Summer League: Vegas baby, vegas.

[ImNotMcDiSwear]

Excluding Mike James's 4/5 from 3, we were 3/25 from 3FG tonight. Yeesh.

I don't expect to win many basketball games this year.

[LukasBMW]

For second year guys with NBA minutes and high ceilings, I expected a lot more from Chriss and Bender.

Jackson does look like he's the best player on our team, but I'd still trade that 4th pick we used to select him and Chriss for KP.

I wonder if that deal was really on the table.

I'm seriously going to lose patience with Chriss fast if he stops improving only due to lack of effort. WTF?

[RaisingArizona]

+3 Jackson
+2 James
+1 Watson

-3 Chriss
-2 Bender
-1 Us

[bwgood77]

good case of two people watching the same thing but seeing different things

the reason I'm excited about Dragan is because he projects as a pretty good defender to me; I value his defensive agility(and switchability) a lot. He did an okay job defending the perimeter on Friday, and he fared really well in the post too. He can't stay in front of DSJ today, but then again, few in this league can.

Even if his offensive game never progresses(which would be a real shame, but I think it's highly unlikely considering he's still a teenager), Bender looks like a guy who slide into any rotation and make a positive contribution

Suns were better offensively and defensively this past year when he was on the court per Sam Vecenie. He's still super raw but is a high iq player. You can see even in this game he has the best +/-, and a huge gap between him and a couple of guys. He's just more of a glue guy but those who like the flashiness are likely prone not to see it.

That was the scouting report on him before he entered the league, but I don't see it at all. He has terrible shot selection and tries to make stupid passes all the time.

Well I see it, as do others. Most of the 3s he shoots are wide open threes. I agree he should attempt fewer of them, but for whatever reason, that was the role they put him in. I think he makes smart passes at times. Sure he makes his share of mistakes, as do most players his age. He's still raw. It's just far too early to pass too much judgement on any of these guys that are 21 or younger yet.

[bwgood77]

For second year guys with NBA minutes and high ceilings, I expected a lot more from Chriss and Bender.

Jackson does look like he's the best player on our team, but I'd still trade that 4th pick we used to select him and Chriss for KP.

I wonder if that deal was really on the table.

I'm seriously going to lose patience with Chriss fast if he stops improving only due to lack of effort. WTF?

It is really disappointing for a guy that started for most of the year in the NBA to look like this in summer league.

[JMac1]

SL team ran through Tatum, ran through Fox, ran through Ball, ran through DSJ, Suns are ran through Chriss.....

JJ doesn't have a J yet, lol, what people should have expected. He can't shoot, but he has had

15 and 10
18 and 8

Can't wait until the season starts and he is playing off of Booker instead of sorry ass Chriss. Those other guys won't have the luxury of going one on one vs scrubs.....but Josh will have the luxury and skill to play of off NBA players, then we will see.....can't wait until the SL song changes when the real basketball begins.

[bwgood77]

SL team ran through Tatum, ran through Fox, ran through Ball, ran through DSJ, Suns are ran through Chriss.....

JJ doesn't have a J yet, lol, what people should have expected. He can't shoot, but he has had

15 and 10
18 and 8

Can't wait until the season starts and he is playing off of Booker instead of sorry ass Chriss. Those other guys won't have the luxury of going one on one vs scrubs.....but Josh will have the luxury and skill to play of off NBA players, then we will see.....can't wait until the SL song changes when the real basketball begins.

I don't know what's up with Chriss. Didn't he say he only took 4 days off and wanted to be in basketball shape early?

[nashrambler13]

Man, that was brutal.

Some thoughts:

On Mike James: His scoring is impressive, but the dude is a vet who probably should be able to feast on the haphazard nature of summer league basketball-- I really wish we could've had Ulis out there, I think the whole team would look loads better. Don't get me wrong, he was our best player today, it's just frustrating to imagine Tyler making all the right passes.

On Reed: Obviously a terrible shooting game, but he probably won't be doing anything but shooting open-ish shots if he's going to be getting playing time-- summer league games are SO cramped and frustrating to play in.

On Chriss: My god. I know initially we were all excited about the weight gain, but I actually am worried about it. His mobility seems greatly hampered, and I am saddened at Chriss' performance all around. I thought that having played against NBA competition so much he'd be better. It's been said, but the turnovers were infuriating-- he just has so little poise. I know +/- is a little stupid, but comparing his -17 to Dragan's -1 was striking to me.

On Bender: I am absolutely a Dragan apologist, and he by no means played very well, but I will say this: summer league is a very very bad setting for him. I see some complaints about his shot selection and I agree it has been rough, but I do think that he is being told "BE AGGRESSIVE BE AGGRESSIVE BE AGGRESSIVE" and he feels he has to shoot those shots. I am not afraid of him making those decisions during NBA games. He is a second year player, but he should be treated with a little more leeway I believe. He still does not have that much NBA experience and is surely being asked to do WAY too much. His performance was not encouraging though.

On Jackson: This dude hits the weirdest looking shots, it's very confusing. Seemingly it is touch, but wow. I'm surprised by some of his defense-- he didn't seem fully engaged on some possessions (although maybe his sagging off was strategic). Still, not bad at all, the rebounding was awesome and he really does do a lot of things (some killer passes, 2 steals, 1 block). Hopefully he gets locked in a gym somewhere and isn't let out until he can shoot though.

On all of Bender/Jackson/Chriss: Like I mentioned with James, these three would look WAY better with Ulis out there. I still believe they can all be really good complimentary players even this year, but they are not anywhere near ready to be the focal point of any offense.

[jredsaz]

Anyone got a link to watch the game on demand? My DVR didn't work

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[MrMiyagi]

I think it's time to change things up at the guard position. I don't think Mike James is doing this squad any favors. Very unimpressed with what I've seen of him so far.

[JMac1]

SL team ran through Tatum, ran through Fox, ran through Ball, ran through DSJ, Suns are ran through Chriss.....

JJ doesn't have a J yet, lol, what people should have expected. He can't shoot, but he has had

15 and 10
18 and 8

Can't wait until the season starts and he is playing off of Booker instead of sorry ass Chriss. Those other guys won't have the luxury of going one on one vs scrubs.....but Josh will have the luxury and skill to play of off NBA players, then we will see.....can't wait until the SL song changes when the real basketball begins.

I don't know what's up with Chriss. Didn't he say he only took 4 days off and wanted to be in basketball shape early?

His on court affect is worrisome.

[JMac1]

I think it's time to change things up at the guard position. I don't think Mike James is doing this squad any favors. Very unimpressed with what I've seen of him so far.

His style of play doesn't create ball movement. He looks like B Knight out there.

[bwgood77]

Anyone got a link to watch the game on demand? My DVR didn't work

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The last one went up on YouTube not long after.

[bwgood77]

I think it's time to change things up at the guard position. I don't think Mike James is doing this squad any favors. Very unimpressed with what I've seen of him so far.

His style of play doesn't create ball movement. He looks like B Knight out there.

Those are the types of guards McD likes to sign or trade for.

[WeekapaugGroove]

McD better hope jackson is good because smith and fox look like they have the tallent to get him fired for passing on them. Chriss and bender playing better come regular season could also go a long ways for his chances of being the gm next year.

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[Cutter]

It's still early with plenty of time for him to find and display good character, but Chriss is heading down the path to become the player hated most on this is board. Looks like he doesn't care, bitches and complains, half-assed effort, looks out of shape. Watson has his work cut out for him. Again, still early in his career and he is very young, but still........

[Jdiddy701]

Lol you guys are funny, two games of SUMMER LEAGUE and the complaining is at an all time high.

Gonna be a long season.

Not surprised with Mike James, I was shocked he didn't get picked up two years ago by an NBA team. I think he's a decent back up in the league. Bender, Chriss and Jackson all need a lot of time. Reed seems the most ready out the 4.


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[Jdiddy701]

The good thing: if we lose games, we will be a low seed team in the tournament and possibly have more games.


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[jcsunsfan]

Lol you guys are funny, two games of SUMMER LEAGUE and the complaining is at an all time high.

Gonna be a long season.

Not surprised with Mike James, I was shocked he didn't get picked up two years ago by an NBA team. I think he's a decent back up in the league. Bender, Chriss and Jackson all need a lot of time. Reed seems the most ready out the 4.


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Um. So what is the point of this? Chriss should be playing much better. He looks horrible and against BAD competition. This isn't complaining. Its evaluation and its legit.

[ATTL]

Most of chriss' scoring during thr year came from playing off our lead guards. With poor guard play he struggles.

I think JJ will be a good role player this year with flashes of being much better. I think 12/5/2 isn't outside the realm of possibilities for him.

Not expecting many wins this season, especially seeing how little growth our 2nd year guys have shown.