Summer league tid-bits

[CruzDude]

Louis Amundson, from the Kings summer league team and training camp last year did great in first summer league game for 76ers this year: 16 pt (incl 8/10 FT!!!), 11 reb and 2 bs in 30mim. Last year he was a 40% FT!!! He is or is becoming a Bill Lee clone.

On the other hand, in his first game with the Blazers, Greg Oden had 6 pts, 2 reb and 10 fouls in 20 min+.

The #2 in the draft, Kevin Durant did a bit better in his debut: 18pts, 1 reb, 0 ast, 0 ST and 0 BS in nearly 30min.

Teams tend to average 25%-35% FT shooting in the first 1 or 2 summer league games and FG % not much higher. I once characterized summer league players in their first game or two as "spinning tops, all wound too tight". In their excitement, many will actually run away from their own dribble, ball one way their bodies another. Part of what makes the summer league games so much fun. Plus seeing show girls in tight shorts and halter tops in the stands

 

[BRad1055]

I take it they dont foul out in summer league lol. =) I can't wait to see the Kings tomorrow night on nba tv vs China and Yi Jiangliann. He tore it up today in a great battle vs Rudy Gay from what I read.

 

[BMiller52]

I take it they dont foul out in summer league lol. =) I can't wait to see the Kings tomorrow night on nba tv vs China and Yi Jiangliann. He tore it up today in a great battle vs Rudy Gay from what I read.

He did a good job of scoring but he was pretty bad on D and he committed 7 TOs and 7 fouls.

 

[bench_blob]

Louis Amundson, from the Kings summer league team and training camp last year did great in first summer league game for 76ers this year: 16 pt (incl 8/10 FT!!!), 11 reb and 2 bs in 30mim. Last year he was a 40% FT!!! He is or is becoming a Bill Lee clone.

On the other hand, in his first game with the Blazers, Greg Oden had 6 pts, 2 reb and 10 fouls in 20 min+.

The #2 in the draft, Kevin Durant did a bit better in his debut: 18pts, 1 reb, 0 ast, 0 ST and 0 BS in nearly 30min.

Teams tend to average 25%-35% FT shooting in the first 1 or 2 summer league games and FG % not much higher. I once characterized summer league players in their first game or two as "spinning tops, all wound too tight". In their excitement, many will actually run away from their own dribble, ball one way their bodies another. Part of what makes the summer league games so much fun. Plus seeing show girls in tight shorts and halter tops in the stands

I missed the dancing girls, but Durant has some silky smooth moves; he reminds of a young KG without the strength...that's the postive. The guy is going to be an amazing scorer with his 7'5" wing span and array of moves left and right...and uncanny scoring knack.

On the negative side, he is going to get pushed all over the place around the basket; he is a rail. I can envision a lot of 1-3 rebound games for him in 30 minutes, not good for a guy 6'11. Ron Artest, Carmello Anthony, among others will totally abuse him in the post. The book will get out on him fast to be physical and take him off his sweet spots. But his potential is through the roof. Give him 2-3 years and he is going to be awesome.

 

[kyo2002]

Yeah, I thought all along Amundson should've been drafted first. His stats prove lol. Oden and Durant are busts apparently.

 

[Entity]

Cruz I am sure you are looking foward to tonight. Seeing how much Justin has improved since last years summer leauge. Can Garcia be the headline that Kevin was last year and can Hawes be the guy for the future. Also if any diamonds are there like Shakur,Watkins,Butler, or Wingate.

 

[hoopsfan]

I take it they dont foul out in summer league lol. =)

In Summer League it takes 10 fouls to foul out...so Oden did, finally , foul out.

 

[CruzDude]

In Oden's defense, the Portland media pointed out that he will need time to get used to NBA referees and how they call fouls vs. college. Throw away the first 2 games of summer league for everyone new to the NBA and summer league. By the 3rd game they tend to settle down and get to their respective games.

Same for Durant, Yi and the others. Lots of points but little else until he too gets a feel for the foul calling.

Tonight don't expect anything remotely like a real game. Watch and see how many guards and SF manage to run past or away from their own dribble. And the excitement level is off the charts for every first game. Besides, the Kings with 6 or 7 bigs, you likely will only see 2-3 tonight.

 

[fnordius]

Wow... great game by Justin so far!

(You need to sign up for a free NBA TV login, if you don't have one already, and head on over to http://www.nba.com/summerleague2007/scoreboard.jsp )

 

[VF21]

fnordius - Check the sticked summer league thread. We've got a pretty good group of folks enjoying the game!

 

[CruzDude]

For those going to the summer league games in the coming week or so there are some major serendipitous benefits to look for: NBA hall of fame guys in official and unofficial roles, show girls in the stands in short shorts, head coaches from every one of the 21 teams participating along with the staffs, big name NBA types there to just watch, the autograph seeking kids and the beat writers from every team there.

One section of the stands is always roped off for the team personnel to make it easier to watch, discuss and take notes.

Summer league is also training camp for NBA referees. Every year maybe one new referee is added, some years maybe 2-3 if there are others retiring or leaving. They get evaluated by the NBA's chief referee just like players do by their GM's and coaches. Every game will have one current NBA referee and two trainess.

Even the scorekeepers and statisticians can be on training roles trying to get on with one of the teams.

So the whole atmosphere is more college like than regular NBA but it is all run just like a real, in season NBA game: the referees, the scorekeeping, fouls (the high number mostly new players but many also from wanna-be refs too). And everyone from Las Vegas working the arenas are friendly and helpful.

And it is a feast for autograph hounds, kids in particular. Every player is much more accessible then at a regular NBA game. So too the All-Stars and Hall of Famers who frequent the summer league.

Today (Tue 7/10) the big deal was the annual visit by Jerry Tarkanian to the summer league. Virtually every TV and radio station at the games interviewed him and he accommodated them all and signed a few autographs as well.

 

[CruzDude]

Vegas Summer League tidbit #6

This year the Vegas Summer League was the cheapest year yet to attend. First got advanced tics on Southwest for $90 each way. Then got hotel/casino near MGM Grand for $56/night.

At airport they now have Airport Shuttles for $6 to the strip each way vs. the $15-$22 cab ride. And LOB (lo' and behold!!) there is a city bus service that runs east-west on Tropicana across the strip and right to the arena (a 250 yd schlep across the parking lot) for $1.25 each way and only $1.25 for a day pass for seniors (>62) and students (valid schoo ID). Plus within one short block of hotel is a mini-mart with reasonable prices for soda, beer, miniatures of booze and eats.

Tickets for the summer league however, were up this year to $25/day or $200 for the whole session of 10 days. Again, seniors and students got discount to $15/day.

Some tid bits to keep in mind if you plan to come to the Kings-Lakers preseason game here in Vegas on Oct 28. Tickets for that go fast too.