Well, I just got back from the Summer League and in the Sixers third game they finally got in the win column. Wins and losses aren't that important in the SL, but it was nice to get one out of the way. It was also sweet that it was againt my least favorite team of all-time, the Lakers.
Philadelphia 81 Los Angeles 73. The Lakers started out on a 10-0 run and led for most of the game, but the Sixers chipped away and pulled away in the end. This game was both similar and different from the first game I watched against the Nuggets. Here's what I saw:
Likes:
-Marreese Speights. Mo responded by my "not hustling" comment by doing the exact opposite. Speights was all over the place, especially in the first quarter. He hustled less as the game went on, but I'll credit that to his conditioning. And I'd much rather him not hustle because he's tired instead of him not hustling because he's lazy. He also responded to the "no heart/passion" comment. He was cheering his teammates on the entire game. He was the first one to stand up and wave his towel while he was on the bench. He was the first one to high five his teammates or tell them "good job". The kid's jump shot is also a thing of beauty. He's going to be something special. He finished the night with 16 points, 9 rebounds, 2 blocks and only ONE turnover! He was 7-11 from the floor. The moment that sums up his night best was when I overheard the Maloof Brothers (Owners of the Sacramento Kings and the Palms casino. They we're sitting right in front of me) ask some guy in their entourage, "Hey, who's this number 16 guy?" At the two games I've been at, he's done nothing but impress me and everybody else watching.
-Thad's jumper. It looked much better tonight.
-Thad's ability to finish around the rim. He still amazes me with the shots he gets off and in around the basket.
-Better rebounding. 31-30 Philadelphia.
-Jason Smith's jumper and his free throw shooting (8-9).
-Obviously the win.
Dislikes:
-Pat Carrol got the start tonight instead of Junior Harrington. I liked that a lot, until I saw him play. He played like garbage. He made some bad passes, traveled, missed open jump shots. The Sixers staff saw what I saw, benching him for most of the game (only 14 minutes after starting the game).
-Jason Smith's lack of finishing around the rim.
-Thaddeus Young's horrible dribbling and lack of control. I'd never thought I'd say this, but he's been playing with less control than Rodney Carney. He had a double dribble tonight, along with numerous wild drives to the basket ending in the ball flying into the defender's hands. He really needs work on his shot and handles.
-Every other player's games except Junior Harrington.
Much better game for the Sixers tonight. It was a little less enjoyable for me since I had just finished working, along with the fact that most annoying kid in the world was sitting behind me, but Marreese Speights made it all worth while. I've seen him play twice and I've officially fallen in love with the guy. He should contend for some serious minutes come regular season, especially if Jason Smith continues to play like he has been.
That's all I have for the game itself, but just for fun here's some of the sights and sounds you might have missed if you watched it on TV.
-The Maloof's and their entourage of guys and beautiful ladies.
-Josh Childress. He created quite the buzz from the crowd.
-A Lakers' player flying into the stands and completely destroying a girl who was standing with her back towards the court. From first glance I thought she was seriously hurt, but she stood up and gave the wave to the crowd.
-One of the Lakers' guards thought it'd be funny to randomly scream and Jamont Gordon while playing defense at the top of the key. Well, he thought right. He scared Gordon enough to jump back a little. I thought it was funny.
-The play right after the girl, Rick Kamla took a ball off the forehead.
-James White asking one of the girls with the Maloofs to hang out after the game.
-A dude walked by Kevin Pritchard (Blazers GM) and said what's up to him. KP than proceeded to smile and take some of his popcorn.
-There were these two guys sitting directly in front of me and they knew every NBA player and exec. that walked by. I didn't recognize either one of them, but I came to the conclusion that they were scouts or former scouts when on NBA exec. said this to one of them, "Oh, so you can tell me why I shouldn't draft a certain guy and then I don't draft 'em and turn out to be a (bleep) up!" The dude proceeded to say, "No one will hire me." Whoever they we're it was cool to see all these NBA players and executives come up and talk to the guys right in front of me.
I'll be back tomorrow with game 4. Later.
2 comments:
1st Quarter
Sixers start off the 4th quarter cold, no one can hit a shot. But the offense LOOKS better - there's ball movement and no one is forcing any shots. Pat Carroll's a starter today, but it's messed up his game, he can't hit anything.
Thad is shooting jumpers when he should be posting up, and Jason is posting up when he should be shooting jumpers.
I really wish they'd had a better PG for summer league, I can's stand all these turnovers! Thad twice tried to show off his handle, but turned it over both times, once
dribbling it off his foot - UGH! I'm starting to understand why plays weren't called for him last year, I can imagine him not being able to get by Iguodala or Carney in practice.
Now I know how Florida fans felt about Speights - he could've gotten a couple more rebounds if only he'd tried harder.
A horrible pull-up jumper in transition by Gordon. My goodness, he follows this up with a contested three, with plenty of time on the shot clock, too. Finally, after 9 minutes of play, a post-up for Speights. On the next possession, one of our horrible guards drives down the lane and dishes to Speights for a dunk.
2nd Quarter
Philly comes back from a 10-point deficit to get within 4 on a jumper by Jason Smith.
It's a slow 2nd quarter. If you can get the ball to Marreese Speights cutting to the basket, chances are he'll score.
The inspired play from the 1st quarter continues, the Sixers are clearly trying to win this one. Junior Harrington just tried to score on a 1 on 3 fast break, that was horrid to watch; at least he got fouled. Speights almost capitalized on what would've been an amazing alley-oop. Not many 6'10" guys his size can jump like he can, I can't help but think of Amare Stoudemire when I watch this guy play.
Jason Smith was the Lakers' good luck charm - anytime he was prominently involved in a play, the Lakers scored.
Jamont Gordon went coast to coast on the Sixers' last possession and scored. This is my favorite thing about him, he'll often take an inbound pass or a rebound and just barrel down the court, and it usually leads to something good, like a foul, a layup, or a kick-out to an open guy.
Very important - the Sixers are playing much better defense than they did in the past two games; they're constantly trying to cause turnovers.
3rd Quarter
Again, Speights gets the ball cutting towards the basket and scores - pay attention Mo, this could be a very valuable weapon for us next year. A Lakers forward gets called for a technical - how does that happen in summer league? Pat Carroll makes the FT. The Sixers don't score for a while after that.
On one of his many post-ups today, Smith gets to the line for 2, sinks them both.
For St. Joe's fans: Calathes and Carroll guard each other for a short stretch, and they do a good job keeping the other one from scoring, but that can't be too hard.
Thad's lefty hook makes an appearance. If the Sixers run plays for him, I'd want 75% of those plays ending up with Thad shooting that unblockable lefty hook. Then Thad airballs
a jumper. I want exactly 0% of the plays called for Thad to end up with him taking a jumpshot. He tries to steal a pass to Coby Karl, but he ends up basically just punching the ball into Coby's face and knocks him down. It LOOKS bad, but Coby looks fine. I wish it had been Kobe Bryant.
Speights just had a great low post score: he got into the lane, three defenders collapsed on him, but he managed to get it up and in. He follows that up with a low-post turn-around J. The Sixers force a turnover just before the end of the 3rd; Jason Smith ends up with it and gets fouled - that's one of two positive things that Jason's doing in this game, getting to the line. The other one is making his jumper.
4th Quarter
Jared Reiner is the Reggie Evans of this summer team, he brings a toughness and energy that Speights and Smith don't have.
Our moron guards just messed up two fastbreaks, turning the ball over both times. Speaking of turnovers, it seems like Thad is turning the ball over every time he gets it this quarter.
Speights sits out most of the quarter and the Sixers go with a front line of Reiner, Smith and Bavcic. It won't show up in the box score, but Bavcic played well today. He's a surprisingly effective defender and rebounder, and he has a pretty good feel for the game. He managed 3 rebounds in 10 minutes, whereas Jason Smith got only 4 in 30 minutes. Still, I don't see him making the Sixers' roster.
Thad makes two lefty hook shots. Two Jamont Gordon fastbreaks for four points. The Sixers are playing to their strengths, and now they have the lead and are building on it.
For the team's final possessions, Thad keeps trying to go one-on-one, but his defender keeps knocking the ball away; it looks disappointingly easy to guard him when he's trying to break you down. I understand that he should use these games to work on his ballhandling, but the guys are really fighting today and I'd rather see some good, smart basketball instead. Jason Smith hits a long jumper to put this game away.
The Sixers come from behind
to take the game by 8 points, it was a great 4th quarter by them.
Nice. Good thing you did live play-by-play because I forgot about a few of these plays. That Speights alley-oop would have been ridiculous and his turn around J while double teamed was sick as well.
Post a Comment