Game Three Recap

by Dave on Jul 11, 2007 11:06 PM PDT in News

I know people will be disappointed that our Summer League team appears to be circling the drain. From what I can discern nobody is more disappointed than the Blazers themselves, players and organization. But I can tell you two things:

It's not the end of the world.
We're going to win one of the weekend games. Book it.

Without the two big fellas in the middle this came was a contrast in styles from the previous two. We got up and down the court quickly and it helped our shooting and scoring immeasurably. I haven't checked to see where we ended up but we were over 50% shooting for most of the game. This also freed Sergio and Martell to do their thing. Sergio was active and for the most part purposeful with his passes. Martell got aggressive shooting. This freed up the middle for our big guys and their passes. Coventional wisdom says you establish the inside game and that frees up your outside guys. Sometimes it works in reverse. Tonight was such a night.

We led the game for most of the way but we got caught in the fourth quarter. Our offense shifted into the halfcourt with the defense set and that sunk us. We missed shots and turned the ball over for Laker fast breaks. They had enough juice with Farmar, Karl, and Crittenton to hold us at bay. Our transition defense, decent for three quarters, also fell apart in the fourth.

I think there are two themes for the evening. First we need to run a little to be successful. We'll need to do this with Aldridge and Oden in the game as well. They both will be quicker than most any of their counterparts. Up-tempo is a good plan for us. Second, both Sergio and Martell have game but they're overshadowed by the more celebrated players. I haven't seen them play this energetically and loose in forever. I suspect the big guys being out gave them permission to take over the game and shoot instead of always looking over their shoulder to see if they should have made a different play. The thing is, Lamarcus and G.O. are a much bigger part of our game plan than Sergio or Martell. So both players are going to have to learn to be aggressive in the context of the offense...when they're the third and fourth options on the floor and not the first and second. If they can't make that mental/emotional adjustment they won't be much good to us.

Individual Notes:

--For the most part Sergio's passes were dreamy tonight. He made one or two ill-advised tosses but really he did a reasonable job of keeping everyone in it. He also picked up his defensive intensity. In the first quarter he made a really nice play on the offensive end but then got burned like a campfire marshmallow by Javarais Crittenton on a simple give-and-go play. I thought at that point, "That's why we can't play you more." The next time that play came around, however, he was ready for it and he noticeably picked up his defensive intensity. I was impressed.

--Martell was directing traffic on the floor as well as shooting the lights out. He assumed a veteran role tonight. However he still didn't look happy. I don't know what's up but I'd give a lot to see him relaxed and enjoying himself on the court.

--Josh McRoberts turned in a very nice performance. He had a couple of spin moves that were stylish, he hit a couple shots, and he had some nice passes. He showed he had a little mustard in him tonight.

--Petteri Koponen looked better tonight than he has so far. He hit shots and got involved in plays. He still was hard to concentrate on though as he tended to blend.

--Speaking of blending, who the heck is this Mancinelli guy and what is he doing starting for our Summer League team?

--Zendon Hamilton scored a ton. It was an ugly ton, but it was a ton. It was nice to see a veteran knowing what to do out there.

Chins up, Blazer fans. There's always Saturday.

--Dave

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Mancinelli

...the second coming of Sergei Monia?

by jamon51 on Jul 11, 2007 11:22 PM PDT reply actions

I only watched the 2nd quarter

from that, I figured we would win walking away. I'm not terribly depressed with a loss though. Martell showed some fire and McRoberts looked pretty crafty out there on offense.

by JPop on Jul 12, 2007 1:00 AM PDT reply actions

Haven't watched this game yet--

But doing poorly in summer league is almost making me kinda happy. We always did wonderful in summer league before, with Telfair and friends owning everyone. I can't remember the records cause no one remembers summer league records, but we did good... and it translated to nothingness in the regular season.

So, logically, doing bad in summer league translates to WINNING in the real season!

Rolling over the competition in summer league woulda' been bad for us. ANYTHING that shows the guys that there is LOTS of work to do, a long way to go, that a dynasty won't be handed to us by having great drafts and getting lucky #1 is a good thing. They need that chip on their shoulder, the urge to PROVE themselves. You can't back your way into a championship, and anything that keeps the players on edge and motivating them to work work work is A-Okay by me.

It's not that I was really worried about our guys working hard before, but I could see that dominating in summer league leading to possible subconscious feelings of "being ready".

More importantly though, not winning every game in summer league helps temper expectations in the common fan... the ones who follow close enough to know summer league exists anyway. The talk of us having "the greatest summer league team ever" does more harm than good, placing so much importance on the OUTCOME of these games, when it is entirely about development and seeing what ya got. The last thing these games should do is MATTER, aside from having your young guys play with each other, learn the team setups, and try to give an idea of what they can do in the real League.

For example, Barea for Dallas is dominating every point guard he faces. The summer league is built for a quick guy like him. He probably won't ever do much of anything ever in the real NBA because he is too tiny and not THAT much quicker than real NBA pgs. Summer league does not matter.

Since the outcome of the games does not matter at all, it makes me wonder why a guy like Zendon Hamilton plays so much. Why doesn't Freeland or McRoberts get those minutes? Do we have some obligation to Zendon to give him minutes to help him make another club? Why does he even wanna play for our summer league team, aside from having a past relationship? If any team has no use for him, it's us.

I love watching Aldridge play, but he's on another level and doesn't need to show what he can do. ESPECIALLY if Oden is out, because the whole point of them playing is to give them game time to get used to each other, to form a bond. If it was only Aldridge out, Oden should play to gain experience, but with Oden out Aldridge doesn't need to play...

Since we're gonna have to make such tough roster decisions about Freeland, the Finnish Fellow, Taurean "Guaranteed 1st year contract even though he's a 2nd rounder" Green, Ime, etc blah blah, seeing at least a little of what McRoberts and Freeland can do seems to be one of the most important things.

Since Aldridge is relatively established, he shouldn't play. Not without Oden.

HUZZAH for losing! Please don't worry, nobody! The individual stuff and the big picture is all that matters! I feel bad for those who made the special trip to Vegas to see Oden and Aldridge (I nearly made the trip also), but I'm sure most would agree with what I'm saying.

I can still have fun watching Sergio, Webster, Freeland, and McRoberts hoop the basketball. I love watching Aldridge dominate, but it's like playing NBA 2k6 on the rookie setting. You can score 200 points, but what good does it do?

Summer league glory is for bad teams. But I still love it. I am a nerd who can't wait for training camp!

Mortimer

by Mortimer on Jul 12, 2007 3:54 AM PDT reply actions

Agree

I think I'll just start attaching my name to Mortimer's posts. He almost always says what I'm thinking.

Your theory above reminds me of the Calvin & Hobbes joke: Calvin says to Hobbes, "You know how Einstein got bad grades as a kid? Well, mine are even WORSE!"

by jamon51 on Jul 12, 2007 11:06 AM PDT up reply actions

Funny, isn't it

how we come to "know" people who we often agree with. I feel the same way about Mortimer - why, he even babbles on like I do. (I even wondered if he was female at first, you know, Jane Mortimer.) (You are also on my list of like thinkers.)

by jorga on Jul 12, 2007 2:30 PM PDT up reply actions

I'm honored!

I still find it awesome when women are Blazer fans. My wife isn't much of a Blazer fan although she does attend games with me sometimes. And listens with half an ear as I babble on about them to her.

by jamon51 on Jul 12, 2007 3:11 PM PDT up reply actions

I'm honored!

I still find it awesome when women are Blazer fans. My wife isn't much of a Blazer fan although she does attend games with me sometimes. And listens with half an ear as I babble on about them to her.

by jamon51 on Jul 12, 2007 3:21 PM PDT up reply actions

Gahhh

double post, please delete Dave.

by jamon51 on Jul 12, 2007 3:21 PM PDT up reply actions

don't delete Dave!

we still need him to write stuff about summer league!

by abdelnaby on Jul 12, 2007 5:08 PM PDT up reply actions

I agree with you on this

I'm sure the blazer comments were excitement, but they also lead to a let down due to failure to win.

I've been wondering why Aldridge has continued to play as well. Possibly to see what he can do and how he's matured? Still, there are other people that need playing time and to be looked at.

Hard work beats talent when talent fails to work hard.

by ratbastird on Jul 12, 2007 11:55 AM PDT up reply actions

Shooting the Lights Out?

Webster shot 6 of 13. I don't believe that constitutes shooting the light out.

by Renegade on Jul 12, 2007 6:40 AM PDT reply actions

It does

when that percentage was weighed down by some misses in the fourth quarter. For most of the game he was shooting very well.

--Dave

by Dave on Jul 12, 2007 10:32 AM PDT up reply actions

Lights out

might be a bit of hyperbole, but Webster definitely looked like a different player out there. He was active off the ball, using screens to shoot in motion, instead of just spotting up and waiting for a shot to be handed to him. Well, until the fourth, when he stopped moving around and just started spotting up again.

by howlingfantods on Jul 12, 2007 10:52 AM PDT up reply actions

About Martell...

He played well in this game as a primary option on offense (like in H.S.), but not in the first two games where he was a 3rd or 4th option. I bet Martell's adjustment is that huge shift in roles. He was probably the primary option all the time until joining the NBA. I think he's still trying to learn how to play without the ball...and still be significant. That's not an easy thing to learn or teach.

Trout is probably having much the same experience. After three years we're still not sure about him. BUt make him a primary option like the end of last season, and Trout was a stud.

Food for thought.

by NWfan on Jul 12, 2007 5:56 PM PDT up reply actions

LOL about Mancinelli

because I asked the very same question as the game began last night. He never seems to do much and I've never heard Wheeler or Harvey even mention him except when he has the ball (which isn't even very often.)

Perhaps he has "connections" and the Blazers were told to play him, "or we'll break Oden's knees."

Or maybe we're auditioning him for some other team - part of a draft day trade, "OK, we'll draft so and so for you, but you've got to showcase Mancinelli in summer league for us."

by jorga on Jul 12, 2007 6:42 AM PDT reply actions

Crittendon scored 26 pts and Farmar had 17...

I didn't catch the first part of this game, and once I did I turned it off quickly because the audio was so awful. But who was guarding those guys? If it was Sergio, I question his 'defensive intensity'

by leeroyjenkins on Jul 12, 2007 6:52 AM PDT reply actions

I want to change my vote

Are we going to get to vote again on our favorite non-lamoden players? I've changed my mind. Of course I may change it again with each game, but that's what summer league is for - give these guys the spotlight and see what they can do.

by jorga on Jul 12, 2007 7:02 AM PDT reply actions

The big guys and Sergio

I feel like the main thing holding Sergio back isn't his defense (face it--Jack isn't a good defender either). It's his inability to run the half-court set and get the big guys the ball effectively. That was what earned Jack his playing time last year--being able to feed Zach the ball where he needed it. It's really too bad that Oden and Aldridge got shut down, because I would like to see Sergio able to get some playing time with the big guys and learn how to settle down in the half-court set. If he could demonstrate that ability, then I think he would be our PG.

by HarryManback on Jul 12, 2007 7:10 AM PDT reply actions

Somebody's got to play perimeter defense

Or Oden will foul out of 40 games next season.

by leeroyjenkins on Jul 12, 2007 8:08 AM PDT reply actions

And never play in a second

or fourth quarter while doing so.

by ojala on Jul 12, 2007 8:28 AM PDT up reply actions

Lost in the shuffle about how bad Zach's D was

Is that Portland has probably one of the worst defensive perimeters in the league. Other than Ime, who it is looking more and more won't be back, there isn't a lock-down - or even an above average one among them.

I don't have anything other than a gut feeling to base this on, but I don't think Sergio is ever going to be a very good defender. First the guy is really small and slight of build. And second, if you watch closely when he's on d, you can just see his mind wandering to what he's going to do once he gets that ball back. Maybe Nate will work a miracle, but that's what it's gonna take.

I don't get why Martell isn't a better defender. He's somewhat bulky, he's quick, he can jump. wtf?

by leeroyjenkins on Jul 12, 2007 10:05 AM PDT up reply actions

Roy will be...

at least a well above average defender, maybe a lock down defender. He was pretty decent last year and he was only a rookie.

by jksnake99 on Jul 12, 2007 10:13 AM PDT up reply actions

Yeah how could I forget about Roy, wow

Ok so one good defenfer atm

by leeroyjenkins on Jul 12, 2007 10:34 AM PDT up reply actions

defenDer

Something about this site brings out my spelling/grammar demons.

by leeroyjenkins on Jul 12, 2007 10:37 AM PDT up reply actions

James Jones

...is reputed to be a decent perimeter defender.

by jamon51 on Jul 12, 2007 11:07 AM PDT up reply actions

If he's a good defender and a good shooter

Sounds like he kinda replaces Ime.

by leeroyjenkins on Jul 12, 2007 3:22 PM PDT up reply actions

Why can't we have three or four Ime/JJones types?

by ojala on Jul 12, 2007 10:48 PM PDT up reply actions

no instincts?

I'm also not sure why Martell isn't a better one-on-one defender. He's had some decent moments of team D over summer league, making some good traps that lead to steals. His on the ball D is still poor, though. And it's not a good sign for the team that "acceptable" team perimeter D stands out.

Maybe he just can't quite keep up with the quicker 2 guards of summer league? Not sure if he needs to learn more veteran tricks to keep up with them, or if he just needs to admit that he's a 3 and learn to guard the bigger but slightly slower SFs of the league.

by abdelnaby on Jul 12, 2007 10:19 AM PDT up reply actions

I think

that JJ will grow when surrounded by good defenders, and I'm hoping that JJones gets the bulk of minutes at 3 until one of the triplets Trout, Web and Miles) beats him out on the more important end of the court.

Webster playing 2 on defense reminds me of all the reasons that Frye and LMA won't play 3.

Please dear KP, bring bach Ime so we have three guards who can play at the pro level now; JJ and Roy start, Ime rotates in the rest JJ with BRoy shifting to PG, then a fresh JJ returns to rest Roy. All three play big minutes and all three are strong for the playoff run. The kiddie corps in the backcourt, Sergio, Rudy, Kopenen and TGreen continue to enjoy the love all communities give to their second string QB- while dominating in meaningless minutes.

And Bigs earn their own fouls, not cheap slasher fouls from bad guard defense.

by ojala on Jul 12, 2007 1:05 PM PDT up reply actions

I think JJ's got the tools to be a decent defender

But it seems like he lacks the killer instinct. Like he'll get burned a time or two then pout, rather than get pissed and make sure it doesn't happen again. This will be his third year, I'd like to see a little more swagger.

by leeroyjenkins on Jul 12, 2007 3:21 PM PDT up reply actions

Need to push the tempo more

I don't know if it was the result of using Zendon Hamilton, he reminds me of a Jamaal Magloire without the blazing speed, but it seemed that the guards weren't being aggressive enough. Sergio made a very nice playing slowing it down and finding McRoberts for a lay-in but for the most part he looked really on tonight with his court vision and passing. McRoberts looked impressive, and I would think he definitely makes the team next year. Kopponen looks like he has loads of potential, and he's only 19 and has been playing euro ball so that defense will improve. I wouldn't be shocked if he's kept as the #3 pg instead of Green, whom I don't think is all that great. Maybe somebody will tell Martell that he's supposed to be the man out there, and I wouldn't mind if he took 30 shots and attacked the basket like it killed his grandmother. Javaris Crittendon meanwhile is a rare player, this guy is fun to watch and I think he'll see a good amount of playing time with the PG light Lakers, even if they do get D.Fish.

by morescrillaigots on Jul 12, 2007 9:10 AM PDT reply actions