Anyone else noticing how much hype is generated by the SL now? Blake Griffin drops big numbers on some scrubs and the media can't stop gushing about him. Obviously some very good players have come through the SL, but it's hardly a measuring stick. Qyntel Woods..... need I say more? I just remember when the SL was hardly covered by the press... it was just something that teams would participate in, and the only real evidence that it occurred was box scores. Now it's a huge event with sponsors and coverage from the NBA, ESPN, and other sources.
FWIW- I have a friend who did SL, Euro league and D-league . . . before giving up and getting a masters in business. He hated SL . . . said it was a shit league where everyone is after their own self interest . . . just bad mouthed it for a good five minutes.
Summer League means nothing. Except when JayBay tears it up, because he's just using those scrubs to ramp up his blood lust.
Imaginary Summer League! who was taht old dude that went into summer league a few years ago and just dominated?
I think it's cool. I like baseball just fine, but the NBA is my favorite sport and if there's news to follow year around, then I'm pleased. I'm not worried that there have been false positives in the SL in the past. Even Qyntel Woods could have been an impact player, IMO, if he had his head on straight. He did not, and it showed up in the long run in the NBA although there were only glimpses of his inadequacies in SL. Just take everything in SL with a grain of salt and enjoy it... that's what I try to do. Ed O.
Bo Outlaw dominated the SoCal pro summer league... http://www.insidehoops.com/summer-league-spl-2003.shtml Ed O.
Damn, that same link, Ricky Davis had 57 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists. Wonder if one of those rebounds was off the opposing basket?
I enjoy it too Ed, but the way they're talking about Griffin... it's crazy. He is playing against some extremely crappy competition. I think it's more difficult to do well as a guard in SL than a center or power forward. There's some pretty good competition at the guard spots. A decent big man should be able to dominate because they're going against guys who generally won't even sniff the NBA. Bayless on the other hand went against Quincy Douby and DeMar DeRozan.
Let's put this "Bo Outlaw dominated Summer League" myth to rest, please. The "Summer Pro League" was essentially two leagues playing alongside each other. There were the actual Pro Team summer leagues, and then there were teams called things like "The KCRW SlammaJAmmas" who were glorified pickup teams. The two never coincided. Once in a while actual pros like Bo Outlaw took part in games played by the latter group and, naturally, dominated, just as they would if they showed up at your local Y. So what Bo "dominated" (as did Penny Hardaway POST injury) was a pickup game that happened to have stat keepers around. Next Myth: Qyntel Woods summer league MVP. Zach Randolph, yes. Aaron Brooks, yes. Hell, even Randy Foye. But not Qyntel Woods.
Summer League does not matter IMO. Not one bit other than to see if a player is a complete bust or looks lost on the court. Fortunately, neither of the Blazers' 2nd round picks looked lost on the court last night.
Lonny Baxter 2003. http://www.insidehoops.com/summer-league-utah-2003.shtml Qyntel Woods Fan MVP http://www.hobbyinsider.net/articles/article_28_rockymtn_summerleague.asp
Qyntel Woods was MVP of a Polish League this year and won a title, however, on a team with Pat Burke and Daniel Ewing. http://www.ridiculousupside.com/2009/6/3/897758/qyntel-woods-wins-title-in-poland