NBA Summer League 2014 in Las Vegas

CruzDude

Senior Member sharing a brew with bajaden
#1
UPDATE 29 JUNE

This year will have 24 NBA teams participating up from 22 last year. All games are played at Thomas & Mack arena or at the Cox Pavilion next door, both on the campus of UNLV. On Google Maps, just in from the intersection of Tropicana and Paradise Road and just off the north end of the airport.

Most games are played at Cox Pavilion which is really a practice facility with high school bench seating along both sides and the ends reserved for media, agents and such. One section at one end is always reserved for team Front Office types and the occasional players. Snacks are more reasonable priced than any NBA arena.

Games begin 11 July and the first 5-6 days will have each of the 24 teams participating this year playing each other 3 times.

KINGS INITIAL 3 GAMES
Kings will play the following 3 games before the tournament style of play begins on Wednesday, July 19:

Friday, 11 July 7 pm- Kings vs. San Antonio (Cox Pavilion)
Sunday, 13 July 3 pm - Kings vs. Charlotte (Cox Pavilion)
Monday, 14 July 1:30 pm - Kings vs. D-League Team (Thomas & Mack Arena)

Then, with seedings based on team records, all teams go into a double-elimination tournament with a championship game played 22 July. This way every team plays at least 5 games and the finalists will have played 7. Teams seeded 1-8 through first 3 games will next play on Thursday July 17.

Cost is $25 per day for adults and gets you into all games that day, this year most likely 7-games with 1 or 2 each day in Thomas & Mack. Tickets are now available online at this link:

UNLVtickets

For Seniors and juniors you have to call the ticket line to get tickets:
TO ORDER BY PHONE: CALL 702.739.FANS (3267)

For those with big budgets you can spend $100-$200 per day and get a seat on the sideline. Parking is free at UNLV at both arenas. It is fairly easy to get rooms in Vegas in July for $35-$60 a night, motels mostly, also sometimes great deals at the casino hotels

But BEWARE! Strip hotels may offer $30-$40 rooms but there is a Mandatory RESORT FEE of around $18-$20 PER DAY added to every bill for everyday to cover internet access , a room safe and other useless items. Then you'll find out that covers only ONE DEVICE! Each additional device (iPhone, iPad or laptop or respectiveequalivents) will cost $13.99 PER DEVICE PER DAY! And internet service throughout the hotels is done by a 3rd party service with the hotel only a broker for Internet access. So stay on the off strip motels who usually don't charge the Resort Fee. Or just use Cellular Access LTE everywhere.

Also, the Summer League is the official training camp for potential NBA Referees. Every game will have 2 tryout refs with one experienced ref. The hierarchy of the NBA Referees will be in the stands watching each ref go thru the paces. From there the NBA normally adds 1-2 refs a year based on summer league tryouts.

KINGS SUMMER LEAGUE ROSTER POSTED 2 JULY
WOW! Kings summer league team is awesome (for summer league):

COMPLETE SUMMER LEAGUE ROSTER SHOWN IN REPLY #72 on 3rd page of this thread.
 
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#2
Hey CruzDude-

Thanks for posting this. I don't see the dates (July 11 - 22) listed anywhere on nba.com for 2014 although I might be missing it. Do you know if those are confirmed? I'm starting to make plans and wanted to be sure. Thanks!
 

CruzDude

Senior Member sharing a brew with bajaden
#4
Will select our econ motel walking distance from arenas once the schedule comes out and we can see when the Kings play their first 3 games.
 
#5
I'm really surprised D.Williams is going to be on the Summer roster but give him a lot credit for going without making a stink. Improving from within is equally important right now to turning this around.
 

CruzDude

Senior Member sharing a brew with bajaden
#6
Quincy Acy just finished his 2nd year in the NBA. Wonder why his name hasn't popped up with respect to Summer League. Or maybe he is what he is but is that enough?
 
#7
I'm really surprised D.Williams is going to be on the Summer roster but give him a lot credit for going without making a stink. Improving from within is equally important right now to turning this around.
This means FO and Malone think, he has a place in this League, so we should hold off putting him in trade proposals. :)
I think Kings might opt for filling SL roster with combo guards, who play off the ball effectively, so that Derrick and Ben have the ball as much as possible.
 

CruzDude

Senior Member sharing a brew with bajaden
#9
This means FO and Malone think, he has a place in this League, so we should hold off putting him in trade proposals. :)

I think Kings might opt for filling SL roster with combo guards, who play off the ball effectively, so that Derrick and Ben have the ball as much as possible.
Don't forget Kings looking for backup center as no vet worthwhile seems available.
 
#10
I would look back at Aldrich, though he couldn't find any burn for Knicks even when Chandler was out. At least he's only getting minimum. :D
 
#16
PDA told that in an interview. They think that is a good way to improve his ball-handling in order to be a better SG and a better scorer
Can you provide the source?

I'm not sure I like this idea. On one hand, I like the idea of forcing Ben to handle the ball more to be more comfortable putting the ball on the floor. On the other hand, it could backfire and Ben's confidence could be shot. Ben should be using the summer league to get his confidence up, so when the regular season starts, he'll be in a good place. I also don't like the idea of taking the ball away from McCallum. He needs to get his touches as a PG as well.

I don't think it is necessary to put Ben at PG. He will have plenty of opportunities to handle the ball as one of the best players on the summer league team. On the actual team, he doesn't have as many opportunities with Cousins, Gay and Thomas out there with him.
 
#17
Can you provide the source?

I'm not sure I like this idea. On one hand, I like the idea of forcing Ben to handle the ball more to be more comfortable putting the ball on the floor. On the other hand, it could backfire and Ben's confidence could be shot. Ben should be using the summer league to get his confidence up, so when the regular season starts, he'll be in a good place. I also don't like the idea of taking the ball away from McCallum. He needs to get his touches as a PG as well.

I don't think it is necessary to put Ben at PG. He will have plenty of opportunities to handle the ball as one of the best players on the summer league team. On the actual team, he doesn't have as many opportunities with Cousins, Gay and Thomas out there with him.
I have to look for. But I suppose that it would be only a few minutes
 

CruzDude

Senior Member sharing a brew with bajaden
#18
Summer League is a big training camp but oriented to two specific goals (based on viewing 17 summer leagues): getting the last year and this years rookies lots of on-court minutes to improve in designated areas, and to evaluate the FA invited by the Kings. The only "hands off" players in summer league are those players under contract to their teams. All other players there are free game for anyone to sign them. There is a first-right-of-refusal protocol for the hosting team, but that is not 100%.

This is why it is so important for a Kings fan to go to summer league and see first hand what gos on, who is there watching ( GMs, coaches, and a wide range of front office types including the requisite Hall of Famers) , who looks like they could help as a role player and of course, the occasional eye candy from the many Las Vegas shows.
 
#19
Any suggestions on where to stay? There doesn't really seem to be many places truly within walking distance when the temps are over 100 degrees. Except the Best Western McCarran Inn which is kitty-corner and next to the airport. Still, recent reviews (post renovation) aren't bad and price is reasonable.

Hyatt Place is next closest, that seems decent.

Stayed at Hooters last year, but its not really in walking distance of the UNLV, except maybe for you young whippersnappers. Also, I was not really impressed with the rooms. although the price was good.
 

CruzDude

Senior Member sharing a brew with bajaden
#20
I elected to use airline points for a hotel about a mile north of Thomas & Mack on Paradise Rd. Suggestion is go to "cheap hotels Las Vegas" or Hotels.com or LasVegas.com and select hotels "west of the strip". Thomas & Mack sits at the intersection of Paradise Road (the road into the airport going south) and Flamingo Ave about 1.25 miles west of the strip. Good luck.

UPDATE Monday, 2 June
Tickets are now on sale for all days at Summer League. $25/day for adults and $15/day for seniors and juniors (16 and under I think site was not specific). You can order adult tickets on-line now for any days and they have packages for all days too. Here is the link:


UNLVtickets


For Seniors and juniors you have to call the ticket line to get tickets:
TO ORDER BY PHONE: CALL 702.739.FANS (3267)
 

bajaden

Hall of Famer
#22
Any suggestions on where to stay? There doesn't really seem to be many places truly within walking distance when the temps are over 100 degrees. Except the Best Western McCarran Inn which is kitty-corner and next to the airport. Still, recent reviews (post renovation) aren't bad and price is reasonable.

Hyatt Place is next closest, that seems decent.

Stayed at Hooters last year, but its not really in walking distance of the UNLV, except maybe for you young whippersnappers. Also, I was not really impressed with the rooms. although the price was good.
And just who are you calling young? Seriously, a few years ago I was staying on the strip, and Uncia03 was susposed to pick me up and take me to the Thomas and Mack center. Somehow we got our directions screwed up and we missed each other. Stupidly, I thought hell, I'm a strong guy, I'll just walk there. I might add that it was a 107 degrees that day. I made it two blocks and the thought occurred to me, that I was about to die. I found a bus stop with shade and took a bus to the arena. So I don't recommend trying to walk any great distances when it's that hot. Looking forward to seeing you there. Hopefully you'll have a longer stay this year.
 

bajaden

Hall of Famer
#23
I elected to use airline points for a hotel about a mile north of Thomas & Mack on Paradise Rd. Suggestion is go to "cheap hotels Las Vegas" or Hotels.com or LasVegas.com and select hotels "west of the strip". Thomas & Mack sits at the intersection of Paradise Road (the road into the airport going south) and Flamingo Ave about 1.25 miles west of the strip. Good luck.

UPDATE Monday, 2 June
Tickets are now on sale for all days at Summer League. $25/day for adults and $15/day for seniors and juniors (16 and under I think site was not specific). You can order adult tickets on-line now for any days and they have packages for all days too. Here is the link:


UNLVtickets


For Seniors and juniors you have to call the ticket line to get tickets:
TO ORDER BY PHONE: CALL 702.739.FANS (3267)
I'd like to add, that doing a walk up and buying your ticket on a daily basis isn't a problem either. Tickets aren't for a particular seat, so it's first come first serve for all the games. It's not unusual for people to move back and forth between the two arenas depending on who is playing, and how competitive the game is. The two arena's are entirely different. The Thomas and Mack center is like watching a game at ARCO, while the other is almost like watching a game at a highschool gym. I prefer the latter.
 

CruzDude

Senior Member sharing a brew with bajaden
#26
KINGS SUMMER LEAGUE SCHEDULE RELEASED

Kings will play the following 3 games before the tournament style of play begins on Wednesday, July 19:

Friday, 11 July 7 pm- Kings vs. San Antonio (Cox Pavilion)
Sunday, 13 July 3 pm - Kings vs. Charlotte (Cox Pavilion)
Monday, 14 July 1:30 pm - Kings vs. D-League Team (Thomas & Mack Arena)

If, after 3 games, the Kings are seeded 1-8 their next game will be Thursday, 17 July
If the Kings are seeded 9-24, their next game will be wednesday, 16 July (game 4)
The loser bracket (16 teams) then is Friday, 18 July (game 5) and the winner bracket (8 teams) is Saturday (game 5), Semi-finals Sunday and finals monday 6pm
 
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#30
Ok. Booked a room. Will check in late on the 10th and leave on Tuesday. So I'll see the Kings play 3 games.

Will stay at a hotel away from the strip to the south. Paying a little more than last year, but at least I didn't see any real horror story reviews as I did with some of the less expensive places.
 
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