FREE TAUREAN GREEN

Injustice.

To the streets!

Blazers vs Nuggets Incomplete Summer League Reactions

Deceptively quick reactions to the Blazers vs Nuggets Summer League Game...

• Jerryd Bayless is probably the best NBA talent on the team. (I throw "probably" in there to show proper respect to Dante Cunningham.) He is the second best point-guard. I'd be in favor of Portland signing Pooh Jeter as the third point just for the possibility that Bayless could soak up some of his game. Jeter is intelligent, athletic, skilled, and most importantly an excellent pick and roll pointguard. I know he's short, but the guy is like a hyper animated brick out there making the right play time and time again. Bayless could learn a lot from him.

• Speaking of Bayless, he has shown some development since last summer. His MVP summer league run of a season ago showcased his ability to get to the rim, finish, and draw fouls. This year he isn't scoring as much but his points seem to be coming with more diversity. His medium-range game was on display tonight as he hit a variety of stop-and-pops off the bounce and the catch in and out of traffic. Unfortunately for Blazer needs, there is still no 3 ball in sight. The Bayless that plays more like a traditionally defined point guard has yet to show more than occasional flashes. As with last summer, we are convinced that Bayless is an NBA player but unsure of his fit with the team. That reminds me, sign Pooh Jeter.

• Portland played some zone tonight, which seems like a very anti-Summer League thing to do. I thought it was awesome. I vote for a full-court zone press next time just to freak people out.

• Whats up with Kareem Rush? The NBA can be cold. Also, Colby Karl will have a steady NBA paycheck.
  

Taurean Green Watch: Yes, I'm still doing this edition

The last Taurean Green update wasn't so happy, what with our man getting the boot from his Euro team maybe. So I was excited he would have an opportunity to bounce back on Chicago's summer team. Its hard not to root for a tough undersized player that has yet to get an honest NBA opportunity in spite of meeting every challenge.

Even our bias couldn't put a positive spin on Green's first outing of the summer, which amounted to 11 minutes of nothing according to the box score. I didn't watch that game, but this was not the bludgeon-every-challenge-to-death response Green gained his DeceptivelyQuick popularity for. Just a bad night? Playing out of position? Just not enough minutes for an impact?

I decided to search for answers by following along with David Thorpe's twitter on Green's next outing. He got one blurb, and we could have a problem:

david b. thorpe: Taurean Green is an NBA player, in my mind. But I'm not sure he thinks so. He's lost some swagger.

Impossible! Taurean Green without swagger is like the ocean without water. But ... Did his Euro experience diminish that game-personality we love so much? Or does he simply need quality minutes? Green finished the second game with respectable production in his 20 minutes, although that type of production probably isn't enough to earn an NBA roster spot.

We can't take chances. I will not be forced to follow this man overseas once again. I have the solution. If you know Green, please show him the below inspirational videos:

And if more is needed, click here in case of emergency.

You mean it costs money to watch NBA Summer League? Online?

This was one of the saddest bullets I've come across on TrueHoop in a while:

In a bad economy, cash is king. NBA Summer League in Las Vegas starts tomorrow, and unlike years' past, you can't watch for free online. It's $14.99 to see the 55 games.

Let that marinate in your soul for a bit.

Now, I love the game of basketball. I love the NBA. And yes, there is that part of me that finds great joy in watching summer league games. I tried to explain that segment of myself a bit more after watching some particularly terrible summer action last year. This could have been an attempt to make sure I wasn't crazy for enjoying something that at times stands directly against a handful of elements that are to be loved about this game.

Casual fans aren't going to pay $14.99 to watch summer league games online. More enthusiastic fans probably won't, either. The NBA is not trying to expand their fan base with this move. They are preying on their core, the people that can't help but watch. That minority of fans who get excited at a chance to watch and root for guys like Taurean Green. (Who will, by the way, absolutely tear shit up this summer assuming a decent opportunity is provided by Chicago.)

Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go find my wallet.