NBA Summer League Day Ten Recap - The Grind Is Over/Spurs Lose

In other news, I met Pop, I got Ian's shoes, and I'm D-U-N done.  Name that movie?

First off, I want to say that I miss being at home.  This a very long time to be away and I still have two more days to go.

Second, what a fabulous trip it's been.  I'll probably do several Summer League after-party posts, but it has been something else.  I'll probably be silent for the next few days.

As for the games, again I saw four of them.

Game One - Washington Wizards vs New York Knicks

In the opener, the Wizards beat the Knicks 89-84 with Javale McGee really going off.  He had 24 points and 5 rebounds.  AT THE HALF.  He finished with 31 and 8 as he proved too much for Jordan Hill to handle.  Tyrese also poured in 17 for the Whizzzz.  Hill had 21and 7 for the Knicks.  I've got another microscope post coming on Hill and I have some validation and some corrections to make.  On a side note, I did have an interesting personal experience with Jordan.  I was at the concession stand getting a drink and the woman who should be taking my order, the one in front of me, is gesticulating madly at somebody to get somebody else to come over to the counter.  I order my drink from the OTHER woman standing there.  The one in front of me keeps gesticulating and saying, "I don't know.  Come over here."  As it turns out, Jordan Hill is standing in the area and the woman wants him to come over to the counter even though SHE DOESN'T KNOW WHO HE IS.  He comes over and she busts out a scrap piece of a receipt and asks him to autograph it.  Hill is laughing and says, "you don't even know who I am."  She says, "it doesn't matter.  My son will."  I told him he needed to autograph it and print his name so the kid knows who it is.  The woman who took my order pulls out another piece of scratch paper and gets him to sign.  She also doesn't know who he is.  Then another woman working the concession asks him to stand still for a picture.  Which he does while leaning against me.  NONE of these people even knew who he is.  Crazy shit I tell you.

Game Two - Chicago Bulls vs Minnesota Timberwolves

The Chicago Bulls beat the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second game.  James Johnson stuffed the stat sheet again with 18 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists in the 93-85 win.  DeMarcus Nelson continued a strong Summer League showing with 18 points.   Corey Brewer had 20 points for the T-pups and I'm still not high on him.  Garrett Siler had 12 points, 6 rebounds, 2 steals, and 2 blocks.  I know.  You are thinking WHO.  Yes, Garrett Siler.  He was VERY impressive all week.  He's a very, very large man at 6' 11" and 300 pounds.  He looks and plays taller and he is pretty mobile.  I absolutely loved what he did this week.  Jonny Flynn, the Wolves #6 pick, is also very good but I think he's more interested in being a hot dog than winning.  Today was another day where he seemed more interested in the highlight.

Game Three - San Antonio Spurs vs Memphis Grizzlies

Our Spurs dropped game 3.  We got behind early, took a 10 point lead late, got behind, came back, air balled a bunch of shots late, then gave up a game-losing layup.  Ian Mahinmi really played well, or at least aggressively, going after Hasheem Thabeet.  Ian had 15 points, 9 rebounds, and 4 blocked shots.  For the Summer league, he shot 26 of 32 for 82% from the line.  We'll probably have to cut him for being non-Spur.  We had balanced scoring from the rest of our crew.  The Memphis Grizzlies again got good games from DeMarre Carroll, Sam Young, and Jeff Adrien.  I love each and every one of those guys.  They will be the glue of whatever success the franchise has over the next several years.

Game Four - D-League Select vs Portland Trail Blazers

Game 4 was the BOMB.  The Portland Trail Blazers got out to a 44-24 lead on the D-League Select team with under 2:00 to go in the second quarter.  The D-Leagues scored the last 6 points of the half to cut it to 14.  They then came out gunning in the third quarter led by Jasper Johnson, a robust left, who had 13 in the quarter and was flashing a silky smooth J from long distance.  The D-Leaguers put up 27 in the quarter to trim the lead to 3 at 60-57.  They continued to scrap and finally took the lead with 4:32 left on a 3 point play by Looby.  The Blazers then went on a 7 point run to go up by 6 with under 3:00 to go and the game seemed over.  The D-League guys scrapped to score the next 6 points and tie the game with 37 seconds left.  Dante Cunningham of the Blazers was fouled and converted both free throws for a 2 point lead with 20 seconds to go.  The D-League guys worked the ball around, without a time out, and Gary Forbes got a decent look from 3 that tickled the twine.  Unfortunately, it was on the outside of the net.  From where I was sitting, behind the basket being shot at, I couldn't see that he had airballed it.  The Blazers then called time out and advanced the ball to the front court.  On the ensuing inbounds, the pass was deflected, Marcus Hubbard corralled it, took a dribble or two and shot about a 28 footer.  NOTHING.  BUT.  NET.  And the horn sounded.  It was just a stunning victory.  74-73.

In a game I didn't see, the Denver Nuggets beat the New Orleans Hornets in 3 overtimes.