After lacking the California Traditional and the opening recreation of Summer time League, Dylan Harper made his professional debut in opposition to Cooper Flagg and the Mavericks. The second general choose didn’t disappoint, ending the night time with 16 factors, six rebounds, two assists and two steals in a 76-69 win.
The Harper vs. Flagg showdown began with the Summer time Spurs taking part in suffocating protection that stored the No. 1 general choose in test. The Mavericks scored simply 11 factors within the opening body on 2-for-14 capturing, as Carter Bryant wreaked havoc within the half-court. The tables sadly turned within the second quarter. Dallas discovered methods to get going whereas San Antonio didn’t get beauty constantly resulting from a low-pace offense that was too reliant on the person expertise of its ball handlers. The Silver and Black had been solely up one on the half.
Harper helped the Spurs proper the ship within the third, each by taking part in with extra tempo and by being disruptive on protection. Flagg acquired going as a scorer because of screens however the Mavericks’ offense didn’t have many different threats. David Jones-Garcia, in the meantime, shook off the indecisiveness that restricted his impression within the second body and put factors on the board to get his group a major lead.
The Summer time Mavs tried to make some runs with Flagg main the way in which, however ultimately, it was a cushty win for San Antonio.
Harper was as spectacular as anticipated
Harper hadn’t performed since March and had a small harm that stored him out of the California Traditional, so it was comprehensible to have lowered expectations for his debut. These apprehensions didn’t final lengthy, as he regarded particular from the beginning.
The No. 2 general choose scored the primary bucket of the sport however, extra impressively, he purchased into the defensive identification the Summer time Spurs have adopted, providing vitality that’s not frequent from most blue-chippers in Vegas. The 2 steals, 4 deflections, and highlight-reel block had been nice, however he pressured ball handlers and was not afraid to combine it up on free balls. On the opposite finish, he acquired into his spots at will, utilizing his deal with and quickness to the touch the paint and draw fouls. He performed on the ball lots but additionally shared the ground with different ball handlers and regarded comfy, chopping for layups or protecting the offense going. The imaginative and prescient and decision-making had been in full show regardless of a low help complete. He was the participant the Spurs hoped he’d be.
There have been some points, notably with entering into the offense early and fouling an excessive amount of, however these had been team-wide issues. As for his shot, Harper missed all 4 of his threes that counted however hit a pull-up that was erased due to a foul earlier than the shot, and solely had one unhealthy miss. The shape regarded strong, and he made six of his seven free throws.
After only a recreation, it’s most likely applicable to say he’s too good for Summer time League, however hopefully he’ll go well with up once more, as a result of on high of being good, he’s additionally enjoyable to look at.
Carter Bryant gave Cooper Flagg some bother, not less than on one finish
Flagg dropped 31 factors, bouncing again from a low-scoring debut and looking out like the longer term All-NBA participant he’s. But it wasn’t straightforward for him to get these buckets, particularly within the first half when the 14th general choose was harassing him within the perimeter, testing his handles and by no means conceding an inch. Flagg principally scored when others had been on him early and relied on excessive screens to get previous Bryant and punish the Spurs’ drop protection within the second half. Towards a particular expertise, the opposite San Antonio rookie regarded NBA-ready on protection.
The offense is one other story. There’s nothing Bryant presently does at a excessive degree on that finish at this level. He can’t dribble in any respect beneath any sort of strain. His shot is inconsistent. He’s not an intuitive passer. He completed the sport with two factors and 4 turnovers and missed all his seven photographs, together with his 5 three-point makes an attempt. At this level in his growth, if Bryant and his clone had been to be locked in a gymnasium for a day taking part in one-on-one, the rating on the finish would probably be tied at zero. Fortuitously, the Spurs didn’t draft him to be their main scorer and at simply 19 he has time on his facet to develop right into a two-way participant.
David Jones-Garcia continues to dismantle defenses
Jones-Garcia has been probably the greatest performers of the summer season, not only for the Spurs. The wing-turned-combo guard dropped 21 factors off the bench in opposition to the Mavericks after scoring 24 in his first recreation in Vegas following a powerful California Traditional. He’s a reputable three-level scorer who has the handles and craft to create separation and the contact to hit even contested appears. At occasions, he’s the complete offense when he’s on the ground. He’s been enjoyable to look at.
Is his talent set transferable to the NBA, the place he’s not going to have the ball in his fingers as a lot? That’s the large query with him. He’s not a nasty distributor, however he’s a score-first man. He psyched himself out within the second quarter by making an attempt to go as a substitute of attacking and regarded extra comfy in a while, when he targeted on simply getting buckets. The Spurs, with their abundance of scoring guards, won’t be the appropriate group for him proper now, however he’s positively incomes a two-way take care of his play, if not a full spot on a roster someplace.
Subsequent recreation: vs. Utah Jazz on Monday
The Jazz and Ace Bailey await the Summer time Spurs. Bailey, who was in attendance to look at Harper’s debut, missed the primary recreation of the Las Vegas Summer time League however will hopefully be able to go in opposition to the Spurs.
