Summer League Sixers/Celtics: Not an Eastern Conference Finals Preview
After last night's victory over Derrick Favors and the Nets, we head into the strange 5:00 start time against the Eastern Conference champion Boston Celtics leading the NBA in point differential. If that's not an indicator for championship success in the immediate future, I don't know what is.
Jordan previewed the week nicely yesterday, but there's a thing or two I'd like to add. It's very easy to get excited over terrific performances by Jrue Holiday and Jodie Meeks. It's even easier to assume this will translate into wins during the regular season. I'm gonna ask you to pump the breaks on that one. Keep in mind teams are sending 2-4 roster players to Orlando, while the rest are scrappy fringe guys there on an open tryout, but more likely warm bodies to fill a few odd-numbered jerseys. Also, most summer league coaches are testing out new plays handed down from their head coach looking for something new. While things like positioning, awareness, and conditioning are good to see, it's best not to get too hyped after a few open shots. In the same vein, let's not jump all over Marreese Speights for a poor first game.
After the jump, check out some match-ups to look out for in tonight's game. Thread to come later.
He of the juggernaut Fort Wayne Mad Ants has an impressive offensive game that will prove more difficult for Jrue defensively than the point guards the Nets threw at him. With Lafayette almost a lock to be a Celtics backup this season, I'm excited to see how Holiday performs against some better talent. While Jrue took it upon himself to be more of a scorer than distributor in game one, I'd like to see him involve the bigs down low more against a below-average frontcourt. Ollie also was named one of the Monstars in Scott Schroeder's day 1 review.
Celtics Three-Point Shooting
If you've followed the Sixers at all the past few years, you're as frustrated with the abominably bad three-point defense as I am. No team has seemingly hit more shots beyond the arc than the Celtics, starting with Antoine Walker, Rodney Rogers, Walter McCarty, and Paul Pierce, and more recently Ray Allen, Eddie House, and older Paul Pierce. While none of those guys (except maybe Walter) will be around tonight, JayCee Carroll, Matt Janning, and Luke Harangody should be. With Doug Collins' dedication to defensive pressure and hunkerdownness, it'll be interesting to see how Turner, Jodie Meeks, and hopefully more of Obi Muonelo get out on the wings to defend the outside shot.
Cedric Simmons/Artsiom Parakhouski
Ced made an impression in 15 minutes yesterday because of his length and athleticism. Art made a bigger one with 10 boards in just 18 minutes of PT against a legitimate Thunder frontcourt. While they're very different players, they are both fighting for roster spots in limited time and could be matching up with each other at the RDV Sportsplex. As Jordan noted, Simmons has had trouble on the defensive glass, and with Art as one of the best rebounders in the nation last year, he'll have his massive hands quite full tonight. Of the non-roster guys, Ced clearly has the best shot to make the team -- I'm pulling for him.
Final Game One Thoughts
- Trent Plaisted has terrific footwork and runs superbly for a big man. Aside from that, he's awful.
- Ndudi Ebi didn't play. Obi Muonelo got 7 minutes. WHATUPWITHTHAT?
- The announcers are horrendous. Knowing the rules helps sometimes. Come on NBATV, you know better than to Rick Kamla this B.
- I'm not entirely sure Vernon Goodridge exists. I'll let you know when I found out.
- Also, your daily dose of funk. I will be singing this the rest of the day.
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Jrue has played actual good defense against actual NBA point guards. I’m pretty sure he can handle the dreaded Oliver Lafayette :)
I’m pretty sure they don’t need a big who’s worst skill is rebounding. Simmons needs to kill it on the boards if he wants to have even the remotest chance of making the roster.
re: Simmons, small sample size. We understand he’s raw, that’s part of the appeal. Give the kid some time before he’s labeled as a terrible rebounder.
Liberty Ballers / Ridiculous Upside / @TAFKAMikeBourn
The Artist Formerly Known As The Artist Formerly Known As Michael Bourn
by Michael Levin on Jul 6, 2010 7:54 AM PDT up reply actions
Maybe one of our more statistically-minded compatriots could work out his rebounding stats. I’d be curious. Not curious enough to figure out how all this stuff works and do the analysis myself, of course, but curious enough to read it if someone else does the work :D
Here‘s his D-League stats, here’s his NBA stats. Not hard to see the sample size is minuscule. Everyone was aware of how raw he was out of college, and he has yet to put it together. The idea is you give him a long look in summer league and in workouts, see if he will become a legitimate player, then give him a shot on your roster. He could pay off big time or he could continue to be all tools and no game. The point is, you don’t look at his rebounding stats from a few games and say he’s bad.
Liberty Ballers / Ridiculous Upside / @TAFKAMikeBourn
The Artist Formerly Known As The Artist Formerly Known As Michael Bourn
by Michael Levin on Jul 6, 2010 8:08 AM PDT up reply actions
Or that he’s good either.
He was unable to stick on NBA rosters in previous seasons, and there was a reason I’m sure besides irrational dislike of the name cedric
by jemagee on Jul 6, 2010 8:09 AM PDT up reply actions
Obviously.
Liberty Ballers / Ridiculous Upside / @TAFKAMikeBourn
The Artist Formerly Known As The Artist Formerly Known As Michael Bourn
by Michael Levin on Jul 6, 2010 8:21 AM PDT up reply actions
He wasn’t exactly a huge rebounder at nc state, either.
Derek Bodner
LibertyBallers || @derekbodner || derek.bodner@draftexpress.com
So it’s possible that he’s just not a good rebounder then?:)
by jemagee on Jul 6, 2010 8:33 AM PDT up reply actions
Possible.
I do agree sample size in nba isn’t anything to rule out, but he hasn’t exactly shown me anything to give me any hope, either.
Derek Bodner
LibertyBallers || @derekbodner || derek.bodner@draftexpress.com
He barely played freshman year, and was average as a sophomore.
I’m not his biggest supporter, I’m just saying the tools are there and with a raw kid like that, you give him more time to see if he develops before you write him off as a terrible rebounder.
Liberty Ballers / Ridiculous Upside / @TAFKAMikeBourn
The Artist Formerly Known As The Artist Formerly Known As Michael Bourn
by Michael Levin on Jul 6, 2010 8:44 AM PDT up reply actions
I saw some nice alleyoop dunks last night from big men – but nothing else worth mentioning…then again I don’t think the sixers plan to sign anyone so my focus was primarily on the guys on the roster, and primarily speights
by jemagee on Jul 6, 2010 8:44 AM PDT up reply actions
Career NBA dReb% 14.4.
Sam 2010: 30
Speights: 20
Brand 2009/10: 16
Thad: 2009/10: 12
So not Thad bad, but pretty bad on the DBoards in his 700 NBA minutes.
I’m not sure I would be Thad bad on the boards. And I’m a pudgy 6’1 45-year-old lawyer. Which would probably mean I’m about as good a rebounder as Ced :)
Aren’t there any defense-rebounding-shot blocking guys floating around out there in the D-League that were worth a phone call? Seriously?
Defense, Rebounding AND shot blocking?
There were a few shot blocking specialists in the D-League this past season (Greg Stiemsma, Kurt Looby, Cezary Trybanski), but none were great rebounders. Stiemsma was called up at the end of the season to play for the Wolves, but the other two would have been possible SL additions.
The best rebounders last year in the D-League were Dwayne Jones, Alexander Johnson, Latavious Williams and John Bryant. The first two were called up, Latavious was drafted and John Bryant isn’t playing in the Orlando Summer League.
The best guys that are able to handle all three would be Rod Benson (though he’s not getting minutes with the Utah Summer League team) and Kurt Looby (who isn’t playing in Orlando).
The thing you have to remember is that big guys that are good rebounders and shotblockers are already more than likely under contract – a lot of times just being tall is enough to earn an NBA contract.
I write about basketball players with Ridiculous Upside. I know you'll love it.
by Scott Schroeder on Jul 6, 2010 2:59 PM PDT up reply actions
What exactly is the deal with Rod Benson? I’ve seen him play a few times and I keep thinking “How come this guy isn’t in the NBA?”
Has he just gotten stuck with the “lifer” tag in the D-League or something? He seems awfully good not to get at least a callup from someone.
There's really no good answer
But various reasonings can be found here.
I write about basketball players with Ridiculous Upside. I know you'll love it.
by Scott Schroeder on Jul 6, 2010 11:08 PM PDT up reply actions
In a league where a guy like Lou AMundson gets multiple jobs, Chris Andersen is forgiven for his transgressions, it seems criminal that a guy like Benson doesn’t get a look see.
At 6’10 it seems like a team with very poor (historically) defensive big men on their roster might want to take a look at a guy who might help out on that end of the court. He probably wouldn’t cost more than a non guaranteed contract.
Maybe the wizards will take a look, they don’t mind guys who blog.
by SportingFanaticism on Jul 7, 2010 10:00 AM PDT up reply actions
Thing is
He doesn’t even blog anymore.
I write about basketball players with Ridiculous Upside. I know you'll love it.
by Scott Schroeder on Jul 7, 2010 11:32 AM PDT up reply actions
Neither does Gilbert Areanas.
It would seem reasonable for a team that is in need of defensive toughness to give him a non guaranteed deal and see what he brings during training camp.
Unfortunately the sixers don’t seem to be reasonably run.
by SportingFanaticism on Jul 7, 2010 1:35 PM PDT up reply actions
So the game will start aroung 5:30, 5:45 eastern time
Anyone watching who wants to give some updates/play by play be nice to those of us still at work
by jemagee on Jul 6, 2010 8:09 AM PDT reply actions
Twitter comment from speights
On the way to the gym I promise I won’t never have a terrible offense of game like that nomore new day new game .
Now, i’ve read this a couple times and i’m guessing that ‘offense of’ is supposed to be offensive (i mean it has to right?)
So, good Mo, work on that ‘offense of’ game – don’t worry about the ‘defense of’ game where – you know – you’re always terrible
Sigh
by jemagee on Jul 6, 2010 8:11 AM PDT reply actions
Not defending Speights, but when you have the kind of offense of game like he had last night, I think you should take notice, would have been nice if he said something about defense though.
He twat earlier that he thought his defense was solid.
Liberty Ballers / Ridiculous Upside / @TAFKAMikeBourn
The Artist Formerly Known As The Artist Formerly Known As Michael Bourn
by Michael Levin on Jul 6, 2010 10:20 AM PDT up reply actions
Hey, can someone tell the sbnation folk that a confidence level of zero should be allowed in the voting?
by jemagee on Jul 6, 2010 9:08 AM PDT reply actions
Here’s hoping that what we saw last night continues. I know it’s only summer league but it was awful nice to see the guys play with energy and heart, fighting back after New Jersey took the lead, shows the kind of stuff that will come in real handy when the real season starts
by SportingFanaticism on Jul 6, 2010 10:51 AM PDT reply actions
Definitely nice to see a team that is interested. Continue that.
Speights was terrible offensively. Let’s not have that continue.
Evan Turner = Future NBA MVP
by chillicothe20 on Jul 6, 2010 12:17 PM PDT up reply actions
Everyone has off nights, Speights is quite good offensively I think he’ll bounc back an drop 20 tonight
by SportingFanaticism on Jul 6, 2010 12:35 PM PDT up reply actions
I have no doubt he’s good. Just hope his confidence isn’t shaken.
Evan Turner = Future NBA MVP
by chillicothe20 on Jul 6, 2010 4:30 PM PDT up reply actions
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