Former Oklahoma Basketball star Trae Young performed better in his second outing of the Utah Jazz Summer League, but that’s not saying much.
After an abysmal debut against the Grizzlies that saw him shoot 20% from the floor and have the worst +/- on his team, many had their eyes set on his game against San Antonio to see if he was learning from his mistakes. It’s not healthy to make many generalizations over a few games in the summer, but here’s some analysis to his July 3rd game on NBATV.
First Quarter:
Young started the game very passive. The first few possessions started with the ball out of his hands. When he finally started running the offense, he took a few shots that were ill-advised. One, in particular, clanged off the front iron as he shot in traffic after a screen multiple feet past the top of the key.
He had a layup that was blocked, and his floater was sent back shortly after. He also lost his man multiple times on the defensive end. It seemed like he was depending on teammates at times. Some plays were the fault of bad teammates, but what should he expect in the regular season?
Second Quarter:
After sitting for a while, he had some brighter spots in the final four minutes of the second half. He had a nice wrap-around kick-out pass that would have made for a nice assist. Soon after, he shot a three-pointer similar to the one he missed previously and made it. He played more aggressive after the score, and his teammates followed suit. It didn’t impact the score, however. They went into halftime down by 27.
Third Quarter:
Young was not very outgoing in the third quarter. His best play was a floater he scored after rebounding his own missed three-pointer. On the last play, he got blown by on a drive that enabled a buzzer beater attempt on a kick-out. It would have counted if it was shot the slightest second sooner.
Fourth Quarter:
Trae Young ended the game on several high notes. He made a highlight layup that was Kyrie-esque. Soon after, he poked a ball loose at half-court and finished another difficult layup. He had a nice alley-oop pass that Jock Landale couldn’t finish.
Recap:
Young’s decision-making was an improvement, as he only shot 16 shots. He still had a poor percentage, and there will be plenty of room for improvement. His team’s energy seemed to revolve around him, and fans can get used to seeing that.
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He ended with 12 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists. Stats in the Summer League should not be used as a red flag, but Young definitely has to gain some ground before opening night for the regular season.