This Year's Summer League Squad has the Potential to be Epic

by JakeTheSnake on May 25, 2009 9:18 AM EDT in The clubhouse Comment 14 comments

I've got good news and I've got great news.

The good news is that Nick Young and JaVale McGee are participating in the Drew Summer League out in Los Angeles. That means they're still honing their game in the off-season, which should pay dividends next year. I can't speak toward the overall talent level of the league (although Amir Johnson, Bobby Brown, Dorell Wright and James Harden are all participating) but certainly playing some kind of organized basketball at this stage in their development is better than not playing at all.

At least we can rest assured that Nick and JaVale are tearing up the competition as they should. Nick poured in 35 points in his first game in the Drew Summer League and JaVale won Week 1 MVP honors with a 30 point, 12 rebound, six block performance.

The great news is that there are plenty of highlights of Nick and JaVale in this highlight reel from the first week of action.

(HT: doclinkin)

As long as there isn't some trade that eats into the team's young core, this year's summer team has the chance to be remembered for its highlight making ability. When you add in Dominic McGuire (who's not a bad dunker himself) and Javaris Crittenton (who can be erratic, but throws a nice alley-oop), it gives you all the reasoning you need to check out this year's Summer League squad. It'll be must see TV, in a squinting at a grainy web feed kind of way.

Oh yeah, and Gilbert hinted that he might try and play a little summer league ball this summer too. If that doesn't get you excited about this July, I don't know what will.

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Is there even a stream up?

by Fundefined on May 25, 2009 10:48 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

For the Drew Summer League, no

But every Vegas Summer League game is streamed on NBA.com.

Bullets Forever: A blog dedicated to the Washington Wizards with analysis, commentary, and more YouTube videos than your eyes can handle.

by JakeTheSnake on May 25, 2009 10:59 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Two things I noticed

James Harden did go right, exploded to the rim for a powerful left handed dunk. Granted, this was only one highlight from a Summer League against an amateur defender, but it was very athletic for a guy that didn’t show ANYTHING like that during the regular NCAA season at ASU. Perhaps his pre-draft workouts (where he has reportedly lost 15 pounds) have given him some extra lift and explosion.

The other thing I saw was Harden continually pulling up from beyond the NBA 3-point line and draining jumper after jumper. Again, this was a highlight reel – and it’s difficult to gauge how effective he was without knowing how many shots he missed from there – but still, he looked comfortable shooting from the NBA 3-point line. His form was picture perfect. He looked like it was just another jumper (a flick of the wrist, with no extra effort needed). He got good height, good extension and had a nice follow through. That’s ANOTHER skill he did not show at ASU.

I’d like to see a full game from the Drew Summer League – so I can see if Harden has improved his jumper off the dribble… to assess his 3-point shooting potential, and to see if his improved quickness and athleticism is real (or just ONE highlight).

Bullets Forever - where "Dagger ! " happens......

by Rook6980 on May 25, 2009 11:43 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Uh, no?

Harden (#15 in White w/Red) only shows up in the highlight dunk (and passing to #2). There are no highlight jumpers from him on this. You’re looking at someone else.

by doclinkin on May 26, 2009 12:31 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

BUt if you were really determined

You could contact Big Marv at:

http://digitaldreamsvideo.net/page21.html

and buy a highlights video isolated for Wizards/James Harden footage.

by doclinkin on May 26, 2009 12:39 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ok - so who is the LEFT HANDED guy pulling up for jumpers at the 3-point line

that looks (from the back , at least) to be about 6’4" – 6’6", and looks like Harden?

Bullets Forever - where "Dagger ! " happens......

by Rook6980 on May 26, 2009 10:05 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I sent an email to digitaldreamsvideo

asking who the player was….

Bullets Forever - where "Dagger ! " happens......

by Rook6980 on May 26, 2009 10:21 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

when will the wizard’s pre-draft workouts include guys that could be the fifth pick like harden, hill, or derozan?

hoping for a healthy trio

by wizchamp on May 25, 2009 12:48 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

JaVale

He was a LOT bigger than everyone else out there – I hope he progresses a lot this summer… Very promising.

Nick Young has perfected that stop-on-a-dime-behind-the-back-crossover to set up a fadeaway.

by se7en on May 25, 2009 1:06 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Let's hope

that Nick Young has perfected that “stay-in-front-of-your-man-hand-in-the-face” defense.

Bullets Forever - where "Dagger ! " happens......

by Rook6980 on May 25, 2009 1:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Summer League Schedule?

This site http://www.nba.com/summerleague2008/ has for the past few months announced the dates as July 10-19, but I haven’t seen anything about the schedule. If anybody has any idea about the schedule or when it might come out, it would be greatly appreciated.

by morethesamewiz on May 25, 2009 3:41 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I've been checking the site every couple of days

As soon as the NBA announces anything – I’ll let everyone know…

Last year, the Wizards didn’t have any games until the 4th day….

Bullets Forever - where "Dagger ! " happens......

by Rook6980 on May 25, 2009 4:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks Rook

I wish they would announce the schedule earlier, I mean people need to give their work advance notice that they’ll be taking vacation.
Gil Dom Nick Dray Javale and Oily all better show up, maybe they’ll bring Veremeenko back. And I hope Flip coaches, I don’t know what the tradition is but it seems that first year coaches should coach at Summer League also. Oh, and I wonder if the Kings/Sixers will be there, thatd be cool to run into Eddie Jordan again.
This is going to be sick!

by morethesamewiz on May 26, 2009 3:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs