Summer League 2025

Shem · Post #141 » by **Shem** » Wed Jul 16, 2025 8:43 am

zzaj wrote:Seriously, WTF is the holdup with the Blazer games. Literally every game has been 40-55 minutes late. The GS/Griz game was scheduled to start AFTER the Blazer game and yet it's going on before the Blazer game. Is it really because they are trying to get as many Chinese viewers as possible?

Because the previous scheduled game hasn't completed yet and the Blazers are scheduled to play in that gym.

Shem · Post #142 » by **Shem** » Wed Jul 16, 2025 8:44 am

Watch on YouTube

Post #143 » by **mojomarc** » Wed Jul 16, 2025 4:14 pm

zzaj wrote:Yang has some bad rebound habits. Any high school basketball coach will tell you, "...when a shot goes up, make a decision: find a body to block out, go get the ball, or leak out." Right now Yang finds a body if there's one near and that's it. He never pursues the ball, and of course at his size and speed he's never going to leak. He needs to learn to pursue...

I'm not sure it's a habit so much as what he's being asked to do. We'll see, of course. But my feel is that the Blazers feel he should be able to grab boards himself but want to see how he can box out against potentially stronger players. I mean after all--he was a 10 rpg player in the CBA, so it seems like this has to be by design, right?

zzaj · Post #144 » by **zzaj** » Wed Jul 16, 2025 4:32 pm

mojomarc wrote:
zzaj wrote:Yang has some bad rebound habits. Any high school basketball coach will tell you, "...when a shot goes up, make a decision: find a body to block out, go get the ball, or leak out." Right now Yang finds a body if there's one near and that's it. He never pursues the ball, and of course at his size and speed he's never going to leak. He needs to learn to pursue...

I'm not sure it's a habit so much as what he's being asked to do. We'll see, of course. But my feel is that the Blazers feel he should be able to grab boards himself but want to see how he can box out against potentially stronger players. I mean after all--he was a 10 rpg player in the CBA, so it seems like this has to be by design, right?

It's more than just finding a body though. He did the same thing in the CBA, (based on what video I've watched)...he's definitely not pursuing the ball on rebounds. It's an effort thing. He's certainly not the strongest kid in the gym yet, but at 7'1" and 250, just by positioning alone he should be able to be getting more boards. It'll get better...

dckingsfan · Post #145 » by **dckingsfan** » Wed Jul 16, 2025 4:53 pm

zzaj wrote:Rupert with another game, the type of game that should be the norm for him now in SL against this type of competition.

Yep, I thought Rupert has done well so far in this summer league. He is positioning himself as the 5th wing. He just seems to be playing better than last year (opinions, eye test and summer league doesn't always make for the best indicators though - LOL).

Cissoko and Love - not so much.

I also liked Yang's play again - against what I thought was going to be a sure bust. He does have a long way to go - but he has a pathway.

Overall, summer league with a successful Yang and Rupert is a win (for me anyway).

zzaj · Post #146 » by **zzaj** » Wed Jul 16, 2025 5:34 pm

dckingsfan wrote:
zzaj wrote:Rupert with another game, the type of game that should be the norm for him now in SL against this type of competition.

Yep, I thought Rupert has done well so far in this summer league. He is positioning himself as the 5th wing. He just seems to be playing better than last year (opinions, eye test and summer league doesn't always make for the best indicators though - LOL).

Cissoko and Love - not so much.

I also liked Yang's play again - against what I thought was going to be a sure bust. He does have a long way to go - but he has a pathway.

Overall, summer league with a successful Yang and Rupert is a win (for me anyway).

I'm not sure Rupert is a longterm NBA player. I can point to possible improved shooting and slight improvement of feel in 3 years of full time NBA development, and that's about it. By all accounts he's one of the hardest working Blazers, which in this case might be a bit of a red flag given his lack of development. He seems to lack any kind of urgency in his play, and his motor makes Sharpe look like he's got an 8-liter W16 under the hood.

I find it doubtful that he'll get a guaranteed contract after this coming season when he becomes a RFA.

dckingsfan · Post #147 » by **dckingsfan** » Wed Jul 16, 2025 5:45 pm

zzaj wrote:
dckingsfan wrote:
zzaj wrote:Rupert with another game, the type of game that should be the norm for him now in SL against this type of competition.

Yep, I thought Rupert has done well so far in this summer league. He is positioning himself as the 5th wing. He just seems to be playing better than last year (opinions, eye test and summer league doesn't always make for the best indicators though - LOL).

Cissoko and Love - not so much.

I also liked Yang's play again - against what I thought was going to be a sure bust. He does have a long way to go - but he has a pathway.

Overall, summer league with a successful Yang and Rupert is a win (for me anyway).

I'm not sure Rupert is a longterm NBA player. I can point to possible improved shooting and slight improvement of feel in 3 years of full time NBA development, and that's about it. By all accounts he's one of the hardest working Blazers, which in this case might be a bit of a red flag given his lack of development. He seems to lack any kind of urgency in his play, and his motor makes Sharpe look like he's got an 8-liter W16 under the hood.

I find it doubtful that he'll get a guaranteed contract after this coming season when he becomes a RFA.

I feel you. However, for this upcoming season - I am happy with what he has shown. This is the year for him - going to be interesting.

zzaj · Post #148 » by **zzaj** » Wed Jul 16, 2025 7:25 pm

dckingsfan wrote:
zzaj wrote:
dckingsfan wrote:Yep, I thought Rupert has done well so far in this summer league. He is positioning himself as the 5th wing. He just seems to be playing better than last year (opinions, eye test and summer league doesn't always make for the best indicators though - LOL).

Cissoko and Love - not so much.

I also liked Yang's play again - against what I thought was going to be a sure bust. He does have a long way to go - but he has a pathway.

Overall, summer league with a successful Yang and Rupert is a win (for me anyway).

I'm not sure Rupert is a longterm NBA player. I can point to possible improved shooting and slight improvement of feel in 3 years of full time NBA development, and that's about it. By all accounts he's one of the hardest working Blazers, which in this case might be a bit of a red flag given his lack of development. He seems to lack any kind of urgency in his play, and his motor makes Sharpe look like he's got an 8-liter W16 under the hood.

I find it doubtful that he'll get a guaranteed contract after this coming season when he becomes a RFA.

I feel you. However, for this upcoming season - I am happy with what he has shown. This is the year for him - going to be interesting.

Barring injury, I just don't see where he'll play...he's a SG/SF type and ostensibly he has Sharpe, Jrue, and Matisse ahead of him in the rotation at a guard spot, plus Matisse, Grant, Camara, and Murray ahead of him at the SF spot. My guess is like last year, we'll not see much of him at all...

oldfishermen · Post #149 » by **oldfishermen** » Wed Jul 16, 2025 7:43 pm

zzaj wrote:
dckingsfan wrote:
zzaj wrote:I'm not sure Rupert is a longterm NBA player. I can point to possible improved shooting and slight improvement of feel in 3 years of full time NBA development, and that's about it. By all accounts he's one of the hardest working Blazers, which in this case might be a bit of a red flag given his lack of development. He seems to lack any kind of urgency in his play, and his motor makes Sharpe look like he's got an 8-liter W16 under the hood.

I find it doubtful that he'll get a guaranteed contract after this coming season when he becomes a RFA.

I feel you. However, for this upcoming season - I am happy with what he has shown. This is the year for him - going to be interesting.

Barring injury, I just don't see where he'll play...he's a SG/SF type and ostensibly he has Sharpe, Jrue, and Matisse ahead of him in the rotation at a guard spot, plus Matisse, Grant, Camara, and Murray ahead of him at the SF spot. My guess is like last year, we'll not see much of him at all...

Agree 95%. Minor tweak. I have given up on Murray. He is not fixable. Give Murray's minutes to Rupert this season.
.

zzaj · Post #150 » by **zzaj** » Wed Jul 16, 2025 7:45 pm

oldfishermen wrote:
zzaj wrote:
dckingsfan wrote:I feel you. However, for this upcoming season - I am happy with what he has shown. This is the year for him - going to be interesting.

Barring injury, I just don't see where he'll play...he's a SG/SF type and ostensibly he has Sharpe, Jrue, and Matisse ahead of him in the rotation at a guard spot, plus Matisse, Grant, Camara, and Murray ahead of him at the SF spot. My guess is like last year, we'll not see much of him at all...

Agree 95%. Minor tweak. I have given up on Murray. He is not fixable. Give Murray's minutes to Rupert this season.
.

Don't really disagree...I don't think Murray is really an NBA player...but even still if they play Matisse, Grant, Camara and even some Deni at the SF position, then there are no real SF minutes for Rupert.

dckingsfan · Post #151 » by **dckingsfan** » Wed Jul 16, 2025 8:25 pm

zzaj wrote:
oldfishermen wrote:
zzaj wrote:Barring injury, I just don't see where he'll play...he's a SG/SF type and ostensibly he has Sharpe, Jrue, and Matisse ahead of him in the rotation at a guard spot, plus Matisse, Grant, Camara, and Murray ahead of him at the SF spot. My guess is like last year, we'll not see much of him at all...

Agree 95%. Minor tweak. I have given up on Murray. He is not fixable. Give Murray's minutes to Rupert this season.

Don't really disagree...I don't think Murray is really an NBA player...but even still if they play Matisse, Grant, Camara and even some Deni at the SF position, then there are no real SF minutes for Rupert.

Grant, Camara, Deni, Sharpe, Thybulle for your regular 5 man wing rotation. Reminder, there will be injuries and I think this is where he fits.

So, not part of the "normal" rotation but part of the rotation when any of those 5 goes down. And he will get more minutes in this rotation based upon his defense and motor (step it up Rupert!).

Fully concur on Murray and now on Cissoko.

zzaj · Post #152 » by **zzaj** » Wed Jul 16, 2025 10:45 pm

Nique Clifford with 19/7/9...even at 23, I'd still rather be watching him in a Blazer uniform than Love, Bouknight, Cissoko or any other guard on the roster. Bummer that the Blazers were content to just trade back to 16 and call it a day. I feel like there were picks in the 20s there for the taking.

HoopsFanAZ · Post #153 » by **HoopsFanAZ** » Thu Jul 17, 2025 8:43 pm

Rupert should have time. He was at least 2 years away (from 2 more) but is worth keeping for his archetype — size, length, athleticism, D, and work ethic. Matisse is one and done if not before. There will be cheaper bench guys who bring a different package including shooting. Murray — I like his work — but he needs a trade to the Kings where he can work with his brother.

Butter · Post #154 » by **Butter** » Fri Jul 18, 2025 1:58 am

Hansen looks kind of disinterested in the first half

zzaj · Post #155 » by **zzaj** » Fri Jul 18, 2025 2:08 am

Butter wrote:Hansen looks kind of disinterested in the first half

Some productive minutes with 6/7/5/3, but yeah, looks a step slow tonight.

zzaj · Post #156 » by **zzaj** » Fri Jul 18, 2025 6:25 pm

For those who are following...did the Blazers make the SL tournament thing? Going 3-1 with the highest point diff. in that group would put them at 7th.

DusterBuster · Post #157 » by **DusterBuster** » Fri Jul 18, 2025 7:57 pm

zzaj wrote:For those who are following...did the Blazers make the SL tournament thing? Going 3-1 with the highest point diff. in that group would put them at 7th.

They did not. Tonights the final game of SL for the Blazers.

dckingsfan · Post #158 » by **dckingsfan** » Fri Jul 18, 2025 10:54 pm

zzaj wrote:
Butter wrote:Hansen looks kind of disinterested in the first half

Some productive minutes with 6/7/5/3, but yeah, looks a step slow tonight.

He is probably a bit tired and sore, just a guess.

zzaj · Post #159 » by **zzaj** » Yesterday 12:06 am

DusterBuster wrote:
zzaj wrote:For those who are following...did the Blazers make the SL tournament thing? Going 3-1 with the highest point diff. in that group would put them at 7th.

They did not. Tonights the final game of SL for the Blazers.

You mean Saturday?

DusterBuster · Post #160 » by **DusterBuster** » Yesterday 12:32 am

zzaj wrote:
DusterBuster wrote:
zzaj wrote:For those who are following...did the Blazers make the SL tournament thing? Going 3-1 with the highest point diff. in that group would put them at 7th.

They did not. Tonights the final game of SL for the Blazers.

You mean Saturday?

Yeah prob, I might have that wrong.