Mark Cuban and AJ Hammons

[depthcharge623]

I have a good friend who works on the show Shark Tank out in LA. As any of you who watch the show knows, one of the "sharks" on the show is Mavericks owner Mark Cuban. Well, my friend was actually driving Cuban around the lot in a golf cart last week during filming, and Cuban mentioned in passing that he was really excited to have drafted Hammons, and considered him a huge steal at that position in the draft! What is weird is that my friend didn't go to Purdue and isn't a huge college basketball fan in general. So Mark essentially brought it up on his own.

I can see that being pretty good news-- if the owner of the team likes a specifc player and wants them to succeed, that certainly can't help one's chances! Boiler up!

 

[spradecki]

I have a good friend who works on the show Shark Tank out in LA. As any of you who watch the show knows, one of the "sharks" on the show is Mavericks owner Mark Cuban. Well, my friend was actually driving Cuban around the lot in a golf cart last week during filming, and Cuban mentioned in passing that he was really excited to have drafted Hammons, and considered him a huge steal at that position in the draft! What is weird is that my friend didn't go to Purdue and isn't a huge college basketball fan in general. So Mark essentially brought it up on his own.

I can see that being pretty good news-- if the owner of the team likes a specifc player and wants them to succeed, that certainly can't help one's chances! Boiler up!

i'm really looking forward to watching AJH as a pro.. cuban got a good one and he knows it

 

[nagemj02]

I have a good friend who works on the show Shark Tank out in LA. As any of you who watch the show knows, one of the "sharks" on the show is Mavericks owner Mark Cuban. Well, my friend was actually driving Cuban around the lot in a golf cart last week during filming, and Cuban mentioned in passing that he was really excited to have drafted Hammons, and considered him a huge steal at that position in the draft! What is weird is that my friend didn't go to Purdue and isn't a huge college basketball fan in general. So Mark essentially brought it up on his own.

I can see that being pretty good news-- if the owner of the team likes a specifc player and wants them to succeed, that certainly can't help one's chances! Boiler up!

I would hope he's excited about Hammons, lol. I'm guessing he had the final say for that pick. The Las Vegas Summer League (the Mavs are playing in both Orlando and Las Vegas this summer with two completely different teams) starts in a few days, so we'll get to see A.J. in "real" game action for the first time since March.

 

[depthcharge623]

Well, there's a difference between picking someone because he's the best that's left at that spot, and considering him a steal. Cuban could have made the choice and still not been really wild about Hammons.

 

[nagemj02]

Quick interview with Mavs media member today during Las Vegas Summer League practice. Their first game is on Friday: http://www.mavs.com/videos/one-on-one-with-a-j-hammons/

Haha, he adds a Purdue shout-out at the very end.

Boiler Up

 

[nagemj02]

A.J. Hammons agrees to a 3-year deal with the Mavericks:

 

[bonefish1]

I read that Cuban and Cardinal might have had some contact regarding AJ. Great to hear that the family is taking care of one another.
I'd assume AJ and Cardinal have had several discussions about what's expected at the NBA level and in the Mavs program in general. Great situation for AJ and congrats on the contract.

 

[nagemj02]

A.J. plays in his first Summer League game tonight at 10 (ET)! It will be televised on the NBA TV network.

Boiler Up

 

[Purdue Grad in Texas]

A.J. plays in his first Summer League game tonight at 10 (ET)! It will be televised on the NBA TV network.

Boiler Up

Didn't catch the game, but here's an update:

23 minutes of action for AJH: 4 pts (2-4), 6 boards, and two assists.....

Mavericks easily defeat the Heat, 83-64; next game is tonight against the Raptors.

 

[Travisty13]

Didn't catch the game, but here's an update:

23 minutes of action for AJH: 4 pts (2-4), 6 boards, and two assists.....

Mavericks easily defeat the Heat, 83-64; next game is tonight against the Raptors.

I watched it. He also had 2 turnovers and 5 fouls, both TOs and 2 of the fouls were from moving screens. 1 moving screen was the PG moving before AJ could get set, and the other was AJ got a pass high near the free throw line, and he did a handoff pass to the cutting PG and he was trying to set a screen right after the pass, to open up the PG for an open drive.

He played well in my opinion. Don't read into the points, they didn't feed the post all game. Their PG dropped 30 and was shooting 3s all game, and Justin Anderson shot another 17 times in the game. They weren't looking for any post play. His D was solid, still needs to work on his pick and roll D, that was his clear weakness in the game.

 

[Beeazlebub]

I watched it. He also had 2 turnovers and 5 fouls, both TOs and 2 of the fouls were from moving screens. 1 moving screen was the PG moving before AJ could get set, and the other was AJ got a pass high near the free throw line, and he did a handoff pass to the cutting PG and he was trying to set a screen right after the pass, to open up the PG for an open drive.

He played well in my opinion. Don't read into the points, they didn't feed the post all game. Their PG dropped 30 and was shooting 3s all game, and Justin Anderson shot another 17 times in the game. They weren't looking for any post play. His D was solid, still needs to work on his pick and roll D, that was his clear weakness in the game.

Kudos for sticking through that whole AAU-like mess, as that was painful to watch. I have to hope that coaches will be on their ass to actually look inside once in a while in upcoming games.

 

[nagemj02]

Dallas plays again today at 6:30 (ET) on NBA TV. Go Hambone!

 

[Travisty13]

Kudos for sticking through that whole AAU-like mess, as that was painful to watch. I have to hope that coaches will be on their ass to actually look inside once in a while in upcoming games.

DVR is my best friend. Only watched AJ and fast forwarded through the rest. But yeah watching it was painful. Can tell they sign a bunch of scrubs to fill out the roster and they haven't practiced much together. I'm hoping tonight, they do try and see what the post can do. Give AJ a chance. 2 of his shots the other night were near the 3 pt line (made one, missed one) and that seemed like the only time he could get the ball in a position to score.

 

[TC4THREE]

But yeah watching it was painful.

So it's just like regular NBA basketball?

 

[purdue4sure]

He will get better and better.

http://www.jconline.com/story/sport...mmons-vegas-summer-league-mavericks/86932762/

 

[Travisty13]

Him vs Jakob Poeltl looked like a man against a boy. AJ is definitely tougher and has more muscle than Jakob right now. If you look at Poeltl's stats, it says 9 pts, 7 rebs, but only 4 points game against AJ (a nice shot where Poeltl went under the hoop and used the rim to shield AJ, and an open dunk were AJ left him to give help D) and I saw maybe 3 rebounds that Poeltl came down with against AJ. AJ had a sweet up and under move on Poeltl.

AJ was credited with no blocks, but I could have sworn I saw him block one, he did alter at least 4-5 shots on D though. And he got credit for no steals, but he stopped a fast break by making the guy throw the ball out of bounds, and he knocked a ball free playing perimeter D (Mavs teammate came away with the ball and I guess credit for the steal).

Also it's the second time they've gone in depth on AJ during the broadcast saying he has big potential but needs to work on the motor *blah blah blah* same recycled narrative. Thought he played well, had you watched you would never guessed one guy was a top 10 pick and the other was a 2nd rounder with motor issues.

 

[Travisty13]

Here's "highlights" on the plays I was referring to in my above post for Poeltl.

 

[Travisty13]

Here's a link to the Mavs site that has highlights of the game. Shows AJ's dunk (don't know why they didn't included his up and under), shows an assist, and shows the play where he should have gotten credit for the steal.
http://www.mavs.com/las-vegas-summer-league-2016-game-2-mavs-vs-raptors/

 

[Travisty13]

That's the AJ up and under (and that's not my twitter page).

 

[Purdue Grad in Texas]

View embedded media

That's the AJ up and under (and that's not my twitter page).

Looked more like an over and under; either way, nice move from AJH.

 

[nagemj02]

Him vs Jakob Poeltl looked like a man against a boy. AJ is definitely tougher and has more muscle than Jakob right now. If you look at Poeltl's stats, it says 9 pts, 7 rebs, but only 4 points game against AJ (a nice shot where Poeltl went under the hoop and used the rim to shield AJ, and an open dunk were AJ left him to give help D) and I saw maybe 3 rebounds that Poeltl came down with against AJ. AJ had a sweet up and under move on Poeltl.

AJ was credited with no blocks, but I could have sworn I saw him block one, he did alter at least 4-5 shots on D though. And he got credit for no steals, but he stopped a fast break by making the guy throw the ball out of bounds, and he knocked a ball free playing perimeter D (Mavs teammate came away with the ball and I guess credit for the steal).

Also it's the second time they've gone in depth on AJ during the broadcast saying he has big potential but needs to work on the motor *blah blah blah* same recycled narrative. Thought he played well, had you watched you would never guessed one guy was a top 10 pick and the other was a 2nd rounder with motor issues.

I thought Hammons vs. Poeltl was pretty much a draw. It's Summer League, but I still think A.J. should demand the ball in the paint in half-court situations instead of having to watch some of his teammates chuck up bad shots because they're trying to make an impression.

 

[Travisty13]

I thought Hammons vs. Poeltl was pretty much a draw. It's Summer League, but I still think A.J. should demand the ball in the paint in half-court situations instead of having to watch some of his teammates chuck up bad shots because they're trying to make an impression.

Had AJ's team ever looked in the post, AJ would have ate Poeltl up. Constantly had good position, numerous times he'd set a screen and roll to the basket open with no one passing to him. AJ could have had at least 5 more shots if they ever actually used the pick and roll properly.

 

[nagemj02]

A.J. and the Mavs are about to tip-off vs. Denzel Valentine in the Chicago Bulls. Tip-off is 8:55 (ET) and it's on ESPN2. AJH has looked sluggish the past couple of games (tired from playing 5 consecutive days?). Hopefully he has a better showing tonight!

Boiler Up

 

[Purdue Grad in Texas]

A.J. and the Mavs are about to tip-off vs. Denzel Valentine in the Chicago Bulls. Tip-off is 8:55 (ET) and it's on ESPN2. AJH has looked sluggish the past couple of games (tired from playing 5 consecutive days?). Hopefully he has a better showing tonight!

Boiler Up

I tried watching some of this game in the first half.....brutal viewing pleasure (at least from my perspective). I can hear TC now.....I told you so.

So....I went back to Open Championship highlights from Royal Troon.

 

[nagemj02]

I tried watching some of this game in the first half.....brutal viewing pleasure (at least from my perspective). I can hear TC now.....I told you so.

So....I went back to Open Championship highlights from Royal Troon.

I thought he looked a little better last night. He still needs to catch the ball better (both on post entries and on rebounding: he's been doing a lot of volleyball tapping when going for rebounds in these games) but he had a couple of blocks. He plays again tonight in one more game. It's a consolation matchup vs. the Warriors' team. He's not used to playing 7 games in 8 days but hopefully he can finish strongly!

Boiler Up