Tag: 2022 nba summer league

Rockets see Jabari Smith Jr. as ‘just scratching the surface’ of his potential

#Rockets assistant coach John Lucas on Jabari Smith Jr.: “He is just scratching the surface. I think he has a chance to really be good. Jabari knows how to play.”

HOUSTON — The  Rockets resumed practice on Tuesday, preparing for their second preseason game on Friday versus Toronto. Assistant coach John Lucas II was called upon to lead practice after head coach Stephen Silas entered the NBA’s health and safety protocol following Sunday’s emphatic 134-96 victory over San Antonio.

Even though Silas’ voice wasn’t heard, the game plan he had been implementing since training camp began was followed by Lucas and the rest of the coaching staff.

“Obviously we miss him because he’s our leader for what we do,” Lucas told reporters. “We just got through practice today, followed his game plan. Going to talk to him about what he wants us to do tomorrow. And we just keep building. We have a system in place, we have a good staff, and we just build with what we have.”

One of those building blocks is rookie Jabari Smith Jr., who the Rockets selected with the No. 3 pick in the 2022 NBA draft.

“He is just scratching the surface,” Lucas said about Smith’s first preseason game performance. “He has a chance to really be good, because one of the things he can do already is shoot and that helps our spacing on the floor, and he is an elite defender.”

Smith finished Sunday’s game with a game-high 21 points, but his 5-of-8 shooting (62.5%) from 3-point range particularly impressed the Rockets’ coaching staff.

“My teammates made it easy for me by finding me when I was open,” Smith told reporters after the game. “Coming into the game, I was looser than in summer league. I didn’t have all the jitters, and my teammates helped me with that.”

Smith’s work ethic has been noticed by his teammates and Lucas, who raved about how much time the rookie puts into honing his craft. It was a trait that former coaches from Smith’s past raved about when talking about the 6-foot-11 forward out of Auburn University.

“In doing research on him before the draft and talking to his coaches, including his AAU coach, they all said the same thing, and that is he likes to work,” Lucas said.

If anyone knew just how much Smith takes pride in becoming one of the best players in the NBA, it would be Lucas, who has consistently worked with Smith on making his shot better since the summer.

“Jabari has really improved his shooting,” said Lucas, who would put Smith through drills at 6 a.m. during the summer. “He has gotten his feet under him and managed to do better. I watched him in summer league and thought that his shot was too slow, and he has really picked it up. But more importantly, Jabari knows how to play.”

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Without designed plays, Rockets rookie Tari Eason making a big impact

Tari Eason (21 points, 10 rebounds) to @BigSargeSportz after his #Rockets debut: “Plays aren’t really run for me, anyway, so I’m just used to finding open spaces and getting it on my own.”

HOUSTON — Rockets rookie Tari Eason had an intriguing NBA preseason debut in Sunday’s 134-96 win over San Antonio. He finished with 21 points and 10 rebounds. The 6-foot-8 forward connected on 9-of-13 shots (69.2%) in only 21 minutes played.

Going back to his LSU career, ending the game with a double-double is a normal stat line for last season’s Southeastern Conference Sixth Man of the Year. In this case, it was fascinating he did it all without one offensive play designed to get him the ball.

“We did not run one play for Tari tonight,” said Rockets head coach Stephen Silas during his postgame press conference. “But his crashing and his knack for getting to the rim is good.”

Silas knew precisely what the No. 17 selection in the first round of the 2022 NBA draft brought to his team when he sat courtside in Las Vegas and watched Eason earn All-NBA Summer League first-team honors, averaging 17.2 points and 10.2 rebounds per game.

“I am always working on my game,” Eason said over the summer. “I love to hoop, so anywhere a hoop is, I love to go play.”

Eason, 21, admitted it is common for an offensive set not to have any designed plays involving him, and he is OK with that.

“Plays aren’t really run for me, anyway, so I am just used to finding open spaces and getting it on my own,” Eason said after Houston’s 38-point victory over the Spurs. “Whether that is getting it off the glass or a steal. Anything I can do to try and get myself going.”

That mentality takes many Rockets fans back to 30 years ago when Houston selected another All-SEC small forward in the first round of the 1992 NBA draft: Robert Horry. Like Eason, Horry had to find his way in a system focused on more offensive-minded players such as Hakeem Olajuwon and Vernon Maxwell.

The majority of his four years with the Rockets consisted of Horry being in the right place at the right time and doing all the dirty work.

When he was called to produce offensively, he had a knack for finding ways to create points, especially in the clutch, which was needed during the Rockets’ back-to-back NBA championships.

“Big Shot Bob” then went on to win five more NBA titles during his time with the Los Angeles Lakers and San Antonio Spurs.

Early indications are Eason has similar levels of determination and grit, which the team hopes will lead him down a familiar path.

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As training camp begins, Rockets look to set tone, establish culture

Stephen Silas said Day 1 of #Rockets training camp was the best he’s seen during all his years in the NBA. What did it entail? “Setting a tone, establishing a culture, and a lot of teaching.”

LAKE CHARLES, La. – One look at the majority of players on the Legacy Center court at McNeese State University, and you might believe they were in their junior or senior years of college and preparing for the upcoming season of NCAA basketball.

Yet, these young men were not preparing for battle in the Southland Conference; they were preparing for their first preseason game on Sunday versus the San Antonio Spurs.

The Houston Rockets, who have 10 players on their roster who are 22 years old or younger, held their first day of training camp in Lake Charles. According to head coach Stephen Silas, it was a very successful day.

“I’ve been around a lot of Day 1s in my 20-whatever year career, and this is the best one I’ve ever seen,” Silas said in a team huddle.

Silas, who is entering his third year as the Rockets’ head coach, was also impressed with how his team responded to him and his staff regarding different aspects of practice.

“Setting a tone, establishing a culture, and a lot of teaching,” Silas said when asked about the first day of camp. “It was about having a great first day and having that lead to a great second day. It is going to be a day-by-day thing for us, and we finished Day 1.”

Rookie guard TyTy Washington was happy to get on the court with the players he will compete with this season after playing in the NBA summer league in Las Vegas just two months ago.

“It was good, I liked it,” Washington told reporters. “It is a dream come true for me. It is our first real practice. I am really excited to be with the whole team, grinding and going out there competing. After we broke practice down and finished our conditioning test, I was like ‘It is about that time.’”

Washington also emphasized how playing against rookies and veterans this summer helped him prepare for his first day of camp.

“It helped a whole bunch,” Washington said. “Summer league built my confidence going through the whole process and leading up to this point. I feel really comfortable where I am at and how I am doing.”

The Rockets will practice again on Wednesday in Lake Charles.

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Interview: New assistant coach Mike Batiste on joining the Rockets

“I was honored to get the call,” new Rockets assistant Mike Batiste tells @BigSargeSportz. “Coach Silas has old school rules but has a very innovative, new school way of thinking.”

LAS VEGAS — A loud voice bellows from the sideline as the Rockets summer league team holds practice in preparation for a game versus Oklahoma City.

“Jabari, you can cut your path to the lane if you take this angle. They are going to try and make you go one way, which will take you out of the play. But if you take the angle I just showed you, you can put more pressure on the backside defender.”

As summer league head coach Rick Higgins gives the instructions to re-run the play, Jabari Smith Jr., who was selected No. 3 overall by Houston in the first round of the 2022 NBA draft, follows the instructions and gets to the basket easier than on the last play.

On the sideline, Rockets head coach Stephen Silas smiled. He knew the instructions had come from someone who would be a welcome addition to his staff while helping develop his young team.

Mike Batiste, a new assistant coach, made his name known as a dominant force while playing overseas for Greek powerhouse Panathinaikos Athens from 2003-2012. During that time, he helped the team secure eight consecutive Greek League championships, five Greek Cups and three EuroLeague championships. He was awarded MVP of the Greek League and named Finals MVP in 2010.

Batiste, 44, was hired by the Rockets this offseason after serving as player development manager for the Washington Wizards last season. Though he had numerous offers to join other NBA coaching staffs, familiarity brought Batiste to Houston.

“To have some familiar faces where you know these guys believe in you and have confidence in you, that was a deal breaker,” said Batiste, who worked with Silas and Higgins at previous stops in Charlotte and Orlando. “Giving me more responsibility to lead, teach and preach to these guys was an attracting factor as well. I was honored to get the call. Coach Silas has old school rules but has a very innovative, new school way of thinking. He has an open mind and is willing to try new things. I liked that about him, and that brought me here.”

The former first-team All-Pac-10 player (1999) at Arizona State knows developing young talent such as Jalen Green, Kevin Porter Jr., Alperen Sengun and others is vital for a rebuilding franchise like the current Rockets.

“Those guys are trending in the right direction in terms of being better pros,” Batiste said. “Being better versions of themselves in terms of their skill sets and fundamentals. I remember last year when I was with the Wizards, KPJ hit a game-winner on us.”

“So, you got some guys who can really score the ball in a high efficiency way, and it all starts with those guys,” Batiste added. “They are a year older, so we expect a lot from them, and hopefully they can answer the challenge in the right way.”

Houston finished last season as the worst team in the NBA, only winning 20 games. That was, however, an improvement from 17 wins the previous season. With a strong draft class in 2021, the Rockets brought in some very talented players.

Second-team All-American selection and National Freshman of the Year Jabari Smith Jr., who played at Auburn, and SEC Sixth Man of the Year and All-SEC first-team forward Tari Eason from LSU were selected in the first round in this year’s draft. Those additions should bolster the lineup on both ends of the court.

“I definitely feel that when we all get together, we are going to be one of the most competitive teams on the floor,” Batiste said. “I think we are going to be a high execution team and we are going to be that team that that goes out every single night and compete. We want to make teams scrap to beat us. We just want other teams to look on their schedule and see that Houston is coming into town and they have to work to beat us consistently for 48 minutes.”

Before leaving the interview, Batiste wanted to make sure Rockets fans know he plans on blending in with many Texas residents by purchasing a cowboy hat and boots.

“I have always liked that look but could never pull it off in the places I have been until now,” Batiste said with a big smile.

Batiste and the Rockets will have three days of training camp in Lake Charles, Louisiana, before returning home to prepare for their preseason opener on Oct. 2 at Toyota Center. Tipoff between the Rockets and in-state rival San Antonio is at 6 p.m. Central.

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Matt Ryan, Boston Celtics will reportedly not reunite for 2022-23 NBA season

Per a recent Boston Globe report, Ryan ‘will not be back with the team.’

Despite going out in the 2K23 NBA Las Vegas Summer League like a boss by nailing a game-winning 3-point shot on a twisted ankle, the Boston Celtics and reserve wing Matt Ryan are unlikely to reunite for another season, per recent reporting from the Boston Globe’s Adam Himmelsbach.

The decision perhaps signals the team has other ideas for players to bring on to fill one of the team’s three open regular roster slots for next season.

The ball club’s primary need will be for a backup big man or two to help spell Boston’s frontcourt with oft-injured Robert Williams III and vet Al Horford likely needing time off.

But wing depth is another area where Boston is thin, making the news about Ryan not even being extended a camp invite a bit of a surprise that likely signals other things to come.

Check out the Celtics Lab podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

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Josh Christopher plans slower, smarter approach to second Rockets season

Josh Christopher on expectations for his second NBA season: “I think I will be slower. I will look more confident and less timid. I think I have become a smarter basketball player.”

HOUSTON — Rockets guard Josh Christopher took the pitching mound at Minute Maid Park, home of Major League Baseball’s Astros, in the same manner he does taking the court at Toyota Center.

Cool, calm and collected.

Christopher, picked by the Rockets in the first round of the 2021 NBA draft, was in attendance to throw out a ceremonial first pitch before Thursday’s series finale between the Astros and Texas Rangers.

“It was everything I expected to be honest,” Christopher said. “Ever since I got here (Houston) they have shown love and been supportive. For that love from the Rockets to transfer over to the Astros and to be a part of something special like this is a blessing. I appreciate it.”

The second-year player out of Arizona State has been busy this summer preparing for the upcoming season. Christopher participated in the 2022 NBA Summer League and averaged 19.7 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.0 assists while playing 26.8 minutes per game.

He has also been in Houston most of the summer working in the weight room and Rockets practice facility with teammates as Houston prepares for training camp in September.

“I have been working and resting my body,” Christopher said of his summer routine. “Building chemistry with the guys that have been here and the new guys and just having fun. As much time as we can get on the floor with each other prior to this season, its going to be best for us. So whether its Summer League or just getting up jumpers and playing five-on-five in Toyota. Whatever it is. It helps.”

After a brief stint with Houston’s G League affiliate, the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, Christopher worked his way into the rotation to become one of the first reserve names called by Stephen Silas.

On Thursday, Christopher talked in detail about his adjustments to his game entering year two.

“I think I will be slower, I will look more confident and less timid,” the 20-year-old told reporters. “I think you will be able to tell I have a year under my belt. I think I have become a smarter basketball player. Learned where I could be more effective. I am still learning the right spots to be on defense.”

The Rockets will play their first preseason game against the San Antonio Spurs at Toyota Center on Sunday, Oct. 2, at 6 p.m. CDT.

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Can Boston Celtics two-way big man Mfiondu Kabengele be the team’s third center?

He showed out in summer league — but how about at the NBA level?

Newest Boston Celtics big man Mfiondu Kabengele signed a two-way contract after the 2022 Las Vegas Summer League, evidently impressing the front office enough to secure a spot with the Celtics for the 2022-23 season. The 24-year-old center caught the attention of the team and fans in Sin City, averaging 14.8 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks over five games.

Players on two-way contracts are limited to 50 games a season with the parent club, the expectations for Kabengele should to be to spend most of his time in the G-league. Although, the Celtics still lack big man depth, as they have yet to sign anyone in NBA free agency or to use a traded player exception (TPE) to fill the void behind starting center Robert Williams III that was left after trading veteran big man Daniel Theis as part of the deal for Indiana Pacers point guard Malcolm Brogdon.

Can Kabengele rise to the occasion and serve the Celtics as their third center this coming season?

Watch this clip from the latest episode of the CLNS Media “Celtics Beat” podcast to hear what they think.

Follow us on Facebook and check out the Celtics Lab podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

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Did the Boston Celtics find a diamond in the rough with JD Davison?

Did the Boston Celtics find themselves a steal in the form of JD Davison?

Did the Boston Celtics find a diamond in the rough in Alabama combo guard JD Davison? Picked up by the Celtics with the 53rd pick of the 2022 NBA draft, expectations were low coming into Las Vegas Summer League action.

The second-round pick ran the point and led summer league action in assists with 8.2 per game. the third most ever recorded by a Boston player to go along with 13 points per game on 43% shooting. Davison didn’t look like a rookie or the 53rd overall pick out there with his burst, but will his play translate to NBA regular season?

Can Davison crack the rotation? The host of the CLNS Media “Celtics Beat” podcast Evan Valenti debates this with Celtics blogger Dan Greenberg in the following clip.

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Follow us on Facebook and check out the Celtics Lab podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

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What has this offseason hinted about the Boston Celtics’ upcoming season?

What have Boston’s moves so far told us about what might be coming next?

What has this offseason hinted about the Boston Celtics’ upcoming campaign as they gear up for a run at the 2023 NBA championship? That the Celtics hope to win their 18th banner was signaled by adding Indiana Pacers point guard Malcolm Brogdon and veteran forward Danilo Gallinari via trade and signing respectively.

But what do the other moves made by Boston hint at for the future? What can we divine from the two way deals inked with floor general JD Davison and big man Mfiondu Kabengele? Why are their three open roster spots, and what can it tell us about plans for a backup big man?

Celtics journalist Dan Greenberg joins cohost of the CLNS Media “Celtics Beat” podcast Evan Valenti to discuss their Summer League crushes, letting the TPE expire, and Grant Williams’ love for talking.

Check out the clip embedded above to hear what the duo has to say about all this and more.

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Follow us on Facebook and check out the Celtics Lab podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

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‘He should fit right in with that young core’: NBA scout Michael VandeGarde on Keegan Murray

Former NBA scout Michael VandeGarde says Keegan Murray “should fit right in with that young core” on the Sacramento Kings.

It seems like everyone has nothing but positive things to say about former Iowa Hawkeye and now No. 4 overall draft pick Keegan Murray of the Sacramento Kings.

Why not, right? After all, Murray just ironed down the NBA 2K23 Summer League’s Most Valuable Player award. In his four games in the NBA 2K23 Summer League, Murray averaged 23.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.3 steals. Murray also shot 50% from the field, and an impressive 40% from 3-point range.

Naturally, his performances picked up plenty of buzz from onlookers across social media. His summer has also caught the attention of a former longtime NBA scout as well.

Michael VandeGarde, who spent 18 years with the Philadelphia 76ers, caught up with Rutgers Wire to discuss where players landed in the 2022 NBA draft.

“I like where Keegan Murray landed. He is a great fit for the Kings although I would have swung for the superstar talent of Ivey. I like how he will fit into the new culture of the Kings. He will do well there,” VandeGarde said.

VandeGarde now works with CoachTube, a digital platform that provides online sports coaching and training from former college and professional coaches as well as players. He elaborated on his thoughts on Murray joining the Kings.

“The Kings need a multi-versatile offensive player who can score with some size next to (Domantas) Sabonis. I like De’Aaron Fox and Davion Mitchell and Sabonis. He should fit right in with that young core. He is an elite worker and has improved immensely in the last few years. He has to continue that trajectory for his first few years in the NBA. I like the direction of the Kings since Monte McNair took over,” VandeGarde said.

Again, it’s more of the rave reviews we’ve seen and heard so far with Murray. Equally important, it seems like Murray is really satisfied with where he’s wound up.

“I, fortunately, in a positive way, fell to the Kings and it’s been a blessing for me. And I’ve just been blessed to be in this position. I think this is one of the best organizations I could have been a part of for my rookie year,” Murray said.

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