Noel, Smart impressed in narrows wins for Philadelphia and Boston.
Indiana 94, Oklahoma City 71
Oklahoma City’s roster is built for summer league success, with four players on the roster currently under contract with the NBA franchise, and three others being draft choices from this year (two in the first round). The team fell behind early and could not catch its stride until a late run kept the score from becoming a blowout. Donald Sloan led all scorers with 19 points, while also adding a game-high six assists. One of the older players at the Summer League, Sloan played with poise, which the Thunder could not match. Kevin Jones, an undrafted player last season out of West Virginia, also added a double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds.
For the Thunder, Mitch McGary added a team-high 15 points, while also making a series of impressive passes out of the high post. Offense aside, McGary struggled defensively, showing a slow first step that will be taken advantage of by NBA-caliber big men. Steven Adams looked confident inside and was productive scoring in the post and getting to the free-throw line. He finished with 10 points and eight rebounds. Continuing to struggle, Jeremy Lamb could not buy a basket for large portions of the game, shooting a dismal 4-for-17 from the floor, including 1-for-9 from downtown.
Where are they now? After going undrafted out of IPFW in 2013, Frank Gaines was named the NBA Developmental League’s Most Improved Player last season for the Maine Red Claws. While a long shot to make the Pacers roster, Gaines impressed with 17 points, including a series of jump shots in succession in the second quarter.
Philadelphia 92, Brooklyn 86
Philadelphia continued its strong summer league play with a tight victory over Brooklyn. Prized draft choice Nerlens Noel did not disappoint; he scored 14 points, grabbed nine rebounds and blocked five shots. He was particularly effective in transition, and showed the ability to block shots with both hands. If given a starting position once the regular season begins, Noel could be very productive. Long Beach State alum Casper Ware led the way with 24 points and a team-high eight assists. Ware was the backup point guard behind Michael Carter-Williams toward the end of last season and is giving Sam Hinkie plenty of reasons to bring him back for a second go-around. Travis Bader also broke out of his mini-slump, going 4-for-8 from 3-point range.
The effort for Brooklyn was balanced, as five Nets wound up in double-figures in the loss. Markel Brown was the most productive of Brooklyn’s three second-round picks, as he scored 17 points and collected seven rebounds. His athleticism on the wing should translate well to regular-season play. Mr. Irrelevant 2014, Cory Jefferson, showed his offensive versatility, scoring in a plethora of ways and getting in good position to grab rebounds. He will likely make the roster. Off the bench, former Kentucky guard Marquis Teague added 12 points and a game-high nine assists. While he came off the bench behind Xavier Thames, Teague has begun to show some of the promise that led to his first-round draft selection in 2012. He showed incredible composure with the ball and did not commit a turnover.
Where are they now? Donte Greene was supposed to be a terrific wing player with his size and athleticism, but largely underwhelmed during his first NBA run. Returning for summer league, the 26-year-old forward added 17 points and showed an array of impressive passing that was not evident in his game earlier in his career.
Boston 92, Detroit 90
Watching Marcus Smart take seven 3’s in a game is cringe-worthy, as he is not a capable shooter yet at the NBA level. He sunk two of them, but his wildly inconsistent form could give Brad Stevens headaches next season. Shooting struggles aside, Smart stuffed the stat page by collecting five rebounds and two steals, to go with his six assists and 14 points.
Kelly Olynyk looked like a man amongst boys at the high post, consistently getting good looks at the basket. While he had trouble converting some of his chances, the former Gonzaga post scored a team-high 16 points and added nine rebounds. Among the sophomore class next season, Olynyk looks to be a player who can handle a bigger role.
With a decision looming on whether to exercise his option, Phil Pressey looked confident at the point, though he tried to do too much at times, resulting in five turnovers. His quick first step was tough to handle, at one point blowing past Ian Miller for a left-handed scoop at the rim.
The game for the Pistons was, again, centered on Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. Orlando Summer League’s leading scorer up until today’s action, Caldwell-Pope scored 26 points on 8-for-22 shooting, while also attempting 10 free throws. The shooting guard position is up for grabs in Detroit, and Caldwell-Pope is making a significant claim that he has earned the position.
The Pistons sunk 12 3-pointers to stay in the game, as Brian Cook and Justin Harper each added four triples to go with Caldwell-Pope’s trey.
Late in the third quarter, Dairis Bertans fell face first into the basket support and had to be taken off on a stretcher. He gave a thumbs-up as he left the court, though his injury should be monitored closely for the remainder of the tournament. He is a vast long shot to make the roster.
Where are they now? Remember when Mike Moser was an All-American and double-double player for UNLV back in the 2011-12 season? Following an ugly elbow injury in December 2012 and a transfer to Oregon for his redshirt senior year, Moser has found his stride as a stretch-4 for Boston’s summer squad. Moser added 12 points and two rebounds, while connecting on two of his five shots from beyond the arc. His versatility should lead a team to invite him to a training camp.
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