nba.com Rick Kalma Blog has high praise for Brooks tonight

Lucas was playing in his, what, 3rd summer league? Did he dominate before then? If so, then maybe we can compare, but if not, then I'd say Brooks is ahead of the game.

 

From watching the games, Brooks is a different player than JL3 was last summer. JL3 was all about getting his shots and making them. I don't remember how many assists he got, but he was no playmaker. Instead he was the focal point of the offense, which is what he will NEVER be in the NBA. When it came time to be a PG with the Rockets in real NBA games, JL3 ended up being a very short, very fast SG who played terrible defense. If he didn't shoot the ball and hit, he was a zero on the floor because he couldn't contribute any other way. One-dimensional.

Brooks, on the other hand, was a playmaker out there tonight, something JL3 showed none of last summer. He clearly understood his first duty was to run the offense and get shots for other players. He also has the ability to attack the basket, finish & draw fouls and dish to the open man, something I don't remember JL3 doing last summer. Brooks made several passes that prove he has court vision and the ability to see plays develop before they happen. Didn't see that last summer from JL3. On the negative, Brooks was raggedy and careless at times and made some poor decisions on occassion with the ball. But it's only his 2nd game at this level of competition and it was a big step up from the first game.

Bottom line, what Brooks did tonight he can do in the NBA. What JL3 did last summer, which was dominate the ball and be the focal point of the offense, cannot translate in the NBA because he isn't a good enough player. A better comparison would be to say Brooks could be a Rafer that can shoot better, finish better and is quicker. In other words, leave him open and you are dead meat. Guard him and he will create a shot for someone else.

 

Rick Kamla was praising everyone and everything in the game, and life in general. Cuz he's that type of guy

 

yup he's #1 in assists (7.5 apg) and #4 in ppg (24 ppg)

 

Not to rain on the Brooks parade, but he did have 9 TOs tonight. But now that I think about it, he had some sweet ass passes that Ron Lewis f'd up.

By the way, who the hell is Ron Lewis and McFarlin? Looked like 2 rejects tonight.

And that Australian Noodles bum needs to go back Down Under and get a vegemite sandwich because his game sucks.

 

This guy is growing by the game, by the end of the season he'll be taller than Yao. i need to know what he is drinking, eating or taking.

 

I go to Oregon and have watched brooks play the last 3 years. It was great to watch the last two games because it felt just like watching him this past season because he looked great out there. He had some errant turnovers, but he will improve. He has missed quite a few of his shots after he beats the defender and cuts to the hoop... don't worry he normally makes those. I had the pleasure of having my butt handed to me by Brooks at the rec center a few months ago. Right after the season ended he and some other members of the oregon bball team would come in and play with the other students. I'm glad to see that you guys all seem to see that he has a lot of potential and that he CAN play at this level. I was surprised to see him go this high, but I know he will prove himself.

He thought about transferring at the end of last year because his girlfriend just had a baby, instead he made the best decision of his life and took the pac-10 by storm and proved that he was an NBA player, which he clearly wasn't a year ago.

and the loudest I have EVER heard Mac Court was when Brooks dunked vs. Washington this year. You know at a heated college game after there is a big play there is an initial eruption of jumping and screaming? Well that period honestly lasted for over a minute. It was kind of extra special for the students because Brooks looked back and then dunk with Ryan Appleby chasing behind him and the students really don't like Appleby. After the game Brooks said he has never thrown down a 2 handed dunk in a game... After I played against him he was throwing the ball off the backboard and dunking it, he is no Nate Robinson, but he can get up.

Sorry to rant on, but Brooks's play so far has got me excited.


I plan on chiming in on this forum every once in a while, but my team is the blazers... however, I now have a reason to cheer for the rockets.

 

there are assists, and there are assists.

10 Apg from Steven Nash is not the same 10 apg from Stephon Marbury

 

this scenario seems eerily familiar 2 jl3...
he had heaps of assists in summer league but i don't think i even saw him actually pass the ball in actual games...

 

there's getting assists by running the offense and creating, and then there's getting assists by happening to pass it to the guy that ends up making it. i think JL3 had the "garbage-time" mentality everytime he got playing time...meaning, he'd look for every opportunity to rack up stats in his short amount of time, trying to impress JVG so he could get more time...which led to bad shots, and forced passes...

it seems that the best comparisons for Brooks would be as a poor man's T.J. Ford...small, quick, pass-first PG prone to big TO nights from time to time...except Brooks comes in with a rep as a good shooter.

 

Realistically, what kind of impact do you see Brooks making this year?

I like Brooks a lot, but we already have Alston, James, and Head who have legit NBA experience....IMO with the addition of Brooks there is absolutely no need for Alston on this team...What are we going to do?

 

Welcome aboard!

 

I love Brooks so far, but to think he's ready to step into the rotation from day 1 is wishful thinking. We can start out the year with a Rafer/MJ combo (whichever is the starter) and that will be that. Hopefully, Brooks will be able to work his way into the rotation and gives us meaningful minutes. Next season, he could be a full rotation player of 15-25 minutes per game.

Even if all that comes true, we need Rafer to split minutes with MJ as Brooks adjusts to playing real NBA games. It's going to take him a while. Dumping Rafer (unless it's for a solid PF or C) during the summer would not be a good idea.

 

I seem to recall Lucas getting more assists last year?

Anyway, I'm guessing Brooks will maybe avg 10-15 mins per game. I don't think half of his current passes will cut it, ie might get deflected or just not into hands. Also might need to be more efficient with his scoring, playing less minutes, his misses will be magnified.

 

I think Brooks will crack the rotation, probably taking Heads minutes

Anyways I think Brooks can be Adelmans new Bibby. Greatplaymaker, fast, and can score, awesome ball handling skills. Infact, Adelmans HAND SELECTED Brooks so I fully expect Brooks to crack the rotation some point thus year

Adelmans lived in Oregon and followed Brooks and let Morey know that-thats the guy he wanted in the draft.

 

Nice game nice effort nice vision Brooks! I was a doubter but I see that this pick was solid. I know he's got alot to learn but MAN Lil AB can flat out play the game!!!!!!!!!!!

 

I saw the game and Brooks was the best player on the court by far. Some of the Mav's bigs had good post up games but the amount of fouls being called was rediculous. Harris had a perfect shooting night - great heart and hustle on the offensive glass. I think he's Hayes with a better shot and more athleticism. Back to Brooks though, he's as quick as anyone in this league and will be great for defending Nash, Parker, and TJ Ford. I don't think he can handle Deron Williams but he'd definitely make him work on defense.

His court awareness and passing was crisp, especially a couple of passes out of nowhere to Novak (Novak has a nice shot but that's about it, i'm not too impressed with him). Brooks one problem was sometimes he was a little out of control which led to turnovers. Going too fast for hisi own good, but otherwise it was great to see.

The rest of the Rockets are a bunch of scrubs. I'm a Red Raider so it was pretty sweet to see 'dre Emmett in the game. He was pretty solid too but has slim to no chance of making it on the roster. Landry should go to the D-League to get some more seasoning, especially now that we got Scola.