I managed to make it through tuesdays games, and then I was done. I've been sick every since I got here, and it was getting worse. Couldn't have happened at a worse time, but it is what it is. Cruzdude was nice enough to end his stay, and get me back to San Diego to the vetreans hospital. After a couple of hours of sitting in the emergency room, I got to see a doctor. Turned out to be an intestinal infection, so probably a good thing I abborted the games.
So, after watching the third Kings game where McLemore finally gave hope to the masses, here are my thoughts. After the first two games, I said to both Cruzdude and Uncia03, that McLemore's shot didn't look the same as I remembered it at Kansas. I speculated that perhaps Jent was tinkering with it, and usually you take one step backwards before taking any steps forward when you make changes in a shot, or a golf swing. Then I heard that McLemore had done some expiermenting of his own during the summer, and as a result he was struggling getting comfortable again.
Long story short, his shot looked much better in game three. So hopefully he's found his stroke again. That said, he has a lot of work to do. If he has his stroke back, I can see him contributing early as a catch and shoot, and pick and pop player. To be a complete player though, he really needs to tighten up his ballhandling. I love his movement without the ball, and in person, his speed is amaziing. He's certainly a very willing defender, but has a lot to learn in that area. If he willing to put in the work, I can see him being a good defender. He's certainly athletic enough. So there's a lot to like, and a lot to be fixed. He made a couple of nice drives to the basket, but anyone could see that he's always on the edge of disastor. He finished a couple, and got calls on a couple. He led a fast break right in front of me, and I could almost see the wheels turning in his head when he saw two defenders slightly in front of him. He should have easily split them, but instead turned the ball over. He needs to spend the rest of the summer with the best ballhandling guru he can find.
Although McCallum didn't have his best game going in game three, I though he still played a respectable game. Once the Kings settled down, and stopped turning the ball over, ( they averaged one turnover a minute for the first eight minutes of the game), McCallum became more effective. Unfortunately no one other than Lockett could make a shot. Speaking of Lockett, I thought he's played very well everytime he was on the floor. He almost singlehandedly got the Kings back into the game in the first quarter. The other player I really liked was Drew Gordon. He took a hell of a beating out there getting hammered by Valanciunas elbows, one hitting him squarely in the face. Cost him a technical, but I don't blame him. The ref's should have stepped in earlier. By the way, Valanciunas looks like he weighs around 280 to me. He's one big dude. He left the game with a bloody nose with a couple of minutes left. Payback is a *****!
I found that its almost impossible to get a one on one interview, unless your able to stumble across a player or a coach and trap them for a moment or two. The orginized interviews would be redundit, since all the usual suspects are there getting the same interview. Anyway, I apologize to all for not being more on top of things, but its hard when you feel terrible. For anyone thats never gone to summer league, I highly recommend it. I do have more notes that I'll post a little later. Heading for a nap now!
So, after watching the third Kings game where McLemore finally gave hope to the masses, here are my thoughts. After the first two games, I said to both Cruzdude and Uncia03, that McLemore's shot didn't look the same as I remembered it at Kansas. I speculated that perhaps Jent was tinkering with it, and usually you take one step backwards before taking any steps forward when you make changes in a shot, or a golf swing. Then I heard that McLemore had done some expiermenting of his own during the summer, and as a result he was struggling getting comfortable again.
Long story short, his shot looked much better in game three. So hopefully he's found his stroke again. That said, he has a lot of work to do. If he has his stroke back, I can see him contributing early as a catch and shoot, and pick and pop player. To be a complete player though, he really needs to tighten up his ballhandling. I love his movement without the ball, and in person, his speed is amaziing. He's certainly a very willing defender, but has a lot to learn in that area. If he willing to put in the work, I can see him being a good defender. He's certainly athletic enough. So there's a lot to like, and a lot to be fixed. He made a couple of nice drives to the basket, but anyone could see that he's always on the edge of disastor. He finished a couple, and got calls on a couple. He led a fast break right in front of me, and I could almost see the wheels turning in his head when he saw two defenders slightly in front of him. He should have easily split them, but instead turned the ball over. He needs to spend the rest of the summer with the best ballhandling guru he can find.
Although McCallum didn't have his best game going in game three, I though he still played a respectable game. Once the Kings settled down, and stopped turning the ball over, ( they averaged one turnover a minute for the first eight minutes of the game), McCallum became more effective. Unfortunately no one other than Lockett could make a shot. Speaking of Lockett, I thought he's played very well everytime he was on the floor. He almost singlehandedly got the Kings back into the game in the first quarter. The other player I really liked was Drew Gordon. He took a hell of a beating out there getting hammered by Valanciunas elbows, one hitting him squarely in the face. Cost him a technical, but I don't blame him. The ref's should have stepped in earlier. By the way, Valanciunas looks like he weighs around 280 to me. He's one big dude. He left the game with a bloody nose with a couple of minutes left. Payback is a *****!
I found that its almost impossible to get a one on one interview, unless your able to stumble across a player or a coach and trap them for a moment or two. The orginized interviews would be redundit, since all the usual suspects are there getting the same interview. Anyway, I apologize to all for not being more on top of things, but its hard when you feel terrible. For anyone thats never gone to summer league, I highly recommend it. I do have more notes that I'll post a little later. Heading for a nap now!
