blocking, rebounding, and a few points.

Kris Josephs has great rhythm on his shot and polish on offense.  He is Ryan Gomes 2.0 for us.

JJJ is still impossible to figure out.  Played OK though, got eaten alive by PJ3 at times.

Sean Williams was active at first and then not much of a factor.

C's crashed the glass which was nice to see.

Cole Aldrich is terrible.

Reggie Jackson is OKC's version of E'twaun Moore.

PJ3 disappears if the ball isn't in his hands with a chance to score.  But when that is the case he is the most talented guy on the floor.

Brian Hill's hair is whiter than ever.

[thirstyboots18]

nice write up, mctyson.  I asked about Christmas...I thought he looked good, too.  Was told that he has been in the league three or four years.  Either he is a late bloomer, or he is not as good as he looked today...of course it was only summer league, but I will keep an eye on him...

[WsAllDay]

man is it just me or Does JJJ have the slowest shot in the world smh. i played with a guy in high school that i thought had slow shot, but JJJ i do believe is worst