With the #9 pick in the 2017 draft, the Mavs choose Dennis Smith Jr.

[SMC0007]

Smiths hesitation dribble is going to make him unstopable when he proves his perimeter jumpshot. I'm looking forward to see if he has a wide variety of moves, or if that is his go-to move, because in the NBA you can't rely on just the quick first step.

[j0Shi]

http://www.espn.com/nba/insider/stor...t-kevin-pelton

Best rookies

1. Dennis Smith Jr., Dallas Mavericks

The ninth pick of this year's draft, Smith has been the most impressive rookie so far in Las Vegas. Playing alongside more talent and in a better system than at North Carolina State, Smith has gotten where he's wanted on the court, finished creatively at the rim, drawn fouls and found open teammates.

Despite inconsistent outside shooting (5-of-14, 35.7 percent from 3), Smith has scored 55 points on 46 shooting possessions. He's also been active at the defensive end, a change from his low-energy style in college that left questions in the minds of scouts.

[EricaLubarsky]

I need to change my (l)ottery signature

[GermanStandard]

After last Night Lonzo Ball clearly has been the best Rookie in Vegas.

36/11/8 and a Triple Double before that.

[Bryan_Wilson]

Originally Posted by GermanStandard

After last Night Lonzo Ball clearly has been the best Rookie in Vegas.

36/11/8 and a Triple Double before that.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ly53nSUIWII

He had a good game but he doesn't look good to me in terms of eye test. His shot really is going to be a problem to me. He has to have a lot of separation to get it off and he can't shoot going to his right. He also looks really slow to me. I'll be interested to see him in preseason and regular season.

[j0Shi]

I get the bashing of Lonzo, but it would be really surprising if he didn't develop into a star. Whether he's going to be a superstar / franchise altering guys remains to be seen, but let's not pretend like he isn't special.

I'd agree though his shot hasn't looked too convincing and I have my doubts about it against NBA competition.

[BPo001]

Lets remember he is putting up these numbers against a bunch of guys who aren't going to sniff an NBA floor. I watched part of the game. His groin looked fine. Lakers didn't want Fox to take his ass to school and ruin his image.

[tap2390]

Ball's vision and passing are awesome. When he gains momentum he's pretty fast due to his length. He desperately needs to fix that shot, hit the weights, and get better operating in the half court, but no player at 19 is complete. I will say what he becomes is contingent upon his work ethic not his talent.. same for our kiddo.

[DevinHarriswillstart]

By far the most underrated rookie in SL play and perhaps the steal of the draft is John Collins. I asked mid season why this kid wasn't higher up on the draft boards and it was only because he was a traditional PF and not great a defense. He can play. An absolute wizard around the rim.

[sefant77]

I still think his game wont translate well into the modern NBA. Solid roleplayer...nothing more

[SMC0007]

Originally Posted by BPo001

Lets remember he is putting up these numbers against a bunch of guys who aren't going to sniff an NBA floor. I watched part of the game. His groin looked fine. Lakers didn't want Fox to take his ass to school and ruin his image.

Whoa... DID IT?

[saclare]

Originally Posted by sefant77

I still think his game wont translate well into the modern NBA. Solid roleplayer...nothing more

Who, Ball? He at least has a high enough floor with his vision and passing, a la Ricky Rubio. He has to work on his shot and defensive limitations to truly take that next step. If I were him, I'd try to mirror my game after Jason Kidd and jumpstart the whole shooting thing. Difference is, he actually made a very good clip. I think he is already finding out that the wind up in his shooting motion isn't going to work as well on this level.

[sefant77]

i meant Collins.

With Ball....i always read Rubio with more offense or Prime Rondo with a jumper. I think he is way closer to Rubio with okay offense. His shooting mechanics are garbage and unfixable and he is going to get in troubles with it in the NBA. In the SL he has WAY more space...

[saclare]

Originally Posted by sefant77

i meant Collins.

With Ball....i always read Rubio with more offense or Prime Rondo with a jumper. I think he is way closer to Rubio with okay offense. His shooting mechanics are garbage and unfixable and he is going to get in troubles with it in the NBA. In the SL he has WAY more space...

Gotcha. I haven't seen much of Collins either in college or summer ball to make an opinion, unfortunately.

[DevinHarriswillstart]

Originally Posted by sefant77

I still think his game wont translate well into the modern NBA. Solid roleplayer...nothing more

A lot of it will depend on whether he can hit jumpers. The 3 he took and made last game looked pretty solid with decent mechanics.

[Underdog]

T-Cat: Dennis Smith Jr.'s demeanor is why he's the perfect next face of the Mavericks
https://www.sbnation.com/nba/2017/7/...-dirk-nowitzki

[MavzMan]

He names Westbrook and Rose but I honestly see a LOT of DWade in his body movement while on the court.

[SMC0007]

Originally Posted by MavzMan

He names Westbrook and Rose but I honestly see a LOT of DWade in his body movement while on the court.

Yea, I see DWade type movement as well. More explosive than Rose imo. He has explosive leaping ability like Westbrook tho and maybe more. I think watching Smith vs Westbrook will be as exciting as it gets.

[BigDog63]

Originally Posted by GermanStandard

After last Night Lonzo Ball clearly has been the best Rookie in Vegas.

36/11/8 and a Triple Double before that.

No, not 'clearly'. You have to look at all 3 games.

Ball does seem to be getting into a good groove though.

[EricaLubarsky]

Originally Posted by BigDog63

No, not 'clearly'. You have to look at all 3 games.

Ball does seem to be getting into a good groove though.

Ball is doing a lot against inferior competition at a very high usage rate and a very low efficiency.

Rebounding and overall inside play has been very sub-par, both because there aren't a lot of good young bigs (particularly above 6'9", bigs take longer to develop, and also because teams aren't playing aggressively on defense and the glass.

Ball is not going to see that same type of rebounding at the next level when teams actually go hard for the ball and box out. He's also shooting 38% from the field and 19% from three against almost no defensive opposition. Last night he shot 30% from the field and 20% from three. Not great.

[hayth.james.g]

Originally Posted by EricaLubarsky

Ball is doing a lot against inferior competition at a very high usage rate and a very low efficiency.

Rebounding and overall inside play has been very sub-par, both because there aren't a lot of good young bigs (particularly above 6'9", bigs take longer to develop, and also because teams aren't playing aggressively on defense and the glass.

Ball is not going to see that same type of rebounding at the next level when teams actually go hard for the ball and box out. He's also shooting 38% from the field and 19% from three against almost no defensive opposition. Last night he shot 30% from the field and 20% from three. Not great.

I see alot of the same things I saw in college from him. He's clearly a gifted passer. Maybe the best we will see in some time from distance. The rest of his game is ok. The drop off from summer league to regular season will be most notable in his lack of foot speed. He rarely/barely beats people off the dribble now. In the regular season it will only get harder. Imagine what it might look at when the real games begin (playoffs). He needs to show progress here imo and that can't necessarily be taught.

[BigDog63]

Originally Posted by tap2390

Ball's vision and passing are awesome. When he gains momentum he's pretty fast due to his length. He desperately needs to fix that shot, hit the weights, and get better operating in the half court, but no player at 19 is complete. I will say what he becomes is contingent upon his work ethic not his talent.. same for our kiddo.

There is a very big differentiator between the two: inherent athletic ability. Dennis Smith is an athletic freak, Ball is not. There have been good to great PG's who didn't possess great athletic ability. But it is a hindrance in today's NBA, and something one cannot acquire over time.

[DevinHarriswillstart]

Well Ball's game last night wasn't good at all. 6-20 fgs and 7 turnovers is a bad game under any metric. He will be a triple double threat in the league, but will he be an inefficient stat padder or winner?

[SMC0007]

...and with the 9th pick in the NBA draft... we talk about Lonzo Ball.....

[tap2390]

Originally Posted by SMC0007

...and with the 9th pick in the NBA draft... we talk about Lonzo Ball.....

Lol. True. Besides, circle-jerking over DSJ has been a lot of fun.

[Bryan_Wilson]

Originally Posted by DevinHarriswillstart

Well Ball's game last night wasn't good at all. 6-20 fgs and 7 turnovers is a bad game under any metric. He will be a triple double threat in the league, but will he be an inefficient stat padder or winner?

He did that wearing Harden's shoe.

[Skywalker]

Originally Posted by Bryan_Wilson

He did that wearing Harden's shoe.

lol good point


but yeah lets stop polluting DSJ's thread with all this BALLshit pls

[Thebo]

Originally Posted by SMC0007

...and with the 9th pick in the NBA draft... we talk about Lonzo Ball.....

It has been a bit sad how even so called experts tend to avoid talking about DSJ and still go with Ball.

[Fragism]

Ball's passing isn't even better than Dennis's. Ball's teammates make their shots while Dennis's teammates are out their building houses.

[DevinHarriswillstart]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqHJoeGKRgc

Love hearing that Rick told Dennis Smith to be Dennis Smith.

[Bryan_Wilson]

http://www.nba.com/video/2017/07/14/...-summer-league

[tap2390]

Originally Posted by Bryan_Wilson

http://www.nba.com/video/2017/07/14/...-summer-league

I finally understand what they meant about him not being the brightest kid. He told Dorian Finney-Smith to keep shooting.

[EricaLubarsky]

CONGRATS @Dennis1SmithJr on being selected for the All-@NBA Summer League 1st Team! #mavssl17

[Underdog]

Originally Posted by EricaLubarsky

CONGRATS @Dennis1SmithJr on being selected for the All-@NBA Summer League 1st Team! #mavssl17

Nice.

[Bryan_Wilson]

Ball ducked Fox and then misses half the semi final game and the entire final game and gets mvp? LOL... Lakers smh.

[DevinHarriswillstart]

Originally Posted by Bryan_Wilson

Ball ducked Fox and then misses half the semi final game and the entire final game and gets mvp? LOL... Lakers smh.

It'll be interesting to see if Ball can really live up to this hype because he has sooo much pressure on his shoulders. And can the pass first pg really make a come back?

Because that's where DSJ is tailor-made for today's NBA game. Even if he was somewhat of a ball hog or not a great team guy in college as rumored...welp...that is perfect for the NBA where ego stars rule. I mean, I don't really believe it anyway, but what made Smith not succeed at a college level will be the opposite for the NBA. Super athletic, scoring guards are the poster children of the league.

[j0Shi]

Originally Posted by Bryan_Wilson

Ball ducked Fox and then misses half the semi final game and the entire final game and gets mvp? LOL... Lakers smh.

With this deep of a draft class, I'm super happy with first team. Probably on par with what you could have hoped for. I'd be pissed if Lonzo gets the ROY in a similar manner though. But it is what it is. Dude is super hype, goes into the voting with a natural advantage.

[BigDog63]

Originally Posted by DevinHarriswillstart

It'll be interesting to see if Ball can really live up to this hype because he has sooo much pressure on his shoulders.

I don't think he can, simply because the hype is too big. If he isn't Magic Johnson from the get go (and does anyone really think he is?), he won't meet the hype.

And can the pass first pg really make a come back?

Yes. Offensively, at least. But with the Westbrooks and Dennis Smith's of the world constantly blowing by him and breaking down the defense, it remains to be seen how that works out.

[DevinHarriswillstart]

Guess who else was a summer league first team recipient in 2015? Seth Curry.

[BPo001]

You know who won MVP of the summer league the last 3 years? Glen Rice Jr, Kyle Anderson and Tyus Jones.