THE Summer League blog. Stat Audit and Notes.

Another NBA Summer League has come and gone. The annual competitive gatherings of young players, mostly guys in the age range of 19-23, was typical of summers we have witnessed in the past. There were rookies that immediately raised yellow flags with their clueless play, and there were players 'three years in' that started to show that they are figuring out how to be a professional. 

We attended the Las Vegas portion of the 2016 NBA Summer League from July 8 through July 13. The rest of the time we watched and took notes on the televised games as we did with the competitions in Orlando and Utah. 

Among the undeniable trends were the continued demise of the traditional Power-Forward. That player is almost universally now called a Center. NBA teams, to a fault, are employing the "one in, four out" method of offense. That method means that four players, ideally, have the ability to hit deep perimeter shots, leaving just one player to play with his back to the basket. As such, the pool of free agent BIG's (traditional PF's and C's) is overflowing with capable athletes. 

Another aspect we could not help but notice was the lack of pure Point Guard play this summer. (Here comes some real stat geek, nerd, stuff...) Usually if you sample the assist-to-turnover ratio of the entire population of NBA players, or NCAA, or D-League, you will find that the top 20% (one fifth) of the total number of players will have an assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.9-to-1 or better. This summer, across Orlando, Utah, and Las Vegas where the three NBA Summer Leagues were contested, an assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.45-to-1 would get you into the top 20 percent. (Most likely, it is a case of a small sample size but it supported my argument.)

Portis was excellent!

Bobby Portis was the most outstanding player on a championship winning team this summer. Portis was able to score inside and outside for the Chicago Bulls. He shot 49% FG, 41% 3-pt., and 90% FT. The ability to compete is never an issue for Portis. He plays with a tremendous amount of energy that seems to have a positive effect on his teammates. 

Our BasslineSpin.com / Hoop Obsession All-Summer League Teams (includes Orlando, Utah and Las Vegas)

First Team:

• Tyus Jones - Minnesota. 
• Jordan McRae - Cleveland.
• Kyle Anderson - San Antonio.
• Bobby Portis - Chicago.
• Cristiano Felicio - Chicago. 

Second Team: 

• Kay Felder - Cleveland.
• Jonathan Gibson - Dallas.
• Denzel Valentine - Chicago.
• Alan Williams - Phoenix.
• Adreian Payne - Minnesota.

Third Team: 

• Tyler Ulis - Phoenix.
• Norman Powell - Toronto.
• Treveon Graham - Orlando/Utah
• Joel Bolomboy - Utah
• Edy Tavares - Atlanta

Some players played really well but they didn't play a high volume of minutes. Standouts in that category included: Devin Booker - Phoenix, Kris Dunn - Minnesota, Christian Wood - Philadelphia, Shawn Long - Philadelphia, D'Angelo Russell - Lakers, and Jarnell Stokes - San Antonio. 

How did the lottery picks play? (My critical thoughts on ALL of these players are nit-picks in the grand scheme of things.) 

Simmons can really pass!

Ben Simmons - Philadelphia's number one pick, Simmons, was mostly as advertised. His vision and decision making with the ball is truly exceptional. I would really like to see him look to score more. He deferred way too much. Even in close games when he needed to take over, he mostly just looked to pass. Defensively, his closeouts were lazy. ...I am not worried about Ben Simmons. His skills are advanced. I came away from Las Vegas feeling reaffirmed that Simmons was a worthy first pick. 

Brandon Ingram - The Lakers coveted rookie was just okay. He showed some flashes but his deep shooting was inconsistent (4-16 3-pt.). He had a terrible game (07/09/16 vs. Sixers).

Jaylen Brown - The Celtics third pick showed his ability to draw fouls off the dribble. He went to the free throw line an amazing 61 times in 174 minutes (across the Utah & Las Vegas Summer Leagues). His perimeter shooting was sketchy. He hit just 5 of 22 three-point attempts. 

Dragan Bender - Bender has a LONG way to go. He was awful at Las Vegas. He shot 27% FG, and his BasslineSpin.com EFR was .150. His defensive fundamentals need work too. Bender was not even in a proper stance when guarding on the perimeter. ...We believed he was overrated from the start and he did nothing to change our opinion. (He was badly outplayed by Nuggets' rookie Juan Hernangomez.)

Kris Dunn - Dunn only played in two games. He suffered a concussion after getting hit in the jaw Sunday (07/10/16) by Jakob Poeltl. Dunn was forced to sit out the rest of Minnesota's games. When in competition he looked fantastic. He was able to get anywhere he wanted on the floor. I was impressed. He ball-handling ability is special. 

Buddy Hield - Hield was just okay. He had moments of greatness, hitting some key three-point shots late in games, but his overall play was nothing special at all. He shot just 32% FG. I think Hield will be fine. The Pelicans summer team was sketchy as a whole and Buddy was carrying a big load. 

Jamal Murray - Murray was good. He showed that he can score as well or better than many current NBA shooting guards. The Nuggets made a nice selection. He did have more turnovers than assists, something that also worked against him at Kentucky. That said, his deep range and knack for scoring was impressive. 

Marquese Chriss - Chriss struggled. It was revealed he was fighting an illness that required antibiotics and he returned home early. While in action his athletic ability was on full display. I think the Suns have a good player in Chriss but it is going to take time for him to develop. 

Poeltl played well for Toronto

Jakob Poeltl - Poeltl was very good. He shot 67% FG and displayed the quick reactions that make him a prospect as a BIG. I could see him getting minutes off the Toronto bench. 

Thon Maker - Milwaukee's big swing at pick number ten was solid. He can really rebound. His shooting touch combined with his size gives him a chance to be special. 

Taurean Prince - Prince didn't play huge minutes. He participated in just three Hawks games but he was good when he was on the floor. Prince was able to get to the free throw line, and he showed more scoring ability than I previously believed he had. 

Georgios Papagiannis - The Kings selection with the 13th pick was terrible in Las Vegas. He was a step behind most of the plays. He looked more lost than found. His BasslineSpin.com per minute efficiency rating was a putrid .147. He shot 35% FG and only went to the free throw line twice in 82 minutes of playing time. He had ZERO assists and eleven turnovers. Sacramento will hopefully bring him along very slowly because he is clearly not ready. 

Denzel Valentine - Valentine hit the game winning jump shot for the Chicago Bulls as they won the the 2016 NBA Las Vegas Summer League championship. 

Our All-Summer League Defensive Teams

• First Team: Briante Weber - Miami, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson - Brooklyn, Taurean Prince - Atlanta, Larry Nance Jr. - Lakers, Edy Tavares - Atlanta. 

• Second Team: Fred Van Vleet Toronto, Axel Toupane - Denver, Atlanta, Stanley Johnson - Detroit, Kyle Anderson - Spurs, Mitch McGary - Oklahoma City.

Weber is a bandit!

Briante Weber was a joy to watch play defense for Miami. His anticipation is uncanny. Weber had 35 steals in 254 minutes (nine games) this summer. That is 3.8 steals per game in just 28.2 minutes per contest. And he is not just out there gambling for steals. His defensive rating was the best among guards at Las Vegas, and was second to Lorenzo Brown's DEFRTG at Orlando. 

One of our favorite aspects of having another chance to observe prospects in a live setting is to be honest with ourselves about players we see improving. Just because we previously rated a player a certain way does not mean that they cannot gain traction in our mind. The biggest revelation for us individually was seeing Juan Hernangomez LIVE for the first time. I previously doubted his overall athleticism. But after watching how his tremendous instincts give him a head-start on the correct positioning, I realized that I had previously missed badly on my evaluation of his play. I now believe in Hernangomez as a prospect. (My apologies for missing so badly on him prior to the Draft). 

Christian Wood gained a big uptick with his play. The UNLV product was dominant at times. He scored with three point shooting and power dunks. He was so good the Charlotte Hornets signed him to a contract.

Stefan Jankovic, undrafted out of Hawaii (2016), played well enough to earn a training camp contract with the Miami Heat. Likewise, Okaro White and Rodney McGruder were rewarded with contracts from the Heat. White was smooth in Vegas. He made play after play within the offense of the Heat. He also made his free throws (84%).

Our first chance to see Shawn Long live made us a believer in him as well. The self described "fat kid" who is now in good shape showed that he can play with his back to the basket, rebound, and hit threes. The Sixers were a better team each time he was on the floor. 

Chasson Randle showed me he could score with more efficiency than I previously believed he was capable of. He virtually won a game this summer for the Knicks by himself. 

Jabril Trawick was the best player on the D-League Select team (in our opinion). He should certainly be invited to an NBA team's training camp. He is tough as nails.

Every time I see Ra'Shad James play he gets better. He too is worthy of a real shot to make an NBA roster. He can create his own shot and he is elite in transition. He was playing for the Milwaukee Bucks in Las Vegas. 

Harris looked lean.

Denver Nuggets guard Gary Harris played in a couple games. He looked really good. His body was noticeably more lean, a sure sign he has been putting in the work. 

Keifer Sykes was playing for the Warriors. He gained favor in my mind with his ability to create (mostly for himself). 

Rondae Hollis- Jefferson remains as one our favorite young two-way players. His defense is still ahead of his offense. He lacks confidence in his jump shot. But his defense more than makes up for any offensive shortcomings. 

Jarell Eddie knocked down the three-ball with tremendous proficiency (13-28 3-pt. 46%). Eddie made contested shots and played well enough overall to make me think he could certainly be a rotation player in the NBA. 

To be credible as a critic you cannot simply like everything. We in no way want to discourage players from chasing their hoop dreams. But as someone looking to find a job consulting in professional basketball personnel, we feel obligated to comment on a dozen players we would be "moving on" from at this point. 

Isaia Cordinier - Hawks. He simply is not ready for this level of play. Atlanta, at times would have been better playing four on five than having Cordinier on the floor. He was that bad. He shot 25% FG, and had two assists and eleven turnovers in 80 minutes. In our opinion, Cordinier was the single worst player we saw that played at least 80 minutes. 

I like guys with multiple dimensions to their game. A one dimensional player is the kind of guy who might look good in a workout setting, especially if he can shoot it a little. But the NBA game requires much more than shooting ability. In my opinion, the quest for shooters is the single biggest reason so many evaluators go down the wrong path. 

The next few prospects we list that we are doubtful about may raise some eyebrows. That said, the NBA game moves quickly, and wasted time on a prospect is just that. Wasted time. 

I would strongly consider moving on from Jabari Brown (Missouri, undrafted in 2014). I just don't see him as dynamic enough for success in the NBA. It pains me to say that because he is an Oakland, California guy that I want to see succeed. ...Tyler Harvey (pick 51 in 2015 NBA Draft) was also not very good this summer. 

Others that we would be done with: Giovan Oniangue, Davion Berry, David Michineau, Damion Lee, Chavaughn Lewis, Nic Moore, Reggie Redding, Marcus Thornton (William and Mary) and Kameron Woods. 

The Sacramento Kings did not win a game this summer. And we saw it coming. Wagering is allowed on the NBA Summer League games at casino's "off the Strip." The beautifully reimagined Westgate Super Book was taking daily action. The easiest money of the week was the Kings opening game against Toronto. The Raptors crushed the Kings by 41 points. The Kings were without Isaiah Cousins which left them void at the Point. The 88-47 loss was so bad that Sacramento called in, free agent PG, David Stockton to play from game two through their finale. The 47 points scored by the Kings tied a Las Vegas Summer League record for fewest points scored in a game. It previously happened in 2008 to Team China. 

Sacramento immediately looked better with Stockton running the show by game two. The Kings' four rookies looked like rookies in each of the five games. Malachi Richardson had some decent moments but they were too far removed from each other. Richardson shot 36% FG and coughed up four turnovers for every one assist. If the Kings are thinking correctly they will be very cautious with Richardson. He needs D-League repetitions not time in real NBA games, contributing to losses with his inconsistent play. (All Kings fans have seen Sacramento lose, in part, due to young players playing too much. Ben McLemore, and Ray McCallum come to mind.) 

Skal Labissiere was ok in some aspects. He showed a nice touch on his deep shots, hitting three of the four three-point shots he took. He was poor in decision making (12 turnovers and three assists.) In our opinion, Labissiere is also not ready to play meaningful NBA minutes at this stage of his career. 

Isaiah Cousins was injured and he missed the first three Kings Summer League games. We are giving him a pass due to the circumstances. For the record, he did not play well in the two games he did participate in. He shot 28% FG, and had more turnovers than assists. 

Two players I would love to see the Kings develop in Reno, Jarrod Uthoff and Elgin Cook, had limited opportunities at Las Vegas. Uthoff is more skilled than he realizes he is. The freedom to be the man in Reno could do wonders for his confidence. ...Cook is a hard nosed defender that we liked too much at Oregon to just dismiss him based on 61 minutes of playing time for the hapless Kings summer squad. 

Notes: The entertainment during timeouts, and halftimes has stepped up in Las Vegas. So did the price of admission. A daily pass which allows hard-core hoop fans to see parts of as many as eight games (or four full games) now exceeds $33. ...The public address announcing in Las Vegas continues to need improvement. Too many mispronounced names. And I'm still trying to figure out what a "foul, outside" is. ...The National Anthem singers were mostly good. Cindy Williams of Laverne and Shirley fame (that was a 70's sitcom) even was part of a group that did one of the best renditions of the Star Spangled Banner that we have heard this year.  ...We saw plenty of kids having a great time at the Summer League. The NBA crew in Vegas has stations set up on the concourse of the Thomas & Mack Center that allow kids to shoot, jump, and pose for pictures. Free posters were given away too. ...We were pleased to see a big portable awning that was adjacent to the box office. It offered refuge from the sun while waiting for Uber or Lyft. ...Warren LaGarie is the man in charge of everything at the Las Vegas NBA Summer League. It is fun to watch him work. From making sure the V.I.P.'s have good seats, to handing out water, to dealing with sketchy fans, LaGarie does it all. (The video below shows LaGarie in action)

Warren LaGarie is the best. Some guys were heckling Joel Embiid. LaGarie defused the hecklers. pic.twitter.com/sMg4CNRmPE

— Bobby Gerould (@BobbyGerould) July 13, 2016

...Watching a Lakers game at Summer League is pretty darn close to being at an NBA home game. Las Vegas is a decidedly pro-Lakers city. The Saturday July 9th game between Philadelphia and the Lakers was an "instant classic", with Ben Simmons dropping passes with a high degree of difficulty, and Larry Nance Jr. dunking everything in site. The first half of that game was poor but the second half was unbelievably entertaining. T.J. McConnell looked to have won the game for the Sixers but there was just enough time for D'Angelo Russell hitting a game-winning three pointer at the buzzer. Lakers fans went crazy! 

Payne is major Sunday

Payne had a good Sunday

The Minnesota Timberwolves and the Chicago Bulls advanced to the finals of the 2016 NBA Summer League tournament by winning their semifinal matchups Sunday. The most efficient player on a winning team was Adreian Payne of the Timberwolves. Payne scored 18 points (8-17 FG, 0-2 3-pt., 2-3 FT) and grabbed ten rebounds in 21 minutes. The T-Wolves defeated the Phoenix Suns 93-83. 

Others that stood out individually Sunday: 

Askia Booker - Suns. 19 points (6-12 FG, 2-2 3-pt., 5-6 FT), 4 rebounds in 21 minutes. 

Dez Wells - Bulls. 11 points (4-7 FG, 1-2 3-pt., 2-2 FT), 2 steals in 18 minutes. ...The Bulls defeated the Cavs 85-79. 

Troy Williams - Suns. 24 points (5-11 FG, 0-5 3-pt., 14-15 FT), 6 rebounds, 2 steals in 33 minutes. 

Devin Thomas - Timberwolves. 6 points (3-4 FG), 2 steals in 18 minutes. 

Kay Felder - Cavs. 22 points (8-14 FG, 2-5 3-pt., 4-4 FT), 4 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 blocked shots in 33 minutes. 

Christiano Felicio - Bulls. 18 points (6-10 FG, 6-8 FT), 6 rebounds, 2 steals in 29 minutes.

Tyus Jones - Timberwolves. 21 points (5-12 FG, 2-3 3-pt. 9-10 FT), 3 rebounds, 8 assists, 3 steals

Valentine's Day in July

Valentine slipped to pick 14. 

Denzel Valentine was the most efficient player on a winning team during quarterfinal play of the 2016 NBA Las Vegas Summer League Tournament. Valentine, a rookie from Michigan State that was selected 14th in the 2016 NBA Draft, showed off his all around game as the Chicago Bulls advanced with an 88-85 victory over the Washington Wizards. Valentine scored 14 points (4-9 FG, 4-6 3-pt., 2-2 FT), grabbed ten rebounds, and dished three assists with zero turnovers in 26 minutes. ...Other individual standouts Saturday included...

Jarell Eddie - Wizards. 22 points (7-12 FG, 5-7 3-pt., 3-3 FT), 6 rebounds, 4 assists 25 minutes. 

Alan Williams - Suns. 11 points (5-12 FG, 1-2 FT), 16 rebounds, 2 steals in 25 minutes. ...The Suns beat the Nuggets 82-81 on a Tyler Ulis three point shot at the buzzer to close overtime. Williams assisted on the play. 

Beau Beech - Nets. 15 points (5-7 FG, 5-7 3-pt.), 7 rebounds in 26 minutes. ...The Nets lost to the Cavs 91-83 in overtime. 

Raphiael Putney - Cavs. 10 points (2-4 FG, 2-2 3-pt., 4-4 FT), 5 rebounds, 3 blocked shots in 22 minutes. 

Delon Wright - Raptors. 7 points (3-6 FG, 1-3 3-pt.), 8 rebounds, 3 assists, zero turnovers in 22 minutes. ...Wright suffered a dislocated shoulder in the second half. X-rays were negative. ...The Raptors lost to the Timberwolves 81-79. 

Nate Wolters - Wizards. 16 points (6-10 FG, 2-4 3-pt., 2-2 FT) 5 rebounds, 7 assists in 32 minutes. 

Troy Williams - Suns. 22 points (9-15 FG, 2-5 3-pt., 2-4 FT), 6 rebounds, 3 steals in 32 minutes. 

Jamal Murray - Nuggets. 29 points (13-26 FG, 2-6 3-pt., 1-2 FT), 7 rebounds, 3 assists in 35 minutes. 

Bobby Portis - Bulls. 17 points (6-14 FG, 3-4 3-pt, 2-2 FT), 9 rebounds in 29 minutes. 

Juan Hernangomez - Nuggets. 10 points (5-11 FG, 0-1 3-pt.), 12 rebounds, 4 assists in 32 minutes. 

Adreian Payne - Timberwolves. 19 points (6-11 FG, 2-4 3-pt., 5-6 FT), 10 rebounds in 32 minutes. 

Notes: Isaiah Whitehead posted a per-minute efficiency rating of "zero" in 29 minutes. What does a zero efficiency game look like? 5 points (2-12 FG, 0-2 3-pt., 1-3 FT), 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 turnovers. 

Last chance to shine for consolation bracket players

Long was great Friday.

The Friday action at the 2016 NBA Las Vegas Summer League was a slate full of games that served as the final games for those teams eliminated from championship contention. The final opportunity to make an impact was not lost on the twelve guys we will highlight who played well Friday. The most efficient player on a winning team was Shawn Long of Philadelphia. The 6'11", 250 lb. Center from Louisiana Lafayette impressed in each contest with his ability to score both inside and outside. Long scored 18 points (8-13 FG, 1-3 3-pt., 1-1 FT) and grabbed ten rebounds in just 18 minutes Friday as the Sixers cooled the Miami Heat 74-66. 

The others that stood out: 

Ra'Shad James - Bucks. 19 points (8-12 FG, 2-3 3-pt., 1-2 FT), 5 rebounds in 20 minutes. ...Milwaukee lost to the Houston Rockets 92-89. 

Jameel McKay - Pelicans. 16 points (7-10 FG, 2-4 FT), 13 rebounds, 4 blocked shots in 26 minutes. ...The Pelicans were defeated by the D-League Select Team 88-76. 

Vince Hunter - Grizzlies. 18 points (8-10 FG, 2-6 FT), 8 rebounds, 3 steals, 2 blocked shots in 26 minutes. ...Memphis lost to the Atlanta Hawks 89-79. 

Walter "Edy" Tavares - Hawks. 11 points (5-8 FG, 1-2 FT), 10 rebounds in 18 minutes. 

Ivica Zubac - Lakers. 16 points (8-14 FG), 11 rebounds, 6 blocked shots in 27 minutes. ...The Lakers lost to the Utah Jazz 92-88. 

Pierre Jackson - Blazers. 20 points (7-10 FG, 1-3 3-pt., 5-6 FT), 5 rebounds, 8 assists in 28 minutes. ...Portland was a winner over Boston 80-75. 

DeJounte Murray - Spurs. 20 points (9-20 FG, 2-5 3-pt.), 4 rebounds, 9 assists, 4 steals in 29 minutes. ...San Antonio kept the Sacramento Kings winless with a 90-86 overtime victory. 

Brandon Ingram - Lakers. 22 points (9-13 FG, 2-3 3-pt., 2-2 FT), 5 rebounds, 4 assists in 31 minutes. 

Dionte Christmas - Jazz. 14 points (4-6 FG, 4-5 3-pt., 2-3 FT), 4 assists in 18 minutes. 

Duje Dukan - Kings. 8 points (3-7 FG, 2-4 3-pt.), 3 rebounds, 4 assists in 16 minutes. 

Notes: Dallas beat Golden State 80-74. ...On most days an efficiency rating over .800 would be good enough to make our daily list. Montrezl Harrell, Brandon Ashley and Joel Bolomboy all were above .825 EFR Friday but they did not make the cutoff for BIGs which was Zubac's .925 EFR. ...Four players posted per-minute efficiency rating at or below "zero" (that is not good): Andrew Harrison, Byron Allen, Nic Moore, and Giovan Oniangue. 

Vegas, day seven. Eight teams advance, Felicio leads Bulls

Felicio good again

The Chicago Bulls remained perfect (4-0) in 2016 NBA Las Vegas Summer League competition Thursday by soundly defeating the Dallas Mavericks 86-73. Christiano Felicio had 15 points, eight rebounds, three assists, and a perfect shooting day, making all six of his field goals, as well as his three free throws. Felicio played 18 minutes for the Bulls.

Others who stood out during play Thursday...

Danuel House - Wizards. 15 points (3-8 FG, 2-5 3-pt., 7-9 FT), 5 rebounds, 3 steals in 16 minutes. ...The Wizards beat the Hawks 71-60. 

Bobby Portis - Bulls. 19 points (9-13 FG, 1-3 3-pt., 0-0 FT), 8 rebounds, 3 steals in 28 minutes. 

Levi Randolph - Grizzlies. 26 points (9-12 FG, 4-4 3-pt., 4-4 FT), 4 rebounds, 4 steals in 34 minutes. ...The Grizz lost to the Timberwolves 89-85. 

Jordan McRae - Cavs. 36 points (12-22 FG, 1-4 3-pt., 12-14 FT), 9 rebounds, in 34 minutes. ...The Cavs took care of the Lakers 88-80. 

Tyus Jones - Timberwolves. 26 points (9-15 FG, 1-2 3-pt., 7-9 FT), 4 rebounds, 10 assists in 36 minutes. 

Ivica Zubac - Lakers. 10 points (5-6 FG), 7 rebounds in 19 minutes. 

Richaun Holmes - Sixers. 12 points (4-4 FG, 4-7 FT), 8 rebounds, 2 steals in 25 minutes. ...The Sixers lost to the Nets 87-84. 

Tyler Ulis - Suns. 20 points (9-14 FG, 0-2 3-pt., 2-2 FT), 3 rebounds, 8 assists in 29 minutes. ...The Suns beat the Heat 77-74. 

Victor Rudd - Heat. 24 points (8-13 FG, 4-6 3-pt., 4-4 FT), 3 rebounds in 29 minutes. 

James Webb III - Sixers. 13 points (5-7 FG, 3-4 3-pt.), 3 rebounds in 21 minutes. 

Jamil Wilson - Lakers. 10 points (4-6 FG, 2-3 3-pt.) in 19 minutes. 

Notes: Toronto beat the Warriors 75-69. ...The Nuggets blew out the Jazz 80-60. ...All of the winning teams Thursday advanced to the quarterfinals of the NBA Las Vegas Summer League Tournament. The winning teams will enjoy Friday off and resume playing Saturday. ...Three players struggled big-time Thursday, posting per-minute efficiency ratings of "minus" or "zero": Isaia Cordinier (again), Aaron White, and Wade Baldwin. 

Vegas Summer League Day 6. Shawn Long shines

Long made Philly better.

Shawn Long scored 25 points, grabbed five rebounds and blocked two shots in just 17 minutes to power the Philadelphia 76'ers to their first NBA Las Vegas Summer League victory of 2016. The Sixers deleted (yes, that says deleted) the D-League Select team 108-71. Ironically, Philly won their first game of the Vegas Summer League without Ben Simmons, the number one overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft. They were 0-3 with Simmons in the lineup. 

Joining Shawn Long on the Hoop Obsession / BasslineSpin.com daily All-NBA Las Vegas Summer League Team for Wednesday, July 13, 2016...

Tibor Pleiss - Utah. 20 points (6-9 FG, 2-4 3-pt., 6-6 FT), 8 rebounds in 24 minutes. ...The Jazz made the Portland TrailBlazers kind of blue 96-81. 

Diamon Simpson - Cleveland. 13 points (6-7 FG, 1-1 FT), 4 rebounds, 3 blocked shots in 17 minutes. ...The Cavs beat the Boston Celtics 98-94. 

K.J. McDaniels - Houston. 25 points (8-12 FG, 3-5 3-pt., 6-7 FT), 9 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals, 2 blocked shots in 34 minutes. ...The Rockets lost to the Warriors 80-76. 

Terry Rozier - Boston. 24 points (7-10 FG, 1-2 3-pt., 9-9 FT) in 26 minutes. 

Joel Bolomboy - Utah. 14 points (5-6 FG, 4-6 FT), 9 rebounds, 3 assists in 24 minutes. 

Walter "Edy" Tavares - Atlanta.  14 points (5-8 FG, 4-5 FT), 9 rebounds, 3 steals in 23 minutes. ...The Hawks blew out the Sacramento Kings 81-61. 

T.J. McConnell - Philadelphia. 8 points (4-7 FG, 0-2 3-pt.), 3 rebounds, 9 assists, 2 steals in 20 minutes. 

Jonathan Gibson - Dallas. 14 points (6-9 FG, 2-3 3-pt.), 6 rebounds in 19 minutes. ...The Mavs dumped the Milwaukee Bucks 81-64. 

Taurean Prince - Atlanta. 21 points (5-11 FG, 2-2 3-pt., 9-9 FT), 9 rebounds in 25 minutes. 

Brandon Paul - Philadelphia. 20 points (8-14 FG, 4-6 3-pt.), 6 rebounds in 24 minutes. 

James Webb III - Philadelphia. 14 points (4-9 FG, 3-4 3-pt., 3-4 FT), 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 5 steals in 20 minutes. 

Notes: Three players were in "minus" or "zero" range on our per-minute efficiency scale: Isaia Cordinier, Ryan Boatright, and Julyan Stone (again). 

C.J. Fair stars on Day 5

Fair guards Lyles 

The fifth day of the 2016 NBA Las Vegas Summer League was highlighted by a sudden-death, double overtime contest between the Portland Trailblazers and the Utah Jazz. Pat Connaughton hit the game-winning jumper, a long three point shot, to give the Blazers a 92-89 victory. But the star of the day, the most efficient player on a winning team, was C.J. Fair. The Portland wing scored 20 points (8-10 FG, 3-4 3-pt., 1-1 FT), with three rebounds, three assists, two steals, and two blocked shots in only 19 minutes of playing time. 

Along with Fair, the rest of the Hoop Obsession / BasslineSpin.com daily All NBA Summer League Team for Tuesday July 12, 2016...

Justin Anderson - Dallas. 29 points (8-19 FG, 6-12 3-pt., 7-7 FT), 11 rebounds in 27 minutes. ...The Mavs lost to the Boston Celtics 88-82. 

Jarnell Stokes - San Antonio. 15 points (7-7 FG, 1-2 FT), 7 rebounds in 22 minutes. ...The Spurs fell to the Chicago Bulls 79-76.

Egidijus Mockevicius - Brooklyn. 9 points (2-2 FG, 5-6 FT), 5 rebounds, 2 blocked shots in 16 minutes. ...The Nets lost to the Washington Wizards 87-85. 

Okaro White - Miami. 12 points (3-6 FG, 1-2 3-pt., 5-5 FT), 12 rebounds in 23 minutes. ...The Heat cooled the Phoenix Suns 80-71. 

Michael Carrera - Miami. 16 points (5-5 FG, 1-1 3-pt., 5-7 FT), 4 rebounds in 21 minutes. 

Terry Rozier - Boston. 26 points (5-9 FG, 2-3 3-pt., 14-18 FT), 6 rebounds, 3 steals in 31 minutes. 

Ognjen Kuzmic - Golden State. 12 points, 11 rebounds, 4 blocked shots in 28 minutes. ...The Warriors handled the Philadelphia 76'ers 85-77. 

Trey Lyles - Utah. 30 points (10-20 FG, 5-7 3-pt., 5-5 FT), 9 rebounds in 34 minutes. 

Jaylen Brown - Boston. 20 points (4-11 FG, 0-1 3-pt, 14-17 FT), 10 rebounds, 4 steals in 30 minutes. 

Shawn Dawson - Washington. 9 points (4-5 FG, 0-1 3-pt., 1-2 FT) in 16 minutes. 

Sterling Gibbs - Washington. 7 points (3-5 FG, 1-2 FT), 5 assists (zero turnovers) in 19 minutes. 

Notes: Three players posted per-minute efficiency ratings of "zero" or "minus" (not good): Jordan Mickey, Dorian Finney-Smith, and DeJounte Murray. 

Vegas Day 4. Russell excels as a scorer

Russell can score. 

He is not a point guard. That is the conclusion I continue to draw concerning Los Angeles Lakers second year pro D'Angelo Russell. Russell was the most efficient player on a winning team during play Monday at the 2016 NBA Las Vegas Summer League. Russell had only one assist and four turnovers but he did score 26 points (9-13 FG, 4-7 3-pt., 4-5 FT), and grab five rebounds in 24 minutes. The Lakers washed out the Warriors 78-65. 

Joining Russell on the Hoop Obsession / BasslineSpin.com daily All-Summer League Team...

Jameel Warney - Dallas. 14 points (5-7 FG, 4-4 FT), 8 rebounds, 3 steals in 21 minutes. ...The Mavs lost to the Toronto Raptors 80-69.

Jaron Johnson - D League Select. 17 points, 8 rebounds in 21 minutes. ...The D-League Select team humbled the Houston Rockets 89-71. 

Jarvis Varnado - Lakers. 6 points (2-4 FG, 2-2 FT), 10 rebounds, 3 blocked shots in 20 minutes. 

Raphiael Putney - Cleveland. 19 points (7-12 FG, 5-7 3-pt., 0-2 FT), 6 rebounds, 2 blocked shots in 21 minutes. ...The Cavs easily beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 99-68.

Fred VanVleet - Toronto. 9 points (3-5 FG, 3-3 3-pt., 0-0 FT), 6 rebounds in 17 minutes. 

Juan Hernangomez - Denver. 14 points (6-7 FG, 0-1 3-pt., 2-4 FT), 12 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals in 34 minutes. ...The Nuggets lost to the Miami Heat 92-81. 

Reggie Hearn - D League Select. 15 points (5-8 FG, 3-6 3-pt., 2-2 FT), 3 rebounds, 2 steals in 21 minutes. 

D.J. Stephens - Memphis. 21 points (9-13 FG, 2-5 3-pt., 1-4 FT), 7 rebounds in 27 minutes. ...Memphis mauled Milwaukee 85-81. 

Vince Hunter - Memphis. 17 points (5-6 FG, 0-1 3-pt., 7-11 FT), 7 rebounds, 2 blocked shots in 27 minutes. 

Joel Wright - D League Select. 19 points (6-10 FG, 0-1 3-pt., 7-11 FT) 7 rebounds, 2 blocked shots in 25 minutes. 

Briante Weber - Miami. 4 points (2-5 FG, 0-1 3-pt, 0-0 FT), 5 rebounds, 7 assists, 6 steals in 26 minutes. 

NOTES: The New Orleans Pelicans won their first game by defeating the Sacramento Kings 70-66. Georgios Papagiannis, the Kings lottery pick (13th overall), was one of six players during Monday's games that posted a per-minute efficiency rating of either "zero" or "minus" (that is especially terrible). The other five were Julyan Stone, Beau Beech, Chiinanu Onuaku, Vander Blue, and Toure Murry. ...Brooklyn beat Atlanta 82-75. The Nets improved to 2-0. 

Vegas, Day 3. Cotton is crucial

Cotton: 21 pts. in 16 mins.

The Atlanta Hawks improved to 2-0 with an 88-80 win over the Washington Wizards in the third day of play at the Las Vegas NBA Summer League. Crucial to the Hawks success was Bryce Cotton who came off the bench to score 21 points (7-11 FG, 3-4 3pt., 4-5 FT), and grab three rebounds in just 16 minutes. Cotton was the most efficient player on a winning team Sunday. 

Joining Cotton on our daily Hoop Obsession / BasslineSpin.com All-NBA Summer League Team for Sunday July 10, 2016...

Michael Eric - Wizards. 20 points (8-10 FG, 4-6 FT), 8 rebounds, 2 steals in 24 minutes. 

Christiano Felicio - Bulls. 17 points (8-8 FG, 1-1 FT), 10 rebounds, 4 assists in 27 minutes. ...Chicago improved to 2-0 with an 83-70 victory over the Philadelphia 76'ers. 

Norman Powell - Raptors. 29 points (7-15 FG, 4-8 3-pt, 11-12 FT), 8 rebounds, 3 assists in 29 minutes. ...Toronto moved to 2-0 by beating the Minnesota Timberwolves 82-80. 

Cheick Diallo - Pelicans. 12 points (5-7 FG, 2-2 FT), 11 rebounds, 4 blocked shots in 28 minutes. ...New Orleans fell to the Utah Jazz 79-72. 

Alan Williams - Suns. 15 points (6-10 FG, 3-3 FT), 12 rebounds, 2 steals in 30 minutes. ...Phoenix beat the Boston Celtics 87-74. 

Lamar Patterson - Hawks. 16 points (5-9 FG, 4-7 3-pt., 2-2 FT), 4 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals in 24 minutes. 

Spencer Dinwiddie - Bulls. 14 points (5-10 FG, 4-4 FT), 4 rebounds, 4 assists in 21 minutes. 

Jabril Trawick - D League Select. 15 points (3-4 FG, 1-1 3-pt., 8-10 FT), 5 rebounds, 2 steals, 2 blocked shots in 28 minutes. ...The D-League Select team was a surprise winner over the Milwaukee Bucks 91-86. 

Thon Maker - Bucks. 17 points (7-15 FG, 1-4 3-pt., 2-4 FT), 17 rebounds, 2 blocked shots in 33 minutes. 

Kyle Anderson - Spurs. 23 points (9-17 FG, 3-6 3-pt., 2-2 FT), 4 rebounds in 29 minutes. ...The Spurs upped their record to 2-0 by pounding the Portland Trailblazers 85-69. 

Abdel Nader - Celtics. 13 points (6-13 FG, 1-4 3-pt., 0-1 FT), 6 rebounds in 22 minutes. 

NOTES: The Houston Rockets beat the Sacramento Kings 85-73. The Kings brought in David Stockton to run the point after their epic failure of Friday. Sacramento looked much better Sunday with Stockton having a solid game as well as rookie wing Malachi Richardson. ...There were four players that struggled mightily, posting efficiency ratings of "zero" or "minus." They were: Brandon Fields (again), Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot, Ryan Arcidiacono, and Suns' lottery pick, Dragan Bender. ...On the other side of the coin, Joshua Smith played VERY well but just missed the cut to be on our "best-of" team for the day. 

Day 2, Vegas. Stokes remains efficient

Stokes just balls.

Jarnell Stokes was the most efficient player on a wining team during play Saturday at the 2016 Las Vegas NBA Summer League. The bruising power forward scored ten points (4-7 FG, 2-2 FT) and grabbed nine rebounds in 17 minutes. His summer San Antonio Spurs team narrowly defeated the Golden State Warriors 63-61.  

Joining Stokes on the daily Hoop Obsession / BasslineSpin All-NBA Summer League Team...

Jakarr Sampson - Nuggets. 16 points (4-7 FG, 1-3 3-pt., 7-9 FT), 3 rebounds, in 16 minutes. ...Denver de-clawed the Grizzlies 106-62.

Petr Cornelie - Nuggets. 19 points (7-11 FG, 1-2 3-pt., 4-6 FT), 7 rebounds in 21 minutes. 

Jack Cooley - Bulls. 11 points (4-7 FG, 3-4 FT), 8 rebounds in 16 minutes. ...Chicago beat Boston 71-62.

Jonathan Gibson - Mavs. 30 points, 3 rebounds, 2 steals in 30 minutes. ...Dallas cooled the Heat 83-64.

Jimmer Fredette - Nuggets. 26 points (9-18 FG, 4-8 3-pt., 4-4 FT), 3 assists, 2 steals, zero turnovers in 27 minutes. 

Tyler Ulis - Suns. 11 points (3-4 FG. 5-6 FT), 5 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 steals in 27 minutes. The Suns burned the Blazers 86-73.

Bobby Portis - Bulls. 17 points (7-12 FG, 1-3 3-pt., 2-2 FT), 13 rebounds in 30 minutes. 

Axel Toupane - Nuggets. 10 points (5-8 FG, 0-2 3-pt.), 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals in 26 minutes. 

Dionte Christmas - Jazz. 13 points (3-6 FG, 1-3 3-pt., 6-7 FT) in 17 minutes. ...Utah lost to Washington 88-73. 

Guerschon Yabusele - Celtics. 10 points (3-7 FG, 2-6 3-pt., 2-2 FT), 7 rebounds, 2 steals in 22 minutes. 

Devin Booker - Suns. 28 points (11-21 FG, 3-5 3-pt., 3-7 FT), 8 rebounds, 6 assists in 36 minutes. 

NOTES - ...Never before can I remember so many players having terrible days during Summer League play. No less than a dozen guys had per-minute efficiency ratings at or below "zero" (that is extra terrible.) The 12 that stunk it up included three lottery picks from the 2016 NBA Draft, offering further proof of how far away some of these prospects can be from actually helping a team at this level. In alphabetical order, the players with horrid efficiency Saturday: Jaylen Brown, Michael Carrera, Marquese Chriss, Randy Culpepper, Bryn Forbes, Quincy Ford, Brandon Ingram, Kenny Gabriel, Malcolm Miller, Jonathan Simmons, Rasheed Sulaimon, and James Young. ...For one night, the Showtime Lakers were back. In an instant classic game, the Los Angeles Lakers and Philadelphia 76'ers battled through a poor first half to completely enthrall fans in the thrid and fourth quarter. The Lakers' Larry Nance Jr. had several highlight dunks, and teammate D'Angelo Russell hit two clutch shots, including a buzzer-beating jumper that gave the Lakers the 70-69 W. For the Sixers, Ben Simmons, the 2016 NBA Draft number-one pick dazzled with his ability to pull of passes with a high degree of difficulty. ...Players who played very well but just missed the cut for our daily 'best of' list included: Daniel Ochefu, Alan Williams, and Michael Eric. 

Friday's 11-game All-Summer League Team

Labeyrie plays wild and free

Louis Labeyrie was the most efficient player on a winning team during play Friday in the 2016 NBA Summer League. Eleven games were contested with action in Orlando coming to a close just as the Las Vegas games began. Labeyrie had 14 points, 12 rebounds, and two steals in just 16 minutes of playing time for the New York Knicks summer team. They sunk the Clippers 106-77. 

With eleven games in one day, making our daily All-Summer League team was tougher than normal. As always, we acknowledge efficient play, first and foremost. It is VITAL to understand that most humans will only see highlights on ESPN or NBA-TV. The producers at those media outlets are always quick to show you the top lottery picks, and how they fared. Kris Dunn, for instance, was excellent Friday. But other lesser known players balled too. Dunn dazzled with his ball-handling ability, making an instant-classic Vine where he shook Jakarr Sampson out of his shoes. But what you may not have seen is that Dunn missed the shot. 



So - style points are just that. And this is not a shot at Dunn at all. I love his game. He was crazy good Friday night against Emmanuel Mudiay. But as good as Dunn was he had the fourth most efficient game among all the point guards that played Friday. Ron Baker was slightly more efficient, and he will not be on our daily All-Summer League Team either. 

Joining Labeyrie on the Hoop Obsession / BasslineSpin.com All-NBA Summer League Team for Friday, July 8, 2016...

Shayne Whittington - Pacers. 12 points (5-7 FG, 1-1 3-pt., 2-2 FT), 5 rebounds, 3 blocked shots in 16 minutes. ...The Pacers beat the Orlando Blue team 85-79. 

Devin Booker (Clemson) - Knicks. 13 points (4-9 FG, 5-5 FT), 8 rebounds, 3 steals in 21 minutes. 

D'Angelo Russell - Lakers. 20 points (7-12 FG, 1-1 3-pt., 5-5 FT), 11 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals in 29 minutes. ...The Lakers easily handled the Pelicans 85-65. 

Okaro White - Orlando Blue. 11 points (5-8 FG, 0-1 3-pt., 1-2 FT), 7 rebounds, 4 steals, 2 blocked shots in 22 minutes. 

Bryce Cotton - Hawks. 14 points (5-11 FG, 4-6 3-pt), 7 rebounds in 17 minutes.  ...The Hawks downed the Rockets 83-78. 

Diamon Simpson - Cavs. 7 points (3-5 FG, 1-4 FT), 6 rebounds, 4 steals, 6 blocked shots in 19 minutes. ...The Cavs lost to the Bucks, 81-75. 

Ramon Galloway - Hornets. 25 points (9-13 FG, 2-4 3-pt., 5-5 FT), 5 rebounds, 4 assists in 27 minutes. ...The Hornets lost to Dallas 97-92. 

Andrew Harrison - Grizzlies. 23 points (5-11 FG, 1-5 3-pt., 12-12 FT), 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals in 25 minutes. ...Memphis erased the D-League Select team 99-79. 

Fred VanVleet - Raptors. 6 points (2-5 FG, 2-3 3-pt.), 6 rebounds, 3 assists (zero turnovers) in 17 minutes. ...The Raptors embarrassed the Kings 88-47. 

Brandon Davies - Pistons. 7 points (3-4 FG, 1-2 3-pt.), 5 rebounds in 17 minutes. 

Axel Toupane - Nuggets. 8 points (2-3 FG, 1-1 3-pt., 3-4 FT), 3 rebounds in 16 minutes. 

Notes: Denver Nuggets guard Gary Harris looked noticeably more lean. Hard work and a better diet shows me that Harris is serious about his craft; not that we ever doubted the former Michigan State star. Nevertheless it is good to reaffirm that Harris is a real professional. ...The Kings game was ugly. Really ugly. Their summer team is woefully ill-equipped to battle compared to the way most franchises have built their rosters for Las Vegas. The Kings rolled out seven raw rookies and were promptly blasted by Toronto. Sacramento's 47 points were the lowest total for a Las Vegas NBA Summer League game since 2008. The Chinese National team matched the futility of the Kings eight summers ago. ...Four players had really bad days. Two of them were part of the Kings group. These four all had per-minute efficiency ratings at or below "zero": David Michineau (Clippers), Brandon Fields (D-League Select), Retin Obasohan (Kings), and Ricky Ledo (Kings). ...Usually if a player posts a BasslineSpin.com game efficiency rating of .750 or higher it is good enough to make the daily All-NBA Summer League team. However, with so many games on the slate, many who were over .750 were left out. The following guys fit the description of "over .750 but not on the daily best-of team:" Ron Baker, Jabril Trawick, Norman Powell, Victor Rudd, James Kelly, Branden Dawson, Jakob Poeltl, Arinze Onuaku, and Goodluck Okonoboh.

Thursday belonged to Richaun Holmes

Holmes balled Thursday

Richuan Holmes was the most efficient player on a winning team during play Thursday across two NBA Summer Leagues. With action taking place in both Orlando and in Salt Lake City, Holmes emerged as the star of the day with 17 points (6-9 FG, 5-6 FT), seven rebounds, and two blocked shots in just 21 minutes. His Philadelphia 76'ers summer squad be-bopped the Jazz 86-75. 

The rest of the Hoop Obsession / BasslineSpin.com All-NBA Summer league Team for Thursday, July 7th, 2016...

Kyle Anderson - Spurs. 23 points (9-17 FG, 5-6 FT), 10 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 steals in 30 minutes. ...The Spurs lost a close game to Celtics, 87-86. 

Stanley Johnson - Pistons. 20 points (7-13 FG, 2-6 3-pt., 4-4 FT), 9 rebounds, 3 steals in 30 minutes. ...The Pistons remained unbeaten (4-0) with a convincing 71-58 win over Miami. 

Tibor Pleiss - Jazz. 14 points (5-8 FG, 2-3 3pt., 2-2 FT), 6 rebounds in 22 minutes. 

Terry Rozier - Celtics. 23 points (8-15 FG, 1-3 3-pt., 6-7 FT), 7 rebounds, 6 assists in 31 minutes.  ...Rozier hit the game winning shot for the C's. 

Tyler Honeycutt - Mavericks. 9 points (4-10 FG, 1-2 3-pt.), 13 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals, 3 blocked shots in 33 minutes. ...The Mavs fell to the Orlando Blue team 96-94.

Okaro White - Orlando Blue. 9 points (3-7 FG, 0-1 3-pt., 3-3 FT), 10 rebounds in 18 minutes. 

Dejounte Murray - Spurs. 21 points (8-12 FG, 0-1 3-pt., 5-7 FT), 5 rebounds in 25 minutes. 

Nick Johnson - Orlando Blue. 19 points (6-10 FG, 3-5 3-pt., 4-5 FT), 5 rebounds, 9 assists in 36 minutes. 

Derrick Nix - Pistons. 9 points (3-5 FG, 3-4 FT), 4 rebounds, in 16 minutes. 

T.J. McConnell - Sixers. 11 points 5-7 FG, 1-1 3-pt.), 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals in 29 minutes. 

Notes: Four players really struggled Thursday, posting per-minute efficiency ratings at or below "zero". Those four: David Michineau, Julian Washburn, Michael Frazier, and Tyrone Wallace. 

Darius Adams has a day, Tobey making believers

Adams starred Wed. 

Darius Adams was the most efficient player on a winning team during play on July 6th at the NBA Summer League. Only three games were contested (all in Orlando) as the Utah Summer League took a day off. Adams came off the bench for Dallas to score 25 points (9-16 FG, 3-8 3-pt., 3-4 FT), dish six assists, and nab three steals in 25 minutes. The Mavericks beat the Charlotte Hornets 84-81. ...Adams is a 6'1", 27 year-old guard, that made the All-Spanish ACB League Team in 2015-16. 

Mike Tobey, an undrafted rookie from Virginia was equally as impressive in the loss for the Hornets. Tobey scored 16 points (8-13 FG), with 14 rebounds, three blocked shots, and two steals in 26 minutes. 

The rest of the Hoop Obsession All-Summer League Team from July 6, 2016...

Tomislav Zubzic - Oklahoma City. 13 points (5-7 FG, 3-5 3-pt.), 3 rebounds, 3 assists in 17 minutes. The Thunder beat the Indiana Pacers 89-71. 

Ron Baker - New York. 22 points (8-15 FG, 4-9 3-pt., 2-3 FT), 9 rebounds, 5 assists, 5 steals in 33 minutes. The Knicks fell 95-90 to the Orlando White team. 

Arinze Onuaku - Orlando White. 16 points (7-10 FG, 2-6 FT), 13 rebounds, 2 blocked shots in 25 minutes.

Michael Frazier - Orlando White. 12 points (2-5 FG, 8-10 FT), 3 rebounds, 3 assists, in 16 minutes. 

Devin Booker - New York. 12 points (4-9 FG, 4-4 FT), 8 rebounds, in 23 minutes. 

Dakari Johnson - Oklahoma City. 11 points (5-8 FG, 1-5 FT), 9 rebounds in 23 minutes. 

Cameron Payne - Oklahoma City. 19 points (7-15 FG, 2-4 3-pt., 3-4 FT), 6 assists, 3 steals in 26 minutes. 

Treveon Graham - Orlando White. 19 points (7-12 FG, 2-5 3-pt., 3-5 FT), 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals in 31 minutes. 

Tyler Honeycutt - Dallas. 8 points (3-7 FG, 1-3 3-pt., 1-2 FT), 7 rebounds, 2 steals, 2 blocked shots in 30 minutes. 

Patricio Garino - Orlando White. 14 points (3-8 FG, 2-5 3-pt., 6-7 FT), 3 steals in 33 minutes. 

Jonathan Simmons goes nutso

Simmons. Jonathan, that is. 

Jonathan Simmons, a second year pro for the San Antonio Spurs, had one of the better performances Tuesday that we have seen in the history NBA Summer League play. Simmons scored 35 points and added seven rebounds, and five assists in the Spurs 95-91 victory over the summer version of the Philadelphia 76'ers. Simmons shot 13 of 18 from the floor and made one of his two three-point attempts. At the foul line, he connected on all but one of his nine attempts. 

The rest of the Hoop Obsession / BasslineSpin All-NBA Summer League team for July 5th, 2016...

Christian Wood - Philadelphia. 19 points (5-8 FG, 2-3 3-pt., 7-11 FT), 7 rebounds, in 20 minutes. Wood was brilliant in his first game as well. Tuesday he showed an ability to play both inside and outside. 

Chasson Randle - New York. 24 points (8-15 FG, 6-9 3-pt., 2-2 FT), 5 rebs., 5 assists, 6 steals in 34 minutes. ...Randle came off the Knicks bench and led them to their first win in three Summer League games. New York beat the Los Angeles Clippers 92-84 in overtime. 

Briante Weber - Miami. 9 points (3-6 FG, 1-2 3-pt., 2-2 FT), 10 rebounds, 6 assists, 6 steals in 30 mins. ...The Heat remained unbeaten (3-0) with a 84-68 win over the Orlando Blue team. 

Josh Richardson - Miami. 22 points (6-9 FG, 3-4 3-pt., 7-8 FT), 6 assists in 28 minutes. 

Kyle Anderson - San Antonio. 23 points (10-17 FG, 3-6 3-pt., 0-3 FT), 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals, 3 blocked shots in 30 mins. ...Anderson continues to astound with his ability to "process" plays faster than others. He plays in slow-motion but somehow beats opponents regularly. His length and ability to dig down, as well as block shots, and defensive rebound make him stand out. 

Bryn Forbes - San Antonio. 23 points (8-10 FG, 4-5 3-pt., 3-3 FT) in 28 minutes. If Forbes gets a clean look, it's going in. 

Glenn Robinson III - Indiana. 20 points (8-13 FG, 1-4 3-pt., 3-5 FT), 7 rebounds in 27 minutes. ...Robinson and the Pacers fell to 1-2 with a 80-76 loss to Detroit. 

Georges Niang - Indiana. 14 points (5-9 FG, 0-2 3-pt., 4-4 FT), 6 rebounds, 3 assists in 24 mins. 

Rakeem Christmas - Indiana. 10 points (5-10 FG), 7 rebounds, 3 blocked shots in 22 minutes. 

Tibor Pleiss - Utah. 7 points (2-3 FG, 1-1 3-pt., 2-2 FT), 4 rebounds in 16 mins. The Jazz lost to Boston 89-82. 

Diamond Stone - Clippers. 20 points (10-15 FG), 7 rebounds in 31 minutes. 

Notes: Four players that played at least 16 minutes had a per-minute efficiency rating at either zero or minus (that is a REALLY bad game): T.J. Price, DyShawn Pierre, Alex Caruso, and Alex Kirk. 

Anderson stars on Fourth of July

Slo-Mo wins again. 

San Antonio Spurs forward Kyle Anderson was the star of play in the NBA Summer League on the Fourth of July. His San Antonio Spurs summer team whipped the host Utah Jazz 90-69. Anderson, the 30th pick of the 2014 NBA Draft, had 25 points, seven rebounds, three assists, and four steals in 26 minutes. 

Each day we list the players that performed the best. Our Hoop Obsession / BasslineSpin All-Summer League team should be considered a badge of honor for these players battling to get an elite NBA job. Joining Kyle Anderson...

Vincent Poirier - Orlando Blue. 10 points (5-9 FG), 11 rebs. in 20 mins. ...Poirier is a 6'11", 235 lb. Center. He is 22 years-old. Poirier went undrafted in the 2016 NBA Draft. He played last season in France. Orlando's Blue team lost to Detroit 73-68

Brandon Paul - Charlotte. 17 pts (6-11 FG, 4-8 3-pt., 1-3 FT), 12 rebounds, 2 steals, 2 blocked shots in 28 mins. The Hornets beat Oklahoma City 78-74. 

Mike Tobey - Charlotte. 14 points (7-8 FG, 0-1 3-pt.), 6 rebounds, 3 blocked shots in 26 minutes.

Treveon Graham - Orlando White. 14 points (6-10 FG, 2-4 3-pt.), 4 rebounds, 3 assists in 19 mins. Orlando's White team beat Dallas 92-85. 

Tyler Honeycutt - Dallas. 13 points (5-8 FG, 0-1 3-pt., 3-4 FT), 7 rebounds in 23 minutes. 

Okaro White - Orlando Blue. 8 points (3-5 FG, 0-2 3-pt., 2-3 FT), 7 rebounds in 18 mins. 

Kwame Vaughn - Philadelphia. 7 points (2-3 FG, 1-2 3-pt., 2-4 FT), 4 rebounds, 3 assists in 17 mins. ...Vaughn is a 26 year-old point guard that went undrafted in 2013. He played for the USF Dons, and then transferred to Cal-State Fullerton. He has played overseas the last three seasons. Philadelphia lost to Boston 102-94. 

Kalib Tarczewski - Detroit. 9 points (2-4 FG, 5-6 FT), 6 rebounds in 21 minutes. 

Ben Simmons - Philadelphia. 10 points (2-9 FG, 6-6 FT), 8 rebounds, 5 assists in 24 minutes. 

Malcolm Miller - Boston. 14 points (6-8 FG, 1-3 3-pt., 1-2 FT), 4 rebounds in 24 minutes. 

Semaj Christon - Oklahoma City. 23 points (4-15 FG, 1-3 3-pt., 14-18 FT), 6 rebounds, 6 assists, 4 steals in 38 minutes.