Video Recap: Blazers’ Jake Layman and Tim Quarterman Excel in D-League

In one week of action in the NBA’s D-League, Rookies Jake Layman and Tim Quarterman displayed the reasons they were signed by the Portland Trail Blazers. Assigned to the Windy City Bulls, Layman took care of the scoring, while Quarterman deftly found the open man. Neither look ready to take the NBA by storm, but both shone in their own way.

Jake Layman

The Good News: Just ask Golden State if Jake can shoot the ball. Since arriving in D-League, Jake has been either the high or second-highest scorer in every games he’s played. Add in a few steals and dunks, and he easily filled a few highlight reels. You can see his potential for his offensive game to open up, with time and maturity. His turnover numbers have stayed low as well. He’s not a primary ball-handler, but he doesn’t give it away either.

The Bad News: Basically, everything they don’t show you in the highlight clips. His shooting has been a mixed bag, especially in his debut, where he needed 19 shots to score 17 points. However, he seems to be settling nicely, scoring 19 points on 11 shots last Saturday night. His vaunted three-point shot has not been clicking, either. He also had one good rebounding game in his debut (13), with decreasing returns since.

Highlights

Feb 4, 2017 vs. Knicks: 19 points (7-11, 1-5 from three), 3 rebounds, 4 fouls, 1 steal:

Feb 1, 2017 vs. Nets: 23 points (9-17, 3-8 from three), 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal:

Jan 28, 2017 vs. BayHawks: 17 points (7-19 shooting), 13 rebounds:

With more games to be played, Layman may find himself increasingly comfortable playing in the D-League system. We’ll be watching over the next week to see how his game develops.

Tim Quarterman

The Good News: You’d hope a point guard prospect is an assist machine, and Tim is living up to expectations. In his second D-League stint, he has averaged 8 assists in two games. His rebounding numbers are also a pleasant surprise, including a 10-rebound effort Saturday night. If a player makes a mistake, Tim will notice. He’s tallied multiple steals in each game.

The Bad News: His shooting is a work in progress. Tim has not reached the 50% mark in any recent game, and his three-point shot is clearly not ready for prime time. As a primary ball-handler, his turnovers are eye-opening. In the past two games, he’s committed 5 and 7 turnovers.

Highlights

Feb 4, 2017 vs. Knicks: 9 points (2-6 FG), 10 rebounds, 8 assists, 3 steals, 7 turnovers:

Feb 1, 2017 vs. Nets: 12 points (6-13 FG), 5 rebounds, 8 assists, 2 steals, 5 turnovers:

Bonus! Jan 18 vs. 87ers: 14 points (7-18 FG), 5 assists, 4 rebounds, 3 steals, 0 turnovers:

With Quarterman recovering from an ankle injury, he may also continue to improve his game, getting more comfortable with the D-League system. Since there have been no hints that the Blazers plan to recall either Quarterman or Layman, they may get plenty of opportunities to shine.

This week’s schedule for the Windy City Bulls

The Bulls have a home stand all week, so there will be time for rest, healing, and practice.

Tuesday | 5:00 pm PST | vs. Grand Rapids
Thursday | 5:00 pm PST | vs. Raptors 905
Saturday | 5:00 pm PST | vs. Long Island

All D-League games are broadcast live on Facebook, and they provide highlight packages after each game on YouTube. Subscribe to their YouTube channel here, and watch their schedule for links to live broadcasts.