A Brief Guide to Summer League

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Last summer George Hill looked dreadful and Malik Hairston was a veritable ghost at summer league. James Gist, on the other hand, played like a stud and was rewarded by a contract….in Italy. The Spurs signed Anthony Tolliver in his place. Elsewhere the Spurs whiffed on Corey Maggette and Jannero Pargo, and smart guys like me thought the offseason was a waste. I was worried. My knee jerk dialed up forecasts of doom and gloom.

But by the time preseason ended I was a certified Geoge Hill Kool-Aid drinker, was lobbying for Malik Hairston to make the team, and knew that the Warriors would give their left arm for a Corey Maggette do-over. I made a mental note: take summer league lightly. Don’t pass judgement too quickly. Give it time.

Having said that, I won’t care too much about the game to game statistics. World class flops have left Summer League with more positive buzz than Sarah Palin at a Gals with Guns convention. Instead, I’ve identified a handful of items for further study:

  • Is George Hill a serviceable back up point guard? Can he run the pick and roll?
  • Can Ian Mahinmi play? Will he assert himself on the block and boards? For all his tease, he tends to play more like a lamb than a lion. That’s gotta come to an end.
  • Is DeJuan Blair’s height an issue against professionals?
  • Can Malik Hairston function in catch and shoot situations? Does he have legit stopper potential as an on ball defender?
  • Jack McClinton: is his defense as good as advertised? Can he get shots off against bigger defenders? There is no question that he has crazy deep range.
  • James Gist has given a few indications that he’ll be with the team next season, and he’s clearly on the mind of folks like Don Newman and R.C. Buford. But he remains unsigned. Will he play well enough to force the front office’s hand? What would that portend for Marcus Williams and/or Malik Hairston? Would the Spurs move dependable vet Matt Bonner to create roster space for Gist? These next ten days are amongst the most important of his professional career.

For a more comprehensive, league-wide preview, check out this piece by Kevin Arnovitz. For more Spurs-related stuff, check out Pounding the Rock’s summer league coverage. Finally, David Thorpe is livetweeting from Summer League on behalf of TrueHoop.

  • Mike3

    McClinton actually looks a bit like Iverson in those highlights… only with better range. He’ll be a thrilling addition for the Spurs if he’s even half that good offensively. He and Blair are the two players I’ll be most anxious to hear about during the summer.

  • Cody

    I know this has been discussed in the past, but has anyone heard where Pops Mensah-Bonsu has caught on? I looked at the summer league rosters and I can’t find him anywhere.

  • movingpicture

    Some of those shots McClinton took were crazy! Not sure Pop would let him get away with those near half court shots… unless he makes them of course.

  • Robby

    Spurs signs Dice official

    now on to the summer league….

  • Robby

    I hope Blair, McClinton and Gist makes the spurs’ roster this year… maybe they can make a spot for Gist by waiving Williams…

  • Phoebus

    pops went to toronto

  • duaneofly

    Cody; Pops signed with Toronto last season after we let him go, but he hasn’t been resigned by the Raptors since they were freeing up money to sign Hedo.
    That’s the last I heard at least.

  • Alamobro

    In response to MOVINGPICTURES…..the deep threes I saw Mclinton draining in his youtube highlight did look like halfcourt shots , but i think thats because the college line is still alot shorter than the NBA arc ( despite the recent lengthening of the college mark)

    Thus, all those crazy deep threes were right around NBA range….good stuff. This guy is going to spread the floor for us.

  • ChillFAN

    If I were David Stern, I would force the starters of the worst teams in each conference to play in Summer League as punishment. All this talk about Shaq, Sheed, Artest, RJ, Marion, Millsap, Hedo and Vince has ignored the fact that the basement dwellers in the NBA just fell light years out of contention. What’s more, they don’t care! The Twolves have been discussed a lot, but the Clippers are so self- satisfied with their one guy. Is anyone going to disagree that Memphis might as well just play with an orange-and-white ball next season? Sacto and the Wiz could use the extra practice, but I guess the question, “How are the rookies going to fare against professionals?” would still go unanswered.

  • Phoebus

    regarding the tentative line drawn in the sand from Tim Varner a while back about comments: the one immediately above this is exactly what a compelling blog needs and desires. Yes to incendiary but bigger yes to interesting.

  • Phoebus

    and then, to chillfan: its weird how ostensible “budget-cutting” on salaries has only led to more and more wanton salary-doling being linked almost solely to season-ticket-selling rather than winning, innit? Iverson to the Grizz? Nash’s possible extension on a team whose ceiling is the second round for the next 3 years?

  • Zach R.

    I just came across something interesting on Gooden’s Twitter.. kinda sounds like his days with us are up. Apparently he’s in Orlando, according to his UberTwitter. Whatever the hell that is.

    http://www.twitter.com/DrewGooden

  • Robby

    Seems like Gooden is still a Free Agent… he’s just in Orlando during the summer bcoz he has a house there… is the Spurs still interested in him…

    sounds like he still likes it here… these are from all his twitter:

    “Good Luck next season to all my SA fans! You guys have the best fans in the NBA! Gonna miss you. Peace! ”
    ” I wanna come back! I love the city and fans in San Antonio”

    “The teams I wouldn’t mind going to, Spurs, Cav’s, Magic, and Golden St! What do you guys think?”

  • Phoebus

    Somebody out there is dang sure to offer Gooden more money than Buford is, that’s what I think.

  • mori1040

    Alamobro,

    Yes the college line is a lot closer in. But some of those shots were from 25-28 feet out. That’s well beyond the 23′ 9″ NBA range (at the top of the key).

    I was impressed with McClinton’s ability to create space for his shot with dribble crossovers and step back moves. Not sure if those same moves will work against NBA level defenders, but at least we know the guy can curl off a Duncan or Dice screen and drain the open shot. And because he’s so deadly when left open, defenders will think twice about doubling off of him to help on Timmy. Imagine McClinton, Roger Mason, Manu, Finley and Bonner spreading the floor for Tim to do his work down low. Double at your own risk.

    But especially considering Finley is not as mobile as he used to be and Mace prefers dribbling behind a screen to get his shots (he doesn’t seem to move that well without the ball), it’ll be great to have a player with McClinton’s skills.

    Another thing that impresses me about the kid is his poise and confidence. On all of those shots, there is absolutely no hesitation. You can tell the guy believes the ball is going in EVERY TIME, and that’s something that not all shooters have (notably Matt Bonner). You could see the same confidence and composure on display during his interview session.

    He may not be a “captain” yet, but it’ll be great having another Jack throwing in daggers.

  • mori1040

    Like everyone, I can’t wait to see how Ian will play this summer. I caught a bit of last year’s summer league, and he looked good in flashes, but not the type of presence you’d hope for a player with his purported talents.

    I hope he’ll be able to dominate the boards, get some nice put-backs and most of all, be an intimidating shot blocker, but the guy’s happy go lucky vibes in the interviews gives me reason to doubt. Here’s to hoping that he proves me wrong!

  • DNITCH

    For summer league I’d have to say seeing Ian Mahinmi is going to be the most interesting. I mean he dominated the D-League and was suppose to have his “break out” year last year but got injured. I mean even with all the waiting he is still only 22, so I’m really hoping this investment pays off well, and that he finally is able to show off what he’s got. I think that Blair and Mahinmi should play great together! The strongest thing about six players mentioned to watch for is the stout defensive potential, im pretty excited to see how this all plays out!

  • Robby

    yeah, can’t wait to see these guys in action… Ian, Blair, McClinton, Hairston and Gist…. they should prove that they belong to the NBA. hopefully all of them can make the spurs’ roster….

  • Jason

    Interesting tidbit I picked up from watching the Summer League practice videos from the Spurs website that was linked to in the last bullet… Richard Jefferson apparently was George Hill’s coach at the Jordan Basketball camp he went to in the 8th grade!

    DeJuan looks good in the practice video, he works it inside for a lay-in, looks like he might draw a foul with that move couple plays later he nails a midrange jumper with some confidence, didn’t know he had that shot.

    I wanna see Jack McClinton play in person, i’ve seen enough footage to decide that at only 4 inches taller than me that dude’s a baller.

  • http://www.48minutesofhell.com Timothy Varner

    Jason,

    There is another story about George Hill-a young George Hill convinced Tim Duncan to sign a card for him after a Spurs at Pacers game. Hill still has the card and brought it to a practice to show Duncan, much to his surprise. Must have made Duncan feel old.

  • este

    The mavs have landed Marion but it looks like it cost them Bass. The beauty of the Spurs additions this summer is that it didn’t cost them in terms of depth. I would have hated to see a Hill or Mason, Jr. go to accommodate RJ or Dice. Some will make the argument that it costs the Spurs Bowen but he wasn’t in Pops plans for next season anyway.

  • ChillFAN

    este, I completely agree that the Spurs have not sacrificed as much as other teams. This season at least, I’d rather have a Brandon Bass than a Bruce Bowen. I think the Mavs are thinking that with Gortat and the rookie that dunked on Duncan, they will not need Bass.

    Thanks, Pheobus. Great take yourself, although I think that Nash is still the type of guy that you build a team around. The issue in Phoenix is more that Kerr does not seem to have a clue as to what type of team he wants. I love the guy but he should probably be fired-the situation with Amare doesn’t look promising.

    Also, I must have missed when Tim Varner “drew a line in the sand” about provocative comments. He seems to be doing a great job moderating everyone, keeping posts fresh. I’ve never known him to shy away from good discussion, even if its not a homer Brent Barry, Bruce Bowen, Fabricio Oberto, Rasho Nesterovich, and Michael Finley love fest. As to insulting the league’s bottom rung teams, the Bard once wrote, “I must be cruel, to be kind.”

    Finally to Mori’s “Double Tim Duncan at your own risk: Sigh. Actually, I didn’t see Tim really punishing single coverage enough last season. Getting RJ helps with that, since he’s another creator on offense, as opposed to “find the open shooter” because opponents are forced to double Duncan.

  • mori1040

    Watching the live broadcast right now…

    Hill and Blair looking good on both ends. Hairston just caught on fire…4 straight shots! Not the kind of defense I would hope for, lots of layups and uncontested shots.

    Blair monster rebound and 3pt play!!

  • dingo

    Also saw the live broadcast..

    Hill was awesome, 25pts. Blair had a double double in first 17 mins on the floor (finished with 13/10).

    McClinton not so hot, tried to run the point but would say its worse than Mason Jr playing the point..

    I liked Hairston quite a bit, was hot in the 2nd half. Beck was hot in the first half.

    Finally Gist / Mahimi disappointed in my opinion, but its only first game of summer league.

    Can’t wait to watch the next game!

  • mori1040

    More thoughts…

    Blair is gonna make all the teams that passed on him regret it.

    Hairston got really hot, but when Julian Wright switched onto him late in the 3rd, that quieted things down a bit. Hill had a great drive and dish though to Hairston for the game winning corner 3. Practically an instant replay of the Parker-Mason christmas 3 except there was still about a minute left in the game.

    I agree that Gist underperformed a bit. I think he was nervous-feeling the pressure a bit too much, perhaps. For example, he made a nice steal on an inbounds pass, but instead of pump faking the defender, he dribbled collected the ball and tried to stuff it in. He got absolutely stuffed on the play. He seemed to miss a few weak side rotations on defense as well.

    Mahinmi’s biggest problem IMO, (and I can’t wait to hear from Graydon, Tim and everyone else), is that he’s a bit too passive. He needs to work on positioning for defensive boards and find a way to get himself more involved in the game. Still, he looked good running Darren Collison off the pick and roll and was generally able to recover on D. Had a nice move to the hoop, spin and a soft 9 foot left handed lay in.

    Hill’s going to be fun to watch this season!

  • mori1040

    By the way,

    does anyone know where we can find box scores for the summer league games?

    I know we should give Mahinmi and Gist another couple games, considering that it’s been a long time since Ian has played, and Gist probably needed this first game to feel settled.

  • DaniS

    mori1040,
    try this,
    http://www.nba.com/summerleague2009/games/boxscore.jsp?gameId=1520900009
    Check out Pounding the Rock’s summer league coverage, its good.

  • mori1040

    Dani,

    Thanks!!