ClutchCity.Net Summer Pro League Report : Game 1 - Rockets 78, Lakers 98

Last year Dunleavy played timid, almost afraid to take a shot. He started to play more aggressive at the end of the season after the coaches told him to shoot more. He looks awesome so far this summer, passing, shooting AND defense. He will be a good one.

The Rockets ran 2-a-days for 5 days prior to last nights game against the Lakers. The way they ran the offense last night looked like they had never had a practice. The defense was not much better. Ok, so it was the Lakers 4th game, but you can tell the coaches are doing an excellent job when the players go out and run the plays that they practice and just play as a team in general.

The Rockets on the other hand looked very discombobulated.

 

I was at the game too. I was going to write a report but how in hell can I top the Dr.?
So I just want to comment on a few things that I took from watching the game.
1.) The Pyramid looks amazing. I am looking forward to watching some CSULB games next year in there.
2.) The game was sold out. Most people were Laker fans. But surprisingly alot of Rocket fans too. *there was a fight early on during the game between the fans, and I wonder if it was b/w Rockets and Lakers fans?
3.) Leon Smith was impressive. He has an NBA Body and is very athletic.
4.) Tito Maddox was horrible. Don't expect him to make the team.
5.) Our backup PG (dont remember his name) was impressive. He could really shoot the ball and did not turn the ball over everytime like Tito did.
6.) Nachbar played bad. Lets just hope he players better for the other games. *he kind of looks like S. Medvedenko from the Lakers.
7.) And lastly Malike Bediane was also very impressive especially in the second half. He seems to be very quick and has good size. He is easily 6 10 and I think he's a PF in the NBA. I like him to make the team next season but IMO he is a year away from contributing.

Overall the Rockets played very poorly. It was an imbarrising night to be a Rocket fan.
BTW I got to say HI and wave hands to Jeff Van Gundy and said "Good Job" to Malike after the game ended.

 

did you see that shot of JVG head in hands, looking through his fingers?

 

Hey Doc where are the pics you promised?

 

I never gave that excuse for Langhi. Actually, I never thought Langhi would amount to much in all honesty. I always thought people made more out of him than he was.

And, until you become the coach or start working for the team, any suggestion that Nachbar should be better than he was in his frist summer league game is IYO.

 

I think he is probably still at the Rockets/ Raptors game and may be adding to his collection of pics...

 

Nachbar was the 15th pick in the draft on a team that has/had immediate needs. If you cannot get a player that will atleast look like he is capable of getting some minutes if not break the 8 man rotation then you do not take him and draft some one who will, or trade the pick along with a player and get some one who will.

I was not impressed when they took him and judging by his play against a team that would get spanked by a Fonde Rec Center or Rucker Park Jr League, I am certainly not impressed with it now.

You take a "project" in the draft with a second round pick unless he shows signs of being special. Nachbar did not. The FIRST THING OUT OF MY MOUTH when I heard about this great shooting display he put on for the Rox was "what can he do in a game."

Shooting 20 shots from the 3pt line w/ Boylen passing you the ball and no defender in your face is a far cry from what a player will experience in the NBA.

 

Are you saying he shouldn't be better? Of course he should be better....he bettter be better. And dozens of us want to see it now. Nachbar is not Lance Armstrong holding back in the early races for the "real deal" legs...he needs to stop bricking the ball if he isn't going to play defense, and the dribble is disappointing.

btw, can I save that quote to use on you someday. Kinda has a nice all-purpose use to it to tell anyone at anytime that what they say cannot possibly be grounded in fact.

let me try:

Hey Clutch, until you become the coach or gm or start working as a scout, any rumor that Mobley should be traded is IYO.

hehe

Of course that's not true. Clutch has contacts, and he has his own eyes. And we have eyes. We can can spot players on the court. We don't need to be the coach to say Langhi was a star in summer league, but unsure and off target in regular season, and Nachbar was unsure and off target last season, just like this first game in summer league.

it is just scary. it is not what we want to see. He continues to disappoint.

this is no rookie. he's been playing pro ball for what? 3-4 years.

 

He is 23 years old still.

 

How old is his competition? He's not playing against Tracy McGrady.

 

After some thought, I edited my comments. Hence the excuse I threw together in a last ditch attempt to save my post. Guess it did not work!

 

I can think of a million reasons why Boki might have played like crap yesterday.

1- just flew in from Europe trip and didn't sleep for 24 hours before game
2- had a head cold and felt like crap
3- ate too much Mexican food before the game and had indegestion

What I don't buy is that Boki isn't motivated and that the summer league doesn't count. This summer league is Boki's chance at a clean slate. JVG couldn't watch tape of him from last year. The coaching staff doesn't know much about his potential.

His entire NBA career is hanging in the balance with this summer league!

Also, NBA player should have the ability to get a shot off in a summer league while they are surrounded by a bunch of scrubs. He should be draining threes and playing defense like a man who is trying to earn a roster spot! He should be scoring 20+ and playing decent defense if he wants to call himself an NBA quality European sharpshooter.

 

He shouldn't have raised the flag at Pancho's.

 

I was never able to get the fascination people on this bbs had with Nachbar. My only explanation is that it comes from some closeted homoerotic energy (same was happening with B.Drew). He is cute, but as a basketball player he is zero. He had one good year in Italy, where he averaged 12ppg and that's it. Just go to the posts from last year and you'll see ridiculous euphoria. Remember, the Bostjan "three party", the Boki-Pokey song, the "we don't need Rashard, Boki is better" threads, the "why play Rice and have Boki sit on the bench" discussions and so on and so on... It's ridiculous. Better admit that Rudy and CD screwed up and we'll have to put up with "pretty boy" on the payroll for two more years. I was rooting for Tayshawn or Kareem Rush and was really disappointed with the pick.

 

Luke had 8 points...Boki had 7...both on 33% shooting. Boki had 4 rebounds while Luke had 3. Boki and Luke each had one assist. Luke had one turnover and Boki had 3. Boki had 5 fouls while Walton only had 1...Walton also had a block and 4 steals. Bostjan still has hope...he must have been nervous and it is not organized. He needs to get a chance!