[Game] California Classic 2023, Day 2 (7/5/2023): Kings vs. Heat 7pm Pacific, 10pm Eastern
- Thread starter Tetsujin
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Obviously the real NBA is much different than summer league because the NBA is so switch dependent but if Brown starts letting Keegan guard the bigger player his shotblocking from college might transition. That'd be a huge boost considering the shortcomings of Domas down low. Keegan has clearly put in work in the gym so hopefully some small ball 5 like he played at Iowa gets tested. Him at the stretch 5 in pick and pop would be a nightmare. It already was the few times last season when Brown put him there but with more strength he'll now be able to hold his own on both ends much better.
Kessler is legitimately a good NBA defender. He made Jaime look like he didn't belong on a basketball court. I wish he could he get his 3 ball down because it's the only thing stopping him from having a really long successful career in the league.
Colby just looks like he knows how to play basketball. Without Keegan in Vegas, I think the Kings might be really hard to watch.. but this means an expanded role for Colby. I think he's miles ahead of Slawson.. Contrary to other opinions, I think the game is moving too fast for Slawson. He's going to be in Stockton for the whole year.
Colby just looks like he knows how to play basketball. Without Keegan in Vegas, I think the Kings might be really hard to watch.. but this means an expanded role for Colby. I think he's miles ahead of Slawson.. Contrary to other opinions, I think the game is moving too fast for Slawson. He's going to be in Stockton for the whole year.
Grades:
Keegan Murray- A+. 41 points on 20 shots? 15 FTA? You kidding me? Not only was the efficiency mind-blowing, but how he got a lot of his looks was just as important. He had a real focus for self-creation and initiating the offense on a lot of his possessions; something we only saw a handful of times last year. Was shrugging dudes off him to create space and they were just forced to foul. Night and day difference from last season.
-Keon Ellis- A. Incredibly active on defense. Credited with 2 steals and 2 blocks, but I think he had like 7 or so strips on the night. Was just attacking passing lanes all game long. Looks incredibly comfortable with the ball in his hands and was kind of the 2nd scoring option behind
Keegan tonight. 4 FTA too.
Alex O'Connell- A. You shoot 5-6 for 14 points, in 10:52, you get an A. Them the rules. I remember really liking O'Connell last year too and he looks like someone we should get a bigger look at in Vegas. Might be a contender for a 2-way spot with a strong Vegas showing.
Colby Jones- A- Looks every part the super role player. Hit 2 corner 3's in the C&S, something incredibly encouraging for his development to keep him on the floor. Like Keon, was attacking passing lanes and being super active on defense all night. He was noticeable out there. Had 2 plays where he forces a miss on D, grabs the board and then goes full court to finish a lay-up on one possession and draw a foul on another.
Jordan Ford- B- Very steady. Plays within himself, looks for his teammates on O, works hard out there. 6 Assists/0 turnovers, His stand-out highlight was a fast break he turned the jets on for and had a great finish through traffic. Gotta shoot better than the 0-4 from 3 though. Don't think he's an everyday rotation player, but he's certainly a guy I wouldn't mind as my 15th man/emergency PG on the roster.
Kessler Edwards- B-. Keon/Kessler/Colby wing defense is going to be a big reason we win in Summer League because good lord. These boys are active on defense and looking to attack passing lanes all game long. Continued a lot of what we saw with the big league club last season with strong defense and strong contests all game long. Very active and looking to make hustle plays. Had a few real nice offensive plays attacking down-hill to finish at the rim. I just need to see some semblance of an outside shot. It's hard to justify putting you on the floor with Fox and Domas if you can't knock some 3's down.
Jalen Slawson- B-. There we go. After a very forgettable first game, we finally see what got Slawson drafted. He started running the break in the 2nd quarter and hit O'Connell for 2 easy C&S 3's. Hit him for another later in the game. Also found Keegan on another drive and kick (that he missed), but that looks to be a hallmark of his game. Was a little passive on D when playing with a big on D, but really came alive at the small-ball 5 in the 4th quarter. That unit allowed 7 Heat points in the last 6:10 of the game and Slawson was in the middle of a lot of that defensive disruption. Took just one ugly 3pt shot, so that could be an issue going forward if he doesn't have any sort of scoring game. But there's a ball-handling/creation/defensive versatility skill-set here that's very very intriguing to look more at. I like it.
Neemias Queta- C+. Bad 1st half. Awesome in the 2nd half. Grading on a sliding scale here for Queta since this is his 3rd summer league and I expect a lot out of him at this point. He's got to find the consistency to play like he did in the 2nd half most of the time. That's the only way he's going to stick in the NBA. Played his rim protector role well by just being big out there and being in the way. Had a few really nice offensive finishes. Also had several head-scratchers that make you go "WTF is Queta doing?" We'll see, I think Queta needs to have a big Vegas to secure an NBA contract and win one of those last 2 spots.
Jake Stephens- D. Saw a whole lot of nothing. Looked slow out there, not making an impact. Had a few nice skip passes, but generally looked overmatched for the competition.
Souley Boum- D. Cool name. No production. 9:26 of a whole lot of nothing out there. Does look like he has elite quickness, but that was the only real standout thing about him.
Keegan Murray- A+. 41 points on 20 shots? 15 FTA? You kidding me? Not only was the efficiency mind-blowing, but how he got a lot of his looks was just as important. He had a real focus for self-creation and initiating the offense on a lot of his possessions; something we only saw a handful of times last year. Was shrugging dudes off him to create space and they were just forced to foul. Night and day difference from last season.
-Keon Ellis- A. Incredibly active on defense. Credited with 2 steals and 2 blocks, but I think he had like 7 or so strips on the night. Was just attacking passing lanes all game long. Looks incredibly comfortable with the ball in his hands and was kind of the 2nd scoring option behind
Keegan tonight. 4 FTA too.
Alex O'Connell- A. You shoot 5-6 for 14 points, in 10:52, you get an A. Them the rules. I remember really liking O'Connell last year too and he looks like someone we should get a bigger look at in Vegas. Might be a contender for a 2-way spot with a strong Vegas showing.
Colby Jones- A- Looks every part the super role player. Hit 2 corner 3's in the C&S, something incredibly encouraging for his development to keep him on the floor. Like Keon, was attacking passing lanes and being super active on defense all night. He was noticeable out there. Had 2 plays where he forces a miss on D, grabs the board and then goes full court to finish a lay-up on one possession and draw a foul on another.
Jordan Ford- B- Very steady. Plays within himself, looks for his teammates on O, works hard out there. 6 Assists/0 turnovers, His stand-out highlight was a fast break he turned the jets on for and had a great finish through traffic. Gotta shoot better than the 0-4 from 3 though. Don't think he's an everyday rotation player, but he's certainly a guy I wouldn't mind as my 15th man/emergency PG on the roster.
Kessler Edwards- B-. Keon/Kessler/Colby wing defense is going to be a big reason we win in Summer League because good lord. These boys are active on defense and looking to attack passing lanes all game long. Continued a lot of what we saw with the big league club last season with strong defense and strong contests all game long. Very active and looking to make hustle plays. Had a few real nice offensive plays attacking down-hill to finish at the rim. I just need to see some semblance of an outside shot. It's hard to justify putting you on the floor with Fox and Domas if you can't knock some 3's down.
Jalen Slawson- B-. There we go. After a very forgettable first game, we finally see what got Slawson drafted. He started running the break in the 2nd quarter and hit O'Connell for 2 easy C&S 3's. Hit him for another later in the game. Also found Keegan on another drive and kick (that he missed), but that looks to be a hallmark of his game. Was a little passive on D when playing with a big on D, but really came alive at the small-ball 5 in the 4th quarter. That unit allowed 7 Heat points in the last 6:10 of the game and Slawson was in the middle of a lot of that defensive disruption. Took just one ugly 3pt shot, so that could be an issue going forward if he doesn't have any sort of scoring game. But there's a ball-handling/creation/defensive versatility skill-set here that's very very intriguing to look more at. I like it.
Neemias Queta- C+. Bad 1st half. Awesome in the 2nd half. Grading on a sliding scale here for Queta since this is his 3rd summer league and I expect a lot out of him at this point. He's got to find the consistency to play like he did in the 2nd half most of the time. That's the only way he's going to stick in the NBA. Played his rim protector role well by just being big out there and being in the way. Had a few really nice offensive finishes. Also had several head-scratchers that make you go "WTF is Queta doing?" We'll see, I think Queta needs to have a big Vegas to secure an NBA contract and win one of those last 2 spots.
Jake Stephens- D. Saw a whole lot of nothing. Looked slow out there, not making an impact. Had a few nice skip passes, but generally looked overmatched for the competition.
Souley Boum- D. Cool name. No production. 9:26 of a whole lot of nothing out there. Does look like he has elite quickness, but that was the only real standout thing about him.
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