Casspi Assfingers

Playing with his countrymen buds again looks like it's doing wonders for his confidence. He's #9 btw.

:25 calls for the ball, takes his guy off the dribble & scores. Can't remember him calling for the ball last year(?), let alone taking anyone off the dribble...
:54 drives L and scores
1:22 drives into traffic and drops it down to his guard to score. The fact that he can even look away from his path to the basket shows more confidence in his driving, ie not being as afraid of stepping on anyone's feet & reinjuring. Still looks tentative driving into traffic, but it's an improvement.
1:52 unfortunately, look how easy it is to dislodge him from boxing out. Wouldn't be looking for him to rebound much early on this year, but he should slowly get back to his 4.6 REB avg from SAC by next year.
2:24 chooses to lob instead of driving in. Well, at least his decision-making is helping his team. And it doesn't hurt that he's pumped up about it.
2:42 runs the floor for a fast break... don't remember him doing much of that last year other than alongside the actual play, let alone dunking at the other end. I'm thinking Byron Scott training camp sprints deserve some credit here.

I know this is just highlights, but the dude deserves major credit for being mentally engaged and competing. I think by the end of this year we'll be seeing some good plays from him. He should continue to start over Gee. I think he'll end up being a loyal Byronite because of the trust that Scott gave him last year (starting even though he could barely move, let alone truly contribute) that he'll end up running through walls for him, hopefully right when we need him to. We'll be coming into our own next season, if not late this season, and he'll be in a good position to contribute to the longterm state of the team. He's still only 24 with a qualifying offer next year, and can grow along with our 4 core young guys.

PS- Lum, beat me to it.

catfish said:

How did the great Macavan do in that game?

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Kypus said:

Playing with his countrymen buds again looks like it's doing wonders for his confidence. He's #9 btw.

:25 calls for the ball, takes his guy off the dribble & scores. Can't remember him calling for the ball last year(?), let alone taking anyone off the dribble...
:54 drives L and scores
1:22 drives into traffic and drops it down to his guard to score. The fact that he can even look away from his path to the basket shows more confidence in his driving, ie not being as afraid of stepping on anyone's feet & reinjuring. Still looks tentative driving into traffic, but it's an improvement.
1:52 unfortunately, look how easy it is to dislodge him from boxing out. Wouldn't be looking for him to rebound much early on this year, but he should slowly get back to his 4.6 REB avg from SAC by next year.
2:24 chooses to lob instead of driving in. Well, at least his decision-making is helping his team. And it doesn't hurt that he's pumped up about it.
2:42 runs to floor for a fast break... don't remember him doing much of that last year other than alongside the actual play, let alone dunking at the other end. I'm thinking Byron Scott training camp sprints deserve some credit here.

I know this is just highlights, but the dude deserves major credit for being mentally engaged and competing. I think by the end of this year we'll be seeing some good plays from him. He should continue to start over Gee. I think he'll end up being a loyal Byronite because of the trust that Scott gave him last year (starting even though he could barely move, let alone truly contribute) that he'll end up running through walls for him, hopefully right when we need him to. We'll be coming into our own next season, if not late this season, and he'll be in a good position to contribute to the longterm state of the team. He's still only 24 with a qualifying offer next year, and can grow along with our 4 core young guys.

PS- Lum, beat me to it.

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careful lynch mobs are forming

Omri Casspi and Israel lost to the still unbeaten Montenegro team.

Casspi again led Israel with 20 points, along with 1 rebound and 4 assists, including a couple of nice alley hoop passes (visible in the game footage). He made a clutch 3 pointer with under 2 minutes left, but then turned the ball over a bit later.

Box score HERE.

Game footage HERE.

Looking at these games, you have to take into account the level of opposition. Still, Omri looks a bit faster and more mobile than last season, although he still seems to lack some explosiveness.

In a recent interview to an Israeli paper, he stated that he got an opportunity from the Cavs (which seems a subtle criticism of the Kings) and still feel he has to give something back. Last season was bad, on all counts, in his own eyes. He also stated that his goal is to play in the NBA for a long time. It is a contract year, and he believes that things will fall into place this season and that he hopes to secure a good contract. Responding to the interviewer's comment that he should have a much better season statistically; he said that stats are just part of the story. He cited Landry Fields as a player who did a lot of things that don't show on the stat sheet who got a good contract. That was by far the most interesting comment in my opinion, as it shows he is aware that good defense, team play etc. will be important.

If he can just manage not to look half-ASSED out there, make some shots, work hard on D, play energy, I believe he can be a fan favorite of our team. Naturally, Cleveland has many Jewish people who would LOVE to root for him.

C'mon, Omri. Don't let us down!

Someone should clue him in about Landry Fields, though ... Fields got what he got because making him that offer prevented the Knicks from using him in a S&T to acquire Nash.

Israel and Casspi avenged an earlier home overtime loss to Estonia by beating them handily 84-53.

Omri led all scorers with 26 points, along with 6 rebs, 0 assists, 3 TO's, 2 steals and 1 BS.
Again, he had high percentages from the field: .833 2FG% and .750 3P%.

Box score HERE.

Highlights HERE.

Another win for Israel against Iceland, and again Omri Casspi led all scorers with 22 points. He also had 6 rebs, 2 assists, and 1 TO.
And again, Casspi had good percentages from the field: .500 2FG% and .750 3P%.

This was the first time I really thought he looked like his old self with regard to speed, lateral quickness and explosiveness. If you can take anything away from this tournament it seems that he is getting back into shape andgetting rid of the lingering effects of his knee injury. Also, his solid play must give him confidence heading into the coming NBA season.

Box score HERE.

Highlights HERE.

UncleDrew said:

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I would like to thank you personally for your valuable contribution to this thread.

teamballer said:

I would like to thank you personally for your valuable contribution to this thread.

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I hope nobody took offense to my post, it was meant for a laugh or two.

UncleDrew said:

I hope nobody took offense to my post, it was meant for a laugh or two.

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I think you can get away with posting just about anything in a thread titled "Casspi Assfingers".

Biw said:

I think you can get away with posting just about anything in a thread titled "Casspi Assfingers".

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Somehow I doubt that changing the name of the thread or starting a new one will change much. Some people here are pretty determined to just rip into Casspi regardless.
Never mind that he had a pretty bad knee injury in a chaotic offseason, is still young, and came to a new team with a less than ideal preparation (because of said injury and the lockout).

Yesterday, in an Israel win against Slovakia, Casspi had 18 points, 2 assists, 1 TO, 1 steal and 1 BS.
Omri shot .714 2P% and .333 3p%.
Next week last game against Serbia.

Box score HERE.

Highlights HERE.

RikSmits said:

Somehow I doubt that changing the name of the thread or starting a new one will change much. Some people here are pretty determined to just rip into Casspi regardless.
Never mind that he had a pretty bad knee injury in a chaotic offseason, is still young, and came to a new team with a less than ideal preparation (because of said injury and the lockout).

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The thing is, I haven't seen anything from Casspi (while playing on the Cavs) to make me thing otherwise. I want him to succeed but I just don't have any hope that he will in the NBA. I wish he would have sat out until his "knee injury" was properly healed last year because playing through it was actually harmful to his career.

I'm hoping for a brand new Assfingers (errr....Casspi :chuckles this year. If he's on my team, I want him to be the best he can be. From what you're posting, it sounds like he may get back to what he was as an NBA rookie.

Casspi's defense improved significantly last year. If his shot ahs retrurned and he continues to pay aggresively he can put together a complete season on both sides of the court.

Casspi;s Net +/- his rookie year was 1.6. the next year -1.4. Last year -3.8 . his vs per last year was -2.3. up from - 5.3. from .3 in his rookie year.

He needs to be getting about 8-10 shots a game to get back into his rookie form and if he does he will be a better player since he will be improved on both sides of the court.

Casspi;s emergence will allow CJ to play the 2 and give dion a proper development window.

Dismiss his performance in European league all you want. Casspi has already shown what he can do on an NBA court. its just a matter of putting it all together.

It will be interesting to see what starting lineup Scott goes with on opening day but Casspi has far more potential of being a legitimate NBA starter long term than Gee.

Tornicade said:

Casspi;s Net +/- his rookie year was 1.6. the next year -1.4. Last year -3.8 . his vs per last year was -2.3. up from - 5.3. from .3 in his rookie year.

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Where did you get these numbers, Tornicade?