Orlando, Aug 9
Here are my In-Game Notes from the ORL-GSW summer league game.
START YOUR OVERREACTION ENGINES
Jonathan Kuminga
I *think* Kuminga pushed off, but that was a GROWN MAN STRENGTH PUSHOFF
Kuminga a bit quick on the trigger so far today
Coaches need to chat with Kuminga about shot selection.
Kuminga has got to lean into his elite skill which is that he can ignore all melee attacks. Not the whole chucking a three with 16 on the shot clock
The man is just not a ranged champion right now and we have to accept it. Give him time to level up that jumper
Anthony drives at Kuminga and JK just takes the ball away. Then uses his knock back ability (can displace any defender by two feet) on Wagner to get the easy layup.
We know Kuminga reverse engineered basketball from watching Kobe highlights in Internet cafes, but I think he was watching late Kobe highlights, where he dunks without touching the rim. Saves wear and tear on the hands.
Kuminga dislodges 7-1 265 Teske on that drive. I TELL YOU PHYSICAL ATTACKS DO NO DAMAGE TO KUMINGA
Kuminga with the NASTY block, then the sweeet pass to GP2 for the huge dunk throwdown and I don’t remember what happened after that
Also, even if Kuminga has no 3 ball, if his defender gives space at the arc, Kuminga should be able to bully to the basket anyway. If help rotates, he will have to find the cutter. He’s shown he can see the baseline cutter, so next read is seeing the open wing if someone sags in to stop the cutter.
Moses Moody
Moody showing some touch on that layup.
Oooooo that change of pace on the Moody drive and sly finish. What is happening? Moody not known for touch around the rim.
Also interesting, putting Moody on Suggs
I guess they told Moody to show off his drive game and it’s been way nicer than last game. Dish to the baseline cutter (probably scripted though).
Moody really has a knack for getting fouled when there isn’t a reason to foul him.
Moody guards 6-9 Hogg, switches on screen onto little Cole Anthony (legit NBA player), swallows him up at the arc, goes for a fake, twists to land to avoid the cheap foul, causes brick.
I’m gonna want to see Moody finish 40 more layups in game before I start believe in that finish. But looking good this game.
I love seeing the Moody defending Suggs showdown. Suggs wants no part of it. Moody with the SWEET touch pass to Kuminga for the flush
Jeez, take Moody off Suggs for a play and Suggs nails a Curry distance 3.
Moody stopped Suggs on the counter attack Iso. Miiiight have been a foul, but by NBA standards not too bad
Suggs is interesting. He can completely smack players below a certain level. Like he can stuff Moody trying to finish. But I don’t think he scored on Moody on D.
Kyle Guy
Kyle Guy has frantic energy and is halfway to a Peter Frampton look
I have to admit Kyle Guy has got that irrational confidence thing going, and it’s really working for him. He also runs around in frantic hustle mode at all times
Kyle Guy showing some basic PNR creation??? Two mega dunks ensue
Wooooof, that was a fun ending with everyone leaning into their brand. Anthony drives, gets stripped by GP2, Guy and Moody run the 2 on 1 where Moody gets swallowed up by Suggs.
Kyle Guy looked pretty good as a weak side shooter and general hustle pest. Then coaches made Guy run PNR against the second unit. Looked good. Then coaches upgraded Guy to the closing unit to see if he could create. Nah. Couldn’t create, ended up taking super long bombs, or getting his layups stuffed. So… Guy looks like he could be a good role player, but the coaches kept upgrading him until he hit his ceiling and it looked ugly. [On this being the Peter Principle.] EXACTLY. And that’s what Summer League is for, so I thought that was great to give Guy the chances
Justinian Jessup
Looked like Jessup is freaking out at any run out at him, the speed… his confidence looks shaken. Can he recover if he sees a couple go in?
Jessup hit a shot!! The flood gates… are of indeterminate status
I like that Jessup had no hesitation on that catch and shoot.
Jessup hit another shot! A step back J… confidence returning…?
Jaquori McLaughlin
Jaquori with a SWEET quick pass to the baseline cutter, who got stuffed into a shopping cart. It was Puffin Rutger Hauer who stuffed him.
Suggs having Jaquori on him and getting a screen to force Moody to switch to him… not good offense if Suggs is just going to give it up right away. It’s taken Suggs completely out of the game
Just as I was getting mad at Jaquori for not passing to Kuminga posting up Anthony, he strokes the 3, so shrug
Franz Wagner
Wagner has not looked outmatched but hasn’t been exactly exploding off the court (except for one nice back cut and dunk.)
Wagner has left every three far short this game
Gary Payton II
Suggs can’t handle GP2’s first step
100% respect for GP2’s attempt to stuff the defender through the hoop
I also like how GP2 really nails his man on screens.
Fake Rutger Hauer
Maaaan, first ORL throws Fake Nico at us, then Fake Rutger Hauer. Now they throw the real Jeff Dowtin at us?
You’ll know him when you see him. Rutger Hauer with tropical bird hair
In case you are still wondering who Tropical Fake Rutger Hauer is:
Toronto, Aug 11
I don’t think I’ll be home in time for the game start, so be sure to overreact loud to anything cool. Don't worry, it ensures JFK will dunk on Barnes and drain 3s
[on a Jessup dying quail layup] what you never saw an off-the-backboard alley oop before, calculated
I'm not sure it's confirmed, but everyone thinks McLaughlin is signed to Exhibit 10. Exhibit 10 means GSW has the option to convert contract to a Two-Way. http://www.cbafaq.com/salarycap.htm#Q83
“The expectation is this is an Exhibit 10 contract, which essentially means McLaughlin will participate in Golden State's training camp and then open the 2021-22 season in the G League with the Santa Cruz Warriors.” - NBC
you know what would improve the telecast? if they shrunk the gameplay all the way down to 5% of the screen and made the interviewee McCutchen so large you could see his forehead pores
Moody getting fouled. It's seriously a skill of his
I thought Kuminga was going to cannon that pass off the guy's head, but it had sweet touch
Really funny how Kuminga has 10% more movement speed and mana when guarding Barnes. But they got Jessup on Barnes?? The disrespect.
Moody with the great hustle and transition and a Klay-up ending. Welp, Klay improved so
Jessup seems to have recovered some of his confidence. I measure his confidence as 135 milli-Kyleguys
This is SUCH a revenge game for JFK against Barnes.
JFK has been going for a lot of highlight plays and gambling on defense. Some getting out of control and throwing the ball into traffic. So I'd be kind of mad if it was the regular season but for entertainment...
On Kuminga path of vengeance vs Scottie: Not only did Barnes get drafted above Kuminga, but the last time they played each other was in high school, when Barnes was on the insanely stacked Montverde team (Cade, Barnes and Moody!) and they thrashed Kuminga's team, but he and Barnes had a good back and forth
TOR playing a 2-3 zone. In Summer League. I think GSW did it in an earlier game. That's not right. However, I believe that was what led to Kuminga sealing the middle defender, turning and almost throwing down an S-tier dunk. They could try that manouver again
Okay, they went with the Kuminga seal, he pump fakes thrice and gets the tough shot to go, and then yells at the ref. I think you get 10 technicals in summer league before getting ejected, right
uh, maybe we were all wrong about the lack of GP2 three pointer
Any guesses on the single-game +- leaders for the game? You'd never know it from the comments...
[Guess: Kyle Guy] No, don't try to out-think the game... Guy is -18 with a couple minutes left
GP2 at +23, Jessup +16 with a minute to go
[savage dunk] hahahaha GP2 making a bit of an impression
lol Kuminga has been, for lack of a better term, f'ing around this game except when guarding or guarded by Scottie Barnes.
Willing to have GP2 on the team, but only if he tries to dunk every play
Kuminga with a Kobe-esque 18 points on 5-17 but four of the misses were better than other people's highlights
[Scottie celebrating a score] I think that was the only positive offense from Scottie with Kuminga guarding him
haha, with 4 seconds left, Kuminga picks up Barnes with intense full court pressure, it's beyond personal
[Wiseman photobombs Kuminga interview] where's the water on the head? rookie mistake
Well, I'm not sure what we learned today in that choppy game. We learned that:
Kuminga has a whole enemies-to-lovers arc beginning with Barnes. For Kuminga, pettiness is an energy. Definitely coaching staff needs to weaponize pettiness
Kuminga has S-tier dunk misses and f'ed around on defense (when not on Barnes) gambling for highlight steals like he has nothing to prove.
Moody continues to be smooth, though he needs intensive Klayup therapy
GP2 can absolutely catch a body, but I'm not sure he can generally bend a defense. GP2 with a great small sample size of three pointers.
Jessup might be recovering a little confidence. No one expects him to hit threes with tough closeouts coming, but at least make the open ones and the little midrange pullups.
JaQuori had a damned smooth move and finish
Cover Bands. You can never be the real thing, but I've heard some pretty damn good cover bands in my time and it looks like the Warriors are well on their way to putting one together.
Curry-Poole. No one will ever be Curry, but Poole emulates Curry in a lot of ways. Great handle, great finish, High FT%, 3 level scorer, off ball movement, catch & shoot threat, becoming a better team defender, good passer. The Warriors (off) ball motion offense & team defensive principles remain unchanged when moving from Curry to Poole.
Moody fits the Klay archetype. Not really athletic great team defender. Klay wasn't great on ball because of athleticism, it was because of IQ. I get the feeling Moody can get much better on ball as well. Moody has good size and length for position and appears to have a reliable 3pt shot. Again, nobody is Klay, but the system remains the same.
Kuminga is a bit more interesting. He projects as the HBarnes/KD/Wiggs Small Forward who slides to the 4 in a Death Lineup. That is if he develops his shot. Let's assume he develops into an above avg shooter in this league (and defender). Add that to his skills at the rim and he won't be KD, but in the long run, will probably rate higher than Barnes or Wiggs.
Here is the interesting part. Poole has shown leadership qualities, but he is more of the cheerleader type. Moody & Wiseman are both somewhat mild mannered. That leaves Kuminga first in line to assume Draymond's "emotional leadership" and "tough guy/tough love" role. Based on his play around the rim, and his Congo to NBA life story, he may be the guy. In addition, should Kuminga never develop a good outside shot, he has a second path in front of him and that is developing into a great passer and being that 4/small ball 5 facilitator that Dray has been. Best case scenario, he becomes a combination of both.
Let's not forget, it wasn't just the combination of skills of Steph-Klay-Dray that made them great. It was also the combination of their personalities. So I am very interested to see if one of the young guys can take that torch, that burning desire to win at all cost, from the elder statesmen.
Lastly, Wiseman. We have never had a Wiseman. But what Wiseman has the potential to be is an amalgam of all their past bigs. A little bit of Bogut, a little bit of Zaza, a little bit of West, a little bit of McGee, Looney and so on. But add to that extreme athleticism, size, length and a 3pt shot. Positionally, this is the one area where the new generation can rate higher than their predecessors. Again, the system remains, but with more options as we project to have a center that has a greater toolkit of skills.
Anywho, its a cover band I would pay to see in the future and it gives me hope that, beyond Steph-Klay-Dray, the Warriors will continue to play the Warrior's Brand of basketball, because they play the way the game is supposed to be played. Rock on!
you know what i just realized about kuminga... he’s still growing. we might end up with 2 7fters a year or two from now lol