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. 

2015 Summer League Stat Audit and Thoughts

Let's Just Be Honest. Let's Just Be Real. 

What you are about to read, a recap of the 2015 NBA Summer League, should be rooted in the knowledge that we take what we do here very seriously. Because we have no direct affiliation with any NBA team, scouting agency, or the league itself, we are free to praise or criticize without any "spin". Consider this an insider's guide into what one obsessive "basketball scout" is thinking. 

An outstanding performance in NBA Summer League is not a guarantee of future success in the NBA. This we know from experience. We have been involved in professional summer basketball since the late 1980's when we kept stats for the Sacramento Kings Pro-Am. 

The problem with putting too much stock in play during July is that the sample size is simply too small. Mass-media coverage of summer league confuses the casual basketball fan by using as much as ONE single play to proclaim a player's success or lack thereof.  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.

This summer, as we do each summer, we traveled to Las Vegas to watch games first-hand. We observed and took notes (either in person, or by viewing the games on NBA-TV). We then took the time, after all play was concluded, to analyze the numbers from the 335 players that logged at least 40 minutes of playing time across the three NBA Summer Leagues (Orlando, Utah, and Las Vegas). 

It should be noted it is physically impossible to watch ALL the games live, as two are played at the same time in two separate gyms in Las Vegas. It should always be remembered that just because YOU did not see it, does not mean it did not happen. 

We like to, in all instances, back-up what we saw with our eyes, with an obsessive shot of data. Even if the sample size is small. It is only by being "data informed" (as Len Elmore would say) COMBINED with our "feel" for the player that we then can begin to make conclusions. This process, repeated, year after year, gives us a clarity in our thoughts and evaluations.  

We have seen almost all of these players before, either in NCAA play (we watched and took notes on 82 games in 2014-15), the D-League (we annually attend and scout the D-League Showcase), or in the NBA (countless games). Over time, through years of consistent observation of multiple leagues, and levels of play, it becomes easier to pick out players that seem to have a shot at NBA success going forward. 

While Summer League lends the opportunity for yet another look at players, it should always be kept in perspective. Players are not going through the grind of an 82-game season. The entire Las Vegas competitive period lasts just eleven days. For most teams it was over in eight days. That said, ANY chance to further your "feel" for a player should be welcomed. It is hard to ignore the shifts in opinion that a scout may have based on intently watching a player play for even as little as 150 minutes. 

Slo-Mo = basketball player. 

So who played well?

The San Antonio Spurs won the Las Vegas Summer League Championship. The most efficient player on their team was Kyle Anderson, the second year pro from UCLA. Honestly, Anderson's play was not that spectacular statistically speaking. The Spurs won games with a team approach and although Anderson was their most efficient baller, his numbers were not jaw-dropping. He still is a bit of a mystery from a traditional NBA positional standpoint. Is he a point guard (as he was as a Bruin)? Or is he a small-forward you can run your offense through? The answer is cloudy. Anderson actually had more turnovers than assists this Summer (across both the Utah and Las Vegas Summer Leagues). His three-point shooting was suspect too (4-17 3-pt fg, 23%). Where "Slo-Mo" shined was in his ability to get to the free throw line with consistency, rebound the ball, and make defensive plays with his combination of great anticipation and length. 

I'm still not sure what Anderson's NBA position is. For now, that seems irrelevant. He is a versatile guy you just throw out there as one of your five. He made Becky Hammon's team better each time he was on the floor. (Read what we said about Anderson prior to the 2014 NBA Draft)

(For what it's worth, we don't evaluate coaches the way we do individual players. Although I certainly have my opinions about coaches and their personalities, substitution patterns, etc..., the focus of what we enjoy doing is evaluating players. So while Becky Hammon's history making championship win was a BIG story in Las Vegas, that simply is not what THIS blog is about.)

The most efficient player overall in Las Vegas was Phoenix Suns big-man Josh Harrellson. The deep-shooting, 6'10", former Kentucky Wildcat was a second round pick (45th overall) in the 2011 NBA Draft. This summer Harrellson shot 42% from beyond the arc (11 for 26) and helped lead the Suns to the title game in Vegas. Harrellson spent the 2014-15 season playing professionally in Puerto Rico, and in China. 

Dentmon is NBA ready.

At a glance, here are the summer league players that we felt shined brightest this July...

Our Hoop Obsession Las Vegas All-Summer-League Teams: 

First Team: Justin Dentmon - D League Select, Seth Curry - New Orleans, Jonathan Homes - Boston, Alan Williams - Houston, Josh Harrellson - Phoenix. 

Second Team: Erick Green - Denver, Bryce DeJean-Jones - New Orleans, D.J. Kennedy - Houston, Shawn Jones - Washington, Lucas Nogueira - Toronto. 

Third Team: Mike James - Phoenix, Norman Powell - Toronto, Kevon Looney - Golden State, Noah Vonleh - Portland, Jarrid Famous - Washington. 24 teams participated in Las Vegas.

Seth Curry is not that skinny player from 2-3 years ago that couldn't survive in the #NBA. He would be a legit asset to any team now.

— Bobby Gerould (@BobbyGerould) July 20, 2015

The Hoop Obsession ORLANDO All Summer League Teams: 

First Team: Russ Smith - Memphis, Stanley Johnson - Detroit, Aaron Gordon - Orlando (Blue), Branden Dawson - Clippers, Myles Turner - Indiana. 

Second Team: Keith Appling - Orlando (White), Tyler Harvey - Orlando (Blue), Greg Whittington - Miami, Mitch McGary - Oklahoma City, Keith Benson - Orlando (White). 
Ten teams participated in Orlando.

The Hoop Obsession UTAH All Summer League Team:

Marcus Smart - Boston, Jonathan Simmons - San Antonio, Jonathan Holmes - Boston, JaJuan Johnson - Utah, Jordan Mickey - Boston. Only four teams participated in Utah. 


Opinion shifts

So how did OUR opinion shift? Below are thoughts on players and how we changed our mind a bit on certain aspects of their game. 

G-Whitt opened eyes

Prior to July 4th (the date that 2015 NBA Summer League started in Orlando), I had no thoughts that Greg Whittington (6'8" forward from Georgetown) could possibly be an NBA player some day. His shot is too inconsistent, and he just isn't dynamic enough, I thought. However, after seeing the havoc Whittington wreaks on defense, I now think he has a chance. Whittington was absent from the hoop scene for two full seasons. He was dismissed from the Hoyas program after the 2012-13 season. He then suffered a torn ACL. Now, balling on a stage for the first time in two years, Whittington showed the kind of defensive range on the wing that few possess. He shot some bad air-balls in Orlando that left me scratching my head over his shot-selection. But he also had 18 assists, and only 11 turnovers and he shot 39% from 3-pt. range overall. Suffice it to say, Greg Whittington is now on our radar and he should be on the radar of all NBA teams too. 

Likewise, I wouldn't have given you a dime for the services of Chris Singleton prior to his performance this summer in Orlando. However, I saw a different player that actually may have realized he is not going to get minutes for his offense. In our opinion, Singleton (the 18th pick in the 2011 NBA Draft) has long been held down by his own over-appreciation of his shooting stroke. This summer, Singleton showed a shot-selection that finally looked mature, recognizing the limitations of his inconsistent perimeter shooting. Instead of jacking threes at a ridiculous rate, Singleton passed up shots, and moved the ball. He has always been an ELITE defender. He showed enough of the "new Chris Singleton" to make me think he deserves a long look. 

Watching Orlando @NBASummerLeague championship. ...Chris Singleton was the best player on the floor in first half. He could help a team.

— Bobby Gerould (@BobbyGerould) July 11, 2015

Marcus Smart is a player that I hope learns to turn down some shots in favor of moving the ball. 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. If he would take less three point shots I think he would become a much better contributor to Celtics success. 

Jonathan Holmes, a four-year college player out of Texas that went undrafted in the 2015 NBA Draft, played very well for the Boston Celtics. He is a more natural power forward than he is a wing but he also showed that with reps his stroke may become consistent enough for him to play some small forward. 

Robinson no longer a puppy

Glenn Robinson III looked to be in terrific physical condition. He has really strengthened his body. He is still an undeniable NBA athlete, and although things have not clicked for him yet after college, we think there are reasons to believe in him going forward. The Indiana Pacers apparently agree as they signed him within the last week to a multi-year deal. Robinson was a rookie in 2014-15. He played in 35 NBA games between the Wolves and Sixers.

Solomon Hill was so out of shape in Orlando that I actually did a double-take upon first seeing him. He proceeded to post a per-minute efficiency rating of .037 which ranked 330th out of 335. ...Hill has NBA money. He has resources to hire a personal trainer, chef, and dietitian with the quickness (if he has not already done so) or we fear his NBA career is in jeopardy.

Josh Richardson, the Heat's second round pick from Tennessee impressed with his defensive ability. Richardson showed the ability to block jump shots one-on-one. His length and recovery time is extraordinary.

Mike Moser, a player we had trumpeted before, looked like he was not in great shape. Thus, he lost traction in our eyes. 

Keith Appling gained an "uptick" in our mind with his solid point guard play. Appling (Michigan State) spent last season in the D-League with the L.A. Defenders, and Erie Bayhawks. 

Shawn Jones, who went undrafted in 2014 out of Middle Tennessee State, is now a player we are keenly aware of. The 6'8", 235 lb power forward caught our eye in the D-League last season as a member of the Sioux Falls Sky Force. Jones performed well this summer for the Washington Wizards. 

Denver's Gilvydas Biruta impressed us with his attention to detail and hustle game. The 6'8", 238 lb. forward was a noted player at Rhode Island but we had no idea his overall game was as sharp as it is. 

Our train of thought regarding Jordan Clarkson, property of the Lakers, was that he was a nice prospect who showed some flashes in the second half of his rookie 2014-15 season. After seeing him again live, we have upgraded our train of thought to "this is a kid that has STAR potential." His ball-handling ability is better than I previously believed it to be. His decision making will likely be the area that challenges him most. He actually had one more turnover than assist this summer. 

Jordan Clarkson is so much better than I ever thought he would be. Just scratching the surface too.

— Bobby Gerould (@BobbyGerould) July 12, 2015

Affirmation

Reed signed a deal with Brooklyn.

Seeing a player perform well again can further affirm our belief that a certain player is now ready for the NBA. Willie Reed is one of those guys for sure. Reed was one of the best BIGs in the D-League and he did nothing to hurt his reputation as a player right on the cusp of an NBA breakthrough. Reed shot 57% FG this summer and he owned the boards, playing for Miami in Orlando, and for the Brooklyn Nets in Las Vegas. The Nets signed him to a one-year contract so Reed will have ample opportunity to prove he belongs in the Association. 

We were high on Alan Williams' game coming out of U.C. Santa Barbara (see our pre-draft notes). He went undrafted in the 2015 NBA Draft but was picked up by the Houston Rockets for the summer. Williams did not disappoint. He posted the sixth highest efficiency per-minute of the 335 players who played at least 40 minutes. 

Norman Powell (UCLA, Toronto Raptors) is quickly becoming a favorite of ours due to his combination of guard skills, athleticism, and power. He was the 46th player taken in the 2015 NBA Draft (We ranked him 43rd). 

D.J. Kennedy has been on the cusp of a NBA job. You can add us to the list of folks who believe he is ready. Kennedy went undrafted in 2011 out of St. John's. He played in two games with the Cleveland Cavs in 2011-12. Kennedy, 6'6" 215 lbs, played in the German BBL last season. 

I thought D.J. Kennedy looked sharp in that #Rockets win. @NBASummerLeague

— Bobby Gerould (@BobbyGerould) July 12, 2015

Diante Garrett played for the Clippers in Orlando, and the Bulls in Las Vegas. 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. 

How did the lottery picks play this summer?

Karl Anthony Towns - Minnesota. ...Towns was nothing special at all in his 156 minutes. He shot 39% FG, and missed all five of his three point attempts. He showed a better ability to pass the ball out of double teams than we previously had seen but he certainly did not set the league on fire with his play. In fact, he ranked just 157th of 335 in efficiency per-minute. That being said, we are not worried about Karl-Anthony Towns.

D'Angelo Russell - Lakers. ...As a whole, Russell was terrible. He shot 37% FG, and was 2 of 17 from the three-point line. He had 16 total assists and a whopping 26 turnovers in 150 minutes. Russell was "pressing", it seemed clear to us. He did show some of the court-vision he is known for but mostly he looked like a kid playing with grown men for the first time. Russell was 281st of 335 in efficiency per minute this summer. ...Expectations will be high for Russell so we hope that the Lakers and coach Byron Scott bring him along very slowly and make strong, clear, statements early to the Lakers fans that Russell needs seasoning. 

Jahlil Okafor - Philadelphia. ...The post moves were nice but truthfully Okafor did not play that well either. He had more than three turnovers for every one assist, and he shot 40% from the free throw line. Okafor finished ranked 227th out of 335 players in efficiency per minute. Okafor did do a better job defensively in our opinion than his reputation stated.

Porzingis was not bad

Kristaps Porzingis - New York. ...Knicks fans had to be at least somewhat pleased with Porzingis' play. He needs to gain strength but his skilled game translated fairly well in just 82 minutes total. He was 66th of 335 in per-minute efficiency, and he also fared well in defensive rating. 

Mario Hezonja - Orlando. ...Hezonja played all of 49 minutes. He shot the ball poorly (4-14 3-pt. fg, 28%) but did have at least one spectacular dunk (you can see the dunk in link at end of this blog). 

Willie Cauley-Stein - Sacramento. ...Cauley-Stein played well. He ranked 27th out of 335 in per-minute efficiency. His ability to run the floor and finish was on full display. He moves exceptionally well as defender against the pick-n-roll. Our only criticism was that WCS dropped passes that a player with "great hands" would have handled. We heard lots of hype about how Cauley-Stein was a high school wide receiver and perhaps we expected more than we saw. Nevertheless, Cauley-Stein was the summer-Kings most efficient player and he should give Kings fans hope as a prospect. 

Emmanuel Mudiay - Denver. ...If you watched NBA-TV highlights or just caught a summer league recap on ESPN you may have thought that Mudiay was tremendous this summer. However, that is not what we saw. We watched from three rows up as Mudiay took plays off and struggled in a loss to Atlanta. True, he did do some things you do not often see from such a young point guard prospect but overall he was wildly inconsistent. He shot 38% FG, and made just 2 of 14 three point attempts. He had 23 assists but 20 turnovers. 

Mudiay is doing some good things but his second efforts are lazy. He watches a lot. Must be more active to thrive. He looks tired to me.

— Bobby Gerould (@BobbyGerould) July 17, 2015

Stanley was superb!

Stanley Johnson - Detroit. ...Johnson was terrific in the Orlando Summer League. He shot 57% FG, and 47% 3-pt. He finished July with the 11th best efficiency per minute. Johnson, in the 137 minutes he logged this summer, looked to be a better offensive player than he was able to show in the structure of Arizona's offense. 

Frank Kaminsky - Charlotte. ...Kaminsky logged 153 minutes and although nothing special, he did rank in the top-third of all players in per-minute efficiency. Kaminsky also was solid defensively, posting a 91.5 defensive rating. 

Justise Winslow - Miami ...Disappointing is the word that comes to mind. Winslow looked at times like a player that just could not find a way to have any impact on a game. Most surprisingly, his defense was awful (105.9 DEFRTG). Offensively, Winslow was not much better, ranking 266th of 335 in efficiency per minute. 

Myles Turner - Indiana. ...By far, the best and most efficient player across the three summer leagues was Myles Turner. He ranked first in per-minute efficiency with a .871 EFR. Turner showed his unique skill-set for a BIG, with the ability to step out and hit face up jump shots. However, Turner is far from just being a "softy-cone" that drifts on the perimeter. He showed quick reactions as a help defender. He set effective wide screens. ...Yes, the sample was small (just 87 minutes), but if I'm a Indiana Pacers fan, I'm doing back-flips with excitement about the eleventh pick in the 2015 NBA Draft. 

Trey Lyles - Utah. ...Lyles was awful in over 150 minutes of play in the Utah Summer League. He shot just 31% FG, Lyles ranked 241st in per-minute efficiency. 

Devin Booker - Phoenix. ...Booker was solid. He already looks like he has shed some of the "baby-fat" he was carrying as a Kentucky freshman. Playing in Las Vegas, Booker hit 40% of his three-point attempts. More importantly he just looked like a seasoned pro. 

Cameron Payne - Oklahoma City. ...Payne did not play due to injury.  

Defense

A quick word about the defensive rating statistic and a good way to visualize how good a defender is with a quick glance at their "DEFRTG". ...Think of an FM radio "dial". The FM band starts at 87.5 and ends at 107.9. In the case of defensive rating, the lower the number, the better. A "college radio station" DEFRTG is really good, while a higher number is exactly the opposite. Defensive rating is actually the number of points an individual player allows per 100 team possessions. 

The best five in defensive rating (Las Vegas only) by position...

Point Guards: Delon Wright - Toronto 80.7, Aaron Craft - Golden State 88.5, Shannon Scott - San Antonio 90.5, Jerian Grant - New York 90.8, Langston Galloway - New York 91.1

Two Guards: Dominique Sutton - Golden State 82.2, Norman Powell - Toronto 85.4, Lamar Patterson - Atlanta 90.2, Terran Petteway - Atlanta 91.1, Ricky Ledo - New York 91.3

Small Forwards: James Michael-McAdoo - Golden State 83.2, Kevon Looney - Golden State 87.5, Brandon Ashley - Atlanta 89.9, Cleanthony Early - New York 92.4, LaDontae Henton - Golden State 92.4

Power Forwards: Cameron Bairstow - Toronto 85.5, Eric Moreland - Sacramento 85.9, Ronald Roberts - Toronto 86.4, Bruno Caboclo - Toronto 88.3, Maurice Ndour - New York 88.4

Centers: Lucas Nogueira - Toronto 77.8, Jordan Bachynski - Toronto 80.5, Kristaps Porzingis 86.5, Walter Tavares - Atlanta 86.6, Mike Muscala - Atlanta 86.6 

The All-Ole' Team, (The summer Milwaukee Bucks)

The Milwaukee Bucks Las Vegas summer team was awful, finishing with one win and six losses. Look no further than the defensive rating stat to see why the Bucks failed. Their team owned four of the five worst individual DEFRTG's. ...Here is the list of the five worst defensive ratings among players who played at least 80 minutes: Jerome Randle - Milwaukee 116.6, Kevin Jones - Milwaukee 112.6, Rashad Vaughn - Milwaukee 111, Sean Kilpatrick - Milwaukee 109.5, Tyler Kalinoski - Miami 107.8.

Russ Smith is a winner.

Clutch Play

Perhaps the best game of the summer took place in Orlando on July 10th. The Memphis Grizzlies beat the Magic's Blue squad 73-71 in double overtime behind Russ Smith. "Russdiculous" was great, running the show for the summer version of the Grizzlies. He averaged 14 points and six assists per game while leading Memphis to the Orlando Summer League title. Smith actually hit two sudden-death game winning shots in five games. (See video highlights here.)

Super glad I watched that #Magic #Grizzlies game. Double OT. Russ Smith with the game-winner. Love his competitive fire. @NBASummerLeague

— Bobby Gerould (@BobbyGerould) July 11, 2015

Per-Minute achievement 

One way to look at building a team is to departmentalize certain abilities. A shooting guard, for instance, should be a guy that puts points on the board. So who were the top players in points per minute this summer? Joe Young, the 43rd pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, led all summer league players by scoring 90 points in just 113 minutes. The rest of the top-five in points per minute: Seth Curry (146 points in 198 mins.), Shabazz Napier (68 points in 92 mins.), Norman Powell (73 points in 102 mins.), and Justin Dentmon (85 points in 122 mins.). 

A point guard should have a good assist-to-turnover ratio. Erick Green of the Denver Nuggets had 20 assists and only TWO turnovers in 120 minutes! That's a 10-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio. ...The next best in that department this summer included two Celtics players who are not point guards: James Young - Boston 5-to-1, Kevin Pangos - Dallas 4-to-1, Mickey McConnell  - Phoenix 3.4-to-1, C.J. Fair - Boston 3.33-to-1. 

Daniels can stroke it!

Floor stretchers allow BIGs to play closer to the hoop for rebounding purposes. The top-five three-point shooting percentages for players with at least 18 attempts: Justin Dentmon 18-33 (54%), Troy Daniels (12 of 22, 54%), Ian Clark 12 of 24, 50%), Tyler Harvey (11 of 22, 50%), Bryce DeJean-Jones (9 of 18, 50%). 

Speaking of rebounding, who owned the glass this summer? Here are the top rebound per-minute rates: Furkan Aldemir - Philly (40 rebs. in 89 mins.), Lucas Nogueira - Toronto (53 rebs. in 199 mins.), Alex Len - Phoenix (49 rebs. in 122 mins.), Ronald Roberts - Toronto (38 rebs. in 95 mins.), and Branden Dawson (41 rebs. in 102 mins.). 

Rim protectors are always at a premium. The top-five in blocked shots per minute this summer included: Myles Turner - Indiana (13 blks. in 87 mins.), Walter Tavares - Atlanta (17 blks. in 123 mins.), Jordan Bachynski - Toronto (11 blks in 80 mins.), Michael Eric - Milwaukee (19 blks. in 140 mins.), and Willie Cauley-Stein - Sacramento (14 blocks in 113 mins.). 


Q: Why look at numbers at all? 
A: The mind plays tricks. 

When any human being watches another human being perform, all kinds of judgments are being made. For instance, while attending a music festival, two guitar players may play the exact same chord but perhaps one flails his hand while squinting his eyes after the strum. The TRUE sonic result is the same as the other guitar player who keeps his eyes wide open, and hand-flailing to a minimum. A music critic might praise guitar-hero number one for the showmanship and flair, while it seems likely that guitar player number two might not earn a mention in the concert review. 

The same thing happens in basketball. Too many scouts get lost in the flair a player may have. This is why we end up with Jan Vesely (a noted high-riser dunker) being drafted sixth in 2011. Kawhi Leonard fell to the 15th selection in the 2011 NBA Draft. If Kawhi was a more demonstrative kid with a dash of flair, do you think so many teams would have passed on him? 

Hood was great in limited action

They did well with the minutes they were given... 

For any number of reasons be it an injury or just not being in the favor of a coaching staff, some guys did not play heavy minutes. Who were the guys that were efficient in their somewhat limited run? Here are the top seven players in efficiency per-minute who played between 40 to 79 minutes total: Rodney Hood - Utah .803, Vince Hunter - Philadelphia .721, Charles Jackson - Philadelphia .715, Ognjen Kuzmic - Golden State .620, Gilvydas Biruta - Denver .592, Richaun Holmes - Philadelphia .565, and Delon Wright - Toronto .546. 

They "struggled" (to put it mildly)

Here are the twelve worst efficiency ratings for players that played at least 80 minutes: Joe Harris - Cleveland .027 (Yikers! That is terrible!), Solomon Hill - Indiana .037, Jerel McNeal - Phoenix .135, Stephen Holt - Atlanta .145, Will Cherry - San Antonio .157, Michael Frazier - Golden State .158, Xavier Thames - Brooklyn .159, Aaron White - Washington .172, Travis Bader - Oklahoma City .173, Adonis Thomas - Detroit .177. 

Notes and random thoughts on players and the Las Vegas Summer League experience: 

Among the more bizarre happenings at the Las Vegas NBA Summer League was the attendance of Academy Award nominated actor John Malkovich. He did a lengthy stint as a court-side guest on NBA-TV. Usually we are strong critics of the in-game interview but in this case, it was GREAT TV. Malkovich told an excited Reggie Miller that he was a fan of Sacramento Kings rookie Willie Cauley-Stein. 

Attendance was outstanding in Vegas, averaging about 9,000 fans per day. 

Tonight's attendance at Thomas & Mack: 8,096. In 11 sessions, this year's summer league drew 99,437 fans, an average of 9,039 per session.

— Steve Carp (@stevecarprj) July 21, 2015

One of the games opened with a ceremonial jump ball at center-court. Please, basketball organizers everywhere, let's NOT make this waste of time, a trend. 

Since we have been critical in the past about the National Anthem singers in Las Vegas, we should acknowledge that we didn't hear one bad version of the anthem this go-round. 

Joe Harris' numbers were alarming. An .027 EFR is as bad as anything I ever recall seeing across 110 mins.

Two more @NBASummerLeague thoughts... Mike James (the new Mike James) can really play. ...Victor Rudd is better than I thought he was.

— Bobby Gerould (@BobbyGerould) July 20, 2015

Bryce Dejean-Jones played well. The 6'6" wing played his college ball at USC, UNLV, AND Iowa State. Dejean-Jones was the 2010 California High School Player of the Year but his NCAA career was not as smooth, bouncing from university to university. "BDJ" was a knock-down shooter this summer in Vegas, netting 61% of his field goal attempts (50% from beyond the arc). 

Lucas Nogueira's body is starting to fill out. As such, his rebounding ability seemed even stronger. The seven-footer from Brazil played well at both ends of the floor in Las Vegas. He was the 15th player taken in the 2013 NBA Draft.  

It's not every day that a player gets EIGHT steals in a game. Justin Dentmon, fresh off a stint in the Chinese CBA, did that on the opening day of play in Las Vegas. He was the best point guard we saw play during the eleven day Vegas run. Dentmon went undrafted in 2007 after playing at Washington. 

Bobby Portis stood out in the #Bulls win. @NBASummerLeague

— Bobby Gerould (@BobbyGerould) July 12, 2015

Jarrid Famous had a strong showing. He played 27 games in the D-League, and seven games in the Philippines in 2014-15. He is 6'11" 240 lbs. Famous went undrafted in 2011 out of South Florida. 

One of the best moments of Summer League was witnessing Corliss Williamson's son, (I believe his name is C.J) hitting shots like a boss during a kid-fan shooting contest. The young "Nasty" drained a top-key three like it was nothing!

...Another July come and gone. We are looking forward to the start of NBA training camps in October now! We leave you with a link to video of the top-ten summer plays (according to NBA-TV)

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. 

The Sweet 16. Players to watch from an NBA scouting perspective

Blue chip players can be found. 

There is a certain credibility that goes with being one of the outstanding basketball players in action in the Sweet 16. Now that the 2015 NCAA Tournament is down to 16 teams, the spotlight begins to shine brighter and focus harder on the individual stars. Annually, we write an article that lists the 16 players that we feel are the most worthy of having NBA scouting eyes on them. We started this exercise in 2005, and we can report that any player making this list has an 82% chance of earning an NBA pay-check, at minimum. Some will become All-Stars. Sweet 16 "alumni" that have reached NBA All-Star status include these "blue chip" players: Kyrie Irving, Steph Curry, Anthony Davis, Blake Griffin, Kevin Love, Derrick Rose, DeMarcus Cousins, John Wall, Joakim Noah, Al Horford, Roy Hibbert, and Jimmy Butler. 

Who are the Sweet 16 players we will zero in on? 

1. Karl Anthony Towns - Kentucky 7'0" 250 lbs. Center. freshman. ...Towns has the best defensive rating in college basketball. When he is on the floor, Kentucky gives up just 76.6 points per 100 possessions. That stat may not mean much to you if you are not "in-tune" with the impact defensive rating (DEFRTG) can have on a team's success. Trust us. A DEFRTG of 76.6 is a BIG DEAL. ...Towns is a tremendous shot-blocker and rim protector, yet he has the finesse to shoot 82% from the free-throw line. He is still learning to play in the low post but by all accounts, he is a smart kid that should improve. ...I also like that at age 19, the seven-foot Towns shows humility in being able to handle playing on a loaded Kentucky team where he plays just 21 minutes per game. He averages 10 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 2.4 blocked shots per game. 

2. Justise Winslow - Duke 6'7" 229 lbs. Small Forward. freshman. ...Winslow has game changing ability in the open-court. He is ridiculously talented in transition, with the ability to finish with power, speed, and skill. Winslow averages 12 points, and six rebounds per game. He shoots an impressive 40% from beyond the college arc, and he has more assists than turnovers. Winslow shoots just 61% from the free throw line, which is concerning. ...Justise's Dad, Rickie Winslow played professionally in Turkey. Justise will be a safe pick in the NBA Draft. 

They call him "Jah"

3. Jahlil Okafor - Duke 6'11" 270 lbs. Center. freshman. ...Okafor is a skilled BIG that has remarkable ability to score in the low-post. He has a BIG wide body and good ball handling skills that allow him carve space in the paint. Okafor is shooting 67% FG! He averages 18.1 points, and 8.7 rebounds per game. Okafor is especially good on the offensive glass. ...As good as Okafor is, he has three major weaknesses in our opinion. He is a poor foul shooter (51% FT), he has nearly two turnovers for every one assist, and his post defense is below-average. Okafor could also be in better shape. 

4. Delon Wright - Utah 6'5" 180 lbs. Point Guard. Senior. ...Wright is a multi-faceted point guard that has really improved as a three point shooter during the 2014-15 season. The younger brother of Dorell Wright (Portland TrailBlazers forward), Delon is excellent running the pick-and-roll, showing an ability to create a shot for himself as well as set up his teammates. Wright led the Pac-12 in true shooting percentage in 2014-15. ...Wright reacts very quickly, allowing him to get a high number of steals and deflections. But he's not just out there gambling to get steals. His defensive rating is excellent, at 88.9. ...Potential top-tier NBA guards are difficult to come by and should be coveted. Wright has a chance, in our opinion, to, in-time, become a top-tier NBA player. 

5. Willie Cauley-Stein - Kentucky 7'0" 244 lbs. Center. junior. ...Cauley Stein is a rim protecting BIG that is remarkably quick off his feet. He blocks shots and holds down the paint with a presence of cat-quickness and length. Cauley-Stein has a standing reach of 9'2" (same as Tyson Chandler), and a max-vert. of 37". ...Cauley-Stein knows his limitations reasonably well and he seldom takes a bad shot. He shoots 59% FG. ...Far from complete, Cauley Stein is a horrid free throw shooter (50% FT), and he has more turnovers than assists. But his upside is ridiculously high. You just don't find seven footers that can move the way Cauley-Stein does. 

Brice is nice. 

6. Brice Johnson - North Carolina 6'9" 228 lbs. Power Forward. junior. ...Johnson is a scoring forward with NBA athleticism. He averages 12.9 points, and 7.9 rebounds per game. He has a reputation for not being a great defender. However, his Defensive Rating of 93.3 is far from poor. ...Among all 2015 NCAA Tournament PF's in our database, Johnson ranks as the best in efficiency per-minute. He is elite in his ability to finish in transition.  ...Johnson has a thin frame that is beginning to fill out. The three-ball is not a part of Johnson's game at all (zero attempts from beyond the arc in three seasons). 

7. Stanley Johnson - Arizona 6'7" 245 lbs. Small Forward. freshman. ...Johnson is a rugged wing player that can lock-down the opposing team's best wing. That is valuable. He has the best defensive rating of any wing player left in the NCAA Tournament. Johnson helped lead the U.S. to gold medals at the 2011 FIBA Americas U16 Championship, the 2012 FIBA U17 World Championship and the 2014 FIBA Americas U18 Championship. He was the MVP of the 2014 FIBA Americas U18 Championship. ...He averages 14 points, six rebounds, and one and a half steals per game. Johnson is solid from the three point line, hitting 37%. …Johnson can be better by improving his decision making. He presently has more turnovers than assists.  

8. Rondae Hollis-Jefferson - Arizona 6'7" 215 lbs. Shooting Guard. sophomore. ...Arizona is loaded, and sophomore Rondae Hollis-Jefferson stands out among great athletes, as the most hyper-athletic guy on the Cats' roster. Hollis-Jefferson is an elite defender. His defensive rating of 87.9 ranks him second among 2015 NCAA Tournament small forwards. …Hollis-Jefferson has a positive assist-to-turnover ratio (career) but he struggles as a perimeter shooter (21% 3-pt career). He shoots 69% from the line. ...I view him as an top-notch athlete with a huge upside. If the shooting gets better, look out. 

9. Kevon Looney - UCLA 6'9" 220 lbs. Small Forward. freshman. ...Looney is an NBA athlete that can legitimately play the small forward position well at 6'9". He is terrific on the offensive glass, and he finishes well in transition. Looney has a positive assist to turnover ratio and he shoots 43% from beyond the college 3-pt. line. I really wish he would stay in school because I don't think he is ready to play meaningful minutes in an NBA game. That said, in three or fours years, he might be a top-tier small forward. 

Sabonis is intense. 

10. Domantas Sabonis - Gonzaga 6'10" 230 lbs. Power Forward. freshman. ..."Domas" Sabonis is the most talented freshman that is still somewhat "under the radar" of the average college hoops fan. He is a fiery competitor with skill, size, and solid athleticism. He is shooting a remarkable 67% FG as a freshman! Sabonis also brings it on the defensive end. He led the West Coast Conference in defensive rating (90.8). ...Domas is the son of international basketball superstar Arvydas Sabonis. Domas is just 18 years old. He was born in Portland, OR. but has citizenship in both the USA and in Lithuania. 

11. Frank Kaminsky - Wisconsin 7'0" 254 lbs. Center. Senior. ...Frank Kaminsky is a seven-footer with skill and shooting touch. He has a feel for the game of basketball. He averages 18.4 points, and 8.1 rebounds per game. He can make three point shots (36% career), owns a positive assist-to-turnover ratio, and he shoots 75% from the foul line. What makes Kaminsky unique is that he was a 6'7" point guard as recently as his junior year of high school. Now those guard skills allow him, as a seven-foot Center, to do things other BIGs simply cannot do. ...He posted the best defensive rating in the Big Ten in 2014-15 (90.1). Kaminsky is a very good defensive rebounder (he led the Big Ten in 2014-15). He was also the Big Ten leader in field goal percentage (55% FG). 

12. Nigel Hayes - Wisconsin 6'8" 235 lbs. Small Forward. sophomore. ...Hayes is yet another quality, two-way, wing player that should have a solid NBA career. He averages 12.6 points and 6.4 rebounds per game. Hayes did not make a single three point shot as a freshman last season. This season, Hayes is shooting 39% 3-pt with 33 made threes. His career free throw percentage is 66% but he has improved this season to 74%. He is solid with the ball, posting a slightly positive assist-to-turnover ratio. 

13. J.P. Tokoto - North Carolina 6'5" 200 lbs. Shooting Guard. junior. ...Tokoto is a freak athlete that continues to improve as a basketball player. In three straight seasons he has shown progress by improving his three-point and free throw percentages. This season, Tokoto is shooting 37% 3-pt, and 61% FT. His assist-to-turnover ratio stands at a very good (for a shooting guard) 1.62-to-1 (career). In transition he is ridiculously good; making highlight plays routinely. He averages just eight points per game but he adds 5.6 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 1.5 steals per game. ...The ceiling for Tokoto is extremely high. 

14. Montrezl Harrell - Louisville 6'8" 235 lbs. Power Forward. junior. ...Harrell is among the most intense competitors we have scouted in 17 years of watching college basketball. He is about hustle, and heart. He can be intimidating and hard on his teammates. ...Harrell is not the most skilled player, but he makes up for that with his determined efforts. He averages 15.4 points, and 9.2 rebounds per game. He is a tremendous offensive rebounder that enjoys power-dunking. He will try to dunk ANYTHING close to the rim. This season, Harrell has shown the ability to occasionally step outside and knock down a face-up jumper. ...On the flip side, Harrell is a terrible free throw shooter at 48%, and he turns it over more than he assists it.  

15. Jakob Poeltl - Utah 70'0" 230 lbs. Center. freshman. ...Poeltl is Utah's not-so secret weapon. He plays just 23 minutes per game but when he is on the floor, the Utes are a better team. Poeltl is converting a staggering 69.1% of his field goal attempts. His defensive rating of 87.6 can anchor, for whatever limited minutes he may play, the Utah defense. Poeltl is a good offensive rebounder but his free throw stroke is sketchy at just 45% FT. ...I really hope that Poeltl returns to school next season. For all the promise he shows, I'm afraid he will get lost in the NBA grind of BIG men. 

16. Kennedy Meeks - North Carolina 6'9" 290 lbs. Power Forward. sophomore. ...Meeks is a load. 6'9" 290 lbs. He is hard to keep out of the paint, and he has a soft touch. As such, he shoots 55.9% FG for his two season career as a Tar Heel. The former McDonald's All-American averages 11.6 points, and 7.4 rebounds per game. Meeks is a poor free throw shooter at just 61% FT (career). …He is questionable to play in the Sweet 16 after suffering a knee injury in North Carolina's most recent game. 

Small forwards to watch in the 2015 NCAA Tournament

Annually, we dive into the players to watch in the NCAA Tournament from an NBA scouting perspective. We start with the batch of small forwards...

The present landscape of NBA small forwards is top heavy with talent. There are at least a half-dozen really good to GREAT wing players. We are talking about future Hall of Fame players in Kevin Durant, and LeBron James when we use the word "GREAT". Kawhi Leonard heads the list of "really good" small forwards, joined by the likes of Carmelo Anthony, Rudy Gay, and Gordon Hayward, You could say Kyle Korver is in there too, although he often plays more at the TWO spot. Likewise, Tobias Harris of the Orlando Magic is making big strides toward being a top-tier NBA wing.

However, after those mentioned above, the landscape becomes pretty average to below average looking. Think of an aging Paul Pierce, an inconsistent yet talented Gerald Green, an overpaid Chandler Parsons. Digging deeper we find players like Alonzo Gee, Jared Dudley, and Rasual Butler cracking the top-30 in the most recent, NBA stat audit, small forward rankings.

Armed with this knowledge it is easy to see why there are opportunities for many of the NCAA Tournament small forwards to be considered as NBA prospects.

Kelly Oubre - Kansas 6'7" 200 lbs. - freshman. ...Oubre has the length and athleticism required to be an NBA wing (his wingspan is 7'2"). He is already a disruptive defender and his 36% 3-pt shooting as a Kansas freshman should translate to being solid in the NBA. As a bonus, he hits the glass too, averaging five rebounds per game in just 21 minutes of playing time per contest.

James Webb - Boise St. 6'9" 202 lbs. - sophomore. ...Not too many scouts are talking about James Webb III. He is an outstanding defender (defensive rating is 88.7), and terrific rebounding wing player. Webb is a superior athlete that lettered in high school tennis, track & field (cross-country), soccer, and baseball.

Stanley Johnson - Arizona 6'7" 245 lbs. - freshman. ...Johnson has the best defensive rating of any small forward in the NCAA Tournament (85.4). Offensively, he overpowers other small forwards with his tremendous frame but he is also skilled enough to knock down 36% of his three-point attempts. Most importantly, Johnson is a winner. His high school teams won four consecutive CIF state basketball championships.

Seth Tuttle - Northern Iowa 6'8" 240 lbs. - Senior. ...The Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year is an efficient forward that actually plays more at the FOUR in college. While his defensive rating is nothing to brag about, Tuttle has shown that his offensive game is too strong to leave off the floor. Tuttle is averaging 15 points (61% FG, 42% 3-pt.), 6.8 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game.

Kevon Looney - UCLA 6'9" 220 lbs. - freshman. ...Looney is an NBA athlete that also has shown he has the finesse to make NBA money. He shoots 45% from beyond the college arc, and he has more assists than turnovers. NBA scouts love a player with a "high ceiling". Looney certainly fits that bill.

Jarrod Uthoff - Iowa 6'9" 210 lbs. - junior. ...Uthoff is largely ignored by scouts but he may be able to crack an NBA roster someday due to his strong skill set. The former Iowa high school "Mr. Basketball" can really shoot it.

Prince is a super sixth-man!

Taurean Prince - Baylor 6'7" 215 lbs. - junior. ...Prince comes off the Baylor bench but plays starters minutes (26 mins. per game). He leads Baylor in scoring at 14 points per game.

Rondae Hollis-Jefferson - Arizona 6'7" 215 lbs. sophomore. ...Hollis-Jefferson rates second among all Tourney small forwards in defensive rating. He is a freakish athlete that does not shoot the three-ball well but he does have more assists than turnovers.

Troy Williams - Indiana 6'7" 206 lbs. - sophomore. ...Williams has a ways to go with his shooting and decision making but his NBA athleticism and quickness are undeniable. He is averaging 13 points and seven rebounds per game.

Georges Niang - Iowa St. 6'8" 230 lbs. - junior. ...Niang can play either forward position. He shoots 39% from beyond the college arc, and he has more assists than turnovers.

Nigel Hayes - Wisconsin 6'7" 250 lbs. - sophomore. ...Hayes is a two-way player that has helped Wisconsin to the heights they have achieved this season.

Dwayne Benjamin - Oregon 6'7" 200 lbs. - junior. ...Benjamin comes off the Ducks' bench and provides instant energy and offense.

Sam Dekker - Wisconsin 6'7" 220 lbs. - junior. ...Dekker has a positive assist-to-turnover ratio and shoots 39% from deep.

William Lee - Alabama-Birmingham 6'9" 210 sophomore. ...Lee is a sleeper to keep an eye on.

Power forwards to watch.