CoolBreeze44 wrote:Parker hasn't been playing well. Inefficient offense and too many turnovers.
To be expected with rookies, especially 19-year olds, but other than his 4-15 game, he had a 5-11 game as well as a 6-14 game so... One bad game against two good ones.
I was more-so talking about the 14/7 he's averaging. And he had a double-double the other day. I can't complain about that.
I've watched each game and he has been disappointing. He was pretty good the first game against Wiggins, but the last two have not been good. He can beat one defender, but as soon as someone gives help he gets into trouble. His outside shot hasn't been very consistent, and I don't think he is in very good condition. His hands also appear to be suspect, continually losing the handle in traffic or catching in the paint. I think the Cavs made the right choice.
Jabari's job is to beat his man and then react to the defense. Again, this is where transitioning to the NBA is tough. Much longer, stronger, quicker defenders in the NBA. I don't doubt that he'll figure it out, though. He's only three SL games in.
If Jabari's been disappointing, what has Wiggins been? I know you were/are a Wiggins advocate, but everything you said about Parker can easily be said about Wiggins during this SL. Wiggins is the better defender, but Parker's the better rebounder and ball-handler. He also has the better all-around offensive game. We differ in opinions about these two, much like the rest of the NBA followers, but Parker's having the better SL so far between the two. That much is true right now.
Cam I've been a Bucks fan since 1970, so I am being objective when it comes to Parker. There is nobody I would rather see do well in the SL. Maybe Wiggins hasn't been great either, but as a fan I'm really disappointed in what I have seen out of Parker. He may not be athletic enough to make the offensive transition a lot of people think he will.
bleedspeed177 wrote:I am not feeling good about what I ma hearing about Shabazz. Am I right to feel that way?
Bleed, I'm a big supporter of Shabazz...well, not his game in general, but his ability to be a prolific scorer. That said, I always worry about him a little. He's a mercurial guy, and always has the,potential to do something concerning. I was pleased with his attitude and behavior last year after his mishap at the rookie orientation (which frankly didn't concern me too much). I thought everything he said and did during last year's season showed maturity, especially knowing he couldn't have been happy buried on Adelman's bench.
I didn't like his not playing the second half in the last SL game, and admit that I wondered if his benching was really about his ankle. I hope he plays today, and plays well.
Is there something new I don't know about? God, I hope not!
bleedspeed177 wrote:I am not feeling good about what I ma hearing about Shabazz. Am I right to feel that way?
Bleed, I'm a big supporter of Shabazz...well, not his game in general, but his ability to be a prolific scorer. That said, I always worry about him a little. He's a mercurial guy, and always has the,potential to do something concerning. I was pleased with his attitude and behavior last year after his mishap at the rookie orientation (which frankly didn't concern me too much). I thought everything he said and did during last year's season showed maturity, especially knowing he couldn't have been happy buried on Adelman's bench.
I didn't like his not playing the second half in the last SL game, and admit that I wondered if his benching was really about his ankle. I hope he plays today, and plays well.
Is there something new I don't know about? God, I hope not!
I hope he gets to play more because 1.5 games isn't ebough to get a real feel. I'll say this about him though everyone has been raving about his attitude last year and while I take that with a grain of salt I think its worth noting partly because of how everyone seems to go out of their way to mention it.
Also Bazz has not just been putting forth effort he is playing hard pushing guys around working hard on defense. Its hyperbole but to explain how hard he is playing I'll compare him to a guy like Brewer. Bazz is all over the place playing his butt off and on defense he seems to have a clue of what he is actually supposed to do in the team concept. That's huge compared to last year and his handle looks better not amazing but better. All I wanted to see was improvement and in the little I was able to see that's the case and much more than the marginal improvement of say Derrick Williams showed.
Jabari Parker, Milwaukee Bucks | Grade: B-minus
Give him credit for recognizing what he was largely failing to do in previous appearances. Parker had a few really aggressive moves in tight spaces where he used that considerable derriere of his to create contact and separation. What's more important than the few blown finishes or the mistakes with the ball is that his physical gifts were actually utilized properly, as his drives were quick and purposeful. When you get to the line 13 times, it's an admission from defenders that you're too much to handle. -- Foster
Julius Randle, Los Angeles Lakers | Grade: A-minus
This is not the Kentucky version of Julius Randle. No longer bound to the low block, Randle has been painting way outside the lines in Vegas by facing up and building the head of steam he needs to score over bigger defenders. It would be one thing if Randle was doing it recklessly, but his vision, ballhandling and selflessness finding open teammates off the bounce has been awfully impressive. There's more than meets the eye here. -- Foster
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks | Grade: A-minus
No one -- coaches, defenders, teammates -- really knows what to make of him. He won the tip to begin the game, then immediately served as de-facto point guard, then ran both parts of the pick-and-roll like that's a normal thing to do. Defenders played off him (because he's 6-foot-11, after all), and he calmly knocked down open 3-pointers. With about 95 percent of the players in Las Vegas, you think about what they can do at the next level. But with Antetokounmpo, you wonder if there's anything that he can't do. -- Foster
Noah Vonleh, Charlotte Hornets | Grade: B-minus
Vonleh has one of the highest floors of any prospect in this draft class, simply because he just needs to exist on the court. He certainly isn't a traditional rim protector because he lacks burst and quickness with his movements, but those crazy long arms and massive mitts tend to find the ball in spite of it. Basically, it's all about positioning for him on both ends. That's typically one of the more difficult aspects to master for young players learning the NBA game, but if Vonleh makes it his focus, good things can't help but happen. -- Foster
Zach LaVine, Minnesota Timberwolves | Grade: B-minus
LaVine is getting the chance to show how he can run an offense, mainly playing the point, but his shoddy decision-making is on display in the process. LaVine will make incredible jumpers, but so many of them are a product of high-risk basketball. And when he makes those shots, he's only giving himself incentive to keep taking them. At the end of the third quarter, LaVine missed another fadeaway jumper off the dribble, this time when he had an open lane to the hoop at the buzzer. He's showing off the skills needed to play in the NBA. Now, it's just about figuring out how to implement them. -- Katz
T.J. Warren, Phoenix Suns | Grade: A
Warren is showing everyone in Vegas why he believes he was the steal of the lottery. Dropping 26 points Wednesday gave him 22-plus in three of his four summer league games. He has been efficient too, as Warren has gotten into the lane with ease, showing off an array of floaters and funky finishes around the rim. It seems like every time he puts the ball on the floor, Warren either gets to the hoop or sinks one of those smooth pull-ups. That's how he has hit more than half his shots in each of his first four games in Vegas. The next step: developing a 3-point shot. -- Katz
Kyle Anderson, San Antonio Spurs | Grade: B
Anderson's drives have a horror-film sense of impending doom to them, as they're so slow that you actually have time to imagine all the ways it could go horribly wrong. The thing is, Anderson is the rare intelligent protagonist, as he often steps or fakes his way out of danger at the last moment to make defenders look foolish. Of course you wish he could speed up the form on his jumper so he could unfurl it quicker against closing defenders, but what can you say? He plays to his own beat. -- Foster
Mike Muscala, Atlanta Hawks | Grade: B+
Remember back in the first round of the playoffs when the Hawks gave the Pacers all that trouble because of their ability to stretch the floor? Well, that was because guys such as Pero Antic could play center and still drain open 3-pointers. Muscala is looking like he's going to fit into that philosophy beautifully. He hit two 3s on four attempts Wednesday, knocking in a couple more shots and pulling down six boards. -- Katz
Gorgui Dieng, Minnesota Timberwolves | Grade: A-minus
Most people like to wear a bathing suit around the pool at Vegas. Dieng brought his board shorts. How's 19 rebounds sound for you? Dieng added on 13 points, hanging around the high post effectively, as he often does. Still, he walked away from that game just one rebound short of hitting the glorious 20-rebound mark, not bad for a guy who had a couple of 20-board games near the end of the regular season. -- Katz
Gary Harris, Denver Nuggets | Grade: C
Harris started his night with a steal that led to a fast-break score, but it was all downhill from there. The rookie found enough metal to reconstruct the Eiffel Tower on Wednesday, missing 13 of his 18 attempts, struggling to get to the hole and settling for jumpers throughout. He was active on the defensive end, totaling four steals and disturbing passing lanes, but the shot was off and, with that, he lost his offensive rhythm. -- Katz
