I had court side seat to last nights Mavs/Rox game. Here are a few of my thoughts. I think Aaron Brooks is an animal and (mark it down) I think he'll be the starting PG this year. Yes it is only the summer league, but this guy is better than Alston right now. He can get to the rim at will, makes good decisions, has a decent shot and is an above average ball handler. OK he had a bunch of turnovers, but he handled the ball almost every time and the Mavs were running a lot of defenders at him to slow him down, plus he probably doesn't even know all his teammates names let alone their games. I spoke with Carl Landry after the game and I asked him if was going to be the Rockets starting PF this year. He said he hoped so and that Aaron Brooks had a monster game and that's where he wants to take his game. He didn't impress all that much and he needs work. I don't think he'll be the starter this year, but I think his game reminds me of Kenny Thomas. That's not too bad. I expect Steve Novak to get a lot more minutes this year. He was very agressive and impressed. He can give the Rox minutes at both forward spots and maybe even a minute or two at center against certain teams. Expect Novak to be a huge bench contributor this year. The rest of the summer team most likely won't make the roster this season. Lior Eliyahu played quite a bit and he had some moments, but he needs more seasoning, in my opinion. Plus he had on Laker shoes!! I hate that, you Kobe wanna be! I asked him about the Laker shoes, but he ignored me. So I started calling him Elilakershoes. Brad Neley,(sp) played and I kept waiting for him to do something. He was MVP of the allstar game in Austrailia, so I was excited to see him, but he did next to nothing. I thought he'd be way more aggressive and take some shots to prove he belonged. Maybe he was just learning and letting the game come to him, but you'd think he be aggressive to show the coaches he's ready for the NBA. I think he's not ready. All that said, I'm basing this on one game, but overall it was a lot of fun. If you get the chance to come to Vegas, the tickets are resonable and the venue very small.
You're getting all this from 1 summer league game? I know we are dying for Rockets action, but JL3 was AI in the summer league last year. Why don't you wait til' the season starts and we'll see where Brooks, Landry, Novak, Harris, and Noodles stand.... Personally, I think Brooks, Landry, and Harris make the team. They might ride the end of the bench, but could end up like Chuck Hayes and work their way into the rotation. Noodles will be sent to the NBDL for work on his game and maybe Novak. But Novak could also get cut being the poor man's Tracy Murray.
I am glad that everyone is excited about Brooks but JL3 was a better summerleague player and is as big or bigger than Brooks. JL3 - AVERAGED !!! 23.4 points 3.5 rebounds 7.8 assists and only 2.8 turnovers (Brooks has 11 turnovers in 2 games, JL3 had 14 total in 5 games) Brooks ain't as good and I doubt his best game will beat those averages. Oh, JL3 went 5 and 0 last year. People are saying that Brooks had a monster game but IMO without his 9 turnovers the Rockets win that game. I hope I'm wrong but I have watched Brooks for two games now and I don't see how he can possibly be a starting PG in the NBA. At least he makes some of our fans happy and he does have a really nice shooting touch.
I don't see how you evaluate talent. Lucas yes put monster stats up last year but if you watched him he was in no-way close to being the leader and in no way close to dishing as crisp passes as Brooks has done this year in his two games. Lucas never looked like a Professional when he played, Brooks looks like a professional. People can bash Brooks turnovers but it's misleading, you said you watched the game?? Then you would know how misleading his turnovers were last game. Atleats 3 of those turnovers were caused my phantom calls. Push off, double dribble and a travel, 2 more were passes on the dot either bounces off the opposing players hands out of bounce or to someone else.. and Don't forget the pass he made to Landry who turned away as soon as he threw it.. Thats not Brooks fault.' If you saw Lucas at all last year you would see a huge difference between talents and the way they play.
Everyone here riding Brook's jock keeps saying how he is some incredible floor leader and in the next breath has to defend the guy for all the turnovers he made. I watched the games and I evalute tallent on tangibles and don't resort to using baseless terms like "looks profesional". 7.6 assists per game IS profesional whether it looks like it or not. 9 turnovers is NOT profesional whether it looks like it or not. Wins are profesional Losses are not. this is summer league and Brooks ain't AI
When is the last time Lucas blocked a shot with his elbow? Brooks is way more athletic and a heck of a shooter. He is a better player than lucas hands down. There is a reason lucas wasn't drafted ya know.
When was the last time the ultra athletic and far better defender Brooks got steal? Lucas had 1.2/game. Lucas's shooting percentage is just as good and Brooks has exactly ZERO blocks in summer league. You can say or believe or hope that Brooks is better but nothing tangible says that's the case. I hope I'm wrong. The fact is, Lucas is better than everyone is making out atm and neither Brooks or JL3 is gonna be a starting PG in the NBA.
For some reason I think it's really, really funny that we have a bitter, hotly contested "Brooks vs. JLIII" as tonight's undercard.
Sorry about that, it's mostly me I think. I am having a hard time listening to how much JL3 sucks and how great Brooks is when Brooks hasn't really done anything or even as much as JL3. I mean JL3 lead his college team to the final 4... tell me what Brooks has done that's anywhere close to that? JL3 WORKED his way into a 3 year NBA contract after going undrafted. I'm glad everyone is high on Brooks but there is no reason to bash JL3. JL3 has definitely accomplished more in the world of basketball than Brooks and saying Brooks is better is BS imo.
Adelman mentioned yesterday that Newley needs more experiemce playing at a higher level. I think he just needs more time in the weights room and on the track more than anything else. Newley's athleticism is the most surprising for me. I knew he wasn't slow but the critics were saying he wasn't quick enough for the NBA but he actually looks really athletic out there. He's one of the better passers on the SL team, some slick dishes so far, but his reputation is of a scorer and he's just not doing that.
The question on Brooks will be answered in the regular season. Let's see how they all play in the Summer League for now.I don't think there is any need to argue whether JL3 or he is the better player.
In the game last night brooks blocked brandon bass (6-8 240), while he was going up for a layup. he contested the shot and blocked it with his elbow because he hung in the air for so long. Not something lucas can do. It was on tv up here in ft worth because i guess they show all of the local team summer league games. Rick Kamla, Commented on it extensively and they show at least 4 replays of the play in ?. Whether it was recorded or not in the stat sheet, i can guarantee you it happened. (Rick Kamla Speaking:Brooks dropped seven dimes, grabbed four rebounds, and although he was not credited with a block, he had an incredible block on Brandon Bass...with his elbow. And in case you don't know these players' dimensions, Bass is 6-8, 240, and Brooks is 6-1, 160.) http://bbs.clutchfans.net/showthread.php?t=132127
I saw the block last night. It was real alright. Think what you want about Brooks or JLIII, but I'm not buying it...Lucas is a scrub and Brooks is going to a star. Save this BBs and throw it my face later...but I doubt it!
Newley really needs to play in a bigger better competition. The NBL (Australian) is a good league, but Brad needs to play against bigger stronger players and get more experience. The problem with that is that Brad has just signed with his hometown of Adelaide for the first time, leaving my home town, Townsville where he began his career. Brad really wants to play for Adelaide and doesn't want to play in Europe. If he wants to get a crack at the NBA, he needs to either be playing in Europe or the NBDL! Brad has played in a triangle offense here in Townsville for the past 3 years so it might be hard for him to pick where to put himself in a position to get the ball and score. He seems to be standing in the short corner throughout the whole offense.
