To get a passing grade, Cleveland Cavaliers rookie Samardo Samuels needs to learn the glory of the assist
Published: Saturday, October 09, 2010, 5:40 PM Updated: Saturday, October 09, 2010, 5:41 PM
Brian Windhorst, The Plain Dealer
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Samardo Samuels is the Cavaliers' only true rookie. He's already being treated as one.
Over the summer the team discovered Samuels, an undersized big man from Louisville who wasn't drafted, at summer league and ended up signing him to a three-year contract with about $200,000 for this season guaranteed. That fact alone makes it likely that Samuels will make the team.
But besides that, he's been making a positive impression including scoring eight points with four rebounds despite playing mostly out of position at center in last Thursday's preseason game against the Wizards. There's even a chance, coach Byron Scott said, that Samuels might get a start on the team's two-game road trip to Texas that begins Sunday night in Houston.
That sort of play, however, is getting him extra attention and, as it turns out, extra rookie-fueled scrutiny. That comes with lectures on the sidelines during games from Scott and some verbal jabs as well.
Despite being 6-8, Samuels plays like a pure post player complete with some polished scoring moves that stick out on a team without a lot of post options. But as Samuels has worked on learning to score over much bigger players than he saw in college, he's apparently been a little too liberal with his attacking.
"We've still got to get him to understand the offense a bit better so he doesn't become the black hole that he is," Scott said. "Him and Kevin McHale could be brothers. Neither one passes it when it comes to the post."
Samuels has been doing a solid job at the defensive end despite giving up significant size to his opponents. When it comes to offense, though, it isn't an accident that he has played 24 minutes in the preseason and has no assists.
"I've got a name for that," Scott said. "In the Princeton offense there's the hub or the hole. I asked Samardo: 'which one are you?' I've got to give him a lot of credit, he said 'coach, I'm the hole.'"
Such is the responsibility of rookies.
"I've been hearing that," Samuels said. "I'm working towards being the hub right now, it is slowly progressing and I'm learning to read the defense more and not try to [drive] into the paint every time."
Samuels actually is a bit of a rarity and that is why the Cavs are interested. Most big men coming out of college or Europe these days don't have the kind of developed post moves that Samuels has. During summer league, Samuels had fantastic games both against current teammate J.J. Hickson and hyped Sacramento Kings rookie Demarcus Cousins.
Scott's interest in developing Samuels, who will likely play power forward once the team's centers are healthy, is a sign of the potential the team believes he has. Even if that means having to tease him a little.
"The basket is right there; I like playing inside," Samuels said. "A lot of guys want to play outside, there's not a lot of guys playing with their back to the basket."
Dribbles: Anderson Varejao is taking part in all of practices now but will not make the two-game road trip to Houston and Dallas so he can stay in Cleveland and work on conditioning. ... Scott said he will likely start Jawad Williams at small forward against the Rockets as he continues to evaluate options at small forward against the Rockets. Joey Graham and Jamario Moon have started there in the first two games. ...After missing Thursday's game to rest, Antawn Jamison is expected to start Sunday. ... Mo Williams has started to do some running drills after missing the last two weeks with a groin strain. The hope is Williams can be back into play in at least one preseason game. ... Center Loren Woods did not go on the trip with Achilles tendinitis.
