Game Thread SUMMER LEAGUE - GAME 4 - BLAZERS VS ROCKETS - THURSDAY - JULY 14, 2022 - 6:30 PM (PDT) NBATV

Keon Johnson is looking very good in Summer League. He has a smooth jump shot. I’m excited about this kid!

 

So he is untouchable?

 

No, I don't think so. He's playing well, but he's got so many even better players, proven better players, in front of him. I don't think the Blazers trade him for just anything, but, the way he's played, he could help us add a little more length at the 2-3-4 at some point.

 

At SG/SF (they’re the same for Billups) I think this will be the depth chart (with Ant starting at the 2 and being the backup point)

Hart
Nas
Payton
Keon
Sharpe
Didi

I think Hart and Nas will see the heaviest minutes. Payton can play (aka guard) all over. So I’d say Keon will be ahead of Sharpe, at least initially. Didi isn’t a threat for minutes and will probably be cut/dumped at some point.

 

I have to say I think our Forward situation is better than many of us thought. We actually need a backup C the most right now it seems. Grant, Walker, GBIII, Watford I think covers the 4 spot, but who do we have at C besides Nurk? I guess small ball with Watford maybe?

 

Yet another impressive comeback!!!

schedule the parade!!! Its happening!!!

 

I felt better about not going to Summer League after Sharpe got hurt. Now I'm depressed again.

 

Eubanks

 

Eubanks is young and developing. He has a pure hook shot, and finishes with dunks. Ridiculous that some assume that's it for his progression. Maybe it is, but i seriously doubt it. He's a talented bigman.

 

Brown is an interesting young player. He could be a starter, or out of the league in 2 years. A lot of things to like about him. And one major thing not to like.
He is so athletic and so fun to watch.......if only he had an outside shot. He won't play much this year, but hopefully, they can continue to develop him.

 

That's fair. He's not there yet, but he is developing. I see it too. Improvement is there. His anticipation on shots has led to more blocks, and less fouls with hacks. It seems the only time he was able to hit outside shots was when he was wearing those goggles last year. he dunks everything near the hoop. I think the Blazers will show the patience to continue to develop him.

 

It’s weird that Brown and Trendon actually looked much better in real NBA games than they have in summer league.

I guess some players are like that (Batum).

 

It seems to be more common than most think. SL is hard to gauge IMO. Players are thrown together after a week of practice. PGs are not always very good so there is no flow. A lot of players out there hacking or gunning away trying to make an impression, inexperienced NBA refs., coaches trying to give everyone a chance to play.......the list goes on and on.

 

Define talented

 

Brown and Trendon both look so out of control at times.... but with Trendon it's almost a controlled chaos.. Brown just looks out of control, period.

If I compare Brown to Walker, you can tell that Walker is very strategic about where he places himself. He's always reading the floor. I linked a video where Brian Scalabrine talks about sharpening his mind. Always reading the game. Trying to anticipate and react before things happen. You can see that from Walker. I don't see that at all from Brown. He's like an excited puppy, bounding through a field. I love his energy. I love his athleticism. I'm just concerned that he'll never pick up that BBIQ that Walker already has.

 

Not every center has a deft touch on the hook shot, which is a valuable asset for a center. Eubanks does. He also finishes with dunks. Not every bigman does, and many miss shots they should make if they dunked it instead. He gets good low post position for rebounds. That's talent. Plus he hasn't been playing the game as long as others have. He's still learning. He was a pitcher in HS. Then started playing hoops. Nurk was late to the game as well. He played soccer, until he took up the game. But Eubanks isn't a stiff. Dudley was a stiff. Rasmussen was a stiff. And on and on.

 

Sure Walker is better at it. And you are probably right about him on offense. But every time I see him with a block or steal, I see some decent anticipation. And I don't notice him getting burned on defense very often trying to get those stats either. Last night I did not see someone out of control.

 

Why do some SL teams have 5 games, and the Blazers only 4? Is that something each team negotiates.

 

every team will play 5 in vegas.

some teams have played in other summer leagues in SF and SLC.

 

Walker's dad was a good rotation player in the NBA. I think that's where he gets his BBIQ from.