Soaring Down South
Fansided

10 Takeaways from Hawks First Utah Summer League Game

By Chris Guest

SALT LAKE CITY - JULY 2: John Collins #20 and Tyler Dorsey #2 of the Atlanta Hawks reach for the ball during the game against the Memphis Grizzlies during the 2018 Summer League at the Vivint Smart Home Arena on July 2, 2018 in Salt Lake CIty, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY - JULY 2: John Collins #20 and Tyler Dorsey #2 of the Atlanta Hawks reach for the ball during the game against the Memphis Grizzlies during the 2018 Summer League at the Vivint Smart Home Arena on July 2, 2018 in Salt Lake CIty, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 2
Next
SALT LAKE CITY, UT – JULY 2: Omari Spellman #6 (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT – JULY 2: Omari Spellman #6 (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images) /

4. John Collins played sparingly (only 16 minutes), and he also suffered a scary, scary fall after attempting to defend JJJ in the post. Early on, his passing was looking good as he found Spellman twice around the basket for easy buckets. JC proved his abilities last season, and, as a Second Team All-Rookie member, he is really overqualified to play in Summer League, but he’s a good teammate, so he’s there. Good on you, John.

5. On that front, Collins and Spellman look to be a formidable frontcourt pairing, as both played well off the ball and both hit threes of various depth. They seemed to have an easy chemistry that should play up beyond the early goings of Summer League.

6. The Hawks played an insanely fast pace in this game, pushing the ball on offense at almost every opportunity in breakneck fashion, which definitely hurt their defense. Of course, if JJJ hadn’t been unconscious from distance, this would’ve been a much closer affair.

7. Antonius Cleveland, who played sparingly for the Hawks last season, did not impact the game statistically, but his length and athleticism was put to good use on defense, where he played the passing lanes and impressed in a few one-on-one scenarios.

8. Brandon Sampson, an undrafted free agent out of LSU, put forth impressive effort on both ends of the floor, and providing perhaps the Hawks best highlight of the night:

Summer League is all about making a name for yourself and vying for a spot in the league, and Sampson definitely deserves a look after an effortful performance for the Hawks against the Grizz.

9. With all the talk of Trae Young sharing the backcourt with Dennis Schroder next season, it was good to see Hawks two-way player Jaylen Adams co-exist with Young on the court, though it must be noted that Adams shot a whopping 43 percent from distance in his final collegiate season – a gaudy total that Schröd has never approached.

10. Lastly, forcing Trae to play against Jevon Carter, who terrorized him in college, in his first NBA action was cruel and unusual on the part of schedulers, but them’s the breaks, kid!

Keep it locked to Soaring Down South for all of your Hawks Summer League and free agency news. ATL plays tomorrow against the Spurs (and SDS favorite and #18 overall pick Lonnie Walker IV) at 7 p.m. EST on NBA TV.

Home/Hawks News