Summer League Game Thoughts: Game 1 vs. Jazz

[SAGirl]

During Murrays post game interview he said Pop told him to get other player involved to pass first and not necessarily score.

This is a very good point. I forgot about that. he accomplished his feat of looking to get others involved. His first summer league he looked for his own shot too much, thus the "black hole" on offense remarks. He can pass the basketball and is getting better. That was definitely him working on getting other guys shots.

The other thing is, he seemed dissapointed in only playing 16 minutes. He wanted to play. (dude is really hungry.) Pop will have to play these young guys. He's looking for playing time with the big team and a lot of chucking ain't going to get it done for him. Distributing is where it's at with the SL. He played strictly as a PG... maybe we see him off the ball next game or something, I'd like to see what he's worked on offensively as far as shooting.

[raybies]

This is a very good point. I forgot about that. he accomplished his feat of looking to get others involved. His first summer league he looked for his own shot too much, thus the "black hole" on offense remarks. He can pass the basketball and is getting better. That was definitely him working on getting other guys shots.

The other thing is, he seemed dissapointed in only playing 16 minutes. He wanted to play. (dude is really hungry.) Pop will have to play these young guys. He's looking for playing time with the big team and a lot of chucking ain't going to get it done for him. Distributing is where it's at with the SL. He played strictly as a PG... maybe we see him off the ball next game or something, I'd like to see what he's worked on offensively as far as shooting.

You could tell his agenda was to pass. He could of chucked floater after floater if he wanted. But if that's what they want from him it sounds like they plan to start him, because with the first unit they don't need him to score, they just need him run the pick initially or occasionally and set the open man up like Green or Leonard. He'll be fine in switches and going over the screen but once teams decide to go under and force him to shoot or trapping there could be problems imo. I think that's the first development is running him with picks so he can get acclimated and more experienced to the coverages. This way he can develop piece by piece out of necessity. That's how you do it.

PATFO seems to be taking a leap of faith with the kid. Resigning Patty was a huge sign they wanted to develop him cause Patty's harmless and a veteran. He'll be fine with whatever role Pop gives him.

[hooperflash]

Next: Boston @ 6:00 P.M. CT

[Spurtacular]

WiltedGame 0-8 FG

[Spurtacular]

White's game looking good in the highlights; even reminds me a bit of a young Paul Pierce. Glad to see; don't want another Fathead.

[BillMc]

Just treat him normally, don't spook him

[BillMc]

[sasaint]

I can't recall that specifically.

I was impressed that he got the ball to the roll man in crisp good passes as that is one of the toughest reads requiring timing, and one that JSimms wasn't a great master of, for example. In those PnR in SL, JSimms either went for his shot or kicked to the 3 a lot more than he passed to the roll man. Shayne Whittington (Dijon's center in the game) was so bad unfortunately. A few of his passes were to kicks outs that ended in horrendous shots by Blossomgame, who cannot shot, nor drive and finish. In fact I didn't see any positive offensive skillset with Blossomgame... he needs work.

Davis played a lot more with Forbes and D.White. He had some stints as a 3 with CoJe and LJC with Forbes and White as the two guards or Hanlan and White. It was an odd rotation by Will Hardy.

Seriously cannot recall Murray and Davis involved in any two man game kind of like JSimms and Anderson who did get each other involved in a two man game that ended up in mismatches for either one or shots for them or others. This team doesn't have much chemistry yet. When Davis screened for Murray (I recall maybe 2 or 3 possessions of this) the Jazz switched with Murray ending up guarded by a big and he chose to attack off the dribble, not with a lot of success there. Davis didn't get to exploit any mismatch but at the end, when he attempted to drive on a smaller player and was fouled. I think the team can get more out of Davis. Murray also played only 16 minutes. A half of the 3rd Q and all of the 4th Q was garbage time and he didn't play.

I think there was a fair amount of lack of chemistry, that is why I expect them to play better with more practices/reps/coaching etc.

Going forward, I don't even want to see Forbes or Whittington on the floor again. They have no chance of sticking with the Mothership. Give Forbes' minutes to White, Murray and even Hanlan. I want to see much more of Jefferson.