NBA Summer League
Las Vegas | Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 |
Salt Lake. | Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5

The Nets started the second game by going inside. First they went into Brook Lopez for the games first hoop. The Nets would take a 4-0 lead following a lay up by crowd favorite Jaycee Carroll. The Mavs would tie the game at 4 after a pair of Aaron Miles lay ups. The Nets continued getting points inside, Chris Douglas-Roberts was able to get a couple of very nice driving lay ups, and Ryan Anderson and Lopez both got put backs.. But Dallas was able to stay competitive because of the long range shooting of Reyshawn Terry; who knocked down a couple of jump shots. The tempo of the game slowed down in the middle part of the quarter, both teams began to struggle getting the ball up court and turnovers were a problem for both clubs. Dallas guard Gerald Green, who had been phenomenal in the revue, really struggled in the first quarter. The Nets would build another four point lead late in the first quarter after a Shawn Williams put back, but a Shan Foster three near the end of the quarter cut it to 17-16.

The Nets started the second quarter about as bad as a team could. They turned it over on 5 of their first 8 possessions and scored only once in the first five minutes. Dallas meanwhile got some great play from guard Derrick Low who scored 7 points to help the Mavs build a double digit lead. Reyshawn Terry continued his good game by getting into the paint to score, and Shan Foster played some hard nosed defense to force New Jersey into some turnovers. After the six minute time out, the Nets crept back into the game somewhat by the play of Jaycee Carroll. Carroll scored 4 quick points to cut the Mavs lead to 10 at 36-26, but Gerald Green would answer with a long three pointer. Dallas continued to be aggressive to close out the quarter and would take a 43-32 lead into the break.

The Nets started the second half a lot better, they threw out a zone defense which confused the Mavs offensively and lead to some steals and fast break opportunities. Chris Douglas-Roberts scored four points, and Ryan Anderson added three more to cut the Mavericks lead to 47-41. Green scored four points to help keep the Mavs from completely relinquishing their lead. The Nets defense caused the Mavericks some problems offensive, they held Dallas to no points during a four minutes stretch unfortunately they didn’t score either during that stretch. The Mavs ended their scoring drought after a lay up and ally oop by Gerald Green allowed them to rebuild an 11 point lead. The Nets completely fell apart in the latter part of the third, scoring only 2 points while letting the Mavs score a lot down low.

The fourth quarter began as the Charles Rhodes show. Rhodes scored 10 quick points to help Dallas build a 70-52 lead early in the fourth. However, New Jersey was able to come back by getting some easy shots to cut the lead to 70-58. Dallas’s problem during this time was turnovers, especially by Derrick Low who turned it over at half court which allowed Julius Hodge to get a dunk. The Nets would attempt to make one more run cutting the lead to 76-64 but that is all they had in them. Gerald Green would end any hopes the Nets had with a long three and the Mavs would coast to an easy 81-66 win

Ryan Anderson: He is a banger, but has poor shot selection. He will literally shoot the ball every time he touches it on offense.

Brook Lopez: Has some really nice footwork. He can also use his body very well, I was surprised by this as most other centers in the revue have been week.

Sean Williams: I really liked his defense. He can box out wonderfully, and makes himself appear bigger than he is to a defender. His offensive game is somewhat raw, but he does have a nice turn around jumper.

Chris Douglas-Roberts: He can push the ball really well but may not be selfish enough. There were a few occasions when he should have taken the ball to the hoop but passed it up.

Jaycee Carroll: Scoring wise he struggled, but he did a nice job running the offense. Carroll has done such a good job in the three summer leagues this year that he is already getting contract offers. The Nets are for sure one of those teams interested in him, so don’t be surprised if they do not sign him in the next few days.

Shan Foster: Can play some solid defense.

Reyshawn Terry: Had a very quiet, yet very good game. He got a double-double and played the best defense I have seen him play to date. But that may be because of the competition, as Lopez wasn’t anything much.

Gerald Green: Showed some veteran poise by going inside when he couldn’t get his jump shots to fall. But this kids attitude still amazes me, he started swearing, and looking down on the floor when he missed shots and he stopped moving within the offense. He also began to get overly aggressive on the defensive end, now I don’t know if this was an attempt to compensate for his offensive woes or just him being childish.

Aaron Miles: He has steadily improved his game over the course of the revue. He has shown to be able to run an offense somewhat efficiently. I still don’t think he’ll ever be a star though.

Charles Rhodes: Had a very solid fourth quarter and overall game but he still lack the defensive ability to become an impact NBA player.

Both the Jazz and Hawks came out very sloppy to start the second game. Utah played some tight D, forcing the Hawks into a shot clock violation on their first possession. Utah lead 2-0 for quite some time before Earl Calloway made it 4-0. Both teams then had trouble getting back in transition allowing the other to get easy lay ups. After this tempo really picked up and after Morris Almond scored on two straight possessions the Jazz lead 10-6. Almond continued to pour it on for the Jazz, and helping them build a 14-6 lead before Thomas Gardner’s three cut it to 14-9. The Jazz would get some early points from first round pick Kosta Koufos who would score 4 points in the quarter and after a Kevin Lyde Jump shot the Jazz would lead 18-10. The Hawks cut the lead to 20-14 after a Thomas Gardner floater.

The Hawks would come out firing, Thomas Gardner would hit back-to-back threes to tie the game at 20, but a three point play by Mike Efevberha would put the Jazz back up three. The Hawks would re-tie it at 23 following Luke Jackson making three of four free throws. Utah’s offense was very sloppy and on the defensive end they fouled a lot. Free throws helped the Hawks take a 27-25 lead with six minutes to go in the half. The Jazz would tie it at 27 following Almond free throws and then take the lead after a Efevberha lay up. Utah continued to foul throughout the quarter which gave the Hawks a lot of easy point opportunities. After the hawks built a 3 point lead at 32-29 the Jazz cut it to two after a Kosta Koufos put back. The Jazz would retake the lead after Brian Greene scored five quick points; first Green hit a long jump shot than dunked back in a miss and was fouled--giving the Jazz a 38-35 lead. The Hawks would add an Acie Law free throw and the Jazz took a 38-35 lead into the half.

It was more of the same in the early second half. Mario West tied the game at 38 with a three on the first play, but Morris Almond ran off four quick to put the Jazz back up four. The Hawks continued to get to the line in the early part of the third, Othello Hunter would tie the game after some free throws at 43 a piece. Utah however, did pick up it’s defense and was able to get out on the break which lead to some Hawks fouls and allowed the Jazz to build a 49-43 lead. Utah would go up by as much as 8, and had a chance to go up ten but Almond missed both free throws. Following the missed opportunity the Hawks got five points from a Jackson three and some Oyedeji free throws. The entire Utah offense was Morris Almond, Almond would score 15 points in the quarter for the Jazz. At the end of the quarter Acie Law scored 7 quick points and brought the Hawks to within one point, but a Kevin Lyde dunk would give the Jazz a 60-57 lead.

Atlanta came out strong in the fourth scoring six quick points to take a 63-60 lead. Utah would retake the lead at 65-63 following a three point play by Kosta Koufos. Utah couldn’t put Atlanta away, the Jazz had many opportunities to do so but just couldn’t. Atlanta was able to stay in the game by forcing Jazz turnovers and getting easy baskets. Utah stepped up it’s defense to close the game out; on one play Utah had two blocks and Morris Almond also got a steal. Hustle plays also were to Utah’s advantage. Utah got a three point play from Hiram Fuller to give themselves a 73-69 lead. The Hawks didn’t help themselves either by missing a lot of shots down the stretch and by committing a lot of very stupid fouls. Utah would make their free throws and get an 83-78 victory.

Morris Almond: Showed he can play some defense but he walks up the court on defense a lot of the time, and is very good at slipping screens. There is no doubt in my mind that Almond will be a 20 points per night scorer in the NBA, but it wont be with the Jazz; his completely lack of desire to play defense is going to hurt his chances of getting minutes with Jerry Sloan. He can play defense, but he takes so many plays off and is completely focused on scoring.

Kyrylo Fesenko: He just stands there on defense when someone challenges him. He wants to use his height but if he’d jump he’d be a much better shot blocker.

Kosta Koufos: He’s going to be the real deal. For someone so young he has a great understanding of the game, and just because he isn’t putting up great offensive numbers does not mean he is doing well. He moves his feet on defense really well and knows were to be on the court.

Kevin Lyde: He is a very solid player, in both senses of the word. He could have a chance to make an NBA roster this fall as a 12th man type role, but his weight and conditioning will be a factor.

Brian Green: He is a very good defender and hustle player but is not NBA quality. Thomas Gardner: Is a great shooter and as some killer instincts.

Acie Law: You guess it, he needs to finish around the hoop. I do think Law will have a much improved year from last year and could push Mike Bibby for the starting job.

Olumide Oyedeji: His body strength has really improved. He still lacks basketball IQ but he can now bang in the paint. I am not sure he is to the point were he can make it back to the NBA though, he has poor hands and players like him are a dime a dozen.

Luke Jackson: He’s a good shooter but doesn’t do much else. But his shooting ability alone should get him a job in the NBA this fall