Chet Holmgren gave us a sensational debut in the Salt Lake City Summer League on Tuesday night, and Jabari Smith Jr. was efficient but nevertheless more discreet in his first Thursday once morest Paolo Banchero’s Magic. Last night the two men were already crossing paths on the Las Vegas floor, to give us a first glimpse of what might become one of the most intense rivalries of the coming seasons. Jabari advantage for this first, but it was a hair’s breadth from Josh Giddey.
A victory of two small points for the Rockets, but a victory which will not necessarily be a milestone because winning games does not appear as the No. 1 objective in the Summer League. No, on this kind of summer “competition”, what we want is to appreciate – or not – the first steps of freshly drafted rookies, and incidentally to hit the bars while watching play guys that the NBA will never call . Chet Holmgren and Jabari Smith Jr. obviously fall into the category mentioned first, and tonight the n°2 and n°3 of the Draft therefore crossed swords for the first time, with an obvious focus on their direct match-up . What can we argue this morning? First of all that position 4 of the Rockets therefore chained in three days with the only two rookies drafted higher than him, what a beautiful coincidence, and that the former Auburn class representative fared better once morest Chet than once morest Paolo. A short half-time to find the target but the promise of buckets by the dozen thanks to the purity of his shot, and an interesting versatility with both a good defensive presence, even hustle, and a little scoring to sprinkle it all on . What regarding the Chet Code? Still as easy despite its weight deficit, power underneath and, above all, some violent pancakes in defense, in straight trigger like an I or beating the board like a savage. In the end two men who neutralize each other, even if it is indeed the Rockets who will win, by two small points, following a last failed attempt by a Josh Giddey who had yet – once more – shown that he had regarding as much talent than half of his teammates combined.
Chet getting in his bag early on ESPN 2 pic.twitter.com/E4AfCHABRE
— NBA (@NBA) July 10, 2022
Jabari Smith Jr. flashes his interior defense then responds with a triple ???? pic.twitter.com/rEsFqZcOQd
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Chet getting the block party started in the second half on ESPN 2 pic.twitter.com/IWPi7R2DIr
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Tough Buckets ???? Jabari Smith Jr.@HoustonRockets Live Now on ESPN 2 pic.twitter.com/efr7GBOq3k
— NBA (@NBA) July 10, 2022
Chet recovers to the pain and pins the shot to the backboard ????@okcthunder live now on ESPN 2 pic.twitter.com/WsviZNl7Eh
— NBA (@NBA) July 10, 2022
All out hustle by Jabari Smith Jr to gain possession late in Q4 on ESPN 2 pic.twitter.com/WcNA0R7BMP
— NBA (@NBA) July 10, 2022
Josh’s teammates let’s talk regarding it, and let’s start by praising Ousmane Dieng’s new solid game, still clumsy from afar but unstoppable when he decides to go to the circle on his drive. Jalen Williams was once once more very interesting with fifteen pawns coupled with a lot of activity while his almost namesake Jaylin Williams was celebrating on the bench his four-year contract signed a few hours earlier, Tre Mann might have been shooting all night long. ‘there wouldn’t have been many more and Aaron Wiggins reminded that the rotation at the back positions was going to be crazy this season in Oklahoma. For Houston? New big outing from rookie Tari Eason, a huge tomar from Aric Holman on Chet Holmgren, great dispositions shown by TyTy Washington and scoring mainly provided by Josh Christopher and Daishen Nix.
12 points at 3/10 in shooting and 6/6 in throws, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals and 4 blocks for the Thunder Unicorn, 12 points (at 5/19), 9 rebounds, 1 assist, 4 steals and 3 blocks for the future of Houston. One everywhere the ball in the center, or rather victory with the chifumi for Jabari, and two men whom we will find Monday evening with a big smile. The upcoming program? The Spurs for the Jab, and… the Magic for Chet Holmgren, for a new text explanation on the podium of the Draft 2022.