[外電] Von Wafer's play gets Nuggets' attention

看板Nuggets (丹佛金塊)作者hardaway (一分錢)時間18年前 (2007/07/16 23:13)推噓1(1推 0噓 1→)

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http://0rz.tw/1b2RD Von Wafer's play gets Nuggets' attention Guard ties league mark by scoring 42 points in finale By Gery Woelfel, Special To The Rocky July 15, 2007 LAS VEGAS - George Karl was hoping to find a perimeter shooter during the offseason. The Nuggets coach thinks he might have found one here. After watching Von Wafer put on a scintillating shooting performance for the Nuggets in the Vegas Summer League, Karl believes the 6-foot-5 shooting guard could plug a hole on his team. "We need one more shooter on the perimeter, and he can be a very good shooter," Karl said. Wafer displayed his shooting prowess throughout the summer league, scoring in double figures in all five games. Wafer scored 25 points against the Detroit Pistons, 22 against the Los Angeles Lakers and 42 in the team's final game Sunday, a 116-108 loss to the New York Knicks. His total Sunday tied a Vegas Summer League record, set by Marcus Banks of the Phoenix Suns on July 9 against Cleveland. Wafer averaged 24.2 points while shooting 53 percent from the floor and 44 percent from three-point range. While Wafer's shooting made an impression on Karl, the Nuggets coach liked another aspect of the guard's game. "He did two things that are NBA style: He shot the ball well and he showed speed," Karl said of the former Florida State standout whom the Nuggets signed as a free agent April 13. "His speed was impressive. He has the ability to play the game fast." Karl believed Wafer's showing in the summer league proved he'll be more than just training camp fodder. "I thought he played very well here," Karl said. "He showed me that he's an NBA player." Karl's sentiments were echoed by Jimmy Eyen, a veteran assistant coach for the Los Angeles Clippers. "I like his talents," said Eyen, whose team signed Wafer to a 10- day contract last season before releasing him. "He definitely has an ability to shoot the ball, and he's quick and strong." For Wafer, the summer league couldn't have gone any better. He said his mind-set going into it was to give a consistently good effort and grab the attention of the Nuggets coaching staff. "I most definitely wanted to impress the coaches and, hopefully, I impressed them enough," said Wafer, who brought the near-capacity crowd at Cox Pavilion to its feet by draining a 30-footer late in the game. "I felt I played pretty good in the summer and (Sunday) I was just hot. I got a lot of help. My teammates got me the ball and my coaches called plays for me. It was one of those games you dream about." While Wafer stood out, Karl had praise for a few other Nuggets, including point guard Will Blalock, forward/center Jelani McCoy and forward Curtis Sumpter. McCoy averaged nine rebounds a game, and Sumpter scored in double figures in three games before struggling in the finale against New York, going 0- for-5 from the floor. "I thought Will Blalock played well," Karl said. "Jelani McCoy had a great summer and the Sumpter kid - he had a lot of injuries in college (at Villanova) but looks pretty healthy now - is an interesting guy." The Nuggets, who were coached by John Welch, finished with a 3-2 record. "John Welch and his staff did a great job," Karl said. "We came here with a bunch of free agents, but they played hard and they played well." Especially Wafer. ETC.: Wafer was among 14 players chosen to the summer league all-star team. . . . Guard Nate Robinson of the Knicks was chosen the most valuable player. 沒意外的話， Wafer 已經為自己爭取到一個位置了。完全沒提到補強防守，下季又是全力拼進攻就對了 XD -- ※ 發信站: 批踢踢實業坊(ptt.cc) ◆ From: 140.113.93.204