Re: 2023 Summer League Thread

[bobheckler]

Celtics notebook: An unsung coach


Chris Forsberg
Wed, July 5, 2023 at 5:49 AM PDT



Some scattered Celtics thoughts while waiting for decisions on Jaylen Brown’s supermax and Grant Williams’ future -- or at least the start of Boston’s NBA Summer League slate in Vegas on Saturday:


Tony Dobbins' fresh perspective

Joe Mazzulla’s support staff got a notable overhaul this offseason with the additions of Sam Cassell and Charles Lee. But one of the few constants amid the changes from Brad Stevens to Ime Udoka to Mazzulla has been the presence of Tony Dobbins.

The 41-year-old Dobbins started in Boston’s video room as part of Stevens’ staff and joined his on-the-bench staff in 2020. Dobbins shuffled to the front of the bench this past season on a staff filled with Udoka’s former assistants and Mazzulla leaned heavily on him, especially with advanced scouting.

This summer, Dobbins will coach the Celtics’ entry in Las Vegas. He’s been given a somewhat unsexy bunch of NBA hopefuls headlined by Boston’s two most recent second-round draft picks in J.D. Davison and Jordan Walsh.

But Dobbins, one of the few holdovers after many of Udoka’s former assistants departed this summer, gushed about the opportunity to be in the big chair in Vegas.

"I'm just trying to take full advantage of it and enjoy kind of seeing a different side of coaching than I do during the season," said Dobbins. "I think it's an opportunity for me to be in a better position to help Joe. I think that's for me, and that's for all of us. The great thing about summer league is that it allows players and staff to kind of do something that’s a little bit different than what you do during the season. But, ultimately, the goal for everybody is to be better for the franchise."

There’s a refreshing energy when you hear Dobbins, who spent extended time after Boston’s first summer practice working with rookie Walsh, talk about getting to be part of the start of Walsh's NBA journey.

"It gives you good perspective to see a guy like Jordan, who was dreaming about this moment -- like, he's been dreaming of this moment his whole life -- and I get a chance to be a part of it," said Dobbins. "That’s pretty special. I don't take that for granted. So, for me, that's what makes it exciting."

Dobbins is also Brown’s player coach and spends a lot of time with him during the season, both looking over film and working on ballhandling. Dobbins shined during a 13-year career overseas career where defense was his on-court calling card.


Bob


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[RosalieTCeltics]

He always seems like a real good guy, I think Joe relied on him more than we saw publicly . I hope he does well

[bobheckler]

Adam Himmelsbach @AdamHimmelsbach
about 3 hours ago
Per source, Dalano Banton is expected to join the Celtics’ Las Vegas summer league squad. Banton agreed to a two-year deal with Cs last weekend.


Bob
MY NOTE:  I suspected he would.   It would be very foolish of him not to take advantage of the opportunity to work with some of the coaches he'll have this year.

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[gyso]

https://twitter.com/CelticsCLNS/status/1675198859457200130?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1675198859457200130%7Ctwgr%5E2e7419c616d12d9a7162f6da287289f027cca0cb%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fsbnation.coral.coralproject.net%2Fapi%2Foembed%3Ftype%3Dtwitterurl%3Dhttps3A2F2Ftwitter.com2FCelticsCLNS2Fstatus2F1675198859457200130siteID%3D112aa377-e27f-4b58-9156-5e5df25f39a2frameID%3Dframe-id-50173557-5ec6-484f-b73b-9c030ba6072b-450f40d0-1c6b-11ee-9c16-1f6de6710b59

[gyso]

https://twitter.com/celtics/status/1676651524166918151?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1676651524166918151%7Ctwgr%5Ebb8c080b18fc687475b0b773256c5b8f7583b640%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fsbnation.coral.coralproject.net%2Fapi%2Foembed%3Ftype%3Dtwitterurl%3Dhttps3A2F2Ftwitter.com2Fceltics2Fstatus2F1676651524166918151siteID%3D112aa377-e27f-4b58-9156-5e5df25f39a2frameID%3Dframe-id-4b221a6d-9a98-4dd5-a1af-3dcb6647da9f-45102b30-1c6b-11ee-9c16-1f6de6710b59

[bobheckler]

Bobby Manning @RealBobManning
about 3 hours ago
Mychal Mulder for #Heat's G-League team last year: 17.3 PPG 3.6 RPG 2.7 APG 43.6% FG 40.7% 3PT (10.2 att.) 1.4 TOV. Shot 38.1% 3PT for Miami last summer in Vegas ..technically 2-way eligible, but 29 yrs old.


Bob
MY NOTE: First SL game is TOMORROW!!!


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[RosalieTCeltics]

did I miss the post of the schedule of SL games? I know Celtics play tomorrow, what time?

[gyso]

did I miss the post of the schedule of SL games?  I know Celtics play tomorrow, what time?

There's schedules etc, in the Game On forum for next season. BobC may make a thread.

[RosalieTCeltics]

Thanks

[bobc33]

I made a bare bones Game On for each of the first four games. One more game will be scheduled but no details yet.

[RosalieTCeltics]

Thanks to both for letting me know This is how bored I am worried about missing a summer league game. Heat must be getting to me!!!

[bobc33]

Thanks to both for letting me know   This is how bored I am  worried about missing a summer league game. Heat must be getting to me!!!

I’m looking forward to seeing the rookie Jordan Walsh! First time I’ve ever been enthused about a player picked 38th.

[RosalieTCeltics]

Does Champagne have a brother? Guy on Spurs with some last name, that is unusual name so I missed something somewhere or there are 2.

[bobheckler]

Does Champagne have a brother?  Guy on Spurs with some last name, that is unusual name so I missed something somewhere or there are 2.

Rosalie,

Yes, they are brothers.


Bob


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[bobheckler]

I made a bare bones Game On for each of the first four games.  One more game will be scheduled but no details yet.

Thank you, BobC, for starting the Game On! threads last year and this year.  

Any board member can join in the Game On! conversations and, to become a board member, all you need to do is create an ID (which is free. Posting on this website/board is free!).  If you go to the Home page and click on 'Game On! 2023-2024' link you will be presented with the opportunity to join a specific game's thread.




Bob


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[bobheckler]

It's just Summer League, so might as well use the same thread.

Keeping in mind this is just the FIRST game, in SL no less...

AFTER MIAMI Post Game:

Their Orlando Robinson just made the NBA.  Congrats.  36 points on 13-24, 3-4 from 3, 7-8 from the line, 11 rebounds including 3 offensive, 4 assists and zero turnovers.  2 blocks.  NOTHING wrong with this kid's game.

Our centers looked ok in various ways.  Not sold on either of them yet, but not down on them either.  They just ran into a career night by Robinson.

Walsh can play.  18 points on 6-11 and 4-5 from 3.  I think he was sandbagging the 3 @ Arkansas.  3 TOs, but only one that looked bad.  He didn't look like a rookie, he looked like a 2nd year SL player.  Minor difference, perhaps, but he didn't look lost and a lot of first year SL players do.




Justin Bean and Jay Scrubb both want a contract.  Scrubb with 4 TOs, but his 17 on 6-11 looked very good otherwise.  Bean with 13 and 7 was solid.  Bean was 2-5 from 3 while Scrubb was 1-3.  Knowing Joe that might give Bean the edge.

JD was 5-14, an awful shooting game, but he had 11 assists and 5 turnovers, which is pretty good.  What was most promising is that he was 7 and 4 at the half, so he had 4 assists and 1 turnover in the 2nd half.  I feel like the game is still too fast for him.  He gets himself into situations and has no Plan B because the game's too fast.  He was 1-5 from 3, so he hasn't fixed that either.  Just one game but a mixed bag for Mr. Davison.

Unless the bottom falls out from under Bean and Scrubb I don't see how Justin Champagnie makes this team.  He looked bad last year when he played and he was 3-13 and 1-4 tonight.  He had 11 rebounds, 6 offensive but that's not going to be his NBA game.  His game will be defending and scoring.  He also had 4 turnovers.

19 TOs vs 12.  JD 4, Champagnie 4, Scrubb 4, Walsh 3.  There's 15 right there.

Dalano Blanton was nowhere to be seen on the boxscore, not even as a DNP.  Is he in Vegas?


https://www.espn.com/nba-summer-league/boxscore/_/gameId/401558315/league/nba-summer-las-vegas





Bob


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[bobheckler]

Number...Name..........................Position...Height......Age.....2022-23 team
20..........J.D. Davison................G............6-3..........20.......Boston Celtics (NBA)
26..........Kamar Baldwin.............G............6-1..........25.......Maine Celtics (G-League)
27..........Jordan Walsh...............F............6-7...........19.......Arkansas (NCAA)
29..........Jay Scrubb..................G...........6-5...........22......Lakeland Magic (G-League)
37..........Mychal Mulder.............G............6-3...........29......Sioux Falls Skyforce (G-League)
38..........Justin Bean.................F............6-7...........26.......Memphis Hustle (G-League)
41..........Vincent Valerio-Bodon...F............6-9...........22......Sopron KC (Hungary)
45..........Sam Griesel.................F............6-6...........23.......Nebraska (NCAA)
50..........Olek Balcerowski..........C............7-1..........22........Gran Canaria (Spain)
51..........Udoka Azubuike...........C............6-10.........23........Utah Jazz (NBA)
55..........Reggie Kissoonlal.........C............7-0...........27.......Maine Celtics (G-League)
99..........Justin Champagnie.......F.............6-6...........22.......Boston Celtics (NBA)
tbd.........Dalano Banton............G.............6-7..........23........Toronto Raptors (NBA)


Bob


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[gyso]

https://twitter.com/AdamHimmelsbach/status/1677755182095159296?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1677755182095159296%7Ctwgr%5Edcc666126accffa52cb9ab79dd2b4ae0c5585d2c%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fsbnation.coral.coralproject.net%2Fapi%2Foembed%3Ftype%3Dtwitterurl%3Dhttps3A2F2Ftwitter.com2FAdamHimmelsbach2Fstatus2F1677755182095159296siteID%3D112aa377-e27f-4b58-9156-5e5df25f39a2frameID%3Dframe-id-ddc90939-6e5e-4200-8833-2df1c937c635-94509f80-1e51-11ee-94b9-1ffdedb0da1c

[gyso]

A comment from CelticsBlog:

I'm in Vegas for summer league, went to the game today, and I'm completely baffled by the subhead claiming JD Davison had a strong performance.

Davison made consistently terrible decisions the entire game. He repeatedly ignored shooters in open positions to put up bad shots.

Someone on CB commented the other day that they don't like summer league because their perception is that it's mostly guys playing selfishly and looking to get theirs. I generally disagree (we watch 4 games a day, and I'm actually amazed at how many times guys who are fighting for recognition make unselfish plays), but Davison was the epitome of that today. He either didn't see his teammates or ignored them, and I'm not sure which is more damning. He also dribbled backward over half court for no reason, and threw the ball to the other team when not even under pressure. Unforced turnovers from a 2nd year guy in summer league.

It's only one game, but he was terrible. I'm dumbfounded to see he was credited with 11 assists. I call BS on the stat keeper. I think they must have given him an assist any time he touched a ball before someone scored, because he wasn't making plays. Maybe guys were scoring, at some point, after he passed to them, but it's not like he was finding them in scoring position or setting them up. He just had the ball a lot, so it's coincidence that he would be the last guy to have the ball before another guy scored. I think he was lucky that his teammates created that assist stat for him.

The good news is that Jordan Walsh looked very good. Scrubb and Bean both also played very well for 3 quarters, Scrubb started trying to force things in the 4th, and Bean's shot stopped dropping, but both played well otherwise, Scrubb was aggressive going to the hoop, Bean made some nice passes, and both played high-energy, good defense.

Also, when you are at SL, especially in Cox Pavilion, which is TINY, you get to see the players interacting up close, and Walsh twice got visibly irate with Davison. I liked seeing it from Walsh (he was directing everyone at various times), but was disappointed to see Davison needing direction from a rookie. He looked lost.

As others have pointed out, neither of the big men did anything to stand out in a positive way. They were both liabilities, for the most part. And Champagnie didn't look like a guy with NBA experience. He seemed disinterested, low energy.

As I said, just one SL game. I'm not trying to overstate anything, just say what I saw.

[gyso]

[sinus007]

Hi,
I didn't watch the whole game - just the first half. And paid attention, mostly, to Walsh. I liked him.
He totally proved his main attribute - hustle. On top of that he managed to sink 3 3pt. Also, he tried really hard on defense - not always successfully but desire was definitely there.

AK

[RosalieTCeltics]

funny, because for the most part, that was Bob's opinion of JD. That kid has always baffled me, I have called him "the wild man" since I watched him up in Maine. It will be interesting to see what the outcome is of his summer league stint. Right now, I am already missing Marcus!!!!!!!!!!!!

[dboss]

Walsh played well.

Clearly he can make shots and he moves well on defense.  JD can pass but still has work to do on decision making.  Physically he looks buffed up.

[dboss]

Game 2 tonight.  7:30 pm

[bobheckler]

Here's a highlight film on Jay Scrubb's game vs Miami (Game 1).  A lot of his scores were on drives.  I love that aggressiveness, and his energy level, but he needs to show he can hit reliably from outside too.

Nevertheless, a nice eye-opening first game of SL.





Bob


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