Author: Josh Gutbrod

NBA

Keita Bates-Diop was out to prove he was slighted when he fell to the second-round of the NBA Draft. Ohio State’s fearless leader was one of the best players in all of college basketball in 2017. That said, the former Buckeye fell to the 48th pick in the Draft. Some of it likely had to do with the lack of consistent output in college. Bate-Diop’s sole high-level season came in 2017 after he missed all of 2016 with a stress fracture injury. The 6’9″ forward’s overall athleticism was called into question by some as well. The questions regarding athleticism led…

Read More
NBA

The Portland Trail Blazers are so committed to winning with a guard-heavy line-up that even their Summer League team operates that way. The team improved to 4-0 on the summer, led once again by Wade Baldwin IV. Rookie guards Anfernee Simons and Gary Trent Jr. have been playing huge roles in the summer success. The performances come at a great time for Portland. The team experienced some turnover with both backup guard spots this off-season. Baldwin IV, Trent Jr., and even the young Simons could all see playing time in 2018. The Wade Train Wade Baldwin IV continued his…

Read More
NBA

Georges Niang was a star at Iowa State. While he struggled to find his true position early in the NBA, he has played well this summer from the wing. Niang has been the leading scorer for the Utah Jazz across seven games between two Summer Leagues. The productive summer placed Niang as the early favorite to take the roster spot left by the waived Jonas Jerebko. That said, the 6’6″ forward took a step back on Wednesday against Orlando. Off-Night Niang’s feature skill has always been his scoring ability. He was a dominant scorer at Iowa State. That ability…

Read More
NBA

Jevon Carter’s first Summer League got off to a rough start. Carter, predominantly known for his defensive ability, was a second-round pick of the Grizzlies in this year’s NBA Draft. The two-time Defensive Player of the Year at West Virginia was viewed as a suitable backup for Mike Conley. The early excitement in Memphis was stifled by Carter’s poor start to Summer League. The impromptu nature of Summer League does not suit Carter’s one-on-one defensive prowess. On top of that, Carter was still growing offensively as a senior at WVU. He struggled to facilitate and seemed uncomfortable in certain sets.…

Read More
NBA

OG Anunoby was a pleasant surprise for the Toronto Raptors in 2017. It was not that the team questioned the potential of the 6’8″ wing. The team selected him with the 23rd overall pick, a clear indication the front office and staff viewed him as a talented piece. The surprise was how quickly the young swingman began contributing at an NBA level. Anunoby played particularly well in the postseason, where he started 10-of-10 games and saw his stats and shooting percentages rise across the board. Elevating One’s Game The next step for Anunoby involved becoming more aggressive offensively. The Raptors…

Read More
NBA

It finally happened. The moment all of the Trae Young truthers have been waiting for. After three disappointing outings and one tantalizing but inefficient display against the Knicks, Trae Young finally went off. He lit up the Chicago Bulls and drained 7 threes on his way to 23 points. He added 5 assists and played capably on defense. To top it all off, he got the team its first win of the summer. All of that, of course, came with budding star John Collins on the bench. Splash Like Steph? The comparisons drawn between Trae Young and superstar Steph Curry…

Read More
NBA

Gary Trent Jr. was not happy about his second-round selection the 2018 NBA Draft. A one-and-done sharpshooter out of Duke, it was once thought that Trent could scratch the bottom end of the lottery. The scouting process ultimately deemed the marksman a one-trick pony, which led to the gradual drop all the way out of the first round. Of course, that sort of rude awakening can serve as a wonderful wake-up call for a young NBA player. Making a Statement There was never a question regarding Gary Trent Jr.’s shooting touch. The well-traveled rookie set the Duke freshman record…

Read More
NBA

Jimmy Butler may want out, but Minnesota seems to have a pair of talented young defenders on the rise. 2018 Draft selections Keita Bates-Diop and Josh Okogie have shined on defense throughout the Summer League. While obviously neither player is as talented as Butler, the new arrivals certainly bring a ray of hope for Timberwolves fans. On top of that, more hardworking and defensively oriented players might help Butler feel more at home. Perimeter Shutdown Both Bates-Diop and Okogie have exceptional wingspans for their size. The defensive potential was on full display Monday against the Nets. The rookie duo…

Read More
NBA

Monte Morris has made the most of his opportunities in Vegas. Morris has been the Nuggets’ most consistent (and possibly best) performer in the Summer League thus far. The Grand Rapids, MI native only played three games in 2017, but could challenge for the backup role behind starter Jamal Murray. Veteran Devin Harris, the only other point guard on the roster, is still productive, but will be 36 in February. If Morris does not win the backup job to start this season, it will only be a matter of time until he does. Stuffing the Stat Sheet Morris led…

Read More
NBA

Trae Young and the Atlanta Hawks might be ready to just pack it up for the summer. The team’s poor showing in Summer League continued Sunday with yet another blowout loss. The opponent this time was the Portland Trail Blazers, who trounced Atlanta 85-68. Worse yet, Young left the game after the first half due to injury. The injury, an apparently minor quad contusion, actually occurred Saturday in the team’s loss to the Knicks. Young tried to give it a go but was ultimately pulled by team staff at the intermission. The rookie point guard was held scoreless on 0-2…

Read More