Stanley Johnson again the star in NBA Summer League

The best Johnson this summer. 

Stanley Johnson was again the most efficient player on a winning team during Wednesday's NBA Summer League play. With only three games on the schedule, all being played in Orlando, FL, there was an opportunity for some fringe players to open eyes. However, the players who head our list of the dozen best for the day, are a familiar lot. Nobody was better than Johnson, the Detroit Pistons rookie swingman from Arizona. Johnson scored 20 points (8-15 FG, 0-1 3-pt., 4-7 FT), while adding ten rebounds, three steals, and two blocked shots in 26 minutes. The Pistons rolled over the Indiana Pacers 90-65. Johnson has been the best player through the first five days of NBA Summer League games. 

Hoop Obsession All-NBA Summer League team for Wednesday, July 8, 2015: 

Myles Turner - Indiana. ...Turner was strong again in defeat. The Pacers' rookie BIG scored 23 points (9-16 FG, 0-1 3-pt., 5-7 FT), grabbed eight boards, and blocked four shots in 31 minutes. 

Willie Reed - Miami. ...The Heat went to 4-0 with an 87-85 win over the Los Angeles Clippers. Reed, as he's done in each game, played a quality game in the paint. Reed finished with 17 points (7-10 FG, 3-5 FT), seven rebounds, and four blocked shots in 30 minutes.  

Yanick Moreira - Clippers. ...Moreira played his best game to date Wednesday. The rookie free-agent from SMU had eight points (3-6 FG, 2-2 FT) and seven rebounds in just 20 minutes. 

Joseph Young - Indiana. ...Young is being asked to play point guard on this poorly assembled Pacers summer roster. The team fell to 0-3 Wednesday. Young played as well as one can expect for a guy out of position. The natural shooting guard in a PG's body scored 25 points (9-15 FG, 3-3 3-pt., 4-4 FT), had three rebounds, and five assists (but four turnovers as well) in 32 minutes. 

Branden Dawson - Clippers. ...Dawson scored 15 points (7-13 FG, 1-3 FT) and added eleven rebounds, three steals, and four blocked shots in another active, productive game. 

D.J. Newbill - Clippers. ...The undrafted rookie from Penn State has demonstrated the required athletic ability to compete in the NBA. He played his best game of the summer Wednesday with 18 points and four rebounds in 26 minutes. Newbill is a 6'4", 210 lb., shooting guard. 

Jared Berggren - Detroit. ...Berggren had eight points (4-6 FG) and seven boards in 22 minutes.

Sundiata Gaines - Detroit. ...Gaines is among the older players still trying to gain attention in the summer. The 29 year-old NBA veteran from Georgia came off the Pistons bench Wednesday to score 14 points (5-9 FG, 1-3 3-pt., 3-4 FT) and snare three rebounds in 21 minutes.  

Diante Garrett - Clippers. ...The 26 year-old point guard has impressed as a backup that is right on the verge of being an NBA player again. Garrett was last seen in the league in 2013-14 with the Utah Jazz. Wednesday, Garrett had 20 points (9-18 FG, 1-3 3-pt., 1-2 FT), six rebounds, three assists, and three steals in 37 minutes (a heavy load for summer play). 

Justin Harper - Detroit. ...Harper had eight points (3-6 FG, 0-1 3-pt., 2-2 FT), six rebounds and two blocked shots, coming off the Pistons bench. We have always maintained that Harper's best position is small forward yet teams seem to want to make him a stretch-four. Despite the good numbers Wednesday, Harper doesn't rebound well enough to pull off the power forward play with consistent success. 

Scottie Wilbekin - Orlando (White). ...Wilbekin has a reputation as a great defender who can't make perimeter shots. However, he is making strides toward proving folks wrong about his jumper. Wilbekin had 15 points (5-12 FG, 5-8 3-pt.), and three rebounds in 25 minutes as a key cog in keeping the Orlando White team undefeated. The Magic White team beat Charlotte 81-68. 

Stanley steams Sunday Summer League

Stanley Johnson is the real deal

Stanley Johnson was the most efficient player on a winning team in the three games played Sunday at the NBA Orlando Summer League. The rookie from Arizona was the eighth selection in the 2015 NBA Draft. Johnson showed off his combination of strength, athleticism, and skill in the Detroit Pistons 77-69 win over the Los Angeles Clippers. 

Johnson scored 24 points (10-14 FG, 1-3 3-pt., 3-5 FT), grabbed nine rebounds, and snatched three steals in 31 minutes. It says here that Johnson will be a big upgrade on the wing for the Pistons this season. Last season, Detroit played the aging Caron Butler, and aging Tayshaun Prince far too often at small forward. Jodie Meeks and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope received the bulk of the shooting guard minutes. Pairing Johnson with Meeks (healthy headed into the 2015-16 season) appears to be the correct path for improvement. 

Our Hoop Obsession All NBA Summer League Team for Sunday July 5, 2015...

Troy Daniels - Charlotte. ...When Troy Daniels has his shot dropping like it was Sunday there is not too much the defense can do to stop him. Daniels went nutso from beyond the arc, nailing six three-pointers en route to 21 points (7-12 FG, 6-9 3-pt., 1-1 FT) and six boards. Daniels' Charlotte team was beaten 79-75 by Memphis. Daniels spent time on three NBA rosters in 2014-15. The way he is playing for Charlotte he may give P.J,. Hairston a run for his position. 

Kammeon Holsey - Detroit. ...Holsey scored 16 points  (7-9 FG, 2-4 FT), and had two steals in 22 efficient minutes. Holsey is 6'8" 234 lbs. He went undrafted in 2014 out of Georgia Tech. Holsey played for the Grand Rapids Drive in the D-League last season. 

Willie Reed - Miami. ...Reed continues to make our "best-of" lists whether it is in the D-League or Summer League it is apparent to us that Reed is good enough to be on an NBA roster. Sunday Reed was instrumental in Miami's win by pouring in 17 points (9-12 FG, 1-3 FT), and grabbing nine rebounds in 28 minutes. ...The Heat beat the Nets 71-70 on a tip-in by Tyler Johnson who received a pass from Justise Winslow from side out of bounds, with four tenths of a second left. 

Ryan Boatright - Brooklyn. ...Boatright is a shooting guard in a point guard's body. Sunday Boatright was fantastic as a playmaker for himself, shaking his man repeatedly to gain space for his jumper. Boatright scored 23 points (7-14 FG, 5-8 3-pt., 4-4 FT) and added two steals in 25 minutes. Boatright ran the point for the Nets Sunday. Despite his good scoring, Boatright had zero assists and three turnovers offering further evidence that he is not a point guard. 

Aaron Harrison - Charlotte. ...Aaron Harrison, undrafted out of Kentucky, looked like a guy with a real shot to make an NBA team. He didn't shoot well from the perimeter but he used his size advantage (6'5" 210) to be an efficient contributor. He had 16 points (6-10 FG, 0-3 3-pt., 4-6 FT), eight assists and four rebounds in 29 minutes. 

Frank Kaminsky - Charlotte. ...Kaminsky had another solid outing. He scored 14 points (6-8 FG, 2-3 3-pt., 0-1 FT) with eight rebounds and two blocked shots in 33 minutes. 

Russ Smith - Memphis. ...Smith is so speedy. He also is a fierce competitor that is a pesky defender. I enjoyed watching him run the Summer Grizz, leading them to a win. Smith had 14 points (5-10 FG, 0-2 3-pt., 4-5 FT), seven assists, and three steals Sunday. 

Tyler Johnson - Miami. ...Johnson had the game winning shot for the Heat, a testament to his strength and jumping ability that he could score in a desperate situation. The second year pro from Fresno State continued to excel in summer play with 12 points (4-9 FG, 1-2 3-pt., 3-4 FT), four rebounds, and four assists in 25 minutes. 

Jarnell Stokes - Memphis. ...Stokes bullied his way to ten points (3-5 FG, 4-6 FT) and eight boards in the Grizzlies victory. 

Notes: Two players who have caught my eye as terrific defenders are Josh Richardson and Greg Whittington. Richardson, a Heat second round pick from Tennessee, has shown the ability to block jump shots one-on-one. His length and recovery time is extraordinary. ...Whittington is simply all over the court. His lively defensive game is light years ahead of his offense but his defensive impact on two games in two days was eye opening. 

Day one, Orlando NBA Summer League: James Ennis stars, Myles Turner great.

(Editor's note: We recap summer play, highlighting those who actually performed well in the games. Too often media coverage of summer league is pre-conceived. Major TV networks will pick out the highest draft picks, show you their highlights and regularly bypass the players who actually were difference makers in the games. Our mission is to educate ourselves with you along for the read.)

Ennis balled out on Saturday

As summer league teams go, the 2015 Miami Heat entrant is loaded. They have four current members of their NBA squad on their summer roster. Saturday the Heat were led by second-year pro James Ennis, the most efficient player on a winning team during play on the opening day of the Orlando NBA Summer League. The active wing from Long Beach State scored 13 points (5-11 fg, 1-3 3-pt., 2-2 FT), grabbed seven rebounds and dished five assists in 22 minutes. The Heat defeated the Pacers 92-76. 

Our Hoop Obsession All-Summer League Team for July 4, 2015. 

Point Guards: Keith Appling - Orlando (White). ...Appling scored 17 points (4-7 FG, 0-1 3-pt., 9-10 FT), four assists, and four steals in 25 minutes. His Orlando White team beat the Detroit Pistons 87-76. Appling spent last season in the D-League with the L.A. Defenders, and Erie Bayhawks. 

Russ Smith - Memphis. ...Smith was his normal speedy self. He broke down the Brooklyn defense on his way to eight points (3-6 FG, 0-1 3-pt., 2-2 FT), eight assists, and three steals in 29 minutes.  Smith is a second year pro from Louisville. The Grizzlies beat the Nets 81-73. 

Shooting Guards: Jarell Eddie - Indiana. ...Eddie scored 16 points (6-9 FG, 4-6 3-pt.) and grabbed six rebounds in 26 minutes. Eddie spent last season in Boston's training camp before being waived. He then played in the D-League (Austin), and earned a March, ten-day, call up to the Atlanta Hawks. 

Josh Richardson - Miami  ...Richardson, a second round draft pick (40th overall) of the Heat created havoc defensively. He scored 14 points (2-6 FG, 1-2 3-pt., 9-9 FT), and added two steals, and two blocked shots in 22 minutes. 

Small Forwards: Taylor Braun - Orlando (White). ...Braun knocked down deep shots and was mistake free (after a first shot jitters airball) in 20 minutes. He scored eight points (3-4 FG, 2-2 3-pt.), grabbed five boards, and dished three assists. Braun played in Belgium last season after a stellar career at North Dakota St. 

Gordon owned the boards

Aaron Gordon - Orlando (Blue). ...Gordon showed off his ability to "quick-jump" in an exciting 75-74 overtime win for the Magic's Blue team over the Clippers. Gordon collected 22 points (8-18 FG, 2-5 3-pt., 4-10 FT), 18 rebounds , and two blocked shots in 33 minutes. 

Power Forwards: Talib Zanna - Oklahoma City. ...Zanna is a victim of the shrinking class of NBA traditional power forwards. Had Zanna come along 15 years ago he would certainly be employed full-time in the league. He plays smart ball, rarely taking a bad shot. Saturday, Zanna scored eight points, with four rebounds, three assists, two steals, a blocked shot and zero turnovers in 23 minutes. He went undrafted out of Pitt in 2014. ...Zanna and the Thunder beat the Charlotte Hornets 76-74.

Frank Kaminsky - Hornets. ...Kaminsky, the ninth pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, started slowly but found his groove in the second half. He scored 19 points (7-19 FG, 4-8 3-pt, 1-1 FT), and grabbed a dozen rebounds. Kaminsky hit four three-point shots, keeping defenders off-balance. His deep shot success set up later drives to the hoop. 

Branden Dawson - Clippers. ...Dawson's athletic gifts were on full display as he racked up 14 points and 14 rebounds (27 minutes). The rookie from Michigan State had three jaw-dropping dunks on the day. 

Centers: Myles Turner - Pacers. ...In our opinion, the most impressive player of the day was Myles Turner. The eleventh pick in the 2015 NBA Draft showed his feathery shooting touch and his ability to do the required work of blocking shots and rebounding. Turner scored 20 points (8-11 FG, 1-1 3-pt., 3-3 FT) with eight rebounds, and three blocked shots in 28 minutes. 

Keith Benson - Orlando (White). ...Benson had 17 points (9-15 FG, 1-1 FT), four boards, and three blocked shots in 28 minutes. Benson was pick 48 in the 2011 NBA Draft. Benson spent last season in the Lithuanian LKL. 

Notes: Three players that logged at least 20 minutes had efficiency ratings less than zero. The biggest stinker of the day was Solomon Hill who looked horribly beefed up. Hill scored just four points in 26 minutes on 1-10 FG. ...Darrun Hilliard, a second round pick out of Villanova also was terrible. He went 2-10 FG, with a minus 27 on the plus/minus scale for the Pistons. ...Finally, Markel Brown struggled in the Nets loss. Brown made just 1-7 FG, with five turnovers in 22 minutes.