Nique Clifford had another solid performance Monday in his third Summer League game, finishing with 19 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals and 1 block in just 24 minutes. His versatility as a two-way player who can guard multiple positions and score from all of the court is already starting to feel expected in Las Vegas.
In the Kings third win against the Phoenix Suns, Clifford’s game on offense was once again fun to watch. So, let’s take a closer look at what he did, shall we?
On this play, Clifford gets the ball just inside the three-point line, and the Suns threaten a double team out of what appears to be a zone. Clifford dribbles away from it and remains in single coverage. With a small player on him he activates his back-to-the basket game and backs his defender down. Help side defense comes forward as he gets near the basket so Clifford adjusts out to the free throw stripe in single coverage still that leads to a fadeaway jumper.
He serves as the floor spacer here, which leads to nice ball movement from the Kings and a wide open three.
The playmaking element of Clifford’s game is really fun to watch. As he drives to the basket here he draws the defense to him and shovels a pretty dump off pass for a basket.
After Clifford isolates behind the three-point line here, he sizes his defender up, brief side step to the left to get the defender off balance, one short dribble to right and then a really long side step to the right to give himself separation. This separation and the angle it puts the defender in gives Clifford enough room to get his shot off. Splash.
Again, with his passing. It is really nice. As he gets the ball in the paint, he sees the defense collapse on him. He goes into a shot motion, he gets the defender to rise up, only to take a step back dribble and rifle a pass under the basket to his now wide-open team mate. This is easy on the eyes.
A somewhat basic play here. Clifford brings the ball up, comes to a stop, surveys the defense and hits the wide open trailer for a three. It is the right play.
Here, he finds himself in almost the same spot as the three earlier, but with a larger defender. Doesn’t matter, and doesn’t even need the side step to get his shot up and in, just a little head fake.
Steal. Lead the break. Pass. Bucket. You love to see it.
Clifford accepts the screen here and was probably a bit surprised no one collapsed on him. Leave him open and the Big Purple Dawg is going to make you pay.
Through the three games so far, Clifford is averaging 18.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.6 steals, 60% from the field (20/33), 70% from three (7/10). In 25 minutes per game. Yes, you read those percentages correctly. And on defense, he can stop the ball, get into passing lanes and guard multiple positions.
Other Notes
- Devin Carter had another solid scoring night, dropping in 17 points on 7-12 from the field in 21 minutes. He added 3 assists, 2 rebounds, 3 steals and 1 block. He was seen with a wrap on his shoulder on the bench late in the game. So something to keep an eye on if the Kings were to end up competing for a third Rang.
- Maxime Raynaud did not play in this game due to right wrist soreness.
- Isaac Jones had a good night, finishing with 11 points, 8 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 block in 19 minutes.
- Isaiah Crawford showed some nice moments on defense and finished with 4 steals. Though only scoring three points he was a game-high +24 on the game.
- Mason Jones had 7 points and 6 assists, but appeared to be in a lot of back pain and had to leave the game at one point.
The Kings will take on the Cleveland Cavaliers Wednesday at 12:30 pm.
Nothing to fear yet about Nique. Loving it.
Yeah, he looks to know how to play the game and make the right plays. It’s only summer league, so hopefully it translates to the NBA game.
He’s smooth as hell.
I think if Nique can be a good 6th man, eventually, then that would be a boon to the roster. He seems like he can come in and lead a group offensively, while providing solid defense. He needs to improve in certain areas (ball skills mainly) to become that player, and he seems hungry to compete and grow.
Let’s not get too ahead of ourselves because I think he is closer to Kobe than MJ.
“He is a combination of Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan. I call him Kobe Jordan.”
-Vivek Ranadive
Better late than never (+11 years) so Nique does Rock – Vivek
Maybe Nique ends up becoming what we thought Keegan would become.
When he scores 47 as a rookie and sets rookie 3 pt record I will agree .
This. Keegan is still likely the best “asset” on the team since he’s on his rookie deal and the because the Kings have grossly mis-used him and stunted his development. Truth is, he’s exactly the kind of player good teams are wanting for their roster.
If Nique can play like Keegan, that’s two modern NBA wings to build around. Now, if the Kings can and are willing to do that is another question.
I’m kind of interested in the “mis-used” aspect here. Murray had a very successful rookie year, one that certainly suggests that he was utilized properly.
In his second year, Keegs summered with Fox, trying to stay in front of him, a tall task for any NBA player. Mike Brown asked him to work harder on defense, and I think all of us were pretty surprised at how good of a defender he became over just one summer.
But his shooting suffered, likely because of the additional energy spent locking down the man in front of him. With the team makeup, KM being less of a weapon on offense wasn’t a bad tradeoff, since he was always surrounded by other scorers. I don’t think that on a team with defensive, ah, inefficiencies, that trading some offense for really solid defense qualifies as misuse. He was a one-dimensional player when his first season ended, but by the end of his second, he was a legit two-way player, the three-and-D guy that every team needs. His three-point shooting dropped from 41% to 36% because of twenty-three fewer makes. That’s less than one made three every three games. Given that he was likely preventing opponents from making at least one three per game, the tradeoff doesn’t add up to misuse.
In his third year, all of the players were misused, especially after they stupidly got rid of Fox.
Now, Mr. Clifford sure feels like he’s going to make a nice partner for Murray, and may end up handling the defense of an opponent’s best player. That ought to help.
The Frenchman certainly has the look of a stretch big, and when he’s in, KM can slide to small forward in a big lineup.
The issue, of course, is whether either rookie is going to get enough PT to help Keegs regain some of his offensive proficiency. That would entail fewer minutes for DDR and Lavine, and Doug may be under orders to prioritize winning over development. If I was a betting man, I’d put down some money on that.
My hope, fanciful though it may be, is that DC considers that he now has a HC contract, and will show an independent streak. The Clifford comparisons to Christie are looking pretty apt so far, so maybe Doug gives ‘NC the opportunity to turn into an NBA player sooner rather than later. ‘Nique’s game seems like it will mesh very nicely with Sabonis’, and I hope they get a decent amount of run together.
Wish in one hand…
I’m very concerned about Mason Jones’ injury, and hope it isn’t serious. By my estimation, he’s probably the second-best point guard in the organization, and he also hits the longball with excellent consistency.
Carter is looking good overall this summer, but I don’t think he’s got the kind of quickness I like to see in point guards. He’s likely to be easily trapped by defenses, and that just won’t work for a primary ballhandler. He’s still a solid defender, and rebounds well above his weight, as it were. If his shooting holds up, he’s a pretty good asset off the bench or in a deal.
Seems like a lot of guys on the SL roster are putting money on tape, and I hope that some of them catch on here or elsewhere. Everyone seems very serious about playing defense, and the Kings have been running away with games. The wins don’t matter to me, I’m enjoying seeing these guys being utilized in a way that gives them opportunities to shine. The team is a fun watch!
And I encourage you to enjoy it now, the experience may be very different come autumn.
IMO, the playoff year (Keegan’s rookie, and so far best year) the Kings caught the league by a bit of surprise. The DHO game of Sabonis with Huerter and Keegan was a beautiful thing. It also happened to be the best year of Huerter’s career.
Year two, the playbook was out on how the team played. It likely didn’t help that the Kings rolled everyone back in the same role. Even Fox took a hit in productivity. Coach Brown didn’t evolve and adapt.
Year 3, the DDR year, kind of shot everyone in the foot. No point in rehashing that.
In the end, the Kings really haven’t done Keegan, or Sabonis for that matter, any favors in putting complementary players next to them and properly scheming the gameplan with for their skillsets.
Just my take, but if you somehow put Keegan on the Warriors roster, he’d shine in the same way Wiggins did when he arrived and to a lesser extent how Klay played. He hardly had to dribble, came off screns for jumpers and played great defense.
Monk, LaVine, and DDR are just about the worst complementary pieces with guys like Keegan and Sabonis. The Kings continued to just do things bass akwards.
Also, I’m with you on Mason Jones. that dude deserves one of the 2-way spots, or even a last roster spot if the Kings need that 3rd string PG in the same role as Fultz last season.
Unfortunately Mason can’t sign another two-way contract.
Damn. That’s too bad. There are some roster spots open, however.
Based on Keegan’s non-rookke seasons, I’d say it’s possible.
Who will be the leader of the “Knights who cheer NIQUE! NIQUE! NIQUE!” every time he scores?
Is that Vivek on stilts?
Ni rocks!
It’s Matina, Anajli, and Vivek in a trench coat.
and for Sacramento, in place of a Larry O’Brien trophy, they get a shrubbery.
Nice looking stats. Where are his turnovers per game at?
11 turnovers in 3 games, so 3.66 per game. Some were ugly passes where he tried to force it to a teammates.
In 25 minutes per game?
Oops, that could make the vibes a bit less immaculate.
But make ol’ Rik happy in the way that only something negative can.
Fellowship of the Rangz
‘Nique appears to be doing well. Yes, it’s Summer League, but he appears to be in the group of players that look more polished than the others. And the others have been last year’s rookies (the Sophs coming into next season).
Ryan Dunn, Kel’el Ware, Kyle Filipowski, Terrence Shannon, Jr., Pelle Larson, K.J. Simpson, Kobne Bufkin are returning Sophs who are a cut above this VSL (to me, and I haven’t seen everybody).
To use the most cliché of terms from the past two seasons (by players and coaches alike), he plays the right way can be applied to ‘Nique. Will he blossom more in the regular season or be just another give him more time guy? At least today, it’s a reasonable stretch to think he’ll earn more than garbage time minutes (IMO). Of course, he could be ‘Nique Stauskas – Sauce Castillo Dos.
There is more to like than dislike is how I’d leave it.
It’s also nice to see Devin Carter looking more comfortable, and Mad Max Sugar Raynaud on the sidelines providing vocal support. Mason Jones – averaging just under 6 assists per game with around 22 mpg. Maybe he’s the point guard backup they’ve been looking for?
I know it’s just SL, but all 3 rookies look as though they have a great chance of becoming at the least, role players. Given where they were selected, that’d be great.
*I consider DC a rookie.
Can’t lie, Nique’s game reminds of Jaylen Williams.
When Raynaud was drafted I said he’s a poor man’s Chet.
If you squint hard enough, DC has some Caruso in him, albeit a short version.
Perhaps Perry is an evil genious that’s creating OKC West. Now all we need is a superstar to fill SGA’s role and a boatload of picks. The Kangz are back!
Quick, trade DDR to the Clippers for picks and Yanic Konan Niederhäuser!
Gesundheit.
My early thoughs of Nique were Francisco Gacia 2.0. Both are rangy wings that can guard multiple positions, handle the ball, and are willing passers. I went back and looked at the stats of Garcia’s first summer league back in 2005. He basically averaged 12, 4, 3, but with rather poor shooting percentages over 5 games
Where once I thought Nique could be Garcia 2.0, it now looks, after a very small sample size, that Garcia was more of a Nique lite. Lets hope this trend continues. If the Kings have found a starting caliber wing with the #24 pick, that’s an absolute win.
A rich man’s Francisco Garcia with a stronger, more athletic frame is what I see.
Jalen Williams ceiling is what I hope for.
And fewer dipshitted shots with one foot on the line, and ideally, not so many bonehead plays.
I don’t see Cisco at all. Cisco was very limited offensively. Nique clearly has a bag. I really do see some J Will and Middleton.
I’ve been impressed with the pace and ball movement, the ball doesn’t stick. If the Kings stick with that pace in the regular season DeRozan seems like an odd fit for the roster.
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