Pick and Scroll, day one of free agency edition.

Your daily (Mon-Fri) roundup of links from around the blogosphere, typically Trail Blazers related.

• Dave Deckard of BlazersEdge covers marijuana use in the NBA, my advice? To borrow from Blue Oyster Cult, Don’t fear the reefer (cue cowbell).
• A star executive falls from grace, word is that people resent him not sharing credit when credit is due. A friend of the team’s owner with no official team title is rumored to be the real power player pulling the strings. Just another day in Denver!?! Copycats…
• The Blazers are rumored to be pursuing Wesley Mathews and Anthony Morrow in free agency. You’ve got to expect that Ronnie Brewer will get a call as well. If the rumors are true, it looks like Rudy Fernandez’s days as a Blazer are coming to a close.
• USA! USA! Quincy Miller’s three pointer clenches the gold medal in a thriller over Brazil.
• Here is my final Team USA roster breakdown, I’ll cover the outstanding international players later on.
• Abdul Gaddy: Gaddy is a very smooth player with good body control. Gaddy has great size to play the point at 6’3” and has a strong build. Offensively, Gaddy has a pure point guard mentality, but he can cover up and drive to the hole if it’s available. Gaddy’s crossover and hesitation moves are a treat to watch and he managed to shake a few defenders hard with a variety of fakes, spins, and crafty dribbles, much to the delight of the crowd. Gaddy seems somewhat hesitant to take shots from behind the arc and instead uses his ability to penetrate to set up his midrange jumper. Gaddy’s jumper had only moderate success, but his mechanics look solid. Where Gaddy’s true value lies is in his court vision and passing. Gaddy’s laid back demeanor seems to reflect poise at times and a lack of urgency at others.
• Kyrie Irving: Irving is a polished scorer and a good passer. While not an athletic freak, Irving still had some spectacular plays, including one where he chased his man down on the break, got in front of his man, and rose up and blocked the layup attempt. Irving seemed adept at using screens and passing to the roll man, which will be a much more valuable skill in the NBA then at the FIBA or NCAA level. Irving has decent shot mechanics and a great ability to penetrate into the seams of a defense. Duke fans will love him.
• Vander Blue: Blue seemed well capable of scoring, but that really wasn’t his role with Team USA. Out of all the guards, Blue seemed to show the most defensive potential and was a terror in the passing lanes, racking up five steals against Argentina. Blue often took a back seat to the guard triumvirate of Gaddy/Rivers/Irving, but performed admirably in his role. I’ll be paying close attention to his games this coming season at Marquette.
• Trevor Cooney: Any description of Cooney has to start with his jump shot, which has excellent form and consistency. Cooney is adept at running around screens and getting his jumper off with little space and is athletic enough to create separation and hit a shot after the defense closes in on him. At 6’3”, Cooney is athletic enough to dunk the ball with some degree of ease. Every once in a while, Cooney seemed to get a bit excited and overshot the rim completely, however, when he settled down, he hit a good percentage. I didn’t really get to see much from Cooney in the way of passing or point guard skills. Like Vander Blue, he played a role and played it admirably. Cooney will make a terrific replacement for Andy Rautins shooting at Syracuse and will likely be able to carve out a niche in the NBA based upon his shooting and athleticism alone.
• Quincy Miller: Quincy Miller is one hell of a player. Miller was able to give Team USA whatever it was they needed, from pulling down 17 boards against Team Virgin Islands, to hitting the game and gold medal winning shot against Team Brazil. Miller is long and athletic with excellent handles for a 6’9” player and great footwork. Miller stuffed the stat sheet with blocks, assists, and steals as well. One issue that Miller will have to correct is his jump shot, which has a very low release point and will likely get blocked when defended by NBA caliber athletes. However, Shawn Marion has the ugliest jump shot known to man, and he’s shot 40% from beyond the arc, so what do I know?
• Jereme Richmond: Jereme Richmond is a terrific athlete and a great kid. The San Antonio Sports Authority raved about how good of a kid he was and how during their free basketball clinic for kids, Richmond really took the occasion seriously and was actively engaged with the children. Rather than just babysit, Richmond took the time to teach the children, exhibiting a gentle and humble demeanor.
• LeBryan Nash: Nash reminds me a bit of DeMarr Derozan in that he’s a great athlete and a terror in transition, but his streaky jump shot needs work. Nash needs to square his shoulders to the basket more and take his left hand off the shot a bit earlier. That said, Nash is very explosive and has a great build. I think we’ll be hearing a lot more from this kid before it over.
• Austin Rivers: Rivers was probably my favorite player to watch at the tournament as his combination of shooting ability, basketball IQ, and body control, combined with his array of crossovers, fakes, hesitation moves, and general craftiness left opposing defenders befuddled. Rivers played the role of scorer for Team USA, and he excelled at it. Rivers has a fantastic jump shot, as evidenced throughout the tournament, but especially against Team Canada where Rivers hit nine in a row, nearly doubling the former Team USA single game record of five threes made. Rivers range extends well into NBA range and his quick, high release should translate very well to the next level. With the threat of the outside shot clearly established, opposing defenders are forced to play up close and Rivers takes full advantage with his good first step and aforementioned arsenal of tricks. When interviewed, Rivers said that he would like to play as a combo guard at the NBA level where he can take advantage of his scoring ability and be in a position to create. If there is a knock of Rivers game, it’s that he played the role of gunner for Team USA and didn’t look to create much for his teammates. Of course, we’ll see if that’s his modus operandi or just his role on Team USA at the next level. Rivers is currently leaning towards Duke in 2011.
• Josh Hairston: Josh Hairston is a nice player. He’s a 6’9” power forward with average athleticism, but decent touch and decent shooting ability. Hairston doesn’t have the upside of some of the other Team USA alumni, but he’ll be solid at the NCAA level.
• Tony Mitchell: Mitchell can run, defend, block shots, handle the ball, rebound, and even shoot a bit. He’s a good athlete and a very versatile player in general. I could see Mitchell as a Shawn Marion type SF/PF at the next level, keep an eye on this kid.
• Amir Williams: I didn’t see a lot from Amir Williams, he’s got good size and is very athletic, able to play above the rim and block shots. However, because of his limited role with Team USA, he deferred to players like Miller and Young and thus I don’t have as good a grasp on his game as I’d like.
• Pat Young: Young is a grown man with a NBA body and good athleticism. He set some decent picks and was able to be very productive in his often foul troubled limited minutes. Young can rebound and block shots and even showed a bit of touch from about 12 feet out. Of all the members of Team USA, Young is the most physically mature and could be a one-and-done prospect at Florida. Young is also an entertaining player to interview and has a gregarious personality.

Comments

[Dj Geeb]

NOBODY CARES ABOUT u18 international ball

[Nathan]

Next year, when some of these guys are lottery picks, you might wish you'd have paid attention. It depends on how much you like the draft and finding new players. I'd say that the existence of sites like Draft Express, Scouts, Rivals, and ESPN recruiting definitely disprove thou're right, the assertion that "No one cares" about FIBA U18 ball. Anyhow, I like it, it's a blast to watch and trying to see the potential in these kids and make accurate predictions. It's addictive. It's kinda like gambling, where if you're right about a kid, you feel terrific, and if you're wrong, you feel like Chad Ford does about Darko...

[wsying]

there are different names Abercrombie and Fitch of plants that I could ever count, and the author made them alive, like animals, people, and monsters

[wsying]

Little figures always Abercrombie and Fitch play important parts, though they are not necessarily adorable

[wsying]

We meet in the night in the Spanish cafe , we give a hug for each other with pleasure, at that moment, how i wish come with U and stay with U forever, Jordan Shoes, this is forever!

[abercrombie london]

abercrombie london
Abercrombie and fitch london
Abercrombie fitch london
abercrombie & fitch london

[abercrombie fitch london]

abercrombie london
Abercrombie and fitch london
Abercrombie fitch london
abercrombie & fitch london

[tiffany uk]

tiffany uk

tiffany online

tiffany outlet

[Abercrombie outlet]

Abercrombie outlet

Abercrombie fitch outlet

Abercrombie and fitch outlet

[ed hardy uk]

Notice that the Chinese know how to do a stimulus package, while no one in power seems to know how to do a stimulus package here in the US.

ed hardy

outlet

[abercrombie]

abercrombie fitch wrote this article.have always been reading and writing texts like this in blogs.

[abercrombie and fitch]

The article is very professionally written. I enjoy reading every dayabercrombie

[hollister uk]

to everyone.hollister uk I just watched videos like this in research in all areas

[Nike shox deliver]

A friend without faults will never be found.

[nike shox cheap]

WuJuPing leave her mother-in-law and 7 months old son, and her husband go out together,

[nike shox cheap]

The impact of the high altitude falling objects about nearly six hundred jins, is six times that of the usual if hit just wear,