Summer league or no summer league, after watching Brooks play a few games and laying skills aside, the kid has FIRE. You can't acquire FIRE, you either have FIRE or you don't.
There is a world of difference between Lucas and Brooks. For one, Lucas already was coming off his first NBA season that included a full training camp, more than handful of preseason and regular season games, plus 35 games worth of DL play. Now, compare that with breaks. This is his first time playing with the NBA three-point line, his first time playing with a 24-second shot clock, and his first time against more experienced NBA players. Given all of that, he is still on pace to equal Lucas' statistics. For another, while Lucas ate everyone up last year off the pick and roll, Brooks has shown me a ton more in different areas. He has displayed better shooting range, better speed in the open court, and a greater ability to create for others in the half-court sets. He isn't as good of a finisher around the basket or from mid-dange as Lucas was last year, but he has shown more than Lucas and he has done it fresh off the college boat. Now, I don't expect much out of Brooks this year at all. He will struggle defensively against bigger, more physical ones, and he will invariably go through the rookie struggles adjusting to life on the road, limited minutes, and intimidating competition, but the kid has great tools that will be on display soon enough. If not this season, Brooks certainly proves that Alston's slot will be taken a year from now.
I'm somewhat with you that this Brooks love-fest is somewhat premature, but there is a single reason why JL3 went 5 and 0 in summer league last year. Chuck Hayes was on the team, and he was much, much better than anyone that the Rockets have put on the floor this year. He had a 19-rebound game against Dallas in Vegas last year.
That doesn't speak well of Landry, Eliyahu, Harris, Novak, Newly or any of the rest of our second rounders and UFA's. I kind of agree though, Chuck brings it EVERY minute. I thought Novak looked a little better tonight but still not great.
You statement was wrong from the beginning. JL3 measured an inch shorter and 5 lbs lighter than Brooks measured at their respective predraft camps. Brooks even has 2 inch longer standing reach. Get your facts straight. And Brooks will be the better NBA player.
1. okierock you said you watched the games but disagree that Brooks got a block? A: They replayed the block 6 times in that game, and talked about ti for atleast 10 minutes, not to mention they replayed it tonight aswell 2. okierock talkin about stats and Lucas and so fourth.. A: Have you watched the games like you said? So many crisp passing flying off the chests of the likes of landry.. If I recall last year Lucas had some players.. if I recall Hayes it known for his tangible pass catch lay-up. No diss to Lucas but if you watched him last year they werent even crisp passes, he was no leader he was selfish in my mind I don't care if Lucas got 7.whatever assists, I will continue to denie that he was a leader, he was selfish.. always trying to get his shots off. He was very energitic and tried hard but Brooks shows integrity and willpower.. He is calm aswell and does everything good, he's an all-around POINT GUARD BTW this season will not tell, because mark my words, Lucas isn't ganna be suiting up for that first game. Brooks can suck this year and pull better #'s then Lucas pulled last year anyways but I have full faith he won't suck. anyways thats my 10cents
I watched the game against Dallas on nba.com and I really don't see why people are so critical of Novak. His shot didn't fall that day, but I think he really improved in other aspects of the game. It seemed to me like he and Brooks had really great chemistry, too. I expect Novak to be a contributor this year.
Please folks, do not over rate the Summer League. Performances mean exactly nothing. Hate on JL3 all you want and make excuses for everything, but he was still the best player last year. Like Brooks, JL3 scored at will, penetrated at ease and ran the offense well (less TOs than Brooks). His jumper was dropping as well. People even said his play was similar to how Steve Nash played. They didn't go 5-0 for nothing. Yes, Brooks looks like he has some serious game but I'll wait till I see him do that against real NBA competition. As a great Vagina-Span would say, JL3 was Iverson in the Summer League.
JL3 also had the benefit of training with his dad quite often. i don't think brooks's nerves will get the better of him as JL3's did in NBA games.
I agree on Brooks. He looks like he knows how to run a half-court offense. That was the problem with JL3- although he could score he couldn't really navigate the PG position as well.
I agree with you for the most part. Brooks might not be the second-coming of AI but he is better than JLIII. Most of his TOs were phantom calls but I think the pass to Landry was his fault. Landry was postin up all game long and nobody was throwin to him, including Brooks. I can understand why he turned away to go screen for someone else.
Hayes is a good rebounder, but I think you have to look at the fact that Landry, Eliyahu, and Harris can all rebound. Who else on the JLIII-Hayes team could rebound the ball at a high level? And I wouldn't necessarily say that Hayes is better than anyone they have put on the floor this year...I would say he's a better rebounder, but that's about it.
How can you ask someone if they've watched the games and then make a statement like "passes flying off the chests of the likes of landry.." I bet you couldn't show me one play in any of these games where a pass bounces off Landry's chest. If you can, let me know which game and what time during the game it happens. Don't diss someone about whether they watched the games or not and then make a statement that makes it look like you didn't watch the games.
Hayes is certainly better than anyone in the Rockets' Summer League this year. He's much stronger, he's a much better defender, he's a better passer than any post player, he has higher basketball IQ. The Rockets were a top 5 team with him as their starting PF last year. Even with much more talent at his position, he's an NBA-level rotation player. The players this year are fighting for the last five spots on the bench.
You've gotta be kidding me. Hayes can barely score the ball if he's on a court by himself. I'll give that he's a good rebounder and gives great effort but that's about it. I really really like Hayes, but he's not gonna be the starter at PF for long.
From my standpoint, the issue with Novak comes down to three things: 1 Not looking lost on offense 2 Not looking lost on defense 3 Hitting open shots when he has them. 1 & 2 He still looks lost at times on both ends of the court but you can blame that on a new system being implemented. Still, players like Brooks, Landy & Harris seem to know where they belong and I rarely see them wander around with no purpose. In these 4 games, I've seen Novak do that a lot on offense 3 Novak's shooting must become more than a circus act. We all know what he CAN do. But it seems like in game situations he tightens up and loses his stroke, especially when he's exerting himself and gets a little tired. What was encouraging about yesterday's game is he drilled the three 3s in the 3rd quarter after working up a sweat.
I agree on the Novak-Brooks chemistry. To me it looked like when those two were in the game together we were making runs and scoring much more easily. A lot of that seemed to come from Brooks trusting Novak with the ball and Novak making good desisions. Opposed to people like Mcfarlin (who I really hoped would play well) making a bonehead play every time he touched the ball.
