Game Thread SUMMER LEAGUE GAME# 2 - BLAZERS VS HAWKS - JULY 8, 2018 - SUNDAY, 2:30 PM PDT, ESPN2

[DaLong]

A little? More like he moved in, put down a security deposit and signed a 12 month lease.



Plus 4 or 5 more the score keeper missed. I wonder of he only sees the same game feed as us - others talking over the broadcast AND TAKING UP HALF THE SCREEN, disorienting overhead and trailing camera angles, etc.

BNM

I legit stopped watching at the end of the 2nd quarter for every reason you listed. It was a terrible broadcast.

 

[DDolla]

We are going to win the whole thing... I want that summer league trophy in Portland. Another great game by Wade and like I said yesterday, Jake should be dominating this game. Not bad for Simons and Trent Jr.

 

[The Professional Fan]

Seriously what if Layman pops? I love watching this guy for some reason. I’ve always thought his stroke was pretty and his athleticism is undeniable. I need him to be a contributor because if he earns the minutes he’s doing something really special

 

[Wizard Mentor]

Fun Stat:
Collins had 5 blocks in 20 minutes. That's NINE blocks/36, wow!

 

[julius]

Swanigan plays like he thinks he’s a lot better than he actually is. One constant with him is I don’t see how he’ll EVER score in the post in the NBA. He’s undersized with no explosion.

To me, he plays like a kid who was the best player on his middle school team, only because his middle school team was crap. And he thinks because he was a big fish in a tiny pond, he'll be a big fish in an ocean. That's not a fat joke, it's a joke about how game makes it look like his ego is out of check with reality.

Hard work is great, and he should be commended for keeping the weight off, but what now? He's not quick, he's not agile, and he's not athletic. At least Zach Randolph was quick and tricky. The only thing Caleb has going for him is that he runs into his own teammates getting rebounds.

 

[The Professional Fan]

Simons is the new Natural. He’s so damn smooth. He’s going to be really damn good

 

[KingSpeed]

To me, he plays like a kid who was the best player on his middle school team, only because his middle school team was crap. And he thinks because he was a big fish in a tiny pond, he'll be a big fish in an ocean. That's not a fat joke, it's a joke about how game makes it look like his ego is out of check with reality.

Hard work is great, and he should be commended for keeping the weight off, but what now? He's not quick, he's not agile, and he's not athletic. At least Zach Randolph was quick and tricky. The only thing Caleb has going for him is that he runs into his own teammates getting rebounds.

he's also a good passer

 

[The Professional Fan]

Layman....”if we don’t win the whole thing it will be bad for us”

Hell yeah. Love him. GIVE ME GOOD LAYMAN PLEASE

 

[Boob-No-More]

We are going to win the whole thing... I want that summer league trophy in Portland. Another great game by Wade and like I said yesterday, Jake should be dominating this game. Not bad for Simons and Trent Jr.

Let's start planning the parade route. Seriously, with GSW all but guaranteed the next 3 or 4 championships, we should thumb our nose at the noncompetitive nature of the NBA and celebrate our hard earned summer league success.

Of course the national media would mock us as soccer moms, but fuck them. The joke would be on them. They just wound't realize it.

BNM

 

[Rastapopoulos]

To me, he plays like a kid who was the best player on his middle school team, only because his middle school team was crap.

He was also best player on the second best SL team last year...

He might be like my fave Boban Marjanovic: only useful when he's the centerpiece, and he can only be the centerpiece of a non-NBA team.

There still might be a place for him as a stretch 5 in some lineups. Sort of like a 50-year old Draymond.

 

[Driew]

Let's start planning the parade route. Seriously, with GSW all but guaranteed the next 3 or 4 championships, we should thumb our nose at the noncompetitive nature of the NBA and celebrate our hard earned summer league success.

Of course the national media would mock us as soccer moms, but fuck them. The joke would be on them. They just wound't realize it.

BNM

That'd be hilarious haha

 

[Boob-No-More]

That'd be hilarious haha

The ultimate inside joke. Everyone in Portland would get it. The national media wouldn't. They'd be laughing at us laughing at them.

BNM

 

[Wizard Mentor]

To me, he plays like a kid who was the best player on his middle school team, only because his middle school team was crap. And he thinks because he was a big fish in a tiny pond, he'll be a big fish in an ocean. That's not a fat joke, it's a joke about how game makes it look like his ego is out of check with reality.

Hard work is great, and he should be commended for keeping the weight off, but what now? He's not quick, he's not agile, and he's not athletic. At least Zach Randolph was quick and tricky. The only thing Caleb has going for him is that he runs into his own teammates getting rebounds.

He's gotten 20 rebounds in 2 games. He's kicking the ass of players who are quick and agile. I haven't gotten the impression that he is full of himself, at all.

But yes, he has things to work on.

 

[James lamphear]

Well right now I believe olshey should be looking to find a 4 or 5 before the season start this coming season. Right now I trust only Nurk Collins Aminu to play those minutes. You got Leonard but how many minutes you going to trust him. Swanigan just don't show me right now to earn regular minutes. I guess Harkless could move over for spot minutes.

 

[1eyejack]

Layman - if he can only start to shoot like he has so far on a consistent basis. It all looks good but now the shot is starting to fall. Maybe....finally?
Baldwin - this game may be more impressive than when he went off in Game 1. Almost a triple double with 10 assists and only 1 turnover. Very good! And defensively....did it look like he got in Trae's head a little?
Collins - looks a little better and is rejecting shots at a ridiculous rate. 5 blocks in 20 minutes!
Simons - some more flashes but still looks a bit afraid to go in among the tall timbers. Could use to get an assist sooner than later.
Trent - off day but I like his confidence.
Swanigan - love the hustle but outside of eating up rebounds, I don't see NBA level skill on offense or defense. Such heart

Layman - if he can only start to shoot like he has so far on a consistent basis. It all looks good but now the shot is starting to fall. Maybe....finally?
Baldwin - this game may be more impressive than when he went off in Game 1. Almost a triple double with 10 assists and only 1 turnover. Very good! And defensively....did it look like he got in Trae's head a little?
Collins - looks a little better and is rejecting shots at a ridiculous rate. 5 blocks in 20 minutes!
Simons - some more flashes but still looks a bit afraid to go in among the tall timbers. Could use to get an assist sooner than later.
Trent - off day but I like his confidence.
Swanigan - love the hustle but outside of eating up rebounds, I don't see NBA level skill on offense or defense. Such heart but just so slow.

Great post

Collins does a great job on defense always in right position and great help defender. I’m ok with Swanigan’s game. He has the right instincts and is decent passer. I think his offense will eventually come along just might take another year. Same can be said for Collins. Swanigan reminds me a lot of Anthony Mason.

 

[James lamphear]

Zach thinks he be ok for next game against the Spurs.

 

[Scalma]

He's gotten 20 rebounds in 2 games. He's kicking the ass of players who are quick and agile. I haven't gotten the impression that he is full of himself, at all.

But yes, he has things to work on.

I don’t think he’s full of himself, but he plays outside his limitations. He even struggled to score inside in the g league. It’s a real concern, but I haven’t seen much improvement so far. He’s still attacking guys like it was college.

 

[julius]

He's gotten 20 rebounds in 2 games. He's kicking the ass of players who are quick and agile. I haven't gotten the impression that he is full of himself, at all.

But yes, he has things to work on.

No, his GAME is. He tries to do more than he should. He's not a PG or a G. Pass to a guard.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

Before SL, I was cautiously optimistic. Now, I'm pretty excited about Layman and our 4 rookies.

Yes, I consider Swanigan and Collins rookies - Neil used the term "red shirt year," and appropriately so.

 

[CupWizier]

So? There's 4 other players on the court contributing to that number.

I'm not a big fan of the plus minus stat like some seem to think of it as almost an end all stat but it does have some value and I realize it's really not an individual stat but how do you attribute his plus minus being double of anyone else?

 

[BonesJones]

I'm not a big fan of the plus minus stat like some seem to think of it as almost an end all stat but it does have some value and I realize it's really not an individual stat but how do you attribute his plus minus being double of anyone else?

The other 4 played well when they were on the court with him.

 

[BonesJones]

Well right now I believe olshey should be looking to find a 4 or 5 before the season start this coming season. Right now I trust only Nurk Collins Aminu to play those minutes. You got Leonard but how many minutes you going to trust him. Swanigan just don't show me right now to earn regular minutes. I guess Harkless could move over for spot minutes.

Luc Mbah A Moute is who I'd go after at this point.

 

[CupWizier]

The other 4 played well when they were on the court with him.

ok, but why double the difference? Swanigan was +33 and the next was +17. It seems the others would have been much closer.

 

[BonesJones]

ok, but why double the difference? Swanigan was +33 and the next was +17. It seems the others would have been much closer.

Because guys shot well with him on the floor? I dunno, but +/- isn't always a product of a players level of play.

 

[Natebishop3]

The Hawks didn't really have a decent big. It's not surprising that Swanigan was able to gobble up so many boards. I also feel like he was taking some of them away from teammates who already had the ball.

edit - I forgot about John Collins.

 

[DDolla]

Meyers Leonard should thank PapaG as his job is now secured

 

[theprunetang]

Meyers Leonard should thank PapaG as his job is now secured

PapaG gets a gift bag of Meyers Leonard Brand apparel before having to pack his bags. Talk about adding insult to injury.

 

[riverman]

We've all been saying that for 3 years now...

He's only been here two years

 

[Natebishop3]

He's only been here two years

3 summer leagues.

 

[James lamphear]

Luc Mbah A Moute is who I'd go after at this point.

That would be nice up grade at the 4 coming off the bench. Zach can move be the back up to Nurk.