Tyler Bilodeau didn’t have the kind of box score that jumps off the page Thursday night, but he kept showing up in the ways that matter most for a player trying to carve out an NBA role.
In Brooklyn’s 100-83 loss to the Rockets at the Pavilion, which ended the Nets’ Summer League tournament run, Bilodeau finished with 10 points on 3-10 shooting, 2-6 from three, 3 rebounds, 1 steal and 2 blocks in 23 minutes. The numbers were modest. The tape was more interesting.
Bilodeau got extended first-half run, the longest stretch he’s had across the two Summer League games, and he earned it with activity on both ends. He was active on the wing, crashed the offensive glass for a couple of tips to keep possessions alive and stayed engaged while switching defensively. He got beat off the dribble a few times, but mostly held his ground and helped the Nets cut into Houston’s lead while he was on the floor.
The defensive growth stood out most. His 2 blocks were strong plays, and he also made a sharp read in rotation for a steal.
More important, the mistakes that showed up against Sacramento were less frequent. He still had a few moments where he got turned around and ended up with his back to the ball, but those plays were reduced.
The adjustment from one game to the next was obvious.
That ability to learn quickly is what makes Bilodeau worth watching. The film suggests he took the lessons from Tuesday, understood what the coaches wanted, and carried them into Thursday’s game. That kind of response can separate a player who sticks from one who winds up buried at the end of the bench.
His lateral movement is part of the story too. At UCLA, his sliding and recovery were often a problem, but that hasn’t looked nearly as glaring here.
He’s reacting faster, moving better side to side and showing more comfort switching onto guards. The improvement is noticeable from the start of last season at UCLA to Summer League now.
He also showed a little more with the ball than he had before. On one possession from the left wing, he ripped through, took a couple of dribbles and went into a double step-back that ended in an in-and-out miss.
On another, he caught on the wing, drove hard middle, went behind his back and used his other arm to create space from the defender before missing the layup. It was a move that showed confidence and a growing handle.
He also looked sharp in the V-dribble drill during pregame warmups against the Kings, which fits with the sense that he’s been working on that part of his game every day.
Physicality was another encouraging sign. Early in the game, when Nets first-round pick Mikel Brown Jr. was getting pressured by Houston and ended up on the floor in a scramble, Bilodeau stepped in and cleared space to protect his point guard.
Later, he got into a physical exchange with the Rockets’ Isaiah Crawford on the block. Both players received double technicals, Crawford was ejected for how he reacted, and Bilodeau stayed composed and remained in the game.
He doesn’t look like someone who’s going to be pushed around.
That matters for a young roster, and it also matters for how opponents will treat him. His clean-cut look and shooting reputation might invite tests, but Thursday suggested he’s willing to answer them.
He also looked better than fellow Nets rookie Joshua Jefferson, at least in this game. Jefferson had the athleticism and 2 steals, and as a first-round pick he’ll get the first chances. But right now, Bilodeau’s ability to stretch the floor and bend a defense looks more advanced.
The shooting line wasn’t pretty, but there’s not much reason to overreact to a 3-for-10 night. Playing harder on defense can take something out of a player on the other end, and Bilodeau’s offensive rhythm should settle once that energy becomes more natural.
What still stands out is his spacing. He arrived with a reputation as one of the country’s best shooters, and the UCLA numbers back that up: 51.8% from the field, 46.4% from three and 87.3% from the line in his last season there.
That kind of gravity is valuable even when the shots don’t fall. He also hit 2 transition threes Thursday, and that ability to let it fly on the move before the defense can get set is a real NBA skill.
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