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 NBA summer league games in Orlando, where many rookies are getting their first chance to prove themselves in the NBA.

Thunder (2-1) vs. 76ers (2-1)
Thunder win 89-80
Box Score

GAME NOTES

• Thunder playing great team defense.

• James Harden is sporting the Mohawk, with the beard and the headband.

• Eric Maynor hurt his hand in 3rd. quarter and did not return.

Evan Turner Summer League

Scouting Reports
Thunder

Eric Maynor (23 min, 3-7 FG, 1-3 3 pt, 3-4 FT, 2 reb, 5 ass, 10 tp)- Great passer, was able to change shot in air one time and still put it in. Able to maneuver way to basket. Can shoot the 3. Very controlled/composed player.

James Harden (32 min, 3-10 FG, 0-4 3pt, 15-18 FT, 5 reb, 3 ass, 2 st., 6 TO, 1 blk., 21 tp)- Needs to improve jump shot- again he is TO prone- had a really rough first half- second half was able to get to the line- very good FT shooter. He uses his body well to shield defender- showed off nice footwork with a Euro step.

DJ White (22 min, 3-5 FG, 2-4 FT, 4 reb, 3 blk, 8 tp)- Great defensive player, runs the floor. Played great D on Speights. Defends pick and roll well. Also showed some nice post moves.

Latavious Williams (15 min, 4-5 FG, 2-3 FT, 5 reb, 3 blks, 1 ass, 10 tp)-Best game so far- looked a lot more comfortable on the floor. Has ability to finish at the rim. Plays game above the rim. NBA ready body. Great defender- displayed good timing with shot blocking. Has big hands. Still very raw- but has good potential.

Mustafa Shakur (25 min, 4-10 FG, 2-4 3 pt, 1-2 FT, 2 reb, 6 ass, 11 tp)- Best game yet for the guard out of Arizona. Led the team in assist and +/- score of +22. Looks composed at all times. A very willing passer who can see the floor and create. Very quick, can get to rim and pass to open big man. Good shooter with 3 pt range. Can shoot off dribble and can create own shot. Plays good good- has long arms. Very dangerous in the open court.
Byron Mullens (24 min, 7-8 FG, 2-6 FT, 6 reb, 16 tp)- Another solid performance from Mullens, who has really developed and gotten better since his Ohio State days. One year in the league has helped him immensely. He is very strong and runs the floor well for his size. Sets solid screens and rolls well. Has a nice hook shot and keeps the ball high on rebounds.

76ers

Jrue Holiday (33 min, 7-15 FG, 3-5 3 pt, 8-12 FT, 1 reb, 5 ass, 3 st, 6 TO,25 tp)- Another good PG from Holiday- who is looking more and more like the PG of the future for Philly. Has the best defense in the Summer League for a PG. Has quick hands. He is very strong in the air and can finish with contact. Has a slow release on jumper, but is a decent shooter. Needs to continue to improve consistency of jumper. Good passer.

Evan Turner (27 min,1-6 FG,2-2 FT,8 reb, 2 ass, 2 st, 4 tp)- Rough shooting day for Turner. He is able to still impact the game when shot is off. Is a good defender. Had a nice steal and pass to Holiday early in the game. Good rebounder. Showed a lot of frustration and displayed bad body language this game, especially after TO’s. Sometimes gets mixed up/lost on P and R defense.

Jodie Meeks (30 min, 4-14 FG,8-8 FT, 6 reb, 4 ass, 16 tp)- Runs off screens well and is ready shoot on the catch- good shooter, who can also get to the rim.

Marreese Speights (27 min, 9-19 FG, 2-2 FT, 9 reb, 20 tp)- Good scoring game for Speights. Should be getting to line more- does not bang enough down low. Settles for 15-18’ jumper too much- but he is showing the ability to make that shot. Needs to stay down on defense- goes for every ball fake/head fake. Good footwork in post.

By James Blackburn

Game 4- 7:00 game
New Jersey (0-1) vs. Philadelphia (1-0)
76ers win 84-74
Box Score

GAME NOTES

• The 76ers push the ball every possession.

• Terrance Williams is the only source of Nets offense.

• Doug Collins was sitting a couple seats down from me. He was coaching the game the entire time from his seat, calling out plays, motioning to the assistant on the bench who to take out and who to play. He was even calling players over and talking to them. It was very interesting.

• Last game of the day, gym would normally be clearing, but this is the weeks most interesting matchup- Favors vs. Turner.

Terrence Williams

Scouting Reports

Nets

Derrick Favors (24 min., 2-8 FG, 4-7 FT, 9 reb., 7 Fls, 2 blks, 8 tp)- Favors opening debut was less than spectacular, but you can see why NJ drafted him. When he develops an offensive game, the Nets will have one of the youngest, most talented front courts in the League with Lopez. Favors is a presence in the paint. He either blocks or alters shots near him. He runs the floor well and can finish at the rim. One thing that is going to hinder Favors is that he is very foul prone. Instead of staying straight up on defense, he extends his arms and reaches across the body, causing the officials to blow the whistle a lot. He needs to be more patient on the offensive end on the block. He is active on both ends on the boards. Has ability to face the basket and create or he can give wrap around pass from high post.

Terrance Williams (32 min., 8-12 FG, 1-1 3pt,6-9 FT, 7 ass, 23 tp)- Great game from Williams, who lead the Nets in points and assist. Williams had the ball in his hands 75% of the time and ran a lot of P and R for him. He is incredibly explosive going to his right, where he finished very LeBron like above the rim several times. Has a nice jumper and can put the ball on the floor and pull up. He has NO LEFT HAND, which the 76ers were aware of and still couldn’t stop him. Also played solid D on Turner. It will be interesting to see if he plays point forward some this season, with showings like this.

76ers

Evan Turner (27 min., 2-5 FG, 8-8 FT, 8 reb, 4 ass, 2 st, 12 tp)- Turner showed that he can fill up the stat sheet and could be a triple double threat down the road. He has great ball control and showed several nice dribble moves that freed himself for jumpers. Has a smooth stroke on his jumper. Has ability to get to the rim and finish. Good dribble pull up. Has very quick hands and plays solid D. He is smart and draws fouls well. Can take the ball coast to coast and finish. He is a good passer and is tall enough to see over the defense. Good solid game where he didn’t force any action and let the game come to him.

Cedric Simmons (16 min, 3-3 FG, 2-5 FT, 4 reb, 8 tp) – Simmons runs the floor very well. He is a big and strong PF, who needs to continue to work on his offensive game. He needs to extend his shooting range. He is a very quick leaper and can finish strong at the rim.

Marreese Speights (30 min. 1-11 FG, 4-5 FT, 7 reb, 6 Fls, 3 st, 6 tp)- Very frustrating game for the second year man out of Florida. He has a pretty jumper but it just wasn’t falling. He did settle for a lot of tough shots, like Kevin Garnett fade aways. He loves to turn over his right shoulder and do a fade away jumper.

Jodie Meeks (28 min., 5-12 FG, 2-5 3 pt, 6-9 FT, 5 reb, 18 tp)- Jodie is a great shooter, who does a good job of moving without the ball and running off the screens set for him. He has good footwork, where he gets his feet set, squares his shoulders and shoots. He showed good anticipation on defense. He also boxes out well and is athletic. He showed off his creativity in the air several times with pretty finishes.

Jrue Holiday (31 minutes, 8-13 FG, 1-4 3pt, 6-11 FT, 4 reb, 8 ass, 1 st, 23 tp)- Great game from Holiday, who had an up and down rookie season last year in Philly. Displayed great PG skills from his ball handling to decision making to his passing. Coach Collins seemed to really like him. We could be seeing Holiday and Turner as the starting back court in Philly this season. Has a good pull up and set shot. Is a great ball handler, but sometimes over dribbles. He gives good soft deliveries on alley-oop lobs. Very active on defense end, with quick hands. Is a solid scorer and defender who is a good passer. Did a good job of following Coach Collins instructions and ran the offense to perfection.