This isn't directed at the particular poster, but the general tenor of these types of posts: You know, I understand the skepticism. However, John Wall the MVP and 1st pick in the draft shot .377. You could easily pick on his game. Apparently had a lot of turnovers too. Cousins hit only 9 of his last 45 shots - that's really terrible but he was on the all-league team. You can dissect anyone's game in summer league and find flaws - even if veteran's played. And, suppose you couldn't find any flaws in a particular player's play? Well, we all know that summer league success doesn't necessarily turn into regular season success. So, it's easy to be critical. Somehow, there's some sort of stigma associated with predicting success for a player and the player not panning out. However, there seems to be no such stigma with predicting failure and having a player turn out great. Because of this, many prognosticators who want to feel and appear "shrew", "prudent", and "practical" end up being downers, and they pat themselves on the back for it. Personally, I understand and appreciate this point of view - except during summer. Summer time for me is a time of unbridled optimism. Yes, that 2nd round pick is going to be the steal of the draft. That mid-1st rounder is going to be one of the top 3 players in that year's draft. If you deny this, then you are cruelly denying any hope to Clippers fans, Kings fans, Nets fans... These and other teams (maybe even us!) are perpetually losing. The last half of the regular season is sobering reality. Give them and us a chance during the summer, at least! Go Blazers!!
If you don't think Summer League should be analyzed, then why do you think they hold the camp at all?
I wouldn't say it means nothing, but I would agree that results mean nothing, both team and personal results. I am more interested in seeing how a player plays and thinking about how that may work or not work with the team. How their game needs to evolve in order to do something in the regular season. As an example, Babbit in the first game. Lots of people here were dogging him but I was pleased that he went up strong and when fouled did not give up on the play. Regardless of him making the basket or free throws, I was watching how focused he was on his opponent, offensive or defensive. A player who is interested and active on D may be burned in summer league, but at least I know that they are willing to try and are actively trying to improve. For this reason I was pleased with Pendergraph, he was unable to score much but he was constantly trying to get position and being assertive on defense. people are too focused on results. summer is about flashes and effort and raw ability.
I just noticed this. In the 58th and last Summer League game, the winless D-League Select team won their only game after going 0-4. Who do you think they beat? Who else? The Clipper Summer League team. Like father team, like son team. However--the Clippers' only win was our only loss, by 1 point.
I found it interesting that you can see shades of what each of the NBA guys can give you in the regular season. Bassy - low field goal percentage (because he had trouble finishing). Martell - reasonably high 3 pt %, but low overall FG % (because he has no handle and no mid-range game) Ha - sucked because he sucked Outlaw - good decently efficient scorer, low assists, some decent ability to get blocks and steals and turned out to be an OK NBA player What lesson is there to be learned for our current guys? I have no idea, but it would interesting to come back in 4 years and take a look at what Babbitt, Mills, Dante, Pendergraph and Johnson did this year and what they're able to do in the big boy league.
In science, the empiricical evidence (data) comes in from the lab. Then the theorists go to the drawing board to construct rationalizatons of what the empiricists got them. 5 years ago, we had the Summer League stats, but didn't know why they came out as they did. Now, you have each player's strengths and weaknesses to apply to them. An art becomes a science after enough time.
I don't post on this board very much... in general because it seems the views are mostly extremes one way or another and much of the times there are no specifics to even discuss... it is just "OMG THE SKY IS FALLING!" or "PLAYER A WILL BE THE BEST PLAYER EVER!" There just isn't anything to converse about there. If you say "PLAYER A WILL BE THE BEST PLAYER EVER BECAUSE OF HIS SUPER DOOPER LOOPER CROSSOVER MOVE!" then I can respond with my opinion on the super dooper looper. Personally... I have ton of hope and enthusiasm toward the team... we all do... we express it in different ways... for some people it even comes out as negative comments or worry, but if you put us all in a room I don't think there'd be any question... we are all huge fans of the Blazers, we want to the team to do well, and we hope every player turns out to be Lebron James… except the good Lebron, before he joined the dark side and went to Miami. Bottom line… I watched every summer league game… takes a lot of hope and enthusiasm to do that =) and I also read opinions of various players here on this board. I am not a scout, talent evaluator or chemistry major… just a fan… but I still have opinions. I can remember commenting that I thought Batum was the worst summer league player I had ever seen. (I’m not the only one either) But look at what he became! I am thrilled how he turned out, but it doesn’t change the fact that he stunk it up in summer league, and I don’t feel less of a fan for saying so. Now... regardless of summer league... if we stay healthy this year... it is going to be a very great year to be a Blazer fan.
