-Rich Keefe
Just a few days ago the Celtics finished up their 5 game Las Vegas Summer League where they finished with a dazzeling 3-2 mark. Of course its not about wins and losses rather how these guys play. Who will help and who will hurt their chances of making the roster. As the five games unfolded Celts fans saw the good and the bad. I'll break down the performances of the players who have a realistic chance of wearing green this season. So no Eric Hicks or big Greek guy grades here.
(in alphabetacal order)
Glen Davis: A
Davis, who the Celtics picked in the 2nd round as part of the Ray Allen for Jeff Green, Wally, and Delonte deal played the best of any Boston player in the 5 games. He finished second in points (12), first in rebounds (9.8), first in blocks (1.8), and even first in assists (1.8). Pretty good debut for Big Baby. Not good enough to earn a spot on the Summer League All-Star team, but no Celtic was so honored. In a league that is always dominated by guards and wings, Davis as well as Leon Powe were the lone bright spots for the squad. Looking forward to seeing what he can do behind Jefferson this season. More on how all these guys will factor in later on.
Gerald Green: F
Green showed great scoring promise at times last year. He won the slam dunk contest, and looked like he could become one of the next great stars of the league. He will be in his third year this season, and playing in the summer league... well he should have just dominated. Not only did he not dominate, but he was terrible. For someone who could have partied all night in Vegas and still dropped 25 the next day against potential D-leaguers, he was flop. Green averaged 11.4 points, which was good for 3rd on the team behind two low post scorers, who did most of their damage off offesive rebounds. And it wasn't just the lowing scoring that warrants his grade but his "shooting." How about 29.8% from the field and 15.4% from 3 sound? Not to mention his free throws were in the low 60s. And this guy was supposed to be the scoring spark off the bench? Hopefully Green's Summer League game will stay in Vegas.
Leon Powe: A-
His overall numbers were down because he played just 18 minutes in their final game against Dallas. But Leon certainly impressed fans with a 19-9 game against Portland and a 23-12 vs. China. He shot over 54% in the 5 games he started, and looks like he will be figting for time all season long on the C's frontline. He's a hustle player, but considering he was a 20-10 All-American at Cal, teams can't sleep on him either. He'll do whatever it takes to get on the floor. With Pierce, Allen, and Big Al handling most of the offense, Powe just needs to get rebounds, loose balls, and play D.
Gabe Pruitt: D+
Pruitt is another of the C's second round picks to play in the Summer League. I thought he would be the perfect fit to step in and take most of Delonte West's minutes as he is combo guard out of the same mold as West. Probably a natural shooting guard he had to play point at USC out of necessity. Therefore he should be comfortable at either spot. The first three games he did a bit of both, but didn't record one damn assist. Rondo sat out the last two games giving Pruitt more control of the offense. In the first game without Rajon, Gabe played well going 6-9 from the field for 14 points to go along with 3 rebs, 3 dimes, and 2 steals. But that was really his only signs of life in Vegas. I haven't given up on this guy, but he really needs to improve. The problem for him is Doc Rivers will be the one responsible for developing him. Goodluck Pruiit.
Allan Ray: D
27.8% from behind the arc isn't going to get it done for a 3 point specialist. With rumors surrounding that Ray may not make the team this year, he really struggled through the first three games. He came on a little in the final two, 14 and 15 points, but still a disappointing 5 game set as he could only muster 10 points a night. As I said before its usually scoring wings who really dominate the summer league, so guys like Green and Ray should have lit it up. They did not.
Rajon Rondo: Incomplete
How many starting point guards in the NBA play in the summer league? Probably not a good sign. 4 assists in 3 games... definitely not a good sign. I'm not going to panic because his assist totals will certainly improve with Pierce and Allen on the wings compared to Green and Ray. He got into double figures in scoring 2 of the 3 games he played. The Celtics coaches and staff obviously felt good about Rondo as he sat out the final two games. He's always had the defense just needs to work on his shot, which may have been the worst in all of basketball last season.
Brandon Wallace: ?
The only reason this rookie is on the list is because the C's, for some reason, decided to sign him up to a 2-year deal. I don't get it. If I average 4.2 points and 5 rebounds could I get a contract? Wallace never got into double digits in any statistical category... well besides minutes. And his 1 point 1 rebound performance in the team's final game against Dallas has to leave you wanting more. Hey Danny nice sign.
So those are the 7 guys who played in the summer league that have an opportunity to make this roster. How will these guys factor in with a roster that already consists of: Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, Al Jefferson, Ryan Gomes, Kendrick Perkins, Tony Allen, Theo Ratliff (and his contract), Sebastian Telfair (yes he's still on the team), and Brian Scalabrine (yes he's still on the team too). It'll be interesting to see how the summer leaguers blend with this group. Obviously Rondo will be a big part, but I feel that Powe and Davis deserve time in the rotation as well. What will Gerland Green bring to the table or will he be traded? The C's look like they're still one move away from being a serious threat in the East, but will they pull the trigger?
-Rich Keefe
1 comment:
Overall Rondo averaged 3.3 turnovers/game with 7 turnovers and only 1 assist in 30 minutes against the Spurs. So in this year's summer league Rondo had 1 decent game, 1 terrible game, and 1 so-so game.--- I love Rondo's athleticism but he needs 1 more year of coming off the bench and playing behind a real NBA point guard. I question whether Rondo at present has the cache to control the Cs offense with Paul Pierce on the floor at the same time as Rondo, and with Pierce demanding that the offense be run through him for 30+ minutes per game. The summer league should have convinced Danny that he must obtain a real point guard who will actually control the offense and dictate tempo and looks in the half court sets. It would appear that Jarrett Jack, Luke Ridnour, Carlos Arroyo, Juan Carlos Navarro (whom the Wizards are supposedly trying to trade), Jose Barea(about to be resigned by Dallas), Tyron Lue, Kyle Lowry, and Brevin Knight (to name just a few) are all available.
Big Baby looked impressive although he was a bit of a black hole at times when the ball was in his hands on the offensive end. Also Davis had too many turnovers (3.3) per game given his average mintes. However, he can rebound, he's tough,he's intense, he's unafraid & he'll improve as the year goes on.
Discussing Big Baby also makes me wonder "Who is Brandon Bass?" and "Why didn't Ainge sign him as a free agent?" Bass had impressive summer league numbers not just against the Cs but against everyone, i.e averaged 15 points, 6 rebounds, shot 95% on free throws,and shot 58% from the field in 19 minutes per game! He was apparently The SEC Player of the Year in 2005 at LSU---He's 6'8", weighs 240,can run, rebound and bang, and, unlike Leon Powe, he can jump! Rumor has it that he's about to sign with Dallas.
Gerald Green---He can't dribble---that's why he can't penetrate and score. He doesn't give the ball back to the point guard and thus bogs down the ball movemment in offensive sets. Worse he can't play defense even when he's appears to be trying. I've read a few blogs wherein the blogger claimed that Green's defense was much improved? I didn't see it in the summer league! Instead I saw a player who constantly lost his man, was too easily picked off, and seemed clueless about the concepts of team offense and defense--- averaging .5 blocks per game in the summer league is not good defense.
Brandon Wallace---he gets offensive and defensive rebounds, he runs the floor, and he gets down and actually defended his man on the wing. He also had a couple of nice blocks against Yi. At 6'9", he can jump and looks like he has the quickness to defend most 3 players and maybe some 2s. For the most part the scorers in the Eastern Conference are not 5 players. He's a free agent, not a draft pick. I say why not take a chance on him even if he is unlikely to ever be an offensive option, especialy because he's not looking to score and yet he goes hard to the offensive glass and doesn't turn the ball over on offense
Pruitt---looks like he's a long range shooter---very nice form on his shot. He looked shaky playing the point however, which again makes me think that the Cs have to get a real point guard to play significant minutes ahead of Rondo. In fact looking at the Cs rotation, if they are able to bring Rondo in off the bench along with Gomes, Tony Allen and Big Baby or Ratliff (or Varejao who is still a restricted free agent that Clveland doesn'nt have the money to sign)), then maybe the 2nd unit can play some D and uptempo the game. Pruitt will get minutes at the 2 if he can defend, not turn it over, and make open 3s.
Allan Ray---too bad we don't have your ex-teammate Kyle Lowery. Allen can't play point, can't defend, can't make 3s consistently, and is too short to play the 2! I can't imagine he'll be a Celtic after Aug 1st.
Leon Powe--he's tough,he can rebound, he's determined, but he can't jump, he's too short to defend most 5 players and his offense in the NBA is limited despite his averaging 2o ppg at Cal. Did I mention, however, that he's tough and relentless on the board? He'll play 10 minutes per game and will be a crown favorite (as well as a Tommy point leader)
Sebastian Telfair---Why didn't he play in The Summer League? Answer: he can't play--- Period.
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