Here’s some exclusive video of Doug Collins, the new head coach of the Philadelphia 76ers, as he discusses his impressions of his new team during their play at the NBA summer league. He also goes on to discuss the ongoing development of former Kentucky start Jodie Meeks, and why lottery picks almost always play badly in their first summer league games.
James scouted every game of the 2010 NBA Summer League in Orlando, Florida, where many rookies try to start their NBA careers off on the right foot and many young players with a year or two of experience try to get more court time. After an exhausting week of scouting games, getting interviews and flagging down General Managers, James wraps up with this scouting report of the Pacers versus the Jazz.
Utah (1-2) vs. Indiana (2-1)
Pacers win 83-74 Box Score
GAME NOTES
• How many illegal screens have we seen this week? This is crazy.
• Pacers getting out in transition; off and running.
• Poor defense for Jazz. Pacers are getting way too many easy buckets.
• Pacers were up by 20 for over 2 quarters. Jazz came back in late 3rd and 4th and made it a game.
SCOUTING REPORTS
Utah
Gordon Hayward (24 min,1-5 FG, 0-2 3 pt, 5-5 FT,2 reb, 2 st, 1 blk, 7 tp) – Matched up with Paul George most of the game. Was not quick/athletic enough to guard him. Looked like he was rushing his jump shot- jumper was off the mark. Looked frustrated this game. Had a nice steal and finished with a two-handed dunk and the foul.
Jeremy Evans (13 min, 1-2 FG, 2-3 FT, 3 reb, 1 ass, 4 tp) Helped bring Utah back into the game. Hustles every play; great second round pick for Utah. I like this guy a lot; will be a solid player. Needs to get quicker feet on defense. McRoberts blew by him a couple of times. Very long, great shot blocker, needs to get stronger. Grabs rebounds at rim level. Very athletic, had a huge dunk from way outside the lane, and got fouled.
Tyrese Rice (11 min, 2-3 FG, 1-2 3 pt, 5 tp) Has a nice looking wrap around pass. Can shoot the ball well. Will be a career D-Leaguer.
Kosta Koufos (29 min, 7-10 FG, 5-10 FT, 7 reb, 1 blk, 19 tp) Big game for second year player from Ohio State. Has a nice spin move on baseline that he finished with two handed dunk. Strong finisher near rim, keeps ball high on rebound. Has a nice sweeping hook. Had a nice block on the more agile McRoberts. Has a decent 18’ jumper. Solid rebounder; secures the ball.
Indiana
Paul George (29 min, 5-9 FG,1-2 3 pt, 4-5 FT, 9 reb, 3 ass, 1 st, 15 tp) Very good rebounder and slasher. Lamar Odom type; can rebound the ball, dribble it up and court, stop and shoot the 3 or take it to the rim. Is a good passer. Sometimes over dribbles and tries to do to much, gets him in trouble. Is a good shooter; has a nice step back J.
Josh McRoberts (31 min, 5-6 FG, 1-1 3 pt, 10-10 FT,3 reb, 4 ass, 1 blk, 21 tp) Best performance yet this week. Was connecting on his jump shot this game. Is playing very well, active on boards, is a good passer and plays good D. Gets to the line and makes his FT’s. Had a couple of very athletic finishes.
Lance Stephenson (28 min, 6-8 FG, 7-10 FT,2 reb, 1 blk,19 tp) Should have had several assist, but recipients couldn’t finish. Is a good passer; good vision. Loves the no-look pass. Gets in trouble sometimes by getting airborne when making passes. Very creative with the ball. Uses his body well to shield defenders. Has good body control in air. Moves his feet well on defense; always displays hand in face of shooter. Jumper looks solid, displays good form and good ball rotation and is hitting jumpers nothing but net. Makes the defense pay when defender reaches. High energy guy. Can post up smaller defenders and finish strong. More athletic than once thought, finishing above the rim several times. Has big hands and is a beast down low. Lance does a good job taking command of the game and is a good FT shooter. One negative is that he sometimes gets ahead of himself and gets in a hurry and turns the ball over. Lance continues to impress and surprise.
Magnum Rolle (29 min, 4-5 FG, 2-2 FT,8 reb, 4 blks, 10 tp) Very athletic player who was a second rounder out of Louisiana Tech. Finishes over the rim and is a big time shot blocker. Great defensive player who can be a presence in the paint; comes out of no where to block shots. High extension of Left handed hook. Under the radar player, has a chance to be pretty good. Has a nice looking 18’ jumper off screens. Good passer. Made a rookie mistake when a committed a moving screen at very end of game; stupid mistake.
Justin Anderson is the next big name in the state of Maryland for high school basketball.
With Quinn Cook leaving DeMatha for Oak Hill, the rising junior becomes one of premier prospects to come out of the state. Anderson takes it in stride and is very humble about his role at national powerhouse Montrose Christian. Currently, he is playing the U17 American National team overseas in Germany and fairing quite well. This is just one of many accomplishments to add to Justin’s resume.
Anderson is extremely proud to be a part of the American squad. “We’re doing good,” he said. “This is a great opportunity I have playing with the best players in the grade ahead of me.” Anderson is only sixteen and is the youngest player on the team by a couple of months. “I’ve gotten learn a lot from my teammates,” stated Justin. While they are thriving and going for gold, Justin continues to play his game and play his role.
His game is exciting to watch. He is energetic and lively on the court as he is a defensive presense. Anderson slashes to the basket, as well. He is an excellent scorer and very versatile. The only part of his game that hurts his versatility is his ball handling skills. The 6-foot-5 small forward needs to gain a handle in order to take his game to the next level. However, his game is great. At one point he was a top fifteen player in the class of 2012. Now he is in the top forty.
Currently, Justin’s recruitment is steady and he is drawing interest from tons of big name schools. “Right now, the five schools who are recruiting me the hardest are Maryland, Virginia, Duke, Texas and Oklahoma,” he said. “I would say that is my top five in no specific order.” However, one school has to stand out to Anderson as they are the only ones to offer. Maryland is the only school to give Justin a scholarship at the moment. Along with that, they are very close to him with his school being in Maryland. One of his former teammates, Terrence Ross, was once committed to the Terps.
Once he gets back to America, Justin will run with his Boo Williams AAU squad into the Nike Peach Jam in Georgia and AAU Nationals in Florida. As he plays some more AAU in the live period against some of the top players in the country, coaches will notice who he is and why they want him. Look for the rest of July to be a real eye opener for colleges on Justin Anderson.
James continues his scouting of the NBA summer league games in Orlando, where many rookies are getting their first chance to prove themselves in the NBA.
Thunder (2-1) vs. 76ers (2-1) Thunder win 89-80 Box Score
GAME NOTES
• Thunder playing great team defense.
• James Harden is sporting the Mohawk, with the beard and the headband.
• Eric Maynor hurt his hand in 3rd. quarter and did not return.
Scouting Reports Thunder
Eric Maynor (23 min, 3-7 FG, 1-3 3 pt, 3-4 FT, 2 reb, 5 ass, 10 tp)- Great passer, was able to change shot in air one time and still put it in. Able to maneuver way to basket. Can shoot the 3. Very controlled/composed player.
James Harden (32 min, 3-10 FG, 0-4 3pt, 15-18 FT, 5 reb, 3 ass, 2 st., 6 TO, 1 blk., 21 tp)- Needs to improve jump shot- again he is TO prone- had a really rough first half- second half was able to get to the line- very good FT shooter. He uses his body well to shield defender- showed off nice footwork with a Euro step.
DJ White (22 min, 3-5 FG, 2-4 FT, 4 reb, 3 blk, 8 tp)- Great defensive player, runs the floor. Played great D on Speights. Defends pick and roll well. Also showed some nice post moves.
Latavious Williams (15 min, 4-5 FG, 2-3 FT, 5 reb, 3 blks, 1 ass, 10 tp)-Best game so far- looked a lot more comfortable on the floor. Has ability to finish at the rim. Plays game above the rim. NBA ready body. Great defender- displayed good timing with shot blocking. Has big hands. Still very raw- but has good potential.
Mustafa Shakur (25 min, 4-10 FG, 2-4 3 pt, 1-2 FT, 2 reb, 6 ass, 11 tp)- Best game yet for the guard out of Arizona. Led the team in assist and +/- score of +22. Looks composed at all times. A very willing passer who can see the floor and create. Very quick, can get to rim and pass to open big man. Good shooter with 3 pt range. Can shoot off dribble and can create own shot. Plays good good- has long arms. Very dangerous in the open court.
Byron Mullens (24 min, 7-8 FG, 2-6 FT, 6 reb, 16 tp)- Another solid performance from Mullens, who has really developed and gotten better since his Ohio State days. One year in the league has helped him immensely. He is very strong and runs the floor well for his size. Sets solid screens and rolls well. Has a nice hook shot and keeps the ball high on rebounds.
76ers
Jrue Holiday (33 min, 7-15 FG, 3-5 3 pt, 8-12 FT, 1 reb, 5 ass, 3 st, 6 TO,25 tp)- Another good PG from Holiday- who is looking more and more like the PG of the future for Philly. Has the best defense in the Summer League for a PG. Has quick hands. He is very strong in the air and can finish with contact. Has a slow release on jumper, but is a decent shooter. Needs to continue to improve consistency of jumper. Good passer.
Evan Turner (27 min,1-6 FG,2-2 FT,8 reb, 2 ass, 2 st, 4 tp)- Rough shooting day for Turner. He is able to still impact the game when shot is off. Is a good defender. Had a nice steal and pass to Holiday early in the game. Good rebounder. Showed a lot of frustration and displayed bad body language this game, especially after TO’s. Sometimes gets mixed up/lost on P and R defense.
Jodie Meeks (30 min, 4-14 FG,8-8 FT, 6 reb, 4 ass, 16 tp)- Runs off screens well and is ready shoot on the catch- good shooter, who can also get to the rim.
Marreese Speights (27 min, 9-19 FG, 2-2 FT, 9 reb, 20 tp)- Good scoring game for Speights. Should be getting to line more- does not bang enough down low. Settles for 15-18’ jumper too much- but he is showing the ability to make that shot. Needs to stay down on defense- goes for every ball fake/head fake. Good footwork in post.
James continues his scouting of the NBA summer league games in Orlando, where many rookies are getting their first chance to prove themselves in the NBA.
Scouting Reports
New Jersey
Derrick Favors (25 min, 2-5 FG, 5 reb, 7 fls, 4 tp)- Good rebounder, showed some nice post moves- good hook shot, foul prone, solid effort today.
Terrence Williams (36 min, 8-26 FG, 0-3 3pt, 6-11 FT, 4 reb, 6 ass, 2 st, 22 tp)- Very good and willing passer, does a great job attacking the basket. Takes a lot of shots- b/c he is one of the only sources of offense for Nets. Big time dunk in traffic going to his right. Had a nice runner in lane. Needs to work on consistency on jumper.
Damion James (34 min, 9-18 FG, 3-5 3pt, 9-11 FT, 3 reb, 2 ass, 30 tp)- Highest scoring game this week for any player. Solid scorer who is a good shooter. High volume shooter with athleticism. Shoots well off screens and can create own shot. Has a nice post game. Best game this week for the rookie out of Texas.
Orlando
Jeff Adrian (22 min, 2-4 FG,4- 8 FT, 4 reb, 1 st, 8 tp)- Great hustle player, free throws are flat. Very strong is a beast on the boards- protects the ball well. Showed improved offensive game since college- nice hook shot and can shoot the 10-15’ jumper. Will find himself on a opening day roster.
Joe Crawford (28 min, 10-13 FG, 4-5 3 pt, 5-8 FT, 29 tp)- High volume and efficient scorer- but strictly a scorer, nothing else. Great shooter- probably the best in summer league. Has a nice floater- can score in a variety of ways. Holds his ground- strong on D.
Daniel Orton (17 min, 4-6 FT, 1 ass, 1 blk, 4 tp)- Best game yet as a pro- even though he did not put up numbers or fill up the stat sheet- he looked alive and actually looked like he wanted to play today. He looked energetic and more comfortable today. Played solid defense- was a presence in paint. Gets post position and had a couple of nice passes out of post. Definitely needs to improve offense. The Magic still do not have a legit scoring center.
Patrick Ewing Jr. ( 31 min, 4-10 FG, 0-2 3 pt, 3-4 FT, 7 reb, 11 tp) – Not a great showing from the coaches son, who continues to lead the team in minutes played, but did show some good things. Plays good defense with active hands. Has a nice bank shot from wing area. Decent passer too.
When the NBA introduced the concept of the NBDL, way back in 2001, it was seen as a possibly subversive attack by NBA commissioner David Stern on the NCAA and the Final Four, one of the crown jewels in the business of sports. However, from the outset, the league was not clear in it’s mission or even if it was stable. Intended to develop talent for the NBA, the league has focused on attempting to a true farm system, akin to what Major League Baseball has had for decades. Previous minor leagues relied on veterans, many of whom had already spent several years on NBA rosters, but the new league was only for younger talent.
In many respects, the D-League has worked. Young players who aren’t getting minutes on the rosters of NBA teams should be getting regular playing time in the D-League, although teams are not consistent in how they move players around. This season, Gerald Henderson sat for entire games without stepping on the Charlotte Bobcats’ floor, forced to wait until the summer league to try and show his skills and work on his game. Meanwhile, several players have benefited from the system, and there have been several players who began their time in the D-League and then eventually became NBA roster mainstays.
Combined with the surge of players who are barely spending any time in college, the D-League should be full of players who can work their way into prime time by playing against older, better competition. The concept of collegiate athletics means no paycheck for athletes, limited workout time for the school and a host of other concerns. The D-League has none of that. In truth, a player who is 17 years old should be able to play for the D-League even if he’s never played college. That would mean that if he really wasn’t ready for the pros, he’d have to work a few years to get moved up, and the NBA would not be footing the bill for a big rookie contract he had not earned.
But it still hasn’t worked out as well as it should have. The NBA has done a very poor job of cultivating the D-League, opting for marketing efforts like video marketing that focused on reality television to promote the league, as opposed to the same methods that work in other sports. Minor league teams are tough to market but the NBA seems mostly content to just pay for the league and let the players play in relative obscurity.
Ideally, the NBA should be cultivating it’s future star players in the D-League, just as the college game does today. Gordon Hayward was not a star when he arrived on the Butler campus, but his (and his teams’) outstanding play and the CBS coverage made him a household name. With the exception of the pomp of the college game, there is no reason why the NBA should have solid players on any roster that people have never heard of.
This means that the NBA has to recognize the levels of talent. The league understands superstardom, but doesn’t know how to market stars at lower levels of play. They have to recognize that they have stars they can market in the D-League, after all, most of those players were already stars in college.
James continues his scouting of the NBA summer league games in Orlando, where many rookies are getting their first chance to prove themselves in the NBA.
Game 2- 3:00 game
OKC (1-1) vs. Charlotte (2-0)
Bobcats win 86-85 Box Score
GAME NOTES
• Bobcats offense looks out of sync in first half, none of the PG’s for Bobcats look comfortable.
• Bobcats played great team defense- forcing the Thunder to the end of the shot clock several times.
• S. Ibaka did not play because of yesterdays injury.
• Jeremy Pargo won the game for the Bobcats with a turn around jumper in the lane as time expired.
• Funny exchange between D. Brown and A. Ajinca after a Ajinca foul late in the game. Brown said, why did you foul him Lexy, you already have 8 fouls. Lexy responded, “I didn’t mean too – I’m not trying to foul!”.
Scouting Reports Bobcats
Derrick Brown ( 30 min, 6-12 FG, 2-3 FT, 8 reb, 14 tp)- Another great game from Brown, who continued to attack the basket ferociously. He has a quick first step and can go to his right or left ( he is left handed). Has strong moves around basket, also displayed a nice 1 dribble jumper. Had a crazy athletic put back dunk attempt that missed, but continues to wow people with his athleticism.
Alexis Ajinca ( 27 min., 5-8 FG, 4-6 FT, 6 reb, 8 fls, 14 tp)- Up and down game from Alexis. Did some good things on offense today, but 8 fouls with out 1 block on defense is not a good line. He struggles in the post with double teams, obviously not used to them. He needs to become a better passer. Displayed good touch on his outside jumper.
Gerald Henderson (34 min., 5-11, 1-1 3 pt, 10-11 FT, 8 reb, 4 ass, 21 tp)- Another great game from Henderson, who is trying to earn himself some PT next year. He lead the team in points in assist and also showed he can hit the 3. Is an excellent rebounder because of his athleticism. Had another big dunk in traffic, because of a lighting quick first step. Played excellent defense on James Harden today. Good lucking jumper displayed, and he is good at curling screens and making the right play, whether it be shoot, or dump it to the low post for assist. Is also good at drawing fouls, where he takes advantage at the line.
PJ Tucker (21 min, 4-5 FG, 2-3 FT, 3 reb, 1 st, 10 tp)- Very productive game from Tucker, who recorded a DNP yesterday. Tucker recorded the highest +/- on the team with a +13. He is very strong and physical which makes up for his lack on height. He played solid D on Harden and has quick hands for a forward. Very active in the post- sticks with it, very hard worker.
Thunder
Eric Maynor (35 min, 5-9 FG, 1-2 3 pt, 7-10 FT, 4 reb, 5 ass, 2 st, 18 tp)- Maynor continued his solid play, and keeps himself in the running as best PG in league. Displayed a nice little floater in the lane. He is a good decision maker and an excellent dribbler. Good shooter and a good passer. He can throw the lob, and had a real nice no look drop pass for a dunk. Makes good reads with ball and anticipates well on D. Also showed ability to split double team on P and R.
Byron Mullens (28 min, 2-10 FG, 8-12 FT, 3 reb, 2 st, 2 blks, 12 tp)- Rough shooting day for BJ, but he made up for by going to the FT line 12 times. Had an athletic block on Ajinca, blocking his high hook shot. Does a great job running the floor for a big man. Is very strong and physical.
James Harden (34 min, 4-11 FG, 1-5 3 pt, 10-10 FT, 5 reb, 2 ass, 5 TO, 19 tp)- Harden showed some weaknesses today. He did lead the team in scoring and again showed he can get to the rim and finish through contact, but was sloppy with the ball today. He tries to force the issue a lot and takes bad shots or tries to dribble through people. The Bobcats did a great job defending him today by making him shoot more jumpers, an area where he must improve. He did still manage to get to the stripe 10 times where he is an excellent FT shooter. He needs to improve his dribbling, especially his R hand, he loves to go left, where he is very explosive.
This post was contributed by longtime NBA scout Clarence Gaines, who spotted the un-recruited talent of Jamal McClerkin while attending an AAU game earlier this week. Special thanks to Clarence for allowing us to reprint his scouting report here.
Any Division 1 or 2 BB coaches have a scholarship available. Saw a special athlete on Monday Night. Jamal McClerkin is a 6’1 185 pound senior who just graduated from Chaminade High School in West Hills, CA. Jamal played a game with Ed Song’s California Select team in the Pangos Summer Tip-Off tournament against Cal Supreme Red’s Team on Tuesday, July 6. California Select lost by 1 and could have easily beaten one of the top ranked travel teams in California. But the result doesn’t matter, it’s the effort of Song’s young team that caught my eye, particularly Jamal McClerkin, who was the best player on the floor on this night. I didn’t say the most skilled; I said the best player. Jamal played the game with a ferocity that you rarely see in a young athlete. He left it on the floor. He played the game with passion, toughness, energy and intensity.
I was sitting by Byron Wesley’s (committed to USC 2011) dad. Byron plays for Cal Supreme and is a very nice player. He plays with poise and I like his shooting ability. USC has a young man who has a chance to have a stellar career at the small forward position. First thing I said to Byron’s dad is that Jamal has a football mentality. He plays with that type of toughness and heart. He fears nobody and is the type of player who can take the heart out of his opponent. Byron’s father loved his athleticism, but was skeptical of his basketball skill. I kept telling him that Jamal is the type of player who wins games for coaches. Extremely PRODUCTIVE player. Superior rebounder for size. Don’t know the stats,but he had to be the leading rebounder on the floor. He was boarding over players 5 to 8 inches taller than him. It was truly a sight to behold. If I’m a college coach, this is the type of kid I can work with and develop. One thing that I don’t have to worry about is his will to win or his work ethic. Byron’s dad questioned Jamal’s shooting ability because the majority of his points came off drives and rebound put backs. Jamal silenced him with a sweet jumper with about 5 minutes left in the game from about 17 feet. Caught in rhythm and hit nothing but net. He leaned over to me and said; I guess he can shoot.
Enough of the narrative. Let’s get to the bottom line. Jamal is a two sport athlete. Played wide receiver in high school. I can’t believe he wasn’t recruited to play football in college. I played college football. I also was a scout for 11 years in the NBA. I know an athlete when I see one. Jamal is a high level division 1 football player. I don’t know what type of wide receiver he was, but I do know a football player when I see one. He could easily play any defensive backfield position. With all the troubles USC is currently experiencing, they should get on the phone and immediately offer this kid a football scholarship.
Let’s talk basketball. Even though I love him as a football prospect, I suspect he loves basketball more than football.
He has a future in the college level in basketball (I think he has pro potential in football).
He should easily draw interest from low to mid major division 1 basketball programs.
Division II programs should be knocking the door down. This kid is planning to go to a junior college in 2010-11 and I can’t believe it.
I think he qualifies academically for a 4 year school. Went to a very good private school. The kid is a stud. A stud.
Here’s my expert basketball opinion. Can see him playing 2/3 spot in college. That’s right a 6’1″ kid who can hold his own at the 3 spot. He plays big, real big for 6’1″. Very explosive athlete. Has all the strength attributes that I look for; explosive strength, reactive strength, and absolute strength (ability to resist external forces). Very reactive jumper. Gets rebounds on second and third effort. Pursuit of the ball is outstanding. Instincts are outstanding. Has a nose for the ball. Traffic rebounder. Rebounds outside of area and can rebound against superior size. Kid can flat out board. Obviously as a 6’1 kid, you want to develop him into a two guard & maybe even a combo guard, but let’s be conservative. At the low and mid major level he can play 2/3 for you and he will find ways to help your team win the game. He’s a great athlete, and I don’t use that term lightly. There are 5 biomotor abilities that you look for in an athlete: strength,endurance, speed, coordination, and flexibility. He’s at the high end of the spectrum in all those categories and has excellent quickness as well. Kid has all the physical attributes and the mentality to be a great defender. Song had him guarding bigger people at times in the post. Picked up his first foul by being overly physical in the post, but he was also sending a message. You’re going to have to go through me or over me, but you’re not going to go around me. Just brings a kick ass toughness to the floor that a coach with a defensive mentality would love.
In evaluating a kid offensively in a travel team setting you have to be cognizant that a lot of help side defense is not going to get implemented. However, this game was intense, especially in the last 10 minutes of the second half. I watched him play against a team that has some very good athletes, as well as some high level division one players. If you don’t trust my opinion, contact Ed Song and you can look at the tape for yourself. Offensively, I love his attack of the rim. His first step quickness. His strength with the ball, His ability to create separation and space off the drive and his ability to finish in traffic. Didn’t see much of a mid range game and only took a few shots from the outside. Suspect he needs to develop his floor game on top of the floor. Shooting release looks OK, Can easily become a better shooter with repetition. Handle is OK – not a lot of wasted dribbles. Plays smart, made good decisions and will share the ball.
Recently, a coaching friend (Steve Finamore), posted this Magic Johnson quote from a book Magic co-wrote with Roy Johnson. I’ve titled the passage “Playing to Win.” On Tuesday, July 6 Jamal McClerkin’s play lived up to Magic’s words:
Playing to Win
“The ingredients to the NBA championship are right there for every player, coach, and team to grab if they can. But it takes time – time, experience, and the will to win.
When I’m playing basketball, I’m playing to win, nothing else. Not to score, to rebound, or to excel in one particular area of the game, but to win. That means I’m a rebounder, a scorer, a passer, even a cheerleader.
It means I’m going to be an example to my teammates of what having a winning attitude is all about.
It means I’ll have a burning desire to be the very best player on the best team.
It means I’ll have an attitude of unselfishness that keeps me craving for more of the rewards of success, more championships for my team, not glory for myself.
It means I won’t ever get jealous of the attention one of my teammates is getting because nobody gets any attention when you lose.” Earvin Magic Johnson
I saw another nice player on Song’s team that I liked. His name is Dillon and his number is 6. I won’t go into details. I was there from 5:30PM to 10:00PM. I saw a lot of ball and a few players that I really liked. But the one I wanted to take the time to write up was Jamal McClerkin, because I just can’t figure out why a football or basketball coach hasn’t offered this kid a scholarship.
Clarence Gaines
If you are a fan of the NBA, you should follow Clarence on Twitter, where he gives expert insight and honest opinion about the game of pro basketball.
James continues his scouting of the 2010 NBA summer league games in Orlando, where many rookies are getting their first chance to prove themselves in the NBA.
Day 2, Game 3- 5:00 game
Boston (0-2) vs. Philly (2-0)
Philly win 86-69 Box Score
GAME NOTES
• Lawrence Frank, Doc Rivers, and Danny Ainge are sitting 3 seats down from me.
• Boston lost because of rough PG play and TO’s.
• Boston played zone in the 2nd quarter.
• Philly played good D and did well on the boards.
Luke Harangody (31 min, 4-14 FG, 0-2 3 pt, 6-6 FT, 12 reb, 1 blk, 14 tp)- Had a rough shooting day, but again showed off his rebounding skills, grabbing 12 boards. He is very agile and strong. He played great post defense today, and was able to hold his man off. He has a quick release on his jumper, but has a low release. His form looks good on FT and set shots. Again he showed the ability to put the ball on the floor and score with an awkward flip shot for an And 1. Also showed a nice step back jumper. Can be the next Dejuan Blair with a better offensive game.
Toney Gaffney (24 min, 4-7 FG, 2-2 FT, 5 reb, 1 blk, 10 tp)- I remember asking myself last season why the Celtics picked up Gaffney late in the season. I now know why, Gaffney plays hard and is very lanky, long, and athletic, with lots of upside and potential. He runs the floor well and is active on both ends on the boards. He has a nice jumper too, and showed the ability to grab a board and bring it up himself, although he needs to get his dribble tighter and lower.
Jaycee Carroll (29 min, 6-10 FG, 1-3 3pt, 1-3 FT, 6 reb, 2 ass, 14 tp)- Has a great runner/floater that is money. Has a great shooting stroke and displayed good body control in the air. Not athletic/quick enough for the league.
Oliver Lafayette ( 21 min, 3-9 FG, 1-1 FT, 5 ass, 5 TO, 7 tp)- Is a good ball handler with a killer crossover. Has the ability to create his own shot. He tries to do to much sometimes and over dribbles. He gets good lift on his jumper, and is a good scorer. Is a good defender, but is too TO prone.
Philadelphia
Cedric Simmons (16 min, 4-5 FG, 2-4 FT, 7 reb, 10 tp)- Very solid and productive game for Ced today. He was all over the boards and it seemed to me that he had more than 7 rebounds. He is very active- you must box him out. He is very strong and is a great finisher around the basket. Does everything with 2 hands. Almost took the goal down on a couple of hard dunks. Very active on defense- blocked/influenced shots. Also showed off a nice hook. Good chance he lands with an NBA team this year and stays on all year.
Jrue Holiday (31 min, 3-10 FG, 4-5 FT, 5 ass, 10 tp)- Very athletic and has ability to finish over bigger players. Very good dribbler who can get to basket and finish in creative ways. Throws great soft lob passes. Good defender too, with quick active hands. Needs to improve his 3 pointer.
Evan Turner (30 min, 5-12 FG, 1-2 3 pt, 2-2 FT, 3 reb, 4 ass, 2 st, 13 tp)- Evan again showed that he can fill up the stat sheet and impact a game even on a off shooting night. He is a good set shooter, but settles for tough shots, which impacts his percentages. He is forcing the issue a lot this game. Is a great rebounder, who actively pursues the ball. Is also a good passer , with a nice crossover that gets him to the rim.
Marreese Speights (29 min, 5-12 FG, 2-2 FT, 11 reb, 12 tp)- Great rebounder, is inconsistent on offense, surprised me with his athleticism. Is a strong finisher and showed a nice spin move.
