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NBA Roundup: Trey Burke, Glenn Robinson III solid in preseason

The NBA season tips off a week from today and several former Michigan players are facing a critical season. Trey Burke and Glenn Robinson III have both played well in the preseason while Mitch McGary and Nik Stauskas are sidelined by injury.

The NBA season tips off a week from today and several former Michigan players are facing a critical season. Trey Burke and Glenn Robinson III have both played well in the preseason while Mitch McGary and Nik Stauskas are sidelined by injury.

Utah picks up Burke’s option

The Utah Jazz picked up Trey Burke’s fourth year option this month and the former National Player of the Year will have a huge opportunity this season with fellow Jazz guard Dante Exum sidelined by injury.

Burke is averaging 14 points per game through four preseason contests and is coming off of his best game of the preseason on Sunday. He dropped 22 points against the Blazers, going 9 of 12 from the floor and knocking down 4 out of 5 three-point attempts.

Burke had a tough sophomore year with the Jazz after earning NBA All-Rookie honors during his first year. His shooting numbers slumped and he eventually started coming off the bench for the Jazz during the second half of the season.

Glenn Robinson III playing well in preseason

Glenn Robinson III is already playing for his third NBA team (four if you include the Atlanta Hawks this summer) as he gets set to start this season with the Pacers, but it looks like he might have found a perfect fit in Indianapolis. Robinson earned Larry Bird’s praise before the preseason started and now appears to have backed it up on the floor.

“I’ve been (trying to acquire) him for a year,” Bird told the Indy Star. “He’s very impressive to me. He’s long, strong and big.”

Since the preseason started, Robinson is averaging 11.2 points per game on 56% shooting including 54% from long range. He’s also earned praise from a number of Pacers players and coaches.

“I love the kid. I’ve been able to spend the whole summer with him,” Paul George told Pacers.com. “He was completely different when he first came in. Now it’s coming around for him. He’s going to be good. He’s going to be real good.”

According to Pacers.com, Robinson’s three-year contract with the Pacers is guaranteed for the first year-and-a-half and appears to be a part of the plan in Indiana.

“What he showed in September is that he’s real,” coach Frank Vogel said. “He’s not a couple-years- away guy. We have guys ahead of him probably, but there were days in September when he was the best player on the court. That was very, very impressive to me. He’s got a great attitude, and he’s got all the physical tools with the speed and athleticism. He has the tools to be a steal.”

Tim Hardaway Jr. searching for a fit

Tim Hardaway Jr. is just 8 of 33 from the floor in preseason play with the Atlanta Hawks and is averaging a shade over 19 minutes per game. The 6-foot-6 wing guard was dealt to the Hawks on draft day and still appears to be searching out a comfort zone with his new team.

Despite his struggles, PeachTreeHoops thinks that Hardaway will still have an opportunity to make an impact early this year.

He talked about how the Triangle was always on your mind and that one of the biggest differences in Atlanta was the free flowing nature on offense. While that is true, there are concepts and reads that players must make in Budenholzer’s system and Hardaway currently looks like a player that is thinking a bit too much rather than simply reacting.
Despite his struggles, Hardaway looks like a good bet to see minutes in Atlanta’s rotation once the regular season begins. As was mentioned earlier, the Hawks paid a heavy price to acquire him so he will likely get ample opportunities to prove he can do the job.

Hardaway was recently skewered by ESPN Insider, being called a “shameless gunner who plays matador defense” in a scouting report. He’ll have a lot to prove this season as he has the chance to play with a winning team in Atlanta.

Mitch McGary battling concussion

Mitch McGary averaged 9 points and seven rebounds during his first three preseason games before suffering a concussion against the Memphis Grizzlies last Friday. He was held out over the weekend and will sit out Oklahoma City’s preseason finale, according to first year head coach Billy Donovan.

At media day, McGary discussed having Donovan as a coach after he recruited him in high school.

“I like coach Donovan,” McGary said. “He recruited me when I was making my decision for college and it was between Michigan or Florida. Those were my top two schools, I developed a relationship with him and it’s good to have a coach coming in that you’ve had a relationship with in the past.”

“But that’s in the past, I chose Michigan,” he quipped. “Go Blue.”

McGary didn’t mention Michigan’s shellacking of Florida in the Elite Eight. The 6-foot-10 big man is healthy this season and spent the majority of the summer working out in Oklahoma City. He’ll face heavy competition in the frontcourt though with Serge Ibaka, Steven Adams, Enes Kanter and Nick Collison in the mix.

Other notes

  • Nik Stauskas remains sidelined with a right leg injury. He should be back soon, according to ESPN. “‘It’s been feeling pretty good. At this point, we’re just taking it day to day.’ … ‘I would like to play a preseason game, but if the doctors or our training staff doesn’t feel that that’s the right move for me, then that’s the not the right move,’ Stauskas said. ‘Before I play an actual game, I’ll definitely be with the team for a little bit. I’ll make sure that I’m ready.'”
  • Jamal Crawford is averaging 8.4 points per game in preseason play with the Clippers after facing trade rumors for much of the offseason.
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