Samardo Samuels: Thoughts Observations and Projections

[CleveRocks]

I don't think he's Cavalier material. That's also probably what the head brass decided on and he'll only see time if everybody up front is unavailable. I have to say, Samuels had the talent, but was way too sure of himself. That's why he was undrafted to begin with. He's also a black hole and I don't think he evLer learned to not be one. He can't just post everybody up and expect a bucket, you have to pass it out or it's an instant turnover.

And this is why I don't really want Jared Sullinger on the team either.

I think this is a non sequitur..

To your point, about Samardo being a black hole, I just don't see that in his play. He is a strong rebounder, and a space eater under the rim. When he has his footwork right, he is a good scorer in the post. If he has that shot he is supposed to take it and he is not a great passer (skills, not willingness).. His game is not like Sullengers, although Sully could learn a thing or two about using his large body in the paint from Samardo. Samardo's Style is more Z-Bo, while Sullinger is more Tim Duncanish. Sullingers has a better all around game than Samuels, and is money from the free throw line, unlike Any of our other bigs except Moby Dick... I am not arguing to take Sullingers over Davis or Drummond, but if those two are gone and Sullingers is still around when we pick, it would not upset me to take him...

 

[Pavlovic3Ball]

I don't think he is as good as some thiink. If he is on the roster in the future, we have problems.

 

[Jon]

I don't think Scott is happy with any of his C's, and he's just bouncing back and forth between them hoping someone will produce. Heck, he even dusted off Harangody.

Hollins, Erden, and Samuels all have nearly equal games and minutes per game at this point.

I think you have to give the edge to Erden, but it's a lesser of 3 evils situation.

 

[CleveRocks]

I don't think Scott is happy with any of his C's, and he's just bouncing back and forth between them hoping someone will produce. Heck, he even dusted off Harangody.

Hollins, Erden, and Samuels all have nearly equal games and minutes per game at this point.

I think you have to give the edge to Erden, but it's a lesser of 3 evils situation.

Samuels is not a five, he is a four. And as far as Scott being happy with Hollins or Erden, no I think he is not. Name a team with a lamer center line up in the league..

 

[Pavlovic3Ball]

I think this is a non sequitur..

To your point, about Samardo being a black hole, I just don't see that in his play. He is a strong rebounder, and a space eater under the rim. When he has his footwork right, he is a good scorer in the post. If he has that shot he is supposed to take it and he is not a great passer (skills, not willingness).. His game is not like Sullengers, although Sully could learn a thing or two about using his large body in the paint from Samardo. Samardo's Style is more Z-Bo, while Sullinger is more Tim Duncanish. Sullingers has a better all around game than Samuels, and is money from the free throw line, unlike Any of our other bigs except Moby Dick... I am not arguing to take Sullingers over Davis or Drummond, but if those two are gone and Sullingers is still around when we pick, it would not upset me to take him...

1. Samardo's game is more like Sullinger's than you think. In fact, one of the reasons why Sullinger is so good is because of the fact he knows how to use his body to score. If anything, Sullinger will be rich man's Samardo at the NBA level.

2. Z-Bo is so much better at everything than Samardo, its really hard to compare their styles. The only PF in Z-Bo league when it comes to offensive aresenals is Dirk. Samardo only beats up on undersized frontlines. Any length and he is close to useless. Not really sure where the Tim Duncan reference came from.

 

[Jon]

Samuels is not a five, he is a four.

We've got very few minutes for him to play the 4. The bulk of his minutes have been at the 5.

 

[MYoung23]

Samuels has a couple of problems.

1.) He doesnt rebound. - He didnt rebound well in college and it's carried over. Whichever position he plays he just has to do it or else he really doesnt warrant minutes.

2.) He isnt a willing or good passer - People get shocked when Samuels gets double teamed. Well, teams do it because he doesnt want to pass and he'll panic and make poor passes and decisions out of the post.

3.) He has a Center's game in a PF's body - PFs today and especially undersized floor bound guys like Samuels need some type of faceup game and midrange jumper. He's made some strides with his shot but too often he's a fish out of water out on the perimeter where his poor decision making tends to show. The elements are there but it hasnt come together. Also, his hook shot needs to be a lot better since he has no lift. Right now, it's a flat line drive. It's a touch shot and it needs a chance to go in if it hits the rim.

I dont think he's going to make it here. It may take him another team or 2 to establish himself. Skill level for the position he has to play in the NBA has to develop and he needs to think the game better.

 

[gregdawg]

he has some nice natural ability and instincts, but he's not all there mentally.

 

[NarlCavs]

Samardo is not perfect and who knows if he can be a part of the future but I would much rather have he and Erden getting minutes instead of Hollins. We already know and the Cavs better know that Hollins has no future here at all. At least with the other two there's a small chance.
Samardo at least has shown some flashes of solid play and does bring a inside scoring threat.

 

[CleveRocks]

Samuels has a couple of problems.

1.) He doesnt rebound. - He didnt rebound well in college and it's carried over. Whichever position he plays he just has to do it or else he really doesnt warrant minutes....

.

He is statistically the fourth best rebounder on the team. Andy, Tristan are 1 2 by w wide margin, then Harangody, then Samardo slightly ahead of the rest of the bigs. Hollins is dismal, behind both Kyrie and gee. When you are 7 feet tall and you cant out rebound your own guards, there is something wrong...

As far as you other points in that post, I can't argue with you.

My comparison to Zbo is simply physical. He has not advanced his game skills like Zbo has.

I stand by my comments that he is nothing like Sullinger. Sullinger is a wide load, but his game is calm, steady and efficient. He is not great at using his body in the paint, and he gets pushed around by smaller players at times. I draw the comparison with Duncan because he (sullinger) is fundamentally sound. He is not a Wow athlete, but he shoots well, he passes well, he makes his free throws, and he plays solid team defense. He has a solid work ethic, and I think that will translate into better rebounding and inside skills as he gets used too his body..

 

[Tornicade]

Quite frankly if scott isnt goign to use samuels then he needs to send him to the d league so he can play.

 

[supermario21]

I don't think Hollins nor Samuels will be with the team next year. Like others have said, Samardo's low basketball IQ makes its presence when he is doubled up on in the post. He his incredibly high tendencies to just want to drive to the hoop as if he were a bulldozer and travel or throw up a shot that gets blocked/lands nowhere near the hoop. He just doesn't seem to have the mind to match his already borderline body/skill set. I feel that at least Erden has some moves, and potential to be a nice offensive guy in the low post. I'm convinced his hand injury has messed up his shot enough to at least warrant some more time developing him.

 

[Jon]

Scott is spreading the minutes to his fearsome threesome with mathematical precision:

Samuels: 19 game, 12.9 mpg
Erden: 18 games, 12.4 mpg
Hollins: 16 games, 12.7 mpg

So, I'm guessing Samardo will get his next shot not too many games in the future.

 

[wuck]

According to Byron, time is running out. He needs to start the stopwatch on some other Cavs.
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Cleveland Cavaliers' Samardo Samuels lost at the end of the bench: Cavaliers Insider
Published: Thursday, March 01, 2012, 12:25 AM Updated: Thursday, March 01, 2012, 12:29 AM
Tom Reed, The Plain Dealer By Tom Reed, The Plain Dealer


NEW YORK -- Over All- Star Weekend, Samardo Samuels flew to the Bahamas to pick up a new passport and work visa, documents he lost during the lockout.

The Cavaliers center is now eligible to accompany the team to Toronto for an April 6 game. Now, if only he could find regular access from the bench to the court.

Coach Byron Scott said the second-year pro is not supplying the requisite energy or effort to merit playing time. On Monday, he met with Samuels and made it clear the reserve center is running out of chances.

"What I told him the other day is opportunity is not going to keep coming," Scott said. "Pretty soon that well is going to dry up."

It has been a lost season of sorts for the Jamaican. He arrived at training camp out of shape, in Scott's opinion, couldn't attend the first game in Toronto because he lacked the proper paperwork, and quickly fell out of the rotation.

Entering Wednesday's game in New York, Samuels had played just 65 minutes over seven games in February. Even with the wrist injury that has sidelined Anderson Varejao, he had dropped below Ryan Hollins on the depth chart.

"The whole year has been tough," Samuels admitted. "It's hard to give energy when you are not playing or don't know when you are playing. Mentally, it's a hard thing to do.

"It's hard to determine where I'm at and what I need to do to get on the court. I don't know what I did to get off [the court]."

Scott, however, gave Samuels another chance against the Knicks on Wednesday.

With Semih Erden in early foul trouble, Samuels got the call and played five productive minutes early on with a basket and two rebounds.

 

[Huber.]

I'm beginning to really hate Byron.
1. He has some horri-awful rotations
2. He lets Jamison get away with murder
3. He calls out the wrong players that don't even play (Samardo and Eyenga) instead of players he should be calling out (Harangody, Assfingers, Parkers Corpse and Hollins).