High altitude. Guys not in game shape. Just started playing with each other. Lots of standing around. Meaningless game.
That pretty much covers my 'Summer League' excuse book
That pretty much covers my 'Summer League' excuse book
Celtics Summer League
- Thread starter wade boggs chicken dinner
- Start date
He flew to America last week and without time to even find a local McDonald's is on a basketball court with foreign players in a foreign country playing in a different setting at altitude. When he leaves the arena he is in freakin Las Vegas with woman everywhere and its 115 degrees out. Oh and he's 20 years old and doesn't know a soul.
The kid deserves a little transition period before overanalyzing his performance on the floor. There are a ton of good reasons why he hasn't looked like he did in the Adriatic League this week.
Just to add some context to this for people who didn't watch...
Because the Celtics played with no PG last night Nader and Tatum were forced to bring the ball up the floor. Tatum has a good handle but it sure as hell isn't that good. Mitchell is a fantastic on ball defender and was picking up Tatum basically full court and really disrupting him.
Mitchell looked great (so much so that there were a bunch of tweets with GIFs taking about how SAVAGE Mitchell was and how he DESTROYED TATUM) but it was a situation and scenario which would never happen in a real NBA game. Wouldn't read too much into it
I wouldn't either, at least not on Tatum's end. Mitchell's definitely a competitive guy, but there was something extra last night, I dunno if it was some old ACC beef or he was going after the high draft pick, but he was amped up and had the crowd behind him. Mitchell's not quite Marcus Smart level strong, but he's not far off and he's more explosive with a better jump shot. He's going to be a menace to deal with defending 1-3. As far as Tatum's concerned, like the rest of the Celtics, he looked spent last night, plus he's two years younger than Mitchell. When he adds strength and weight, I won't be too concerned about him getting bullied by 6'3 guards.
well for balance you can watch him get just destroyed by known offensive juggernaut Brice Johnson (nba career FG% 286).
Yeah, so hiding Lonzo on the 3/4 in the post so he can't get beat by quick guards is gonna be ugly.
First game jitters etc. But.... there were reasons to think that Lonzo wasn't actually a good shooter going into the draft, and.... if Lonzo can't shoot, we already know he can't really defend, or win off the dribble... well that makes him What exactly?
I've used the Rubio without defense comparison (which is kind of weird since Rubio is a very good defender and it's a major reason he's in the league), but maybe a better one is on the same SL roster as him..... Kendall Marshall.
I've used the Rubio without defense comparison (which is kind of weird since Rubio is a very good defender and it's a major reason he's in the league), but maybe a better one is on the same SL roster as him..... Kendall Marshall.
Appearance is very important to Utahns (as is social status in general), so Utah is ranked pretty highly in beauty. Women in Salt Lake City have the highest percentage of boob jobs in America, IIRC. (Although I find fake breasts hideous, personally.)
Utah is a bizarre place, but it is not the same as Iran. It is more like a community trying to make you believe they are perfect.
Lakers fans just puked at the thought but Marshall may not be that far off as a floor. Ball's defense was thoroughly unimpressive and that was going up against summer league scrubs. I can't wait to see him go up against studs like Wall and Westbrook. Going to be a layup line.
There was no one happier than me that Lonzo didn't work out for the Cs but you have to think that Lonzo will figure out to how to get his shot off on catch and shoot jumpers. That plus being able to get steals and (hopefully) guard 2s & 3s will make him at least a productive player.
I'm silently rooting for him - well at least after this upcoming season. He seems like a good kid and it's not his fault his father does what he does. But man, I think his floor is way lower than Fultz, Tatum, or Jackson. I can't see him contributing much this season.
Needed to update the Excuse Book after reading above posts:
1. High altitude.
2. Guys not in game shape.
3. Just started playing with each other.
4. Lots of standing around.
5. Meaningless game.
6. 3 games in 4 nights
7. Jet lag
8. lack of McDonald's app
9. distracted by Las Vegas Showgirls
10. foreign players lacking friendship
11. 115-degree outdoor temperatures while playing inside
12. first-game jitters
13. the abundance of woman with fake boobs in Utah distracted the players
14. players were confused, it felt like they were playing in Iran
De'Aaron Fox looking impressive so far. That's a pick that the Lakers may really regret.
Ball will be much better than he showed tonight but he was shit on defense against scrubs. Glad Danny didn't trade Avery to LA because he'd be perfect next to Lonzo, as he can hit all the open shots and guard the quick PGs that Lonzo will really struggle to defend.
The passing skills are there but I'm not sure if he has an other elite skills.
Honestly, I was coming back to thread to edit my post with "Then again, it's the Lakers."
If the Lakers got Rondo with no defense with the #2 pick, I may never stop laughing.
Rondo had better athleticism, so he actually won off the driblle a good amount of the time, and his defensive issues were more effort/concentration than physical.... but yeah bad years regular season non-national TV Rondo.
Interesting line for contenders for the Malcolm Brogdon second-round-draft-steal award for this year: Last night Sindarius Thornwell was 6 of 13 from the field, 5 rebounds, 2 steals (and 8 fouls) -- for 26 points, because he got to the line 18 times and made 14 of those. He was a second rounder, pick 48, and drafted by Milwaukee (then traded to Clippers).
The winner of that award resides on your Boston Celtics. Semi Ojelaye. Who I would rather have over Lonzo Ball and I'm not joking
Ojeleye has played 79 minutes in 3 games, has taken 19 shots, and plays the same position as two #3 draft picks on the same team and you can already tell that he's going to be out of the league when guys like Chris Johnson are still looking for their shot?
He looks a lot more athletic than he is. He has no lateral movement. He's a Binky.
Rondo came in to the league unable to hit a 15 footer. His college opponents left him open outside of the lane. Over time he became good enough that you had to put a defender on him for those jump shots, though. The question is, did he always have the ability and never practiced it before playing in Boston? And the same question is there for Ball. Can he practice and get better? Or is he just a guy who can't shoot from outside?
I don't know if it's the shooting as much as it is the inability to penetrate. You wanted to sag on Rondo because if he got a step on you, forget about it, either he or a teammate were getting an open look. Until Ball proves he can get inside the 3pt line with the dribble, defenses are going to be hounding him.
What are you talking about? He shot over 40% from 3 in college. He was over 55% from the floor. I don't love his offensive game but where is this Rondo comparison coming from???
Based on what exactly? 6 6 245 one of the best athletes in his draft class shot 42% from 3 and 78% from the line while being a plus rebounder and carrying his team to the NCAA tourny
Out of the league? Come on man.
Hyperbole but I had a late first grade on Lonzo. I think his shot doesn't translate at all, he can't defend, and he's not shooting and not defending then what is he exactly? He has bust written all over him.
He's saying *if* his weird shot does not translate at this level, then who is he.
He's so great he was a 2nd round pick. This board loves it's Mickeys and Leon Powes. Maybe he'll stick around like James Young sticks around. Over Lonzo Ball? C'mon man.