Summer League Breakdown: Justin Anderson

 

 

Summer League is an amazing event, the Las Vegas League in particular.  Everyone has something to prove and is willing to do what it takes to show they belong and the Dallas Mavericks‘ roster was no different.  One of the best and worst things about any of the Summer Leagues is that the talent participating is not a fair representation of NBA Basketball competition.  Some of that was mentioned in “How Should We Value Justin Anderson’s Summer League Play?”  Some of these guys are literally fighting for their career.  Jonathan Gibson fought with success, he’s signed to a three year (though mostly non-guaranteed) contract.  As of now, Perry Ellis has not had that kind of success.

 

During this series we’ll take a look at Mavs players under contract that showed us something during their time in Summer League.

 

Summer League will now be referred to as SL.  Just to save 10 characters, even though these aren’t tweets… Ok just to save typing time… 

 

First Up: Justin Anderson

 

 

Shooting

 

One of the biggest, and maybe only, major flaw in Justin’s game last season was shooting.  Simba only shot 26.5% on three point shots and early and often it was apparent that he intended to shoot with confidence.

 

In this first clip he’s just hanging out in the corner until Moore finds him and throws the pass.  Justin had to take one step to adjust but once the ball is in his hands he takes one fluid motion to get the ball up.

Anderson connected on 13 of 39 threes which sounds bad but 33.3% isn’t that bad and is certainly an improvement over last years mark.  That percentage could have been a lot high if Justin had narrowed down his shot selection though.  Nearly twice or three times per game he would attempt something like this…

He is open, we’ll give him that, but not many guys are being face guarded four feet off of the three point line.  This type of shot happened often during SL action as if he was told to be more confident and fire away at any opportune time.  As MFFL;s know it’s all about Confidence Baby Confidence.

 

Inside of the three point line Justin seemed to be able to get to the rim when he wanted to.  Then finish with a floater/running hook like this one…

Or attempt a finger roll a little too far from the basket.  This happened at least four times durning SL but that touch around the rim will get better over time.  What may be a concern is junk like this…

Being the best player on the floor during SL, Justin can get away with those kinds of possessions but there isn’t room for that during regular season.  That specific shot was also late in the shot clock and he won’t be asked to bail the Mavs out very much during the season either.

 

 

Playmaking

 

The game seems to be really slowing down for Justin.  Teams also started to bite on his pump fakes from three and really good things started to happen…

Anderson’s old teammate from Virginia, Malcom Brogdon, totally fell for his fake and watched him get right into the lane.  Justin kept the ball high during a really long euro-step type move, froze the defense, and was able to get right to the rim.  When Justin gets to the paint like that there are so many options and it really opens up the offense, especially when there are good shooters around…

What’s so great about that specific play is that so many times during SL guys would get to that spot under the basket and just try and throw in a layup.  Justin kept his head up and found Gibson in the corner who made everything worth while.

 

Another example of his awareness came during the Chicago game where Anderson and AJ Hammons executed a a sort of pick-and-roll before Anderson even received the ball.  It set them up for this though…

Excellent.

 

 

Defense

 

Only a few notes. First of all, Justin Lamar “Don’t Call Me Odom” Anderson aka Simba, stop biting on all the pump fakes.  At least three times during the first half of the Celtics game Justin was called for a foul by simply jumping too early on a pump fake.  It’s too much.  In the same way the offense has slowed down for him, defense will too.  Don’t be overly concerned.  Just needed to get that out there.

 

Be concerned for anyone attempting a fast break on the Mavs this year…

 

 

 Leadership & Hustle

 

Justin Anderson dove on the floor during an NBA Summer League Game, several times.  He wants it. He wants to get better.

 

The only other player I saw dive on the floor for a loose ball was the Miami Heat’s Briante Weber who ended up sittting right in front of me during another game.  He asked me what the wifi password was and I told him he played a good game.  The End.

 

Justin also led the Mavs in rebounding, while playing on the perimeter mostly.  There are several factors that go into rebounding but it is somewhat of a hustle stat.

 

Special shoutout to Jameel Warney who averaged 6.5 rebounds per game and grabbed 27 total offensive rebounds in 99 minutes.  Which, by my count, was tied with Bobby Portis as the most for any player (but Bobby played 214 minutes).  Second was  Alan Williams with 24 offensive boards in 154 minutes.

 

Justin was also the loudest player during SL.  Anytime the Mavs were playing Simba could be heard.  Whether he was getting back on defense or sitting on the bench he was talking.  Some might find that annoying but for a team of mostly quiet guys that don’t really know each other it’s good for someone to step up in that way.  It’s better that it was Justin Anderson.