SB Nation - James Johnson

Wake in the Pros: Rookies Jeff Teague and James Johnson

MRickman84 — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 17:54:22 -0000

More photos » by Gary Malerba - AP

We're almost a quarter of the way through the NBA season, so it's time to take a look at how Demon Deacon first round picks Jeff Teague and James Johnson have been playing thus far...

Jeff Teague
8.9 mpg, 2.9 ppg, 1.6 ast, .9 reb, .4 to

33% FG, 90% FT, 30% 3PT

13.0 pts/40 min, 4.5 reb/40, 7.0 ast/40, 40.4 true shooting%, 27.9 ast%, 8.0 to%, 6.4 reb%

11.05 PER

James Johnson
9.6 mpg, 3.4 ppg, .2 ast, 1.7 reb, .6 to

35% FG, 83% FT, 22% 3PT

14.1 pts/40, 7.0 reb/40, 1.0 ast/40, 42.9 true shooting%, 4.8 ast%, 12.8 to%, 9.8 reb%

7.02 PER

As a benchmark:

Lebron James (led league in PER last year)

29.8 pts/40, 7.4 reb/40, 8.8 ast/40, 61 true shooting%, 23.6 ast%, 10.6 to%, 11 reb%

30.02 PER

So we have a lot of stats here. All of this is from the Hollinger ratings and PER, the most important stat, is a calculation of all the players' metrics and ends up being his efficiency rating. The average NBA player's efficency rating is 15. For this discussion, it also important to note that the top 5 rookies in PER are Tyreke Evans (1), James Harden (2), DeJuan Blair (3), Ty Lawson (4) and Brandon Jennings (5). All five are have efficiency ratings about 17. The eligible rookie average (at least 6 mpg) is 12.72.

Now, it's not fair to compare Teague and Johnson to Lebron, I know that. I was just using Lebron's stats as a way to understand the metrics better. Stats per 40 is always an interesting stat to use, as it projects what a player's contribution would theoretically be if he played the whole game. This has been especially useful in players like Paul Millsap and Anderson Varejao, who posted huge per 40 #s off the bench in the past.

Both Teague and Johnson are early on in their development and are not asked to play a large contributing role (both at under 10 mpg). This is a combination of two things--1.) there is depth at their positions and 2.) they are not ready to shoulder the load. Both players have a lot to learn about the NBA game.

For Teague, he is learning a position that he is not used to playing. In college, it was easy to see that Teague was not a true point guard. He was far from it. His TO rate was extremely high and he seemed content to slash with the ball in his hands rather than make plays for his teammates. By the same token, Teague wasn't exactly a prototypical SG either. He looked bored without the ball and did not seem involved in the offense (although how much of that was a product of the Wake offense is not really measurable).

So, in trying to learn a new position, Teague has two very strong players ahead of him in Jamal Crawford and Mike Bibby. If he can't get something out of those two, he might not get it at all. And he seems to have taken heed. He is following Bibby's practice routines now.

Teague's numbers average out to be pretty decent per 40, but he has a glaring weakness right now and that is his shooting percentage. This has been a problem for him, especially lately. There's a built-in excuse that he isn't on the floor long enough to get his rhythm, but when he is on the floor, he is dominating the possessions. (He is 11th among rookies in usage rate). His saving grace has been his TO rate--he is ranked 5th in the rookie class.

There is no question that Teague has the ability to shoot--he was absolutely on fire last season, so I don't see that being a problem long-term. But Jeff will have to improve his strength so that he can get to the hoop and he will have to learn to be more patient with the basketball.

With Johnson, there is a lot more going on. His true shooting percentage is higher than Teague's at 42.9, but he needs to define what kind of player he is going to be. And that question was there when James was at Wake too. He seems to want to play the 3, but he doesn't have the outside shot, has not been distributing the ball and he turns the ball over too much (12.8 TO%). He has the body for the 4 (although he needs to get in better basketball shape), but he does not have the defensive mindset for the position.

So, while he was drafted a round higher and has a wider skillset, Taj Gibson was called on to start when Tyrus Thomas went down. And Gibson has continued to play more minutes and put up better numbers. Gibson's PER is 11.78, while Johnson's is just 7.02 (second-worst among rookies).

Now James has the athletic ability, there is no question. He was arguably Wake's best player (and definitely was in the second half of the season) last year and has the potential to dominate games. Plus, with his frame and ballhandling abilites, he has an NBA body. What he needs to work on, as was discussed during draft discussions, is his decision-making and his commitment on defense. He has said a lot of the right things, but he needs to put those words into action.

That said, both Johnson and Teague were drafted in the first round for a reason. They project to be solid NBA players. While neither look to be the next Lebron James or Allen Iverson, as long as they listen to their coaches and put in the work, they can be above-average or better, especially with their athleticism and ability. But unfortunately, the same problems that they had at Wake followed them to the pros, and they still have to fix them before they can get a lot more minutes.

Deacon Dump 12/9: No theme, but read on

MRickman84 — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 14:30:13 -0000

JT Terrell keeps beasting it with 42 points yesterday. James Johnson says he's lost on defense. Heather Dinich is upset as a lot of other ACC fans are that C.J. Spiller is getting snubbed from Heisman voting. ACC basketball is being compared to ACC football this year. So naturally, it's just a regular Tuesday morning.

Wake Forest Sports
Wake Forest redshirt freshman receiver Chris Givens leads the nation's freshmen in touchdown catches this season. Givens has eight TD grabs this year, the most-ever by a Wake Forest redshirt freshman. He also ranks 32nd in the nation overall in touchdown catches.

Big Ten hurt ACC's respect in Top 25 - CharlotteObserver.com
But what appears to be emerging is a league that possesses excellent depth without a lot of Top 25 talent and without a top-five team. In other words, ACC basketball is resembling ACC football. Anybody who follows ACC football knows that's not a good thing.

Heisman voters missed out on Spiller - College Football Nation Blog - ESPN
Look, the list of Spiller's accomplishments is literally too long to list here (there are 31 bullet points on Clemson sports information director Tim Bourret's sheet of updated Spiller facts). And you don't have to read them all to know Spiller is one of the best players in the country. Just watch him play. The NFL will recognize that, even if the Heisman voters didn't. In this week's ESPN.com vote for Heisman I had Spiller behind Toby Gerhart and Ndamukong Suh. I'm not sure who the best player in the country is this year, but I'm sure Spiller deserved at least a trip to New York.

James Johnson wants to step up; unsure of where to be on defense - Chicago Bulls Confidential
"I do want to step up and be the man I know I can be on defense and offense," Johnson said. "The only thing that gets me nervous when I get in games is knowing where I need to be on defense. Getting the ball on offense, I'm 100 percent comfortable. It's the other end of the floor that I'm unsure sometimes and when I'm unsure, that means it throws off the other four guys.

No Bowl Game for ASU? Let's make up our own! | Arizona State University Sun Devils Community - Home of Pitchfork Nation
The Religious Hierarchy Bowl - Louisville (4-8) vs. Wake Forest (5-7) - Normally, a Cardinal would outrank a Deacon. But a Demon Deacon? That’s another story altogether.

Deacons' Lubahn, Arena stepping right up: Freshmen key to Wake Forest title hopes
Lubahn has 10 goals this season, good enough to give him a share of the school record for goals by a freshman. His offense, combined with stellar play on defense by Arena, are just two of the reasons Wake Forest is back in the College Cup for the fourth straight season and preparing for Friday's national semifinal against Virginia (5 p.m., ESPN2 Ch. 32, ESPNU Ch. 143).

Soccer Notebook: Senior Lichtfuss says Deacons have adapted
■ Defender Justin Lichtfuss, Wake Forest's only fifth-year senior, is having his best season and is seeing plenty of playing time because of his consistency on defense. Lichtfuss acknowledges that there are differences between this season's team and last season's, saying: "We don't score as many goals … but we still put up pretty good numbers, and defensively we have to be sharper."

Syndicated sports talk radio show comes to Trask | StarNewsOnline.com | Star News | Wilmington, NC
"PrimeTime with the Packman," a syndicated radio talk show that spans the Carolinas, will broadcast from Trask Coliseum prior to the UNC-Wilmington/Wake Forest men's basketball game Wednesday, Dec. 16.

Prep Results 12.08.09 - CharlotteObserver.com
JT Terrell 42

Bulls scrubs hold off Timberwolves starters in preseason win

your friendly BullsBlogger — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 13:51:53 -0000

More photos » by Hannah Foslien - AP

Photo evidence that Kirk Hinrich has attempted a shot in the lane. (AP Photo/Hannah Foslien)

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Even quicker recap this time, as I'm getting pretty tired of these Rose-less (and to a lesser extent, Tyrus-less) preseason games.

Bulls shot 65% in the first quarter and was effective clogging the lane on defense. Jumping out to an early lead, it was never lost even when the Bulls had a lineup of Hunter/Pargo/Byars/Johnson/Richard and the Wolves had several starters back on the court. Richard did have his best preseason game, but it's far too late to secure his spot on the team. Byars looked alright, but that may just be a numbers game keeping him off the roster.

Lazy bullets time:

Hinrich was 2-3 from three, continuing a great trend this preseason.
Deng shot his jumper better (even a three-pointer in there), but still had a couple plays were he didn't look right, being blocked from behind on a dunk attempt by Kevin Love was one of them. Deng also dislocated his pinky in the game, though it is reportedly not serious.
Noah is awesome, and getting more assertive on offense by the game. Though I can see how he's easy to hate, what with his outright screaming when teammates scored. The especially empty Target Center made the annoying habit even more audible. But hey, if he's this good, who cares? The Celtics are all woofing idiots.
Someone for James Johnson to emulate: Ryan Gomes? He's sort of that 'power three' game Johnson can have, and in one of the first plays of the game Gomes sprinted baseline to get post position and hit a turnaround over Deng.
Stacy King finally took the 'group effort scoring!' mantra too far, when mentioning Lindsey Hunter as one of those options as a 3-point shooter.
Al Jefferson looked awful until Chris Richard was guarding him. I don't think it's crazy to evaluate Jefferson against Joakim, and be willing to sacrifice Jefferson's low-post game if one can do everything else, like Noah can.

Bulls edge Bucks in preseason home opener: quick recap

your friendly BullsBlogger — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 05:22:21 -0000

More photos » by Charles Rex Arbogast - AP

Milwaukee Bucks center Dan Gadzuric, right, walks off the court with Brandon Jennings thinking how much of an ass Neil Funk is for ripping on him the entire twelve minutes he played, while going 4-7 from the field with 10 rebounds (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

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No Rose, Thomas, or Brad Miller (flu-like symptoms, according to the TV broadcast). The Bucks were without Andrew Bogut, which helped make Joakim Noah look damned excellent tonight. Maybe with Bogut on the court Noah would've merely been 'really good', because 20 pts and 16 rebs in 34 minutes is impressive against anyone. Noah just looks bigger this season, and certainly doesn't have the look of last season's slow (and winded) starter. In a season full of reasons not to get excited, Noah having a stellar year will be reason enough to watch.

Unless the season-long campaign to push Tyrus Thomas out the door for 24-year old Taj Gibson excites you? Maybe it's just Stacy King leading the Taj fan club, but it's getting annoying already. King even uttered the dreaded line "Vinny going to have some real interesting lineups when he gets everybody back", though in his defense I think he meant that as a good thing. Can't we just be pleasantly surprised that Gibson isn't a stiff? If Taj has to play a lot, and James Johnson has to play at the 3, this team is in trouble.

And yes, I throw in that bit about Johnson realizing Deng was awful again in tonight's game, and after a decent start to the preseason it's now two games in a row where he looked out of shape to the point of looking still hurt. Even on what could be considered a good play, one which after a nice steal where he drew the foul, it still looked like Deng settled for the foul instead of being able to dunk on the run. But while I'm not worried until the real games start, I'll be really worried if this does continue through the regular season.

In other things to look for in meaningless scrimmage action, Hinrich was 2-4 from three, and I won't even care if he still misses layups like no other guard (of quality) in the league, as long as he hits open 3s and plays defense, which is his role when Rose comes back.

Though that defense wasn't really much to brag about when looking at how well Brandon Jennings played. Incredibly fast, and I was really impressed at how aggressive he passed on the fast break, effectively beating the Bulls back on defense with the pass instead of his own speed. Our own explosive young guard may not quite have that court vision (not that it's a big deal given his other advantages), but it'd sure be nice to see him back, and everyone in their real roles again. Like Pargo being on the bench, for one.

NBA Blog Previews - Chicago Bulls

your friendly BullsBlogger — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 05:34:22 -0000

Below is my entry in this year's NBA Blog Previews. If you're a frequent reader, a lot you may have read before...often. But even for those sick of my offseason whining analysis, there's at least a juicy prediction at the bottom to be mocked in April.

Team Name: Chicago Bulls

Last Year’s Record: 41-41

Key Losses: Ben Gordon, my faith in the franchise

Key Additions: Jannero Pargo, James Johnson (draft), Taj Gibson (draft), cap flexibility

1. What Significant Moves were made during the off-season?

Letting Ben Gordon walk. The significant move of the offseason was effectively made during the last season, in acquiring Brad Miller and John Salmons from the Kings at the trade deadline. Not only did it put the 2009 payroll already very close to the luxury tax, but in acquiring a scoring guard like Salmons they were hedging against a Gordon departure, which wound up happening on the first day of free agency.

The Bulls should be able to compensate for the loss of Gordon to maintain their ultimately average level, through the addition of Salmons, a healthy season from Luol Deng, and steps up in the careers of Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah, and Tyrus Thomas. Jannero Pargo is back for a second go-around with the franchise, attempting his best Gordon impression up until the point where the shots actually need to go in. With a couple of late first-round picks in a weak draft class, the Bulls went with two older bigs in James Johnson and Taj Gibson for added immediate frontcourt depth.

2. What are the team’s biggest strengths?

The Bulls have a very talented, versatile, and cohesive top-7 rotation. Rose won the rookie of the year last season, but also has various areas of improvement (drawing fouls, 3-point shooting, and defense) that could get him quickly to all-star level. If he can get there (and perhaps beyond towards superstardom) it makes all the difference for this team making everyone else's job easier.

Noah has gone from draft-night punchline to a starting-caliber center in his two seasons, and while never becoming a force on offense he's already a significant contributor, extremely active on defense and perhaps the best ballhandling quick center in the league. Tyrus Thomas is slated for his 3rd straight 'no really, he'll make the leap this year' season, but even if he never 'gets it' he always was at least an average player. Salmons and Deng are a very solid two-way wing combination.

And possibly most underrated aspect of the Bulls roster is their top two reserves, Brad Miller and Kirk Hinrich. Miller really stabilized the Bulls frontcourt last season as a complement to the athletic but raw Noah and Thomas, and though he's getting older Miller has skills that will age well. And Hinrich is possibly the best combo backup guard in the league, with the ability to defend either position, serving as both a low-turnover PG or a 3-point shooting SG to fit a lineup need.

This is a team that when they're clicking will play very well together, and while they'll feel Gordon's loss when needing a bail-out in possessions or games, replacing his minutes with Hinrich/Salmons/Deng will lead to an improved defense.

3. What are the team’s biggest weaknesses?

Coaching is certainly an issue, and while one can assume Vinny Del Negro will improve in his second year on the job, that may be because he only had upwards to go. Beyond the occasional timeout mismanagement, Del Negro's Bulls sometimes looked like a team that had no coach. A roster that was once a top-5 defense under Scott Skiles fell to the bottom 10 in the league, and while the Bulls were an improved offensive team after the trade deadline, it was never one that looked organized, instead being simply more talented than their softer end-of-season scheduled opponents.

This could be an even bigger problem with Gordon departing, a player who was able to create his own offense. While the Bulls will be hoping improved ball-movement and unselfishness will raise everyone's game, there are many times in a game where they'll need playmakers, and Gordon was the best they had beyond Rose.

As mentioned above, the top-7 are good enough to not need many rotation decisions from VDN, but a key injury could really throw the season off course. Quality depth is another weakness as the Bulls had to skimp in filling out their roster in their goal to avoid the tax this year and getting under the cap next summer.

4. What are the goals for this team?

Seeing how a first-round playoff loss to a team missing its best player was seemingly treated with such extreme excitement and praise, no doubt it will be important for the Bulls to at least look like a team on the rise, whether it's true or not. And to do that they have to make the playoffs again, entering 2010 free agency as an attractive destination for players looking for a competitive team with the cap space to pay up.

A season where the playoffs are missed could bring a repeat of Bulls free agency past, where Jerry Krause had a league-worst roster and whiffed on plan A through plan Ron Mercer.

5. No really, Gordon was pretty good, but what's the big deal?

The Bulls were average last year, they'll likely be so again this year. Through some internal improvement, they may even wind up slightly better this offseason. But they would have been a favorite for a 4th seed (as opposed to being lumped in with Miami, Atlanta, and several other teams) if they swallowed the tax for one season while holding all their assets, and able to put together the best trade packages together for the next star player to be sold off.

The loss of Gordon was truly significant in signalling a change of direction of the franchise. Where the winning of the 2008 draft lottery could've been seen as the most significant piece of an already talented team ready to contend soon, letting Gordon go meant that in the name of avoiding the luxury tax, the Bulls were instead going to try and get under the cap and re-build around Rose and a 2010 free agent.

And with a declining cap and some decisions to be made on several key players (Hinrich, Salmons, and Thomas) before getting far enough under in that summer, the Bulls may not be able to pull it off. A better plan would've been to use a decade of record profits as justification for a luxury tax bill (even for a non-elite team), and using their expiring contracts to obtain even more talent. The elite teams in the league stockpile good players and get even more, not let them walk in the name of flexibility. And Gordon was the best player ever to have played through his entire rookie deal only to let walk for nothing, a truly spectacular failure from the Bulls standpoint. Things could certainly work out ultimately, but it's a huge risk and the Bulls will need to perform this season as well as get lucky in free agency to make the gamble worthwhile.

Projected Finish: I see this team as fairly fragile, but also with potential for a surprisingly successful season. They really do have talent that could claw their way to a 50 win season, but an injury or some turmoil could have it spiral down in the mid-30s. I could see either scenario playing out, but it's likely that while nothing horrible goes wrong, not everything goes right either, and little bumps in the road keep the Bulls near .500 all year. 40-42.

Rose-less Bulls lose to Milwaukee

your friendly BullsBlogger — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 00:08:15 -0000

It's tough to evaluate the team minus Rose. Well it's not exactly 'tough': they're bad. But it's not exactly fair either. With Tyrus Thomas also out, bench players are forced into roles already jumbled by this being a scrimmage, and it's not how things will look in the regular season. Better not, anyway, since the game was marred with 27 turnovers (many of which on violations) and showed a team that could really struggle to score this season.

The Bulls were able to stay relatively close by getting to the foul line, but with Gordon gone I don't see many nights where the Bulls will have such an advantage. James Johnson seems to have a knack for it (as does Noah and Thomas) but he likely won't get the minutes to do such damage, especially if he's being called for traveling a half dozen times a game.

Hinrich played well (needs to shoot more than one three-pointer in a game, but he should when Rose is back), Salmons looked fine but didn't have a good shooting night, and I think after 3 games I can now stop being surprised that Taj Gibson can contribute. I'm not sure I'm enjoying the subtle campaign supporting him starting by Stacy King, however.

One top-7 player who didn't look good was Deng. While he did unleash another post move (on Charlie Bell, but still...) and was better in transition (who isn't?), there were some reasons to worry. One play stood out in particular, he was guarded by Ilyasova and first couldn't establish post position. Then he came out for the ball, and not being able to shoot over Ilyasova was able to drive by him...only to be cruelly blocked.

Team observers (including KC Johnson on the pre-game show) bend over backwards saying how it will be a group effort to shoulder the scoring load, but it will also take individuals making plays when the magical ball movement stops, and one of those guys needs to be Deng. It was also glaring when the end-of-quarter plays were handing the ball to Jannero Pargo and getting out of the way.

But again, this is with Rose out. He can be one of the guys who steps up, and he should be the guy getting the ball where Gordon used to (for some reason, the Bulls, like the rest of the NBA, stick to isolations instead of running an offense when it comes to these situations). It's not news that they're better with Rose, but he doesn't fix everything. Especially the defense, which looks better but still has problems with skilled bigs like Andrew Bogut.

And how much longer will Rose be out, anyway? Orginally thought to be of no concern, Rose's ankle injury now has him in a walking boot and may take 'a week or two' to heal, according to Mike McGraw.

Bulls win thriller in London, rookies impress those with little expectations (i.e. me)

your friendly BullsBlogger — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 04:32:44 -0000

More photos » by TOM HEVEZI - AP

I hope this was called a foul. (AP Photo / Tom Hevezi)

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As preseason games go, that was a fun one to watch. The crowd was late-arriving but very into the game (as KC Johnson noted, they were ooohing and ahhing the most routine of NBA action), and the close back-and-forth score kept them into it. It was nice that they got the excitement of a buzzer-beater, even if it was in a meaningless contest.

(OK, maybe the announcers on NBATV were terrible, what with Steve Smith yelling at us to appreciate Taj Gibson and whoever the play-by-play-guy-was mispronouncing nearly every name (luOWL) and giving the all-to-rare 3...2...1... countdown a minute early. )

First some notes on the top-7 (3 of them out) that were encouraging all around. Noah just looks great, and if he starts this season like he ended the last it's going to be a breakout year for him. He was active all over, and SLC Dunk remarked Noah "looked like he was swatting 6th graders". Miller already was giving out hard fouls, and hitting jump shots. Hinrich was great, finishing perfect from the field. There's no doubt he played great to end last season, I just worry that his 40% 3-point seasons are the outliers. But if he bucks that trend he'll be incredibly valuable in any role he plays this season. Though hopefully there aren't many instances where he has to play point the whole game because Rose is hurt.

Luol Deng was able to thrill his hometown crowd with a solid game, and just like in the opener it was just nice to see him playing without a broken leg. What was different than the opener was Luol showing something different, a couple of post-up plays. If he can use it to exploit certain matchups, it'd be a nice complement to his game. I'm not sure he'll ever be able to dribble-drive by many defenders. He hit a three-pointer in this game as well, the other thing we all wish Luol could do more often. Though as Bulls by the Horns notes, it's worrisome that Deng still mentions soreness in the leg. Wasn't that injury in the spring? I'd almost rather he lied at this point and said everything was fine...though there was a point where a dunk was instead a blocked layup, which could've been the leg.

Now on to the rookies, with James Johnson being the hero and Taj Gibson giving a second-straight 'I may not stink after all' performance. If Taj can get to the point where we don't scream when he comes into the game for his handful of minutes, that's good enough value for that pick. It'll also be interesting to see how it effects the minutes of Tyrus Thomas, and any reduction in Thomas minutes will mean something bad has happened. Either he's playing like crud, or the Bulls really really don't want to pay him this summer. It may be an issue all season whether Taj is yet another Bull who's consistent competence is valued more than possible greatness (or above-averageness).

James Johnson is a trickier guy to peg in this year's rotation. He was able to flourish in this half-hazard 4th quarter in transition, but he won't be able to dominate the ball in the regular season (unless Deng is hurt again, yikes). Can he be useful away from the ball? At least he showed, like Gibson, that he's active, and as much as I like Tyrus Thomas I think Johnson ran the floor faster than I ever saw Thomas. Johnson also has shown more handle and a prettier shot, but that could just mean he's really meant to be a 3.

I actually didn't think Jannero Pargo was too awful, despite being the only Bull who didn't shoot well Tuesday. He just doesn't need to play in meaningful lineups, is all, because he will shoot regardless of who's on the floor with him. I actually liked him chucking in the first half since he was in a srubby lineup, and does have the innate skill to create shots (if not makes). But if he's in there in 3-guard 4th quarter lineups because of some clutch ability that doesn't exist (at least not with him), that's not good.

Chris Richard was definitely bad. Byers was a bit better (nice put-back dunk), and is still leading in the 'which camp invitee should stay' contest.

A great performance all-around. It's not necessarily meaningful that the preseason performance is good, but it's preferred over a poor-looking performance. The top-7 has been real solid. If other players step up to warrant minutes, that's a good problem to have, right?

(So why am I worried that they'll instead ruin a Vinny-proof rotation, with pressure from the Org. to push certain guys (Tyrus) out the door? I'm kidding, the Org. never has direction enough to dictate playing time.)

The Downbeat - 7 October 2009 - #73 - The James Johnson Edition

Basketball John — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 12:42:34 -0000

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I told you I wanted James Johnson. I know he wasn't available when we picked, but <LloydChristmas> I like him a lot </LloydChristmas>

He finished with 18 including a put back slam and of course the game winner. AK had him boxed out, but the long rebound from the three took a weird bounce off the rim sideways and went right into Johnson's hands.

See, this is where we can say it's just the pre-season, not big deal. But it's never easy to lose like that.

Almost titled this post the Block Party Edition. Good gravy. Joakim Noah was looking like he was swatting 6th graders. The Jazz ended up with 13 BA total. Wes Matthews, Paul Millsap, and the KOOF were on the receiving end of most of those. They gotta learn in the NBA it's okay to push off with your off arm when going up, at least if you play for the other team.

Wes Matthews made quite the impression. He had 16 points including 3/4 from downtown. Sign him up if he can hit that corner three. With CJ out, he's doing all the right things. With Dupree having got a lot of the minutes in the first game, perhaps we'll see Johnson from FSU get minutes in the Madrid game.

Deron helped lead the comeback in the third and finished with 16 & 3. None of the starters finished out the fourth.

Despite having 3 BA, Millsap led the team with 18.

We're gaining market share! In the latest GM surveys, of course Chris Paul was selected as the best PG in the league with Deron Williams a distant, distant second. Last year though, Paul got 88.9% of the vote. This year he dropped to just 77.8.

The Jazz as a team also got no love, picked to finish 3rd in the division. Of course, the Jazz were picked by almost 93% last year to win it. Doing the opposite of what they're expected to do is one of the Jazz's trademarks. So this selection makes me happy.

We also dropped to the second spot in the "Which team has the best home-court advantage" behind Cleveland. I'm guessing that's more best Lebron James advantage than home-court advantage.

And finally, the what player should suck, but doesn't award, goes to Memo, otherwise known as "what player does the most with the least" award.

And don't worry, I'm not going to be using the Downbeat for recaps. I didn't see the game only because it happened in the middle of work. I only got to see highlights and the box score so I didn't write up a full recap.

If anything, I should be putting up a Downbeat and a je ne sais quois at night because of a plethora of info compared to the off-season. But don't count on it.

Daily Links: Where Barbosa is in Brazil and Taylor Griffin will be a Sun(?)

Phoenix Stan — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 13:49:23 -0000

More photos » by Laura Rauch - AP

Get used to this face...

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The Official Phoenix Suns Blog " Blog Archive " Offseason Update
Taylor Griffin in negotiations with the Suns for the final roster spot? Really? I don't get this at all. Taylor was ok (OK...get it?) in Vegas but showed a distinct lack of offensive skill and is kind of stuck between the 3 and the 4. The team already has Clark and Dudley who are stuck between the 3 and the 4 and Amundson who is stuck between the 4 and a jump shot. I can't wait to hear why signing a cheap back up center (Johann Petro is available!) or another backup PG (remember Zabian Dowdell?) wouldn't have been a better option.....and while this article doesn't mention it, Alando Tucker told me in Vegas that Barbosa's girl friend had a daughter this summer making him Papi B
Revenge Of The Birds - Home of the NFC Champions!
Remember the NFC Champion Cardinals? They play today! Preseason vs the Steelers. You remember them right?
Michael Rosenberg: Only Big Ben's pride could spoil return to Pistons | Detroit Free Press | Freep.com
Remember when Ben Wallace was a Phoenix Sun? He wore number....hmmmm...help me out here....
The CBA: Guaranteed Contracts and Accompanying Issues - Blazersedge
Remember why BE is the best NBA blog out there?
Phoenix games could make or break Silver Stars’ season
I vote for "break"
Rasual Butler Traded to the Clippers - Clips Nation
We might as well just rename this Clippers Nation East for all the love they've been getting this off season. But I couldn't pass on this line from Steve: It's hard to imagine, but the Clipper's financial flexibility seems to get better with each move they make. Call MDsr butter because he's on a roll.
James Johnson needs to turn it up a notch - Chicago Bulls Confidential
Wow...surprising news about James Johnson. I was so impressed with him in Vegas and like this article said - off the court he seemed to have a great attitude. Not someone I would have guessed would have work ethic issues...I guess we'll see how it plays out
NBA Star Warns Over Stolen Laptop - August 12, 2009
Private photos from Baron Davis' laptop....how bad could that be?
Phoenix Mercury Community Blog - Fanster.com
Ben lives
Back on the Hardwood Floors " Amare Blog
Am'are's Bac'k! Now with more words of ancient Chinese wisdom!

and today in Twitter....

Twitter / Jared Dudley: ok spread the word im team ...
ok spread the word im teaming up with my team the phx suns and will be having a live tweeting session at 4 pm tommorrow...(finally!)
Twitter / cappie pondexter: gnite earth...i need more ...
gnite earth...i need more followers help me out people...its a war lol

Poll

Do you agree with the Suns signing Taylor Griffin to the 13th roster spot?

Any Griffin is better than no Griffin

46 votes

No

127 votes

173 votes | Poll has closed

2009 Phoenix Suns Summer League Wrap Up

Mike Lisboa — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 18:56:52 -0000

More photos » by Laura Rauch - AP

5 months ago: Los Angeles Clippers' Mike Taylor falls as Phoenix Suns' Goran Dragic drives around him during their NBA Summer League basketball game at Thomas & Mack Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday, July 19, 2009. The Suns defeated the Clippers 87-70.(AP Photo/Laura Rauch)

Browse more photos »

After a few long days in Las Vegas watching the Suns and a couple more recovering from those days, I figured it's time to give some final thoughts on what was seen there. Of course, Summer League is not the be-all end-all measuring stick for these players. Marco Belinelli and Marcus Banks both killed in Summer League only to fade to obscurity or worse in the regular season. Still, I think it's a useful laboratory for gaining some (albeit, limited) insight into what these gentlemen will bring to the table come October.

Goran Dragic - If any of the Summer Suns came out a winner, it was without a doubt the young Slovenian. It was possible to see his confidence grow with each game. As Phoenix Stan has pointed out, this is the first time in his career that Dragic has been asked to be "the man" on the court and it's a role he's still growing into. Clearly, the Suns are pushing him to be the team leader when he's running the offense. While he has yet (even against the limited competition of Summer League) to demonstrate he's got what it takes to be the heir apparent to Steve Nash, he definitely showed signs of improvement. He grew ever so slightly more vocal as the week went on and grew more fearless about attacking the rim and finding his own offense. And let me tell you, that first step of his is going to put more than one opposing guard on their heels. Best case this season is he gives the team 15-20 minutes off the bench and continues to develop his leadership skills. He's going to make mistakes for sure, but I'm hoping they're of the aggressive smart kind (like when he got rejected going hard to the rack versus the Grizzlies) instead of the meek, flustered kind (bad passes out of traps and whatnot). He was definitely the Suns' strongest player throughout Summer League.

Robin Lopez - Oy. I wasn't there for his one good game. Instead I saw three of his lesser, and what I can sadly believe are more typical, performances. And believe me when I say against the Grizzlies, he was terrible. Hasheem Thabeet had looked, not to put to fine a point on it, god awful up until that game, demonstrating no discernible basketball instincts. He absolutely dominated Lopez in the paint when they matched up. My entirely unprofessional opinion of what's ailing Robin is an interminable case of spazziness. Seeing him on the floor, it's apparent he has the physical attributes and ability to be at the very least a passable starting center. However, he hasn't figured out how to harness his intensity and direct his body into making the plays he's capable of making. I prescribe some yoga, meditation and Alexander technique classes. That's really only half a joke. If he learned how to slow himself down, and more importantly, control his body, I think we'd see those foul number drop precipitously. I don't question Robin's desire nearly as much as I question his ability to control that desire. He has to improve almost all aspects of his game in order to give the Suns many quality minutes at the 5. I think we'll see a lot of Stoudemire and Frye at center to start the season.

[Note by Phoenix Stan, 07/22/09 3:55 PM MST ]

As Mike indicated, if we were hoping that Vegas would answer questions about Robin we were wrong. My impression is that after performing so well in the first game he acted as if he'd proved all he needed to prove. The team seemed much more focused on Goran's progress and no one seemed particularly concerned with Robin but I left before his final two games. With his brother and family in town one also has to wonder how distracted he was.

Robin still has all the tools to be a very good player. I guess we will have to wait until he gets consistent minutes either starting or off the bench to get a better feel for his desire to be that player. And by the way, Robin wasn't the only 2nd or 3rd year player that had one good game and seemed disinterested from then on in. Andre Blatche comes to mind.

Earl Clark- For me, the jury is way out on Clark. As Phoenix Stan pointed out, the players at Summer League who were driven and want to excel clearly stood out. DeJuan Blair, Brandon Jennings, James Johnson and Blake Griffin all come to mind. Aside from his first game, when Clark posted a double-double, he didn't do much to distinguish himself. To be honest, I don't read too much into this. Unlike Blair and Jennings, he didn't come into Vegas with a chip on his shoulder and unlike Griffin, he wasn't expected to save the franchise. He did however demonstrate why the Suns took him in the first round. He's capable of: hitting from outside, driving to the basket, bringing the ball up, getting his fair share of rebounds, defending multiple positions. He has a lot going for him.

However, if his drive and ambition are question marks come the regular season, I don't know who's going to be the one to get in his face. I have no doubt that Alvin Gentry will get on him, but who's going to back Coach up in the locker room? Steve "Winning a championship isn't as important as stability" Nash? Amar'e "I'm not a captain but call me Sun Tzu anyway" Stoudemire? I would guess Grant Hill, but it does not keep me warm at night that the Suns' most consistent leadership and locker room presence is the guy who, in his 14th season, just played 82 games for the first time. Better that Hill takes him under his wing early and we never has to have the attitude conversation in the first place.

[Note by Phoenix Stan, 07/22/09 3:59 PM MST ]

The key guys I think for Earl are going to be Lou and Jared. He will playing with and against those guys a lot in practice. Each brings a lot more effort and heart than Clark might be used to but neither has his talent or potential. He certainly stands to learn a lot from being around those guys. Probably more then from Old Man Hill who isn't likely to get into Clark's face. I think the team plans on making Clark earn his minutes which in the long run should be a good thing for him. He's going to have to step it up to get on the court and prove himself better than those hustle players.

Taylor Griffin - Taylor Griffin is not quite ready for prime time and I'm not sure he ever will be. I would not be surprised if he didn't make the Suns' roster. He works hard and leaves it all on the court, but aside from a memorable dunk or two, did not do much to impress me. As I've said before, his game is reminiscent of Dan Majerle's but without the skills to back up the hustle and hunger. I could definitely see the Suns going with a veteran big man or guard instead of Griffin for the 13th roster spot.

[Note by Phoenix Stan, 07/22/09 4:07 PM MST ]

I agree totally. I seriously doubt Taylor makes the team. He's going to have to improve his outside shot much more before he gets anywhere at the next level. He should probably just find a way to ride his younger brother's coat tails and help keep him out of trouble. And btw, Blake is really really good.

Zabian Dowdell - As one basketball writer at Summer League put it: "He's a grown up." He's got poise and confidence on the court. He's a good ball handler with a nice jumper. I didn't see the burst or athleticism that Dragic demonstrates, but he's a more than competent point guard. I think he'll end up on an NBA bench somewhere this season if he doesn't take the money and go back to Europe.

Micah Downs - I liked what I saw from Downs when he was on. Sadly, he was only "on" for one game. He's athletic as all get out, capable of getting off the floor and to the basket for either a dunk or a rebound. I think his frame is a little slight for an NBA shooting guard and he wasn't consistent enough in summer league for me to think he warrants an NBA roster spot. I don't think there's any place for him in the Suns rotation.

Jiri Hubalek/Kaspar Berzins - A pair of 7 footers (Hubalek is actually 6'11", but this is the Suns we're talking about. That's as close to 7 feet as we usually see around these parts.) who can hit the three, but lack the quickness or strength to keep up with the Dirks outside or bang with the Dwight's inside. They'll have fun in the D-League or Europe.

[Note by Phoenix Stan, 07/22/09 4:04 PM MST ]

I actually like Hubalek. I liked him last year too. He can shoot from range. Plays hard. He even blocked some shots but he's just not really an NBA player. If Sean Marks can't get off the bench then this guy can't. I am sure he helped his overseas contract prospects though.

Berzins is no where close to the NBA. The other guy I like is Carlos Powell. He's got some nice aspects to his game like a good face up move and he plays with passion. I think overall his skill set is too limited though. Not big enough. Not talented enough. But still a good good ball player.

The rest of the roster didn't do much to make an impression due to either limited minutes or lack of attention from me. Perhaps it's my limited experience covering games in person, but I found I could either focus on the game or the players, but to do both was pretty taxing (as was watching 6-8 hours of basketball a day for 4 days straight). So those are my final impressions of the Summer Suns.

Dragic made a strong case for shouldering much of the second unit load and I think with the right kind of mentorship from Alvin Gentry and Steve Nash, he'll continue to improve throughout the season, but won't be without his share of moments that make me groan. Earl Clark should crack the rotation and contribute some quality minutes when given the opportunity. He's very skilled and if he applies himself diligently, he could work his way up the depth chart. As for Robin, he's still very much a project as much as it pains me to say it. Unless he makes some significant improvement between now and the start of the season, he is not starter material.