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2024 NBA Summer League – San Antonio Spurs v Portland Trail Blazers
LAS VEGAS — Anyone who watched the NCAA Tournament knows former UConn big man Donovan Clingan is a feared rim protector. Every hoops fan knows Clingan as an old-school big man who relies on his 7’2″ frame to dominate.
However, those things hit different when you see him play in person — he is huge and an intimidating force in the paint who can reach a level only a handful of other players in the NBA can match. Clingan’s defense was everything as advertised during his Summer League debut and he finished with five blocked shots (including one on college teammate Stephon Castle).
Also accurate from the pre-draft hype was Clingan’s need to improve on offense, where he was 1-of-8 shooting, including 0-of-3 from beyond the arc.
“I wish I still… protected the rim a little better, I was able to shoot the ball better. I just wasn’t able to find my shot today,” Clingan said.
Clingan’s strengths — defense and on the glass — make him valuable to Portland right now. He will come off the bench behind Deandre Ayton at first and gives the Trail Blazers a huge center combination.
However, for Clingan to reach his true potential, he will need improved offense and better conditioning (he was gassed at points Saturday). The conditioning should come quickly, but the offense will be a project.
His first Summer League outing should give Trail Blazers fans hope — there is a good, maybe great, player in Clingan. One who can be part of what is being built in the Pacific Northwest. He can be the center of the future, he’s just got some work to do.
Here are some other notes from Day 2 of the Las Vegas Summer League.
• Miami almost set the record for most points in a Summer League game.
The record is 120 points, shared by the 2022 Grizzlies and 2007 Nuggets. Miami beat the Celtics in the most entertaining game of the day, 119-114 — it was just a pure shootout. The Heat had a chance at the end of the game but couldn’t convert it to set the record.
One quick question for the Heat: Why is Jaime Jaquez playing? He racked up 29/11/5, but what is he gaining from being…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/summer-league-notes-donovan-clingan-103443360.html
Author : NBC Sports
Publish date : 2024-07-14 10:34:43
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