Game Thread SUMMER LEAGUE GAME# 3 - SPURS VS BLAZERS - JULY 10, 2018 - TUESDAY, 1:00 PM PDT, NBATV & WATCHESPN

My flight arrives in Vegas at 12:53 so I won’t make it to the game on time. I plan on meeting KingSpeed for the game tomorrow.

 

His movement on offense looks clunky and methodical. I don't see the fluidity I was expecting against this competition. He's forcing shots and rushing. Given that he actually got substantial playoff minutes for a rookie, I was hoping he'd be better in this setting.

 

It's like you're watching a different game. Do you think Swanigan is Collins?

 

I know it is only 2 games, but if they are expecting to have Zach be a major part of our rotation and help this season (since they let Ed walk, I’m assuming this is the plan), he has not impressed. He is playing against garbage players, the majority who won’t even make an NBA roster this fall. He should be killing the competition down there. Bit frustrated. We saw flashes of brilliance. I think another couple of seasons banging against Ed would really have helped. I know he’s young, but damn.

 

He's averaging 6.5 pts a game on 29% shooting against guys who will be playing China in two months. Tell me what I'm missing.

 

Elite defense and the fact that he is actually shooting good shots (creating the separation thanks to fluid foot work) that are just not falling.

 

Hey new guy, pipe down. The game threads are a very touchy subject around here. #StayInYoLane

 

Why? Did you lose a bet or something?

 

If you say so. It's high time for actual results. This is the kind of stuff we used to preach about Martell Webster.

Especially if guys like Kevin Love (bonafide all star) are available in a trade and we don't want to move Collins.

 

Which is why I asked you "other than shooting"? Good to know Tony Bradley and John Collins are headed to China.

 

Really, We said that Webster was the best defender on the floor? When?

In 10 years Webster had 1 year of a positive DBPM - and even that was less than "too skiny", rookie Zach Collins.

He is a project on offense. There is no doubt about it. But his foot work is fine, he does not shy from contact - and he is already a better defender than Webster ever was, and it feels like he is just scratching the surface of what he can do on defense.

 

I don't have enough time to tell you everything you're missing (bada-bing!), but here are two:

1) Blocks
He has 8 blocks in 50 minutes of SL play. That's 5.8 blocks per 36. Anthony Davis led the league in blocks (by a fair margin) and he had 2.5 blocks per 36. More than doubling up the best shotblocker in the league is completely ridiculous.

Note: OK, I know what you're going to say: "Sample Size". If you care about sample size so much why are you quoting his scoring average and percentage? Or even mentioning stats at all?

2) Opponent FG%
So, he's blocking a ridiculous number of shots, is it actually helping them win? The Baldwin/Collins duo is leading the way to keeping our SL opponents to 36% shooting. If we continue to keep our opponents to that percentage we will win a LOT of games.

 

If he was trying to be a stat whore he would be bolstering his numbers with three pointers. He is clearly working on developing a post game, which he didn't use much last year. I don't expect 50% out of the gate.

 

Good evening Rip City. Let's fucking go

 

So no Zach.....guess he won't have a shot a proving me wrong.

 

Wow caleb is worse in dribbling than Aminu