Straight snubbage by the Starters for their All-Summer League team. Make 'em eat it tomorrow, fellas!
Just for the record - this team has been a kick in the pants for me just because it doesn't make any difference if you win a summer league game. As a bonus we get another extra game to see. I feel great about the upbeat experience it has provided for the whole bunch - Vivek, Malone, Corbin and the rest.
For us, this is absolutely big for our team confidence moving forward. There's potentially 6 guys on this SL team who will be on the NBA roster next season (Ray, Ben, Nik, Acy, Brooks, Moreland) and 4 of whom who will be rotational players for us. If we were the Spurs, or even the Rockets, then sure, this game and summer league doesn't mean a whole lot because there's MAYBE one guy on their SL team who's going to get real NBA minutes. But our success next season lies quite a bit on the shoulders of how well Ray, Ben and Stauskas play. I don't care how good Gay and Cuz play next year, we need 3/4 of our back-court rotation to play well and perform if we want to sniff the playoffs.
Also, Brooks needs to make the team. The guy just continues to put up huge numbers in a limited amount of minutes. He's made the team better when he comes into the game. And our bench offense needs someone who can create off his own bounce. Our bench has been a flat out weakness the past 3 years whenever IT wasn't on it because we didn't have anyone who could initiate an offense and be a threat to create off his own bounce. Brooks is that kind of guy. And he seems to work well playing off Ben or Stauskas.
Spurs Esque 'System' I hope & pray. Fingers crossed.So it turns out that the All-NBA Summer League 1st team consists of: McDermott, Snell, Rice Jr., Porter, and Motiejunas.
What do all these players have in common? The Sacramento Kings knocked each of their teams out of the tournament* on their run to the championship - with no 1st team OR 2nd team players! A true team effort by our guys, which if translated over to the big squad, will spell success this year.
*Yes, counting chickens.
So it turns out that the All-NBA Summer League 1st team consists of: McDermott, Snell, Rice Jr., Porter, and Motiejunas.
What do all these players have in common? The Sacramento Kings knocked each of their teams out of the tournament* on their run to the championship - with no 1st team OR 2nd team players! A true team effort by our guys, which if translated over to the big squad, will spell success this year.
*Yes, counting chickens.
It's also nice to see what team basketball and a little success is doing for the KingsFans message boards! Someday this will be The New Normal.