Summer league, thy name is subtlety
by AllThatJazzBasketball on Jul 6, 2010 8:56 PM MDT
13 comments
It's super early, but the Utah Jazz summer league experience is 40% done already. (Really, we're only playing 5 games, and two are down) I've been going pretty hard with the stats of late, and yeah, I have 2 spread sheets already going for the Orlando Summer league; but, I don't want to be *just* a stats guy. I'm not Hollinger/Locke, I can see the forest for the trees as well. Frankly, the Jazz summer league doctrine isn't even about playing their best guys the big minutes. It's never been that way -- it's about seeing and evaluating players. The fundamental unit of a basketball player isn't a stat like PER or GO Rating. It's the actual plays that he or she makes. From what I've seen so far we have a number of players.
Click on to read some of the plays that I've noticed, and feel free to share some of your own observations as well!
- I think Jerry Sloan is a great coach when it comes to game to game adjustments. It appears that Kosta Koufos has learned some of that as well. Whatever he did before Game 1 (vs. Bobcats) he should never do again. Whatever he did before Game 2 (vs. Magic) he should always do. I saw a marked improvement on his confidence from the two games. In the first game he was as fluid as a civil war Iron Clad and just as capable on the basketball court. In the second he was catching the ball (gasp!) on the move and immediately hoisting up a solid hook shot that swished in. He collected 4 offensive boards and even stepped into an outside shot that went in. He had his best ever game, a far a I can tell. I hope he endeavours to show us more
- James Augustine impressed me as well, but better than his numbers and shooting efficiency (11-13 fg) has been his understanding of what to do on offense as a Jazz PF. (something tells me he might have seen a few Jazz games in his life on TV) This automatically gives him an edge over some of the guys he's competing with for playing time. His maturity is also a factor, he's not some 20 year old kid. He's a man, and has been playing like one.
- Sundiata Gaineshas been both good and bad. He and O.J. have shown some poise and ability as they are guys who actually got playing time on an NBA team last year. At the same time, both have made some bone head mistakes. Sundiata's Basketball IQ is getting better. When he drives, draws the defense, and kicks it out to an open cutter he looks great. His bulldog defense is also going to be vital. I loved the Gordon Hayward's teal and dunk in the 4th quarter during the Jazz comeback in Game 1. As great a read as it was, it was a product of Sundiata's half-court trap on an unsteady ball handler that caused it.
- Evans had some ridiculous dunks in the last game, huge turn around from game one where he ended up with a +/- of -13
- Dragicevic is bad-ash. Seriously, he hasn't played one minute of action (he's injured and day-to-day right now), but he has that silent killer / Niko Bellic Balkan flavor to him. He's got the requisite swarthiness, and he's also a pro. Summer league doesn't excite him, nor will he struggle if/when he does get to play in it. He's been the MVP of his league before, an All-Star, been to the three point contest in Europe and so forth. The best thing about him is his lucky token. When the cameras followed Hayward to the bench and kept the feed on him for a good 9 seconds during a substitution he sat next to T-jilla. Gordon sat down and caught his breath while the hired gun next to him dispassionately flicked an ace of spades playing card in his hand with the practiced execution of a man who had done this type of thing many times before. Does he play with this card in his sock? Does he keep it in his shoe? Or is someone paid to hold it for him, gingerly, while he's on the court? So many questions . . . but nice to have a guy on our team who apparently has that killer instinct.
- Gardner shoots all the time. This may sound like something stat based, but it's not. He does hurry when he has the ball and does not seem calm by any stretch. There's no need for a heat check when you have made one shot. This is something even I know.
- I could make an entire post about all the different plays that Hayward makes that are good plays. He's gotten up there to break up alley-oop attempts. He moves great without the ball, on offense *and* on defense. He gets blocked shots, and he makes the right pass. He's too unselfish right now. Ever more impressive than all of this, or his dagger at the end of Game 2 has been his demeanor for the game even after the whistle blows. At the end of Game 1 where Sundiata missed a game winner and was sitting on the floor dejected Hayward hustled over (not the closest team mate) to pick him up after the buzzer sounded to be "that guy" that everyone on the team loves, respects and will follow.
There's no point in me going on and on here . . . especially when the community can fill in their own favorite subtle little plays that they have noticed!
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Hayward
has won me over. I was floored when we picked him at the 9th spot. I was so angry, so sad, so frustrated…… This is why I’m not an NBA scout or Gm though. He is a stud. His attitude, his basketball iq, his freakin baby face…. they have won me. I have nothing but love for his game now. I know it’s early but if he can play the way he does in summer games… he’ll make everyone on the floor better.
His game, IMO, will translate the easiest to the NBA because it’s not about out skilling the other man, not about jumping over him, not jumping through him, it’s smarts/grit/hustle. Everything we’ve come to love in Jazz players.
Evans….. can you imagine this kid with 15 more lbs of muscle and a year or two of experience? Could be another diamond in a pile of turd like Matthews was.
BOOM THO/Auggie- you have to think that one of them makes the roster if the Jazz don’t land another big in FA or something goes wrong with Fes, one of these guys will end up on the roster. I just hope they get a chance to play… not ride the bench like Koof.
For the Love of the Game
Stockton to Malone- The perfect combination!!
"I think he just said, 'Oh my Gosh,' or whatever they say in Provo."- ESPN talking about QB. Max Hall after BYU defeated third ranked Oklahoma (2009).
MonSTARZ forever!
Just finished
watching today’s game. I again came away happy the Jazz drafted Hayward. The KOOF finally played with some confidence, and he was key down the stretch getting boards and playing very good defense.
Evans does look like a great pick. David Thorpe from ESPN tweeted today that he thinks Evans could have been a first round pick. KOC dominates the 2nd round.
I’m sad the Jazz aren’t playing OKC in the summer league. Would have been fun to see Maynor and Gaines go head to head.
I think it’s awesome that Kevin Durrant shows up and cheers on his teammates at the summer league. He’s now my favorite non-jazz guy by far after Lebron’s media whoring show and Wade possibly selling out his franchise after they gutted their roster to resign him.
Speaking of Lebron the media whore, I almost threw up in mouth
When I saw LBJ had called a one-hour special to precede his announcement. Only seeing the fine print kept me from losing my Gordita (not a play on Hayward)—that is, all proceeds are going to the boys and girls club.
by Juan B on Jul 6, 2010 9:37 PM MDT via mobile up reply actions
Hayward
Like many other Jazz out there I wanted a really tall defense player for the Jazz at the draft. But now the more and more I read about him and watching him play I am really liking him and that he is on our team. That may just be my love for the Jazz taking over, but I’m not too worried about it. I’m glad he’s here now and I feel bad for booing him (and calling him a chump), but now I’ll cheer for him and hope he does great.
(Sorry Gordon for not believing.)
thanks for quenching my Jazz thirst AllThatJazz
I found myself reading other SB Nation blogs just to glean a little more FA info. Which reminds me, one of Orlando Pinstripes posters has access to Synergy Sports stats. You know, the one Locke nearly has a Korgasm over each time he mentions it.
I hardly think it’s fair that we don’t have access. It’s only $10,000
. I say we take up a pool and designate AllThat as our statistician. I’ll contribute the first $5.
by Juan B on Jul 6, 2010 9:41 PM MDT via mobile reply actions
You can get a cheaper, less user friendly version of it for something like 30 bucks. I am going to eventually, but haven't yet.
The more you try to erase me, the more that I appear.
nice
I’ll still contribute the $5. Lmk where to send it—love the stat breakdowns y’all provide. Makes me a “somewhat” educated fan.
by Juan B on Jul 6, 2010 10:34 PM MDT via mobile up reply actions
just a notice . . .
anyone who donates money towards a Synergy Sports account will be listed as factor in my future divorce by my wife’s lawyers.
Follow me on Twitter: AllThatAmar
Check out: slcdunk.com
E-Mail me at: allthatjazzbasketball@hotmail.com
Really, I'm totally not lonely or anything . . .
by AllThatJazzBasketball on Jul 6, 2010 10:56 PM MDT up reply actions
sorry to dominate the thread
I’ve determined that the only way I’ll watch LeBrob’s dog and pony show tomorrow night is if the GM’s and owners have to sit in a green room as the await LeBron’s announcement. That I would pay to see.
by Juan B on Jul 7, 2010 9:20 AM MDT via mobile reply actions
It would be awesome if he pulled an "O Henry" and announced he was signing with the Clippers.
The more you try to erase me, the more that I appear.
I'm ok with what he's doin
All the proceeds are being donated to a foundation.
For the Love of the Game
Stockton to Malone- The perfect combination!!
"I think he just said, 'Oh my Gosh,' or whatever they say in Provo."- ESPN talking about QB. Max Hall after BYU defeated third ranked Oklahoma (2009).
MonSTARZ forever!
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