Poeltl stars on opening day in Vegas

Jakob Poeltl was the most efficient player (per-minute) on a winning team during the opening day of play in the 2017 NBA Las Vegas Summer League. The Toronto Raptors, 2016 lottery draft pick (9th overall) had 12 points (6-8 FG) and ten rebounds in just 22 minutes to help the Raptors get past the New Orleans Pelicans 96-93. 

Friday's games were overwhelmingly well received, with fans finding it difficult to find a seat for the primetime showdown between the Los Angeles teams, the Clippers and the Lakers. Lonzo Ball, the second overall pick in this year's draft, struggled with his deep shooting, and ultimately the Lakers lost to the Clippers in overtime. 

Joining Poeltl on the Hoop Obsession All-Summer League Team for July 7, 2017...

• Jack Cooley - Sacramento. 11 points (4-5 FG, 3-4 FT), 10 rebounds, in 23 minutes. 
• Robert Carter Jr. - Denver. 17 points (5-7 FG, 2-2 3-pt., 5-5 FT) , 6 rebounds in 23 minutes. 
• Troy Williams - Houston. 29 points (8-15 FG, 4-7 3-pt., 9-12 FT), 2 steals in 24 minutes. 
• Pascal Siakam - Toronto. 24 points (10-14 FG, 1-2 3-pt., 3-3 FT), 4 rebounds in 30 minutes. 
• Cheick Diallo - New Orleans. 27 points (11-18 FG, 5-5 FT), 10 rebounds in 34 minutes.
• Gary Payton II - Milwaukee. 10 points (4-7 FG, 0-1 3-pt., 2-2 FT), 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 5 steals, 0 turnovers in 25 minutes. 
• Archie Goodwin - Brooklyn. 14 points (6-10 FG, 0-1 3-pt., 2-2 FT), 6 rebounds in 22 minutes. 
• Isaiah Taylor - Houston. 7 points (2-3 FG, 3-4 FT), 4 rebounds, 10 assists, 1 turnover in 25 minutes. 
• De'Aaron Fox - Sacramento. 18 points (7-16 FG, 0-3 3-pt., 4-6 FT), 3 rebounds, 4 assists, 5 steals in 27 minutes. 
• Davon Reed - Phoenix. 17 points (6-11 FG, 2-4 3-pt., 3-3 FT), 2 steals in 20 minutes. 
• Zhou Qi - Houston. 17 points (7-13 FG, 2-6 3-pt., 1-3 FT), 6 rebounds in 25 minutes. 

Notes: Among those who saw at least 20 minutes of playing time, only Malachi Richardson of the Sacramento Kings had a per-minute efficiency rating of "zero" (that is not good, in case you are not hip to our rating system.) ...On a "normal" day, a "EFR" of .818 will get you onto the HoopObsession daily All-Summer League Team. However, Brice Johnson, who posted that great number was edged out by Poeltl, Cooley, Diallo, Carter, and Siakam, who all had slightly better ratings.

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. 

Smart special in Summer League

Smart was crazy good Thursday

Marcus Smart posted a Hoop Obsession efficiency rating above 1.000 Thursday at the NBA Utah Summer League. A game efficiency rating that high usually happens only a handful of times each summer. Smart's Boston Celtics defeated the San Antonio Spurs 85-71. Smart, a second year pro from Oklahoma State had 22 points (9-14 FG, 4-6 3-pt.), four rebounds, seven assists, and three steals in 27 minutes. He was dominant. 

Hoop Obsession All NBA Summer League Team for July 9, 2015

Tyler Harvey - Orlando (Blue). ...Harvey posted 24 points (8-13 FG, 4-7 3-pt., 4-5 FT) with five assists but his Orlando Magic (Blue) team fell to the Indiana Pacers 91-85. Harvey (E. Washington) was the 51st player selected in the 2015 NBA Draft. 

Jack Cooley - Utah. ...Cooley scored ten points (3-8 FG, 4-4 FT) and grabbed eight rebounds in 20 minutes as the starting center for the Jazz. Utah beat the Philadelphia 76ers 84-78. Cooley played 16 games with Jazz in 2014-15. 

Joseph Young - Indiana. ...Young had a better day playing point guard for the Pacers Thursday. He scored 28 points (9-17 FG, 5-9 3-pt., 5-6 FT) and added three boards but most importantly, he had three assists and only one turnover. Young has clearly demonstrated that his jump shot is accurate. 

Devyn Marble - Orlando (Blue) ...Marble scored 22 points (8-17 FG, 5-9 3-pt. 1-2 FT), with seven rebounds, three assists, and four steals in 34 minutes. 

Chris Johnson (Dayton) - Utah. ...Johnson scored nine points (3-6 FG, 1-3 3-pt., 2-2 FT), and added three rebounds, five assists, and three steals in 24 minutes.

Russ Smith - Memphis. ...Smith continued to be one of the best individual performers of the first week of NBA Summer League. In the Grizzlies 87-81 win over Oklahoma City, Smith scored 17 points (4-10 FG, 0-1 3-pt., 9-9 FT), grabbed four boards, dished four assists, and had five steals in 27 minutes.  

Darnell Lazare - Memphis. ...Lazare put up nine points (3-5 FG, 3-3 FT) and controlled six rebounds in just 20 minutes. He went undrafted in 2007 out of LSU. Lazare played professionally in Canada in 2014-15. 

Quinn Cook - Oklahoma City. ...Cook is a kid we think could crack an NBA roster due to his overall feel and skill. He makes high IQ basketball plays. Thursday he scored 15 points (6-13 FG, 3-7 3-pt.), had five rebounds, and five assists in 26 minutes off the bench for the Thunder. 

Jarnell Stokes - Memphis. ...Stokes is an old-school power forward. He bullied his way to 18 points (7-10 FG, 4-4 FT) and added four boards in 26 minutes. 

Arinze Onuaku - Indiana. ...Onuaku scored eleven points (3-6 FG, 1-1 3-pt., 4-8 FT) grabbed nine rebounds and blocked three shots (28 minutes), manning the middle for the Pacers. 

C.J. Fair - Boston. ...Fair scored six points (3-5 FG, 0-1 3-pt.), with seven rebounds, and three assists in 25 minutes. 

Notes: One player, that played at least 20 minutes, was in "negative" efficiency territory. Olivier Hanlan the Utah Jazz rookie selected 42nd overall scored just two points (1-5 FG) in 22 minutes. 

Las Vegas NBA Summer League Day Three

Jennings is an active BIG

The third day of the NBA Las Vegas Summer League saw Terrence Jennings (Louisville) emerge as the most efficient player on a winning team. Jennings had 16 points, eight rebounds, three steals, and two blocked shots in the summer Knicks 82-69 win over the Wizards. Jennings, a 24 year-old power forward from Sacramento, CA, played previously in Belgium and in the D-League. 

Cody Zeller rebounded from a pedestrian game one to score 21 points and grab 13 rebounds in his second Las Vegas outing. His Charlotte summer team beat Dallas 86-80. ...The Lakers summer team is much better than last year's win-less presentation. Lester Hudson led the Lakers to a decisive 81-63 triumph over Portland. Hudson had 15 points (5-8 FG), and five rebounds in 23 minutes of play. ...The NBA D League Select Team improved to 2-0 in summer action with a 83-77 win over the Clippers. Elijah Millsap was the star with 21 points, seven rebounds, and three assists. Millsap went to the free throw line 20 times, and made 15. ...Jonas Valanciunas continued his good play in the Raptors 82-76 victory over the Spurs. Valanciunas scored 19 points and snared 13 rebounds. ...Atlanta beat Miami 75-71, moving both teams to 1-1 through two games. ...Milwaukee improved to 2-0 with a 69-61 victory over New Orleans. ...Cleveland remained perfect at 2-0 by beating Memphis 69-58. 

Our day three (Sunday, July 14, 2103) All Las Vegas NBA Summer League Team: Point guards: Hudson, Brian Roberts. Shooting guards: Justin Dentmon, Millsap, Stefhon Hannah. Small forwards: DeShaun Thomas, Terrence Ross. Power forwards: Jennings, C Zeller, Darnell Jackson. Centers: Jack Cooley, Valanciunas.