A summer league, whoops, a summer training program of sorts maybe...

[CruzDude]

An article by Paul Coro in the Arizona Republic about Jared Dudley also yielded an interesting side piece about NBA players and a "training program" in Las Vegas:

Dudley said he and 40 to 60 other NBA players will participate in a "Competitive Training Series," starting Monday and running through a Sept. 23 championship game at Impact near the Las Vegas Strip. The series, intentionally not called a league for contract purposes, will feature three to four games daily that will be open to the public with*ticket*proceeds going to charity. Impact plans to stream the games live.

"It's something for guys to work out and improve their games," Dudley said. "Usually, you go back to your teams in September, lift and play. We already have 30-40 players here working out. You train all day and then we open it to the public for games. It'll be like summer league. You'll have by far the most pros here of any league."

Dudley said the field of players will include*Stephen Curry,*Chauncey Billups,*Al Harrington,*John Wall,*Zach Randolph,*Stephen Jackson, Tayshaun Prince,*Jermaine O'Neal,*Austin Daye,*DeMar DeRozan,Kyle Lowry,*Eric Maynor*and*J.J. Hickson. Dudley said he is trying to recruit teammates*Channing Frye,*Josh Childress*and*Aaron Brooks*to also play in the officiated series.

So for some of us, maybe we gat our summer league fix or a rough faxsimily thereof. Oh Boy!!!

NOTE: GAMES ARE PLAYED MONDAY THRU THURSDAY BOTH WEEKS. 4 GAMES A DAY, $20/DAY TICKETS

FRIDAY, 16 IS A CELEBRITY BBALL GAME. ONE TEAM COACHED BY MIKE TYSON. PDIDDY ON ONE TEAM AND SNOOP DOG ON OTHER WITH 50CENT

 

[kingsboi]

Heard about this a week ago or so. This is going to be exciting to watch because it's basketball and it's not just random nbdl leaguers or high schoolers. It's actually NBA players and only NBA players. The best part is that they are going to be streaming the games too! Looking forward to it for sure. I am hoping that one of Tyreke, DeMarcus or Marcus participate in this. I want to see at least another king besides JJ.

 

[=LarryLegend=]

Heard about this a week ago or so. This is going to be exciting to watch because it's basketball and it's not just random nbdl leaguers or high schoolers. It's actually NBA players and only NBA players. The best part is that they are going to be streaming the games too! Looking forward to it for sure. I am hoping that one of Tyreke, DeMarcus or Marcus participate in this. I want to see at least another king besides JJ.

Whiteside, Jimmer, mini Zeke and Honeycutt all should be there! Sad not 1 so far.

 

[kingsboi]

Whiteside, Jimmer, mini Zeke and Honeycutt all should be there! Sad not 1 so far.

I agree. All of the rookies should participate in this and get their feet wet against NBA competition. It will only do them good.

 

[CruzDude]

So far (Sept 13) the only Kings playing are Isaiah Thomas and JJ Hickson are playing for this "training series". For a full link to the "Competitive Training Series Volume 1" in Las Vegas go here: http://www.impactbball.com/competitive-league/index.html

Then for just rosters and schedules go here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet...FF5SlJUX1MwR1U2UXJOUlBrcVdSMFE&hl=en_US#gid=0

Thomas and Hickson are on Team "F" playing Wed 9/14 at 1:30pm and 9/15 at 3:30pm. They are off on Friday

I'll be in Las Vegas Wed-Thu-Fri this week and submitting inputs from the live action.

 

[CruzDude]

LIVE FROM LAS VEGAS AND IMPACT BASKETBALL CENTER, WEDNESDAY, 14 SEPT

IMPACT BASKETBALL COMPETITIVE TRAINING SESSION, Vol.1

Wed, 14 Sep 2011, 1:30pm

As long as your not spooked at the idea of a commercial jet sliding off the end of the runway and across the street at Las Vegas McCarren airport, then entering the IMPACT Basketball center is an easy shlep. Basketball court is very basic with only 10 rows of seating along the north side.

JJ warming up for first game shooting 3's and long range jumpers. He has a very smooth, clean shot. Made most of them too. Good form. Easy shooting from 18-22 ft. Mo Williams shagging balls underneath for him. Mo Williams will play with JJ as they both have been on the Cavs for couple of years. Isaiah however, will play with Kawhi Leonard. Team rosters change every day. Roster for Isaiah's team playing at 3:30pm today:

Avery Bradley
Isaiah Thomas
Demar Derozen
Dorrell Wright
Stephen Jackson
Kawahi Leonard
Jordan Williams
Desmon Farmer

NOTE: Kawahi did not play on Wednesday! Don't know why. CD

 

[CruzDude]

JJ playing with Mo Williams team along with Tony Allen, Travis Leslie, Roger Mason, Jr, Ryan Gomes, Josh Selby and Derrick Caracter.

Not much defense, some, mostly on the jump shooters. Hand checking also about 7/10. But most can drive to basket without much bumping. Competition for rebounds is 7 on scale of 10. Everybody shooting 3's!!!

My bad, there are 3 refs not 2 as I mentioned earlier. Don't have roster with jersey numbers yet so not sure who is who, red unis vs green this game.

More defense than All Star game for sure. Guys hitting the deck on rebounds and drives. Really an in-between game. Good for practice and conditioning but no coaching or set plays.

 

[CruzDude]

JJ a monster!! You'll love his game

Even here in a "practice" session (not league, not game!!!), he lets it all out. Has blocked several shots of other bigs as well as guards, rebounds above everyone, shows really good timing and hustle here. A goal tend with his elbow at the rim!!

He and Mo Williams playing fast break really well as JJ runs the floor too.

Half. score tied I think.

 

[CruzDude]

Bummer. Kawhi Leonard has left the building and will not play with Isaiah today (or later???) as shown in roster. Everything here changes quickly.

Half time break on order of 5-10 min then back at it. Lots of huffing and puffin but same 5 on each side: Mo, JJ, Gomes, Roger Mason Jr, and Tony Allen for the red team.

Green starters: TJ Ford, Dahntay Jones, Melvin Ely, Christian Eyenga and Josh Selby.

 

[CruzDude]

End of third Mo, JJ and the Red team up 95-85. JJ is the difference in this game. One of the big reds throws up a 3/4 court prayer shot at buzzer..........and swish!!! it didn't count but to a man the Red teams screams and hollars for the 3.

JJ playing with Mo Williams team along with Tony Allen, Travis Leslie, Roger Mason, Jr, Ryan Gomes, Josh Selby and Derrick Caracter.

 

[CruzDude]

Wow! Just watched JJ block a finger roll, legally too before ball hit rim.

His outlook passes after a rebound are very good then he runs his butt off to get to the other end for an alley oop (did several of those) or an offensive rebound.

 

[CruzDude]

Next game with our Isaiah Thomas will be interesting as his opposite number will be Sebastian Telfair.*

JJ amazing still. *Only 2 min left in game and he is still one of the first downcout every time!!! *

1:20 left and tie game 121-121. *30 sec to go and Red holds for a last shot, miss with 6.4 sec left but on ensuing fast break, TJ Ford is fouled hard my Mo Williams on way to basket. *But he makes first and misses second shot and Reds call time-out. Fast break, Mo tries shot at the buzzer, missed but fouled called with 0.7 sec remaining. *Makes both so now 125-124 Reds. *Somehow 0.8 sec now on clock for one final try by Greens. Screwup on inbounds and Dahntay Jones on the Greens is far from pleased as time expires and Reds win.

 

[CruzDude]

JJ's stats for today:
34 pts
14 reg
4 sat
2 steals
2 blocks

 

[Kingsguy881]

Thanks CRUZ! Hickson putting it DOWN DOWN!! Keep em coming!!

 

[CruzDude]

game 2, Wed 9/14

Isaiah (White Team) playing opposite Telfair (Blue team). *Fast break, perfect bouncd pass at full speed thru traffic to Avery Bradley for easy reverse layup. *Quick, maybe very quick. *Finds hole down middle and zip, in for two. *Not nearly the defense in this game as the first one. *Too many easy layups. *Perimeter "D" aggressive 28-33 Blue end first qtr

Good defensive move by Isaiah getting into Telfairs chops trying a short range jumper that missed badly. *Passes with both hands. *He and Telfair are not BFF for sure. *They drive on each other always trying to one-up. *end half *58-67 Blues *Not nearly the game prior, more showboating, less rebounding, less defense. Not nearly as much fun to watch either.

Isaiah white team includes:
Isaiah
Avery Bradley
Demar Derozen
Dorrell Wright
Jordan Williams
Desmon Farmer
Wesley Mathews

 

[CruzDude]

Game 1 today, Thursday, has John Wall leading the whites against the reds and Mo Williams and Tony Allen. Wall is everything advertised. Super pull up, drive thru the smallest slot in the defense, layup with either hand. Jordan Williams is the main BIG on the whites.

As of 2:40pm it seems many of the NBA guys are just now showing up from the NBPA meetings held downtown late this morning. Which delays all the game schedules as first game was to start 1:30 (it did but with only 5-6 per team of those that did not go to NBPA meeting.) It was a mandatory meeting so most all the contracted NBA guys had to attend. Hmmm. So who were the guys who started playing an hour before the bulk of them got back???

From the feedback this meeting was primarily a "lets get and stay united in this lockout". From what Derek Fisher's letter said, the NBPA has made some concessions (52% or so of revenue share vs. 58% now, future revenue sharing in concert with prelim owner ideas) but the owners have started to bicker amongst themselves delaying their getting united and making progress. Seems the Suns and Cavs owners don't like most of what the other owners seem to be OK with. arrgghh!!