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I wasn't planning on going to the game today but I'm glad I changed my mind at the last minute.This was the best of the 3 games yet. Bynum and JR Pinnock redeemed themselves. Last Saturday, Bynum was dominated by some forward that wasn't even picked in the draft last year. Tonight, he was more aggressive trying to dunk the ball whenever he's anywhere near the rim. Pinnock after blowing the last second shot in the last game, did not play all that well the first three quarters but scored the big buckets in the 4th. He was the key to the Lakers win tonight aside from Mr. Consistency Jordan Farmar himself. He mezmerized Grizzlies first rounder Kyle Lowry tonight. Only disappointment this year is the lack of talent in the SPL as most have sent their A teams in Vegas. Despite that, it's good the Lakers and Jerry West Grizzlies have remained loyal while the Riley Heat and the Big headed Clippers have abandoned ship. Anyway, despite that here's my impressions so far of the Laker players playing in the summer league.
Farmar - Not great speed but very deceptive moves and great handles. What he lacks in speed he makes up with his dribbling wizardry and vertical jump. Oh, and his defense isn't bad either.. short of mentioning him in the league of a Jason Kidd. He kinda reminds me of a mix of Bibby and Parker. Bibby with his deceptive moves and Parker with his knack on penetrating, sneaking in layups and killing them with unblockable teardrop shots. Nice Passer.. he's having a knack of giving out alleyoop passes. Weakness i see is range.. doesn't seem to have natural 3-point range yet but he can hit them.. average speed. Scouting reports were right on.. he's composed and good leadership. Makes everyone else better.
Von Wafer - Disappointment. He seem lost on everything. He almost got hit in the head tonight on an inbounds pass meant for him. I think he needs to go to Europe instead of playing with scrubs on the NBDL.
Bynum - Still gets pushed around. All I see so far are dunks.. and they seem to be his only effective move. The hook shot is not reliable. For now, if he can develop a killer instinct like he started doing the last two games, he can help the lakers this year but right now, he's still raw. He also needs to work on his defensive rebounding and continue to be more physical and use that size. Still young and have good upside. I'm just worried that by the time he starts playing good, he'll be a free agent.
Pinnock - Surprise of the season. Plays with lots of emotion.. too much sometimes that he might lose it one of these games. Better than average defender and scorer. He's a mix of a Billups and Ricky Davis. Very good slasher. He excelled as a sixth man in college. He has NBA-ready body, competitiveness and defense to help right away. Much more polished than Von Wafer. Tends to force the issue. Needs to let the game come to him. Knows and wants to carry the team which leads to him forcing some shots but it's more of his competitive nature. Plays with great passion. A firecracker.. he can either win it for you like he did tonight by try to do it all by himself like he did the last game. Tonight he let the game flow through in the fourth.. last game he already made up his mind that he was taking the last shot.. taking the ball inbounds, dribbling the full length of the court and took the last shot and missed.
Green - I like this guy as a role player. I think he's a perfect 3rd guard or forward. He is a good all around player. Team defense is good and sorely needed by the Lakers. A bit of a tweener - small to guard the smallforwards and an inconsistent outside shot to play shooting guard. I hope he improves his outside shot. He would be a very good backup at shooting guard for years to come.
The rest.. well.. no comment. Only other player with slim chance to make it is Marcus Slaughter.. excellent athlete at around 6'8 with long arms but needs a consistent midrange, post up game and aggressiveness to make the team.
Notables: Rudy Gay was behind the Grizzly bench but did not suit up. Kareem was on the Lakers bench. Eric Davis who once played for the Dodgers and Cincinatti Reds was there again. No long lines at the ticket booth this year.. compared to last year. Those nachos are grrreat!
