Summer League stars of 2008
August 11th 2008 08:06
Ending on the 20th of July was the Las Vegas Summer league- well known for showing how rookies will fair in the NBA, the Summer League also showcases players that are on the verge of making it to the big time.
This years Summer league was dominated by Rookies of all shapes and sizes.
Jarryd Bayless showed unbelievable ability to get to the stripe. In his first game vs. Washington Bayless went to the line 23 times!!! hitting on 18 of them. He is also a great shooter from outside and makes unbelievable shot selections for a rookie (43% from long range). He is the ultimate rookie point gaurd even though he didnt pass much you know he can just by wittnessing his immense skills in all other facets of the game. He takes it to the rim hard and often and that allows him to get to the stripe with ease, averaging 14 free throws per game. He was awarded the MVP award after avergaing 30 points 4 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game.
Anthony Randolph was selected 14th in this years NBA draft by the warriors and was seen as a poor mans Kevin Durant.... Anthony has proved that he is better player!! at least in the Summer League. Randolph is a very different type of player than has been seen in the NBA. He's a 6-10 gaurd/forward with alien like movements. He's too unorthodox for defenders to read... with his unbelievable speed and ball handling ability for a man his size he'll create missmatches against nearly all opponents. He averaged 20 points 8 rebounds and had a 30 point 8 rebound 2 block/steal game againt Philly in his first game.
Kevin Love is an unbelievable rebounder. When you see him rebound amongst other big men it seems like the ball and his hands are magnetised. He doesnt have incredible athleticism or long arms but he does have a monstrous and quick body, those features mixed with rebounders intuition make him the leading rebounder in the Summer League with 13.5 a game. And although Love only averaged 1.8 assists per game (Not that there is meant to be that much passing in the Summer League) glimpses of brilliance were shown in the form of bullet bounce passes between 3 defenders and pin point full court outlet passes. K-Love can also score (averaged 18 ppg) haveing a 26 point game against Portland.
Marreesse Speights is a 6-10 Power Forward and future cornerstone of Philly. This guy can score with either hand using his sweet Al Jefferson-esc shot or Jason Maxiell-like power to punish defenders (averaging 18.2 points). His footwork is like a dancer as he throws numerous fakes and spins at his defender to get open or to the basket. He also uses his solid frame and great basketball I.Q. to tear down 10.2 rebounds per game. His best game in the Summer League was against Washington with 24 points 13 rebounds 2 blocks and 0 turnovers.
Donte Green is a T-Mac like player. He's 6-9 lanky, athletic and can score a whole bunch of points in a short space of time. In a game i watched him play against the Nuggets he had a 3 pointer 3 dunks in a row and then he dropped a terrible pass from a team mate which would have led to another dunk all in 4 minutes of play. In his first game of Summer League he scored 40 points on 12-20 shooting including 5-10 from 3. He followed that game up by scoring 17 and pretty much stayed around that mark for the rest of the tournament... which isnt bad usually but comparitively it's terrible. Hopefully he can play alongside T-Mac instead of behind him this season.
O.J. Mayo only needed to make one play to show that he is going to be a superstar. He took the ball along the baseline against his defender, two other defenders rotated under the basket, O.J. Jumps from outside the key hangs in the air for what seems like forever and while the three defenders drift by he decides to go the reverse which drops into the basket. And if that play wasnt enough Mayo shot 48% from 3 point range and showed intense defensive play. He should become the second option behind Rudy Gay and may play the Point or Shooting gaurd. he averaged 19 points and 3 rebounds.
Darrell Arthur, DJ Augustine, Andray Blatche, Joey Dorsey and Quincy Douby were some other stand outs at the Summer League this year and they will all be very successful in the NBA this upcoming season.
This years Summer league was dominated by Rookies of all shapes and sizes.
Jarryd Bayless showed unbelievable ability to get to the stripe. In his first game vs. Washington Bayless went to the line 23 times!!! hitting on 18 of them. He is also a great shooter from outside and makes unbelievable shot selections for a rookie (43% from long range). He is the ultimate rookie point gaurd even though he didnt pass much you know he can just by wittnessing his immense skills in all other facets of the game. He takes it to the rim hard and often and that allows him to get to the stripe with ease, averaging 14 free throws per game. He was awarded the MVP award after avergaing 30 points 4 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game.
Anthony Randolph was selected 14th in this years NBA draft by the warriors and was seen as a poor mans Kevin Durant.... Anthony has proved that he is better player!! at least in the Summer League. Randolph is a very different type of player than has been seen in the NBA. He's a 6-10 gaurd/forward with alien like movements. He's too unorthodox for defenders to read... with his unbelievable speed and ball handling ability for a man his size he'll create missmatches against nearly all opponents. He averaged 20 points 8 rebounds and had a 30 point 8 rebound 2 block/steal game againt Philly in his first game.
Kevin Love is an unbelievable rebounder. When you see him rebound amongst other big men it seems like the ball and his hands are magnetised. He doesnt have incredible athleticism or long arms but he does have a monstrous and quick body, those features mixed with rebounders intuition make him the leading rebounder in the Summer League with 13.5 a game. And although Love only averaged 1.8 assists per game (Not that there is meant to be that much passing in the Summer League) glimpses of brilliance were shown in the form of bullet bounce passes between 3 defenders and pin point full court outlet passes. K-Love can also score (averaged 18 ppg) haveing a 26 point game against Portland.
Marreesse Speights is a 6-10 Power Forward and future cornerstone of Philly. This guy can score with either hand using his sweet Al Jefferson-esc shot or Jason Maxiell-like power to punish defenders (averaging 18.2 points). His footwork is like a dancer as he throws numerous fakes and spins at his defender to get open or to the basket. He also uses his solid frame and great basketball I.Q. to tear down 10.2 rebounds per game. His best game in the Summer League was against Washington with 24 points 13 rebounds 2 blocks and 0 turnovers.
Donte Green is a T-Mac like player. He's 6-9 lanky, athletic and can score a whole bunch of points in a short space of time. In a game i watched him play against the Nuggets he had a 3 pointer 3 dunks in a row and then he dropped a terrible pass from a team mate which would have led to another dunk all in 4 minutes of play. In his first game of Summer League he scored 40 points on 12-20 shooting including 5-10 from 3. He followed that game up by scoring 17 and pretty much stayed around that mark for the rest of the tournament... which isnt bad usually but comparitively it's terrible. Hopefully he can play alongside T-Mac instead of behind him this season.
O.J. Mayo only needed to make one play to show that he is going to be a superstar. He took the ball along the baseline against his defender, two other defenders rotated under the basket, O.J. Jumps from outside the key hangs in the air for what seems like forever and while the three defenders drift by he decides to go the reverse which drops into the basket. And if that play wasnt enough Mayo shot 48% from 3 point range and showed intense defensive play. He should become the second option behind Rudy Gay and may play the Point or Shooting gaurd. he averaged 19 points and 3 rebounds.
Darrell Arthur, DJ Augustine, Andray Blatche, Joey Dorsey and Quincy Douby were some other stand outs at the Summer League this year and they will all be very successful in the NBA this upcoming season.
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