Summer League

[LongTimeFan]

So what have you seen or discerned?

The video is pretty tough and it sure helps to have a roster with the numbers. Here's a link to the stats to date.

http://www.nba.com/media/magic/bos_stats_070809.pdf

I think playing time per game is one of the most important measures, because it indicates who the coaches want to see and evaluate. Giddens is having a good summer league. Walker's injury is a minor set back.

Pruitt is doing pretty well and getting a lot of time at point. I've seen him make some very good passes and defensive plays. Lester wasn't getting the time when he was healthy, didn't do much when he did play and now he's injured. I think the chances Pruitt's option gets picked up have gone up a lot.

Swift is so out of shape.

I actually don't think points are a real measure of what the coach's are looking for. If we're looking for Giddens, Walker or Pruitt to score than we're in trouble. I think it is defense and floor play. What good things on the floor are they doing, how well are they defending. and how often are they messing up. It would nice to either have a defensive measure or be able to see the games.

I've come up with a ratio to (Reb+Ass+St+Blk)/TO per 48. This may overweight turnovers, but given the Celts turnover proclivity, I don't know. Walker comes out the highest, Pruitt close and Giddens the lowest of the three. Giddens makes a lot of turnovers. I think this reflects the time Pruitt and Walker have spent with the team. If Giddens moves down on the roster, I bet it is because of turnover.

[GuyClinch]

^^^ This punishes one on one guys who try to handle the ball which is especially common in SL. I am not saying its useless but it makes finishers like David Lee look like superstars. With turnovers you can get nailed for guys who don't catch the ball or anticipate the pass..

[ParticleMan]

That's because Giddens makes plays a lot with the ball. Pruitt handles, but mostly just brings it up the floor. Walker doesn't handle hardly at all.

That's a pretty unfair stat. We won't be asking any of these guys to be big-time playmakers for us anyways.

[LongTimeFan]

Well I did say playing time was the most important stat. Just trying to get a handle on how they are doing. It is hard to judge watching as I spend most of my time trying to figuire out whose on the floor and what they are doing. I'm working, the announcers are useless, and there are no replays.

I saw Pruitt make a great defensive play. He deflected a pass out of bounds, chased it down, and in mid air threw it off an opponent's ankle. The refs called it against us. It didn't show up at all. Lester looked pretty good on defense too.

Whatever. I think Pruitt's contract option is picked up.

[ParticleMan]

I think Giddens has done well. Mostly because he's the only guy who is consistently able to create shots for himself or others on the floor. This is the most rare trait in basketball, and why the stars are paid big money. Walker has done well but he's basically a complementary player. Pruitt has shown some creation ability off the dribble but he's been hit or miss. I liked Hudson in the short time he played. Swift has been a decent defensive presence inside; I think he is well ahead of Fazekas, who has shown very little except an occasional 3-ball.

I hope they keep all four guys and let them battle it out in TC, and maybe Swift too. one or two will be cut, which will cost us some cash, but i'd hate to give up on hudson right now. we also may be able to work someone into a trade to trim the roster.