Summer League-Game 1
Posted: Sat Jul 12, 2014 1:04 pm
I sense there is a lot of anticipation for today's game, although not as much as there would have been if a Wiggins deal had closed yesterday. It's a beautiful day here in LA, but I'll be inside with my computer watching the game at 3:30. It's probably appropriate to discuss our expectations.
I've already decided to view LaVine as generously as possible, because my expectations are low. If he plays poorly, I'm okay with the "give him some time" conclusion. But if he plays well, I may be taking at least a sip of kool aid. Convenient, huh? My expectations were lifted a little by the first-hand reports of Lip on this board and others on the rubechat board. It sounds like he played pretty well and provided some excitement. But my enthusiasm is tempered by a comment on rubechat that Zach had a tendency to stand around and get lost on offense. Lipoli refuted this comment and said that was not his observation, so we don't know which report is more accurate (I tend to give the benefit of the doubt to posters here :) )). but the comment was consistent with what I observed last year the one time I saw Zach live, and in several TV games.
There is no question that Zach is blessed with extraordinary athletic gifts. But frankly the jury is out on whether he will have the head for the game. Watching him on the court last year, and especially in interviews, I got the impression that Zach is not very smart...both in a basketball sense and overall. And Steve Alford was not able to coach him up, resulting in his regressing as the year went on. You can't coach up athleticism, but you can impart intelligence to a player to some extent. It will be up to Flip & Co, to do this.
But while I am ready to give a pass to LaVine today, the same does not go for Alexey Shved. Reports on Alexey in the scrimmage were not positive, and that was discouraging. We need a backup PG other than JJ, and I have been clinging to the belief that Shved could recreate some of the PG magic he showed two years ago in the Olympics. I also hoped that a former PG like Flip would recognize that Adelman had Alexey out of position, and could develop him as a back up point guard. If he fails today, I'm not going to write him off...but it will be a big negative for me.
I also expect Muhammad and Deing to play well. Early in SL we have seen many examples of 2nd year guys looking much better than their rookie years...KCP and Bennett, for starters. A second year guy has a much greater comfort level than a rookie as well as a better understanding of what the NBA is all about. Both Shabazz and Gorgui were horrible in Vegas last year, and then showed some signs of promise as the regular season progressed. I want to see that they have both improved...that Gorgui's new bulk helps him defensively and that Shabazz has been working on the gaps in his game, offensively and defensively. What they do in SL is much more important to me than what Zach and the Puppy do...I'm willing to be more patient with them.
Bring it on!
I've already decided to view LaVine as generously as possible, because my expectations are low. If he plays poorly, I'm okay with the "give him some time" conclusion. But if he plays well, I may be taking at least a sip of kool aid. Convenient, huh? My expectations were lifted a little by the first-hand reports of Lip on this board and others on the rubechat board. It sounds like he played pretty well and provided some excitement. But my enthusiasm is tempered by a comment on rubechat that Zach had a tendency to stand around and get lost on offense. Lipoli refuted this comment and said that was not his observation, so we don't know which report is more accurate (I tend to give the benefit of the doubt to posters here :) )). but the comment was consistent with what I observed last year the one time I saw Zach live, and in several TV games.
There is no question that Zach is blessed with extraordinary athletic gifts. But frankly the jury is out on whether he will have the head for the game. Watching him on the court last year, and especially in interviews, I got the impression that Zach is not very smart...both in a basketball sense and overall. And Steve Alford was not able to coach him up, resulting in his regressing as the year went on. You can't coach up athleticism, but you can impart intelligence to a player to some extent. It will be up to Flip & Co, to do this.
But while I am ready to give a pass to LaVine today, the same does not go for Alexey Shved. Reports on Alexey in the scrimmage were not positive, and that was discouraging. We need a backup PG other than JJ, and I have been clinging to the belief that Shved could recreate some of the PG magic he showed two years ago in the Olympics. I also hoped that a former PG like Flip would recognize that Adelman had Alexey out of position, and could develop him as a back up point guard. If he fails today, I'm not going to write him off...but it will be a big negative for me.
I also expect Muhammad and Deing to play well. Early in SL we have seen many examples of 2nd year guys looking much better than their rookie years...KCP and Bennett, for starters. A second year guy has a much greater comfort level than a rookie as well as a better understanding of what the NBA is all about. Both Shabazz and Gorgui were horrible in Vegas last year, and then showed some signs of promise as the regular season progressed. I want to see that they have both improved...that Gorgui's new bulk helps him defensively and that Shabazz has been working on the gaps in his game, offensively and defensively. What they do in SL is much more important to me than what Zach and the Puppy do...I'm willing to be more patient with them.
Bring it on!