Swanigan helps keep Blazers unbeaten

Biggie has one more chance Tuesday

Caleb Swanigan was the most efficient player across the two NBA Summer League semifinal games played Monday at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas. The Portland BIG man scored 21 points (9-13 FG, 1-1 3-pt., 2-3 FT), and snatched 16 rebounds in 30 minutes. The Blazers defeated the Memphis Grizzlies 97-92. Portland will face the Los Angeles Lakers in the Summer League championship game Tuesday evening. The Lakers beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 112-109 in double overtime. 

Joining Swanigan on the Hoop Obsession All NBA Summer League Team for July 16, 2018...

Josh Hart - Lakers. 37 points (13-28 FG, 6-15 3-pt., 5-8 FT) , 9 rebounds in 34 minutes. 

Kobi Simmons - Grizzlies. 23 points (6-15 FG, 1-3 3-pt., 10-12 FT), 6 rebounds, 3 steals in 28 minutes. 

Svi Mykhailiuk - Lakers. 31 points (12-20 FG, 6-11 3-pt., 1-2 FT), 4 rebounds in 33 minutes. 

Jeff Ayres - Lakers. 20 points (6-8 FG, 8-9 FT), 5 rebounds, 3 assists in 35 minutes. 

Zach Collins - Blazers. 13 points (5-11 FG, 3-4 FT), 12 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 blocked shots in 28 minutes. 

Brandon Goodwin - Grizzlies. 27 points (9-20 FG, 3-10 3-pt., 6-7 FT), 3 assists in 28 minutes. 

Jenkins leads Blazers to semi-finals

Jenkins earned post game TV time.

John Jenkins, a 6'4", 27 year-old shooting guard, was the most efficient player during action Sunday in the 2018 NBA Las Vegas Summer League. Jenkins scored 25 points, in 21 minutes, on exceptional shooting as the Portland Trailblazers beat the Boston Celtics 95-80. He made nine of 12 field goals, including three of four from beyond the three-point line. Jenkins also made all four of his free throw attempts. Jenkins was a first round NBA Draft pick in 2012. He last played in the Spanish ACB League. ...Teams advancing to the semi-finals of the Summer League tournament included Portland, Memphis, Cleveland, and the Los Angeles Lakers. 

Joining Jenkins on the Hoop Obsession All-Summer League Team for Sunday, July 15, 2018...  

Chris Boucher - Toronto. 18 points (7-14 FG, 0-3 3-pt., 4-4 FT), 8 rebounds, 4 blocked shots in 23 minutes. 

Josh Hart - Lakers. 18 points (6-12 FG, 1-5 3-pt., 5-5 FT), 4 assists, 2 steals in 21 minutes. 

Svi Mykhailiuk - Lakers. 19 points (7-15 FG, 2-5 3-pt., 3-4 FT), 4 rebounds in 21 minutes. 

Zach Collins - Portland. 11 points (5-9 FG, 0-1 3-pt., 1-1 FT), 8 rebounds, 3 blocked shots in 24 minutes. 

Nick King - Lakers. 10 points (3-8 FG, 0-2 3-pt., 4-4 FT), 8 rebounds in 21 minutes. 

Hassan Martin - Boston. 16 points (5-8 FG, 6-6 FT), 9 rebounds in 31 minutes. 

Wade Baldwin IV - Portland. 14 points (6-12 FG, 1-3 3-pt., 1-2 FT), 10 assists in 28 minutes. 

Kobi Simmons - Memphis. 15 points (3-10 FG, 1-2 3-pt., 8-8 FT), 7 assists in 28 minutes. 

Henry Ellenson - Detroit. 22 points (5-16 FG, 2-7 3-pt., 10-11 FT), 4 rebounds, 5 assists in 32 minutes. 

Furkan Korkmaz - Philadelphia. 18 points (7-17 FG, 4-9 3-pt.), 5 rebounds, 3 assists in 23 minutes. 

Johnathan Williams - Lakers. 8 points (4-7 FG), 5 rebounds in 23 minutes. 

Adebayo best on day five.

Bam had 24 Tuesday. 

Bam Adebayo was the most efficient player (per minute) during play Tuesday at the NBA Las Vegas Summer League. The second-year BIG for the Miami Heat scored 24 points (5-13 FG, 14-16 FT), grabbed nine rebounds, snared two steals, and blocked two shots in 23 minutes. The Heat beat the Utah Jazz 98-90. ...Adebayo is a 6'10" pivot that will turn 21 years-old next week. 

Joining Adebayo on the daily Hoop Obsession All-NBA Las Vegas Summer League team for day five (July 10, 2018)...

Wendell Carter Jr. - Chicago. 23 points (9-13 FG, 1-1 3-pt., 4-4 FT), 6 rebounds, 2 blocked shots in 27 minutes. 

Jaylen Adams - Atlanta. 23 points (8-12 FG, 5-7 3-pt., 2-2 FT), 4 rebounds in 24 minutes. 

Josh Hart - Lakers. 27 points (8-16 FG, 4-12 3-pt., 7-10 FT), 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals in 28 minutes. 

Jeff Ayres - Lakers. 17 points (7-7 FG, 3-3 FT), 4 rebounds in 21 minutes. 

Allonzo Trier - New York. 21 points (8-13, 1-3 3-pt., 4-7 FT), 10 rebounds, 5 assists in 30 minutes. 

Mitchell Robinson - New York. 13 points (5-6 FG, 3-4 FT), 8 rebounds, 3 blocked shots in 26 minutes. 

Ike Nwamu - Miami. 18 points (7-14 FG, 3-9 3-pt., 1-1 FT), 7 rebounds in 24 minutes. 

Frank Mason - Sacramento. 10 points (3-6 FG, 1-1 3-pt., 3-4 FT), 13 assists in 26 minutes. 

Jake Layman - Portland. 15 points (5-8 FG, 3-4 3-pt., 2-2 FT), 8 rebounds in 27 minutes. 

Raphiael Putney - San Antonio. 9 points (4-6 FG, 1-3 3-pt.), 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals in 20 minutes. 

Anthony Brown - Sacramento. 11 points (4-7 FG, 1-2 3-pt., 2-2 FT), 5 rebounds, 4 assists in 26 minutes. 

Shooting Guards to watch in the 2016 NCAA Tournament

The crop of potential NBA "two-guards" is never-ending. In our opinion, the shooting guard spot is the easiest to fill in the NBA. The trick is to fill it with players who not only score but also defend and share. With that criteria as a basis for evaluation, here are our favorite potential NBA shooting guards that are in the 2016 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament...

Hart has heart

Josh Hart - Villanova.  6'5" 202 jr. ...Hart is a high-energy two-way guard. He was named to the All Big East First Team with averages of 15.5 points, and 6.9 rebounds per game. Hart is shooting 50% FG for his three-year career (impressive!). He led the Big East in Effective Field Goal Percentage in 2015-16 (.576). ...Hart owns a 1.34-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio. He is solid defensively. Hart hits 38% from three-point land, and he is a 70% foul shooter. I like Hart for a variety of reasons but mostly because he plays hard and he is a willing passer. He helps as a rebounder from the guard position. He received the Dave Gavitt Most Outstanding Player Award after scoring 15 points to help lead the Wildcats past Xavier in the 2015 Big East Tournament. Hart was ranked as the nation's No. 82 prospect in the class of 2013 in ESPN's Top 100. ...I believe Hart has the potential to be a starter at some point in the NBA if he continues to improve his shooting stroke. His ability to defend both guard spots is valuable. 

Buddy Hield - Oklahoma. 6'4" 208 SR. ...Hield is a skilled scorer that has the potential to step into the NBA and have a positive impact. He can score from the wing with the best of the best. Hield is an accurate shooter that is shooting a ridiculously good 46% from 3-pt. range and 89% from the free throw line. If he gets a clean look at the basket you have confidence he will nail the shot. Hield led the Big 12 in True Shooting Percentage this season (.662). ...Hield repeated in 2015-16 as the Big 12 Player of the Year. This season Buddy averages 25 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game. He scored 46 points in a game at Kansas (01/04/16). Defensively, Hield is nothing to get excited about. His DEFRTG is worse than the Oklahoma team DEFRTG, which is never a good sign. My other nit-pick of Hield's game is that he has more turnovers than assists in his last two seasons. Hield was born in Freeport, Bahamas. 

The others we are watching closely: 

Jaylen Brown - Cal. 6'7" 222, frosh. 
Jamal Murray - Kentucky. 6'5" 201, frosh. 
Troy Williams - Indiana. 6'7" 206, jr. 
Malcolm Brogdon - Virginia. 6'5" 217, SR. 
Desi Rodriguez - Seton Hall. 6'6" 215, soph. 
Jaysean Paige - West Virginia. 6'2" 200, SR. 
Chris Flemmings - North Carolina Wilimington. 6'5" 175, jr. 
Grayson Allen - Duke. 6'4" 195, soph. 
Isaiah Whitehead - Seton Hall. 6'4" 210 soph. 
Kelan Martin - Butler. 6'6" 215, soph.
Dillon Brooks - Oregon. 6'5" 225, soph. 

Read the list of Point Guards to watch in the NCAA Tournament. 

Shooting Guards to watch in the 2015 NCAA Tournament

Harden is the TWO guard to emulate.

The best shooting guards in the NBA come with various subtle differences in their game. Ideally, the best "Two Guards" are guys that can score. The scoring can come in a variety of ways. Dwyane Wade, for example, does not shoot a bunch of three-point shots but he can draw fouls with dribble penetration. Manu Ginobili uses a mixture of the deep shot and driving ability. Klay Thompson has seen a huge upgrade in his efficiency now that he has added more "rim-attacking" to his game, and the current standard for Shooting Guards, James Harden, is a blueprint to emulate. 

The perfect shooting guard should be able to make at least a third of his three-point attempts, (Harden is better than that at 37%), have the ability to create his own shot off the dribble, and get to the foul line. While at the line, a good shooting guard will convert at least 80% of his free throws (Harden hits 86% this season). While being a scorer, a good shooting guard is also a good decision maker. A positive assist-to-turnover ratio is a sign of good decision making. Harden, this season, has 465 assists, with only 265 turnovers. Finally, a good shooting guard HAS to be able to play defense well enough to slow down or at least hold to average, the opposing SG. This season, Harden is running at a career best defensive rating of 102 (which is solid, not great.)

The attributes listed above are just some of the ingredients we are seeking when evaluating the potential NBA shooting guards that are playing in the 2015 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament. Who are we watching closely?

Justise Winslow - Duke 6'6" 229 lbs. - freshman. ...Winslow is a problem for opponents with his size, and ability to finish in transition. He shoots the deep-ball at 39%, and he helps on the glass, getting nearly six rebounds per game. A positive assist-to-turnover ratio from a freshman scoring guard is also nice to see. 

Jae'Sean Tate - Ohio St. 6'4" 190 lbs. - freshman. ...Tate's offensive game today is more like a power forward than a guard. But from an NBA standpoint, he will have to play SG at 6'4". He is a monster in transition and he is very good around the basket. 

Get to know Jordan Barham.

Jordan Barham - Davidson 6'4" 190 lbs. - junior. ...Barham is another athletic player that will need to tighten up his shooting and decision making to thrive in the NBA at 6'4". Barham's 60% FG shooting is a testament to his fantastic finishing ability and strength. He helps as a rebounder as well. 

Josh Hart - Villanova 6'5" 202 lbs. - sophomore. ...Hart is a kid that plays defense, and makes good decisions with the ball. He is shooting 40% from beyond the college arc for his career. He averages 10.4 points, and 4.4 rebounds per game. 

Treveon Graham - VCU 6'6" 220 lbs. - Senior. ...Graham projects as a utility type pro that is not afraid to mix it up. He averages 16 points and seven rebounds per game this season. Graham's basketball hero is Paul Pierce and he tries to do Pierce-like things on the court. 

Dustin Hogue - Iowa St. 6'6" 220 lbs. - Senior. ...Hogue has career averages of 10.6 points, and 6.7 rebounds per game. He shoots 39% 3-pt. 

Melo Trimble - Maryland 6'2" 175 lbs. - freshman. ...Trimble shows signs of excellence with 40% 3-pt. shooting and a positive assist-to-turnover ratio. As a freshman, he led the Big Ten in free throws made and in free throw percentage (86%). 

Elgin Cook - Oregon 6'6" 206 lbs. - sophomore. ...Cook is the son of NBA great Alvin Robertson. Cook is tremendous in the open-court, and he has an advanced mid-post game. 

James Blackmon Jr. - Indiana 6'3" 190 lbs. freshman. ...He can shoot it and he has (slightly) more assists than turnovers. Blackmon is small for a TWO guard but he has a scorer's mentality and skill to manufacture points. 

Royce O'Neale - Baylor 6'6" 220 lbs. Senior. ...You don't hear much hype about Royce O'Neale but he is a player that has compiled impressive numbers in his NCAA career (he played his first two seasons at Denver). He is shooting 47% FG, and he owns a 1.57-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio. 

Buddy Hield - Oklahoma 6'4" 208 lbs. junior. ...The Big 12's leading scorer at 17.5 points per game. 

LaDontae Henton - Providence 6'6" 215 lbs. Senior. ...Henton plays forward but we project him as a TWO if he cracks the next level. 

Sir Dominic Pointer - St John's 6'6" 205 lbs. Senior. ...Pointer is all over the court, playing with boundless energy!

Bryce De-Jean Jones - Iowa St. 6'5" 200 lbs. Senior. ...Played at three schools in five years (USC, UNLV, and Iowa St.). 

Small forwards to watch in the Tourney. 

Shooting Guards to watch in the NCAA Tournament

Annually we examine the prospects in the NCAA Tournament that NBA teams should be paying the most attention to. Specifically, we analyze a player's production per minute, and ability to defend. ...They say good guards will lead you to the winner's circle. Here are the best all-around Shooting Guards as we view it...

Graham = underrated

Treveon Graham - VCU 6'5" 215 Junior. ...Graham projects as a utility type pro that is not afraid to mix it up. He averages 15 points and seven rebounds per game this season. Graham's basketball hero is Paul Pierce and he tries to do Pierce-like things on the court. Graham is a career 34% three-point shooter. He has improved his assist-to-turnover ratio each season, getting into positive territory this year. He is a top-tier defender.

Casey Prather - Florida 6'6" 212 Senior. ...Scottie Wilbekin gets the notiriety but for our money the most important Gator is Casey Prather. Prather is an NBA athlete that has developed from a scrawny inefficient 165 lb. freshman into a skilled 216 lb. Senior. He averages 14 points and five rebounds per game. He projects as more of a TWO in the NBA than the forward position he presently employs at Florida. The most amazing part of his game is his field goal percentage. Prather is shooting 61% FG this season. He shot 62% last season. Defensively, he is excellent, ranking in the top half-dozen of all SG's in the 2014 NCAA Tournament. 

Jordan Adams - UCLA 6'5" 220 Sophomore. ...A major reason that UCLA is winning again is due to the play of Jordan Adams. He is an NBA athlete that averages 17.2 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. He has a "feel" for the game, and boasts a positive assist-to-turnover ratio, which is always nice to see in a "scorer". ...Adams hits 84% of his free throws. We put him into the shooting guard group but it is conceivable Adams can play Point Guard too. 

Denzel Valentine - Michigan St. Sophomore. ...Valentine is a vital part of the Michigan St. team that many see as a virtual lock for the Final Four. Valentine gets eight points, six rebounds, and four assists per game. I like Valentine's 6'5" size as it projects to the next level. He is one of those players that is "all over the court". He has improved his three point shooting this season, hitting at a 36% clip. 

Melvin Ejim - Iowa State 6'6" 230 Senior. ...Ejim was the 2013-14 Big 12 Player of the Year, posting averages of 18 points and eight rebounds per game. He is a smart, hustling, active player that, in college, plays forward. In the NBA, if he makes the cut, we see Ejim as a TWO. He has improved to 34% as a three-point shooter. He rebounds exceptionally well for his 6'6" size, and he hits 73% of his free throws. ...Ejim is from Toronto. 

Smith is a pest... in a good way.

Russ Smith - Louisville 6'0" 160 Senior. ...Smith is a whirl of energy that puts extreme pressure on opposing defenses with his ability to score. He shoots 35% 3-pt. (career), and 76% FT (career). ...Despite his 6'0" frame, Smith is a good defender too. He has the best Defensive Rating of any SG in the 2014 NCAA Tournament. Smith has made strides at running a team from the Point Guard position but his nature is reflected in his 1.21-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio. That is not PG worthy. 

Tyler Haws - BYU 6'5" 200 Junior. ...Haws is as skilled a wing scorer as there is in the college game. He moves without the ball like a seasoned veteran and his jumper is accurate and reliable. He is an 86% free throw shooter that hits 38% of his long balls. His defensive rating is not good but his offensive ability puts him on the map. 

Josh Hart - Villanova 6'5" 202 Freshman. ...Hart is coming off of an 18 point, eight rebound performance in Villanova's most recent game. He is widely considered one of the top-50 freshman in the country. He is shooting 50% FG, and in a small sample size of minutes, he owns an impressive 1.8-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio. 

Royce O'Neale - Baylor 6'6" 220 Junior. ...You don't hear much hype about Royce O'Neale but he is a player that has compiled some impressive numbers in his three-season NCAA career (he played his first two seasons at Denver). He is shooting 53% FG, and he owns a 1.37-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio. He shoots 38% from three-point range (career). He is worth keeping an eye on. 

Kyle Casey - Harvard 6'7" 225 Senior. ...Casey is an NBA athlete that averages 10.6 points, and 5.6 rebounds per game. He is a grown man at 24 years of age. For his position, he is an excellent defensive rebounder. For his career he shoots 50% FG, and 75% FT. Casey is an aggressive defender that can get himself into foul trouble. ...Casey sat out a year at Harvard after being involved in a school-wide cheating scandal. 

Michael Frazier II - Florida 6'4" 200 Sophomore. ...Frazier is a accurate shooting wing that hits an amazing 46% of his three point attempts (career). At the line, he further proves his great shooting touch at 86%. He led the SEC in True Shooting Percentage this season. ...Frazier averages 12.9 points, and 3.5 rebounds per game. Frazier exploded for 37 points in early March in a rout at South Carolina. 

Sean Kilpatrick - Cincinnati 6'4" 215 Senior. ...Kilpatrick scores 20.7 points, and grabs 4.4 rebounds per game. He has a 1.2-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio. …34% 3-pt. (career), 78% FT (career). He led the AAC in free throw attempts this season. …Kilpatrick has a three year old daughter. 

LaDontae Henton - Providence 6'6" 215 Junior. ...Henton plays forward but we project him as a TWO if he cracks the next level. He averages 13.9 points, and 7.8 rebounds per game. Henton is really good on the defensive glass. …Henton was arrested in May 2013 on a domestic dispute charge.