Official 2019 Summer League Thread.

Sprowl

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Tacko's close out is too slow. He needs to get his hand up earlier, and forget about taking another step.
 

bigq

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Getting up for work tomorrow is going to be more difficult but that was well worth it. Celtics summer of love rolls on.
 

DJnVa

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Strus: 13 points, 4/7 from three
GW: 21 points, 6/10 from floor, 4/5 from three, 7 boards
TL: 16 points, 16 boards, 4 assists, 7/9 from floor
Waters: 8 points, 9 assists
Tacko: 12 points, 8 rebound, 4 blocks
Arson: 15 points, 3/6 from three
 

wade boggs chicken dinner

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wade boggs chicken dinner

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Amazing what happens when you put a few people on a team that have high BBall IQs. But at the end of the day, the Cs are getting really good guard play and that's the main difference between them and other teams.
 

Gash Prex

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Most important was Grant Williams 3 point shooting and Timelord dominating a summer league game like he should
 

Eddie Jurak

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His basketball IQ has been as good as advertised and what we saw in college. Its hard not to be bullish about his career at this point.
One of the points Karalis and King made on Locked On Celtics pod was that Grant has done all of this while essentially reinventing his game. For example, he's attempted 16 threes in 4 summer leage games after taking only 46 in his entire last season in college. He's playing more on the perimeter, the offense isn't being run through him in the post on every possession, etc. This only underscores your point.
Always loved the Aldridge quote about how if Lamar Odom were 6'2" he'd be a shoe salesman while KG would be Rajon Rondo. If Grayson Allen didn't have elite athleticism he'd cleaning a toilet with a toothbrush somewhere.
KG at 6'2" would have been Rondo... with a reliable (at least) jumper.
TL dominant tonight! He's making a case for serious minutes with the big club, especially since the Celts need quality bigs
I still think he needs some Maine time to continue to establish these skills he's showing here. If he can establish himself as a good high post passer (along with PnR rim runner) then he becomes a guy who can contribute to the offense. What he needs to get and stay on the floor is to find his place in the team defense. An encouraging thing he's done here at summer league is to respond pretty quickly to coaching. He came out in game 1 bricking midrange jumpers, much to the chagrin of Scott Morrisson. By game 4, he's at the high post and some of the offense is running through him, which is what the Celtics are going to want from him in the real games.
 

HowBoutDemSox

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We get Memphis again in the 1-8 tournament matchup (all times Pacific):

Friday, July 12 – Consolation


Cox Pavilion:


1 p.m. – #27 Philadelphia vs. #14 Toronto (ESPNU)

3 p.m. – #30 Croatia vs. #11 Oklahoma City (ESPNU)

5 p.m. – #28 Cleveland vs. #13 Sacramento (ESPNU)

7 p.m. – #26 Portland vs. #15 Milwaukee (ESPNU)

Thomas & Mack:

1:30 p.m. – #31 L.A. Lakers vs. #10 Golden State (NBA TV)

3:30 p.m. – #29 China vs. #12 Phoenix (NBA TV)

5:30 p.m. – #32 Indiana vs. #9 LA Clippers (NBA TV)

7:30 p.m. – #25 Atlanta vs. #16 San Antonio (NBA TV)

Saturday, July 13 – Consolation and Quarterfinals


Consolation games:

Cox Pavilion:


1 p.m. – #24 Charlotte vs. #17 Utah (NBA TV)

3 p.m. – #23 New York vs. #18 Washington (NBA TV)

5 p.m. – #22 Orlando vs. #19 Chicago (NBA TV)

7 p.m. – #21 Denver vs. #20 Houston (NBA TV)

Quarterfinal tournament games:


Thomas & Mack:


1:30 p.m. – #8 Memphis vs. #1 Boston (ESPN)

3:30 p.m. – #5 Miami vs. #4 New Orleans (ESPN)

5:30 p.m. – #7 Brooklyn vs. #2 Detroit (ESPN)

7:30 p.m. – #6 Dallas vs. #3 Minnesota (ESPN2)

Sunday, July 14 – Semifinals

Thomas & Mack: 3 p.m. (ESPN2) and 5 p.m. (ESPN2)

Monday, July 15 – Championship

Thomas & Mack: 6 p.m. (ESPN2)

https://www.nba.com/article/2019/07/12/summer-league-2019-tournament-schedule-official-release
 

CoffeeNerdness

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I've only been able to catch the YouTube wrap-ups, but I'm loving the smooth strokes that Williams, Edwards and Strus are displaying. Lovely stuff.
 

Jimbodandy

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Underrated sequence of the night: GW bodies up Allen, Allen retaliates for a flagrant. GW immediately seeks out Allen again for hard, but totally legal screen. Allen retaliates again to the head. Allen gone.

There's more than just BBIQ in common between GW and Marcus. Grant got inside Allen's head, sought out the action, and owned him. In a summer league game. Because why not. Love it.
 

Jimbodandy

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He seems very comfortable using his using his strength and getting physical.
That is likely to lead to alot of "rookie" fouls, at least initially.
Probably some truth in that. But he seem in control of his body and is coachable. I don't expect it to be "game is moving too fast for him" rookie fouls. More like "Grant, they call those here" fouls.
 
Sep 13, 2013
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Probably some truth in that. But he seem in control of his body and is coachable. I don't expect it to be "game is moving too fast for him" rookie fouls. More like "Grant, they call those here" fouls.
For sure. He is being crafty, but will have to adjust and get a little craftier. For a guy without elite size/athleticism it will be an important part of his game.
Marcus Smart had to modifiy his appoach to flopping , but he figured it out pretty quickly, and the refs learned his tendencies etc.
 

OurF'ingCity

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This team is going to be so much fun to watch this year, even if they don't actually win as many games as the last few years, just to see which of the rookies and other young guys can establish themselves in the "real" NBA. This Summer League team is so full of players that at least COULD become legit NBA rotation guys that I have to think at least one or two of them are going to actually do so (with GWill being my #1 bet just because of his awareness and attitude, as others have already mentioned).
 

Big John

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These guys run their stuff instead of freelancing. They put effort into defense: fighting through picks, contesting shots and boxing out. That's certainly a tribute to the players, but I think Scott Morrison gets some of the credit too. It's not easy to take 10-12 guys who have never played with each other and to get them to play together after just a few practices.

I see plenty of talent on other Summer league teams but there less cohesion, which is one reason why this Celtics group has won every game by double digits.
 

lovegtm

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I still think he needs some Maine time to continue to establish these skills he's showing here. If he can establish himself as a good high post passer (along with PnR rim runner) then he becomes a guy who can contribute to the offense. What he needs to get and stay on the floor is to find his place in the team defense. An encouraging thing he's done here at summer league is to respond pretty quickly to coaching. He came out in game 1 bricking midrange jumpers, much to the chagrin of Scott Morrisson. By game 4, he's at the high post and some of the offense is running through him, which is what the Celtics are going to want from him in the real games.
TL's improvement from game 1 of summer league has been really encouraging. It looks like the game is slowing down enough that he can now take coaching adjustments better, if that makes sense. In addition, his passing reads and decision making on offense are impressing the hell out of me. Obviously that matters for his offensive growth, but it also makes me a LOT more optimistic than I was that he can learn to read the floor on defense too.

Everyone is excited about Tacko, but if TL can learn to read the game and keep improving rapidly, that would be a franchise-altering development.
 

bowiac

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Everyone is excited about Tacko, but if TL can learn to read the game and keep improving rapidly, that would be a franchise-altering development.
That sounds right. I don't like to read much into summer league, but he's a guy with a skillset to be an impact guy. The three legs of the stool for a center like him are 1) actual rim protection (as opposed to selling out for blocks); 2) passing; and 3) free throws. He's shown signs of real development into two of those so far.
 

wade boggs chicken dinner

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That sounds right. I don't like to read much into summer league, but he's a guy with a skillset to be an impact guy. The three legs of the stool for a center like him are 1) actual rim protection (as opposed to selling out for blocks); 2) passing; and 3) free throws. He's shown signs of real development into two of those so far.
With regard to FTs, it's SSS but last year he was 10-14 in GLeague and 9-15 in the NBA and he's 5-7 in SL thus far. Not great but certainly passable.
 

DannyDarwinism

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I looked around and found this article on his dad's influence on his game growing up, how he got him out of New Haven when things got dangerous, and some insight into what makes Tre tick.I didn't realize he had de-committed from Georgetown after John Thompson III was fired. It's a puff-piece for LSU fans, but it's well written and does a bit of dive into his impressive advanced stats from his freshman year.

https://www.tigerrag.com/tremont-waters-lsu/

Plus it has this clip of him laying waste to Michigan in the Maui invitational two years ago with a Hardenesque step-back, followed by a diving, game-winning assist from a loose ball that would make Marcus Smart pitch a tent :

https://twitter.com/i/status/932859038936764416

Sucks that his father won't get to see him play for his childhood team in the NBA. I really hope he has a solid support network to help him persevere through this.
 

benhogan

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That sounds right. I don't like to read much into summer league, but he's a guy with a skillset to be an impact guy. The three legs of the stool for a center like him are 1) actual rim protection (as opposed to selling out for blocks); 2) passing; and 3) free throws. He's shown signs of real development into two of those so far.
Agree with all 3 of those. It's really not a high bar, but it's important to have that role player on the floor.

I'll add one more leg: (4) high screen/pick setting (with an athletic roll to the rim) from a Center like him. It helps open up lanes for ballhandlers, added space for 3pt shooting, and cuts for the most efficient scorers while keeping the defense honest (they have to be cognizant/protect against the roll to the rim)

TL is fantastic on the roll, good hands and leaping to the rim. BUT wish he would stick his pick/screens with a little more physicality (ala Baynes or Grant Williams last night).
 

bakahump

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I know different eras and all and I know Bill Russell is 85. But Man If Bill could impart just a few pointers on how 6'10 athletic guys with great hops can defend big huge 7 foot Plus centers it would be awesome.
(Yup close the thread I just compared TL to Bill Russell and Embiid to Wilt LOL :unsure: )
 

lovegtm

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Agree with all 3 of those. It's really not a high bar, but it's important to have that role player on the floor.

I'll add one more leg: (4) high screen/pick setting (with an athletic roll to the rim) from a Center like him. It helps open up lanes for ballhandlers, added space for 3pt shooting, and cuts for the most efficient scorers while keeping the defense honest (they have to be cognizant/protect against the roll to the rim)

TL is fantastic on the roll, good hands and leaping to the rim. BUT wish he would stick his pick/screens with a little more physicality (ala Baynes or Grant Williams last night).
Keep in mind that he’s far from a finished product, and has a lot of things the team is trying to improve at once. Out of all the question marks with TL, the ability to learn to screen is pretty low on my list.
 

Eddie Jurak

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Agree with all 3 of those. It's really not a high bar, but it's important to have that role player on the floor.

I'll add one more leg: (4) high screen/pick setting (with an athletic roll to the rim) from a Center like him. It helps open up lanes for ballhandlers, added space for 3pt shooting, and cuts for the most efficient scorers while keeping the defense honest (they have to be cognizant/protect against the roll to the rim)

TL is fantastic on the roll, good hands and leaping to the rim. BUT wish he would stick his pick/screens with a little more physicality (ala Baynes or Grant Williams last night).
I would say that even more important than setting high screens for them is defending them. I think it was his not grasping his role in the defensive schemes that kept him from getting playing time last year - whether or not one wants to blame Stevens for not giving him enough time to figure it out. If he gets to a point where he's playing good team defense, knowing his rotations, etc, then he'll get plenty of time on the floor.
 

benhogan

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I would say that even more important than setting high screens for them is defending them. I think it was his not grasping his role in the defensive schemes that kept him from getting playing time last year - whether or not one wants to blame Stevens for not giving him enough time to figure it out. If he gets to a point where he's playing good team defense, knowing his rotations, etc, then he'll get plenty of time on the floor.
Yes. By far his most important role will be on the defensive end. And defending the high PnR will make or break him. His feet/lateral quickness are evident, but we'll have to see it during the regular season.

Like lovegtm said setting picks/screens should be of little concern, easy skill to learn. Since TL will probably never be a 3pt threat in order for him to be a net positive on offense he needs to be a screening machine. While there isn't much glamour in setting screens/picks, its the fuel for player movement. If TL is effective, it will show up on his adv offensive efficiency number. This is #1 reason why there was a negligible offensive drop off from MaMo to Baynes or Theis last season.

https://stats.nba.com/players/advanced/?sort=TEAM_ABBREVIATION&dir=-1&Season=2018-19&SeasonType=Regular Season
 

Reverend

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For anyone watching the game, this 1:30 appears to be Pacific Time. It looks like the game starts 4:30 EST (for anyone else who was confused by that).
Dammit.

I knew that seemed kinda early for a Saturday in Vegas.

Thank you.
 

Imbricus

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That’s amazing. Arson is short, but not by normal person standards.
Actually, the impact is heightened (ahem) by the fact Tacko is a bit more foreground, is springing a little off the floor, and Carsen is bent leg with one foot planted on the floor. But still ... Tacko is one big dude.

Separately: anyone know why Tacko is wearing what almost looks like black wool leggings in Las Vegas in mid-July? Seems a bit odd, unless they're somehow medical related for some condition I'm unaware of.
 

PedrosRedGlove

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The t-shirt under the jersey and leggings is the same look he had last year in college. It could have something to do with him being a devout Muslim, or could just be how he stays warmed up during games considering he doesn't play a ton of minutes.
 

DJnVa

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I can't imagine that he's playing, but has anyone heard definitively that Waters left Vegas?
 

Imbricus

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It could have something to do with him being a devout Muslim
Ah thanks, that's probably it.
For Men: The minimum amount to be covered on the body is between the navel and the knee. It should be noted, though, that a bare chest would be frowned upon in situations where it draws attention.
So guess we're not going to see him ripping off his jersey and pounding his bare chest anytime soon ...
 

GoDa

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The t-shirt under the jersey and leggings is the same look he had last year in college. It could have something to do with him being a devout Muslim, or could just be how he stays warmed up during games considering he doesn't play a ton of minutes.
I think it's just a style... maybe some perceived "keep you warm" benefit. A fair amount of guys at all levels do the same.