NBA Summer League: Warriors squad gets first look at Hansen Yang in Las Vegas opener
LAS VEGAS When the Warriors play on Friday night their Summer League challenge will have the world s bulk populous country closely following along The Golden State vs Portland matchup at Thomas Mack Center will be the first look at Chinese big man Hansen Yang the Trail Blazers rookie first-rounder with deft touch and passing vision The Warriors brought Yang in for a pre-draft workout back when he was expected to be a second-round selection rather than a borderline lottery pick at th overall During the Warriors shootaround at the Las Vegas Basketball Center located miles north of the famous Strip point guard Taran Armstrong made it clear that the unit knows what a challenge defending the -foot- center will be With someone like that in that kind of scheme if he gets the ball down low it s gonna be about five guys defending him Armstrong explained We ve watched a little bit of film on him and so we ve got a plan in place Players to watch for Yang will likely be defended by center Marques Bolden The -year-old veteran out of Duke missed the previous season with an Achilles injury sustained during last Summer League and in recent times grabbed rebounds in two games at the California Classic games A couple of former SEC guards could also see action in the group s first encounter since wrapping up the California Classic on Tuesday Vanderbilt s new graduate Chris Manon wowed as an proceeding defensive presence and athletic finisher in his first Summer League competition but was quiet over the final two games I try to impact the tournament whatever way I can Ma on described the Bay Area News Group in the last few days Majority of nights I think I m capable of guarding the other group s best athlete and being disruptive at all times Whenever I can get deflections or grab a loose ball or dive on the floor get a loose ball I try to do it Alabama s Jaden Shackelford has been a high-scoring shooter in the G-League since departing Tuscaloosa in He averaged points for the Valley Suns in games and made of -pointers in two games during the California Classic College basketball fans will likely recognize Trail Blazers guard Caleb Love who Portland signed after a stellar five-year career split between North Carolina and Arizona Love was an All-American after averaging points and assists per contest for the Wildcats in his last collegiate season -year Anniversary of Looney s debut This Summer League is the -year anniversary of the group which starred a rookie Kevon Looney who lately departed for New Orleans as a free agent Looney averaged points and rebounds in six games Fellow multi-time champion James Michael McAdoo led the group with points per match
