Orlando Pro Summer League: Brief Day 3 thoughts

Yesterday I finally got a live chance to view B.J, who wants to be known as his real first name Byron, and the Oklahoma City thunder in day 3 action of the Orlando Summer, as well as clips from the the first two days. I wrote down some quick thoughts as I watched.

(these are just basic notes of what stood out as a basketball fan, not really 'hard' evaluation. You can't really extrapolate too much from Summer League play where there are big stretches of bad play, and guys barely want to pass. This is not the type of setting conducive to all around quality play, or the style that helps a young big man..)

The Good

-One thing that jumps out at you right away about Mullens is that he does move well for a guy his size. Initially, it certainly looks like he 'belongs' with athletes of this caliber...(although I realize that while there is a bit of a jump from high end D1 to NBA summer/d-league rosters, it not quite NBA yet) Byron looks like Conley Jr. compared to some of the other seven footers in Orlando like Robert Swift and Roy Hibbert. He never had many questions in that regard. On day three Mullens was mostly matched up with true center Robert Swift, and 6'11 euro face up style PF Nick Fazekas.

-The one thing that Byron seems to be at least a little bit comfortable doing out there is taking the mid range jumper. And that is something we did not see in his short stint at Ohio State. Mullens reiterated how all the pre-draft practice helped out with his shot in interviews, and he has been able to show some touch.

-Made a couple nice passes from the high post in the 2nd quarter. One was a nice bounce pass to a back cutting Shaun Livingston, the other was to Kyle Weaver on the same play.

-Got a chance to display his athleticism that wowed so many in AAU by skying for an alley oop in the 3rd quarter.

The not so Good

-fouling all over the place, it's to be expected for a young big. I remember Oden fouled frequently in summer league (nba as well). You would still like to see Byron send some back instead of picking up the foul.

-Just needs to impove his overall defensive presence all together. It is okay to be aggressive, even if it is summer league and it is hard for big men to get into a rhythm. He also got burned a couple times defending the pick & roll.

But overall I would day Mullens has been decent, he suprised me with his shooting and passing.

Other guys who looked good: James Harden, Westbrook, Gabe Pruitt had some monster thowdowns, Tyler Hansbrough, Chris Lofton, Ryan Anderson