No picnic for opponents of Yogi

Yogi made no boo boos Saturday. 

Yogi Ferrell was the most efficient player on a winning team Saturday, during the second day of play in the NBA Las Vegas Summer League. The Dallas Mavericks, sophomore guard scored 14 points (5-7 FG, 3-3 3-pt., 1-1 FT), grabbed five rebounds, dished four assists, and snared three steals in 25 minutes. Dallas beat Chicago handily 91-75 in front of a capacity crowd at the Thomas and Mack Center. 

The big news Saturday; Markelle Fultz, the number one overall selection in the 2017 NBA Draft, sprained his left ankle. It appears highly unlikely that Fultz will play again for the Philadelphia 76'ers in the tournament which runs through July 17th. 

Joining Ferrell on the Hoop Obsession All Summer League team for July 8, 2017...

• Daniel Ochefu - Wizards. 13 points (3-5 FG, 7-7 FT), 10 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, 5 blocked shots in 30 minutes. 
• Kyle Kuzma - Lakers. 31 points (12-26 FG, 5-10 3-pt., 2-2 FT), 9 rebounds in 33 minutes. 
• Brandon Ashley - Mavs. 21 points (9-15 FG, 2-6 3-pt., 1-2 FT) in 20 minutes. 
• Jayson Tatum - Celtics. 27 points (9-19 FG, 1-1 3-pt., 8-8 FT), 11 rebounds in 33 minutes. 
• Jakob Poeltl - Raptors. 15 points (6-8 FG, 0-1 3-pt, 3-4 FT), 10 rebounds in 26 minutes. 
• Bam Adebayo - Heat. 18 points (6-12 FG, 6-6 FT), 10 rebounds, 2 steals in 29 minutes. 
• Wayne Selden - Grizzlies. 28 points (10-20 FG, 4-6 3-pt., 4-7 FT), 6 rebounds, 3 steals in 30 minutes. 
• Dennis Smith Jr. - Mavs. 14 points (5-12 FG, 1-6 3-pt., 3-3 FT), 7 rebounds, 6 assists in 25 minutes. 
• Pascal Siakam - Raptors. 17 points (6-11 FG, 1-2 3-pt., 4-6 FT), 4 rebounds in 22 minutes. 
• Fred VanVleet - Raptors. 9 points (4-9 FG, 0-3 3-pt., 1-1 FT), 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals in 22 minutes. 
• Lonzo Ball - Lakers. 11 points (5-13 FG, 1-5 3-pt.), 11 rebounds, 11 assists in 34 minutes. 

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.

Centers to watch in the 2016 NCAA Tournament

The Centers we are watching most closely in the 2016 NCAA Tournament...

Poeltl, Pac-12 Player of  the Year. 

Jakob Poeltl - Utah 7'1" 240, soph. ...Poeltl was the Pac 12 Player of the Year for 2015-16. He averages 17.6 points and nine rebounds per game. He scored in double figures in all but four games this season. He is converting a staggering 67% of his field goal attempts (career). His defensive rating of 93.7 anchors the Utah defense. Poeltl is a good offensive rebounder and his free throw stroke is improved, up from just 45% as a freshman to 69% this season. He is showing a much better ability to pick and pop this season. He led the Pac 12 in True Shooting Percentage (.673). ...Poeltl has more turnovers than assists, and that part of his game needs improvement. Poeltl is originally from Vienna, Austria. Both his parents were members of Austrian national volleyball teams. You just don't see too many seven foot players with his ability to run the floor. I think he is potentially a top-tier BIG in the NBA at the height of his career. 

Diamond Stone - Maryland. 6'10" 250, frosh. ...Diamond Stone is a BIG freshman. He averages 12.9 points (56% FG), 5.5 rebounds, and 1.6 blocked shots per game. He has the finesse to hit 76% of his free throws. He has good hands. Stone broke a Maryland freshman school record, scoring 39 points in a game against Penn State. Stone was also suspended by Coach Mark Turgeon for one game this season. He hit a Wisconsin player's head against the court to earn the suspension. Defensively, Stone has a slightly better defensive rating than the Maryland team. …His decision making and passing are a work in progress. He presently coughs up more than three turnovers for every one assist. Stone won four consecutive Wisconsin state championships in high school. He was a 2015 McDonald's All-America selection.

Thomas Bryant - Indiana. 6'11" 241, frosh. ...There is a reason that Indiana Basketball is back on the map. A lack of size in recent seasons was cured this year with the arrival of Thomas Bryant. Bryant has a 7'5" wingspan, and a standing reach of 9'3.5". He averages 11.6 points, and 5.8 rebounds per game in just 22 minutes per contest.  He led the Big Ten in True Shooting Percentage this season (.704). Bryant is decent at the foul line, connecting on 68.9%. Bryant scored a career high 23 points (in just 27 minutes) vs. Minnesota, January 30, 2016. ...Bryant has more turnovers than assists. He is just 18 years-old, and he won't turn 19 until July 31st.  Bryant was a 2015 McDonald's All-America selection. While Bryant may not be a star in the NBA, we think he can be a starter during his career.

The rest of the BIG men we will watch closely in the 2016 NCAA Tournament...

A.J. Hammons - Purdue. 7'0" 251, SR. 
Isaac Haas - Purdue. 7'2" 297, soph. 
Skal Labissiere - Kentucky. 7'0" 216, frosh.
Daniel Ochefu - Villanova. 6'11" 245, SR. 
Cameron Ridley - Texas. 6'10" 262, SR. 
Mike Tobey - Virginia. 6'11" 227. SR. 
Prince Ibeh - Texas. 6'10" 250, SR.
Amida Brimah - Connecticut. 7'0" 217, jr. 
Tonye Jekiri - Miami. 7'0" 244, SR.