ClutchFans Game Thread: Rockets @ Cavaliers Summer League 7/8/17

Yup, Zhou is an NBA rotation player this season. One that is atrocious defensively for now, but an NBA rotation player nonetheless.

 

He should spend half of the season in the D-League, before making his NBA debut. I think he has some defensive potential, since he has
shown he can come up with a blocked shot.

 

He needs to add a little muscle
Saw him getting boxed out too easily

 

Cavs were a tad more coordinated and better this game.

 

this. i'm not trying to over-hype this guy, but the way he plays defense, his aggressive, physical instincts ...you don't see that out of foreign players very often. When he bulks up, he's gonna be legit. I saw him guard a point guard; staying with him all the way to the hoop and the kid had no chance of making that shot. He moves his legs very quickly for his size; good lateral quickness. Very active with his long arms.

On his shooting ...who cares. He's got an excellent stroke; the buckets will come.

Get this kid in the gym with Dream and Clyde. There's a lot to work with here.

 

I think he can block 2 shots a game in limited minutes and still be one of the worst overall defenders in the NBA. That's what I expect him to be in his first season. Certainly he'll spend a good chunk of time in the D-League continuing to work on repetition and strength/fitness. I don't think it will be nearly as much as half the season though. I think they will treat him like a 10-15th pick in the draft with 4 years of college bball experience.

However, I think they will play him because he already has a smart offensive game and to be a good bench player you really only need to be good at one thing. He has an excellent offensive IQ if that makes sense - he moves the ball, moves himself, and can hit an open shot from anywhere unless guarded closely by an athletic big. I don't think teams can afford to cover Qi that closely next season. That's the kind of skill that translates through various levels of competition.

Super early prediction, but I can see it now. The marketing side will make the decision easy as they know a succesful Qi could mean a lot more money to spend on luxury tax.

 

will he be what yi jianlian was touted to be?

 

I've seen enough.

Blow it up.

 

Are you upset with an argument we have had in the past? The name looks familiar.
I was simply asking because I don't know the specifics, and the first time my question wasn't answered directly. I was just trying to see what our roster is and what options we have. Obsessed? There is definitely more behind your response.

 

And a lot to work with.... I never understood why Dwight was work with Dream.... Dwight was a clumsy knucklehead and there was nothin that Dream could teach him that he could do.... Capela on the other hand had great feet and could actually use the tutoring Dream had to offer.... same with this kid.... John and Dream could really make something nice outta this kid....

 

Sometimes his 3 point release looks slow to me, at other times it looks okay. A shooting coach eg Sam Perkins could help him a lot, and probably help Ryan Anderson to regain confidence too.

 

Eh, rockets still haven't signed him... sooo he is off the team for now... I don't think he deserves a spot on the team, he isn't good. But I guess. GM harden runs the show.

 

Houston has a fine tradition of great big men

Rocket River

 

Reading some of the criticisms here of Chinanu were pretty rough:

http://basketball.realgm.com/dleague/teams/Rio-Grande-Valley-Vipers/14/Rosters/2015
NBA.com (game tracker)

RGV Vipers
.................................gms.......mins........pts.........FG%..........FT%.........TRB.........ast.......stl......blk.......
Capela (14/15):.........32.........24.5.......16.05......60.0..........59.6..........9.68.......0.76.....0.74....2.97...(Rookie)
...................................................................(6.68---11.13 FGA).............................................................

Chinanu (16/17)........43.........28.0.......13.63.......62.8..........73.2.........10.63.....2.14.....1.19....1.58....(Rookie)
...................................................................(5.49---8.74 FGA)...............................................................

So yes the blocks per game are not up there with Capela in his 1st year.....but the numbers are not bad
compared to 1st year as a pro while playing for the Vipers.

Capela 1st real year sharing time w/D12:
(15/16).....77gms.....19.1 mins....7.0 pts.....37.9 FT%....6.4 TRB....0.6 ast.....0.8 stl.....1.2 blk...............
I wouldn't expect too much more from Chinanu this year if called up for 18 mins/game. Well better FT%

Chinanu Summer league numbers:
...........gms......TS%......eFG%....TRB......ast%...TOV%.......stl%.......blk%.......USG%....ORtg......DRtg....PER...
(16/17): 5........44.4.......43.8......12.80.....5.73......43.51.......2.78.......3.90.......11.73........63.3.......95.1.....5.33...
(17/18): 2........54.2.......54.2......18.00....15.45.....26.53.......5.65.......5.31.......19.23........90.8.......87.8...21.55...

So I see improvement from young Chinanu. Capela didn't look so good last year to start the season with the Rockets.
Chinanu will probably never be a great shoot blocker or rotate swiftly defensively....but let's see him with Harden
and CP3. I know CP3 will lob the ball where he needs to be. He will definitely learn t get his hands up or
get tagged in the face. CP3 more than likely won't dribble pass the ball to Chinanu shins like yesterday.
Either Harden or CP3 will be on the court at any one time. Neither will let Chinanu try to create on the box
like Isaiah Taylor allowed Chinanu to try to experiment yesterday. That TOV% will not be allowed....trust me.

Bigs rarely ok good in summer league. Paint is normally packed and fouls are endless.

 

Dwight had Ewing, Jabbar, Hakeem...all 3 greats had nothing good to say about him. They said he didn't want it.

 

That's just some bull **** a chick named @swyyyguy made up because his boy Lin got dumped like garbage to the lakers

 

This difference was that Clint although numbers didn't suggest it be he immediately passed the eye ball test..... his misses (something like 15 straight) were just bad results. His movements were well beyond someone with his experience.... and footwork,timing and subtle movements were on a savant level.

Believe me I wanna see something good to great from nanu but I just can't spot it... well other than his outlets which are really good...

And yes I agree he'll look good with Harden and Paul but I mean who wouldn't right

 

What you are saying is true. No one will confuse Chinanu as an above the rim gazell out there.
But neither is Nene. Right now the experience of Nene gets him in better position and he has a sense
of where to be.

CP3 will put the ball between his eyes if he doesn't get his hands up. I was a former PG and I know Bigs don't
like to bend or receive basketballs at their knees/lower. Harden makes better passes than Isaiah Taylor as most
attention is on Harden or those good perimeter shooters (Ariza/Ryno/Gordon/Tucker).

CP3 will make even better passes. CP3 will yell at him to expect the ball inches away from the rim.....and deliver.
The ball will melt into his (Chinanu)hands from the CP3 lobs. Chinanu has the girth that interior defenses have
to respect ........try to stay between Chinanu and the rim. Once he is going straight line from setting a pick
near the 3-point line or FT line......they need to respect he can dunk it home. Don't get me started on the screens
Houston sets. Capela rarely makes contact; he feigns like he will set a screen then darts towards the rim.
Nene will set a screen. Now the Warriors set moving screens to force switches. Houston not so much.
If you have a Rockets game taped; watch Capela setting a screen.

Not every player is created equal. Every Center is not thin like Nerlens Noel or Capela. And not every Center
is built like Moses Malone with good footwork. In the Summer league I'm watching opponents post up
Nanu. In two games they haven't been able. Edy Tavares tried; but couldn't. Then Shawn Long came in
and the Cavs got to the rim easily.....Edy was able to post hm up. I've got Capela to soar above he rim.
Chinanu to bodybup vs big bruisers. And Nene somewhere in the middle who can do some of both.
Until Morey brings us someone else.....money is an issue.

Capela not only missed a string of FT's to start the season last year(2016/17 53.1%); but he missed a string of FT's
in the (2014/15) season. Capela was brought up at the end of the year from the Vipers where he played in 12 games.
Capela shot 4 out of 23 FTA for 17.4% FT%. Capela was allowed to play in the playoffs where he shot
15 out of 29 FTA for 51.7% FT%. McHail was asked how did he know Capela would come thru at
the FT line? Morey said Capela shot poorly with us; but he shot nearly 60% from the line with the Vipers.

Capela was a rookie then......my point is Chinanu was a rookie last year. People are treating him like a 5 year
vet for some reason. Rockets were in playoff contention/aspirations that year as well. There will
be sub 500 teams that Nene will need a break.....and Chinanu can fill in for him. The greatness
of those around Chinanu can cover the flaws that he has......for the most part. Same thing
GSW's did with McCaw & Looney last season.

Edited: Let me add that work with John Lucas/Roy Rogers/Bzdelik/D'Antoni helped Capela develop
perhaps quicker than usual as well. The D'Antoni system tends to inflat players offensive numbers.
Just ask Gordon and Ryan Anderson on that. Open spaces baby!!