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Summer League Impressions of TT and Friends

I know it's only 3 games and  some world beaters become egg beaters once the regular season begins.  Others show enough skills to earn a seat on  an NBA bench after being ignored in the draft.  Raw rookies get a taste of competition and young veterans can sharpen their games.  So these are more than just glorified scrimmages with a bunch of guys unlikely to even make the "D" league,  I would like to get feedback from other Blogabullers on their observations so far. 

 

 

Star-divide

HERE ARE MINE   After game one, I wrote  Lay off TT all you naysayers

After seeing 3 games, and openly admitting to some personal biases when evaluating Tyrus through my Rose colored glasses, I feel most of the negativity directed at his performances  seem overly critical  by those doubting Thomases on this blog.  What I observed was a rejuvinated player with a huge potential upside who is working hard to improve his deficiencies  but still has a lot to learn:

I am predicting you Thomas haters will eventually be eating crow. This will  be a breakout year for "the human highlight film", primarily on the defensive end once he (and Kirk) cut down on those silly fouls, while his improving offense will be a pleasant surprise and icing on a cake that the “soul eater” will be feasting on under our new and vastly improved coaching staff.

The Bulls are headed for the playoffs now that the “corpse” and his fellow zombies have returned to their crypts. Bloodsucking Boyl*n can no longer drain the life out of the baby bulls and TT will soar like an eagle now that his shackles have been removed  and his new coaches continue to teach him how to harness and exploit his freakish athleticism, motivating him to someday reach his huge upside potential with more positive feedback in a week than he received his first 2 years here. 

As I watched him race across the court in Orlando, I remember Skiles and B*#l%n  lamenting the fact that he never ran the floor, not even once while  anxioulsy  waiting for him to make a mistake that would once again relegate him to the end of the pines to teach him a lesson that they are in charge and he has made them angry  for not  following their non-functional game plan. 

Rose, TT, Thabo and Noah may never win any  shooting contests, but if the NBA had relay races, they would be Gold Medal favorites. This is going to be an exciting year from a fans standpoint regardless of their record.  Basketball is going to be an entertaing spectator sport once again next season with the Bulls new uptempo offensive sets.

TT has so far averaged 18 pts per game in 27 minutes, along with 7.7 boards, 1 steal, 2 blocks and 3 turnovers.  His FG % was .436 with his midrange jumper showing much more accuracy than last year.  More impressive was his attacking the rim that led to 24 FTA in which he made 20 (.833).  He penetrated and drew fouls consistently even though the lanes were jammed due to a lack of spacing.  If he can improve his footwork and set himself better, he could be a monster this season with his quickness if defenders have to guard his jumpshot  more closely    while he flys by them for a jam.   The Bulls need more slashers who can get opponents in penalty situations earlier.  Once Derrick Rose gets comfortable working with him, I believe this will lead to some spectacular ally oops and easy  baskets in transition since their lightening quickness  will lead to many more trips to the line fpr both of them.

Rose initially   played soft and tentatively at first until Vinnie told him to pick up the pace and he started penetrating instead of dishing off at the top of the key.  His jump shot has been non-existent and his point guard skills are very unrefined, but his atleticism is on full display.  As I said earlier,  Rose has much to learn and will not immediately be the second coming of Chris Paul or even Chris Duhon until he is ready to  take off the training wheels with more experience, thus the need to somehow keep both Hinrich and Gordon until Rose is thoroughly potty  trained.  Rose shot only .294, hittting mostly layups and missed 5 of 14 FT's.  In 28:45 minutes he averaged 9.5 pts., 4.5 assists and 4 turnovers.

Noah does not appear to be in game shape, although he came out of his fog in the 3rd game and should be fine by the beginning of the season.  Hopefully by  then, he will have developed some type of rudimentary shot to keep the defense honest    and make at least 50% of his FT's.  His energy and rebounding will only get better.  Gray has lost some baby fat and is moving much better (still extremely slow) but is a force once he establishes position in the paint.  He should be helpful offensively against certain teams that do not rely on quickness.  (8.3 pts per game in 12.35 minutes).

Nichols averaged 13.3 ppg (.419) in 28:35 minutes, while showing 3 pt. range.  He may be a keeper since his long range shooting can help space the floor, especially if we trade Noce.  Finally , Langford averaged 13.7 PPG in 28;20 minutes, shooting an amazing .682 from the floor and 50% on 3's.  PeeOn Curry also exhibited some ball handling skills in approximately 20 minutes per game, shooting only .381 but he did tie Rose in assists with 11.  Both should at least make the "D" league.  Simmons demonstrated shot blocking skills but zero offense.  None of the others wil be on any Bulls or D league roster once the season starts,,,, in my opinion.

Your thoughts?

 

 

 

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Tyrus

has a new blog entry on his website, seems to be happy with the new coaching staff. He seems mentally ready for the start of season. I agree and think he will have a good year, but am a little biased as well ;)

I vote for Thomas to play, play more and play regularly.-Sam Smith

by tyrus4prez on Jul 10, 2008 8:09 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

I assume your request for a link

was supposed to link to t4p…

http://www.tyrusthomas24.com/menu.html

Dum spiro spero! (While there is life, there’s hope!)--Leon Trotsky

by alec on Jul 10, 2008 9:13 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

I'm not worried about TT...

I just can’t wait for him to get the starting nod during the regular season and see where he can go with an uptempo offense, and a positive coach who instills confidence in him.

I am worried about Noah. Summer league showed us that TT and even Big Gray have been working out and buffing up/slimming down. TT obviously has been working on his game. Noah looks just as skinny and his shot makes me cringe. Above it’s stated that you hope Noah can make at least 50% from the foul line… reading that sounds insane! Hopefully he’ll turn it around soon. I know he’s only a 2nd yr player, but at 23 he’s pretty old for having yet to develop proper form on his shot. I just think of it like this, he’s older than Luol Deng, and what would we be saying about him if his (sling) shot looked like Noah’s?

I want more info on Langford… I know the stats (Kansas) and that he “played” for the Spurs last year, but I’m curious to know more. We need more lights-out shooters!

by smash! on Jul 10, 2008 10:43 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Noah worries me too

I expected Noah to have come to summer league with a go-to post move. It didn’t have to be refined, it didn’t have to go in all the time, but there should’ve been something. Instead, it looked like the same Noah.

by YaoPau on Jul 10, 2008 10:47 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

The same Noah

is nothing to poopoo, but I agree. His hook shot is not bad, but I was hoping for some sort of power move. He can take his man off the dribble, and occasionally finesse (ha!) it in, but his response to real contact is just to flail his arms…

Asked what kind of player he expects to be in the next five years, he said: "Not a star, but like, a superstar. Something around, like, Chris Paul, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, something like that."

by BigBenign on Jul 10, 2008 10:58 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

You're right though...

He has a nice touch around the rim, which makes his unorthodox (that’s putting it nicely!) jumpshot that much more jarring to me.

by smash! on Jul 10, 2008 11:06 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

He yam what he yam

And that’s not bad at all. But it’ll damn sure be frustrating.

Parental Advisory - Explicit Content

by Jivas on Jul 10, 2008 7:37 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I wonder if Tyrus will be able to out play

Cedric Simmons once Simmons gets some burn time?

by exult463 on Jul 10, 2008 10:51 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Tyrus

I was impressed with his shooting stroke – he had a confident free throw stroke and I was glad he was taking that midrange jumpshot.

He’s not great handling the ball, doesn’t seem to have good court sense with the ball in his hands (makes you ask, ‘Is he thinking?’). I think he can be effective when he’s given the ball while slashing or moving towards the hoop, not when he has to create off the dribble. That midrange shot can get him some points also.

Defensively, he was fun to watch. He absolutely skys for rebounds, especially on the defensive end. With an extra inch or two this season, I would expect his rebounding rates to increase. Also his shot-blocking was very impressive. The ability to shot-block is something you have or don’t – and tyrus definitely does. In the Pacers game, he was guarding Paul Davis (i think) on the block. Davis took a right hook shot and Tyrus absolutely threw that shot. That’s a tough block – it’s easier to block shots on weakside help not on your own man.

Noah

Looked real skinny. Also looked like he just got back from Jamaica. He didn’t do anything that impressed – except for a dunk off a Rose feed that was nice. I don’t think summer league is where his game thrives; he’s better in pressure game situations.

by swede2287 on Jul 10, 2008 11:00 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Tyrus' free throw form looks perfect.

It looks like he’s been working on his form A LOT.

If this becomes Tyrus’ year, it will really lend support to scotter’s analysis about guys coming in with no jumpshot, then developing one in the pros.

Dum spiro spero! (While there is life, there’s hope!)--Leon Trotsky

by alec on Jul 10, 2008 11:19 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

The interior lineup I want to see

is Tyrus and Gooden. For all his flaws, Drew can score down low and guard other big dudes, freeing Tyrus to fly around for weakside blocks and hit open Js. I like the idea of bringing Noah off the bench for energy and flexibility. The bottom line is, I think the staff needs to show some commitment to Tyrus. He came into this league RAW – basically a high school player, as Pax has said. He’s a better shooter and ball handler already. What remains to be improved is his on-court awareness, and there’s only one thing that can help him with that. minutes.

The poster formerly known as Freethefro.

by MPG on Jul 10, 2008 12:51 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

I'm warming up to this as well.

management sez: recommend fanposts/fanshots/comments! Click 'reply' when replying to a comment! Flag jerkfaces!

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Jul 10, 2008 2:30 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

sounds good too me, Gooden was the steal of the ben wallace trade.

and Noah coming off the bench like an Anderson Verajo-type? Can anyone clarify why after releasing a jumpshot Tyrus never goes for his own rebound? He just stands there with his hand in the air… I know you snap your wrist for proper form or whatever but why not at least try to get the board instead of semi-gloating that it’s going to go in? I hate that, it reminds me of watching Kobe do it every time and to see it clang off the rim more often than you’d think.

by AFireInside661 on Jul 10, 2008 5:54 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

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