Russ-diculous goes up on a Tuesday

Smith is leading the Grizz

Russ Smith hit a game-winning floater in sudden-death, and he was the most efficient player on a winning team in Tuesday's (July 7, 2015) NBA Summer League play. With games taking place in both Orlando, and Salt Lake City, Smith shined brightest in the Memphis Grizzlies 73-71 double overtime win versus the host Orlando Magic (Blue). "Russ-diculous" came off the Memphis bench to score 20 points (9-12 FG, 2-3 3-pt.), grab three rebounds, dish three assists, and snare two steals in 28 minutes. Smith has been a part of our Hoop Obsession All-Summer League daily teams in each of his three games. Not coincidentally, the Grizzlies ended Tuesday with a perfect 3-0 record. (See Smith's game-winner)

Hoop Obsession All-Summer League Team for games played Tuesday July 7, 2015:

Kyle Anderson - Spurs. ..."Slo-Mo" rebounded from a poor outing in the opening day (Monday) of play in the Utah NBA Summer League. Tuesday, Anderson was in scoring mode. The second year pro from UCLA notched 25 points (8-14 FG, 1-1 3-pt., 8-9 FT), and reeled in eight boards in 30 minutes. His San Antonio team however lost to the Utah Jazz 72-20. 

Furkan Aldemir - Sixers. ...While Jahlil Okafor is getting the hype, Aldemir was the true star for Philadelphia Tuesday in their 76-62 win over the Boston Celtics. Aldemir scored eleven points (4-8 FG, 3-5 3-pt.), ripped down 14 rebounds, and blocked three shots in 28 minutes. The three made shots from beyond the arc were eye-opening as Aldemir is not known for providing offense. 

Troy Daniels - Hornets ...Never known previously as a rebounder, Daniels exploded for 14 boards to go with 16 points (5-11 FG, 4-6 3-pt., 2-2 FT) Tuesday. His Charlotte Hornets beat the hapless summer version of the Brooklyn Nets 64-55. Daniels logged 30 minutes in the contest. 

Treveon Graham - Spurs. ...Graham came off the bench to score 17 points (5-9 FG, 1-4 3-pt., 6-6 FT). He added three rebounds in an efficient 20 minutes. Graham went undrafted in the 2015 NBA Draft. He played his college ball at VCU. We ranked Graham 37th in the draft. 

Rodney Hood - Jazz. ...The Utah Jazz have a good player in Rodney Hood. The NBA sophomore-to-be had his second excellent game in as many days. Hood poured in 18 points (8-14 FG, 0-2 3-pt., 2-3 FT), and added five rebounds in 26 minutes. 

Branden Dawson - Clippers. ...Dawson continues to excel as an athletic forward that, at 6'6", CAN battle with the BIGs in the NBA (at least in Summer League). Dawson thrived in the open court, coming up with four steals that helped him score 14 points (7-14 FG, 0-1 FT). He added eleven rebounds in 28 minutes as a starter. Dawson had previously come off the bench for the L.A.C. summer squad. 

Aaron Gordon - Orlando (Blue). ...Gordon's strong play continued Tuesday as he scored 22 points (8-19 FG, 3-5 3-pt., 3-3 FT), while adding seven rebounds, four assists, and three blocked shots in 35 minutes. 

Brian Qvale - Hornets. ...Qvale has been a revelation in early summer play. The BIG from Montana (undrafted in 2011) scored ten points (5-11 FG), and added a dozen boards, two steals, and three blocked shots Tuesday. Qvale has been playing professionally in Turkey. 

Jonathan Holmes - Celtics. ...The lone bright spot for Boston Tuesday was Jonathan Holmes, the rookie forward from Texas. He scored eight points (2-9 FG, 1-6 3-pt., 3-3 FT) to go with seven rebounds, two steals, and two blocked shots in just 21 minutes.  Holmes went undrafted in the 2015 NBA Draft. 

Cady Lalanne - Spurs. ...Lalanne was the 55th pick in the 2015 NBA Draft. He has shown an ability to hit face-up jumpers as a BIG. That has to be pleasing to the San Antonio coaching staff. Tuesday Lalanne was solid, with six points (2-5 FG, 0-1 3-pt., 2-4 FT), eleven rebounds, and two blocked shots in 24 minutes. 

Nate Wolters - Clippers. ...The more we watch Wolters play, the more convinced we are that he is ready to be a useful back-up point guard in the NBA. Tuesday he helped lead the Los Angeles Clippers to their first summer win of 2015, an 80-63 whopping of the Oklahoma City Thunder. Wolters had 12 points (4-9 FG, 2-3 3-pt., 2-2 FT), five assists, three steals, and three blocked shots in 32 minutes. 

Notes: Perhaps the compacted summer schedule that had many players competing for the third time in four days, or at minimum, in a back-to-back, was responsible for some horridly poor individual play. Four players who logged over 20 minutes in their game came up with efficiency ratings "below zero" on our scale. Levi Randolph (four points (2-6 FG, 0-3 3-pt.), three turnovers in 28 minutes) was a big part in OKC's Tuesday failure. ...Akil Mitchell provided further evidence that he cannot provide enough offensively to warrant a spot in the NBA. Tuesday Mitchell played 23 minutes for Brooklyn and scored two points (1-6 FG). ...After a strong showing in his first game, the Celtics' Jordan Mickey was awful Tuesday. The LSU rookie managed just four points (1-7 FG) and two rebounds in 26 minutes. ...Finally, Marcus Thronton (William and Mary, 45th pick in 2015 draft) struggled to say the least in the Celtics loss. Thornton missed all five of his three-point jacks on his way to 2 of 11 overall field goal shooting.