| Summer League Analysis: Game 1, Vs. Chinese National Team Authored by J.T. Magee - July 10, 2007 - 3:32 pm
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The Kings played an aggressive style of basketball and the starting unit looked like they had been the practice squad for the actual Sacramento starting team. They shared the ball and the frontcourt worked their tails off. Each King who played had a positive impact, but each came out of the game with parts of their game that needed a little tinkering.
Justin Williams
Williams gave it to Yi Jianlian, forcing him into difficult shots and being a pest on the glass. I’m glad he found a place in the NBA because the Kings are a great fit for what he can bring to a team. His shot blocking is what he’s known for, but the weight he’s put on in the past year has helped him down low. The most impressive part of his game was how he was using his rolls on the pick & rolls. He found a way to find an open space in the defense and attacked the hoop, whether he had the ball or not. Williams was very efficient in his play and he looked like he could come off the bench as Brad Miller’s back up. Although all of the praise went to his frontcourt mate Spencer Hawes, Williams was the true player of the game for Sacramento. He played within his strengths and utilized areas of his game that were never there at Wyoming. Strong game from Williams.
Francisco Garcia
Garcia may be the starting small forward if Ron Artest is traded. He showed why he is ready, using his basketball IQ to play-make his way to an excellent game. His handle has improved and he even showed a little bit of a shooting guard style of offense against China. He would try to create space and then rise up for a fade away jump shot, which produced mixed results. Garcia is 26 years old and entering his third year in the NBA. If this game was any indication in his role this season, he will become one of Sacramento’s primary ball handlers, igniting the offense and creating plays for his teammates. Garcia was poised on both ends of the floor and looked like this game was a tune-up for the upcoming season. Let’s see if he can produce like this against NBA-caliber swingmen.
Spencer Hawes
Hawes showed why he was considered the best low-post scorer coming into the 2007 NBA Draft. He was a monster down low on offense. He used pivots, fakes, hooks, jump shots and up-and-unders to score. He will be an instant scorer off the bench because it’s second nature for him to score around the hoop. He used both hands comfortably and had a polished jump shot to go along with it. His pick setting wasn’t as good as Williams’, but he has more potential to become an overall pick & roll threat because his knack for scoring helps Sacramento. His offense was great and he rebounded the ball well, but his interior defense was below his talent level. If offense is second nature to him, defense is an artificial substance he never got used to. He couldn’t jump to block or alter shots. He was timid, afraid for some unknown reason. His defense wasn’t terrible, but it was bad enough to hinder how well he played within Sacto’s offense. If he can produce on the defensive end like he can on offense, then he’ll become an All-Star.
Pooh Jeter
The former Pilot proved he belonged on an NBA roster against China. Although he wasn’t tested defensively, Jeter has the quickness, bulk and gusto to put defense before his own offense. He moves his feet well and plays driving angles with the acuteness of a sharp summer sail. (Had to throw an ‘s’ alliteration in there.) Offensively, he was able to get anywhere he saw fit and made smart plays. Jeter has a good bball IQ and has the handle to not let pressure affect him. I hope he makes the team, but Ronnie Price has that back-up spot locked down and I’m not sure if the Kinds feel comfortable going with two inexperienced point guards who are known for their scoring. They fit the up-tempo bill, so we’ll see.
Donta Smith
Smith is one of the players who came out too early. It showed against the Chinese National Team. While he has the physical tools to be a good swingman, the elements needed weren’t there. His team defense is okay and his offense left a little more to be desired. I wasn’t looking for a lot out of, but I was expecting him to produce a little more for the team. He is a candidate to bust out one of these games because he has a lot of potential, but it doesn’t look like he has received the proper coaching to bring the best out of him.
Mustafa Shakur
Shakur has the talent to play in the NBA, but after four inconsistent years at Arizona, he’s looking at a partially-guaranteed contract to make the team. He would have to beat out Jeter in order to make the roster. After this game, there is no indication Shakur should be in Sacramento’s Training Camp instead of Jeter. He has the size and vision to run an offense, but he doesn’t have the second nature of controlling a team. He looked like he was just playing rather than reacting and playing. He had to think twice about some of his decisions and didn’t show the poise needed to run a team. He has a few more games to prove me wrong, though.
Nik Caner-Medley & David Young
Both of these players were lost in the game. I like Caner-Medley’s game because he has a unique perimeter game and is very strong. I couldn’t get a feel for Young, so I can’t really comment on him. I’ll have to see more of these two in their next games.
Darryl Watkins
I really like what Watkins brings to the table. He’s big, mobile and energetic. He is physical under the post and uses his size to establish position. He has a basic post game, but it was effective against weak interior defenders. Watkins had a good feel for the game and picked his spots. I want to see more of him, fa sho. I didn’t write much on him, but he is one of the players who definitely deserves to be at the Las Vegas Summer League and contributing.
Overall View
Sacramento’s starting line-up looked like a good unit off the bench for an NBA team. Although Smith wasn’t up to par with the rest of the starters, he did enough to be a contributor. I imagine they’ll shuffle the line-up in order to get Quincy Douby in the game. I didn’t talk about him because he didn’t play. When he plays, I’ll delve into his play and status on the team. Until then, we’ll just see how they do in their next game. |
