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Samardo Samuels: Thoughts Observations and Projections

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MYoung23 said:
This kinds of defeats all those "stay around the basket" Austin Carr rants from last season.
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The data includes any possession a player finishes in the post via a shot attempt, drawn foul or turnover.

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Re: Welcome Dion Waiters

Jon said:
Dion needs to get together with the team's dieticians and trainers and get himself on a full season plan where his weight won't swing so crazily.

Of that list of #4 picks, the one that stand out are Westbrook, Thompson, and Waiters because they were all taken higher than expected. At the time, there were questions about Westbrook's ability to run the point - and their still are.
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The diet and training aspect is what it means to become a pro and a successful player within this league. It finally appears to have clicked for Samardo and eventually it will have to do the very same with Waiters.

I couldn't agree more about Westbrook in terms of his PG skills. He is a great scorer who masquarades as a PG because of his height. Harden is more of the PG for that team as he'll set up other players with a drive and kick. Still, i'd love to have a Wesbrookian like talent on our roster in terms of scoring! Traditional roles aren't necessary as long as the game gets played the right way by the collective team.
 
Re: Welcome Dion Waiters

Lumthemad said:
The diet and training aspect is what it means to become a pro and a successful player within this league. It finally appears to have clicked for Samardo and eventually it will have to do the very same with Waiters.

I couldn't agree more about Westbrook in terms of his PG skills. He is a great scorer who masquarades as a PG because of his height. Harden is more of the PG for that team as he'll set up other players with a drive and kick. Still, i'd love to have a Wesbrookian like talent on our roster in terms of scoring! Traditional roles aren't necessary as long as the game gets played the right way by the collective team.
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Not sure anything clicked for Samardo other then "contract year"
 
Re: Welcome Dion Waiters

Lumthemad said:
The diet and training aspect is what it means to become a pro and a successful player within this league. It finally appears to have clicked for Samardo and eventually it will have to do the very same with Waiters.
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It's easy to go through a list of weaknesses and check each one off proclaiming he just has to work on that, or he just has to address that ... then *POOF* you've got a great player, but most players can't fix their weaknesses. That's how guys earn nicknames like John "Hot Plate" Williams.

Unfortunately, sometimes even when these things do click ... it happens on another team after the player has seen his career flash before his eyes.
 
Re: Welcome Dion Waiters

Pioneer10 said:
Not sure anything clicked for Samardo other then "contract year"
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Samuels was told last year soon after th draft that he would be losing minutes to thompson no matter how much he improved.

Samuels had also recieved bad advice from his handlersin regards to diet and play weight in his two year at louisville.

What Samuels did was mature. this was quite evident in his Jamaica team play. followed by his summer league play.

What Samuels is doing now though is adjusting to his new speed. he is finding that things he did before are coming a little easier and readjusting to anchoring himself in the paint which was the primary benefit of Samuels bulk.

Scott has been harsh and held Samuels to a much higher standard than other players in his role would likely to be held and this year it will pay off.


Samuels is entering his 3rd year. Every year has been a contract year for Samuels. This isbigs typically put the basics of their game together and become NBA players or perpetual development projects.

Last year wasnt a complete waste for Samuels. He improved defensively and at the Center position. his simple rating went from -5.9 to -1.8.

Jamisons departure means more minutes at the 4 for Samuels. His lost wight has improved his foot and jump speed and has so far seemed to have a profound impact on his game.

Samuels hasnt actually achieved playing to his potential and his ceiling is a bit higher than people give him credit for. Once again he was a top 5 prospect going into college and clearly has the talent and skill set to play in the NBA.

Samuels Defensive rebound will most likely improve for a third straight year. his speed will improve his efficiency in the paint and his jump shot was improved last year even if his efg was near identical.

He also improved his ft percentage.

Im excited for the preseason and when we get closer to opening day I believe folks will have a lot more confidence in Samardo and see what he brings to the the team.
 
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Samardo Samuels slimmer and rededicated heading into new Cleveland Cavaliers' season

By BOB FINNAN


INDEPENDENCE — When Samardo Samuels arrived for the start of training camp, Cavaliers coach Byron Scott jokingly asked, “Who are you?”

The slimmed-down version of Samuels arrived at Cleveland Clinic Courts. The Cavs now list him at 6-foot-9, 246 pounds — down 14 pounds from last year.

“He moves so much better,” Scott said. “One thing he tried to rely on last year was his brute strength. He’s still strong as an ox. But now he’s quick, too. He’s been able to go after every rebound. That’s something he wasn’t able to do last year. A lot of that has to do with his weight loss.”

When Samuels returned home to Jamaica, his mother tried to fill him up with fattening dishes.

“I said, ‘No, mom,’ and went running,” he said. “I was running on the beach nonstop. I was dedicated to come back a whole new player. I just kept working.

“It was just dedication. Part of it was watching my diet and eating less than I usually did. I was working out more. Everywhere I’d go, I’d find a gym, whether it was Orlando or Vegas. I didn’t take off any days.”

He’s expected to back up Tristan Thompson at power forward. Samuels can also give the Cavs some minutes at center.

Samuels, 23, said he’s more confident this season, largely because he’s in the best condition of his career.

“After two years, I’m starting to finally get it,” he said. “I’ve worked under (Scott) long enough to know what he wants.

“There’s definitely a transition coming into the NBA from college. It didn’t click right away like I wanted it to. This season, I kind of got it.”

Samuels said he doesn’t feel pressured to make spectacular plays every time he touches the ball this season.

He said he wants to alter his game. In the past, he was a black hole on offense. Once the ball went into the low post, it wasn’t coming back out. It was going up.

“I’m trying to change my game around to not focus on offense as much and be a presence on defense,” he said.

“I know I’m not going to block a ton of shots, so I have to slide in there and take some charges and try to contribute on the defensive end.”

He said his body fat is now is about 7 percent. He was 15% last year!

“I don’t want to get any lower than that,” Samuels said. “I’m comfortable where I’m at now. I don’t want to be pushed around. I’m hitting the weights and trying to get stronger.”

Samuels averaged 5.4 points and 3.3 rebounds in 54 games last season. He also spent time in North Carolina over the summer working out with ex-Cavs forward Antawn Jamison.

“He’s been hard on me since I came to Cleveland,” he said. “This summer, everything I did, he was on me. ‘Why are you taking one dribble and not going anywhere? Why aren’t you taking that shot right there.’

“He said I think too much on the basketball court. (We) played one-on-one every day. He thinks I shouldn’t hesitate (to shoot).”
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http://www.morningjournal.com/artic...506dfa545b448315248423.txt?viewmode=fullstory

Hopefully his dedication turns into on court production. He's shown flashes... hopefully those flashes become a little more consistent. Not hoping for an all star... just a guy to contribute.
 
Jamison seeing someone hesitate on a shot must seem criminal to the jump shootah.

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Hopefully being in better shape will allow him to get off the ground better. I'm not expecting miracles though.
 
I like the interchangeable parts we have with Thompson, Varejao, Samuels, and possibly Zeller. Though I do not have terribly high hopes for Samardo, he seems to potentially be his own worst enemy at this point.
 
The way I look at it, is that injuries are going to happen. Smardo will end up seeing playing time this year. If he can improve in whatever capacity... great. We are going to be players in free agency this year and guys that show flashes before the trade deadline can really help get a deal done.
 
Im a sucker for these puff pieces every year!
 
Didn't Samardo do the same thing last year?

He doesn't need a body makeover, he needs a brain makeover.

Who cares about end-of-the-bench trash.
 
NoTitleTown said:
Didn't Samardo do the same thing last year?

He doesn't need a body makeover, he needs a brain makeover.

Who cares about end-of-the-bench trash.
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No way. Samardo was asked if he was in good shape coming out of the lockout but he was in terrible shape. Couldn't even see court time due to his poor conditioning til like March.
 
chrisrich91 said:
No way. Samardo was asked if he was in good shape coming out of the lockout but he was in terrible shape. Couldn't even see court time due to his poor conditioning til like March.
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Well, regardless, his problem was his attitude far more than his actual performance.
 
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