Warriors’ Jackson-Davis holds his own against Team USA’s best big men

Warriors’ Jackson-Davis holds his own against Team USA’s best big men originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

LAS VEGAS – There was a sequence Monday during Team USA’s second and final scrimmage against the USA Select Team that highlights the many valuable lessons Trayce Jackson-Davis can take back home to San Francisco.

The second-year Warriors center set a high screen on Steph Curry above the 3-point line for USA Select teammate Jaime Jaquez Jr., rolled to the basket and the lefty finished with his off-hand over Joel Embiid. Jackson-Davis then sank deep into the paint on defense because of LeBron James’ driving ability, leaving Embiid open at the top of the arc.

And just like that, Jackson-Davis recovered a split second too late.

His hand went up, but Embiid wasn’t bothered thanks to receiving ample space and drilled a three on Jackson-Davis. A teaching moment that surely was reviewed from film later that same day.

“This is as good as it gets,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr, who currently is coaching Team USA one last time, told NBC Sports Bay Area.

Earlier in the scrimmage, Jackson-Davis began to set a screen for Brandon Miller on his left side near half court, adjusted his body to the right, rolled and came down with a high pass over Embiid. The Warriors’ steal of a second-round pick a year ago then settled, jumped off two feet and was fouled by Anthony Davis on his way back up.

The same scrimmage also featured Jackson-Davis getting backed down all the way to the hoop by Embiid before the 2022-23 NBA MVP made a twisting layup over him, and Jackson-Davis lost Curry on a backdoor cut but was lucky enough to see Steph miss his reverse layup attempt.

Another mental note, another lesson to be learned.

Finding the value in the highs and lows was evident throughout the day. The hustle and agility of Golden State’s late-season starting center who forced Kevon Looney to the bench also made Jayson Tatum kick the ball out when Jackson-Davis swiped down at Tatum exposing the ball down low.

But Jackson-Davis’ best play Monday might have been at the hands of a missed shot.

After guarding Curry at the 3-point line…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/warriors-jackson-davis-holds-own-161810548.html

Author : NBC Sports BayArea

Publish date : 2024-07-09 16:18:10

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