Layne Murdoch/NBAE/Getty Images
It’s Summer League time and you know what that means. Basketball, that’s what.
The final score doesn’t matter at all, there’s over-evaluation of players based off of meaningless exhibition games and in a month you won’t remember a single thing about this week, but still… basketball. And really, it’s a developmental opportunity for a couple of potentially key pieces for the Thunder. Oklahoma City has valued summer league games in the past, with Russell Westbrook clearly getting something out of his trip to Orlando a couple years ago.
Here are five things to pay attention to this week:
1. Cole Aldrich. He’s virtually a lock to move into the backup center role, meaning he’s not just a token garbage time human victory cigar anymore. He’s had a lot of time to prepare for this moment, and of any player on the roster, this week in Orlando could be the biggest for him.
He doesn’t need to be dominant or look incredible. He just needs to do his job. Needs to rebound well, defend the paint, score when he has his opportunities and set good screens. Remember: He’s not stepping into some massively elevated role next season. He’s taking over the backup 5 spot, something that will have him playing at most, 15 minutes a game.
I’m pretty convinced everyone’s going to come away impressed with Aldrich after this week. He’s a little more gifted offensively than I think most realize, he’s got really solid offensive rebounding instincts and his length is extremely impressively. He should be a defensive forced in the paint this week, imposing his size. Just has to stay under control and not try and do too much.
2. PJIII. It’s the first look at OKC’s draft pick and there’s certainly a heavy level of anticipation to watch Perry Jones III. What position does he play primarily? How is he used? What kind of NBA skills does he have? Thunder fans are extremely intrigued by Jones’ skillset and talent level, but whether or not he has potential to make a 2012-13 impact might be revealed this week.
3. Reggie Jackson running a team. For a week, Jackson will be the featured player handling the ball and running the show for the Thunder. In a lot of the games, he might be the best player on the floor. He has a big opportunity to build a little confidence as OKC’s third point guard.
Last season when he had to step up and fill in for an injured Eric Maynor, his play was just… unmemorable. He didn’t really impact the game much, instead mostly just serving as Guy That Brings The Ball Up The Court. It would be very nice to see Jackson play with a bit more confidence, in a comfortable role where he’s not out there with direct orders just not to screw anything up. Make some plays, hit some shots, attack the rim, use that athleticism. Give us a glimpse.
4. Latavious Williams. I’ve only seen Williams play in a limited manner, but he kind of strikes me a rough-around-the-edges Perry Jones. He’s a pretty good rebounder, a good athlete and plays hard, but lacks a lot of refined skills around the basket or much touch outside of 10 feet.
But he’s been the ultimate Thunder project, drafted by the 66ers in 2009, then by the Thunder in the second round in 2010. He’s only 23 and still certainly has a potential NBA career ahead of him. This is his first real look outside of the D-League and maybe has a chance to make a good impression.
5. Any non-Thunderers have a chance to impress? The Thunder roster is set at 14 right now once Hasheem Thabeet officially signs. That means a spot is open. It might go to Ryan Reid or Latavious Williams, or maybe even one of the other guys that filled out the team. Mo Almond has been a D-League superstar, Kent Bazemore is a big wing defender and James Mays a rugged interior player.
If the Thunder don’t have any more free agent plans, this could be an open audition for that final spot. The Thunder will likely bring some of them back for training camp and wait to make a decision until then, but a big week could give leg up to Reid, Williams or whoever for that 15th slot.
Personally I can't hear PJ without thinking of Carlesimo and I don't want to. So for me young fella's name is Perry or J3 or a name to be created later and not PJ.
@Crow Haha
@Crow Perr Bear
@DSYIII pb with some jelly, when honey perr bear has it together
@DSYIII @Crow ::flatline::
@Crow @DSYIII It means that I was dying of laughter when you said Perr Bear. Too funny. LOL
@Tricia_status @DSYIII meaning? i don't understand
http://www.dailythunder.com/2012/07/summer-school-game-1-grades/
If Dwight Howard goes to Brooklyn, nine of the 12 members of the 2008 Olympic team will play in New York, LA, or Miami.
@ILikePancakes and 3 of them will be playing in Oklahoma city, lmao.
@MisterJohnsonOKC 3 of these not playing in NY, LA or MIA: Michael Redd, Boozer, T-Prince.
@ILikePancakes @MisterJohnsonOKC Boozer was not invited to the 2012 team because of his spray-hair.
@MisterJohnsonOKC @ILikePancakes 3 of the 2012 will, yes.
@ILikePancakes nice.
I took away 5 things from today's game
1. Reggie's play reminded me a lot of a young inexperienced Russell Westbrook and PJ3 looked like a better Jeff Green. I'm not sure what that means but it was entertaining
2.Lazar actually wasn't that bad today. At times he looked a some what decent rebounder
3.PJ3 looked awesome today. His knee looked fine and he looked like he was giving some effort even in a summer league game.
4. I'm trying hard not to over-react but Cole needs to show us something in the next few days. Just something anything PLEASE!
5. However if Cole doesn't show anything i think are secondary unit could just go: Maynor, Harden, Cook, Jones, Collison. I actually think this is the lineup we will go with and I think it will be effective.
@Beyond_Petroleum ..... cole
@Lost Ones I feel like going up to Cole slapping him in the face and yelling "Do something, D**n it
@Beyond_Petroleum did latavious williams do anything?
@criznazy53 @Beyond_Petroleum Issues with FIBA eligibility. He will be playing soon hopefully
@criznazy53 @Beyond_Petroleum dnp
All the fights aside, i've already made a minute of Thunder 2011-2012 season video.
who's was the best player on the floor? I haven't seen the game yet.
from people's comments, it looks like he was the worst player on the floor.
@criznazy53 Wasn't the worst or the best. He performed slightly lower than expectations, which if you go by people's comments was dwight
@Koka_Da_Bauce So if his stats don't reflect what he does, then how are his minutes used as an argument against him which you've done? Can't have one without the other, especially with Brooks' background as a Karl student.
@FREE_COLE Stats for a 4mpg player being scaled to reflect what he can do in an argument = unforgivable. When you play 3mins per game, your stats are irrelevant and don't reflect what you really are.
@Koka_Da_Bauce And I never said he deserves 10-12, I said that's my expectations of him at his peak, this season. I've actually said numerous times he has to earn them. I dunno where you've seen those said, but it wasn't me
@Koka_Da_Bauce I've given numbers that refute your claim there. He is a very decent rebounder, as shown by his DRB%. He is an efficient scorer but requires others to set him up, reflected in his eFG% and TS%. Those are numbers. Those are fact. So if he does those things, how does he do all things bad?
@FREE_COLE @Grolgar Sorry dude, Cole was the worst player on the floor.
@FREE_COLE Heart of the argument: you claim he deserves 10-12 mins, he deserves 0 mins. You say he does "some things well", he does all things bad.
@Koka_Da_Bauce You did not point out 1 single thing. Don't dance around it, get to the heart of the argument. Name one thing I said that did not make sense and there is ACTUAL EVIDENCE to the contrary. And it's not irrational defense if I provide rational. I've said my expectations for him. They aren't above being a 10-12 minute player who does some things well but isn't great.
@Koka_Da_Bauce @FREE_COLE You haven't even been reading. FREE has been critical and accepting that Cole had a bad game, you've just been oblivious to the point of offensiveness.
@FREE_COLE Your every comment is filled with irrational defense of Cole. Face it, he is not even a rotation player at this point. All evidence points to that. Unless he proves otherwise moving forward, he is just a seat warmer on the bench and nothing more in the NBA.
@Koka_Da_Bauce Point to one thing I said there that didn't make sense
@FREE_COLE At some point you'll have to prioritize your integrity over your crush on Cole. You're embarrassing yourself.
@Lost Ones @Grolgar Hyperbole weeeeee that's definitely a logical thought out argument we can discuss
@FREE_COLE @Grolgar yet cole was worse than all 3 combined
@Grolgar @FREE_COLE He really wasn't...He played very solid D and rebounded decently. He set effective screens. RJ played out of control as much as he played in control, PJ3 threw some of the worst passes on the perimeter I've ever seen, and Lazar was a mess of trying to do much but not having the ability to do much. Everyone had good and bad
@FREE_COLE Cole was the worst.
@criznazy53 he boarded everything, looked like a young dwight out there.
@criznazy53 Don't trust them. Trust us.
@criznazy53 cole by far
@criznazy53 Sullinger
@criznazy53 Cole.
@MisterJohnsonOKC @criznazy53 Cole.
@AlexKennedyNBA It sounds like the Magic, Nets and Cavaliers have found a fourth team to facilitate their potential blockbuster deal.
@Lost Ones @AlexKennedyNBA It must be us!!! Pesti is getting rid of Cole!!
@dancassidy35/FreeFestusFromGSW! @Lost Ones Brooks finished with 0-10 FGs and 4 TOs today but I'm sure he is named after our coach.
@Lost Ones @diddoff @dancassidy35/FreeFestusFromGSW! So now we're playing psychologist without any evidence? That doesn't make any logical sense at all
@FREE_COLE @diddoff @dancassidy35/FreeFestusFromGSW! the trade has everything to do with his poor player.
@Lost Ones @diddoff @dancassidy35/FreeFestusFromGSW! What? I wasn't talking about the trade. I was talking about summer league being a very very poor testing of nba success
@FREE_COLE @diddoff @dancassidy35/FreeFestusFromGSW! brooks doesn't want to get traded stop it.
@diddoff @dancassidy35/FreeFestusFromGSW! @Lost Ones That's what I don't think people are getting about summer league, Brooks was a starer who averaged 12 points a game and was a decent candidate for 3rd place ROY. He sucked in summer league
@dancassidy35/FreeFestusFromGSW! even though i know you trolling i laughed lol
@Lost Ones @AlexKennedyNBA Chicago (just a guess)