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JSM
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 Posted: Tue Jul 18, 2006 10:18 am Post subject: Wafer envisions himself in a Shaw or Harper type role |
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Ventura County Star: Von Wafer is an enigma.
There are periods when he’s the controlled sharpshooter the Los Angeles Lakers could use. Other times he’s an out-of-control guard who pouts on the court.
Los Angeles has seen a little of both in Summer Pro League play at Long Beach State.
He scores 18 points his second game and then disappears with five points in 14 minutes Saturday night against Memphis.
"I have to stay within what (Coach Phil) Jackson wants me to do in the triangle," Wafer said. "I think maybe a Ron Harper or Brian Shaw type of role. I’m going to need to be able to start the offense and get everybody where they need to be and things like that."
The Lakers took a chance last summer on the 6-foot-5 guard who left Florida State following his sophomore season. He left there — unhappy with his playing time — and took his chances with the NBA draft.
Selected No. 39 in the second round, Wafer came to Long Beach a wide-eyed, shoot-first 19-year-old. He played well enough to earn a roster spot for the 2005-06 season, but didn’t do much more than that.
Wafer appeared in 20 games, averaging 1.3 points, 0.3 assists and 0.5 rebounds in 4.6 minutes. His long-range shooting potential largely went unnoticed. He shot .158 from the field and .118 from 3-point range — making only 2 of 17 attempts.
"I just came in wild and raw," Wafer said. "I did what I had been doing my whole life — shooting the ball."
Los Angeles made use of the NBA’s minor league system, the National Basketball Developmental League, and assigned Wafer to their affiliate, the Fort Worth Flyers.
This summer, the Lakers want to see if Wafer can efficiently handle the basketball and run the triangle offense. In other words, pass first and shoot second.
"He’s not used to being back there, working the ball up the floor," said Kurt Rambis, the Lakers’ summer league coach. "He’s used to coming down, coming off picks and shooting balls. We need to see if he can make the offense move."
The summer league opener, July 8 against Memphis, Wafer made just 1 of 6 shots for two points.
"I was a little too tentative," Wafer said. "I was trying to run the triangle and I think I was thinking too much."
The next night, a calmer Wafer made 7 of 15 shots, including 2 of 3 3-pointers, in scoring 18 points. He failed, though, to find teammates with only one assist and several questionable moves on offense.
With 10 seconds left in the first quarter, Wafer lost track of the time, and needed a scolding from Rambis along the sideline to realize it as he hurried and made a fallaway 3-pointer at the buzzer.
When his shots don’t fall, Wafer often sulks, appearing lost and uninterested. After one poor shot attempt, Rambis yelled, "If you stop taking bad shots, you won’t be so tired."
But it’s his quick thinking, even when he makes mistakes that shows his potential.
Wafer made a crossover dribble, shook his defender and swished another 3-point buzzer-beater — this time at the end of the third quarter.
"In the three-guard front, he hasn’t been very good in terms of reading what needs to be done within the offense," Rambis said after the game. "He did a lot better job this game than he did in prior games."
"Kobe’s not out here and LO’s (Lamar Odom) not out here, but in real life I’m going to have to play to their strengths and what they do best," Wafer said. "It doesn’t make sense to come out here and score at will. We’re not going to be able to do that in a real game."
As reporters wait for players to emerge from the locker room, Wafer consistently comes late as he stretches and meditates. He speaks smoothly, but makes it clear he’s only 20 going on 21 on Friday.
He discusses the NBDL experience, but says he didn’t learn much.
"I couldn’t really learn much away from Kobe and LO. I learned a lot from those guys. There was a major talent dropoff. I couldn’t learn anything from those guys that I haven’t seen."
The difference this year from last year is slight, he says, as the Lakers only have higher expectations for him. And he says he’s OK with that.
"I feel comfortable out there," Wafer said. "I just want to make better plays for other people." |
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JSM
Clublakers Site Manager
Joined: 28 Apr 2003
Posts: 70472
Location: Atlanta
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| Posted: Tue Jul 18, 2006 10:19 am Post subject: Re: Wafer envisions himself in a Shaw or Harper type role |
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| Ventura County Star: After one poor shot attempt, Rambis yelled, "If you stop taking bad shots, you won’t be so tired." |
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KB24@CL
Clublakers Moderator
Joined: 22 Jun 2004
Posts: 40823
Location: always in the near...
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| Posted: Tue Jul 18, 2006 10:25 am Post subject: |
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well he has extremely poor hoop IQ.
All the tools, yet too stupid. I want to send him to the NBDL because he will not get a roster spot. no chance
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missmyzte
ClubSpurs.com Administrator
Joined: 23 Feb 2004
Posts: 4982
Location: So Cal
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| Posted: Tue Jul 18, 2006 11:13 am Post subject: |
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I heard him make that statement and just about fell over when he said it. The great thing about players like B-Shaw is that they were saavy veterans able to make good decisions, Wafer is nothing like that. His decision-making ability is right around there with Kareem Rush.
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JSM
Clublakers Site Manager
Joined: 28 Apr 2003
Posts: 70472
Location: Atlanta
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| Posted: Tue Jul 18, 2006 11:21 am Post subject: |
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^ Yeah, if I'm Shaw or Harper, I slap him for that comment. He doesn't have the IQ or the basketball savvy they possessed.
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nicehair911
Still Waiting For Ron
Joined: 11 Aug 2005
Posts: 10161
Location: Wit so much drama in da LBC it's kinda hard bein Snoop D-O double G
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| Posted: Tue Jul 18, 2006 3:15 pm Post subject: |
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In turns of Hoop IQ Wafer is the opposite of those guys.
All I can say os
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"Michael Jordan once said that there's a right way and wrong way to practice basketball. He said that it doesn't matter if you practice eight hours a day-if you're practicing the wrong way, all you're doing is getting really good at doing the wrong things"
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trodgers
Clublakers Moderator
Joined: 22 Oct 2004
Posts: 23344
Location: Tallahassee
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| Posted: Tue Jul 18, 2006 4:30 pm Post subject: |
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That's funny. I envision Von Wafer as more of a poor man's Mike Penberthy.
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Still A Dynasty
Joined: 27 Dec 2004
Posts: 2821
Location: City of Angels
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| Posted: Tue Jul 18, 2006 8:29 pm Post subject: |
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He gots the physical tools...but thats about it
right |
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flexxdzl
Joined: 05 Jan 2005
Posts: 5362
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| Posted: Tue Jul 18, 2006 8:56 pm Post subject: Re: Wafer envisions himself in a Shaw or Harper type role |
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| JSM wrote: |
| Quote: |
Ventura County Star: Von Wafer is an enigma.
There are periods when he’s the controlled sharpshooter the Los Angeles Lakers could use. Other times he’s an out-of-control guard who pouts on the court.
Los Angeles has seen a little of both in Summer Pro League play at Long Beach State.
He scores 18 points his second game and then disappears with five points in 14 minutes Saturday night against Memphis.
"I have to stay within what (Coach Phil) Jackson wants me to do in the triangle," Wafer said. "I think maybe a Ron Harper or Brian Shaw type of role. I’m going to need to be able to start the offense and get everybody where they need to be and things like that."
The Lakers took a chance last summer on the 6-foot-5 guard who left Florida State following his sophomore season. He left there — unhappy with his playing time — and took his chances with the NBA draft.
Selected No. 39 in the second round, Wafer came to Long Beach a wide-eyed, shoot-first 19-year-old. He played well enough to earn a roster spot for the 2005-06 season, but didn’t do much more than that.
Wafer appeared in 20 games, averaging 1.3 points, 0.3 assists and 0.5 rebounds in 4.6 minutes. His long-range shooting potential largely went unnoticed. He shot .158 from the field and .118 from 3-point range — making only 2 of 17 attempts.
"I just came in wild and raw," Wafer said. "I did what I had been doing my whole life — shooting the ball."
Los Angeles made use of the NBA’s minor league system, the National Basketball Developmental League, and assigned Wafer to their affiliate, the Fort Worth Flyers.
This summer, the Lakers want to see if Wafer can efficiently handle the basketball and run the triangle offense. In other words, pass first and shoot second.
"He’s not used to being back there, working the ball up the floor," said Kurt Rambis, the Lakers’ summer league coach. "He’s used to coming down, coming off picks and shooting balls. We need to see if he can make the offense move."
The summer league opener, July 8 against Memphis, Wafer made just 1 of 6 shots for two points.
"I was a little too tentative," Wafer said. "I was trying to run the triangle and I think I was thinking too much."
The next night, a calmer Wafer made 7 of 15 shots, including 2 of 3 3-pointers, in scoring 18 points. He failed, though, to find teammates with only one assist and several questionable moves on offense.
With 10 seconds left in the first quarter, Wafer lost track of the time, and needed a scolding from Rambis along the sideline to realize it as he hurried and made a fallaway 3-pointer at the buzzer.
When his shots don’t fall, Wafer often sulks, appearing lost and uninterested. After one poor shot attempt, Rambis yelled, "If you stop taking bad shots, you won’t be so tired."
But it’s his quick thinking, even when he makes mistakes that shows his potential.
Wafer made a crossover dribble, shook his defender and swished another 3-point buzzer-beater — this time at the end of the third quarter.
"In the three-guard front, he hasn’t been very good in terms of reading what needs to be done within the offense," Rambis said after the game. "He did a lot better job this game than he did in prior games."
"Kobe’s not out here and LO’s (Lamar Odom) not out here, but in real life I’m going to have to play to their strengths and what they do best," Wafer said. "It doesn’t make sense to come out here and score at will. We’re not going to be able to do that in a real game."
As reporters wait for players to emerge from the locker room, Wafer consistently comes late as he stretches and meditates. He speaks smoothly, but makes it clear he’s only 20 going on 21 on Friday.
He discusses the NBDL experience, but says he didn’t learn much.
"I couldn’t really learn much away from Kobe and LO. I learned a lot from those guys. There was a major talent dropoff. I couldn’t learn anything from those guys that I haven’t seen."
The difference this year from last year is slight, he says, as the Lakers only have higher expectations for him. And he says he’s OK with that.
"I feel comfortable out there," Wafer said. "I just want to make better plays for other people." |
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The title of the thread says it all...a haper or shaw roll..on the bench and out the league..  |
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hZm
Clublakers Analyst
Joined: 25 Aug 2004
Posts: 8893
Location: Tarzana, California
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| Posted: Tue Jul 18, 2006 11:18 pm Post subject: |
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Lay off Von guys.
Im still rooting for him to make this team. Im really hoping he can step his game up in training camp.
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No Scope
Joined: 23 Apr 2006
Posts: 1394
Location: Earth
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| Posted: Tue Jul 18, 2006 11:28 pm Post subject: |
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| hZm wrote: |
Lay off Von guys.
Im still rooting for him to make this team. Im really hoping he can step his game up in training camp. |
same here but i really dont think theres enough room. Im really starting think he wont make this team.
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A Rush
Joined: 02 Apr 2006
Posts: 2229
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| Posted: Wed Jul 19, 2006 1:21 am Post subject: |
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| Well, neither Shaw nor Harper will be playing for the Lakers this upcoming season so I guess I can see how Wafer envisions himself in a "Shaw or Harper role". |
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MasterRaider
Joined: 14 Jul 2004
Posts: 3084
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| Posted: Wed Jul 19, 2006 1:32 am Post subject: |
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| A Rush wrote: |
| Well, neither Shaw nor Harper will be playing for the Lakers this upcoming season so I guess I can see how Wafer envisions himself in a "Shaw or Harper role". |
Wafer's clearly saying he wants to be an assistant coach right now. |
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trodgers
Clublakers Moderator
Joined: 22 Oct 2004
Posts: 23344
Location: Tallahassee
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| Posted: Wed Jul 19, 2006 5:33 am Post subject: |
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| hZm wrote: |
Lay off Von guys.
Im still rooting for him to make this team. Im really hoping he can step his game up in training camp. |
I don't know why. Numerous SPL guys have shown more than Wafer. Especially Green.
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abeer3
Joined: 18 Feb 2005
Posts: 4576
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| Posted: Wed Jul 19, 2006 6:47 am Post subject: |
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| i envision wafer in europe. |
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