Summer wrap-up. Trayce Jackson-Davis continues to impress, Quinones pours in 32 points, Podziemski mixes brilliance and bricks

Warriors finish a perfect Summer League 0-5

• The box score

• The master Summer League post index has links to all the game previews and reports, and the full Summer League schedule.

Micro Scouting Reports

• Trayce Jackson-Davis

  • HAVE I MENTIONED I HAVE AN IRRATIONAL GOOD FEELING ABOUT THIS GUY?

  • He already looks good enough to me to play the JaVale McGee role for a few minutes a game. Intimidate around the rim (and maybe jump a little less for blocks), fight for rebounds, keep the ball moving, Run the floor hard, roll hard after setting solid picks, catch every weird pass, dunk every lob.

  • Last game, he scrapped his way into 18 PTS, 10 REB, 2 AST, 2 STL, 2 BLK, without having any play run for him as a scorer.

  • He certainly has the potential to be more than JaVale McGee. He is a good passer, has a sense for where the open man is and can skip pass to get the ball there. I think he has big hands so he can palm the ball and physically make passes not everyone can.

  • He looks like he can roll well. He always pivots open to the roller. He can make quick decisions on the short roll.

  • He didn’t get any time as the post passer on split cuts, but he has potential to be good at that too.

• Brandin Podziemski was as advertised (except for the dud shot).

  • He had outstanding court vision. Many of his assists were highlight plays, most of his turnovers were either clever passes that players were not ready for or a lot of passes he didn’t expect NBA defenders to be able to reach (which is a nice way of saying “a bad pass”, but the intention was good).

  • Despite a non-bursty first step, he did manage to consistently get into the paint, if not all the way to the basket. Despite his shooting woes, he created advantages everywhere and usually tried to get the ball to the open man.

    • But I’d think in the NBA, teams would just let him drive and dare him to finish over a single defender. No need for help to rotate unless proven otherwise. He’ll probably have to be off-ball and only attack when the defense is broken down.

  • He mostly fought well on defense, he rotated quickly and well on defense, though he got back cut a couple of times and had a couple of blow-bys.

  • He was a consistent menace on the boards. He just has a knack for digging out the ball.

  • His bad plays and bad shooting look like Jordan Poole before he was sent to the G-League. BP needs more G-League seasoning, but there is a chance that he’ll recalibrate the shot and build on the plus aspects of his game.

• Gui Santos has a bunch of raw talent. Strong, somewhat chaotic drives to the basket. His confidence and force were effective and charismatic. Looks like he could use another year of polishing in the G-League.

• Lester Quinones

  • In his first three games showed a steady assurance that was outstanding. He steadied the team, drove to the basket well, made good passes.

  • Then the last few games his shot got a little out of alignment, and he also made more mistakes and out-of-control plays. He did show another gear to be able to grind out points and possessions when the team could not get going. (Let’s ignore Game 5.)

    • He might still make the big roster, but I would guess GSW is as likely to keep him on a two-way for another year.

    • They can use him like Ty Jerome, as an occasional backup point guard to soak up some minutes when Steph / CP3 / Cory are rested for games.

Apricot In-Game Notes

• I believe GSW rights last for 1 year after Gui’s last non-NBA pro contract ends, and it keeps refreshing. So as long as he keeps signing with G-League or Brazilian teams or others, GSW will retain the exclusive NBA negotiation rights.

• That ESPN chose this battle between 0-4 teams to broadcast, it tells you something about Warriors team popularity and the unimportance of wins... In pregame, Podz talks about people calling him a bust after 5 summer league games and gives a shrug. R Jeff follows by saying those people aren't very smart.

• HEY GRADEY DICK IS PLAYING. Expected maturity of comment section plummeting

• European sensation Michael Jantunen in for Gui (get healthy, big guy) to start.

  Also, Yuri Collins starting instead of Davis. Probably a sign that they are going to give more playing time to the non-draftees today. [Note: this was completely incorrect. They played the Big 3 plenty and DNPed Jayce Johnson, Kunkel, Kalscheur and Seiko.]

• Decent defensive switch by Podz on the split cut.

• TJD intimidates a shot, I think he blocks it, but putback by TOR

• Trayce affects another drive, I think by smacking the guy in the chest, no call. Now TJD with a steal of an entry, then good catch and layup from Collins.

• Then TJD gets the ball in transition with a small guarding him, right in front of the basket, instead opts for a fancy no look sideways pass to Collins in the corner. That's absolutely the pro Warriors way, giving up the simple play for a fancy play for the role player for a likely turnover. Against all odds, Collins dishes to Jantunen who cans ANOTHER 3. Saric Smarich, who needs him with Finland in the house?

• Doesn't feel like this could be a factor, but LQ is playing like someone who is fatigued

• haha RJeff praising Podz for not fouling on the drive, as Podz half bear hugs the driver on replay. Than TJD with a sweet block. However, Podz is too committed to The Warriors Way, which means if someone gets a huge block, you have to try to force feed them on the other end. Podz tries too hard to get it to TJD, turnover.

• The Yuri Collins - TJD connection is real. This time for a huge alley-oop. Lots of passing between those guys. Gradey scores again, he's at 13 but feels like 50

• TJD with some good intimidation at the rim, driver runs away, but then on OREB, TJD skies for the block... and it's a pump fake, easy layup. I think TJD will have to work on this overactive jumping for blocks.

• TJD with an excellent catch of an errant pass, then falling out of bounds whips it to the corner for a 3. Wow.

• Interesting little play Q2.7.00. Podz with TJD improvise a wing PNR. But Podz with a spin move on the drive, right into where TJD rightfully was rolling. With some time they can get better chemistry on that PNR.

• Then Podz with EXCELLENT interior passes for two layups. The vision is outstanding. Still feeling out what kind of passes he can get away with at NBA defender speeds.

• PODZ HIT A FLOATER (confetti)

• Coach Mahlalela, recently departed from GSW, is on the bench assistant coaching TOR's team. (Jama is from Toronto.)

• Mark Jones crediting Coach Jacob Rubin for designing defense against Ja Morant in playoffs. Haven't heard that before.

• My guess is that the big three (TJD, Podz, LQ) will start Q3 and then will be done for the summer. Not just common sense, but from the sub pattern, a few players not getting time in the first half that I think usually get cycled in... [Note: again, this was completely wrong.]

• Q2.0.40. LQ starts isoing out of the corner. TJD quietly drifts out from under the basket out to the elbow to pull his defender out, to give LQ a driving lane. Good solid positioning. Of course, an NBA defender won't follow TJD to the elbow, but good thinking anyway

• [How does Moses Brown look?] I haven't noticed him at all... too busy watching Dubs...

• TJD skies for a high OREB.

• TOR Small had Jantunen isoed on the perimeter. Gradey steps up with a screen -- WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT? Now the small gets switched onto LQ, just what GSW would prefer.

• Okay, I have to miss the rest of the game and watch it on replay. Be sure to note any especially cool plays here. Quick update: my irrational good feeling about TJD has only grown. That is all.

• Q.9.30. TJD with a nice OREB and drop off pass on the contest.

• Then BP got elbowed in the head trying to box out Moses Brown.

• TJD setting a screen for Podz, then the downscreen for LQ. LQ does not quite deliver the alley oop and then TOR comes down with the alley oop for... GRADEY??

• TJD with a really nice bank shot layup, adjusting around the contest.

• Podz tries to take a charge on a big guy in transition.

• LQ and TJD combine on a block.

• Q3.6.41. LQ I think destablized the ball and moments later the dribbler drops it... BP goes sliding across the floor to save that.

• Pretty mature play from TJD. Rejects the handoff, flows into a dribble handoff with his best bud Collins, gets switched onto a small Nowell. Collins lobs it in for decent TJD chance. Podz misses the bunny layup.

• Q3.2.20. Good bench celebration reflexes from TJD and I think Jantunen. Update the box score.

• Q4.8.45. TJD challenges a Brown dunk. Fouls. Appreciate the effort.

• Q4.7.35. Good OREB from TJD. He also rescreened multiple times for Collins on the PNR working his way down from the top.

• 7.10. TJD showing good hands in general. An unexpected pass rifled at him at close range. He not only catches but insta no-look touch pass to Jantunen open for 3.

• Q4.5.10. Podz looking like a peacemaker patting Perry after the play, but Davis and Perry insist on having some tense words about I believe the PNR coverage.

• Q4.5.01. Davis steps up to set a screen, taps the defender on the left side to fake a screen from that direction and sneaks over the screen on the right side.

• Q4.5.00. GSW has blown the lead, but I can't say the big 3 are responsible. Lots of mistakes, turnovers and fouls from the other guys.

• Q4.3.30. Podz with the handoff to Perry who was not ready, turnover. Podz gets beat backdoor from the corner. Second time today.

• 1.45. Solid LQ-TJD wing PNR. Two TOR go to LQ. TJD with a nice catch and dunk on the LQ lob.

• 1.25. TJD getting out to the arc, chasing the driver and getting the block. Then a nice read by TJD to instantly pass the ball up on the fast break.

• 0.48. GSW actually gets the ball back down 4. Truly this summer league team embodying the Warriors Way: Always Close Enough To Hurt

• 0.30. Haha, Podz completes the SL appropriately by missing a point blank layup, another one that rolls off the rim.