By James Blackburn

James scouted the 2010 NBA Summer League games in Orlando, FL, and has compiled his list of the best players from all of the games played. This list represents just the play from the summer league games.

James’ Note: These teams and selections are based off of what I saw in the first 3 days of the League. There were 2 days, I was not there- Thursday and Friday- so I missed 2 games. I was able to see each player play in 3 games live. These, are in my mind the top players based on their performances. The stats beside each player are his accumulated statistics through the first 3 games.
Each team is composed of 2 guards, 2 forwards, and a center.
Eric Maynor Summer League

1st Team
G- Eric Maynor (Thunder)- 91 min, 15-29 FG, 3-6 3 pt, 10-14 FT, 3 rpg, 5 apg, 1 spg, 14.3 ppg
G- Jrue Holiday (76ers)- 97 min, 18-38 FG, 4-12 3pt, 18-28 FT, 2 rpg, 6 apg, 2 spg, 19 ppg
F- Terrence Williams (Nets)- 102 min, 24-56 FG, 2-6 3pt, 19-29 FT, 4 rpg, 7 apg, 1 spg, 23 ppg
F- Paul George ( Pacers)- 86 min, 12-31 FG, 2-14 3pt, 11-12 FT, 7 rpg, 2 apg, 3 spg, 12.3 ppg
C- Byron Mullens (Thunder)- 85 min, 15-30 FG, 22-33 FT, 5.3 rpg, 0.33 apg, 1 spg, 1 bpg, 17.3 ppg

2nd Team
G-Lance Stephenson ( Pacers)- 84 min, 21-28 FG, 13-19 FT, 3 rpg, 2 apg, 1 bpg, 18.3 ppg
G- Gerald Henderson (Bobcats)- 93 min, 14-33 FG, 2-7 3pt, 18-20 FT, 3.3 rpg, 3 apg, 1 spg, 16 ppg
F- Damion James (Nets)- 96 min, 21-48 FG, 4-10 3 pt, 16-28 FT, 6.3 rpg, 1 apg, 1 spg, 20.7 ppg
F- Derrick Brown (Bobcats)-93 min, 16-31 FG, 2-4 3pt, 12-17 FT, 6 rpg, 1 spg, 15.3 ppg
C- Marreese Speights (76ers)- 87 min, 15-42 FG, 8-9 FT, 9 rpg, 1 asp, 1 spg, 12.7 ppg

3rd Team
G-Jodie Meeks (76ers)- 87 min, 15-37 FG, 4-12 3pt, 18-21 FT, 4 rpg, 2 apg, 1 spg, 17.3 ppg
G-James Harden ( Thunder)- 101 min, 9-27 FG, 1-12 3 pt, 40-46 FT, 4.3 rpg, 2 apg, 2 spg, 1 bpg, 19.7 ppg
F- Luke Harangody (Celtics)- 79 min, 18-36 FG, 6-12 3pt, 7-8 FT, 6.3 rpg, 1 apg, 1 bpg, 16.3 ppg
F- Magnum Rolle (Pacers)- 78 min, 13-22 FG, 0-1 3pt, 6-9 FT, 5.3 rpg, 3 bpg, 10.7 ppg
C- Kosta Koufos (Jazz)- 72 min, 12-25 FG, 12-20 FT, 8.3 rpg, 2.5 bpg, 12 ppg

Players To Watch (Note-could not be selected to 1/2/3 teams to be eligible)
Best Undrafted Player
Jaycee Carroll (Celtics- PG undrafted out of Utah State)-82 min, 17-38 FG, 2-10 3pt, 4-7 FT, 3.7 rpg, 3 apg, 1 spg, 13.3 ppg

Best 2nd round draft pick
Jeremy Evans (Jazz)- 45 min, 4-8 FG, 2-3 FT, 2.7 rpg, 1 apg, 1 spg, 1 bpg, 3.3 ppg

By James Blackburn

James continues his scouting of the 2010 NBA summer league games in Orlando, where many rookies are getting their first chance to prove themselves in the NBA.

Day 2, Game 3- 5:00 game
Boston (0-2) vs. Philly (2-0)
Philly win 86-69
Box Score

GAME NOTES
• Lawrence Frank, Doc Rivers, and Danny Ainge are sitting 3 seats down from me.
• Boston lost because of rough PG play and TO’s.
• Boston played zone in the 2nd quarter.
• Philly played good D and did well on the boards.


Image Src: AP

Scouting Reports
Boston

Luke Harangody (31 min, 4-14 FG, 0-2 3 pt, 6-6 FT, 12 reb, 1 blk, 14 tp)- Had a rough shooting day, but again showed off his rebounding skills, grabbing 12 boards. He is very agile and strong. He played great post defense today, and was able to hold his man off. He has a quick release on his jumper, but has a low release. His form looks good on FT and set shots. Again he showed the ability to put the ball on the floor and score with an awkward flip shot for an And 1. Also showed a nice step back jumper. Can be the next Dejuan Blair with a better offensive game.

Toney Gaffney (24 min, 4-7 FG, 2-2 FT, 5 reb, 1 blk, 10 tp)- I remember asking myself last season why the Celtics picked up Gaffney late in the season. I now know why, Gaffney plays hard and is very lanky, long, and athletic, with lots of upside and potential. He runs the floor well and is active on both ends on the boards. He has a nice jumper too, and showed the ability to grab a board and bring it up himself, although he needs to get his dribble tighter and lower.

Jaycee Carroll (29 min, 6-10 FG, 1-3 3pt, 1-3 FT, 6 reb, 2 ass, 14 tp)- Has a great runner/floater that is money. Has a great shooting stroke and displayed good body control in the air. Not athletic/quick enough for the league.

Oliver Lafayette ( 21 min, 3-9 FG, 1-1 FT, 5 ass, 5 TO, 7 tp)- Is a good ball handler with a killer crossover. Has the ability to create his own shot. He tries to do to much sometimes and over dribbles. He gets good lift on his jumper, and is a good scorer. Is a good defender, but is too TO prone.

Philadelphia

Cedric Simmons (16 min, 4-5 FG, 2-4 FT, 7 reb, 10 tp)- Very solid and productive game for Ced today. He was all over the boards and it seemed to me that he had more than 7 rebounds. He is very active- you must box him out. He is very strong and is a great finisher around the basket. Does everything with 2 hands. Almost took the goal down on a couple of hard dunks. Very active on defense- blocked/influenced shots. Also showed off a nice hook. Good chance he lands with an NBA team this year and stays on all year.

Jrue Holiday (31 min, 3-10 FG, 4-5 FT, 5 ass, 10 tp)- Very athletic and has ability to finish over bigger players. Very good dribbler who can get to basket and finish in creative ways. Throws great soft lob passes. Good defender too, with quick active hands. Needs to improve his 3 pointer.

Evan Turner (30 min, 5-12 FG, 1-2 3 pt, 2-2 FT, 3 reb, 4 ass, 2 st, 13 tp)- Evan again showed that he can fill up the stat sheet and impact a game even on a off shooting night. He is a good set shooter, but settles for tough shots, which impacts his percentages. He is forcing the issue a lot this game. Is a great rebounder, who actively pursues the ball. Is also a good passer , with a nice crossover that gets him to the rim.

Marreese Speights (29 min, 5-12 FG, 2-2 FT, 11 reb, 12 tp)- Great rebounder, is inconsistent on offense, surprised me with his athleticism. Is a strong finisher and showed a nice spin move.

Kevin Durant summer league
Image Source: ESPN

By James Blackburn

Game 3- 5:00 game
Boston (0-1) vs. OKC (1-0)
Thunder win 87-82
Box Score

GAME NOTES

• Boston was very patient at the beginning of the game, not forcing shots and sharing the ball.

• Boston played good team defense and closed out on the shooters.

• The Thunder brought Harden, White, Ibaka, Weaver, and Maynor with them- went from being the youngest team in the NBA to the most experienced team at Summer League.

• The Thunder started off sluggish, but came out in the second half with a bang- and eventually just wore Boston out- with its size and athleticism.

• Kevin Durant was present, sitting on the Thunder bench.

Scouting Reports

Celtics

Luke Harangody ( 27 min., 9-13 FG, 4-6 3 pt., 4 reb., 1 blk., 23 tp)- Very solid showing from the rookie out of Notre Dame. Luke proved a lot of skeptics wrong in this game. Luke is an excellent 3 pt shooter, with a quick release and great form. He plays good defense too, always displaying a hand in the shooters face. He also looked a lot trimmer and cut from his college days. Luke is generously listed at 6’8”, but is more like 6’6”. The Celtics might want to think about moving him to play SF, as Pierce backup. He sets solid screens and is a good P and Pop guy. Has a fluid jumper, gets his feet set and doesn’t look hurried. Keeps ball high on rebounds. Displayed the ability to put the ball on the floor and draw the foul or score. Good P and R defense. Not very athletic but had great block on Mullins in 4th quarter. Will play hard the entire game.

Jaycee Carroll ( 29 min., 6-16 FG, 1-4 3pt, 2 reb., 4 ass, 13 tp)- Carroll out of Utah State had a good outing. He is a great shooter who can stroke it from anywhere on the court. He can also make plays off the dribble. He is a pest on defense who will get in you and closeout well.

Thunder

Eric Maynor (33 min, 7-13 FG, 1-1 3pt, 3 reb, 5 ass, 15 tp)- Eric may have had the best performance of a PG all day. Showed the entire package: great shooter, good passer, controlled the game and ran the offense. He showed good body control in the air, with the ability to finish in traffic. Has a nice floater and is a crafty player once he reaches the paint. Has a nice right to left crossover, that is extremely quick.

Serge Ibaka( 17 min., 2-5 FG, 5 reb., 6 tp)- Very strong and physical player. Got hurt in second half and did not return. Is a very good defender, who is a presence in the pain with good shot blocking skills. Has developed a nice sweeping hook going to his right.

Byron Mullens ( 33 min., 6-12 FG, 12-15 FT, 7 reb., 24 tp)- The Celtics did not have an answer for Mullens in the P and R. Mullens, a second year player out of Ohio State, made a living this game at the FT line, where he took advantage hitting 12 FT. Does a great job rolling to the basket, catching the ball, gathering himself and attacking the basket, where he got fouled repeatedly. Very good FT shooter for big man. Athletic player, who is also a solid rebounder.

James Harden (34 min., 2-6 FG, 15-18 FT,3 reb, 2 st, 19 tp)- Harden started off the game deferring to teammates and trying to get everyone involved, but cam out the second half firing and taking command of the game. The Thunder put him in a lot of P and R situations with Mullens with him as the ball handler, which the Celtics did not have an answer for. Harden is very athletic and strong. He is great at attacking the basket, where he can finish with contact. One time he tried to dunk on Harangody- all Luke could do was push him with 2 hands. Is creative and composed with ball in his hands, good things would happen when he would touch it. Had a game saving block on jump shot at end of game.