Pre-Summer League open thread

by Mike Prada on Jul 10, 2009 10:12 AM EDT in Summer League Comment 38 comments

JaVale McGee is one of the players that bears watching at Wizards Summer League.

We're almost up to one of my favorite times of the basketball calendar. A time where Jerryd Bayless can be the next Isiah Thomas, when Oleksiy Pecherov is actually hitting his three-pointers and when Greg Oden can commit 10 fouls in a game before fouling out.

That's right, we're talking about the Summer League. Summer League officially kicked off today, but the Wizards' first game isn't until Tuesday. Their full schedule is as follows:

Tuesday vs. Cleveland at 6:30 ET
Wednesday vs. Denver at 10:30 ET
Friday vs. Minnesota (the return of O-Pec!) at 8 ET
July 18 vs. LA Clippers at 8:30 ET
July 19 vs. New York at 4 ET

You can find a list of the Wizards' roster, along with some background information on the team, here. There's also Jon L's excellent breakdown of the Wizards' roster for Ridiculous Upside here.

Anyway, I will be traveling to Las Vegas Sunday and staying to cover the first four games. If you're going too, drop me an e-mail so we can touch base.

Besides recapping the games with actual first-hand reporting and such, I'm planning on looking extensively at Nick Young and JaVale McGee. Both guys were players many of us wished got more minutes last year, but each is walking into potentially a very different situation next year, based on our roster. McGee's slated to possibly get more minutes due to the loss of Darius Songaila, while Young might be losing an opportunity because of the additions of Randy Foye and Mike Miller. I'm very curious to see how each of them is dealing with their different situations, what each has done in the offseason and what the team may think about their future with the Wizards.

(Plus, I'm also kind of curious to ask JaVale about his fledging music career).

Since I'm going for the community, though, I want to know what you guys particularly want to read about. Players you want to know more about. Answers to questions you've been wanting to ask management, the coaching staff or the players. Trends you'd like followed. Etc. I obviously can't guarantee I'll be able to address every storyline, but I'll do the best I can.

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hope it's a blast

i’m most interested in crittenton. obviously, has his jump shot improved? but also, i think he should be able to dominate the summer league from the point, or at least be one of the best players on the court when he’s out there at this point in his career. curious to see if he can do that. i think his improvement is a key to some other roster decisions the team will make in the next year or so.
also – sunscreen. vegas sun is no joke.

"a crab dribble is when you travel" - caron butler

by little stevie colter on Jul 10, 2009 11:42 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I’d love to hear about Heytvelt and if we could fill the final sport from the bench internally. Rooting for Rice hard b/c hes a local guy here in Richmond and I’ve always been a big Ruoff fan!

by pas493 on Jul 10, 2009 11:58 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

DMac

I want to know if DMac has a jump shot.

by Unkle Wheez on Jul 10, 2009 12:30 PM EDT via mobile reply actions 0 recs

Not sure there's much more to that than seeing if he's hitting his shots in games

I can ask him what work he’s doing to improve it though.

You know you'll get devoured by Cheaney, Wallace, and Juwan Howard.

by Mike Prada on Jul 10, 2009 12:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

A few things

first, how do Nick Young and JaVale McGee look? McGee’s been adding some bulk, supposedly, but is he using it effectively (and yes, against Summer League guys he probably doesn’t have to). How does NY’s defense and rebounding look? (And again, I know that there’s almost no defense in SL).

As for the non-guaranteed guys, I’m most interested in Aminu and Thompson. I doubt Thompson will make the team, but his skill-set seems similar to McGuire’s and I wonder how much it is. Aminu I think has a better shot, but I wonder if he’s any more polished than Blatche was his first year.

Whatever you write about, I look forward to reading it.

Now writing for Ridiculous Upside, now with more draft coverage.

by Jon L on Jul 10, 2009 12:35 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I want know about 3 things

1. Player development under Flip – Is McGee starting to play some better D? Is Nick Young playing off the ball better? I’m not expecting miracles here, but I’d like to see if there’s any progress.

2. Undrafted Free Agents – Who looks like he should get one of the remaining spots? Aminu? Heytvelt? Is anyone inexplicably getting extra time?

3. Coaching style – I’m assuming that Flip won’t be coaching, but give us an idea of what you think he’s trying to do with the team. His fingerprints should be all over this.

The Washington Wizards: providing career scoring nights for unknown opposing bench players since 2004.

by mamemimo on Jul 10, 2009 12:39 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I'm not sure how much we'll really know about Flip's development plans for players based on summer league

But I’ll definitely track and ask McGee’s defense and Young’s off-ball play when I prepare for these pieces.

You know you'll get devoured by Cheaney, Wallace, and Juwan Howard.

by Mike Prada on Jul 10, 2009 12:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

will any of the games be televised ?

by eltacoman on Jul 10, 2009 12:50 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Only on NBA.Com

Cost 14.95 for all 55 games.

http://www.nba.com/summerleague2009/

All games are available live, and on-demand

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

by Rook6980 on Jul 10, 2009 1:14 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

cant a group of people share a pass i forget how it works … i think i might just pay the 15 beans

by eltacoman on Jul 10, 2009 2:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

$15 bucks is not gonna break the bank

I figured it will at least give me an NBA Basketball fix – something to write about for a few weeks – and a chance to see our young guys in action…

Boy, august and September are gonna be LOOOOOOOOONG.

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

by Rook6980 on Jul 10, 2009 4:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

My main query is whether they are there to play, or has the coaching staff given them specific targets that are worked into the games. The kinds of things that they’ll use more once incorporated into the regular season team.

McGuire shooting corner 3’s, Nick coming off screens, Crit on pick and rolls

Are they there to run or there to work on fitting in with Gilbert, AJ etc.

by Jheiser3 on Jul 10, 2009 12:53 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

That's a good thing to look into, thanks

A lot of that may be determined by games, but I definitely think it’s worthwhile to ask some members of the coaching staff about how much they’ve worked with the players on skills to specifically fit in with Gil/Antawn/Caron. As a follow up, it’d be good to know what the coaching staff feels are the necessary skills (i.e. are they the ones you’ve listed), and then whether they can/are giving the players those types of opportunities in SL games.

If I remember correctly, they barely ran Young off any screens for shots in SL the last two years.

You know you'll get devoured by Cheaney, Wallace, and Juwan Howard.

by Mike Prada on Jul 10, 2009 12:57 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah

But the Pick and Roll game (with the exception of Songaila and Daniels) was practically nonexistent in Eddie Jordan’s (and later Tapscott’s) Offense…

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

by Rook6980 on Jul 10, 2009 1:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

exactly

but running him off screens was the big new experience for him when Flip and Cassell worked him out. So I would expect that to continue since it was their first experiment with him. (yikes, its sad to suggest that a 2 guard coming off of screens is considered experimental). NY doesn’t need tons more work going 1 on 5. I expect he’ll be taking guys off picks too.

Dom is the guy that doesn’t really change between summer and regular season. he’s a glue guy either way. Stats just stuff easier over the summer.

For McGee its’ a combination of baseline and elbow 15 footers, and his work down low.

by Jheiser3 on Jul 10, 2009 3:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

about McGee

I want to see if he’s getting bigger (stronger, more bulk – not taller)…. and if he can hold his ground in the Post.

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

by Rook6980 on Jul 10, 2009 4:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Have fun Mike....

1. Any signs of added dimensions to Nick Young’s game?

2. Estimate of JVM’s progress?

3. Critt’s FTs and assist to TO ratio, plus are defenders backing off and daring him to shoot the mid range J.

4. Estimates of Heytfelt and Aminu as last men on the roster.

5. Signs of new offensive and defensive wrinkles added by Mr Flip

by khrabb on Jul 10, 2009 1:44 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

any hope of a center in the bunch…thanks and have a blast

by les boulez bomber on Jul 10, 2009 1:50 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

I'd like to know

how Critt, McGuire, Young, and McGee look running together. Hopefully there will be plenty of that to develop some chemistry. Have we ever had this many guys in the summer games who are expected to be major contributors? I guess maybe last year, but I don’t think to his degree. Those are 4 guys with real-game starting experience. Sort of rare in this league I would think. You would imagine that they should dominate.

Also, I’d like to know how hard Young is going. I want to know if he’s taking it seriously, or just getting by on being more advanced then most of the competition. I hope he goes full throttle the whole time, no matter the score or the opponent. That will be a good indicator to his maturity.

by CJHutch on Jul 10, 2009 2:58 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Who is coaching the team

And what sort of things did Flip Saunders tell him to work on?

"Would you like to shoot me now or wait till you get home." --- Daffy Duck

by George Templeton on Jul 10, 2009 3:16 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

And aren't the games on Comcast?

"Would you like to shoot me now or wait till you get home." --- Daffy Duck

by George Templeton on Jul 10, 2009 3:16 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I'm curious

How does it actually work with the summer league invitees? Guys like Josh Heytvelt or Alade Aminu – they really have no connection with the DC area that I know of – were the Wiz the only team that invited these guys. I’d think teams closer in proximity to these guys would have the upper hand. Is it just a matter of the Wizard scouts/coaches getting a commitment from the players before the other teams?

Your meme here.

by Natepyatt on Jul 10, 2009 3:54 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Dominic McGuire and Derrick Byars

I was looking at the SL rosters and saw Derrick Byars on the Denver squad and I remember that he was a name for the Wizards in the second round of the 2007 draft. He went a few picks earlier and the Wizards got Dominic McGuire. I wonder if a guy like McGuire thinks about that. Here he is, on an NBA team and while not a star, a nice bench player and can probably make some good money with the Wizards or another team because he plays hard and rebounds. And there is this other guy that went a few picks before and this guy’s NBA career hasn’t gone the way he had hoped, after time in the D-League, oversees and now trying out for a new team. That’s a hell of a precipitous drop-off from one player to the next. Now Byars may well end up with an NBA team at some point – but if I were McGuire, that would be something that would affect me in that way when you see someone from high-school and their life hasn’t gone well as well as they had hoped.

Your meme here.

by Natepyatt on Jul 10, 2009 4:36 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Hah, Derrick Byars

I was hoping the Wizards would use their 16th pick on him back in 2007, because he was a Princeton player and could be Caron’s backup right away. Whoops.

That takes me back.

You know you'll get devoured by Cheaney, Wallace, and Juwan Howard.

by Mike Prada on Jul 10, 2009 4:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Crap, you're right.

I forgot he was a projected 1st rounder.

Your meme here.

by Natepyatt on Jul 10, 2009 4:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

That little revelation kind of ruins my question

And explains why I remember the name, it was for the 1st round pick. So I guess my question now comes down to the mentality of 2nd round guys that have managed to stick around and see all the 2nd round guys that weren’t able to do so.

Also for UMD fans – Nik Caner-Medley on the Clips SL roster. Mr. Maine. Hopefully he can play against a bunch of dudes from Bangor and show off his skills.

Your meme here.

by Natepyatt on Jul 10, 2009 4:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

One of my best friends actually just got a job as a part-time weatherman in Bangor

</random tangent>

You know you'll get devoured by Cheaney, Wallace, and Juwan Howard.

by Mike Prada on Jul 10, 2009 4:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

part time meaning there’s no reason to do the weather from December to March. How many ways can a person say “snow” if they aren’t inuit?

random tangent complete.

Your meme here.

by Natepyatt on Jul 10, 2009 4:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wait, did I say part-time?

Whoops. He’s full-time. I meant part-time as in he doesn’t do every show every day (I think he’s Wed-Sun).

You know you'll get devoured by Cheaney, Wallace, and Juwan Howard.

by Mike Prada on Jul 10, 2009 5:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oh

And I’ll try to ask D-Mac about the mentality of being a second-round pick and why he thinks he’s succeeded in sticking where others haven’t. Interesting question.

You know you'll get devoured by Cheaney, Wallace, and Juwan Howard.

by Mike Prada on Jul 10, 2009 4:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Dom at PF?

Ernie keeps listing him as a potential backup PF. Can you ask if hes worked on his post defense and offense to prepare for minutes at that position. I guess we will all see in the games if Whitman is playing him at the PF spot.

by forthepeople on Jul 10, 2009 5:06 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Hmm...good question

You know you'll get devoured by Cheaney, Wallace, and Juwan Howard.

by Mike Prada on Jul 10, 2009 6:42 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

He was drafted as a PF, wasn't he?

Now writing for Ridiculous Upside, now with more draft coverage.

by Jon L on Jul 11, 2009 1:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think that is true...

And by default, he is going to have to play some PF to get minutes this year I think.

by khrabb on Jul 12, 2009 4:42 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Actually

other then seeing the Wizards I really want to watch the TWolves roster.
http://www.nba.com/summerleague2009/team/index.jsp?team=timberwolves
it says they have Gerald Henderson on their roster? Thats got to be a mistake I guess, but Ben Woodside of North Dakota State is a must watch!

by DaGribb on Jul 10, 2009 8:09 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Woodside

Ya – that will be interesting to watch. Apparently Kahn wants to run and that kind of scorer might be an asset in that system. Kinda surprised that the Knicks didn’t try to give him a run.

by Manimal Smith on Jul 10, 2009 8:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not a mistake

Charlotte isn’t fielding a Summer League team this year, so their rookies were assigned to other teams.

Now writing for Ridiculous Upside, now with more draft coverage.

by Jon L on Jul 10, 2009 10:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

My Interests:

1. Javale:
1a. Does he look like he has added any muscle?
1b. Does it look like he is better able to man up in the post?
1c. Has his offensive game evolved at all – is he still just a dunk machine or has he added something to his game?

2. Nick Young
2a. Is he coming off of screens better? Is his jumper falling in a catch and shoot game?
2b. Has his defense improved at all? Seemed to be getting better toward the end of last year
2c. Is he going 1 on 1 less and starting to pass more?

3. Javaris
3a. Is he playing more under control/less turn over prone?
3b. Has he learned to change speeds at all?
3c. Does he have any semblance of a pull up jumper or outside game?

4. Overall Team:
4a. Can you tell what kind of scheme we are running on offense yet? If so, how do you see it meshing with our projected starters?
4b. Same as 4a but for defense
4c. Any of the center/PFs look like a legit candidate to be our 14th/15th man?

by Manimal Smith on Jul 10, 2009 8:09 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs