RW Dubbed Best of Orlando Summer League

by norcald503 on Jul 12, 2008 12:34 AM PDT

John Denton, over at the WWL, had a quick run-through of the best and worst of the NBA's Orlando Summer League. And of no surprise to all of BN, RW was dubbed the league's best player.

As Denton says:

BEST PLAYER: Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City
Ask the GMs who attended the five-day camp in Orlando, and they unanimously pick Westbrook as the week's top performer. Everyone knew he was a defensive ace with his long arms and burly shoulders, but he was far more effective offensively this week than most expected.

He used his size and burst off the dribble to get anywhere on the floor he wanted. Because of injuries, he never got to play against Rose in what would have been one of the marquee matchups of the week, but he had his way with Chalmers and the other guards in the camp.

Kevin Durant, the NBA's reigning Rookie of the Year, left highly impressed, and confident that the young core of himself, Jeff Green, White and Westbrook means that OKC will have a winner sooner rather than later.

On the flip side, Denton dubbed Rose the summer league's "biggest disappointment" due to his knee issues and frustration with the structured offense the Bulls were running.

Denton kept with the Pac-10 love, going with Brook Lopez as the best big man of the Orlando summer league (with Beasley coming in second).

While it's nice to see the Pac-10 get some love, this news re: RW comes as no surprise to those of us who got to watch him week in and week out doing all kinds of incredible things, both on offense and defense.

Here's to seeing some more signature high-flying nasty in-your-face dunks (coupled with in-your-face defense) from RW in OKC this year.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of BruinsNation's (BN) editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of BN's editors.

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and OJ2?

Here’s a little exerpt of how he’s doing.

LAS VEGAS – O.J. Mayo dribbled between his legs once, twice, and that’s all Dwayne Mitchell needed to see. Suddenly Mitchell was ripping the ball from Mayo’s hands, racing downcourt and punching in a thunderous dunk that brought the crowd at UNLV’s Cox Pavilion to its feet.
The Memphis Grizzlies’ much-celebrated rookie had just been embarrassed by a D-Leaguer. Admire your dribble too long, even in the NBA Summer League, and you likely won’t keep it. The turnover was one of six Mayo committed Sunday evening against the Los Angeles Lakers. Mayo also had a shot thrown back by Coby Karl, rarely an indicator of greatness, even if the building’s public-address announcer mistakenly hailed the Lakers’ guard as "Kobe Bryant."

Mayo doesn’t figure to be inviting similar comparisons just yet. He’s been sloppy with the ball at times, evidenced by the 18 turnovers he’s totaled, and he had to grind through his third game in as many nights.

Now, the article goes on about how he’s still dazzling people… but one thing i see in him is his lack of discipline. That’s not something you can say about RW.

Great post norcal.

by UCLAbruin920 on Jul 14, 2008 3:19 PM PDT 0 recs

Totally agree on OJ2

Good info you posted. All we heard all year long, whenever OJ2’s shortcomings were exposed, is some variation of the he’s “an NBA player” and “not suited for the college game” excuses. I never understood how people could write off OJ2’s propensity to turn over the ball in college as “the college game’s” fault. I mean, most guys are great in college and a bust in the NBA. It’s common sense. The NBA is faster, less defense-oriented, sure, but the guys in the NBA are faster, more athletic, and all-around better players than your average Pac-10 defender.

Seeing how OJ2 couldn’t help but turn the ball over whenever he had the chance, I think Kevin McHale took Memphis to the cleaners, giving them a guard who is going to do nothing but cost his team games by giving the other team free points.

Hell, when you’re a lottery pick and guys like Dwayne Mitchell and Coby Karl is showing you up, that should be an indication that you’re not getting it done. Hmm. Kind of fitting OJ2 ended up on the same team as Darko and Kwame Brown, huh?

by norcald503 on Jul 14, 2008 3:41 PM PDT up 0 recs

I never thought it was him not being suited for the college game

but more a matter of being thrown into the college game without much coaching. OJ was thrown in there and told to carry the team, but wasn’t given boundaries. Anything the kid did was fine with Floyd so how was he ever going to learn? He was carried through the college game by exceptional raw talent and now that raw talent is being tested by players with some talent, but also experience and fundamentals. I was ready to declare OJ overrated and horrible before he stepped on campus, but he really surprised me last year. He was willing to work offensively AND defensively. He didn’t blame his issues on others and he didn’t throw up gang signs and show up the other team. He just played the game (the issue with taking money didn’t surprise me and while he was wrong to do so, I blame the system more than OJ himself). I think what we’re seeing in the summer league is a kid who hasn’t been given boundaries before and learned his limitations.

by ryebreadraz on Jul 14, 2008 3:51 PM PDT up 0 recs

What's really sad...

...is that we cite things like “didn’t throw up gang signs and show up the team” as if that deserves praise. Congrats OJ2, you weren’t a gangbanger. We’ll give you a gold star for that!

I’m not blaming you Rye, I’m just saying that U$C has sunk so low that we are surprised and pleased when one of their stars isn’t a criminal.

Anyway, I’m not saying OJ2 was a bad kid, just that his game (and perhaps his own propensity to show off with the ball in hand) is predisposed to turning the ball over. Throughout the season, the OJ2 apologists across town and in the MSM didn’t want to blame Timmeh, didn’t want to blame OJ2. Instead we heard crap about how he’ll be a better pro than a college player, how is game was more suited to the pros, etc.

I always thought that was a pretty lame excuse and I think he’ll get exposed in the NBA for being a good player, but nothing special. Shame for the kid. Nothing but a product of the Nike-WWL-AAU hype machine.

by norcald503 on Jul 14, 2008 5:59 PM PDT up 0 recs

OJ Mayo

probably has the talent to overcome what is essentially the loss of an entire season he could have spent developing his game, but-for a myriad of reasons-didn’t. He has shown that he is willing to work on his game. (Frankly, I blame Timmeh for the waste of this time.)

Of course it is to be expected that folks who refuse to play by the rules in the first place, and take no responsibility for the violations thereof, have no qualms about using the kid they’ve paid for to get them through the season and into the Dance without bettering him as a player.

You’re right, norclad, it is a shame.

Love My Bruins

by Bruingirl83 on Jul 15, 2008 2:25 PM PDT up 0 recs