Game Thread BLAZERS SUMMER LEAGUE 2024

I believe it's a mid-October deadline for the Blazers picking up the option for Murray's 2025-26 season. I'm assuming Cronin will as he seems reluctant to let go of any assets, even if they are neutral or negative at the moment. But it's possible the Blazers won't pick up Murray's 3.1M option

the big test will be, if Murray is till struggling with his shot, if in October of next year the Blazers pick up Murray's 5.3M option for 2026-27

 

"No, Sir"
https://www.nba.com/news/nba-summer-league-standout-players-day-10

 

I think I've read this somewhere before...

 

Love it. If Clingan can just get us rebounds and block shots….that’s a win! ESPECIALLY FROM THIS YEARS DRAFT!

 

Remember the Billups speech ?? "These aren't normal rookies, these guys played against men." .... what happened? Kris, Rupert and Scoot looked identical to normal rookies.

If there's fans hating on Murray, they're directing it towards the wrong person. Being one of the rare Blazer fans that watched almost all the games last season, I saw an inexperienced rookie Forward that wasn't ready for a 30-40m per night against really tough NBA opponents. That was a management decision.

 

Murray's college 3pt percentage was 33% on 6 attempts. Not terrible, but not terrific. Kris averaged 20pts a game in NCAA, but those buckets did not come from towing the line.

Murray's draft outlook was overall skillset. Pesky length, cutting ability, defensive hustle, basketball IQ, and knack for chippies around the hoop.

the difficulty with "hit your darn 3 pointers Kris !!", is that wasn't his game. It's not Jabari's game, nor Toumani's game. Can they be developed into 3&D players? Absolutely they can.

Asking for instant results from NBA rookies, for a 3pt skillset which wasn't their best attribute, seems like deflection from the managers who put these kids in somewhat overwhelming positions.

 

To become an NBA player, you need to be elite at something - then work on your other stuff. Rupert and Camara guard the other team's best wing player. If he was an NBA level "overall skillset" guy, then he'd be filling up the boxscore. He doesn't do that. He's not terrible, he's non-descript.

 

I kinda regret not going to Summer League now because of Clingan. I just had to see the Stones though!

 

that goes with the inexperience territory. Murray was a late FRP rookie, who isn't built like a truck. He played the incredibly difficult SF/PF position. The idea to give Kris starting minutes during the final 3 months of the season was a Cronin stealth tank special. Just play hard, we need ping pong percentages.

The depth chart last season was an ocean of rookies with a few sophomores. Once a few starters got ouchies, Blazer games turned into basketball Pac-Man running around a maze gobbling up losses.

 

Don’t worry, next year we have both Clingan and Flagg

 

That's what some of us were saying. There would be very good players coming out of that draft. But you didn't want to listen...

 

It was epic bro! I was in about the 10th row behind the bench their last two games.

my major observations… DC is big af. He was clearly a couple inches (top of head and shoulders) above Sarr standing side by side during a free throw.

also, he had the entire Vegas crowd (casual fans of all diff teams) cheering for him/the Blazers by the second half of both games. I thought that was so cool how real recognizes real.

last but not least, dude plays with fire. He constantly looked out to the crowd after his monster blocks wanting to raise the roof in preparation for Blazer fans/moda center.

we crushed this draft. Deni will be great too.

 

Chinese Media following the Blazers because of Jacky. The new Yao Ming lol.

 

Not gonna say it’s going to happen, but the NBA is popular in China and the league is trying to promote and increase popularity so I’m sure they would like another Jeremy Lin.

 

Love Jackys game. Hardcore 3&D.

 

Correct me if I’m wrong, but since only 4 teams make the semifinals, we theoretically cannot win the SL championship even if we win game 4 because we will not win the tiebreaker (which is +/- difference?).

The only teams that can win it are those which are undefeated.

So we should tank?

 

yes, tank. Bench the Summer League starters except Murray. He needs to keep practicing jump shots.