KINGS! Summer League-Vegas Gm 5 - 7/13/17 (round 2 vs Mavericks)
- Thread starter VF21
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Smith played well, no doubt. But he should play well. SL is taylor made for players like him. Actually, all the top PG's have been playing well. Ball had a 36 pt game and a triple double, Fox looked very good before the ankle issue, and even Frank Mason III had a 20+ pt night.
Smith's athleticism alone will allow him to look special in SL. But I saw lots of things for him to work on. He got trapped several times and was a bit bothered by the length the Kings were putting on him. While he did make some really nice plays against it, he also got trapped a few times, got blocked at least once and had to make some dribble recoveries when defenders were able to poke the ball as he went by (either from the front of from behind). When those defenders are even quicker, better and longer, I think he might have some trouble.
After his 1st scoring spurt in the 1st half, they put Justin Jackson on him and he didn't do much of anything the rest of the half. Then in the 2nd half they had to run him off a double screen to get an open 3 and then the pivot and fadeaway he converted in the lane, while awesome, wasn't an easy shot or something he's gonna convert a very high rate. When you're on, those shots go in. But on a 4-16 night, those will look like awful hero shots. I also don't recall him doing too much while De'Aaron Fox was in the game and the Kings started the game out hot.
That said, the near dunk he had was certainly impressive. He got by Jackson pretty easily and should have had a highlight reel dunk on Montero but just missed it. I'd expect to see quite a few of those plays during the regular season.
Smith's athleticism alone will allow him to look special in SL. But I saw lots of things for him to work on. He got trapped several times and was a bit bothered by the length the Kings were putting on him. While he did make some really nice plays against it, he also got trapped a few times, got blocked at least once and had to make some dribble recoveries when defenders were able to poke the ball as he went by (either from the front of from behind). When those defenders are even quicker, better and longer, I think he might have some trouble.
After his 1st scoring spurt in the 1st half, they put Justin Jackson on him and he didn't do much of anything the rest of the half. Then in the 2nd half they had to run him off a double screen to get an open 3 and then the pivot and fadeaway he converted in the lane, while awesome, wasn't an easy shot or something he's gonna convert a very high rate. When you're on, those shots go in. But on a 4-16 night, those will look like awful hero shots. I also don't recall him doing too much while De'Aaron Fox was in the game and the Kings started the game out hot.
That said, the near dunk he had was certainly impressive. He got by Jackson pretty easily and should have had a highlight reel dunk on Montero but just missed it. I'd expect to see quite a few of those plays during the regular season.
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Like Smith, Justin Jackson also represented well, as he should. Shot it really well at the start and made some nice drives. I love his versatility and willingness to cover a player like Dennis Smith Jr. He did ok considering. I expect his defense to get better as he develops, but he certainly is willing to put in the effort already.
