Learning Stuff in Summer League

[Gray Mule]

Marvin admits, I was lost when I came into the NBA.

Now I feel I'm a much better player.

So far, he's looking better, isn't he.

With no real structure in Summer League, not a lot of

plays in place, you look for the good stuff and try

to ignore the bad, which both sides will have in every

game.

Box scores and one writer's views can be misleading in a

lot of things.

Some things stand out, however.

Hawks have caused their opponents to be called for a lot

of fouls, just as they themselves have been. The great

thing is, Atlanta has been hitting those free throws!!

Last season, you heard me gripe, over and over, in close

games, which we lost most of the time - - "If the Hawks

would only convert those free throws, we would win."

Over and over, Hawks would loose by two or three points

and miss 35-40 % of their foul shots. If they had got

those, they would win. In Summer League, the fact

that the competition isn't the same and the game isn't

the same, the free throws are. Same ball. Same size

goal. Same distance. And, these guys are hitting them!!!

You don't need to see the game to know this.

Hawks have one player we really expect to be a starter

to begin the season, M.W. - and he is shining!!

This season's draft picks are doing what we should expect

draft picks to do - - Look lost in what is little more

than a glorified practice. They have SO MUCH to learn

about the NBA game.

We all worry. It's the thing we fans do. We desperately

want our draft picks to shine like a bright new penny.

We would love to brag, "See what we've got!"

History will show that not every player we now view as

stars and who we would love to have on our team were

outstanding as rookies in Summer League.

About the time for the all star game in mid-season, if

our two draft picks are still showing nothing, then it

will be time to worry. Summer League is not the season

for worry and all this crap we're already hearing.

This is the time to enjoy the good things, forget the

bad stuff and rejoice that this is the first baby steps

for our new players.

Pre season practice will install some plays, etc. The

roster will be different as our regular players will

become more involved. Still not winning? Don't worry.

These games won't count either.

Keep nailing those free throws!!! Grab some rebounds !!!

Show some fight !!!!Learn stuff !!! Have a good time !!

Learn a few fundamental things about the NBA game!!

GO HAWKS !!!!!

[Plastic Man]

it's nice to see us getting respect from the zebras. i hope it carries over into the regular season.

[Yeti]

I totally agree with your post except for:

"This season's draft picks are doing what we should expect

draft picks to do - - Look lost in what is little more

than a glorified practice. They have SO MUCH to learn

about the NBA game."

Remember, we passed on a lot of good players because Shelden is "ready now." Well, he damn well ought to show it. Marvin was supposed to be a project and he was. But we passed on Roy, Foye, etc because Shelden would give an inside precence NOW. But if he can't dominate against inferior players in summer league, how's he going to play against the big boys in the fall. Is he now going to be a "project" too?

[Peoriabird]

Quote:

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But we passed on Roy, Foye, etc because Shelden would give an inside precence NOW.

---

Answer this question Yeti. Why would we need to draft another 2 guard not named Jordan in this past draft? I thought that we just paid one to come here last year at the tune of $70 mil. And don't we have about 6 guards on our team now? Please explain!

[Gray Mule]

Yeti - After 2 Summer League games??

He's not even got his feet wet as of now.

Should he "Know" all there is to know just coming out

of school?

Hardly. Are plays being run for him? I don't know.

Probably not. What has he done that is so wrong?

Since we haven't watched the games and have no inside

information about what's going on, it's way too early

to make any rash decisions as to his skills or his

ability to produce in the NBA.

Six months from now? Sure. Then we should BEGIN to

see what we have, but not yet. Not by a long shot, as they say.

[frosgrim]

Good grief Yeti.

Come on man, Sheldon has to be given time to learn, as do ALL draft picks. Man this board would have been all over Jordon when he came in. Players have to be allowed to learn a new system. Sheldon knew how to play in the Duke system now he has to learn the Hawks system. If he's not putting up big numbers now, so what. Its the summer league who cares. What matters is what happens in the regular season.

[deester11]

I wouldn't be so quick to dismiss Yeti. I do think that Summer Leagues or not, Shelden should look better than he has albeit two games or not. To the point, Marvin was 19 and one year removed from college not four. I'll give Shelden the benefit of the doubt, but he still should be showing better against his competition level. If nothing else, the rebounding should show. I don't care about what he scores, I do care about what we brought him in to do. And to most people he was the most ready to play. I don't like the pick and Roy/Foye still would have been the better choice, but I'll deal with it.