The Grizzlies JV team completed a 5-0 run at the Las Vegas Summer League over the weekend, crushing the Phoenix Suns 90-67 Saturday, and then squeaking by the San Antonio Spurs 76-75 last night.
I was out of town over the weekend and unable to watch the Saturday game until yesterday, so I’m going to combine to two games into one final summer league entry:
Hasheem Thabeet: The play of #2 overall pick Hasheem Thabeet was always going to be the primary story of the Grizzlies’ summer league, which makes it harder to be enthused by the 5-0 record. Though summer league is only a small step in any player’s evolution as an NBA player, clearly Thabeet’s play in Vegas was discouraging. He even gave himself a (generous) “C” via Twitter.
The big man finished up with 10 points (3-7 shooting), 7 boards, and 0 blocks in 26 minutes against the Sun and 9 points (4-11 shooting), 5 rebounds, and 2 blocks in 26 minutes against the Spurs. He had three missed dunks in the Suns game and 8 fouls (you’re allowed 10 in summer league) against the Spurs.
Essentially, Thabeet should leave summer league with the following mantra ringing in his mind: “Get stronger. Play harder. Get stronger. Play harder.” The Grizzlies should make him a tape and let the refrain sing him to sleep each night, because those two things — getting stronger and playing harder — would probably be sufficient to make Thabeet a valuable player.
