TUALATIN — Tuesday’s summer league practice ended with Didi Louzada sinking a game-winning three-pointer from the right wing at the buzzer
“I was so happy when I made it,” Louzada said.
So too were his Portland Trail Blazers teammates, who let out a collective roar that exemplified the level of camaraderie and cohesiveness this group has displayed through four practices. Whether it’s been singing happy birthday to teammates or the constant words of encouragement issued in the middle of intense competition, these Blazers are having fun. And bonding.
That should only increase further come 9 p.m. Thursday, when the Blazers play Detroit in their first NBA Summer League game in Las Vegas. The session runs through July 17.
Blazers assistant coach Steve Hetzel is the head coach for the summer session. He said Sunday that the energy and focus of the team had been at a high level and execution improved from the first to the second practice. Hetzel did not speak to the media on Tuesday but Greg Brown III, Keon Johnson and Brandon Williams each said that practices have been productive and fun.
Adding to the spice has been the play of rookie Shaedon Sharpe.
The main focus of summer league for most Blazers fans probably will be on the performance of the man their team selected with the No. 7 pick during last month’s NBA draft.
Every player who has talked to the media since practices began on Saturday has raved about Sharpe.
“He has a bright future,” Trendon Watford told reporters on Sunday. “The kid is good. It just looks effortless to him.”
Watford had a moment Saturday in which he grabbed a defensive rebound, took off in transition and ended the play with an alley-oop pass to Sharpe on the left side for the dunk.
“He’s a freak athlete,” said Johnson, who said his goal this summer is to show how much he has improved since the season ended. “He can score the ball, but he can also defend. I see why we drafted him. I feel like me and him are very similar in many different ways.”
They certainly are when it comes to athleticism. Between Johnson, Sharpe and Brown, the Blazers will have three of the best athletes on any team at summer league. Brown, Johnson and Watford, and point guard Brandon Williams, saw extensive action late last season after the franchise sat down some stars for the season and traded away others.
Trail Blazers guard Brandon Williams talks to the media following summer league practice. July 5, 2022. Aaron Fentress/The Oregonian
Watford said Sunday that the cohesion those four developed during the season was gradually returning this summer.
“We’re just trying to refresh some things and get our chemistry back together,” he said.
Leading the group of high-flyers will be Williams, who worked his way into a two-way contract last season.
“It should be a show in Vegas,” Williams said.
One he looks forward to leading. Williams said he learned a lot last season from Damian Lillard and Anfernee Simons on how to orchestrate and teach. Williams averaged 12.4 points per game in 24 appearances with 16 starts during his first NBA season. He also added 3.9 assists. Passing and playmaking are areas where Williams can improve, but he said he will continue to just play his game.
“Take whatever the defense gives,” he said. “I think that’s just the main focus coach has been telling me about.”
He said one of his strengths is getting into the paint and then making good decisions with the ball whether that means scoring or finding teammates.
“Summer is a great time to do that and a great time for me to show what I can do,” he said.
Brown said his focus has been on improving as a defender because he knows that’s a great way to get on the court under head coach Chauncey Billups. Last summer, his head was swimming while adjusting to the professional game, but this summer he said he feels far more confident.
“I changed mentally,” he said. “Big mental change. Big mindset change on how I look at things. How to practice. How to be in practice.”
As for the rookies, both are coming along but have a long way to go, according to Hetzel.
“For Jabari and Shaedon, their heads are spinning from the language and the actual coverages and execution of plays,” Hetzel said. “But we try to rep it so much that then they could just play basketball.”
How players are used will be determined by how the session is going. Hetzel said the goal is to win games. But at some point, he will sit down with general manager Joe Cronin and Billups to determine whether to push forward or pull back.
9 p.m. Thursday vs. Detroit Pistons (ESPN)
7 p.m. Saturday vs. New Orleans Pelicans (ESPN2)
8 p.m. Monday vs. New York Knicks (ESPN2)
6:30 p.m. Thursday, July 14 vs. Houston Rockets (NBA TV)
All games will be played at the Thomas & Mack Center and Cox Pavilion on the campus of UNLV. Fans can purchase tickets by visiting NBAEvents.com.
— Aaron Fentress | afentress@Oregonian.com | @AaronJFentress (Twitter), @AaronJFentress (Instagram), @AaronFentress (Facebook).
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