Hoops

Orlando Summer League Updates

So perhaps for at least his rookie season, the NBL might not be such a bad place for Motum to start his pro career.

Kirk Penney is still chasing unpaid wages from his stint in Spain.

That is true from what I have heard also.

On the flip side, the Middle East is becoming a lucrative option for those that can get over the fear of living in a war-torn region.

Import salaries in Lebanon are $300k plus now. Furthermore, it is all tax-free.

Jackson finished averaging:

5ppg, 5.7rpg, 7apg and 1.8spg.

Only through 21mpg. So he averaged a triple double per 48. Not bad!

But I would imagine the turnovers were a problem.

Motum was another DNP-CD in Philly's last game against Orlando.

I've been harping on the Kings going after him for ages now to the point that even though they've got 11 players signed (10 fit ones) I will be disappointed if they don't at least try! They should still have plenty of cash and points and they REALLY need that extra big body up front and Brock would be the perfect fit.

It's a shame that he was probably only 2 when Hammer was playing for the Bullets, as it's been said that if there was a Brisbane team he'd be more of a chance to stick around, but it's a better link than nothing...

Plus it would really counter Boti's latest blog post about us being too guard heavy :)

Europe it will be IMO - probably was always the case, but you always have to dip your toe in the water and give it a crack!

+ there aren't exactly many spots up for grabs right now in the NBL with most teams having most of their rosters for 2013-14 in place and with that their cash allocated

Motum was a DNP-CD in the Philly loss to OKC.

OKC have beaten the 76ers to remain unbeaten in Orlando.
Jeremy Lamb poured in an impressive game-high 32 points on 10-of-14 shooting, following the dazzling display from Reggie Jackson against the Pistons yesterday (Jackson was rested against Philly).

Steve Adams had 13 points (4/5 FG, 5/8 FT) and he added five rebounds, two steals and two blocked shots in just over 29 minutes as starting centre for OKC.

Adams later told NBA TV in Orlando that he was still adjusting to the higher levels of competition but was keeping things simple as he starts out as a professional.

"It's a lot more physical, there's a lot more strategy and the skill level has gone up even more than NCAA," he said.

"All OKC is teaching me is just the defensive side of things and being physical, and also that communication is such a big part. They're just making sure I get all the basic stuff.

"That's all I'm focused on when I get into games - everything else is extra. If I score it's extra. I'm just focused on the defensive side."

The 19-year-old New Zealander said he's spending a lot of time with Thunder big man coach Mark Bryant and was soaking up all the information he had to offer.

"He's teaching me all the veteran tricks. Man, it's crazy, he's quite creative, eh."

"I hope it works out for them (OKC), him (Adams) and you (Mystro).

I seriously was not having a go at Adams. Behind Bogut, Mills and Baynes, he'll be the guy I'm cheering for the loudest. I want him to succeed, and if he's an all-star and defensive player of the year in a few years, then that would be awesome. I was just looking at OKC right now, this season, as a contender, and thought Olynyk would probably help them more, that's all.

I think both of those guys will be good players. In fact, I think they'll both be better than Len and Noel in time."

I didn't take any offense and cheers bro ;)

I believe they will both co-exist nicely with the Thunder (Adams and Ibaka).
Adams has averaged a couple of blocked shots a game already and is steadily improving which is all the Thunder want.
Have you seen the size of Adams hands and what he was benching at the Draft Combine? He was the strongest in this years draft by a bit and he was also the fastest Centre up and down the court which is prob a big factor in why OKC grabbed him.

The Thunder don't need Adams to score points, this guy called Kevin will do that.

They want a big guy who's gonna be healthy to bang bodies, set screens for Westbrook and Durant and rebound the ball when they miss and defend. Adams is more than capable of doing that.

The Thunder were led by Reggie Jackson who went 12-of-19 from the field and nine-of-11 from the free-throw line. He poured in 23 of those points in the final quarter, including 18 straight, as his team erased a 14-point deficit in the final term.
Many of Jackson's looks came off excellent screens set by Adams in the high post.

Firstly, despite my long standing hatred of both the Kings and specifically the Bullets, the NBL is going to be very much the poorer without these two teams. I sincerely hope that those responsible can work somthing out that can allow these teams to remain in the competition this coming season.

Having said this though, what I'm reading suggests that miracles will be required for both to survive. We have a real possibility of losing these two teams and completely stuffing the current schedule.

As I've already started paying for my season tickets, I'm not too happy about the possibility of losing at least 3 home games.

Is it safe to assume then, that if we drop to 11 teams, the League will move to a schedule where all teams play each other three times? This seems very logical as it will result in the current 30 game (15 home game) schedule to remain. But it's a pretty sucky way to get parity though.

Also will it be just the top six through to the playoffs?