BLUE v WHITE Scrimmage

[cdandi1]

http://blogs.charlotte.com/inside_the_nba/2011/12/observations-from-the-scrimmage.html

- Words I heard constantly over the public-address system: “Personal foul, Gana Diop.’’ I suspect it will be the same come the regular season. At his current weight, it’s so hard for him to play any effective post defense. There was a play where D.J. Augustin drove the baseline. It would be hard under any circumstance for Diop to cut off that drive, but it looked impossible Saturday.

-- As you’d expect, rookie Kemba Walker has such a knack for attacking the rim in transition,. If the ball is in his hands and the break is on, seldom will he come away with less than two trips to the foul line. Also, he’s going to get lots of long rebounds -- he had six boards Saturday.

-- On the other hand, Walker had a couple of turnovers that looked classically rookie. This whole learning process is sped up by the truncated preseason, and it’s still apparent he’s learning where and when his teammates want the ball. (And in fairness, he was playing with the reserves versus the starters.)

-- Gerald Henderson (10 points) was determined to improve his shooting range and it shows. In particular, he’s far better at shooting off the dribble in one fluid motion.

-- Among the so-called “spares’’ -- guys trying to make this team without any guarantee -- I’m kind of intrigued by forward Ismail Muhammad (10 points). He’s a leaper and he’s also a savvy basketball player; he drives and passes with authority. I’m not predicting he’ll make the team, but he’s the guy on the outside who most looks like he belongs.

-- Now-center Boris Diaw (nine points and three rebounds) continues to do what he does best -- handle the ball and hit open jumpers -- and that’s fine. Playing center is more a change on defense. it’s silly to expect him to suddenly become a pure post-up guy.

-- It’s hardly a revelation this team will be challenged to score and Saturday didn’t make an argument to the contrary. It took five possessions between the two squads to score. There were a couple of shot-clock violations, which seemed absurd in an exhibition like this. Particularly so when coach Paul Silas is telling them to push the ball every possession possible.

-- Forward Taylor Griffin played without a number on his jersey. I’m told he needed to switch squads, which left them scrambling for the right uniform.

-- Corey Maggette again sat out with back spasms. Melvin Ely missed the scrimmage (and Friday’s practices) with dehydration symptoms. He flew cross-country when the team offered him a contract, and the long, sudden trip apparently threw off his system.

[Its The Milk]

Good to hear about Gerald's shooting. Glad all the hard work appeared to pay off...from this scrimmage at least.

[Chaos]

Ely, you big puss. Dehydrated from a cross-country flight?

This season is going to be brutal.

[Panthers128]

I remember Ismail Muhammad. He could throw down. That's about all this team can do it seems.

[Jackofalltrades]

Dehydration symptoms?

Is that a joke?

[Kramerica]

Augustin made some good plays. Disappointed though with no MJ sightings.