6:29PM: OK, folks here we go. So far I’m seeing this on my stream which is not good news. I’m sure the gentleman who has taken it upon himself to perform the illegal task of broadcasting games will soon correct this minor inconvenience.
Raptors are: Weems-Davis-Dorsey-DeRozan-B. Brown. Rockets are: Budinger, Patterson, Hill, Taylor, Smith.
1st, 5:33 12-10 Raps: DeRozan’s got the early mid-range jumper going, looks very confident. Made a nice defensive play after getting beat, didn’t see much of that last year. The bad news: a very bad turnover caused because his handles are still weak. The other interesting play? Ed Davis travelling while making a post-move, early days boys, early days. Wait on him, he’ll make you forget about Christina.
1st 3:05 18-13 Raps: We got a female ref in this game, just though you should know. I can see why Jordan Hill keeps getting traded, uncoordinated post-moves, unsure finishing. Alabi’s in the game now and he needs to figure out how to set a proper screen, the technique is pretty off. DeRozan’s missed a wide-open three from the corner, you’d think if he wants to become a big-time scorer he’s got to make that shot with consistency so defenses come out to defend. He made up for it by picking off a lazy pass and jamming it home on the break, and then he pulled a Kobe-move! Yes, drive hard, stop on a dime, fake, get defender up in the air, pivot away from the defender and drain a mid-range jumper. Plus 1. We have just been informed that Solomon Alabi is working on a sky-hook!!! Kareem Abdul Alabi!!!
1st 0:25, 23-19: They’re raving about DeMar’s athleticism, but that difficult alley he couldn’t convert to the oop would’ve been done so by Vince, just saying. Alabi tries the sky-hook! Sort of, it didn’t go in but he got fouled. Alabi’s guarding Patterson who took him outside but Alabi recovered well to contest, he’s very aware on defense and looking to contest everyone, not just worry about his man. Sonny Weems gets in on the action with a nice drive to the paint and floating finish. James Mays is in the game for the Raptors, relation to Sean Mays?
End of 1: The quarter ends on a sour note. Alabi loses his man on the box-out which eventually turns into a Houston 3pt play off an offensive rebound. Raptors definitely the better team, DeRozan leads all scorers with 8.
2nd 7:42, 34-25: Young guns in effect. Mesmerizing play by Weems and DeRozan. Weems flies in for the sick dunk and on the next possession, both are on the same page as Weems finds DeRozan on that baseline alley-oop that we’ve seen DeRozan execute a lot last season. Weems then shows some range by taking it outside for a three, no reason why he can’t extend his range to three with the form he’s got. In other news, Bobby Brown think he can make the team by hoisting it up. Joey Dorsey’s in the game and he gets two offensive rebounds on the same possession. Unlike Reggie Evans, he “passes” it to DeRozan for a dunk.
2nd 6:40 35-27: I know this is summer league, but I have to think that Joey Dorsey can do a lot of he’s doing in this game at the NBA-level. The guy can clear out space with the best of them. The flow of this game is definitely in favor of the Raptors, basically Weems and DeRozan can do whatever they want and if they don’t score, they’ll get fouled. Dorsey is even rotating to play defense without fouling. Weems with 11, DeRozan with 12. Dorsey with 6 rebounds, and those ain’t the Moses Malone types either.
2nd 5:49, 39-37: DeRozan drives on Chase Budinger, sees Jordan Hill coming at him, spins for the And1. Good strength showed by the sophomore, he gets a breather and in comes MICHAEL ROLL. Boy, this Hughes guy for the Rockets is pretty bad, he couldn’t make it in the Guatemalan league.
2nd 4:08, 43-34: Dorsey wants a spot on the roster in a bad way. He’s going after every rebound, setting solid picks and then rolling to the rim instead of just standing there. Finally gets a breather as Alabi comes in. Alabi moves well on defense, but if he wants to be more than just a good help-defender, he’s got to put on some weight. He rebounds using his length more than technique at this point, it’s got to be both. He can’t tip-toe over NBA guys like he’s doing today. BTW, this Hughes guy is awful, I can break his ankle. Dee Brown’s got some speed in the open floor, but that’s about it. Hasn’t shown much in the way of playmaking.
2nd 3:06, 48-36: Here’s an example of Alabi using his length instead of technique. He didn’t fight for position with Hill on the defensive glass, but chose to reach. Didn’t work. He’s got to add a banging mentality to his game, otherwise he’s Patrick O’Bryant. No joke. Got to show more.
2nd 53-42 1:06: Absolutely horrible PnR defense by Alabi, comes out to hedge at an angle that makes the PGs decision too easy – drive to the rim for a layup. On the other end, he hits tear-drop, one of those shots you’d rather not see a 7’1″ guy take. And then he fouls Budinger on his drive to the paint. Alabi all over the place.
Hmm…my stream seems to have died like the Calderon trade. The starters are done for the half, hopefully it comes back by the start of the second.
How about Raptors TV, eh? They’re not showing the game live, and the replay is at 8:30. AM. Tomorrow!!!
Halftime 57-43 Raps: It’s all about DeRozan and Weems. They’re a cut above anyone else there and have combined for 25 points. Joey Dorsey leads with 7 rebounds, Ed Davis played 12 minutes but looked very rusty. Remember, Vegas is his first action since early February.
Samuel Dalembert. Yes, if everything goes well for Alabi, he can be a Samuel Dalembert.
OK, NBA Broadband’s having a problem so we’ve been “treated” to Cleveland vs D-Leaguers. So I’ll talk about this now. 79-76 Cavs 2:23 left. This game has the likes of Anthony Tolliver in it.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many open jumpers being airballed as I have in the last hour. The D-Leaguers are playing this game like it means something big. JJ Hickson’s playing for the Cavs and tearing it up 18pts, 8rebs. Not so tearing it up, Danny Green who has 8 turnovers in this game. 8 turnovers? The only people allowed that many TOs in the league are LeBron and Wade. Still no sign of the Raptors game.
Russell Robinson hits a jumper to get 25 for the game, Danny Green blows a wide open J. Tyndale of D-Leaguers miss the wide open jumper and Rick Kamla tells us that “the plot thickens”. No joke. He’s calling the game with David Aldridge who just can’t wait to hit the strip as soon as this travesty is over. As some dude named Pooh Jeter steps in to take some FTs, Kamla chides, “a hush has come over the crowd”. These guys need to be calling the World Cup.
NBA Broadband is saying that we can’t see the Raptors game because of an “input signal problem”. For those who played $14.95 for this, sorry.
4th 9:50: It’s 77-65 to the Raptors and Alabi has come alive with 10 points, he’s perfect from the FT line 6-6. Ed Davis has only attempted one shot so far, and missed it. He’s had three turnovers, all of them trying to post up. BTW, the Cavs beat the D-Leaguers. Apparently, Byron Scott is implementing an up-tempo offense in Cleveland. It’s what coaches who don’t have any talent at their disposal are forced to do.
Bobby Brown has had himself a good game 4-4 with 12 points including two threes. Not sure he’s done enough to earn an invite to training camp,though, not with us having two PGs and a tweener on the roster. Him and Dee Brown should concern themselves with playing defense and getting on the team that way instead of trying to be offensive players. Neither has done that.
Joey Dorsey has picked up right where he left off. He pulled down two offensive rebounds for scores and continues to hammer Jordan Hill and anyone else crazy enough to contest him for a rebound. 11pts, 11rebs so far. This guy is a homeless man’s Dwight Howard.
Final 100-91 Raps: Some inspired play from Jordan Hill had cut the lead to four, but DeRozan was quickly brought off the bench to restore order. He finishes with a game-high 23 on 10-15 shooting and displayed a nice shooting touch and first-step throughout the game. Dorsey continued to be a problem inside, sheer tenacity and willingness to get after the ball, nothing more. If Andrea Bargnani had a little of Joey Dorsey in him, he’s be a perennial All-Star. Weems did most of his 11-point damage in the first-half including some highlight-reel material; he only shot 5-15, most of the mises being mid-range jumpers that he usually makes. Bobby Brown with 20 points on 6-7 shooting, nice game, maybe some other team might be interested.