Game 1 Phoenix vs Portland SL (SPOILERS)

McCollum looking to shoot every time he gets it, not set up teammates. Leonard should have known he can't swipe at Morris, got a technical. Here's the play by play, but I haven't peeked.

http://www.nba.com/games/20130713/PHXPOR/gameinfo.html?ls=slt

 

Leonard keeps getting stuck with the ball inside, and making crazy little passes that bounce off a nearby opponent. I still think he has problems with his contact lenses. Phoenix playing team ball with set plays, we're playing McCollumBall. Robinson is strong but not particularly husky, like the Morris twins.

 

Leonard runs like a giraffe and is not aware of teammates 2 feet away. Crabbe was in for a minute earlier and was sharper than I expected. Just in his moves. I don't think he shot. End of 1st quarter. My opinion is down on Leonard, up on Crabbe, slightly down on McCollum. End of season.

 

Terrel Harris isn't so terrible. Too bad we're going to cut him anyway. The coach must have told McCollum to cool it on playing like Bayless. Leonard made a basket after many attempts. Phoenix has these guys Oriakhi and Onuaku dominating, who are the same guy as far as I'm concerned. I keep hearing their names, thinking it's the same player. We really need Leonard to improve this season, or we'll be sorry we didn't pick up Jermaine. Halftime.

 

I know what happened, but just sitting down to watch the game....... talk to ya in a bit!

 

TRob definitely needs to develop some post moves, but I love his motor and his athleticism. He'll only get better, but we really need to hire a proper big man coach.

 

If it weren't for the Morriseseses Phoenix wouldn't have much. How many years experience do they have, anyway. McCollum starting to have Lillardesque moments. Claver* running down opponents on their layups like Batum used to. Let's hope he doesn't stop after a couple of years like Batum did. Crabbe was in and again I liked him. I had predicted he'll be the worst player on the team. Right now I'm thinking Leonard. Suns on a 13-5 run, they say. 47-43.

* meant to say Barton

 

Right quad contusion announced for Claver, a starter in this game. We supposedly have more draftees than most Summer League teams, but Phoenix has the veteran Morris twins. Remember when we thought we'd win this tournament? We don't have a natural PG, for starters. 52-44 Suns.

 

Freeland with the McHale moves followed by the skyhook!

 

I am still surprised by Crabbe. He is supposedly a mediocre dribbler or passer, but he takes a couple of bounces while seeing Leonard peripherally, waits for Leonard to get open while dribbling, passes, Leonard misses his 50th outside shot of the game, Crabbe grabs it, spins around, puts in the gentle 7-footer.

 

Every year for at least about 6 years, every* quarter of every Summer League Blazer game is wasted by a superlong interview of someone. Olshey just talked for over half a quarter and the Suns outscored us 15-3. You might think, turn off the sound and try to figure out who's doing what by the numbers on the new players' backs. But Olshey's in a rectangle, and the game's in a reduced rectangle. I think HCP is being fancy or something. So I can't see the details when I have no play by play. No audio and reduced visual.

Crabbe may be the size of Barton, but they're opposites. Crabbe is cool and poised, from Berkeley. He's smart. Barton may replace Crabbe as my designated worst Blazer. Crabbe will shorten Barton's stay here.

* I mean ONE quarter.

 

18 down. With a couple of minutes left and the game over, Freeland steals and passes to the running Barton downcourt. With 15 seconds left, Barton steals and takes it downcourt for the layup. What a quandary, picking the worst Blazer this season. Eeny meeny..okay it's Leonard. Game over, we lose by 13. Morris twins interviewed by an adoring reporter and have the charisma of two dry rocks.

 

I already said this, but I really don't like the Morris twins.

 

Bottom line, Phoenix figured us out, and we didn't adjust. We got our ass kicked. Dust ourselves off, get up and compete harder today.

 

next day perspective - maybe it's a good thing. Like last year teams have figured out we suck if you trap/double our PG. Eventually Lillard figured out how to handle it. McCollum gets to start figuring it out day 1.

 

I didn't think the problem was primarily McCullum's; it was the fault of the other players who didn't come to help him, who didn't rotate to an open spot on the floor.

 

OK finally getting to watch the game. The Blazers do have a PG on the roster in Cedric Jackson. I stand corrected.

I didn't think Freeland looked bad at all. True the refs give him no respect but over all he is much better suited at PF than C. He did not look lost at all out there. Had some nice blocks, He had 3 that I counted. (he got credit for 2)

The offense looked bad. Our go to player seemed to be Barton and he is not suited for that. He is more of a garbage ball type scorer. Not someone you run the offense through. But since they had CJ running the point (and he was doubled) someone else had to attack. Will can get to the basket, he just can't finish in traffic.

Only one game but it looks like Robinson will have to be able to hit the mid range jumper to keep the defenses honest. But he seems to be pretty active. He will be a nice addition off the bench.

Can't wait to see CJ and Dame playing together.

 

Freeland doesn't have Leonard's natural gifts, but he's a better basketball player, ATM. I thought he was better than others described him last night.

Leonard was pretty terrible. He rushed everything, and played like a rookie fresh out of high school who was playing out of his natural position.

Claver is so smart and active. Again, it's a pity he's not just slightly quicker and more athletic.

Barton is garbage.

Robinson was OK, but he has farther to go than I thought. I hope we have a big man coach.

Saw some potential in Crabbe. He was kind of a wall flower. We need a point guard to get him involved.

McCollum did pretty much whatever he wanted until the other team figured out he was the only guy they had to guard. Agree his teammates didn't help him out at all when he was getting swarmed. It's good he's getting some reps at point guard in summer league, it will help him down the road, but if we wanted to win these games we should have another point guard not named 'Barton'.

 

Please tell me we aren't going to see Meyers Leonard out by the 3-pt line all year handing the ball off and setting bad screens, jacking up jump shots, not knowing where to be on defense, and getting into pissing matches with the opposing big men and crying every time he gets hit. Please tell me that.

 

For some reason the game didn't record.

Was really looking forward to watching the first half. Is the game going to be shown again?