Only positives, please! I'll start: Clingan is currently tied for first among Vegas players in blocks and is third in rebounds. Kennedy Chandler was +13 in under 20 mins. Justin Minaya had 4 steals in under 20 mins.
I’m watching one player and one only during these “games”. Clingan…… If he can simply put his hands up and get us some blocks and rebounds, then he will be fantastic. I take NOTHING from summer league though. These are players who won’t be in the league or play at all…..cant take good or bad from this. Next game when he has no blocks and 3 rebounds it will mean as much as this past game. I just watch the flow, how he moves. Will judge when he’s banging against Ayton in September in runs up at the PF.
This is quite the active, enthralling thread..... Could it be a sign of how many positives there are about the Blazers?
Clingan looked good on defense. I understand that SL doesn't move as fast as actual NBA games but Clingan looked quicker than I thought he would both on the perimeter on defense and as the roll man on offense. The dude sets screens well. The dude can really pass. His length and timing in the defensive paint is going to make a huge difference once he gets some experience. Obviously the guy is going to have to get in the weight room but that will happen. I liked a lot of what I saw from Rayan. The guy's game is really developing. I could see him pushing his way into the rotation at some point this season.
Does this summer league teams really represent the Blazers? Yes, Clingan will get minutes backing up Ayton. Yes, Murray and Rupert may end up being 2nd team if we trade a few players, but basically we are watching 3rd team players. I am guessing most fans understand that one game does not mean shit. So we might as well wait a few games. But at first glance, I was encouraged by Clingan's defense and rebounding. I thought he moved pretty when he was not sucking air. I did not expect him to be able to cover the perimeter as most bigs can't. His BBIQ on D was encouraging, never really getting lost on plays, and usually aware of the play that was developing.
It's an assignment, as in - If you contribute anything less than a C+ you are flunking this class. Now allow me to share with you my negative assessments of the blazers summer league players.
Rayan Rupert started off in a rough fashion but finished with 13 points on 6-11 shooting, with 6 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 steals. He did have 6 turnovers, but I think most of those were in the first half. Klingan set picks that got teammates wide open time after time. Those teammates did a lousy job of turning those wide open looks into points or some kind of advantage for the offense. Hopefully Chauncey Billups with work with the regular-season team to take advantage of what the new center can do on offense.
The OP only highlighted 1 Blazer. The other 2 are Remix players. Mamma always said - 'If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all....'. With that, Im done here
