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BasslineSpin.com August 1, 2007 ...Some
things crept by me the last couple weeks. For starters—the Nets waived Hassan Adams. I think he is a baller and I would
want him on my team. ...Next - the Houston Rockets signed Mike Harris. Readers of this space know that I
have been the biggest believer in Harris’ game. If I have poster children as
far as guys I like more than others seem to - the poster would include
Harris, Spencer Nelson, and Joe Forte. ...The Kevin Garnett deal
is like this… Boston gets one of the best players in the league and they
elevate to an Eastern Conference title contender. You know how I feel about
having ‘top-ten’ talent at a given position; it wins games. I would not have
done this deal if I were Minnesota even though they get two players I like in Al Jefferson, and Ryan Gomes. Plus—the T-Wolves receive a couple
first round draft picks. Jefferson rated as the eleventh best Power Forward
in our 2006-07 efficiency ratings. KG was fourth. ...Gerald Green—also in the deal—has all the
athletic talent in the world but has yet to put it together as a ’basketball
player’. ...The overlooked part of the deal is that Minnesota’s sophomore Craig Smith will be penciled in for bigger
minutes this year. Smith was effective in the low post as a rookie. If Sebastian Telfair could learn that all he NEEDS to do
is set up teammates - he could finally give the T-Wolves a real point guard. Randy Foye, and Troy Hudson are scorers at heart. ...In Utah - I
wonder if Ronnie Price isn’t
going to be looked at as a shooting guard. The Jazz have Deron Williams, Jason Hart (newly
signed), Dee Brown, and
now Price as possible point guards. ...I keep hearing the Kings are in the
market for a back up point guard. My radar would include Brevin Knight, Blake Stepp, Gerald Fitch, Anthony Roberson, Andre Barrett, Dontaye Draper, Pooh Jeter, Aaron Miles, and Earl Boykins. July 31, 2007 ...The
BasslineSpin.com
Las Vegas NBA Summer League Awards are here. July 24, 2007 ...A
busy stretch for me with my paying job related to auto racing has kept me
from blogging about hoops but I haven’t ignored basketball by any means. I
recorded on the DVR all the NBA sanctioned summer league games that were
televised. ...Quick thoughts relating to summer hoops on TV: Joel Meyers and Rick Kamla do a great job on the play-by-play
calls. Meyers is a basketball fan and a pro. It shows in each telecast. He
and Steve Jones (Snapper)
have excellent chemistry. ...Kamla has such a broad base of knowledge about
hoops that I learn something new each time he is behind the microphone.
...Everyone was saying that Kings draft pick Spencer Hawes “looked good” at Vegas. You know me -
I want proof. So I went to the boxscores. Not just of Hawes’ play but of
every player who logged more than 40 minutes in Vegas (the full stat audit
will be posted soon). I found that actually Hawes was horrible. His .277
efficiency rating for 166 minutes played was among the lowest of any big man
playing in Vegas. ...I was impressed by several individuals in the Summer
games. Rodney Stuckey—the
Pistons selection is a guard that gets to the free throw line. He can score
in a wide variety of ways. ...The Knicks had a trio of dudes that played at a
high level. Nate Robinson, Renaldo Balkman, and Demetris Nichols were outstanding during the Knicks
5-0 run at Vegas. Wilson Chandler -
another Knicks draftee was good as well as Randolph Morris, and Brian Greene. ...Philly’s Louis Williams showed an ability to get any shot he
wants. A Monta Ellis like
season could be forthcoming for Louis Williams. The Sixers draft pick Herbert Hill was solid. China’s Wang Zhi-Zhi looked great in the Finals of the
Chinese League—and he played well in Vegas too. His high skill level could
help an NBA team. ...Jose Juan Barea ran
the Dallas team to perfection. The Mavs 5-0 record was due mostly to Barea
and Brandon Bass. Bass
- we maintain - could be a big help to any team with his youth, athleticism,
and ‘suction-cup’ rebounding paws. Caleb Green also
played well in limited minutes. ...Von Wafer and Jelani McCoy stuck out to me on Denver’s roster.
McCoy really crashes the offensive glass. Lamond Murray was
solid as was unheralded Dontaye Draper. ...Toby Bailey was Golden State’s best summer player
after Kelenna Azubuike.
...Houston had a trio of summer stars in Aaron Brooks, Mike Harris, and Andre Emmett. If you read this space with any
regularity—you know I believe Harris should be in the NBA. The Rice grad is a
rebounding machine at guard. |