ClutchFans Game Thread: Pistons @ Rockets - Vegas Summer League 7/15/2024

That's fine, that's the whole point of having a deep range 3 point shooter on the team (stretching the floor.) If they want to stick to him like glue, awesome, just stand him 2 ft behind the 3pt line and watch as Jalen and Sengun tear defenses apart in the paint and create open looks for whoever's defender comes to help.

 

I mean if that’s all our goal is for him, that’s fine of course. But I see more potential…

 

As do I, but do you honestly see Lebron James? Because if not, he's going to have a period of adjustment to the league. If he only averages 15 mins a game this first season, there's a chance that he will primarily function as a spot up shooter/floor stretcher. If he forces the issue with his play to get more (which I 100% expect) then I'm sure you'll get him in the FVV role running some P&R, but I'm not expecting groundbreaking offensive production in his first year, especially with how high usage our existing guards are.

Similarly, if we come in optimistic and assume Jalen's not a bust. Which makes more sense:

Reed Sheppard tries to break down the D and collapse the defense out of the P&R/Isolation and then passes to Jalen/Bari/Tari/Brooks for the open 3?

OR

Jalen Green tries to break down the D and collapse the defense out of the P&R/Isolation and then passes to Reed/Bari/Tari/Brooks for the open 3?

I know which one makes sense to me, and like it or not, that's Reed stood waiting for the open shot.

 

That’s fair. Can’t say I disagree

 

Be honest folks - is Cam Whitmore truly a Summer League Franchise Player after this debacle?

I'm scared for what might happen the Drew League - still not sure what the Drew League is? - but I'm petrified.

 

Im not sure if Reed has the athletcism and footwork down yet to just bomb step back 3's. Plus you can't really create much off a step back when defenders glue to you at the 3 point line. The reason players like Harden can pull it off is because they are a driving threat to the basket.

I think his mid ranges are great he should keep taking them. He will get better looks from 3 when he plays with non-summer league black holes.

 

I don’t know man. I think I’ve been brainwashed by Morey Ball. He takes too many middies for my liking. But what do I know. lol

 

Cam really didn't look like he was into this game. Reed also will need to work things out when players get more physical with him.

I was also surprised that they didn't have more plays to get Reed some catch and shoot threes, Aj Griffin too. I mean those two are good three point shooters.

 

I almost shed a tear listening to Nate. I hope he gets a shot/contract somewhere if it's not here.

 

Gotta remember that the Morey rigidity is what made us so easy for the Warriors to beat. Too predictable. Reed working with CP3 this summer is low-key huge for us, his middie game is pure, in the long run he'll feast in there when people push too close on his 3's, as athletic as he is, he's still tiny af so I'd expect a lot more of a pull up midrange and floater game than any forceful attacking of the rim, he's got hops but very little explosiveness.

 

I’m not saying follow Morey Ball rigidly. I don’t mind him mixing it up. But he only took two 3s the whole game out of 17 FGAs. Even CP3 wouldn’t go that far.

 

Following Morey ball as rigidly as we did is why our inferior team even had a chance to take on that monster of a team.

 

Sounds like a paradox that, because we never really actually seemed to have a chance. We came close for sure, and then kept jacking 3's til we missed 27 straight and became laughing stocks. In retrospect, I think we were mostly fooling ourselves that we had a shot. I've seen too many interviews with the Warriors where they weren't even stressed, because they knew Harden was gonna break down and they'd win anyway. We saw ourselves as contenders, they never did (whereas they 100% saw Bron as a contender wherever he went, and whoever he played with.)

 

LOL

 

This was a good experience for Reed. He will learn from it. Cam needs to play more off ball so he can get more 3 point shooting opportunities.

 

Things to work on...

- The ball doesn't find him. He's often on the wrong side of the ball and that's something he can fix. It's not because of the summer league offense. This will happen in the NBA too.
- Didn't sprint out on the break and often trails it. If the ball handler can't see you... the ball won't find you.
- No control over the flow of the last game. He was out there during the 16-0 run and as the primary scorer, and the primary point. Has to control runs. This is part of finding the ball and learning how to become a point guard.
- Does have quick hands, foot work, and anticipation, but does Caitlyn Clark it on defense too. Needs more resistance.

All said, he looks the part so far.

 

In general we have a lot of guys who are trying too hard to get theirs and all these jump stops, hops and skips where they are running into a wall basically is not going to get you anything in the NBA. Not even in these games is it working out. Surprised how many easy shots we miss and relying on athleticism and size alone is not enough. Didn't know Robinson was already 24 and a Summer League savant lol. Not sure I'd give him a shot now.

 

You completely missed the analogy. In saying Cam did a Jalen impersonation I meant he kept shooting over and over even though it was obvious he was just off last night. Amen has never kept shooting over and over like that. At some point a player needs to have the self awareness that they are just off and instead off shooting bricks over and over work to get other players good shots.

 

In the same stroke, Jalen's never remotely played like Cam did there either, you just don't like him so you're using Cam's shitty performance to try and tar Jalen undeservedly.