The Belinelli Lovefest Continues

by Fantasy Junkie on Jul 11, 2007 9:55 PM PDT in Links

Nothin' but net. (Photo: nba.com)

It has been a long time since the Warriors got this much press in the span of a few months. From the late regular season hot streak to becoming the darlings of the playoffs and now to the Belinelli lovefest, people once again know that the Warriors exist. After only 3 games, Marco has made quite the impression on the scouts and media, but he's also made Mullin and Nelson look even smarter. Everyone loves this guy's game and he's in consideration for steal of the draft. His play even has me pumped up and I'm not a big fan of the summer league. Our Summer League correspondent, dreamleague, was just telling me on the phone, "You have to see this guy play." I will.

Marc Stein at ESPN has also taken notice as he hands out his first half Summer League awards. Belinelli makes not one, but two appearances.

Award #1

Favorite Import: Marco Belinelli

It's simply impossible not to pick the Italian. He's become such an instant favorite with the Vegas crowds -- averaging 25.0 points through three games and generally commanding Best Player So Far status from coaches and personnel types in attendance -- that most of his misses from outside are met with a disappointed groan from fans.

"But he's not just a shooter," said one Western Conference executive. "Don't be mistaken. He had [Philadelphia's Rodney] Carney isolated at the top of the key, beat him with a super crossover and finished at the rim over two people. He's going to fit right into the way Golden State plays. And he's not as bad defensively as people thought. Philly tried to iso him a few times in that game and he did a decent job."

Award #2

My Favorite Shooter: Belinelli

No contest. Again.

Will the lovefest continue? Probably. He'll continue to launch shot after shot with no conscience. And most likely, he'll continue to score at a high pace stroking 3 after 3 after 3 He's shooting 67% from 3's so far (but like a true Warrior, he's shooting just 63.6% from the line). Check out his stats at nba.com: Marco Belinelli

I'll continue to ride the Belinelli train until the end of the Summer League and readily wait for the start of training camp just to see what he can do against real competition. All this hype around him is fun, but in the end may pump his expectations in the eyes of fans up too high. From 3 games, just for fun, here are some predictions for the regular season.

He finishes top 5 in Rookie of the Year voting behind Durant (winner), Oden, Horford, and Brewer.
He averages just under 15 points per game.
He drops 30 in the regular season more than 3 times.

What are your predictions for Marco in the regular season? (Just for fun of course)

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Comments

None of this

surprises me. Im just happy he is what I thought he'd be.

He will make all of us proud fans, and will be the reason for spitting Cola in our girlfriends faces in utter shock and amazment, accidently punching our grandmothers in violent fist pump celebrations, heart attacks from O.G.'s back in the Chamberlain days, and a twinkle in an old man's eye in Nelson, and a reason to come back and coach for the 08-09 season.

This is my team There are many like it But this one is mine. My team, without me is useless. Without my team, I am useless

by BlueNgoldBlood on Jul 11, 2007 10:17 PM PDT 0 recs

Belinelli will . . . .

-posterize Leandro Barbosa.
-win the three point contest.
-average 18 points a game.
-help Baron average double digit assists with BD penetrating and dishing to a wide open Belinelli for 3!
-create Warrior Mania in the North Beach section of SF.
-help ease the loss of J-Rich.

by sleepys29againstshowtime on Jul 11, 2007 10:20 PM PDT 0 recs

HE WILL BE AWESOME

I can't wait to buy HIS JERSEY nexT season!

by HARDcore GSW FAN on Jul 11, 2007 10:41 PM PDT 0 recs

He will save the world

He will...

-cure cancer and aids
-feed the hungry
-walk on water
-create world peace

by ssmokinjoe on Jul 11, 2007 10:54 PM PDT 0 recs

I Hope

He is a Big NBA Live PS3 player like me! I am hardcore when it comes to NBA Live! I had a perfect season set on easy last season!

by HARDcore GSW FAN on Jul 11, 2007 10:59 PM PDT up 0 recs

yeah but more importantly . . . .

will he lead the Warriors to the NBA Championship?

by sleepys29againstshowtime on Jul 11, 2007 11:10 PM PDT up 0 recs

YES!

After solving world hunger and curing cancer i'm sure he can sneak in a few trophies ;)

He'll be on the Hall of Fame ballot by the All-Star break.

by ssmokinjoe on Jul 11, 2007 11:39 PM PDT up 0 recs

hey, you forgot to predict . . .

that he will also help us find Osama Bin Laden.

by sleepys29againstshowtime on Jul 11, 2007 11:56 PM PDT up 0 recs

That's it?

Man our standards are so low here. We're such an easy crowd. Haha

by Atma Brother ONE on Jul 11, 2007 11:47 PM PDT up 0 recs

18 will I think

-Win 3 pt contest
-Have dunk of the night about 20 times
-Average about 17 pts
-Posterize a few vets
-Will make the NBA say "Oden who?"
-A legit contender for ROY

by protac6 on Jul 11, 2007 10:58 PM PDT 0 recs

belinelli is

goin to be ROY, sixth man of the year and most improved all this year!

by djchuckdeez on Jul 11, 2007 11:24 PM PDT 0 recs

Most improved?

You can't be most improved if you haven't played yet. Don't know if you were joking :P

by DubsDominate on Jul 12, 2007 12:46 AM PDT up 0 recs

haha

yeah i was.

by djchuckdeez on Jul 12, 2007 2:58 AM PDT up 0 recs

hmmm

15 pts per game
4 assts
3 rbs
1.5 stls
45% from 3pt
make a STRONG push for the starting SG spot.

Let's Go Oakland! Gas, Brake, Dip.

by OaktownFunk on Jul 11, 2007 11:30 PM PDT 0 recs

i dont think

he can average all that without being the starting 2 guard

by dso on Jul 12, 2007 12:03 AM PDT up 0 recs

your right, but...

Remember that Baron will likely sit out his share of games, and leave the minutes in the air for any of our gaurds to take... Nelson's already stated that...

"He's 6'5" barefoot, 6'6" with shoes on and he can make plays, as well, it's not just his outside shooting. To stop that guy you have to set your defense for him and that opens things up for other players, so we're really excited about him."

This is my team There are many like it But this one is mine. My team, without me is useless. Without my team, I am useless

by BlueNgoldBlood on Jul 12, 2007 12:07 AM PDT up 0 recs

Bold predictions

20.3 PPG, since he'll be starting, with Ellis in Minny due to KG deal

42.3% 3PT

62.1 FT

Unanimous ROY

by DubsDominate on Jul 12, 2007 12:47 AM PDT 0 recs

MVP

by Jeremy Belvins on Jul 12, 2007 1:29 AM PDT 0 recs

Marco...

Marco will become a revolutionary figure in modern society. He will replace the menial game of Marco Polo to Marco Belinelli. He will institute a "Non Violence Program" in inner-cities, where teenagers won't talk about the latest gang-bang shooting but rather the severe one-man-gang-bang shooting on Western Conference Teams by his truly. He won't find the cure for AIDS, Cancer, or Avian Flu, but rather, he believes diseases are too trivial. Instead, he will find the cure for death and save billions of lives.

But real talk...

Predictions:

17 PPG
3 RPG
2 APG
44% FG
38% 3PT

He will flourish in the GSW system.

by BTT on Jul 12, 2007 3:15 AM PDT 0 recs

Marco Belinelli

this thread reminds me of these-

Marco Belinelli's tears cure cancer. Too bad he has never cried.
Marco Belinelli does not sleep. He waits.
Marco Belinelli doesn't read books. He stares them down until he gets the information he wants.

my own personal additions:
Marco Belinelli doesn't play basketball, he IS basketball.
Marco Belinelli can make three pointers without using his hands.
Marco Belinelli once got kicked out of the gym for shooting the lights out.
Marco Belinelli doesn't miss shots, he lets the other team catch up.

by jlagace on Jul 12, 2007 3:42 AM PDT up 0 recs

Pretty good. Here's one...

Dr. Naismith originally wanted to call the game Belinelli-ball. Coincidence? I think not!

by ssmokinjoe on Jul 12, 2007 3:56 AM PDT up 0 recs

I heard

Multiple scouts saw Belinelli playing one-on-one against a guy with equal talent and ability. At first, the game was tight: one guy would take the lead just to have the other tie it up. Then, Belinelli started getting sloppy and soon fell behind 30-60.

He took the ball and dribbled it back and forth near halfcourt, looked at the other guy and admitted, "You're better than me."

The guy replied, "Then why are you still smiling?"

"Because I know something that you don't know."

"And what is that?"

"I... do not shoot left-handed." With that, Belinelli put the ball in his right hand, rose up, and netted a 3 from midcourt. He then proceeded to swat every single of the other guy's shots, and nailed 9 threes in a row. From midcourt. With the scored tied at 60-60, Belinelli threw the ball at the other guy's head, grabbed it in mid-air, and dunked.

To this day, the other guy has never been seen again.

by Caught Backcourt on Jul 12, 2007 1:35 PM PDT up 0 recs

"The other guy"

Has in fact been heard from again. His name was Michael Jordan.

The year was 1991, the peak of MJ's career. Marco was five.

by Sleepy Freud on Jul 12, 2007 6:33 PM PDT up 0 recs

Belinelli will

Head-Butt Carlos Boozer in the chest a la Zenidine Zidane!!!

by gabezgsw on Jul 12, 2007 8:13 AM PDT 0 recs

Remember those Lebron Commercials...

Well I think Belinelli will average a quadruple double this year and win mvp and ROY.

The stat line you ask:
30 ppg
15 Assists
10 boards and
12 steals, with a pathetic 9.99 blocks

Oh ya while having a hot girlfriend

THE HEART AND SOUL OF THE W'S

by dallaswarrior on Jul 12, 2007 9:18 AM PDT 0 recs

Summer league reminder

The summer league wasn't started until 2004. Since then these have been the statistical leader from each year.

2004 Leaders
25.7 ppg Nikoloz Tskitishvili (DEN)
12.7 rpg Lonnie Jones (CLE)
6.2 apg Steve Blake (WAS) and Jameer Nelson (ORL)

2005 Leaders
20.6 ppg J.R. Smith (NO)
9.8 rpg Josh Powell (DAL)
6.0 apg Sebastian Telfair (POR)

2006 Leaders
24.8 ppg Randy Foye (MIN)
13.2 rpg James Singleton (LAC)
7.6 apg John Lucas (HOU)

As you can see not everyone that shines in the summer league immediately shines in the NBA. That said, I think Belinelli will make solid contribution in his first NBA season, because he was playing at the top level over in the Euro league. In fact, the guy just finished off one of his worst shooting season of his life in 2006, which is why he wasn't a lottery pick.

Frankly, I think Belinelli was a steal at the 18th pick and will provide the kind of outside impact that Ellis and Prietrus struggle to provide a nightly basis. I still contend that Monta is the starter, but look for Belinelli to play about 20 minutes a game and hopefully provide 10 to 15 pts of scoring off the bench, anything else is gravy. Also, does dreamleague or anyone else know how Belinelli looks on D-fense?

by mcwalter44 on Jul 12, 2007 2:36 PM PDT 0 recs

I agree on the prediction...

Also take into consideration that it was noted, that summer league is an opportunity for the gaurds to shine. Fast breaks, helter skelter defense... It all translates to the most points for the guards.

On his D - It is hard to say what his abilities are from summer league games, but in Europe he was considered a very good man to man defender who could move his feet and has quick hands. He seems to move his feet and hands well at the same time, which is difficult. I think he will disrupt his share of passes and take some smart charges.

His coaches in Eurpope believed in his D a great deal, and supposedly used him as a lock-down defender. Although, personally I dont think hes going to be doing that in the NBA.

This is my team There are many like it But this one is mine. My team, without me is useless. Without my team, I am useless

by BlueNgoldBlood on Jul 12, 2007 2:48 PM PDT up 0 recs

Belinelli's D

Great... I'm on board now....

I'm sure he'll cure cancer, AIDS and end the war Iraq.

by mcwalter44 on Jul 12, 2007 2:53 PM PDT up 0 recs

2004 Vegas

2004 was the 1st year in Vegas. The summer league use to be in So. Cal. It started either late 80's or early 90's.

by Psion on Jul 12, 2007 3:49 PM PDT up 0 recs

So Cal summer pro league...

Yo... are you sure you're not think of:
http://www.summerproleague.com/about.php

So Cal Summer pro league, which never had full nba teams, but instead just several players for various teams playing together. Was it structured more like the NBDL were teams might send a few people to player together? I'm not sure because I don't know much about it. What do know is that you won't have had a Warriors only team down there.

by mcwalter44 on Jul 12, 2007 4:36 PM PDT up 0 recs

Teams

I don't remember what teams were in it, but it was only like 8 teams at the time. I know for sure the Warriors sent a summer team(the reason why I watched). In fact in the game that was televised for the Warriors(this year) one commentator said to the other that you've been doing these games since the 2004 in vegas and he replied with I was doing in so. cal. before it moved to vegas.

by Psion on Jul 12, 2007 5:27 PM PDT up 0 recs

summer league MVP

http://www.nba.com/summerleague2007/players/summer_league_rankings_071207.html

that is unless Buke catches him from #7

by azw on Jul 12, 2007 3:02 PM PDT 0 recs

Belinelli Nor Ready to Replace J Rich

Marco is sure instant offense. He can score. A major concern I have in watching these Summer League games is his indurance. As his minutes increase, his scoring go down. The 82 game schedule will take a toll. He is not ready.

Jim

by jarforcefathwerofforce on Jul 12, 2007 4:43 PM PDT 0 recs

Minutes up scoring down?

37 point game he played all 40 minutes. The other two games he averaged 35 minutes and 19 points.

by Psion on Jul 12, 2007 5:32 PM PDT up 0 recs

Why all the Minutes?

Nelson realizes he needs to get in NBA shape.

Jim

by jarforcefathwerofforce on Jul 13, 2007 3:19 PM PDT up 0 recs

Yeahhh!!

I saw Belinelli play 2 months ago in the Italian championschip, he scored 1/9 3pt but signed the last and the most importants points of the game.
The Summer L. was an inferior level of our A1(Italian championschip).....but for me he will be a big surprise of NBA of this year.
And for the next draft remeber this name: GALLINARI!
Ciao!!!!
P.S.:(I'm sorry for my English!!!)

Italians do it better!!!!

by El Ciuminteros on Jul 12, 2007 5:48 PM PDT 0 recs

Belinelli

isn't afraid of the dark, the dark is afraid of Belinelli
Belinelli's hand beats a royal flush
When Marco does a pushup, he isn't lifting himself up, he's pushing the Earth down.
Bellinelli can speak Braille
The dinosaurs messed with Bellinelli. Once.

etc. etc.

Who shot JR? Mullin thats who.

by ONBB on Jul 13, 2007 1:22 AM PDT 0 recs

Belinelli

God once played a game called basketball. And then he changed his name to Marco Belinelli.

by jlagace on Jul 13, 2007 2:17 AM PDT up 0 recs

Chad Ford's Preason Pick for ROY

In today's chat over at ESPN

Ben (SF): What do you think of Marco Bellinelli?

Chris Sheridan: He was phenomenal, grantd it was only summer league. But you'll love him. A pure, pure shooter, real soft shot, even from way deep behind the arc. I've already decided he's my 2007-08 preseason Rookie of the Year pick.

by xoverdribble on Jul 13, 2007 10:19 AM PDT 0 recs