Saw Mali in a Sacramento Kings summer league game...

[RF2044]

...two night ago.

All I can say is, oof. Not for him so much as the Kings team, which had something like 29 points at the end of the third quarter.

I know this is a summer league and not the real roster, but I feel somewhat bad for Mali being in this situation with such a dysfunctional organization.

On to the assessment...

Saw Sacramento was playing, and flipped the channel over to the game, spotted Mali on the court immediately. It was the end of the first quarter, and the score was relatively close. Mali struggled a bit. On the first offensive possession I watched, he had a brilliant up fake and then took it into the lane where he got fouled. Missed a couple of threes, got blocked at the rim a couple of times.

I think he might have finished with 7 points, and was amazingly the team's leading scorer. I kid you not, one team had something like 75 points at the end of three quarters, Sacramento had 29. It was a layup fest on the other end. Felt bad for Mali, getting run like that. It was like watching a group of pickup players going against the varsity.

In any event, it was nice to see him out there. Hope the summer league games help him get ready for the season.

 

[We Are Syracuse]

SAC is a damn mess. Highly questionable talent and HIGHLY questionable characters. I actually think they will be the worst team in the NBA this year. Thankfully my Sixers have a pick swap with them!!

 

[PeteCalvin]

As I said before, that organization ruins more careers than they launch.

 

[longislandcuse]

Summer League is weird though. Mali should, in theory, compliment Cousins well. Obviously Cousins isn't playing in SL.

Summer League are pick up games where guys like Jack Cooley look awesome. If you're a lock to make the roster, SL doesn't matter much. It's more for those fringe guys.

Sidenote: The NBA has done a fantastic job with Summer League turning it into an event.

 

[IthacaMatt]

...two night ago.

All I can say is, oof. Not for him so much as the Kings team, which had something like 29 points at the end of the third quarter.

I know this is a summer league and not the real roster, but I feel somewhat bad for Mali being in this situation with such a dysfunctional organization.

On to the assessment...

Saw Sacramento was playing, and flipped the channel over to the game, spotted Mali on the court immediately. It was the end of the first quarter, and the score was relatively close. Mali struggled a bit. On the first offensive possession I watched, he had a brilliant up fake and then took it into the lane where he got fouled. Missed a couple of threes, got blocked at the rim a couple of times.

I think he might have finished with 7 points, and was amazingly the team's leading scorer. I kid you not, one team had something like 75 points at the end of three quarters, Sacramento had 29. It was a layup fest on the other end. Felt bad for Mali, getting run like that. It was like watching a group of pickup players going against the varsity.

In any event, it was nice to see him out there. Hope the summer league games help him get ready for the season.

Terrible game for Mali, in my opinion. When I was watching, he just floated on the perimeter and was not very active on offense when he was without the ball. Just kind of stood out on the right wing, waiting for someone to pass it to him. Didn't show much drive or much handle. As Boeheim said, "I hope you're ready when you get the chance." Mali did not look at all ready.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

Terrible game for Mali, in my opinion. When I was watching, he just floated on the perimeter and was not very active on offense when he was without the ball. Just kind of stood out on the right wing, waiting for someone to pass it to him. Didn't show much drive or much handle. As Boeheim said, "I hope you're ready when you get the chance." Mali did not look at all ready.

Wes Matthews had an all-time terrible summer league years ago as an undrafted free agent.

If Malachi played awesome people would say it doesn't matter because summer league is meaningless.:noidea:

All year long people are going to jump on any shred of evidence that supports their take on him leaving (he started - right choice!/D-league assignment - shouilda come back!).

End of the day, he has a guaranteed contract.

 

[rrlbees]

At halftime of todays game, Malichi has 13 points and 5 rebs on 4-7 shooting including 3-3 from 3.

 

[CaptainJ]

Wes Matthews had an all-time terrible summer league years ago as an undrafted free agent.

If Malachi played awesome people would say it doesn't matter because summer league is meaningless.:noidea:

All year long people are going to jump on any shred of evidence that supports their take on him leaving (he started - right choice!/D-league assignment - shouilda come back!).

End of the day, he has a guaranteed contract.

Indeed. This board, and the minds of much of society in genral, is built with the bricks of confirmation bias, but it often goes in multiple directions.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

At halftime of todays game, Malichi has 13 points and 5 rebs on 4-7 shooting including 3-3 from 3.

He made the right choice!

 

[Dave85]

...two night ago.

All I can say is, oof. Not for him so much as the Kings team, which had something like 29 points at the end of the third quarter.

I know this is a summer league and not the real roster, but I feel somewhat bad for Mali being in this situation with such a dysfunctional organization.

On to the assessment...

Saw Sacramento was playing, and flipped the channel over to the game, spotted Mali on the court immediately. It was the end of the first quarter, and the score was relatively close. Mali struggled a bit. On the first offensive possession I watched, he had a brilliant up fake and then took it into the lane where he got fouled. Missed a couple of threes, got blocked at the rim a couple of times.

I think he might have finished with 7 points, and was amazingly the team's leading scorer. I kid you not, one team had something like 75 points at the end of three quarters, Sacramento had 29. It was a layup fest on the other end. Felt bad for Mali, getting run like that. It was like watching a group of pickup players going against the varsity.

In any event, it was nice to see him out there. Hope the summer league games help him get ready for the season.

Sometimes the dream doesn't turn out like you plan. Mali has his work cut out for him. He needs to rise up and become a leader by example.

As great as it was going the first round there may be something to be said for developing leadership qualities in college. I'm not being critical. I'm just saying there are skills you learn when you become a team leader that are useful in life. Especially in a situation where the people's attitudes are all shitty around you.

 

[Dave85]

At halftime of todays game, Malichi has 13 points and 5 rebs on 4-7 shooting including 3-3 from 3.

That's terrific. I hope he changes the attitude of the organization.

 

[Dave85]

Wes Matthews had an all-time terrible summer league years ago as an undrafted free agent.

If Malachi played awesome people would say it doesn't matter because summer league is meaningless.:noidea:

All year long people are going to jump on any shred of evidence that supports their take on him leaving (he started - right choice!/D-league assignment - shouilda come back!).

End of the day, he has a guaranteed contract.

Or all year long you are going to misinterpret what people are saying as them not supporting his decision to leave.

 

[rrlbees]

finished as game high scorer with 20.

 

[Dave85]

finished as game high scorer with 20.

Maybe he can turn the team and the whole organization around into having a winning attitude.

 

[two3zone]

Sometimes the dream doesn't turn out like you plan. Mali has his work cut out for him. He needs to rise up and become a leader by example.

As great as it was going the first round there may be something to be said for developing leadership qualities in college. I'm not being critical. I'm just saying there are skills you learn when you become a team leader that are useful in life. Especially in a situation where the people's attitudes are all shitty around you.

You don't have to be a leader to be successful in the NBA.

 

[Dave85]

You don't have to be a leader to be successful in the NBA.

I absolutely never said that. Don't put words in my mouth.

 

[Deano]

Maybe he can turn the team and the whole organization around into having a winning attitude.

Good luck with Cousins on the team and they just signed Matt Barnes this past week..smh

 

[two3zone]

Sometimes the dream doesn't turn out like you plan. Mali has his work cut out for him. He needs to rise up and become a leader by example.

What does this mean then? I take it that you mean his dreams won't come true unless he rises to become a leader and he has his work cut out for him doing that. How do you want people to take it by reading it? Seems very black and white.

I absolutely never said that. Don't put words in my mouth.

 

[realorange]

That's terrific. I hope he changes the attitude of the organization.

If he could change the attitude of Cousins he'd win the Nobel Prize.

 

[SoBeCuse]

Cousins is crazy but he is a ridiculous baller.

 

[HOFCeluck]

I for one am eagerly awaiting the coming season's worth of Mali hottakes.

 

[RF2044]

At halftime of todays game, Malichi has 13 points and 5 rebs on 4-7 shooting including 3-3 from 3.

finished as game high scorer with 20.

Sounds like he had a much better game than the one I watched. Good to see--the one on Friday night was painful.

 

[Dave85]

What does this mean then? I take it that you mean his dreams won't come true unless he rises to become a leader and he has his work cut out for him doing that. How do you want people to take it by reading it? Seems very black and white.

It means if it's s bad situation he should try to make the best of it. Maybe it's a situation where his attitude and hard work may be the difference. Leadership skills do not come easy. Most people have attitudes and are mostly selfish.

 

[br801]

I for one am eagerly awaiting the coming season's worth of Mali hottakes.

Everybody knows you're only as good as your last half of summer league basketball.

 

[br801]

It means if it's s bad situation he should try to make the best of it. Maybe it's a situation where his attitude and hard work may be the difference. Leadership skills do not come easy. Most people have . . . . . attitudes and are mostly selfish.

As a 20-year-old rookie, I hope he is focused on playing basketball to the best of his ability, listening to his coaches and improving his game, and not worrying about what kind of situation he is in or trying to lead his franchise out of the darkness.