Detroit Pistons vs Utah Jazz - Summer League

Game Breakdown

Pistons - 87 - 97 L

• Sasser, Jenkins, Holland, Klintman, Smith

  • I have liked both Pistons bigs recovery ability in PnR defense to the roll man

  • Turnovers are an issue early in this one

    • Man, I hope that is something JB and staff are able to vastly improve upon this upcoming year with this team

  • Multiple games with some nice drives and then swing-swing passes to an open 3PA

    • Again, hopefully this is something JB and staff can really implement and we see that type of ball movement during the season

  • Sure seems like they have seen A LOT of zones from teams in these 5 games

  • Fun watching a locked in defense here to start the 4th quarter (first half was not good)

    • Just has me wondering how much JB and staff can improve things on that end

• SMITH immediately shows off some skill with a beautiful spin move and left hand finish

  • Seems to flash this at least once or twice every game to go along with how hard and physical he plays

  • I really like what he has shown but I do wonder about the combination of length and vertical pop

    • Standing reach was below 9’ at PIT but 30” standing vertical isn’t bad at all for someone his size

• HOLLAND first drive is exactly the type of drives he has to live in right now

  • Comes off a hand off and gets downhill, still struggling a bit to find the finishing with some of the contests

    • 4:20 1st is another good example (it is against Lofton) where he just makes a quick hesitation dribble and then explosively and physically gets downhill

    • 2:10 2nd is a GREAT example, rip and go, straight line, plays through the body of Lofton

      • Next possession shows some nice touch from right outside the lane

    • 8:50 3rd may be one of his most impressive finishes as he switches to the left hand

    • Not going to be a ton of “wiggle” or change of direction on his drives early on

  • Corner C&S 3PM looks solid, similar to Ausar these are the important ones for him to make early in his career

    • I really think that if he can get consistent with his mechanics there is a chance he becomes a decent enough shooter sooner rather than later (not saying his rookie season, that would be pretty unfair expectations)

  • The passing/decision making has been fine

    • Nothing great but also not a lot of turnovers which is a good sign with how much usage he did have in 5 games

  • Gotten caught up on a couple off ball screens defensively

    • Off the ball defense will be something to really watch early in the season, I think there is some real room for growth here

  • You can see examples of how much ground coverage and recovery ability he will be able to provide

    • Hopefully combining him and Ausar on this end of the court one day would give you two guys who can really do that

• KLINTMAN passing continues to stand out through every game of SL

  • His looseness with the ball also does and is definitely something he will have to focus on moving forward

  • Gives up a backdoor to Filipowski, this was a major issue last game vs Dadiet

    • This is going to be a tough combination because I would like to see a little more defensive playmaking/disruption from him as well

  • When he can get that 1,2 step into his jumper he looks very confident and fluid

• ESTRADA flashing some things offensively again in this game

  • Nice stretch to start the the 4th with drive and kick and 3PM of his own

• JENKINS has had some pretty impressive rim protection for a guard 

  • Finishes SL averaging over a block per game (more than a steal per game, as well)

  • Play at 6:00 4th is just awesome

    • Slawson gets the steal and Pistons have a little momentum trying to make the comeback

    • Has a wide open transition 3 but slow plays it, attacks the lane and lets Klintman sprint to the corner

    • Drive and Kick and 3PM

    • Follows it up by forcing an 8 second call

• SASSER 3PM ATO off a BLOB during the middle of the 3rd quarter is EXACTLY the type of way I want to see him used and the attempts I think he should be living on

  • Just didn’t have the SL performance I was hoping for

Jazz

• Abmas, Justice, Kinsey, Filipowski, Bacot

• FILIPOWSKI first C&S 3PM looks very fluid and confident

  • This is what he can provide a team as a big that spaces the floor

    • Missing short a lot here in the 2nd half

  • Showing a little bit of physicality on a PnR finish, as well

  • Shows some more of the skill with a backdoor pass and then a grab and go finish in transition where he has to navigate a contest at the rim

  • He’s put his skill level on display in multiple ways just in the first half

    • Transition 3PM, corner 3PM, grab and go, backdoor, PnR physical finish, passing

  • Has had some really nice off the ball movement and cutting

  • There are a couple examples of where the lack of vertical pop could cause some issues

• BACOT may not be an NBA level big but for he is making his presence known early in this SL game

  • Showing some real skill

  • Back to back possessions has a corner 3PM and then drive, spin and finish

• LOFTON is a player that I can’t help but be a fan of, you can see the skill level

• ABMAS is a guy who can put the ball in the basket

  • Has a nice little knack for taking charges as well

• SANE with a solid showing so far

  • Interesting player that I look forward to tracking this next season wherever he ends up playing