Welcome to Layup Lines, our daily NBA newsletter where we’ll prep you for a tip-off of tonight’s action, from what to watch to bets to make. Subscribe here to get it delivered to your inbox every afternoon.
Greetings, hoops friends. Charles Curtis here, and it’s been a while since I’ve written this, so I wanted to share a silly but very true thought that crossed my head this morning.
I was watching another round of Summer League highlights, marveling at all the rookies — Chet Holmgren, WOW! and did you see Jaden Ivey’s debut? Intriguing!! — showing why they were first rounders.
It hit me as I was staring at those highlights on my phone: I’m watching an exhibition game. In a professional sport. And I’m hooked. As our Prince Grimes wrote in this space on Thursday, we’ve got to relax when it comes to having takes off Summer League, because who knows? In real NBA action, Chet might not be the GOAT, exactly.
But! It’s the most fun! We get to see Jabari Smith Jr. go RIGHT at Paolo Banchero. We get a first look at Keegan Murray and can see a world where that huge game translates into becoming the key to the Kings’ success this season.
With NFL preseason games? It’s a series or a couple more of watchable football at best. In the NHL? Meh, we’ll wait for the real thing. Major League Baseball might be No. 2, but I think that’s an in-person thing, where going to Florida or Arizona and seeing the stars up close is kind of cool.
Did you ever think about that? I never did until this morning! Thought I’d share. On to some more basketball goodness:
The Tip-Off
Speaking of Ivey: Our Bryan Kalbrosky broke down what he loved about the rookie guard’s Pistons debut: He saw some playmaking, which is promising!
What impressed me most about Ivey’s professional debut during NBA 2K23 Summer League was, in fact, his playmaking. Watch the first play of the game, above, to see Ivey curl off a screen for an alley-oop lob to fellow rookie Jalen Duren.
It was incredibly encouraging for me to watch Ivey continue to use his speed and force to drive towards the basket, then kick it out to his teammates on the perimeter or the midrange.
With his explosiveness, Ivey will draw so much gravity his rim pressure will bring defenders with him towards the basket. As those opponents give him the attention he deserves, teammates including Cade Cunningham and Saddiq Bey will have more space to shoot wide-open attempts.
I’m loving what the Pistons are building right now.
Shootaround
— LOL Steph Curry mocked Charles Barkley’s chances at the American Century Championship: “Hell no!”
— Jimmy Butler had a hilarious reply to PJ Tucker’s Instagram post saying farewell to the Heat.
— Some backup big men the Celtics could use their $17.1 million traded player exception on.
— Here’s every NBA 2K cover star since 1999.
Have a great weekend, everyone!