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Orlando Summer League Day 3

Orlando Summer League Day 3
Jul 12, 2007, 02:14 pm
Game 1: Charlotte Bobcats 95 - Orlando Magic 77

Jared Dudley, 17 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals, 6/9 FG

Mike Schmidt

Dudley had another great showing today, contributing in almost every aspect of the game. Early on, he really impressed with his ability to see the floor, and made a number of nice passes throughout the game while going to the hoop. Offensively, the Bobcats already trust Dudley’s ability to shoot the ball, somethat that’s reflected by the plays they run. On numerous occasions, stagger-screens were set for Dudley who had no problem moving off of them and knocking down the 20 footer. The Boston College product wasn’t afraid to mix it up inside either, and he had one drive to the basket where he did a great job adjusting to the defense while hanging in the air, and finishing after drawing the foul. Dudley just has a knack for being in the right place at the right time, and these instincts combined with his skill set will likely allow him to out produce some players drafted ahead of him over the course of his career.

Jermareo Davidson, 11 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block, 4/10 FG

Mike Schmidt

Davidson continues to show promise here in Orlando, though many of his looks weren’t falling for him today. Many of his points resulted from a turnaround jumper from the low-block, and he seems very comfortable operating when catching the ball in the post then turning to face the basket. On one move to the basket, Davidson showed very impressive footwork while faking out the defense. The play resulted in a shot-clock violation, but Davidson has the raw tools to also develop a back to the basket game. For the second day in a row, the rookie big man made some nice reads from the high post, dishing the ball with proper timing inside. Two big limiting factors must be overcome in order for Davidson to develop into a high quality big man. First of all, he must spend time in the weight room getting stronger. Secondly, he must play harder during the course of a game and more physically on the offensive end. Usually, a big guy with skills like Davidson wouldn’t drop to the second round, so it will be interesting to see if he can prove he was a steal.

Bobby Brown, 17 points, 5 assists, 2 rebounds, 2 turnovers, 6/12 FG, 5/8 3PFG

Mike Schmidt

Brown finally had a good showing today, after struggling to find his shot yesterday. He displayed the great range on his three point shot both on the move and as a set shooter. Two of his shots came towards the end of the shot-clock when he was forced to create a look with the defense in his face. Brown did an ok job running the offense as well, though he doesn’t seem like the type of guy who will ever be a true point guard. He can operate the pick and roll and get the team into the offense quickly enough, but he struggles to see the whole court and misses some easy looks due to limited court vision. Brown has the potential to be a third point guard type in the NBA. If he continues to keep things simple and sticks to what he’s good at, he could earn a contract just due to his shooting ability.

Ryan Hollins, 13 points, 6 rebounds, 2 blocks, 6/8 FG

Mike Schmidt

Hollins has always been a freakish athlete, but has applied it better to his track and field days at UCLA than the game of basketball. Today was a different story, as we saw a more aggressive player who was aggressively using his natural athleticism to effect the game.

Early in the game, Hollins left everyone in the gym shocked as he spun baseline on the right side of the court, and threw down an explosive dunk on the other side of the basket while being fouled. The former UCLA big also mixed it up on the offensive end, going to a hook shot and a spot-up mid-range jumper to score his 13 points over the course of the game.

Though he scored the ball with success, Hollins still doesn’t move like a center, and he will need to work on developing actual footwork rather than just stepping towards the basket when making his move. He will also need to continue to add weight to his narrow frame, something that will be a necessity if he wants to see NBA minutes. Hollins still reamins a project at this point, but he could be a back-up center in spot minutes with another couple years of development.

J.J. Redick, 24 points, 3 assists, 1 rebounds, 9/14 FG, 1/4 3PFG, 5/5 FT

Matt Williams

For the second straight day, Redick played a very solid offensive game. He has clearly become more comfortable taking his defender off the dribble, and did a good job of finding open teammates once he got into the lane. He doesn’t use his dribble drive to get to the rim, but the fact that he is drawing second and third defenders is especially encouraging. Redick wasn’t as accurate as usual from three-point range, but looked extremely good shooting the ball off of one dribble from the midrange.

On the defensive end, Redick failed to quiet critics about his ability to keep his man from taking advantage of his lack of size and athleticism. He may never be a great defender, as his ability to recover limits his effectiveness, but he has the potential to be better. Redick needs to learn to force his man to the baseline, where Dwight Howard will be on patrol during the regular season. This would be an easy way for Redick to slow his man down on the offensive end. The same solution would apply to Redick’s spotty post defense as well. With Rashard Lewis in the fold, Redick will need to become a more cerebral defender if he wants to see rotation minutes.

James Augustine, 6 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists, 0 turnovers, 3/4 FG

Matt Williams

Augustine didn’t look to assert himself as much as he did yesterday, but still came away with a decent performance. He showed some nice moves offensively, including a very impressive running hook shot with his right hand. While Augustine didn’t get many touches, he didn’t seem to mind taking a backseat to his teammates. On the other side of the floor, Augustine appeared to be having a hard time handling Charlotte’s incredibly athletic front court. Ryan Hollins, Jared Dudley, and Jermareo Davidson were all over the offensive glass for the Bobcats.

Marcin Gortat, 6 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 blocks, 4 turnovers

Matt Williams

Gortat didn’t have the same offensive success today as he did yesterday due to the length and athleticism of the Bobcats front line. He didn’t seem overmatched, but couldn’t get position as easily as he did yesterday. On one occasion, he showed nice touch with his left hand, finishing with contact off of a post feed. Defensively, Gortat has the feel of an NBA player. He does a very good job getting a hand on the ball when he has the opportunity, and works hard to keep his man from getting good position.

Steven Smith, 15 points, 2 rebounds, 2 turnovers

Matt Williams

Smith put on a surprising display of offensive talent today, finishing off a handful of great plays with a nice shooting touch. He showed a great fallaway spin move from the right corner, where he was forced to elevate higher than he wanted to, but still managed to hit the shot. The big concern with Smith is his position (small forward/power forward?), and his offensive game today showed some of those flaws. Jumping off of one leg, Smith really isn’t that explosive, as he didn’t get very good elevation on his first slash to the rim. However, when he was able to get his feet set underneath him, he got off the floor well enough to finish and dunk with contact. Smith displayed some nice offensive moves and was extremely aggressive throughout, but he will need to show that he can finish them consistently to get more than a passing glance from NBA teams.




Game 2: Indiana Pacers 90 – New Jersey Nets 65

Sean Williams, 10 points, 2 rebounds, 2/6 FG, 6/6 FT

Mike Schmidt

At this point, Williams looks like a guy who hasn’t played organized basketball in a long time, and it will take him more time on the court to adjust to the flow of the game. From watching him in the summer league setting, you can see improvement with his jump-shot. Williams’ first basket of the game came on a spot-up jumper from 15 feet, and he was able to convert on all 6 of his free throw attempts in the game. Defensively, Williams was unable to block any shots, but did use his leaping ability to force opposing players into more difficult attempts. The former Boston College big man must start to use his body better when it comes to rebounding as well. Right now he jumps as high as he can after a missed shot, but opposing players can get around him because he doesn’t use his body at all. It’s tough to make a conclusion on Williams based on his play here, and it will be interesting to see if he adjusts as the week goes on.

Robert Hite, 8 points, 2 assists, 2 steals, 5 turnovers, 3/9 FG, 0/4 3PFG

Mike Schmidt

Hite struggled from the field today, though he showed an impressive package of physical gifts. The combo guard shows great elevation on his jumper, and explodes off the ground with great quickness when slashing to the basket. Today, we saw one of the downfalls of Hite, as he looks like a great outside shooter at times, but has games like today where he would help the team more by not attempting any three pointers at all. Off the dribble, he made a few nice shots from the mid-range, and he could help himself by better utilizing this part of his game.

Josh Davis, 13 points, 12 rebounds, 5/10 FG, 1/6 3PFG

Mike Schmidt

Josh Davis played his physical brand of basketball today while showing some tools that could allow him to stick in the NBA. Though he was 1/6 from the three point line today, he has very nice form on his shot, and usually shoots the ball with better accuracy. Inside, Davis is a force on both ends of the floor, using his well built body to collect rebounds and pick up easy baskets. In terms of size, he stands at only about 6’7,” which is less than ideal for an NBA power forward. Davis makes up for this with his physical style and constant hustle.

Andre Owens, 23 points, 3 assists, 2 rebounds, 2 turnovers, 8/11 FG, 7/8 FT

Matt Williams

Owens didn’t display the same range he did yesterday, but still managed to come away with a very solid offensive performance. He was almost invisible early in the game, but really came on late. Owens showed a very nice pull up jump shot that has good accuracy out to the elbow. What really differentiated this game from Owens’ first was how efficiently he got to the rim. Whether it was off of a steal or in the half court, Owen did a very nice job creating his own shot and attacking the rim. When playing off the ball, Owens can be effective as well. He is clearly more cut out to play combo guard in this setting, which is why he got more time at the 2 later in the game. As a point guard, he tends to overdribble, so playing off the ball allows him to better utilize his explosiveness and shot creating ability.

Kareem Rush, 16 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 4 blocks, 3 steals, 6/10 FG, 3/4 3FG

Matt Williams

Rush looked very good today, since he was able to do what he does best: shoot the ball from deep. Rush made three of his four attempts, showing the ability to catch and shoot off of screens, and knock down his shot from a complete standstill. While his offensive game isn’t as versatile as it needs to be, Rush did a good job of compensating today. He finished a nice turnaround jumper and got to the line on one occasion. It will be important for Rush to improve his handle if he wants to return to the NBA, as he really doesn’t utilize it effectively right now.

Stephen Graham, 15 points, 1 assists, 6 rebounds, 5/11 FG, 5/8 FT

Matt Williams

Graham didn’t look very good today, but still managed to post a respectable line. He knocked down a couple of pull up jump shots, but didn’t play as controlled of an offensive game as he usually plays. What Graham lacks in feel, he makes up for in athleticism and strength.

Shawne Williams, 17 points, 2 assists, 4 rebounds, 5/11 FG, 2/6 3FG, 5/6 FT

Matt Williams

Williams played a relatively efficient game, but didn’t really stand out in any one aspect of the game. Williams has done a good job of not forcing shots from the perimeter. However, he still hasn’t shown great touch from the outside. With an improved shot selection, the hope was that Williams would become a more efficient scorer. Unfortunately, his ball-handling skills aren’t consistent enough to make him the scoring threat that Indiana needs him to be. Williams’ struggles are understandable though, as he was matched up with Sean Williams for part of this game—and he’s probably better suited to play on the wing. The other Williams made it extremely difficult for him to get his shot off with space.




Game 3: Chicago Bulls 77- Miami Heat 66

Tyrus Thomas, 7 points, 12 rebounds, 5 blocks, 4 assists, 2/9 FG

Mike Schmidt

The most exciting match-up today featured physical combo-forwards inTyrus Thomas and Marcus Slaugter. Though Slaughter was able to disrupt Thomas’ offensive game, the Bulls’ forward still left his mark on the game. Offensively, Tyrus made a number of nice reads from the high post again today, as well as a few nice slashes to the basket. When Thomas drives to the hoop, he forces the defensive to foul him or else he will finish with a thunderous dunk. He took a number of jumpers today, and though his shot looks better this summer, none of these looks were falling for him today. Towards the end of the game, Thomsa was given the ball to create on the perimeter, and a nice pass resulted after he drove into the lane and drew an extra defender.

Defensively, Thomas was nothing short of a beast throughout the game, exploding off the ground to block 5 shots. Thomas collected 12 rebounds as well, though he relies on his superior leaping ability in this area rather than proper positioning.

Thabo Sefolosha, 13 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, 2 blocks, 3/7 FG, 6/10 FT

Mike Schmidt

Today, Sefolosha continued to show he has a bright future as a role playing in the league. He made a number of drives to the basket, showing the ability to draw contact while making a few craft finishes. At this point, Sefolosha almost seems more comfortable finishing with his left hand while driving to the hoop. Offensively, the second year guard ran the point for much of the game, showing good control of the offense while making few mistakes. His jumper wasn’t falling with consistency today however, and the flat release of his shot clearly lowers his shooting percentage. Defensively, Sefolosha was excellent as always, constantly pressuring the wing players of the Heat while getting a few steals as well. Sefolosha will likely never be a star in the NBA, but his tools will allow him to step in and play for the Bulls for a long time.

Aaron Gray, 15 points, 4 rebounds, 5/10 FG

Mike Schmidt

For the second day in a row, Gray looked like an absolute steal at 49. Offensively, he shot the hook with both hands today, and had no problem scoring efficiently from the field despite the limited touch on his hook shot. The rookie center was in the right place at the right time on more than one occasion, and this led to a couple easy baskets throughout the game. Gray uses his strong frame on both ends of the floor, and boxes out on every possession. Aaron Gray has impressed the Bulls enough to get a 2 year guaranteed contract, and it seems to be possible that he sees limited rotation minutes as a rookie.

Justin Cage, 9 points, 3 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 block, 4/5 FG

Mike Schmidt

To this point in the summer league, Cage has been one of the more efficient players on the offensive end of the floor, shooting somewhere in the 70-80% range for the summer. He has a fantastic shot selection, only shooting when he has a good look on the perimeter, and finishes strong inside when the opportunity presents itself. Defense is probably the strongest area of Cage’s game right now, as he has great length combined with good lateral quickness on this end of the floor. The rookie from Xavier also has a good understanding of positioning in this area, and always makes the proper help rotations with good reaction time. Cage has impressed the Bulls by playing exactly how they have asked him to, and he will certainly have a shot to make their opening day roster if he keeps performing at this level.

Jeremy Richardson, 12 points, 2 assists, 2 steals, 1 rebound, 4/8 FG

Mike Schmidt

Richardson has made some good progress since the end of the D-League season, though he still has a little way to go before he can contribute at the NBA level. The second year guard struggled at the end of last season with his perimeter shot, but he’s shooting the NBA three with confidence during the summer league. In addition, his handle continues to improve as he displayed today by driving past his man for an impressive dunk. Defensively, Richardson has made some progress, though his help defense must improve. He has shown better anticipation in the passing lanes, and his man to man defense is above average. Though Richardson has added some weight, he must continue to get stronger. For the second day in a row, he was forced to miss half of the game because he landed hard and the trainers were worried about him being injured. He does have all the tools to succeed in the NBA, however, and he has a very good chance of starting the season on an NBA roster.

Marcus Slaughter, 9 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 Blocks, 2 Steals, 2/7 FG

Matt Williams

Slaughter looked good today, utilizing his athleticism in all facets of the game. He played an especially efficient game on the defensive end, defending both the three and the four very well. His matchup with Tyrus Thomas was especially entertaining to watch. On one of Slaughter’s two blocks, he came out of nowhere for an impressive block on an unsuspecting Chicago player. Another notable moment for Slaughter came in the form of a full court outlet pass off of an impressive rebound in traffic. Offensively, Slaughter showed range out to the NCAA three-point line (even though his shooting mechanics need a lot of work), and worked hard getting up down the floor for open jumpers. Given Miami’s lack of depth, Slaughter has the versatility and explosiveness to have a very real chance of sticking with the team.

Chris Quinn, 12 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 4/8 FG

Matt Williams

Quinn didn’t really look to score to much today, but did a very good job of running the point. While Quinn wasn’t terribly invested in creating for himself, he did a good job of making the shots he was given. He showed NBA range and a nice pull up that should serve him well throughout the summer. Quinn’s game may not be very flashy, but he is extremely tough and consistent in his contributions on both ends. Quinn doesn’t have the athleticism to be a great backup point guard, but he has the efficiency to be a very solid option as a spot player.

Daequan Cook, 3 points, 2 rebounds, 1 Assist, 3 Steals, 3 Turnovers 6 Fouls, 1/7 FG

Cook had a rough game, struggling to get going from the field. He missed numerous shots from all over the floor, but did make one of the two three-pointers he attempted. He did make up for that to a certain extent though with his effort on the defensive end. He did a great job getting into passing lanes and taking the ball away from his man. Unfortunately, his aggressiveness also put him into foul trouble, which shouldn’t be too big of a problem for him at the NBA level. Cook shows great elevation on his jump shot, which will make his transition to the pro game that much easier. However, he needs to improve his consistency to make his ability to get his shot off truly worthwhile. He also must develop some kind of basic ability to create his own shot, since right now his athleticism is wasted due to his poor ball-handling skills.

Renaldo Major, 8 points, 1 rebound, 1 Block, 1 Steal, 2/5 FG, 4/4 FT

Matt Williams

Major played a good game today, utilizing his strengths on the defensive end to help his team. While he still doesn’t have a good enough jump shot to make him a great offensive player, Major has everything you look for in a quality defensive stopper. He works extremely hard to get around screens, hawks the ball constantly, and never lets his man have an uncontested shot.

JamesOn Curry, 7 points, 3 rebounds, 0 Assist, 2 Turnovers 4 Fouls, 2/2 FG

Matt Williams

Curry get mentioned here because of what the Bulls are trying to get out of him. It became apparent in his days at Oklahoma State that Curry wasn’t going to become a true point guard, but that hasn’t stopped the Bulls from trying to fit him into that position here. Curry put up an efficient offensive stat line, but that doesn’t change the fact that he simply doesn’t have quality point guard skills at this point in his career.

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