Friday, July 19, 2013

Notes from 2013 Denver Nuggets Summer League play:

Just a couple quick notes from the Denver Nuggets Summer League games:

**The first couple games, Jordan Hamilton's game was OFF.  After missing the 3rd game to handle a family issue, J-Ham went bonkers in the 1st quarter of his return game.  Simply put, he was the J-Ham that we all know and love.  His perimeter shooting will be a huge asset this upcoming season.  Still shaky on his defense, but isn't everyone?


**Evan Fournier came out strong in the first game, showing a really nice stroke on his shot and ability to create shots off of screens.  His ballhandling was really suspect in a couple games.  Another thing that went unmentioned was his leadership role in helping Erick Green know his place and instilling confidence in the rookie.

**Since we just addressed Erick Green- The rookie can SHOOT.  Rather small as expected, he looked better and better with each game.  His ability to hit 3s will give him a strong chance to make the roster this upcoming season.  The way he came off screens with his dribble was indicative of his confidence level rising. While he may not get much playing time in 2013-14, he can mature in a very good player.

**Quincy Miller had a couple really bad 3 games, at times showing a spark of brilliance, then disappearing for the remainder of the game, or chucking up really poor 3s.  By game 4 and 5, he found his niche and accordingly found his stroke, busting 3s with deadly accuracy.  It's unfair to think of him as a PF despite his height.  This young man should be groomed to be a shooting guard or small forward. Personally I'd like to see him develop into a badass 6' 10" PG.  On a couple plays, he had a couple really nice entry passes in which he was able to look over the defense and deliver.

**In the first few games, Darius Johnson-Odom really had some special moments, despite the overall poor team play.  For about 5 minutes in game 2(?), he was unstoppable going to the rim for the layup or dish.  His disposition is really what impresses me, like an angry dog.  He is "blessed" with a scowl that will immediately draw a technical foul from Joey Crawford and backs it up with tenacious play like he always has something to prove.  He may not make the roster, but he should be a training camp invite.

**The rest of the lineup was pretty poor, outmatched almost every time they stepped on the floor.  The coaches gave C.J. Harris a chance to show what he has by putting him in the startin lineup, but he was getting torched on defense and didn't really step a tempo the way a PG should.  Luke Harangody showed a nice (but weird looking) 3 point shot and had no problems trying to draw charges, but his size and speed will keep him from making the roster.  He may get a training camp invite though.  The rest of the roster was really unremarkable.

Leaving the 2013 Summer League, the Nuggets team showed a plethora of outside shooters.  That aspect of the game was sorely missed last year, as Fournier and J-Ham were buried on the bench most of the year, and Q wasn't going to see the court.  One of the funny moments of the last game was to see J-Ham dribble across halfcourt, sizing up Coby Karl and drop a 25 foot shot in his face as if saying, "That's for your dad benching me all year".  As good as the perimeter shooting was, the interior game was awful, just awful, indicating we have a real lack of upcoming talented big men.  But that's something which can be addressed in the draft or as roster cuts are made.  The 2013-14 season doesn't look as bad as the doomsayers have predicted.