Thunder Summer League Notebook
Aug 20 2009 3:41PM
LAS VEGAS -- After nine straight days of practices and games, the Thunder was given the day off on Wednesday.
While the team didn’t practice, players were expected to have a weight lifting session with Director of Athletic Performance Dwight Daub during the day.
The Thunder will resume practice on Thursday morning and will face the San Antonio Spurs later that day.
Through two games, rookie James Harden ranked 16th in assists with 4.0 per game, guard Shaun Livingston ranked 13th in steals (2.0) and rookie center Byron Mullens ranked sixth in blocks with 2.5 per game.
MULLENS PROTECTING PAINT
As active as Mullens was on the offensive end with his 10-point performance in Tuesday’s loss to the L.A. Lakers, the 7-0 rookie made it a priority to protect the rim on the defensive end.
Mullens recorded five blocked shots on Tuesday to go with five rebounds, three that came on the offensive end.
Mullens was often seen talking to fellow rookie Harden during breaks. Harden likes what he’s seen from the big man.
“He did a great job,” Harden said. “He’s a great athletic big man. Running the floor, finishing around the basket, getting rebounds, which is something he’s getting better at. And like I said, he’s still young, so he has a lot of room to grow.”
HARDEN ON DEFENSE
Harden has continued to express his desire to become a sound defender at the NBA level.
Having spent a majority of his two seasons at Arizona State playing a zone defense, the last two weeks have been the start of a crash course in how to defend at the pro level.
Of course, this is only scraping the surface. Soon, training camp will come along, when Harden will have a chance to go up against veteran players. The preseason will be another stepping stone, as will the regular season. It will be a non-stop process.
In the two games he’s played in Vegas, Harden has shown a commitment to the defensive end. He might be late on a rotation or in challenging a shot, but he hasn’t beaten himself up over it. He’s shown flashes of the defender he hopes to be with his quick hands and by getting into the passing lanes.
“I’m just trying to go out there and play hard,” Harden said. “If you play hard and something’s not going your way, at least you gave it your best. Whether it’s reading a ball screen or just trying to fight over top or just helping out a lot more, whatever coach talks about or needs me to do I’ll do it. Even if a teammate needs me to do something I’ll do it as well.”
Contact Chris Silva
While the team didn’t practice, players were expected to have a weight lifting session with Director of Athletic Performance Dwight Daub during the day.
The Thunder will resume practice on Thursday morning and will face the San Antonio Spurs later that day.
Through two games, rookie James Harden ranked 16th in assists with 4.0 per game, guard Shaun Livingston ranked 13th in steals (2.0) and rookie center Byron Mullens ranked sixth in blocks with 2.5 per game.
MULLENS PROTECTING PAINT
As active as Mullens was on the offensive end with his 10-point performance in Tuesday’s loss to the L.A. Lakers, the 7-0 rookie made it a priority to protect the rim on the defensive end.
Mullens recorded five blocked shots on Tuesday to go with five rebounds, three that came on the offensive end.
Mullens was often seen talking to fellow rookie Harden during breaks. Harden likes what he’s seen from the big man.
“He did a great job,” Harden said. “He’s a great athletic big man. Running the floor, finishing around the basket, getting rebounds, which is something he’s getting better at. And like I said, he’s still young, so he has a lot of room to grow.”
HARDEN ON DEFENSE
Harden has continued to express his desire to become a sound defender at the NBA level.
Having spent a majority of his two seasons at Arizona State playing a zone defense, the last two weeks have been the start of a crash course in how to defend at the pro level.
Of course, this is only scraping the surface. Soon, training camp will come along, when Harden will have a chance to go up against veteran players. The preseason will be another stepping stone, as will the regular season. It will be a non-stop process.
In the two games he’s played in Vegas, Harden has shown a commitment to the defensive end. He might be late on a rotation or in challenging a shot, but he hasn’t beaten himself up over it. He’s shown flashes of the defender he hopes to be with his quick hands and by getting into the passing lanes.
“I’m just trying to go out there and play hard,” Harden said. “If you play hard and something’s not going your way, at least you gave it your best. Whether it’s reading a ball screen or just trying to fight over top or just helping out a lot more, whatever coach talks about or needs me to do I’ll do it. Even if a teammate needs me to do something I’ll do it as well.”
Contact Chris Silva
