Official 2008 NBA Summer League thread - Dallas-Mavs.com Forums

alby · 07-07-2008, 10:14 PM

The Official 2008 NBA Summer League

---

94 Heat - 70 Bulls

Beasley
28 points
9-21 FG
9 rebounds

Rose
10 points
3-8 FG
4 assists
5 turnovers

Michael Beasley just tore up Tyrus Thomas and Noah today.

EricaLubarsky · 07-07-2008, 10:16 PM

May be the last time you see the Heat with a 20+ point lead.

bradleywillcrushyou44 · 07-07-2008, 10:20 PM

not that this one game means much, but i thought Beasley was diffinately the more NBA ready, probably a 18/8 guy next year, Rose has more potential though maybe a 12/5 player next year but i don't think he will ever be at CP3's level like people are saying. Mayo is diffinately the best guard in the draft. Beasley will probably win ROY with Oden in 2nd and Mayo 3rd.

sike · 07-07-2008, 10:31 PM

he is 6'6"...how will handle the post?

does he has that much Barkley in him?

alby · 07-07-2008, 10:32 PM

It's getting harder and harder to understand you, Alien =]

sike · 07-07-2008, 10:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alby

It's getting harder and harder to understand you, Alien =]

Beasley is only 6'6"...I was asking if he can overcome that in the NBA like he obviously could in NCAA....

nikeball · 07-07-2008, 11:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sike

Beasley is only 6'6"...I was asking if he can overcome that in the NBA like he obviously could in NCAA....

his response?

“You can put the Jolly Green Giant out there,” Beasley said. “I’m going to still play, man.”

(and NBA has him listed as 6'9-6'10...and he is probably still growing)

alby · 07-07-2008, 11:03 PM

Beasley definitely does not have Sir Charles's game.
Everyone says Derrick Coleman but Beasley doesn't have the power game that DC had.

He's actually pretty similar to Larry Grandma Ma Johnson imo. He can put the ball on the floor, he has range, and has a better than average turn around game. And of course, they don't care much about defense =P

nikeball · 07-07-2008, 11:04 PM

best friends? lol

sike · 07-07-2008, 11:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alby

Beasley definitely does not have Sir Charles's game.
Everyone says Derrick Coleman but Beasley doesn't have the power game that DC had.

He's actually pretty similar to Larry Grandma Ma Johnson imo. He can put the ball on the floor, he has range, and has a better than average turn around game. And of course, they don't care much about defense =P

so the question becomes....would LJ have a good career in today's face paced NBA?

dirno2000 · 07-08-2008, 09:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sike

Beasley is only 6'6"...I was asking if he can overcome that in the NBA like he obviously could in NCAA....

He's not that short. There's a pre-draft special still running on NBA TV where they show certain players being measured. Beasley looked to be close to 6'9. I doubt he's any shorter than David West.

Scoobay · 07-08-2008, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sike

so the question becomes....would LJ have a good career in today's face paced NBA?

pre injury LJ was a monster - amazing hops and burst. no question he'd be a good player

alby · 07-08-2008, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dirno2000

He's not that short. There's a pre-draft special still running on NBA TV where they show certain players being measured. Beasley looked to be close to 6'9. I doubt he's any shorter than David West.

In college, they listed him at 6' 9". At the camp, he was measured at 6' 7".

dirno2000 · 07-08-2008, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alby

In college, they listed him at 6' 9". At the camp, he was measured at 6' 7".

He was a little over 6'8 in shoes. That must have been the measurement that I saw.

I don't put much stock in listed heights. I like to see what a player look like relative to the other players on the floor.

alby · 07-08-2008, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dirno2000

He was a little over 6'8 in shoes. That must have been the measurement that I saw.

I don't put much stock in listed heights. I like to see what a player look like relative to the other players on the floor.

I agree, height is overrated--especially, when the man has a 7ft+ wingspan anyways. The thing about him is that he makes it look easy, he's really fluid out on the court--kinda like Marquis when he was a Mav. They don't look like they are going full speed, but before you know it, they are getting passed their man. I really, really like Beasley but I can't fault Chicago in choosing to go with the hometown kid, there would just be too much criticism otherwise.

Did I just compare Beasley to Marquis?

Dtownsfinest · 07-08-2008, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dirno2000

He was a little over 6'8 in shoes. That must have been the measurement that I saw.

I don't put much stock in listed heights. I like to see what a player look like relative to the other players on the floor.

Yea I agree. Especially when Chris Paul and Allen Iverson are listed over 6 foot. Beasley may not be his listed height but neither is anyone else in the NBA. Beasley will be a beast in this leaguee. I think if he happens to be too small for the 4 which I doubt he can slide to the 3 playing alongside Marion who's length allows him to guard anyone from the 4 spot to the 1. I'm liking Miami's team. No one talks about Daquan Cook but I think he's gonna end up being solid.

Dtownsfinest · 07-08-2008, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alby

I agree, height is overrated--especially, when the man has a 7ft+ wingspan anyways. The thing about him is that he makes it look easy, he's really fluid out on the court--kinda like Marquis when he was a Mav. They don't look like they are going full speed, but before you know it, they are getting passed their man. I really, really like Beasley but I can't fault Chicago in choosing to go with the hometown kid, there would just be too much criticism otherwise.

Did I just compare Beasley to Marquis?

I think had the Bulls not invested so much in the power foward and center position they would've taken Beasley. But with Deng, Nocioni, Tyrus Thomas and Joakim Noah still developing it made no since to add him to that mix. I believe Gordon and Hinrich have hit their peak. Looks like the Bulls are going to depart with one or both of them. I can see them sliding Hinrich to the 2 and Rose at point.

alby · 07-08-2008, 05:09 PM

But you can also make that argument with the guards. Hughes, Hinrich, Deng, Gordon, Duhon, Curry, etc.

Dtownsfinest · 07-09-2008, 12:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alby

But you can also make that argument with the guards. Hughes, Hinrich, Deng, Gordon, Duhon, Curry, etc.

True but I think they believe Hinrich and Gordon have hit their peak. Especially since they've been trying to trade them for a year now. They can add Rose to the mix because they don't have a better option at point. I don't think you can say the same for them at the 4 spot.

Nice little topic on Kevin Durant.

Quote:

Durant helps OKC get victory No. 1

By John Denton
Special to ESPN.com

Updated: July 9, 2008, 9:58 AM ET

* Comment
* Email
* Print

Kevin Durant

Fernando Medina/NBAE/Getty Images

Durant showed that summer league isn't just for rookies and struggling veterans.

ORLANDO -- P.J. Carlesimo knew this moment was coming the day he agreed to allow Kevin Durant to join his new Oklahoma City teammates at the Orlando Pro Summer League.

But there was one minor obstacle before the NBA's reigning Rookie of the Year could shed his role as a frustrated onlooker and get out on the court for Tuesday's game against the Orlando Magic. Durant didn't have his signature Nikes with him in Orlando and had to scramble to get the shoes sent in an overnight delivery before Tuesday.

"That was a boneheaded move on my part, forgetting my shoes," Durant said sheepishly of the shoes with the familiar yellow strings, a clear sign he hasn't totally put his green-and-gold Seattle days behind him just yet.

The minor shoe incident was Durant's only misstep of the day.

The league's runaway winner of the top rookie award was the buzz of the summer league Tuesday when he made a surprise appearance and proceeded to throttle the Magic with a seemingly effortless 22 points and five rebounds in 27 minutes. Durant, who sat on the bench and watched in Monday's opener, couldn't stand the thought of being that close to the action and not playing in Tuesday's game.

"For me, it's about the love of the game," said Durant after hitting 7 of 10 shots, 6 of 7 free throws and both of his tries from 3-point range. "Everybody knows I want to play. [Monday] kind of bothered me a little bit by watching, and I just wanted to get out there and play."

Carlesimo, Durant's coach last season with the SuperSonics in Seattle, knew that Durant would soon be asking to practice and play after he saw him nervously fidgeting along the sidelines Monday. After all, Durant represented the Sonics at the NBA Draft Lottery and NBA Draft and he's spent most of his summer honing his skills in Washington, D.C., with teammate Jeff Green and at the University of Texas.

And how does Durant plan to spend his July vacation? He'll be drilling with Team USA in Las Vegas in its preparation for the Summer Olympics.

"Kevin's a gym rat, and we knew before this camp started that if he came here, he'd be practicing and playing," Carlesimo said with a chuckle. "You can worry about him getting hurt or you can be happy that he wants to play with the other guys. From Day 1 it's been a hard thing keeping him off the floor. He's a gym rat, he's enthusiastic about the game, and that's just a delight for a coach."

The combination of Durant, Green (28 points) and rookie point guard Russell Westbrook (19 points, three steals, three assists) proved to be far too much for an overwhelmed Magic team. Oklahoma City led by as much as 32 points and won, 100-77.

Durant's surprise appearance Tuesday had Orlando rookie Courtney Lee wondering about his luck of the draw. The 6-5 Lee tried contesting several of Durant's shots, mostly to no avail as each hit the bottom of the net. The 6-9 Durant gave him fits with his length and feathery soft shooting touch. Not surprisingly, when the game was over, Lee -- a Western Kentucky University product -- admitted that Durant is the best talent he's ever faced on a basketball court.

"I felt I did a good job laterally staying with him, but he's 6-9 and on a couple of shots I was really into him and he was still able to shoot over me," said Lee, who played well himself with 27 points and three 3-pointers. "It was a challenge. Coming down the court, some of my teammates were saying, 'I've got him,' but I said, 'No, I want him.' That's going to make me better, playing against the best.''

Durant notwithstanding, Westbrook has been the best all-around player in the Orlando summer league through two games. The 6-3 point guard made 8 of 10 shots Tuesday and seemed able to get to the rim anytime he pleased.

Durant admitted after the game that he's already dreaming of the possibilities of running the wing next season as Westbrook pushes the ball frantically up the court. Durant studied game tapes of Westbrook's college days at UCLA before the draft, but already he's topped his expectations.

Westbrook's presence was just another reason that Durant couldn't fathom the thought of sitting out of another game.

"I knew [Westbrook] was a good defensive player and really athletic, but I didn't know he was this good," Durant gushed. "He's shown me a lot and I'm already excited about playing with him."

Durant is such a class act. I'm not familiar with league rules but its not mandatory for Durant to play in the Summer league is it? I always thought it was for rookies and undrafted guys trying to make teams. I see Joakim Noah and Tyrus Thomas are also playing.