LAS VEGAS \u2014 Cody Williams has made some loud plays this summer.<\/p>\n
The bad kind of loud.<\/p>\n
Bad misses on jumpers, turnovers on attempted crossovers, drives that stalled against non-NBA defenders.<\/p>\n
But there’s also been production.<\/p>\n
Williams’ stats after four games in Las Vegas? 19.0 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 2.2 steals.<\/p>\n
On Wednesday, he poured in 23 points on 9-of-16 shooting to lead Utah past Washington \u2014 the Jazz’s first win of the Las Vegas Summer League.<\/p>\n
Is it an issue that most of the production has come in the second half, a trend that continued on Wednesday? Maybe; maybe not.<\/p>\n
Williams, though, sees it as a good sign. To him, it shows he can adjust midgame \u2014 and then adapt.<\/p>\n
“First half, you’re feeling out, seeing how they’re guarding, and then you adjust to that,” he said. “So I feel I’ve made great adjustments in the second half, seeing what’s open and what’s not, and then just taking advantage of that. That’s why I have had more productive second halves.”<\/p>\n
The latest example? A 15-point third quarter on Wednesday that helped the Jazz blow the game open.<\/p>\n
He went 5-of-7 from the field in the frame, hit 3-of-4 from deep, and added a couple of assists (and probably should have had a few more). He got to the rim, knocked down open looks, and kept the ball moving \u2014 all things that were often missing during a rough rookie season.<\/p>\n
“He’s been working super hard,” Jazz big Kyle Filipowski said. “You can just see with his body No. 1; but also just working out with him this whole summer, I’ve been able to tell how hard he’s worked.”<\/p>\n
Filipowski, who didn’t play Wednesday after being shut down following a string of dominant performances, has been in Williams’ ear, encouraging him to stay aggressive and trust himself \u2014 something he admits isn’t always easy.<\/p>\n
“I think that I’m a perfectionist, but at the same time, I know it’s not good for me to think that, because then I’m just gonna overthink and be like, ‘Oh no, what did I just do?’ But just trying to have that next play mentality, like everyone talks about \u2014 I think that is definitely more important,” Filipowski said. “That and playing hard. That’s better for your mindset playing in a game than trying to do everything perfect.”<\/p>\n
Williams is taking a similar approach.<\/p>\n