Curmudgeon wrote:Bender did not assert himself. He deferred to his teammates and there were a number of possessions in the two games I watched (including the first one) where he just spaced the floor. The Phoenix offense was all about Booker and Ulis going mano a mano. It was one pass and a shot. Booker was hot so they got away with it. But you are absolutely right that Bender knows how to play; I'd just like to see him more involved in the offense, especially as a passer.
As for Brown, it's not just the misses. His outside shot is terrible but he was supposed to get to the rim. In the Phoenix game Brown was stuffed or stripped EVERY time he took it to the rack. He couldn't even get his dunks off against the likes of Chriss and Williams. If he can't get a layup against Alan Williams, what's he going to do against Andre Drummond? I didn't like the pick, and I like it even less now.
Yes, I realize it's "just" Summer league. But as you point out, Summer league can reveal quite a bit about a player. In my view, Summer league success in no way guarantees NBA success, but Summer league failure usually results from serious underlying problems in a player's game that don't get solved overnight.
You were spot on with the Bender/Booker recap. I want to see how he plays without Booker today, he should have a LOT more opportunities.
I only watched Brown play one game, and even though he didn't finish, he was getting to the rim. D was good. I am pretty bullish on him.
