[Summer League] Rockets vs Blazers : Vegas Summer League Game 4

I'm sure somebody just really felt like injuring Nolan Smith in the final garbage seconds of a summer league game. High stakes basketball right there.


Watched the game this morning while balancing a 7 month old on my knee, but here were some observations I've come up with.

Royce White - A creator with the basketball, although sometimes his vision comes with a very high degree of difficulty. I'm sure the coaching staff told him to be comfortable running the break and not to worry about turnovers too much, so some of those passes are forgivable. He's gonna be the kind of guy where when he's on, he makes the whole team better, but when he's off and he gets into a funk you're gonna have to let him sit down.

I'm quickly developing a man crush though, I love a guy who bucks trends, i.e. a Chuck Hayes type. Royce has some special gifts for a man of his size, and his personal journey is one I relate I can relate to as well. I really, really hope we keep him around.

Like Chuck, I also have a feeling it is going to be his intensity and his attitude that win people over at first, and it will take a little time for his game to blossom.

Donatas Motiejunas - The first thing that I love about D-Mo is that he seems to always be around the ball down low. Fighting for offensive rebounds, trying to get tip-ins. This is a very encouraging sign, a good big man knows he can steal 6-8 points a game just cleaning up his teammates' misses.

The second thing I love about D-Mo is he comes to back up his talk. He's got a little bit of smugness, a little cockiness to him, but he hasn't really overdone it yet. He understands nobody really knows who he is in the NBA and you can tell it has maybe a little to do with his countryman Valanciunas being a high draft pick while he fell out of the lottery.

I think he's going to be a very good player, and he's one of the reasons I was anticipating the departure of Scola. His height and versatility are going to make him a key cog in our future lineup.

Jeremy Lamb - I didn't both to watch much of the tape on this kid coming out. I kind of dismissed him a little bit because he seems kind of dull personality wise, but after watching his fluidity, his release, his footwork, his athleticism and knack for knowing when you drive for easy points and when to hoist a jumper... whoa. This kid can get buckets like the gifted scorers in the league.

As Rick MaHorn pointed out during the broadcast, and I said this after game 1... he's going to need to condition himself, add a little bit of bulk because of the bruising he will take when it comes to drawing fouls. I think in that sense Kevin Martin might actually be a good player for him to watch closely, to see how his artfully draws contact. He seems like a born 2 guard likely to fit right along his predecessors in the UConn tradition of Allen, Hamilton and Gordon.

Terrance Jones -

When Jones was drafted I thought to myself "Really Morey? We have to be trading this guy right? We already have 7 PFs on the roster."

Now I see why he's the MIT wunderkind and I'm the armchair, because this guy can play too. Like his motor, his handles, and his cleanup mentality around the glass.

Marcus Morris you can go ahead and exit stage left. Good luck in Orlando.

 

Really? People seem to hate Kevin Martin for doing that.

 

Yeh, I know, I've previously admitted my chop skill sucks, but...

 

Hah. Break them in early!

The ONLY issue I have with Donuts is that he seems to hit the ground too often. I always hated it when Yao went down. Maybe Donuts needs to work on the lower body strength? From the interview, he seems keenly ware of the need to balance strength and speed/fluidity. Whatever it is, I prefer to see him upright.

Felt same way about Jones during draft, and now I am fully on his side. I love Scola but Jones will bring a different and better rounded toolset. I love it when he grabs the defensive board and just heads up the court with the ball. When have we had a 4 do that? This is going to be a huge change for our offense this season. Are he and Royce Morey's undervalued combo forward coming to change the game right before our eyes?

 

Yeah I think the combo 4 is here to stay.

I have a feeling Jones might be the one on the way out though.

 

It's either him or royce. Jones will be an excellent role player in this league though. White can be more than that.

 

pay the $5 and watch all the games anytime you want.

 

Was in Vegas till yesterday and got to see two games live. One of the things that stands out about white is his rebounding. He may be 6'8"' but he's got a 7 foot wingspan, and he is a ferocious rebounder. He's also the best ball-handling and passing big man I've ever seen. If he can improve his long-range shooting, he could play the 3, and run the offense as a facilitator. I just dont see him being dominate enough as a post player to be a full-time PF. I think jones and D-mo are far better suited for the 4 spot. But I also think that white is a better 3 than Marcus Morris.

Jones is gonna be special. He finishes around the rim better than anyone on our roster. He's a great rebounder. He's got a post game, and a nice mid-range game. He's lightning quick and plays big. Haven't seen him block any shots, but he was a prolific shot-blocker in college. He's a PF that can guard two positions. He's gonna be a matchup nightmare for slower 4s.

Both these guys need to play a lot and get better. In 3 years, with good minutes for development, they are gonna be excellent!

Lamb and d-mo have a chance to be allstars if they keep developing.

 

Good post moe!

I just want to add one thing about Royce and the effect his passing has on the team. During the Bird / Magic years you used to always hear announcers talk about how infectious there passing was on the rest of their teammates.

One thing I've noticed about the Rockets summer league team is that when Royce starts making all of those highlight reel passes the rest of the team starts making the extra pass as well. Last nights game was the 2nd game in a row where the ball was just flying around the court for the Rockets making the opposition look like the Washington Generals playing against the Harlem Globetrotters. I think the effect Whites passing is having on his teammates is infectious and just makes the team so much better.

 

If you didn't see his post-game interview, have a look. He addressed this point directly. How some coaching and quick changes on his part changed his rebounding numbers in a flash. Good stuff.

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I agree and I'm fine with it. Jones is an excellent player, but he's the kind of guy Morey can find again. Lamb, D-Mo and White are all rarer types.

Jones kind of reminds me of a slightly bigger Rodney McCray. Great all-around player that you love to have, but not the type of guy you hang on to if there's a more important piece available.

 

any reason gary forbes is at the airport? (per twitter)

dont the rockets have a SL game today?

 

He may have been waved.

 

bummer

 

Okay I have a question.

Did the Rockets sign Terrence Jones?

I was just looking at the ESPN trade machine and under Terrence Jones it says that he is signed and we can't trade him until August 7th.

 

fixed.

 

actually Forbes was very solid...

I'll rather keep him than Machado and Fortson

Yes, I know we are stacked at his position, but still.

 

I saw that, too.

Is it true?

Leaves Lamb and Royce flapping on the clothesline for the Magic to grab.

 

Don't think so .. I tweeted him and he said ..

He didn't specify with Rockets but maybe they just want to get some looks at other guys in the last game ..

 

Jones just might turn out to be the best of the 3 ..