Summer League Primer: Thunder vs Celtics

i'd love to see more of shakur. he made some really nice passes tonight and showed his speed and handling. i've watched him in tulsa several times and know very well he has quite a jumpshot. his unselfish play in not even taking one shot is a good sign of a good point guard. he is a little tall for the 1 spot, but look at jrue holiday, basically the same exact size. i'd like to see him play more next game and maybe get some shots. i'd also like to see latavious williams get some minutes and vaden get some more 3 pointers. i like his touch a lot. i could go on and on. haha

Keith ....yes sir i knew.i just impressive how Mullen play well tonight.just wondering Mullen can play PF? instead C?? he is 7foot look like derk nowisky..i wish he will do like this in summer game,,,,i just was wondering Presti will be Trade both of Collison or Krstic out this JAN for young blood lower than24year old in our roster and all rookies salary scale...this way he can extend Max contact with KD,almost Max for RW,or less for JF....and we still have balance of our salary in the future........i think some franshine need all LJ Dwade,Bosh stay together but very very weak on bence for what?.if someone who injury?....slow grow up like OKC is better for longterm successed!!!

Hopefully see less of Maynor/Harden and more of the other guys.

One thing both Ibaka/Mullens have to work on his boxing out consistently and rebounding with 2 hands, as well as keeping the ball up around their heads when the secure the ball. I definitely liked their activity level and Mullens seemed to try to get most of his stuff in the post or off PnRs. He had the long 2 early, and the missed 3 but then seemed to really try to get things done on the inside which was nice to see. Showed off his nice touch and soft hands. Its still coming around but you can see some improvements. He was considered a guy that would probably take 2 years to be able to truly contribute at this level and that seems to be holding true.

I definitely liked Ibaka showing some improved post moves. His handle seemed better as well and he was much more patient with the ball. He showed some good patience in allowing guys to clear out, surveying things and then making a move. He clearly bulked up and looks like he could log some quality minutes at the 5. I just about shit a brick when he went down though.

One thing I notice on our PnRs is our guards don't let the big men get set too often. You can't expect to set quality screens when you are walking to set the screen and the PG/SG are going around you. Even Russ does this. You have to let the guy get set and then use him. This is partly on the screener as well though b/c our bigs take a little time to set the picks. Need to get their and set them not drift over and set them.

Good showing IMO. I thought we saw what we'd expect to see from Harden, he could basically do what he wanted. We saw Maynor do what he does, control the game and direct things. Saw improvements form Mullens/Ibaka. Overall good stuff for the first game.

I'd like to see less of Harden/Maynor(especially with Ibaka going down, was a frightening moment for all Thunder fans) and more Shakur, Weaver, Williams, etc. I'm guessing we'll see the proven guys' minutes go down as the week goes on and the rest of these guys minutes go up.

@william
It's too early to really pencil Aldrich in, and Mullens I doubt has shown enough yet to displace Collison or Krstic (both significantly better defenders than Mullens).

But in a theoretical world, the pairing could be off the charts. If Aldrich can defend the post and rebound like crazy, it would open the floor for a 7 foot dead-eye shooter to wreak havoc on opposing defenses.

How does Mullens and Aldrich Play in PF and Center of our bence?? that would be crazy
MUllen is looking on offence and Aldrid on defence stuff!!!

Jesus kev it's te fucking summer league. Chill

Reading this thread from beginning to finish is hilarious.

You guys get so emotional about our players I love it.

Williams and Reid probably get more run next game.

See as there are over 350 comments, any way we can get a game summary? It actually blows my mind how much interest there is, just goes to show how hungry the fan base is to see their team play.

Crow :But it does puzzle me why he hasn’t made a better case. Not much more to say ’til December on this.

He's too slow to play the brand of defense we play. I think it's that simple, really. I think he has situational use, but as long as we're rotating, switching, etc. DJ White's not going to get much playing time.

He's the 11th man, most 11th men don't play unless there's injuries. A big part of why White didn't play hardly last season was because we were so healthy in the front court.

But it does puzzle me why he hasn't made a better case. Not much more to say 'til December on this.

Man BJ was looking quick today... any way he gets minutes at the 4 this year?

With White, if he is that bad, it should be simply- don't let your man by you and nothing else. Play a bit loose if you have to, if you can learn to in the least harmful way. No help responsibilities.

Right now at most you'd want to get on the court for a few minutes at a time when Durant sits and hoist up a few shots and use that team best eFG%. If you don't want to do that, you can just leave him as insurance or trade him.

I am not excusing his weakness as much as I am saying they aren't maximizing or improving him.

Latavious Williams with 6 seconds. Lame. I would like a chance to see him play. Ideally in place of DJ

I didnt watch the game but it sounds like DJ White is the second coming of david lee.

Ibaka is being listed with a sprained left ankle. His status is day-to-day.
17 minutes ago via web

Well, that's good news.

Can I get a moment of silence for the health of our hero Serge?!

thanks

Godspeed

@Crow

It's not only his feet he's just lost on defense. Considering how last offseason was spent, and the fact that White was on the roster at the time, I don't think you can blame White's poor defense on anyone besides DJ White.

White with the team best eFG%, 2nd most rebounds and tied for third best +/-. TS% above 60% as it usually is. Only parts of the story but parts of the story.

Were his feet better in college? If not, they got what they drafted. Never heard of any foot or leg issue with him in OKC. If he was better before, what did they not prevent? No unwanted weight gain should go unchecked by the team.

Thanks.

Box Score: http://www.nba.com/summerleague/games/20100705/BOSOKC/gameinfo.html

@Joe
nba.com its easy to find

We're watching summer league basketball and arguing about the results and players. It's official. We're hooked on the NBA in OKC.

Anybody have a box score link?

Mullens' floor is exactly where he is now, D-league. If he becomes a better rebounder and defensive player, then sure he could grow into a starting role, but it's not guaranteed, nor is it likely. We all would love for him to be that guy, but we just can't be sure yet. There are far more busts than successes for guys in his situation, but maybe the Thunder organization can make it happen.

While Mullens would not have been paid to stay in college, staying 2 years would have greatly improved his stock, even this year he would have been a top 15 pick and gotten a lot more money. The difference over 3 years between the 24th pick and the 15th pick is 1.5 mil, 50% increase from 24 to 15. If he doesn't develop fast enough, his next contract will be lower than if he was more polished, if he had stayed another year or 2. He needed money in the short term, but I think a player looses money by leaving early if they get drafted in the later 1/3 of the draft unless they have a super high upside and believe that within 3 years they can on the same level as the lottery players.

@justin
my bad, i saw you were responding to the DON.

@justin
well if you're responding to me, i'm talking a few years down the road, assuming krstic may no longer be around since we have a buffet of young, talented big men at our disposal... we'll see. krstic definitely is a better defender, but if thats the case, i'd take collison over him, at least if he can limit his fouls, but his drawn charges make up for those ;)

also, words cannot describe my gut when i saw ibaka grimacing on the ground. i was actually fast forwarding my DVR and nearly spit out my drink and had to rewind it. i think he'll be okay. like someone else stated, this just means more needed minutes for mullens. sorta bummed aldrich not being able to participate..

Lord Byron Mullens

@The DON

Krstic is a better defensive player than Mullens. Just because Mullens is more athletic doesn't mean he's going to be better than him. He doesn't have it where it counts, between the ears... I hope he gets there though.

i'm definitely not discouraged by mullens' game today. his offense is looking much better, from what i saw, he picked his shots better (aside from a three i saw). he has no business out there. we obviously need him to develop into a solid rebounder, but hopefully we're all aware that ibaka and aldrich should have the department nailed down pretty well, so lets at least appreciate his aggressiveness on offense, which ibaka and aldrich may not show. i think mullens' offense under the basket is at an nba level. good soft hands. just improve on rebounding and i see at least a solid backup center fairly soon. lets just keep watching.

*but (eventually) he could replace many of the good things Kristic does for us now, but more athletically, and (for his rookie years, and prob later) at a lower cost. Shouldn’t that be enough?

@justin

Kristic can't rebound or defend, yet with the same skillset as Mullens but in a less athletic body he has been a starting C most of his career.

So yes, what I am telling you is that in his prime Mullens should be a starting caliber player in this league, and at worst an above average backup C.

All this from a pick Presti got in the late 1st round.

Mullens, another gem brought to you by Presti.

@Gunnar Þór
hahaha and who is your fav non-Thunder? Lee, Jefferson?

@justin
Uhm, maybe you are just having unrealistic expectations of Mullens progression, but saying he hasn't improved at ALL on 'the things he needs to make progress on' is a serious overstatement. He looked much better on defense, and made better shots (around the rim, one of the things he had to make progress on and obviously did). He isn't ever going to be an Ibakaesque shot blocker, the best rebounder on the court for us, or do the right thing in every situation like Collison... but (eventually) he could replace many of the good things Kristic does for us now more athletically, and for a while at least and much less of a cost. Shouldn't that be enough?
Last year (pre and during the season) I used to cringe every time when Mullens had time on the court. Didn't happen once this game. Progress to me. :P

I think Mullens, Green and Dj White are my favorite thunder players, I have so much to read on this site thanks to them, don't know what I would do with my time without them

@j-mo

alright thank you :)

@The DON

So Mullens' floor is NBA starter? He can't rebound or defend...

He had a great game and looked great doing what he does but he's not getting any run for us if he doesn't develop some awareness defensively. Krstic wasn't a great defensive player but he always knew where to be.

@GAP
I just don't ever see him being a factor for the Thunder without getting considerably better on defense and the boards. Sadly, those are two things he seems not to have progressed at much at all. I still say he has all the talent in the world, but talent alone doesn't make a career in the NBA.

@Bob
He bumped knees with an opposing player, he was able to walk under his own power when he got off the court, I don't think anything else has come out about it.

Bob :I missed the game… Ibaka injured i heard.. nothing serious right?

He came out with ice on his ankle, which according to some comments here means that he has a knee injury ;-) He was limping on it so hopefully just an ankle sprain and hopefully we won't see him again this summer leage. Too risky.

Did you all see the dunk Harden tried when he got fouled? The guy for Boston didn't even go for the ball and immediately after the play you hear Maynor and Harden saying "Hey, hey hey! You gotta at least go for the ball!" Sounded like the guys are all very concerned that no one gets hurt.

@justin

His floor in his prime is to be a player that does everything Kristic does except better and with better hands and athleticism.

And Kristic was the starting C on 2 playoff teams now, OKC and Nets.

That means Mullens was a steal at the bottom of the 1st round last year.

What exactly is your problem with that?

I missed the game... Ibaka injured i heard.. nothing serious right?

Regarding Mullens....how can any of us truly know where he has and has not improved? We just saw ONE game. There are 4 more games this week, plus if Ibaka is hurt, Mullens should see more time since it appeared that he and Ibaka were trading minutes with each other. It's early to judge Mullen's improvement even by summer league standards. Lets not get too stuck in our opinions before the end of the week.

@The DON

Numbers don't matter for Mullens. Has he progressed? He's shooting free throws well and seems much more assertive in pick and roll situations, getting to the rim. But he hasn't made progress on the things he needs to make progress on... hopefully he can do it because he's obviously got skills.

Dan2 :Mullens really needed to stay in college for 3 more years.

Why? So he wouldn't get paid to play basketball? Ohio State wasn't going to challenge for any Nat'l Championship. He got a 3 year guaranteed contract by being picked up in the first round. If he knew that he'd go 1st round, why would anyone pass up 3 years guaranteed? He can develop this way too and at the end of that 3 years, he'll still be in a Thunder uniform. Who knows, by then, he could have a ring too (not going to comment on how much I predict he could contribute to earning that ring, but he could still have one).

Dan2 :Mullens really needed to stay in college for 3 more years.

let's face it - he's going to come out when he has guaranteed money (1st round) - he needs to work on his game that doesnt involve scoring . . . he can do that in the NBA IF he wants to do it . . .

GAP :
23pts 7rebs, I think it’s a great start to Mullens’ summer.

Exactly.

This guy just had 23 and 7 and by reading some of these comments youd think he was some bum out there.

@Keith
You remember the only time he went into the paint was to inbound the ball? He's showing me a improvement in playing down low. You're right about him needing to play more physical, but I think that will come sooner than later.

Mullens really needed to stay in college for 3 more years.