Is It Too Early To Talk Summer League?

I’m going-I go every year…I was really hoping to see Oden or Durant this time though. :(

Hope Yi will be worth the trip!

Since I believe that the Celtic’s will eventually choose between Yi and Al Thornton, and since I lack a good appreciation for their respective games, this Vegas viewing will have added meaning for me. Whoever performs for the Celtic’s you can be sure that they will be severely judged by resident bloggers on this board with a very critical “eye” toward the Celtic’s future and a quick call on whether we got a contributing star of the future.

By the time Vegas starts this “bloggers site” will need new controversies to stir the pot of public opinion and future reminders that “we should have DRAFTED Conley”!!!! (eh, Brick?)

Akin Akingbala
Akinlolu Akinayi Akingbala (born 25 March, 1983 in Lagos, Nigeria) is a Nigerian basketball player currently plays for (Plus Pujol) Lleida of the Spanish LEB. Akingbala comes to the USA to play basketball and attended college after playing soccer in the same city where raised former Houston Rockets star Hakeem Olajuwon.
Player career
1998/02 Brunswick School
2002/06 Clemson Tigers
2006/07 Los Angeles D-Fenders
2006/07 (Plus Pujol) Lleida [/b][b]

Does Gasol play in the Summer league ? :D

I like the Summer League because it’s our chance to see how well the team can play when Doc isn’t coaching.

I truly didn’t believe that the Celtic’s would ever trade the #5 pick for an established star since none were apparently available (and affordable). With Rashard Lewis becoming an unrestricted free agent on 1 July, all bets are off.

Rashard is 6’10" and had his best season this past year. Only 27 (turns 28 in August) he represents the type of experienced, yet young player that the Celtic’s (and many other teams) are likely to be interested in. Lewis averaged 22 ppg and 6’6 rpg this past year. He is at the top of his game and would provide “instant” dividends.

Lewis might sign a 5 year extension for 75 million and the sign and trade would also include Ratliff’s expiring contract, #5, and perhaps Green and Gomes etc. Of course, this is all speculation since Seattle would prefer to just resign Lewis but in the past they were unwilling to go beyond 2 years/25 million.

Rondo and this yrs picks/FA crop for sure….can Gerald play again???…Ray & Powe if we keep them around…Gomes seems he’ll play anytime…good group

Leon Powe and Allan Ray shouldn’t even be on an NBA roster. Rondo will be a serviceable NBA point guard. Unfortunaly, him being on the roster means DA will surely not pick Conley, who would a MAJOR upgrade.

Leon Powe is a high energy backup who can play the 4 and 5 (although undersized at the 5) off the bench. He has good offensive ability, is always in position to rebound, and comes in the game with a nasty streak and something to prove. How can anyone not love that on our squad?! 4.2 pts and 3.4 boards in 11 minutes a game… For $432k this year!! His per 48 numbers are 16 and 12. I’ll take that off the bench anyday!

Ray is a great shooter that will be valuable off the bench for a very low price. Although he struggled a lot of the year his trip to the D-League boosted his confidence and he played fairly well the last part of the year. Look at that last game vs. Detroit. How can you say he doesn’t even belong in the NBA?! Once again, for the money you are spending he is a good 11-12th man on the roster who has a better shooting touch than most in the NBA. I don’t see what’s not to like if he becomes more consistent. These two are rookies for goodness sake!

Rashard Lewis plays zero defense. I wouldn’t give a used sock for him. But Ainge might. He’ll pay lip service to improving the defense and then go out and do the opposite.

When Mike Conley rips the Vegas Summer league to shreds, you’ll understand why this Celtics management group is hopeless.

Look at what a good coach plus Deron Williams have done for the Utah Jazz.

Is there no end to the fantasy? First Conley was being compared to Chris Paul but apparently that comparison wasn’t enough. Now his potential NBA comparison is likened to Deron Williams (because he has been spectacular in the playoffs). I will concede that Conley is a talent but let’s not overstate his value.

But the Celtic’s already have a budding star in Rondo and a whole lot of other needs so duplication of strength makes little sense unless a trade changes our PG situation.

As for Rashard having little defense, until the Celtic’s devise a good defensive strategy even Oden would have trouble maximizing his full defensive potential. I expect that if we’re lucky enough to get Rashard and a “defense-minded” assistant coach to complement Clifford Ray’s contribution, that we’ll see a better defensive product.

I don’t understand the criticism of Leon Powe. He is a valuable bench player that comes at a bargain price. He was also a rookie so there’s still room for growth. We still don’t know his upside but we do see his demonstrated potential and his determination. For such a late round find I think Ainge did well.

Conely reminds me of Kenny Anderson

Conley is much better than KA. No comparison, except that they are both lefty.

If Yi is drafted by the Celtics, He will not join Boston’s SL team. He has to follow Chinese National Basketball Team this summer, which will participate The Vegas SL too.

So…

I’d like to watch it live. What date is it in Vegas?

I believe the date is July 6th, and runs for nine days. Games have not been set yet,but should be in a couple of weeks.
If Yi is our draft pick. He will supposedly play with the Chinese National team. That gives more games to enjoy. Five Celtic games and five Yi games, sounds good to me

I’ll be out to Vegas for my second year. I really suggest anyone go if they can.
Last year I sat behind Danny, Doc and Gorman as we all watched the C’s get ripped by someone. I think it was Dallas.
Anyhow, C’s fans that are making the trip should try and have a get together. It is Vegas after all. I’m coming from LA so I might make two trips depending on the schedule.
If the C’s draft Yi, I hope the summer schedule puts the C’s team vs. Chinese Nationals. That would be interesting to see Yi have a chance to set the record straight before training camp.

Summer league too early for me. As far as a Theo sighting, I want Doc to say he will play Theo all game until his tongue is hanging out, and then

The over/under line in Vegas is 14 mintues before Theo injures himself again and is lost for the whole 07-08 season.

I am betting on the “under”- $1 large.

Conely’s comparison to Kenny Anderson was a complement. Kenny was a stud in college. He absolutly dominated the college game and played fairly well his first few years in the NBA, before his popularity got to his head and stoped working on his game. If MConely’s is as good or even better than KAnderson, then we should seriously consider drafting him at 5.