MM's all important summer league game 1 grades

We all know how important summer league is. I mean if someone plays well they will be a HOFer, and if someone plays poorly they have no chance ever of being a rotation player. With that said, here are my grades from last night

Lillard - A. Lillard would have got an A+ had he shot the ball better. I thought he did an amazing job getting his teammates involved, running the offense, and knowing when to push and not to push. He never rushed his shot (other than end of the first or second quarter) He passed out to wide open teammates, for absolutely easy looks, but they did not convert. He made the right reads, and rebounds very well for a PG. He also seems to have the willingness to play defense 1st game comparison Russell Westbrook (without the elite explosion) He threw his shoulder into guys on drives like Westbrook, and Porter

Leonard - B. Leonard gets a B based on his experience. He really has no post game to speak of at this point, but his footwork was solid, and it looks like he should be able to develop something quickly. He also swings his arm down on blocks (tsk, tsk, tsk, Meyers) Now for the good. He is super athletic, has good footwork on both offense and defense. Can really help on pick and roll defense. Sets a great screen. He has a bit of a attitude on the floor. Goes to the rim hard. Looks like he has a nice shooting motion, and in a real offense would do well.

Matthews - A. Wes looked very good in his limited minutes. Nothing more to say really

Smith- A. Nolan Smith is not a PG, but he seems to be a very good combo guard off the bench that can handle the ball as well as hit some shots for you. One of those guys that won't lose you a lot of games

Babbitt - C+. He can shoot, but that's still about it. He rebounds ok, but still can't get by anyone. I believe until he is dealt, he will be nothing more than a specialist, which is sad cause I like Luke

Barton - D. Not impressed at all after game number 1

 

generally agree, nice first look at our lottery rooks, I am reservedly optimistic realizing this is summer league.

 

Babbitt's defense is such a trainwreck and I don't think it's going to get better -- his instincts at that end of the floor seem almost non-existent.

 

I only saw the second half, so Matthews and Smith I can't grade... but:

Lillard - A
Leonard - B+
Babbitt - C+
Barton - C

 

Babbitt has all the instincts you want in a player, just not the lateral foot speed to act upon them. Same with his first step. It's like when I get out and play against 20 year old punks in basketball. I am way more skilled, but slow as mud with all my injuries, weight, etc. When I make a good defensive play it's because I was slow slow reacting to their fake that I caught them on the back end

 

Regardless of the reason, his defense is horrid. He has a nice stroke, and he rebounded well (summer league) but I don't see him as anything other than a bench player.

 

OK I'll concede that he might have instincts but can't act on them ... it all adds up to the same.

 

I have a sneaky suspicion that Claver, the two new Euros, and the fact that Olshey keeps referring to assets they can deal means Babbitt will likely be dealt sooner rather than later

 

Does he have value? I always thought of him as a throw-in.

 

When I take into consideration my expectations prior to the game I have to give Leonard an A as well. I had no idea he had the talent he displayed. I just wish there was still a Pete Newell's Big Man Camp that we could send him to!

 

I don't know how you can grade Leonard anything other than an A, unless you want to ding him for the 7 fouls. The guy put up 14 points on 4 shots! It doesn't get more efficient than that. Plus the rebounding, the activity, the blocks, the picks....he's going to be the best true center we've had since a healthy Oden. And not five years from now, but on opening night.

And just look at the dude's build. There just aren't a lot of human beings on this planet who look like that at 7'1. I'm really optimistic about this guy. You can just see the chemistry developing between him and Lillard.

 

I made a similar post last year, and will again say that being a one tool player, or "specialist" is not a bad thing, if you do that one tool at a high level. Babbitt is a clone to what Kyle Korver has done for a very long time, and Korver is still a relevant NBA player. Continuing to run isolation plays for Luke at the left corner elbow, and expecting anything positive to happen is not a winning combination. Luke (and the next coach) need to grasp the idea that he's a shooter, and nothing more. 20 minutes a night, floating from corner to corner and on the perimeter is where he needs to be. In fact he will make his money in the NBA in the same role Nic has played in the Blazers offense, as a safety valve for broken plays and as a corner shooter in the pick and roll. When I coach, I always stress find the one thing you do well and focus on that. Be the best at that one thing and we'll find time for you on the court.

 

From seeing Leonard on the block, and again, like we've all said, one summer league game, and on the pick and roll, I can see the Tyson Chandler comparisons. He will be a competent offensive player(obviously plenty of room to grow, not saying finished product), put backs, and looked solid on the pick and roll primarily because he can, well, set a pick. But doesn't look like someone you post up on offense with any great success. Occasionally, against a real weak opponent, sure. He's not Joel on the blocks. But I imagine will be more mechanical there, and less fluid.

 

If Babbit could dribble he'd be the next Kiki Vanderweghe.

 

Maybe not by himself, bt either way, teams can always use guys that can stroke the ball and play hard

 

I did it because I watched the game.

 

Babbitt goes for 19/10 on 12 shots and still gets ripped.

Not every player is a great defender, and picking up a guy who can shoot at an NBA level, and rebound at times, in the mid-first round is a plus.

I guess I don't get the Babbitt hate. He's going to be a very good NBA role player on a good team.

 

Well if Bayless was an A and Batum was a C in summer league . . . maybe we should all be excited about Barton.

 

Agreed with most of the above. The only negative I came away with was Lillard's ballhandling was surprisingly sloppy. I understand the nerves with his first half shooting, but his handle never looked as clean as I expected. He really needs to tighten that up against legit NBA defenders, otherwise he'll get stripped like late-career Roy on ISOs.