[SnowtaParticipant]

I didn’t really know what to expect from Lavine in summer league, because I didn’t watch much UCLA last year and when I did he hardly ever played. After watching all the summer league games I have one question… How did he not play more at UCLA?! I know they had Adams and Anderson who were both really good players and older, but man this kid is a lot better than I was expecting. Summer league’s summer league, but I was impressed. He’s less raw than I was expecting. His ability to run the point was surprising and his pull up jumper will be very difficult to defend against because of his elevation and quick release. He was clearly the most athletic player on the floor at all times and most of the time looked like the best player. He was definitely the best player on the Wolves team. I like Shabazz, but I think Lavine might already be ahead of him due to his consistency, bball IQ, and athleticism. He’s a much more well-rounded player than Shabazz. It seems like he was a popular pick by people to be a potential bust in this draft and hadn’t seen much of him, so I didn’t really know what to think. After watching him through SL though I feel like he will be a very good player in the NBA. I’m excited to see what he does moving forward.

[Kinguy11Participant]

 I was pleasently surprised the Lavine as well.  My initial thought was that he either made massive improvements between his freshman year and the summer league or he didn’t fit UCLA’s style of play.  After thinking about him more, I thought that it’s possible the fast pace of the summer league suited Lavine more due to his athleticism and also inflated his stats.

Either way I’m excited to see where he fits on this Timberwolves team this year.

 

 

 

 

[Kinguy11Participant]

 I was pleasently surprised the Lavine as well.  My initial thought was that he either made massive improvements between his freshman year and the summer league or he didn’t fit UCLA’s style of play.  After thinking about him more, I thought that it’s possible the fast pace of the summer league suited Lavine more due to his athleticism and also inflated his stats.

Either way I’m excited to see where he fits on this Timberwolves team this year.

 

 

 

 

[MopgrassParticipant]

 He played on a team with a guy they call Slo Mo. What could be worse for a fast break, fast paced athlete? He also wasn’t given the keys. The NBA today is more suited to his style.

[MopgrassParticipant]

 He played on a team with a guy they call Slo Mo. What could be worse for a fast break, fast paced athlete? He also wasn’t given the keys. The NBA today is more suited to his style.

[jaymenParticipant]

 i think he might do better in the nba more then what he did in college

[jaymenParticipant]

 i think he might do better in the nba more then what he did in college

[King CaluchaParticipant]

College game is very different from NBA bb. This is why college superstar sometimes don’t make great pro players and viceversa.

[King CaluchaParticipant]

College game is very different from NBA bb. This is why college superstar sometimes don’t make great pro players and viceversa.

[kobyzParticipant]

 He sucks, one of the worst defender in the draft and on offense it’s only outside shooting for him, can’t take it to the hole and finish, his game not gonna cut it in the league…

[kobyzParticipant]

 He sucks, one of the worst defender in the draft and on offense it’s only outside shooting for him, can’t take it to the hole and finish, his game not gonna cut it in the league…

[omphalosParticipant]

 I remain extremely pissed that the Celtics passed on him for another safe pick in Marcus Smart. Kid has a chip on his shoulder and he’s going to be a star.

[omphalosParticipant]

 I remain extremely pissed that the Celtics passed on him for another safe pick in Marcus Smart. Kid has a chip on his shoulder and he’s going to be a star.

[JoeWolf1]

 Pretty nice, anytime a guy comes into SL and eclipses his collegiate production it’s a nice first step. He’s got some work to do before the season starts, but if I were a Wolves fan, I’d be really encouraged. He oozes natural ability, and has a good foundation in terms of ball handling and shooting. It’s just now refinement and hitting the weights. If he has a good work ethic, he could be really really good.

[JoeWolf1]

 Pretty nice, anytime a guy comes into SL and eclipses his collegiate production it’s a nice first step. He’s got some work to do before the season starts, but if I were a Wolves fan, I’d be really encouraged. He oozes natural ability, and has a good foundation in terms of ball handling and shooting. It’s just now refinement and hitting the weights. If he has a good work ethic, he could be really really good.

[aztwulfParticipant]

I watched him a few times at UCLA and thought he looked lost most of the time. You could see he was a great athlete, and that he could shoot fairly well, but his BBIQ looked poor. My assessment was a great athlete…but someone who was always going to look lost (like a young Gerald Green).

Then I watched 4 of his SL games and by the end of SL he looked really comfortable. The first few games he took some really bad shots and made a few dumb/careless passes. The last two or three games he was taking better shots, making better passes, and doing a really nice job on D. As you pointed out, Lavine can really handle the ball.

This is just SL and I guess we shouldn’t get too excited, or depressed, how these guys do. It was certainly encouraging, though, to see Lavine look as good as he did. Glen Robinson was playing really well by the end as well.

I would think Lavine has a good chance to move ahead of Lexi Shved in the hunt for minutes at the 2. Shved has had a couple of years to show what he can do and has been enormously disappointing.

[aztwulfParticipant]

I watched him a few times at UCLA and thought he looked lost most of the time. You could see he was a great athlete, and that he could shoot fairly well, but his BBIQ looked poor. My assessment was a great athlete…but someone who was always going to look lost (like a young Gerald Green).

Then I watched 4 of his SL games and by the end of SL he looked really comfortable. The first few games he took some really bad shots and made a few dumb/careless passes. The last two or three games he was taking better shots, making better passes, and doing a really nice job on D. As you pointed out, Lavine can really handle the ball.

This is just SL and I guess we shouldn’t get too excited, or depressed, how these guys do. It was certainly encouraging, though, to see Lavine look as good as he did. Glen Robinson was playing really well by the end as well.

I would think Lavine has a good chance to move ahead of Lexi Shved in the hunt for minutes at the 2. Shved has had a couple of years to show what he can do and has been enormously disappointing.

[gobullzParticipant]

 I know UCLA head coach Steve Alford is watching the sl with a grain of salt.  He thought he could hide Lavine (euroleague style), and have him for 2 years.  Wrong answer!!!!  Zach is a terrific young prospect who gives the T-Wolves great insurance in case Rubio wants a max deal next summer.  Very dynamic yet smooth athlete.

 

[llperez]

Lavine did play 24.4 mpg and had a green light up until the conference tourney. And he was playing behind 3 guys other nba wings in Anderson, Adams, and Powell who were all just flat out better college players last year. I don’t think Alford was hiding him.

[llperez]

Lavine did play 24.4 mpg and had a green light up until the conference tourney. And he was playing behind 3 guys other nba wings in Anderson, Adams, and Powell who were all just flat out better college players last year. I don’t think Alford was hiding him.

[omphalosParticipant]

He was hiding him to an extent by keeping him off the ball for the most part in favour of his son.

Which quite frankly, is ridiculous.

Lavine was probably looking lost in college because he was adjusting to playing primarily off the ball, he’s the perfect sixth man but Alford let his son play back-up point and stifle Lavine’s development.

The irony is that if Lavine was given more responsibility this year handling the ball he might have come back with the promise of being the man and getting a top-5 selection in the draft, instead of taking his chances based on his belief that he wasn’t going to get opportunities at UCLA.

 

 

 

 

[omphalosParticipant]

He was hiding him to an extent by keeping him off the ball for the most part in favour of his son.

Which quite frankly, is ridiculous.

Lavine was probably looking lost in college because he was adjusting to playing primarily off the ball, he’s the perfect sixth man but Alford let his son play back-up point and stifle Lavine’s development.

The irony is that if Lavine was given more responsibility this year handling the ball he might have come back with the promise of being the man and getting a top-5 selection in the draft, instead of taking his chances based on his belief that he wasn’t going to get opportunities at UCLA.

 

 

 

 

[gobullzParticipant]

 I know UCLA head coach Steve Alford is watching the sl with a grain of salt.  He thought he could hide Lavine (euroleague style), and have him for 2 years.  Wrong answer!!!!  Zach is a terrific young prospect who gives the T-Wolves great insurance in case Rubio wants a max deal next summer.  Very dynamic yet smooth athlete.

 

[justymlParticipant]

 not surprised at his pg skills he always said he played pg his entire life except at ucla..he looks just like westbrook bringing the ball up the court so explosive..what until he gets about 190-200 lb and you got yourself a all star borderline superstar

[justymlParticipant]

 not surprised at his pg skills he always said he played pg his entire life except at ucla..he looks just like westbrook bringing the ball up the court so explosive..what until he gets about 190-200 lb and you got yourself a all star borderline superstar

[Ghost01Participant]

I have a feeling this thread is going to be hilarious in 3 years…

 

You guys know marquis Teague tore up summer league last year, right?

[Ghost01Participant]

I have a feeling this thread is going to be hilarious in 3 years…

 

You guys know marquis Teague tore up summer league last year, right?

[JoeWolf1]

As a 2nd year player, his pre rookie campaign was horrid.

[JoeWolf1]

As a 2nd year player, his pre rookie campaign was horrid.

[Meditated StatesParticipant]

 Lavine has work to do but he is very good at 19 already. He is going to have some explosive games in his rookie season if he is given the green light. I would have been more comfortable grabbing him over Smart if I wanted to move Rondo. Hopefully Smart proves me wrong. 

[Meditated StatesParticipant]

 Lavine has work to do but he is very good at 19 already. He is going to have some explosive games in his rookie season if he is given the green light. I would have been more comfortable grabbing him over Smart if I wanted to move Rondo. Hopefully Smart proves me wrong. 

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