2017 Summer League

I want to see Ntilikina play once, just friggin once, before I start getting too frustrated about how good DSJ has looked in Summer League. Will that day ever come? Probably not until the October preseason games, right?
If they were playing in both Orlando and Vegas we would be watching him. How you can pick playing in that high school gym environment of Orlando instead of the more competitive Vegas SL I don't get. I assume that's another jack ass decision made by PJ because we always played in Vegas.
 
If they were playing in both Orlando and Vegas we would be watching him. How you can pick playing in that high school gym environment of Orlando instead of the more competitive Vegas SL I don't get. I assume that's another jack ass decision made by PJ because we always played in Vegas.

It was totally a change for us made by PJ because he said that he's "not a Vegas kind of guy".
 
Think what you will about how great DSJ looks so far, I will say that for me this quote from Dirk on Twitter posted by Dwain Price (long-time Mavs sports writer) from just after the 2017 NBA draft confirms for me that Mark Cuban is completely full of **** and the way that he talked about DSJ always being "their guy" is something he has been doing as a PR move:

Dwain Price: Dirk Nowitzki said, along with Dennis Smith Jr, France PG Frank Ntilikina was one of the #Mavs’ A-list draft hopefuls.
 
Saw a little bit of the Mavs/Suns game. Smith was the star of the game, got a feeling picking Frank over DSJ is going to be the final curse of PJ that he leaves the Knicks. Mills said we want to get younger and more athletic, maybe he would have selected DSJ over Frank if Phil weren't around.

What's the deal with this kid Ding Yanyuhang, fans going ape over him.

Ding has some moxy, very solid find by Mavs. He would not back down to players trying to be overly physical with him and has ability to hit from range. Not sure if he'll stick or if he'll get playing time during the real season but he has talent. I think it's the Las Vegas vibe and the region near Cali that would lean towards a player of his ilk. He's Asian and maybe that's the reason he wins over the SL fan base, just guessing.
 
It was totally a change for us made by PJ because he said that he's "not a Vegas kind of guy".

Remember I said babying, this is probably a reason. Phil and maybe the crew being leery of the Vegas scene with the young players, as a distraction another guess. The team clearly said the knee injury wasn't serious.

Funny thing is the media wants to show all these clips of Frankie working hardcore at Melo/KPs Lifetime Fitness gym but couldn't play 1-2gms in SL for 20min/gm? Pure Knickery! The fact we spent the majority of summer speaking to him needing a veteran mentor and Rondo may still be in play suggest we didn't make the best pick at 8 or even alternative moves in draft. Donovan Mitchell has played every bit as well as anyone in stretches
 
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Remember I said babying, this is probably a reason. Phil and maybe the crew being leery of the Vegas scene with the young players, as a distraction another guess. The team clearly said the knee injury wasn't serious.

Funny thing is the media wants to show all these clips of Frankie working hardcore at Melo/KPs Lifetime Fitness gym but couldn't play 1-2gms in SL for 20min/gm? Pure Knickery! The fact we spent the majority of summer speaking to him needing a veteran mentor and Rondo may still be in play suggest we didn't make the best pick at 8 or even alternative moves in draft. Donovan Mitchell has played every bit as well as anyone in stretches

In the end, this franchise needs to decide if it's keeping or dumping Melo. I thought Melo would have been gone in the last 24 hours, but now I'm not so sure.

If Melo stays or if he goes, our future hangs in the ability of KP, THJ, WHG, and Ntilikina to be able to play together. I don't care if DSJ posts Westbrook numbers if Ntilikina can thrive with and facilitate KP, WHG, and THJ. If somehow we can make it work with Melo still in town even better (but I doubt that's possible). We have 2 seasons before KP becomes a restricted free agent. Plenty of time to build a core.

The problem with the Knicks is that we are a circus and we never actually try to create anything sustainable. KP, WHG, THJ, and Ntilikina need to become best buddies, get on a friggin banana boat, and make the best of what we have going forward.
 
Here are his highlights, showed everything...

I'll say this I doubt Frank will be better than Smith in his career. Too much innate ability that Frank just doesn't have, you get what DSJ has from the man upstairs.

Doesn't mean Frank won't be a good player just not as good as DSJ imo.
 
Way too early to tell anything. A few years ago fans were crying bc we passed on Mudiay and Winslow for KP.... Mudiay has been awful for DEN....

We took Frank over DSJ bc we didn't like his body language on court (to coaches and teammate) and the fact NC st lost a lot and bc DSJ didn't play any defense in college.

We won't know the answer for 3-5 years.... so let's. It go crazy over a SL contest.
 
Grizzlies still showing that grind Selden and Martin who are experienced carried their team over Kings. Fox still showed a very versatile game and he has great court awareness. He's rackin up the stls too. I think Magic may regret not drafting him
 
Way too early to tell anything. A few years ago fans were crying bc we passed on Mudiay and Winslow for KP.... Mudiay has been awful for DEN....

We took Frank over DSJ bc we didn't like his body language on court (to coaches and teammate) and the fact NC st lost a lot and bc DSJ didn't play any defense in college.

We won't know the answer for 3-5 years.... so let's. It go crazy over a SL contest.

It's early at the same time every draft can't be compared to the one #kporzee was in. Knicks also missed in other drafts or didn't maximize our draft position when we've had decent picks.

It's early on someone like Mudiay who when left alone showed promising signs and has produced some monster games but no doubt #kporzee has the clear edge over him.

It's not even about that kind of argument, the coachableness excuse is lame, way overblown and holds no weight. It really was mythical draft talk. We were rumored to be after Jackson had #kporzee been dealt, a prospect who had to take anger management classes recently. This conversation never would've came up had we made such a move, I don't care what Wally(team mole) or any beat writer's article wrote about the subject. It irresponsible of any team to not do their up close and personal homework drawing their own conclusions on "EVERY" prospect of interest.

Not to mention if we were going to go there then let's discuss Phil falling asleep on workouts shall we?

This is purely about looking at ELITE level talent period and there are only maybe 1-2 prospect who have more than DJS and it's highly debatable if they do. And although it's SL more respect should be provided to these prospects because they are playing against more and more NBA talent...guys who have been in the league multi yrs decent rotation on several teams.
 
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It's early at the same time every draft can't be compared to the one #kporzee was in. Knicks also missed in other drafts or didn't maximize our draft position when we've had decent picks.

It's early on someone like Mudiay who when left alone showed promising signs and has produced some monster games but no doubt #kporzee has the clear edge over him.

It's not even about that kind of argument, the coachableness excuse is lame, way overblown and holds no weight. It really was mythical draft talk. We were rumored to be after Jackson had #kporzee been dealt, a prospect who had to take anger management classes recently. This conversation never would've came up had we made such a move, I don't care what Wally(team mole) or any beat writer's article wrote about the subject. It irresponsible of any team to not do their up close and personal homework drawing their own conclusions on "EVERY" prospect of interest.

Not to mention if we were going to go there then let's discuss Phil falling asleep on workouts shall we?

This is purely about looking at ELITE level talent period and there are only maybe 1-2 prospect who have more than DJS and it's highly debatable if they do. And although it's SL more respect should be provided to these prospects because they are playing against more and more NBA talent...guys who have been in the league multi yrs decent rotation on several teams.

I believe NYK brain trust thought DSJ had elite level talent -- most rational observers understood that -- but I think they also thought that chances were very slim DSJ would reach that plateau (b/c of atttitude and drive). They looked at his lack of desire to play defense and his quick finer blaming others when losing arrived....

I'm not saying that's who DSJ is,
Just what I've heard some scouts and execs claim about him.

Ultimately, unless we were privy to all the intel and reports NYK brain trust had, it's hard to even guess what direction we would've gone in.

From the outside looking in.... sure, DSJ was the smarter pick.

I also know, given enough intel that raised warning flags with dSJ and then other reports coming in elevating Frank.... maybe going safer is wiser? Who knows.

At least we weren't Lakers, BOS and ORL.... all 3 passed on fox.
 
I believe NYK brain trust thought DSJ had elite level talent -- most rational observers understood that -- but I think they also thought that chances were very slim DSJ would reach that plateau (b/c of atttitude and drive). They looked at his lack of desire to play defense and his quick finer blaming others when losing arrived....

I'm not saying that's who DSJ is,
Just what I've heard some scouts and execs claim about him.

Ultimately, unless we were privy to all the intel and reports NYK brain trust had, it's hard to even guess what direction we would've gone in.

From the outside looking in.... sure, DSJ was the smarter pick.

I also know, given enough intel that raised warning flags with dSJ and then other reports coming in elevating Frank.... maybe going safer is wiser? Who knows.

At least we weren't Lakers, BOS and ORL.... all 3 passed on fox.

That could've been the case but still irresponsible and based on how things are going even with Phil out of the picture, I don't trust and will not trust such judgement. We still don't have a front office in place(we're making a mockery of the search) and did a terrible job in free agency.

THJR(wasn't even out of college) is not a defender by any stretch of the imagination yet we gave him $75-80mil and if you sight he's improved...then every new prospect deserved a chance to prove this much the same. You can't pigeon hole talent right out the gate.

Supposedly Frankie doesn't have a developed offensive game/too green...should those be the reasons we passed on him and say drafted someone like Kennard because it's a 3ball league and he can shoot the rock due to us being one of the poorest 3pt shooting teams last yr? See how that works? We didn't draft DSJ because Phil discriminated against the type of talent he was which was actually cited in several articles

I think Tatum will make good on Boston's selection he's been the 2nd best if not best prospect in SL thus far...

As of now I have it in this order Top Draft prospect performances

Fultz
Tatum
DSJ
Fox
 
I don't know what the reason is probably because they want him ready to start day 1. Dallas coaches were coddling him in the game today, showed one coach telling him not to have his head down because opposing players were coming at him and having his head down just encourages them to come at him harder. A little of the psychology of the game outside of teaching technique.

They also have a dedicated coach sitting next to him on the bench discussing the game with him. I was thinking, he seemed very coachable watching him remembering what you said about his attitude.

I think I said because the Mavs are going to fast track him he'll have the better year than Frank and like you say we have to be patient to see who was the better pick but I think DSJ can be elite, I don't think Frank has that in him and I haven't really seen him play yet which I know seems ridiculous.
 
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Let's be honest here. PJ probably brought both Ntilikina and DSJ into a room and had them recite passages from his book Eleven Rings while doing yoga poses. Clearly, Ntilikina had the more impressive downward facing dog and hence got the nod.
 
Let's be honest here. PJ probably brought both Ntilikina and DSJ into a room and had them recite passages from his book Eleven Rings while doing yoga poses. Clearly, Ntilikina had the more impressive downward facing dog and hence got the nod.

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Y'all see what babying and coddling looks like from a distance? The same as it does up close...ugly




Lonzo and Frankie better toughen real quickly otherwise this kind of stuff will get snuffed out with the quickness
 
Y'all see what babying and coddling looks like from a distance? The same as it does up close...ugly




Lonzo and Frankie better toughen real quickly otherwise this kind of stuff will get snuffed out with the quickness


The Lakers PG Caruso is the star spot-light of the Lakers / Kings game 16 pts 6 ast at the start of the 3rd qtr.
Caruso's hustle at the point has the rest of the Lakers players moving the ball around as if ready for the NBA.
The Kings star-players Fox n Jackson has been playing isolation ball from the start of the game giving the Lakers a 20 pt lead by 3rd qtr. .. the Kings next rookie star Mason had to step up his performance in the 2nd half to bring the Kings back into the game to take a 1 pt lead with 5 minute remaining in the game. Great Game without Ball .. Caruso !!!
 
The Lakers PG Caruso is the star spot-light of the Lakers / Kings game 16 pts 6 ast at the start of the 3rd qtr.
Caruso's hustle at the point has the rest of the Lakers players moving the ball around as if ready for the NBA.
The Kings star-players Fox n Jackson has been playing isolation ball from the start of the game giving the Lakers a 20 pt lead by 3rd qtr. .. the Kings next rookie star Mason had to step up his performance in the 2nd half to bring the Kings back into the game to take a 1 pt lead with 5 minute remaining in the game. Great Game without Ball .. Caruso !!!

Yeah Caruso and Mason were the clear standouts tonight, although Buddy got hot late. Great game to watch
 
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