Every morning, we compile the links of the day and dump them here… highlighting the big story line. Because there’s nothing quite as satisfying as a good morning dump.
“I wouldn’t have brought him in and given him a six-year contract if I didn’t think he was really good and special,” Ainge said during an on-camera interview with Comcast SportsNet. “By the way, I’m the first one to see how special he was. It’s exciting for me that everyone else is recognizing that.
“Brad is one of the smartest coaches in the NBA. He’s learning the game still. But he’s a tireless worker, he’s a great communicator. It’s exciting for me that Brad is getting the accolades that he’s getting. We’ve always known that about Brad. He’s going to have some ups and downs through his coaching career, but, it’s my opinion that, in 10 or 20 years from now, we’ll be talking about Brad as one of the great coaches to ever coach in the NBA.
“He has such high character and players respect him because it’s not about him — it’s about the organization, it’s about the team, it’s about the players. He tries to divert the attention away from him, and that’s genuine.”
Gotta love Danny Ainge. While lavishing mounds of praise on coaching prodigy Brad Stevens, Danny reminds everyone that without his genius, and his foresight, this legend in waiting might still be coaching in the NCAA.
Ainge’s comments remind me of the time I discovered a brash young man with a high basketball IQ and steered him on the path of blogging stardom:
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_eUpYTwdfE]Related: Herald – Stevens off to Africa | Globe – Stevens soaking in Africa experience
On Page 2, RJ Hunter projects to be an impact rookie.
6. R.J. Hunter | Team: Boston Celtics | Pick: No. 28 overall | Win percentage: .473
Hunter is a favorite of my projections because of his frequent 3-point attempts and high steal and block rates. After missing his first eight shots during the first two nights of the Utah Summer League, he righted the ship and made almost 39 percent of his 3s the rest of the way. Hunter bolstered his efficiency by attempting 5.4 free throws per game. But he’ll have to improve at containing the ball on the perimeter to make use of his offensive skills as a rookie.
I’m not quite sure I understand the methodology for this ranking – “WARP projections are built on translations that convert NCAA and international performance to its NBA equivalents, adjusted for a year of player development.” – but I’ll take it.
Let’s all hope that Hunter works his ass off on both ends of the court and earns more time than James Young did last season.
And this just in…
Here’s Hakeem cooking in the post (he went 1 for 3 but still): http://t.co/bzBpDRqvbH
— Jay King (@ByJayKing) August 1, 2015
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That’s 52 year old Hakeem Olajuwon getting time in the NBA’s exhibition game in Africa.
He’s still got it!
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