Blue getting some praise for his toughness...best of luck to him these next couple weeks!
http://www.thereporteronline.com/sports/20131016/undrafted-vander-blue-keeps-battling-in-bid-to-make-76ers
Cool to read that the well-known veteran Thaddeus Young said right away he was very impressed with Vander. The coach seems to really be impressed as well. I like Vander's chances.
This is great news. I hope he continues to shine. It is almost deja vu from Wes Matthews camp in SLC.
I like his chances too. Philly needs guys with Vander's determination and hustle. An MU great will be a perfect fit there. I think he beats out their other guards like Wyatt and Morris.
Quote from: Jamil_toMU10 on October 16, 2013, 05:34:54 PM
I like his chances too. Philly needs guys with Vander's determination and hustle. An MU great will be a perfect fit there. I think he beats out their other guards like Wyatt and Morris.
Had to double-take the pic in the article as well... Gotta be Vander's best Wes impression.
Quote from: Jamil_toMU10 on October 16, 2013, 05:34:54 PM
I like his chances too. Philly needs guys with Vander's determination and hustle. An MU great will be a perfect fit there. I think he beats out their other guards like Wyatt and Morris.
Seems like a lot of our guys have some dog in them.
All the best to him, hope it works out.
Philly is going to be really bad at basketball this year, so that should help VB's chances.
Quote from: hdog1017 on October 17, 2013, 11:01:17 AM
Philly is going to be really bad at basketball this year, so that should help VB's chances.
Sixers getting blown out right now. It's the first half and Blue already has 9 minutes, two steals, 3 points, and a block.
Vander ended up stuffing the statsheet today, shooting 5-9 (3-5 3pt) for 15 pts, 4 reb, 3 ast, 2 stl, 1blk and only 1 TO and 0 fouls in 27 mins.
Also of note, the two players he is competing with for a spot (according to the article):
Darius Morris was 5-11 for 11 pts, 3 ast, 0 reb/stl/blk, 1 TO and 2 PF in 17 mins.
Khalif Whyatt - DNP coach's decision
http://scores.espn.go.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=400491556
That's taking advantage of an opportunity. Go VB!
Quote from: w0bbie on October 17, 2013, 12:38:26 PM
Vander ended up stuffing the statsheet today, shooting 5-9 (3-5 3pt) for 15 pts, 4 reb, 3 ast, 2 stl, 1blk and only 1 TO and 0 fouls in 27 mins.
Also of note, the two players he is competing with for a spot (according to the article):
Darius Morris was 5-11 for 11 pts, 3 ast, 0 reb/stl/blk, 1 TO and 2 PF in 17 mins.
Khalif Whyatt - DNP coach's decision
http://scores.espn.go.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=400491556
Vander and Whyatt had been splitting time as the back-up 2. Wouldn't be surprised if Whyatt sees extended action in the next preseason game while Van gets a DNP.
Yeah, they have been switching the guards around each game. Vander's game today must be huge for helping him make the squad. Philly didn't have Turner, Thad or Hawes playing so that helped free up some time for the bench guys.
15pts, 4reb, 3ast, 2stl, 1blk in 27min
yep, actually this morning :) Shared in the Vander thread. He'll make the squad.
Some Blue quotes about the process here:
http://www.thereporteronline.com/sports/20131016/undrafted-vander-blue-keeps-battling-in-bid-to-make-76ers
http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/9860407/nerlens-noel-philadelphia-76ers-expected-for-season
does this help vander at all?
also, is this a move by 76ers staff to try and tank for wiggins or at least another high draft pick? if the blueprint you're going for is OKC, with two young stars as a nucleus, this is certainly an opportunity.
Quote from: jesmu84 on October 21, 2013, 10:37:39 PM
http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/9860407/nerlens-noel-philadelphia-76ers-expected-for-season
does this help vander at all?
also, is this a move by 76ers staff to try and tank for wiggins or at least another high draft pick? if the blueprint you're going for is OKC, with two young stars as a nucleus, this is certainly an opportunity.
Shouldn't affect Vander one way or the other.
As far as tanking - they made that decision early in the off-season. It's not just Wiggins. Should be best draft of recent years. Randall, Parker, Exum, Smart, Embiid, and several others could all be prizes. At least 8-10 players who would have been #1 overall last year.
Good to hear!
I am proud of the young man...he does have some dog in him. I saw that earlier. He is a fighter. He will keep coming at you. Brett Brown would be foolish to pass on him and miss the chance to coach him.
He is in a good situation regardless to what happens with Noel simply by the team he is with and their outlook and direction they are taking. Keep charging at em Van! One day one possession and one trip down the court at a time. Round by round...
(http://www.thereporteronline.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/storyimage/RO/20131016/SPORTS/131019587/AR/0/AR-131019587.jpg&maxh=400&maxw=667)
For a non drafted player who came out too early on a team that made a deep run in the NCAA's he couldn't have hoped for a better situation then he is in now.
He got picked by the worse team perhaps in NBA history potentially looking to rebuild and focus on developing players from the outset so he couldn't have gone to a better place.
If he can't or does not make this squad on a partial guaranteed deal that is on him. With his ability there would be absolutely no excuse for that at all.
If he is cut from this outfit then he has problems...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWqLPSP8_nI
Nice
Quote from: MUHoopsFan2 on October 22, 2013, 04:52:09 AM
For a non drafted player who came out too early on a team that made a deep run in the NCAA's he couldn't have hoped for a better situation then he is in now.
He got picked by the worse team perhaps in NBA history potentially looking to rebuild and focus on developing players from the outset so he couldn't have gone to a better place.
If he can't or does not make this squad on a partial guaranteed deal that is on him. With his ability there would be absolutely no excuse for that at all.
If he is cut from this outfit then he has problems...
So which is it, he came out to early, or his ability is such that he has no excuse to not make an NBA roster? This post makes very little sense.
Quote from: NavinRJohnson on October 22, 2013, 08:37:10 AM
So which is it, he came out to early, or his ability is such that he has no excuse to not make an NBA roster? This post makes very little sense.
I have him on ignore. But i've pretty much thought there isn't much sense coming from his posts. And that goes all the way back to the Davidson gameday chat last year.
He should write for Paint Touches. They have a comedy section, right?
When will they make the final cut?
Quote from: 314warrior on October 22, 2013, 11:39:33 AM
When will they make the final cut?
The Sixers' final preseason game is tomorrow night so I would guess they'd make their final decisions shortly thereafter, presumably by the end of this week. They open the season next Wednesday.
Vander's tweet this morning...
@Vander13lue: God works in mysterious ways!
I'm not a big fan of trying to interpret or read something into seemingly innocuous tweets, but in this case I'll make an exception. May well be nothing, but for some reason, I'm thinking he received good news this morning.
Hope so. Funny though, I saw the same thing and thought it must mean he was told he didn't make it. We'll find out soon enough. Hope it works out for him. Either way, it seems he made a good impression and got some attention that could serve him well going forward if he isn't on the Sixers' roster.
Quote from: StillWarriors on October 24, 2013, 10:11:43 AM
Hope so. Funny though, I saw the same thing and thought it must mean he was told he didn't make it.
I considered that (and it may well be so), but chose he optimistic route.
Maybe he's been traded to the Bucks. :D
If I'm reading the tea leaves, it's a reference to not getting drafted but ending up in the league anyways.
Or, he prayed to Saint Anthony to find his lost car keys and it worked.
I would put Vander making the Sixers more likely than Lazar getting drafted in the first round. Unexpected (but great) things happen.
His coach recently commented that Sixers only had 6 NBA players on roster. Named Vander and others as not NBA ready.
Quote from: elephantraker on October 24, 2013, 10:25:11 AM
His coach recently commented that Sixers only had 6 NBA players on roster. Named Vander and others as not NBA ready.
There's no question that's true, but if he hangs in, it presents a great opportunity. Presummably will pull down about $6k for every game he's on the roster, and if he were to make it to Feb, would guarantee himself about $500K, and with any luck can position himself for another job next year.
He has a very long road ahead, regardless of what happens with the 76ers this week and beyond, but whether he makes it or not, he's off to a pretty decent start.
Quote from: elephantraker on October 24, 2013, 10:25:11 AM
His coach recently commented that Sixers only had 6 NBA players on roster. Named Vander and others as not NBA ready.
Here is the article. http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2013/10/23/4947522/philadelphia-76ers-brett-brown-roster
Still need 12-13 on the roster, especially with Nerlens out for a while.
Quote from: elephantraker on October 24, 2013, 10:25:11 AM
His coach recently commented that Sixers only had 6 NBA players on roster. Named Vander and others as not NBA ready.
He's right. Actually, 6 may be stretching it.
Brown was likely trying to motivate the non-ready guys or he may have simply been trying to proactively cover his a$$ a little bit. Despite knowing that the team is in all out tank mode, no one wants to be the coach who goes 12-70 in his first season.
Quote from: Avenue Commons on October 24, 2013, 10:43:12 AM
Here is the article. http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2013/10/23/4947522/philadelphia-76ers-brett-brown-roster
Still need 12-13 on the roster, especially with Nerlens out for a while.
Wow ... that is some sad roster. Here's hoping Vander sticks, because if he can't stick with that team, he might end up being Jerel II.
As for God working in mysterious ways, he might find -- as Tebow did -- that God is quite the tease when it comes to opportunities in pro sports!
Well, Khalif Wyatt has been waived, so it would appear as though Blue is probably going to make it. He may well still be assigned to the D-League affiliate for much of the year, but at $500k, I'm guessing he won't complain too loudly.
NBA Legion @MySportsLegion
Source: 76ers have released Khalif Wyatt, Royce White and Vander Blue. I'm hoping these guys get signed elsewhere, all talented.
brutal day for blue and lockett
Quote from: KC_Warrior on October 24, 2013, 06:34:07 PM
NBA Legion @MySportsLegion
Source: 76ers have released Khalif Wyatt, Royce White and Vander Blue. I'm hoping these guys get signed elsewhere, all talented.
DAMN.
Bummer. Not this time. Safe to assume there will be additional chances.
Quote from: NavinRJohnson on October 24, 2013, 06:39:34 PM
Bummer. Not this time. Safe to assume there will be additional chances.
He'll end up like Jerel... 'cept Jerel was smart enough to finish his career and get his degree.
Quote from: MUfan12 on October 24, 2013, 11:03:49 PM
He'll end up like Jerel... 'cept Jerel was smart enough to finish his career and get his degree.
As a college administrator, I approve of players getting their degrees. But honestly how much do you think that degree has helped Jerel in his career as a professional basketball player?
Quote from: TAMU Eagle on October 24, 2013, 11:32:38 PM
As a college administrator, I approve of players getting their degrees. But honestly how much do you think that degree has helped Jerel in his career as a professional basketball player?
Not much, but if Jerel wants to coach down the road many places require a degree. Glad he has it. Sometimes it is for the longer haul, not the shorter.
Quote from: ChicosBailBonds on October 24, 2013, 11:42:01 PM
Not much, but if Jerel wants to coach down the road many places require a degree. Glad he has it. Sometimes it is for the longer haul, not the shorter.
But it's not like Van left after one year. He's closer to a degree than even some of our former players had been going into their Senior year. Not a large obstacle to overcome. Hell, Eddie Jordan did fine coaching without a college degree.
Whatever the future holds, I wish him much success. enjoyed watching him play and look forward to doing so again
Quote from: MUfan12 on October 24, 2013, 11:03:49 PM
He'll end up like Jerel... 'cept Jerel was smart enough to finish his career and get his degree.
Maybe, though I'd bet Vander plays in an NBA game sometime in the next 5 years.
Quote from: ChicosBailBonds on October 24, 2013, 11:42:01 PM
Not much, but if Jerel wants to coach down the road many places require a degree. Glad he has it. Sometimes it is for the longer haul, not the shorter.
+1 - When Jerel retires in his mid 30s he's not going to be independently wealthy. He's going to have to work at something else for 30+ years. If he wants to coach in high school or college, he'll be glad he has a degree.