McGary shines on day two in Orlando

Mitch McGary was the most efficient player on a winning team during second day action at the 2016 NBA Orlando Summer League. The powerful McGary scored 18 points (5-11 FG, 1-1 3-pt., 7-10 FT), grabbed nine rebounds and added four steals in the Thunder's 81-72 win over the summer version of the Los Angeles Clippers. McGary is a potential rotation BIG for the Thunder (if he can stay healthy). He has excellent hands, and despite his large frame he is very nimble. He beats slower big men running the floor, and his knack for being able to catch tough passes is a real skill. 

The Miami Heat rested Justise Winslow and Josh Richardson Sunday but that did not stop them from trouncing the the summer New York Knicks, 74-48. Rodney McGruder was strong for the Heat, scoring 15 points (6-9 FG, 2-5 3-pt., 1-1 FT) and adding three rebounds, three assists, and two steals in 24 minutes. 

Kevin Tumba (6'9", 227 lb., Center from The Democratic Republic of the Congo) pitched in for Miami with four points (2-2 FG), four blocked shots and seven boards in 20 minutes. 

Brice was Brice Sunday 

Brice Johnson, the Clippers 2016 first round draft pick (25th) from North Carolina, had an excellent performance. Johnson showed his shooting touch, even hitting a "long two". He never hit a three-point shot in four years in college. Johnson had 23 points (11-18 FG, 0-1 3-pt., 1-3 FT), six rebounds, and two blocked shots. 

Dakari Johnson, a second round pick of the Thunder (pick 48 in 2015), caused some problems for the opposing Clippers' BIGs. Johnson used his massive 7'0", 265 lb. body to carve out space in the deep paint. Johnson scored 15 points and had 12 rebounds. Johnson is a decidedly "under-the-rim" player. 

Kenny Gabriel, a 27 year-old, 6'8" 220 lb. forward, was among the best players for Miami Sunday. Gabriel scored 16 points (6-11 FG, 4-8 3-pt.), and added six rebounds in 26 minutes. 

Shayne Whittington played well for the Pacers. The 6'11", 250 lb. center had 12 points (2-6 FG, 8-12 FT) and seven rebounds in 22 reserve minutes. The Pacers fell however to the Charlotte Hornets 80-70. 

Gabe York was among the best guards that played Sunday. York, an undrafted rookie from Arizona, led the Hornets with 18 points (7-13 FG, 2-6 3-pt., 2-2 FT). 

Wayne Blackshear was a key reserve in the Charlotte win. The former Louisville star wing scored six points (2-6 FG, 1-2 3-pt., 1-2 FT), and nabbed eight rebounds in 16 minutes. 

Royce O'Neale showed his combination of skills for the Clippers. O'Neale, a 6'5" 215 lb. guard, scored 14 points (5-8 FG, 3-6 3-pt., 1-2 FT), while adding four rebounds, and three steals in 27 minutes. 

Glenn Robinson III joins McGary as the only two players to make our "best of" list on both of the first two days of the Orlando Summer League. The Pacers' forward scored 16 points (7-15 FG, 1-6 3-pt., 1-2 FT) with four rebounds, three assists, and two steals in 28 minutes. 

Joe Young was not great Sunday but he was TOUGH. Young played despite having taken a hard fall 24 hours earlier that we were pretty sure was going to keep him from playing. Young scored six points (2-6 FG, 0-2 3-pt., 2-2 FT), and added three boards and three assists. 

NBA Summer League Monday, Rodney Hood shines

Hood up to all good

Rodney Hood, a second year pro from Duke, was the most efficient player on a winning team across two NBA Summer leagues Monday. Hood led the Utah Jazz to a 100-82 win over the Boston Celtics in the second game of the Utah NBA Summer League. Hood dropped jumpers, scored in transition, and played an unselfish game on his way to 23 points (9-17 FG, 1-5 3-pt., 4-6 FT), ten rebounds, and four assists in 29 minutes. 

Hoop Obsession All 2015 NBA Summer League Team for Monday July 6th. 

Chris Singleton - Orlando (White). ...Singleton played as well Monday as we've ever seen him play. Always known as an outstanding defensive player, Singleton often runs into trouble with terrible shot selection, trying to be an OFFENSIVE force. The reality is that Singleton's jumper is sketchy at best. Monday he played his trademark great D and limited his forced offense to just a couple possessions. The result was a super-efficient 17 points (8-12 FG, 0-1 3-pt., 1-2 FT), six rebounds, three assists, three blocked shots, two steals, and most importantly a W for his team.  Singleton played 30 minutes as the Orlando White team beat Indiana 85-76 Monday in the day's first game in the Orlando NBA Summer League. 

Aaron Gordon - Orlando (Blue). ...Gordon scored 21 points (8-11 FG, 1-2 3-pt., 4-8 FT), grabbed ten rebounds, dished three assists and pilfered three steals in 30 minutes. The Orlando Blue team however lost to Oklahoma City 73-65. Gordon made our list of the best Summer League ballers for the second time in as many opportunities. 

Mitch McGary - Oklahoma City. ...McGary was the biggest reason the Thunder won Monday. McGary scored 19 points (9-12 FG, 0-1 3-pt., 1-2 FT) with three boards, two assists, and two steals in 25 minutes. 

Marcus Smart - Boston. ...Smart is a really good basketball player with the exceptions of his shot selection and touch. It can be maddening to see Smart dominate a game in several facets yet hurt his team by jacking up ill-advised three point shots. Smart's defense is smothering. His court-vision is nice. He helps as a rebounder. Monday, Smart scored 26 points (6-20 FG, 2-10 3-pt., 12-13 FT), pulled in five rebounds, dished eight assists, and had two steals in 30 minutes.  

Keith Appling - Orlando (White). ...Appling is making a strong case for a deeper look by NBA teams. He played well again Monday with 17 points (3-10 FG, 0-1 3-pt., 11-11 FT), three rebounds, and three steals in 22 minutes. He quarterbacked his team their second win without a loss.  

Myles Turner - Indiana. ...Turner looked very much like a player who will positively impact the Pacers lineup this coming season. The BIG rookie from Texas had 13 points (6-11 FG, 0-1 3-pt.), nine rebounds and six blocked shots in 27 minutes. 

Jordan Mickey - Boston. ...Mickey, a 2015 second round pick (33rd overall) from LSU looked comfortable as a finisher in the pick-n-roll. It is a given that he brings rim protection. Mickey had 16 points, four rebounds, and three blocked shots in 27 minutes. One block, in particular, was a spectacular denial of Jack Cooley trying to attack the rim. 

Dante Exum - Utah. ...Exum struggled in the first quarter and then looked like a completely different player the rest of the game. The final three quarters were the best I've seen Exum play since the Hoop Summit in 2013. Exum finished with 20 points (5-11 FG, 1-5 3-pt., 9-10 FT), five rebounds, and five assists in 29 minutes. Unfortunately, Exum sprained his left ankle late in the game (1:50 left in Q4) which was already decided. 

Seth Tuttle - Miami. ...Tuttle scored eleven points (5-6 FG, 1-2 3-pt.), and added three rebounds, four assists, and two steals in 27 minutes. The undrafted rookie free agent from Northern Iowa had a great Senior season but was dreadful in post-season play (Portsmouth, Reese's All-Star game). The Heat beat the Detroit Pistons 78-73 to remain undefeated in summer action at 3-0. 

Davis Bertans - San Antonio. ...Bertans displayed his sharp shooting Monday, nailing five three-pointers. He scored 19 points (6-10 FG, 5-8 3-pt., 2-3 FT), and dished three assists in 26 minutes. The Spurs beat Philadelphia 74-71. 

Stanley Johnson - Detroit. ...Johnson scored 14 points (4-5 FG, 2-3 3-pt., 4-6 FT), with seven boards, and two steals in 29 minutes. 

Notes: Utah's Grant Jerrett suffered a separated right shoulder. ...After shooting the ball well on the opening day of the Orlando Summer League. Adonis Thomas had a game to forget Monday. Thomas went 3-14 FG and turned it over five times in the Pistons loss.  

NBA Summer League. Reed achieves on day three.

Reed was best Monday in Orlando.

Willie Reed was the most efficient player on a winning team in day three action of the NBA Orlando Summer League. Reed was effective at both ends of the floor in the Pacers easy 96-77 win over the Celtics. Reed, listed at 6'10" 220 (but looks heavier) scored 18 points (8-12 FG), had six rebounds, four blocked shots, and three assists in 25 minutes. Reed was recently released by the Sacramento Kings after playing for their D-League team, the Reno Bighorns. He is 24 years old. 

Most efficient point guard on a winning team: Nolan Smith, Oklahoma City. ...Smith did not look ready to play Saturday but Monday he performed well. Smith, 25 years-old, from Duke, scored eleven points (3-4 FG, 4-4 FT), dished four assists with zero turnovers, and had three steals in 20 minutes. His Thunder notched their first win in three tries in Orlando Summer League play with a 98-84 W over the Brooklyn Nets. 

Most efficient small forward on a winning team: James Nunnally, Indiana. ...How can a guy go 0-5 FG and be efficient you ask? The answer; do a bunch of other things to fill up the boxscore and help your team get to the winner's circle. That's what Nunnally did Monday. The 23 year-old from San Jose, CA had six points (6-6 FT), seven rebounds, four steals, and four assists with no turnovers in 21 minutes. 

Most efficient power forward on a winning team: Mitch McGary, Oklahoma City. ...McGary was a monster on Monday. The 21st pick in the 2014 NBA Draft had 18 points, 13 rebounds, and two blocked shots in 31 minutes. A rookie from Michigan that was instrumental in the Wolverines 2012-13 success, McGary again showed his high-revving motor, and well-rounded skill set. The 22 year-old left hander projects as a great fit for the Thunder. While McGary can be sloppy with the ball (four turnovers Monday), he "gives himself a chance" by staying perpetually aggressive and involved. If he stays healthy, the real Oklahoma City Thunder may have found a solution to their gaping efficiency hole up front. Switch the ever-efficient and active McGary with Kendrick Perkins and the OKC team efficiency rises significantly. It appears to us to be a potential elevating fit in the same way that Kawhi Leonard replacing Richard Jefferson made the Spurs more efficient overall. 

Lamb makes it look easy. 

Most efficient shooting guard on a winning team: Jeremy Lamb, Oklahoma City. ..."The Lambinator" makes the game look easy. He had 26 points (8-21 FG, 2-7 3pt. FG, 8-9 FT), eight rebounds, and three steals in a heavy 35 minutes Monday. 

Seven more stars: 

Elfrid Payton - Orlando. ...Payton rebounded tremendously from a poor opening game Saturday. The tenth overall selection in the 2014 NBA Draft looked like the floor-leader Orlando wants him to be Monday in the Magic's 87-69 victory over the summer Rockets. Payton had 12 points (5-5 FG, 2-4 FT), eight rebounds, and nine assists (four turnovers) in 29 minutes. 

Mason Plumlee - Brooklyn. ...Playing his third game in three days, Plumlee was still effective. The soon-to-be second year pro had 13 points (4-6 FG, 5-6 FT), six rebounds, and three assists in 23 minutes. 

Moser's been good in Orlando

Mike Moser - Boston. ...Moser posted 11 points (3-9 FG, 3-7 3-pt. FG, 2-2 FT), six rebounds, and four assists in 21 minutes off the bench Monday. The undrafted rookie free-agent has looked the part of an NBA forward in his opening two summer league games. He is offensively aggressive. 

Kevin Jones - Indiana. ...Jones, 24, from West Virginia, has been playing professionally in the Philippines. He scored 17 points (7-12 FG, 3-4 FT), and grabbed seven rebounds in the Pacers win Monday. His face-up shot was falling and he and Willie Reed played well together. Jones looks out of shape to our eyes but that did not stop him from playing well. At 6'8" 250 lbs (or more), Jones is now certainly a power forward. There was a point in his career where he seemed to be in-between being a THREE or a FOUR. 

Marcus Lewis - Oklahoma City. ...The D-League/French League veteran with the big behind knows how to play. He was trotted out as OKC's starting center (think Chuck Hayes) Monday. Lewis responded with 13 points (6-8 FG), three assists, and three steals. He is 27 years old. 

Cory Jefferson - Brooklyn. ...Jefferson, a rookie from Baylor that was the 60th and final pick in the 2014 NBA Draft, had a nice contribution Monday. Jefferson scored nine points (2-4 FG, 5-5 FT), and grabbed five boards in 23 minutes. 

Chris Crawford - Houston. ...Crawford did not shoot well but played a nice game otherwise as a lone bright spot for the surprisingly bad Houston summer team. Crawford had 12 points (3-13 FG, 5-5 FT), eight rebounds and five assists in 26 minutes.