Suns Summer League Games

[Chris_Sanders]

Strawberry with 19 points, 7 assists and 3 steals. Tucker with 29 points and 6 assists. George also played well with 20 points and 6 rebounds. The whole team played great defense in the fourth quarter to get back in the game, but came up short in overtime. If George keeps this up, he might get an invite to training camp. Sanders shot well in the first half too and finished with 17.

It wouldn't suprise me if George does get the invite. A logical move would be to keep one of him or Strawberry on the roster and send the other to the NBDL for some seasoning.

Tucker was just awesome. Very nice jump shot.

 

[elindholm]

Strawberry is rapidly disappointing me.

How can the #59 draft pick possibly be a disappointment? If he has a pulse, that's already beating the odds.

 

[jlove]

The Suns need to sign Straw and George. Straw just needs to work on his shot, and would be a great steal and would be a great understudy for Nash. George could be a James Jones type scorer off the bench at the 3 and minor time at the 4. His defense isn't all that of Jones, but his stroke is definitely a LOT better. He could learn a lot from Hill. Tucker is definitely a steal in this draft so late in the 1st round. The announcers even thought he looked like he may be a Josh Howard type steal.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

How can the #59 draft pick possibly be a disappointment? If he has a pulse, that's already beating the odds.

I was more excited about his selection than Tucker's originally. As I watch the games I am rapidly inversing that opinion. Strawberry did play a great 4th quarter though.

 

[ArizonaSportsFan]

I thought Strawberry played really well, as did Tucker. Strawberry is very good on defense - remember he was pitted against a third-year NBA player in Louis Williams - and he outshone him for the most part. Philly had a few 2nd year guys out there, so for Phx to play that well was encouraging. What the Suns were really lacking was a big physical rebounder. Williams tried as does Sow, but they were overmatched on the boards.

The trapping defense was giving the Philly guards the fits.

 

[Mainstreet]

What excites me the most is that Tucker and Strawberry appear able to pass the ball, play tough defense and shoot respectably. This would sure provide the Suns some depth in the back-court and even allow Raja to slide to SF on occasion.

I know it's early, but if the Suns could get two good role players out of this draft, I am going to be a very happy man.

 

[Rab]

Great showings from Alando and DJ. I'm really pulling for DJ to make this team.

Anyone know why Marcus didn't play?

 

[Rab]

A nice article on DJ.

LAS VEGAS, July 11, 2007 -- Some things in life simply go well together. For example, bald men and baseball caps, homemakers and soap operas, and flat-screen televisions and surround sound.

You can add D.J. Strawberry and the Suns to that list. The athletic Strawberry was born to play in Phoenix’s run-until-you-drop system.

In the first quarter of what would become a 104-101 overtime loss to the Sixers at the NBA Summer League on Wednesday, Strawberry could be found racing up the court and delivering the perfect pass for easy buckets.

He racked up four points and three assists in the period to set the tone for what would become a can’t-wait-to-call-a-relative night.

With several members of the Suns’ front office seated in the stands, it was almost as if he were auditioning for the role of Steve Nash’s backup.

Despite leading the University of Maryland in scoring (14.9 points per game to go along with 4.4 rebounds and 3.5 assists), the 6-foot, 5-inch Strawberry slid all the way down to the 59th selection at the 2007 NBA Draft. There must not be a lot of teams that need a player who can play both guard positions on offense and cover a one, two or three on defense.

The Suns were delighted to get someone of Strawberry’s caliber with the second-to-last pick of the draft. Of all the players at the NBA pre-draft camp combine in Orlando last month, he had the highest total test score.

Since his dad is former Major League Baseball player Darryl Strawberry, it shouldn’t come as much of a surprise that he has great athletic genes.

In his professional debut against the Cavaliers on Monday, Strawberry had seven points, but handed out just one assist and committed eight fouls

We will chalk that one up to jitters, because the improvement he showed just one game later against the Sixers is impressive. He could be seen smiling, slapping hands and encouraging his teammates on the way to a 19-point, seven-assist, three-steal night. And he only committed two turnovers.

“I was a little antsy and nervous for the first game but I got that all out of my system,” Strawberry said. “Today I got back to doing what I’ve been doing my entire life. I had a good time out there and I was relaxed.”

Strawberry said he brings a lot of intangibles to the table.

“I feel real comfortable here,” Strawberry said. “I can put a lot of defensive pressure on the ball and I can play multiple positions. I’m going to continue to play hard. I’ll do whatever it takes to be a part of this team.”

While most teams are lucky to get one first-year player who would see time on almost any other squad in the league, it appears the Suns may be fortunate enough to have two.

First-round pick Alando Tucker was equally as brilliant as Strawberry, scoring 29 points and delivering six assists of his own. Tucker, who is the University of Wisconsin’s all-time leading scorer, hit on 10-of-19 shots and 8-of-10 free throws. Although the forward grabbed just two rebounds, you would be hard-pressed to find any other flaw in his performance.

Strawberry and Tucker teamed up on more than one occasion for rookie-to-rookie scoring plays.

“Alando and I worked out together in New York and that is how we got to be so close,” Strawberry said. “That is one of the reasons that I got so excited when I found out I was going to the Suns. I enjoy playing with him because he is such a good player and he helps make it easier for everyone else.”

http://www.nba.com/summerleague2007/players/strawberry_071107.html

 

[elindholm]

Since his dad is former Major League Baseball player Darryl Strawberry

Wait -- seriously? Since I don't follow draft prospects, I never realized this. Damn, what is with the Suns and their obsession with trying to rescue guys from totally whacked-out families?

 

[boisesuns]

Since his dad is former Major League Baseball player Darryl Strawberry

Wait -- seriously? Since I don't follow draft prospects, I never realized this. Damn, what is with the Suns and their obsession with trying to rescue guys from totally whacked-out families?

I don't know, but shawn kemp has 50+ kids out there and a few have to be althletic

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Since his dad is former Major League Baseball player Darryl Strawberry

Wait -- seriously? Since I don't follow draft prospects, I never realized this. Damn, what is with the Suns and their obsession with trying to rescue guys from totally whacked-out families?

e, how in the world could you not know this? virtually ANY time strawberry's name is mentioned they throw out the fact that darryl is his father including every maryland game ever played.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

e, how in the world could you not know this? virtually ANY time strawberry's name is mentioned they throw out the fact that darryl is his father including every maryland game ever played.

I don't think Eric watches college hoops.

 

[Folster]

boxscore

 

[Chris_Sanders]

Wow I knew watching the game that Everett was awful but I had no idea.

Same with Sow.

 

[Treesquid PhD]

so Banks is already getting a DNP in the summer league? what did D'antoni come down and coach the team today?

 

[YouJustGotSUNSD]

Damn, Sow is quite the bust.

 

[mr_sunshine]

Damn, Sow is quite the bust.

Probably, but you cannot really judge players on their SL performance alone. When they used to play in Boston Kedrick Brown was an SL all-star.

 

[YouJustGotSUNSD]

While I completely agree that a superstar in the summer league can be a bust in the NBA, its much harder to believe that a bust in the summer league will be a force in the NBA

 

[azirish]

http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/articles/0711suns0712.html

Suns' draft stars come up short

Paul Coro
The Arizona Republic
Jul. 11, 2007 11:01 PM
LAS VEGAS - The Suns' summer team entered Wednesday's fourth quarter trailing Philadelphia by nine before all those projected pluses of their new draft class came to life.

First-round pick Alando Tucker and second-round pick D.J. Strawberry rallied Phoenix in the fourth. Strawberry played point guard in place of Marcus Banks, who sat out with a sore left shoulder as a precaution after spraining it in a collision during Tuesday's scrimmage.

Strawberry came up with steals on two straight possessions and led fast breaks. Tucker, who scored 29 points, put Phoenix ahead 98-93 with 1:25 to go after hitting a fallaway jumper and a three-pointer.

Phoenix wound up in overtime and lost 104-101, but the game still went in the success column as Banks' absence forced the rookies to break out.

"I definitely wanted to be more aggressive," said Tucker, who hit 10 of 19 shots. "I'm getting the feel of this game - the whole run-and-gun and get down. I love it. They're running plays and (isolations) for me to give me the room to create. I know I have the skills to create one on one."

There is a reason Tucker and Strawberry play comfortably together. After both players signed with BDA Sports Management, they worked out together in New York.

"Alando makes it so fun because he's such a cool, funny guy," Strawberry said. "He plays like there are no worries in the world. Playing with him makes it a whole lot easier."

Tucker displayed strong passing instincts. He had six assists Wednesday.

Versatility gives Tucker a shot at the rotation and Strawberry a shot at the roster. Strawberry played point guard at Maryland as a junior and is a strong defender. He had three steals.

Strawberry had a rough first stint at the point but bounced back and finished with seven assists, pushing the pace well. He scored 19 points, and his no-look pass to a trailing Otis George for a dunk was a gym rocker.

"I'm feeling more and more comfortable every day," Strawberry said. "I'm learning the system and multiple positions. They told me to relax and have fun so I did." Strawberry had trouble finishing near the rim Wednesday, getting three layups blocked and missing on a game-winning try.

Pape Sow missed the Suns' last chance - an open 17-footer.

Suns coach Phil Weber said the rookie duo's hunger could inject energy into the franchise.

"Their versatility and the way we play go hand in hand," Weber said. "It's going to push guys on the roster. Healthy competition makes people better. They had no fear. Both are tough, competitive and confident. That confidence is building."

 

[Joe Mama]

While I completely agree that a superstar in the summer league can be a bust in the NBA, its much harder to believe that a bust in the summer league will be a force in the NBA

It happens, but not very often.

Joe

 

[sunsfn]

Otis George had 20 points, 6 rebounds, AND, 10 FOULS!

 

[azirish]

While I completely agree that a superstar in the summer league can be a bust in the NBA, its much harder to believe that a bust in the summer league will be a force in the NBA

I doubt Durant will be a bust.

Summer league starts with very few days of preparation with guys who are not in top condition and playing with weak teammates. In the case of NBA rookies, they also face the change in rules, not being used to the physical game, and just nerves.

Still, I would guess that by the end of the week most of the better players will start to show their talent.

 

[Griffin]

Phil Weber quote on Otis George:

"We have a good group but Otis George is someone we’d like to keep an eye on. Contractually I think he’s locked up for next year and there’s a few we’d like to monitor, but he’s one whose stepped up a little bit."

Does that mean he is under contract with some other non-NBA team? He played in the NBDL last season. I doubt the Suns would have much trouble getting him signed if they really wanted to, but from that comment it appears that even though they'll monitor him, he is not likely to make the roster this year. So in essence that would only leave Strawberry as a potential (and likely) signee.

 

[Griffin]

Strawberry with a great dunk to end the first half. That kid can make some highlight reel plays. Tucker (1/9 shooting) struggling with his shot; hopefully it's just one game. And who is Ron Hale? He's got 20 points at halftime on 7/10 shooting.

 

[Chaplin]

Now I remember why I stopped going to Summer League games. Sloppy, sloppy, sloppy.