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Re: Wizard's Summer League (Las Vegas) (7/14)

Posted: Tue Jun 30, 2009 1:19 pm
by closg00
WizStorm wrote:Sweet, another guard...

http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/yb/132418549
Jun. 30--ALEX RUOFF IS BACK in Morgantown today packing, cleaning, working out and catching up with friends one last time.

His next stop: Vegas, baby.

The former WVU guard was not drafted in this past Thursday's NBA draft, but that didn't mean the night was an event-free one for him.

"A lot of teams were calling me up during the draft," Ruoff said. "I was pretty much on the phone with my agent until 1:30 in the morning."

Ruoff signed a free agent contract with the Washington Wizards and will report to the NBA summer league next week.

"Washington really was the best fit for me," Ruoff said. "They only had one pick the entire draft, and they ended up trading that pick. There will be a good chance to earn a spot with them."


:lol: Can this guy count?...then-again, maybe James & DS are on the way out :D

Re: Wizard's Summer League (Las Vegas) (7/14)

Posted: Tue Jun 30, 2009 2:52 pm
by doclinkin
MJG wrote:
And I don't think we can dog the guy too much for not being likely to get many minutes this year: we're going to be rocking one of, if not the best 1-2 combo in the league at the SF spot with Caron and Miller. Even if McGuire improves as much next year as he did last year, he'll still likely be the third best SF on the team.


Consider also that Flip has said he'd like to go Big and play Jamison at SF, Caron at 2G.

PG: Gil, Foye, Critt, James
SG: MM6, Nick, Foye, DSteve,
SF: Caron, MM6, Jamison, DMac
PF: Jamison, Blatche, DMac
C: Haywood, Blatche, McGee

Interestingly Miller and DMac are the offense/defense yin and yang of each other. Both rebound and pass well, Dom defends four positions, Miller shoots from outside and off the dribble. If they were fused as a single player, well surely they'd be an allstar. Though neither really takes it to the ole to finish (Dom can bounce for putbacks, but tries to tip it in with finesse more than anything). As it stands though it provides an interesting option if you need to go one way or the other, late game substitutions.

On the plus side, Miller provides a nice role model for Dom. Gym rat, constantly working on his situational shot, knows how to use a screen, hit off the dribble. An outside shot is one of the few skills you can reliably add with practice, Mike Miller can't add the athleticism that Dom displays, but Dom can at least add a catch and shoot aspect to his game, if not necessarily off the dribble yet.

The fear for me is that with that depth at 3-spot the Front Office regards Dom as a nice trade piece.

I'd rather him play understudy behind Miller, slowly improve, re-up at a reasonable rate, then break out into a reliable open shot; and the team can allow Miller to safely expire or not.

Pat Riley once said if you gave him 5 6'8" guys like Magic Johnson he'd beat anybody. Well duh. But still a visionary could look at a team with guys who rebound and pass like Dom (with a jumper and a finishing move), Caron, Miller and think: 'How can I get these guys on the floor at the same time?' Add one nasty Big who can catch and finish, and one sweet shooting PG, play zone, play motion on offense, you could drive opponents to distraction. Ball flicking to the open man, screens set by 6'8" guys, dumping over the defense to the Big for the oop.

Just a dream (unless McGee knew how to defend in a team concept and added a stronger base) but still.

Re: Wizard's Summer League (Las Vegas) (7/14)

Posted: Tue Jun 30, 2009 2:53 pm
by verbal8
Tyrone Messby wrote:One of my buddies saw Louis Amundson walking by us and mentioned to us, "Hey I think Mike Miller just walked past us" and one of the girls from his entourage flipped OUT on him for the mistaken identity.


I hope Miller and Amundson's production on the court does not get switched.

Re: Wizard's Summer League (Las Vegas) (7/14)

Posted: Tue Jun 30, 2009 4:04 pm
by LyricalRico
verbal8 wrote:
Tyrone Messby wrote:One of my buddies saw Louis Amundson walking by us and mentioned to us, "Hey I think Mike Miller just walked past us" and one of the girls from his entourage flipped OUT on him for the mistaken identity.


I hope Miller and Amundson's production on the court does not get switched.


:rofl2:

Re: Wizard's Summer League (Las Vegas) (7/14)

Posted: Tue Jun 30, 2009 4:37 pm
by TheSecretWeapon
In my blog, I wondered about which direction McGuire should/would go. Bulk up and play inside (like Ben Wallace or Rodman), or work on the corner 3 and emulate Bowen? As CCJ suggested, why not both? I think McGuire might be better served to get stronger and be more of an inside player. In the short term, that's where minutes are more likely to be available this season. Longer term, there's always a market for a guy who can rebound and block shots. Pretty good wing defenders with limited offense are a dime a dozen.

Re: Wizard's Summer League (Las Vegas) (7/14)

Posted: Tue Jun 30, 2009 5:28 pm
by daSwami
TheSecretWeapon wrote:In my blog, I wondered about which direction McGuire should/would go. Bulk up and play inside (like Ben Wallace or Rodman), or work on the corner 3 and emulate Bowen? As CCJ suggested, why not both? I think McGuire might be better served to get stronger and be more of an inside player. In the short term, that's where minutes are more likely to be available this season. Longer term, there's always a market for a guy who can rebound and block shots. Pretty good wing defenders with limited offense are a dime a dozen.


I'd be happy if McGuire developed the same type of game as James Posey - soild defender and a decent shooter. Better yet, he model his game after a guy like Shawn Marion, who has the same basic skill-set and body-type.

Re: Wizard's Summer League (Las Vegas) (7/14)

Posted: Tue Jun 30, 2009 5:29 pm
by verbal8
TheSecretWeapon wrote:In my blog, I wondered about which direction McGuire should/would go. Bulk up and play inside (like Ben Wallace or Rodman), or work on the corner 3 and emulate Bowen? As CCJ suggested, why not both?


That was kind of Bill Laimbeer's game. Offensive range, but tough inside. If he develops that type of game, he could be a good Forward to pair with Blatche. Who call the PF and SF would not really matter. Bulking up could also help him if he had to do spot duty at Center.

Re: Wizard's Summer League (Las Vegas) (7/14)

Posted: Tue Jun 30, 2009 5:59 pm
by Severn Hoos
verbal8 wrote:
TheSecretWeapon wrote:In my blog, I wondered about which direction McGuire should/would go. Bulk up and play inside (like Ben Wallace or Rodman), or work on the corner 3 and emulate Bowen? As CCJ suggested, why not both?


That was kind of Bill Laimbeer's game. Offensive range, but tough inside. If he develops that type of game, he could be a good Forward to pair with Blatche. Who call the PF and SF would not really matter. Bulking up could also help him if he had to do spot duty at Center.


Did he get traded to Philly?



Sorry, couldn't resist.....

Re: Wizard's Summer League (Las Vegas) (7/14)

Posted: Tue Jun 30, 2009 6:58 pm
by TheSecretWeapon
daSwami wrote:
TheSecretWeapon wrote:In my blog, I wondered about which direction McGuire should/would go. Bulk up and play inside (like Ben Wallace or Rodman), or work on the corner 3 and emulate Bowen? As CCJ suggested, why not both? I think McGuire might be better served to get stronger and be more of an inside player. In the short term, that's where minutes are more likely to be available this season. Longer term, there's always a market for a guy who can rebound and block shots. Pretty good wing defenders with limited offense are a dime a dozen.


I'd be happy if McGuire developed the same type of game as James Posey - soild defender and a decent shooter. Better yet, he model his game after a guy like Shawn Marion, who has the same basic skill-set and body-type.


I'd love to see McGuire become a Marion-like player, but I don't see that happening. Marion at the same age was a far more accomplished offensive player and was significantly better on the boards. Hoping McGuire becomes something like Marion is wishful thinking, in my opinion.

Posey's more realistic, but the first two years comp breaks down on the offensive end. In Posey's first 2 seasons, he shot .336 from 3 (attempting 3.7 per 36 minutes). McGuire's the better shot blocker and rebounder; worse at stealing, shooting the long ball, and avoiding turnovers. Assist rates are comparable, with a slight advantage to Posey.

One point to McGuire's credit -- as a rookie, he had an effective field goal percentage on jumpers of just .194. 52% of his FGA were jumpers. Last season, his jumper efg was .333 (56% of his FGA were jumpers). That's a significant improvement. He needs to do more (another 10-15 percentage points, plus add range to the 3pt line), but it's progress at least.

Re: Wizard's Summer League (Las Vegas) (7/14)

Posted: Tue Jun 30, 2009 9:51 pm
by eltacoman
i dont know if Dmac will get the playing time he needs to continue to develope... if we are going with the 7 or 8 man FLip rotation .... and now that MIller & Foye ahead of him he needs to find his shoot or hulk up so he can extent his game to the post ... im hoping he dose because dude can D up and jump out the building

Gilbert
Caron
Jamison
Haywood
Miller
Foye
Blatche by BIg man default

8th spot YOung Dmac Mcgee or Free agent .... and we need another big man so Mcgee might come out with this spot

or will Flip change his game and use his deep bench

Re: Wizard's Summer League (Las Vegas) (7/14)

Posted: Tue Jun 30, 2009 10:16 pm
by Agent0_MVP
Alex Ruoff--

The lone senior on the Mountaineer basketball team signs with the Washington Wizards. Guard Alex Ruoff will report to the NBA summer league in the second week of July.

The Wizards had one draft pick in the NBA draft, but traded him to the Houston Rockets. Washington currently has two shooting guards on their roster in Nick Young and Juan Dixon.

Ruoff holds WVU’s school record for three pointers made in a career and ranks 18th in school history with 1,420 career points. Ruoff lead the Mountaineers to an NIT Championship and a NCAA Sweet Sixteen appearance in 2008.


Other than filling up the Summer League Squad, why in the heck do we need more guards..lol. I guess Dixon is still trying for a spot. I was hyped to have him as a backup last season, but between the coach not playing him and the turnovers he forced..im not sure I would want him back. We have enough guards already. Does this mean we may be trading some guys? Only time will tell.

Go Wizards!

Re: Wizard's Summer League (Las Vegas) (7/14)

Posted: Wed Jul 1, 2009 12:46 am
by WizStorm
Just when I was starting to worry about depth at guard in Summer League...
Jimmy Baron (6'3", 195 lbs) SG - Rhode Island
http://www.turnto10.com/jar/extra_point/baron_to_play_in_nba_summer_leagues

Re: Wizard's Summer League (Las Vegas) (7/14)

Posted: Wed Jul 1, 2009 12:49 am
by sfam
jimij wrote:Personally I don't see that much need for a guy like McGuire to go to summer league at this point. His entire game is focused on being a role player who is set up by the stars on offense and being a defensive specialist. In summer league the defense is an afterthought and McGuire certainly won't have any stars to play off of. I agree with the earlier posters that he's better off staying home and working on his jumper.

Actually I also wish Nick Young wasn't playing. I thought last year's summer league was one of the worst things for him because he was expected to be the scoring star for his team which just reinforced his one-on-one tendencies IMO. He tried to be Gil rather than focusing on what he'll need to do to earn PT this upcoming season (i.e. playing better off the ball). If he goes out there and spends the entire time running off screens then maybe it will do him some good, but if all he does is play isolation basketball it won't help his development in the long run.


+1

If Nick just goes and tries to take over the offense by jacking up faders, we'll all know the guy's chances of making the roster this fall are limited. I'd love to see the guy really show some intelligence and team work. Lets see him do the little things that helps a team win.

Regarding DMac, I'm not seeing him as the second coming of the Matrix. I'm sure he knows that if he doesn't develop a consistent shot, his minutes are limited. Whether or not he develops a fine 3pt shot, he absolutely must be able to nail the open 15 footer every time. If he can do that this year Dmac will get minutes.

Re: Wizard's Summer League (Las Vegas) (7/14)

Posted: Wed Jul 1, 2009 12:50 am
by WizStorm
I saw this little blurb about 4 players under contract by the Wizards playing on the Summer League squad. Have not seen any rumblings as to who that 4th player is as of yet.

http://www.wtrf.com/story.cfm?func=view ... ryid=62008
There will only be four players who are under contract with the Wizards on the roster. According to the Washington Wizards and his agent, Ruoff is not one of those four players. He's still considered a free agent. Twenty-one of the thirty NBA teams will be represented in this summer league; it will begin on July 10th in Las Vegas.

Re: Wizard's Summer League (Las Vegas) (7/14)

Posted: Wed Jul 1, 2009 3:31 am
by pancakes3
well then, Young/McGee/Critt/Maguire are the only 4 that makes sense. I would hope that blatche isn't going.

Re: Wizard's Summer League (Las Vegas) (7/14)

Posted: Wed Jul 1, 2009 6:10 am
by Dat2U
jimij wrote:Actually I also wish Nick Young wasn't playing. I thought last year's summer league was one of the worst things for him because he was expected to be the scoring star for his team which just reinforced his one-on-one tendencies IMO. He tried to be Gil rather than focusing on what he'll need to do to earn PT this upcoming season (i.e. playing better off the ball). If he goes out there and spends the entire time running off screens then maybe it will do him some good, but if all he does is play isolation basketball it won't help his development in the long run.


Actually I think that's overanalyzing a bit. The biggest problem with 'Nick @ Nite' is that he's not in Vegas to work on his game or play at 100%, he's there to have fun. The last two years, I've seen him bust a sweat harder in Poetry at Casears Palace than in the Thomas & Mack Arena. Last year he simply went through the motions. His rookie year he was absolutely lethargic in the games. Young just hasn't taken summer league seriously up to this point. Maybe the Foye/Miller trade will scare him. If he comes out guns a blazing then we know he's been pushed outside his comfort zone. Either by the coaching staff or by the trade itself.

Re: Wizard's Summer League (Las Vegas) (7/14)

Posted: Wed Jul 1, 2009 6:46 am
by doclinkin
Hmmn. I think we're missing the true value of this thread. What we should be doing is coming up with questions and complaints for Dat to hector and badger Ernie or whomever when he happens to sit next to them in the stands. Get the inside scoop and real stories. Seems like the muckey mucks kinda let their hair down in this setting, you can get the real scoop there. Dat's got to be brassy enough to do push the issue. What do we really want to know?

Re: Wizard's Summer League (Las Vegas) (7/14)

Posted: Wed Jul 1, 2009 9:42 am
by spaceman_E
doclinkin wrote:Hmmn. I think we're missing the true value of this thread. What we should be doing is coming up with questions and complaints for Dat to hector and badger Ernie or whomever when he happens to sit next to them in the stands. Get the inside scoop and real stories. Seems like the muckey mucks kinda let their hair down in this setting, you can get the real scoop there. Dat's got to be brassy enough to do push the issue. What do we really want to know?


Why is Jamison untouchable? Is it just Abe or does Ernie see him starting at PF on a championship team? Obviously we are paying the tax this year but does Ernie have the ok to go after a big fish? Which of our guards does he plan to ship out? Any news about which FA bigs he plans on making an offer to would be nice as well.

Re: Wizard's Summer League (Las Vegas) (7/14)

Posted: Wed Jul 1, 2009 9:45 am
by spaceman_E
On DMac, he doesn't really need to "develop." Minutes aren't as important for him as simply gaining a jumper which is done in practice moreso than in games, although the confidence in that jumper will need to be acquired through minutes. You are always working to improve but I think he does a fine job of defending, rebounding and moving the ball around and that is with the scrub lineups around him that we were trotting out last year.

Re: Wizard's Summer League (Las Vegas) (7/14)

Posted: Wed Jul 1, 2009 1:18 pm
by BigA
Dat2U wrote:
Actually I think that's overanalyzing a bit. The biggest problem with 'Nick @ Nite' is that he's not in Vegas to work on his game or play at 100%, he's there to have fun. The last two years, I've seen him bust a sweat harder in Poetry at Casears Palace than in the Thomas & Mack Arena. Last year he simply went through the motions. His rookie year he was absolutely lethargic in the games. Young just hasn't taken summer league seriously up to this point. Maybe the Foye/Miller trade will scare him. If he comes out guns a blazing then we know he's been pushed outside his comfort zone. Either by the coaching staff or by the trade itself.


How's your ankle coming along? Will you be able to get out to the clubs?