The Summer League in Las Vegas ended on Sunday. Mike Conley Jr. showed that he might be ready to lead a team as a point guard during his rookie season. However, will have to split time with Kyle Lowry. Greg Oden showed that he could be in foul trouble this year by committing 19 fouls in two games (summer league rules allow a player 10 fouls before fouling out). And Ron Lewis might have not done enough to make the Houston Rockets’ roster.
The Pepsi Pro Summer League ended on Friday. Daequan Cook showed that he had the ability to be a big scorer (21 points in one game). However, Cook also showed that he might not be ready for the NBA as he struggled with his jumper (28% FG percentage in five games).
Mike Conley Jr. and his Memphis Grizzles played in two games this weekend. On Friday night, Conley finished with nine points, eight assists and four rebounds in over 26 minutes of playing time. On a negative note, Conley only hit two of 10 shots from the floor and committed six turnovers.
Throughout summer-league play Conley has been battling Kyle Lowry for what looks to be the starting point-guard spot. On Friday, Lowry came off the bench, finishing with 20 points, six rebounds and four assists in over 25 minutes of playing time.
Oh yeah, Memphis lost the game 90-84 to the Los Angeles Clippers.
On Saturday, Conley came off the bench in Memphis’ 102-91 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves. In over 29 minutes, Conley scored 15 points and dished out six assists. Again Conley struggled with his shooting (3-for-12) and his turnovers (4).
In the same game, Lowry scored 15 points, grabbed four rebounds and dished out four assists. Lowry committed five turnovers in just over 30 minutes of play.
In five games, Lowry averaged 16.4 points, 3.2 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.8 steals and 2.8 turnovers.
During that same span, Conley averaged 11.4 points, 3 rebounds, 5.2 assists, 1 steal and 2.6 turnovers.
In Orlando, Daequan Cook’s Miami Heat wrapped up their summer-league play on Friday with a 63-57 win over the Magic.
Cook struggled from the floor, hitting only one of eight shots. He finished with five points, four rebounds and four turnovers.
In five games, Cook shot a terrible 28% from the floor (15 for 53). If you take out his best game (8 for 16 on Thursday), Cook’s FG percentage would be below 20%.
In five games, Cook averaged 9.8 points, 2.4 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 1.8 steals and 2.8 turnovers.
Ron Lewis didn’t play in the Houston Rockets 74-69 win over the Washington Wizards on Friday night.
Lewis did play in Saturday’s 90-76 win over the Sacramento Kings. In over 19 minutes, Lewis scored seven points, had two steals and three assists.
Last night, Lewis had his best game of summer-league play. He scored nine points in the Rockets 98-93 win over the New Orleans Hornets. In just over 20 minutes of playing time, Lewis grabbed two rebounds, had one assist, one steal and turned it over once.
Overall in four games (two starts), Lewis averaged 6.2 points, 2 rebounds, 1.2 assists, .8 steals and 1 turnover. During those four games, Lewis only averaged 18.2 minutes of playing time.
Greg Oden played in only two games for the Portland Trail Blazers before undergoing a tonsillectomy. During that span, Oden averaged 9.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, .5 assists, 0 steals and 4 turnovers. Also, he averaged 24.5 minutes, 3 blocks and 9.5 fouls. Oden (1-for-8) shot 12.5% from the free-throw line.
Greg Oden will miss the rest of the Summer League in Las Vegas.
Oden will undergo a tonsillectomy Saturday at the Vancouver Clinic in Vancouver, Washington.
I can’t imagine how big Oden’s tonsils actually are, but it’s got to be close to a record. It’s going to take two or three weeks for the big man to recover.
“Greg felt that this was the right decision to make in the interests of his health, and we support that decision 100 percent,” Trail Blazers general manager Kevin Pritchard said. “The sooner he gets the procedure done, the sooner he can get back on the court at full strength.”
In two games, Oden scored 18 points and committed 19 fouls. The Summer League rules allow a player 10 fouls before fouling out.
This means that the #1 draft pick will miss Sunday’s matchup with Seattle, who has the #2 draft pick in Kevin Durant.
Other Summer League Notes:
Daequan Cook struggled offensively in his second summer-league game in Pepsi Pro Summer League. Cook hit only two shots while taking 13 in the Miami Heat’s 73-65 loss to the New Jersey Nets. Cook finished with seven points and three rebounds. Cook hit two of eight three-point attempts and connected on one of his four shots from the free-throw line. The only positive was the work load, as Cook lead the team in minutes played; he played for over 35 minutes.
Ron Lewis saw his first action and while he started in the Houston Rockets 90 to 76 win over the Los Angeles Clippers, he was only in the game for less than 20 minutes. Fellow guard and draft pick Aaron Brooks (Oregon) stole the show and scored 21 points (8 assists) in over 31 minutes of playing time. Lewis scored five points, grabbed two rebounds and committed two turnovers. Lewis shot one of three from the floor, zero of two for three, three for four at the free-throw line.
Mike Conley Jr. and his Memphis Grizzles next game will be Thursday evening at 6pm EST against Cleveland. ESPN.com’s Marc Stein calls the battle between Kyle Lowry and Conley Jr. as the best of the summer league. he writes My favorite battle: Kyle Lowry vs. Mike Conley
“Lowry is ahead on points at present, but one interesting theory I’m stealing from an Eastern Conference personnel man is that these two could form Memphis’ answer to the T.J. Ford and Jose Calderon combination in Toronto. There will be nights, in other words, when you don’t know which guy is better until the game unfolds. Or perhaps new Grizzlies coach Marc Iavaroni will find a way to play them together.”
Daequan Cook was the second-leading scorer for the Miami Heat in their first Summer League game against the Charlotte Bobcats.
Cook scored 13 points in Miami’s 88-74 loss to Charlotte. In just over 22 minutes, Cook hit three of four three-point shots, was four of four at the free-throw line and had two assists. Cook played well on the defense side of the ball while guarding Adam Morrison. Morrison hit only two of six shots from the floor. However, Cook did commit six fouls and Morrison scored 10 of his 14 points on the free-throw line.
It is unclear how Conley Jr. did in last night’s 80 to 78 loss to the Detroit Pistons. I believe these stats are correct: Conley Jr. scored eight points and had three assists with two turnovers. However, NBA.com (one of the worst sites ever) has Conley Jr. listed as the center and had him playing 92 minutes for the Memphis Grizzles last night. Conley’s next game will be Thursday evening at 6pm EST against Cleveland.
Ron Lewis will see his first action tonight when the Houston Rockets face the Los Angeles Clippers at 10:30pm EST. Hopefully, Lewis will receive some good playing time.
Oden’s next game is Wednesday night at 10:30pm EST when the Portland Trail Blazers take on the Los Angeles Lakers.
Greg Oden is putting on a show in Las Vegas. So far in two games, Oden has committed 19 fouls.
In game one, Oden played only 21 minutes, grabbed two rebounds, had two blocks, turned it over four times and scored only six points. Furthermore, Oden missed all three free throws before fouling out with 10 fouls. NBA Summer League rules allows a player to commit 10 fouls before fouling out. Oh yeah, the Portland Trail Blazers (probably the most talented Summer League roster) lost 74-66 to the Boston Celtics.
Many people describe appearance as ugly, but now you are open to describe his performance as just that - ugly.
In game two, Oden continued the foul show by committing nine in less than 28 minutes of play. However, Oden did improve in some areas by scoring 13 points, grabbing five rebounds and swatting four blocks. Oden did continue to struggle at the free throw by hitting one of five. So far in two games, Oden is shooting 12.5% from the FT line. Maybe he should go back to his left hand. Again Portland lost the game 72-68 to the Dallas Mavericks. Oden’s next game will be on Wednesday night at 10:30pm against the Los Angeles Lakers.
While Sportscenter talked about the Oden foul show, they did not mention how his lifelong teammate Mike Conley Jr. did. Conley Jr. came off the bench in the Memphis Grizzles 86 to 77 win over Team China. In 28 minutes, he scored 12 points, grabbed five rebounds, had two assists, three steals and didn’t commit a single turnover. Conley Jr.’s Memphis team will play the Detroit Pistons at 6pm today, the game is supposed to be broadcasted live on NBA-TV.
Daequan Cook’s Miami Heat is due to begin play today in the Pepsi Pro Summer League in Orlando. The Heat will play the Charlotte Bobcats, the game will begin following the Inidiana Pacers and Chicago Bulls contest. Then the Heat will play the New Jersey Nets at 3pm tomorrow. Followed by the Bulls on Wednesday, Pacers on Thursday and the Magic on Friday. Friday is the last day for the Pepsi Pro Summer League.
Still waiting to see Ron Lewis in action. His Houston Rockets are playing tomorrow at 10:30pm against the Los Angeles Clippers. It should be interesting to see how much playing time Lewis will receive.
Before the ’07 NBA Draft, Michael Redd was the only former Ohio State Buckeye left in the league. In fact, only four Buckeyes including Redd, Lawrence Funderburke, Jim Jackson and Ken Johnson played a game in the NBA during the 21st century.
Now, Greg Oden, Mike Conley Jr., Daequan Cook and Ron Lewis are expected to play in the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, which begins today and runs through July 15th.
Oden and Cook have already signed multi-million-dollar contracts. Also, undrafted-NCAA-tournament star Ron Lewis signed to play for Houston Rockets’ summer-league team. Currently, the Rockets team website has a poll asking- ‘Which Rockets player will have the best week in the Las Vegas summer league?’- the choices are John Lucas III, Steve Novak, Lior Eliyahu, Aaron Brooks or Carl Landry. Who in the world is Lior Eliyahu? I don’t know, but he has 12% of the vote.
Conley Jr. and the Memphis Grizzlies will take on Team China tonight at 7:30pm Eastern time. Yi Jianlian will be playing for Team China. Jianlian was the sixth overall pick by the Milwaukee Bucks. NBA.com claims that all of the games will be televised on NBA-TV. Many games will be shown by way of tape delay.
At 10pm Eastern time tonight, Oden’s Portland Trail Blazers will face the Boston Celtics. Oden will team up with Florida’s Taurean Green and Duke’s Josh McRoberts. Many NBA experts are hoping to see Oden on the floor at the same time with LaMarcus Aldridge. I wouldn’t call this the official schedule, but the Trail Blazers are set to play Sunday (July 8th) at 4pm, Wednesday (July 11th) at 10:30pm, Saturday (July 14th) at 10:30pm and Sunday (July 15th) at 10pm. (all games given in Eastern time)
Besides tonight, Memphis will play Monday (July 9th) at 6pm, Thursday (July 12th) at 6pm, Friday (July 13th) at 6pm and on Saturday (July 14th) at 6pm. (again all times are Eastern- and the schedule is more official because it was given on the Memphis team website).
Lewis and the Rockets schedule starts on Tuesday (July 10th) at 10:30pm, Thursday (July 12th) at 6pm, Friday (July 13th) at 10pm, Saturday (July 14th) at 8:30pm and Sunday (July 15th) at 8:30pm. (Again Eastern time, but times are from NBA.com, which means some times will change)
NBA-TV and NBA.com are making a slight push at gaining viewers this week for their broadcast, which will be the first look at one of more popular drafts in some time. However, it is disorganized and times are not official on the NBA’s official website. That would be fine if play started a month from now, but the summer league starts today.
So if you have NBA-TV and you want to catch the action, you might have to randomly click over to the station. Personally, I wouldn’t believe what the guide tells you. Good luck.
The Portland Trail Blazers made Greg Oden the first Ohio State Buckeye to be taken first overall in the NBA Draft and the first Buckeye to be drafted in the first round since 1992 (Jim Jackson). Thanks in large part to the new rule that forced high school seniors to play one year before being eligible for the draft, this was the first year for the rule.
Texas freshman Kevin Durant could only smile as Oden was selected first. Durant went second to the Seattle Supersonics and will forever be linked to Oden. Who will be better?
In college Durant averaged 25.8 points per game and 11.1 rebounds per game. Oden averaged 15.7 points per game, 9.6 rebounds per game and 3.3 blocks per game. In Oden’s defense, he was not 100% healthy this past season.
The Sonics were so confident in Durant that they traded away Ray Allen to the Boston Celtics.
Last night and into the morning ESPN claims that Greg Oden has been told that he will be the first pick selected first overall in the NBA Draft.
However, foxsports.com reports that the Portland Trail Blazers haven’t annoucned that yet.
ESPN’s source is from ESPN The Magazine’s Ric Bucher and foxsports’ source is Oden’s agent.
I think ESPN needs to clam down, but Oden should still be the first overall pick.
A ESPN report
Oden or Durant. Durant or Oden. Looks like we have an answer.
ESPN The Magazine’s Ric Bucher reported on Wednesday night that Greg Oden’s camp has been notified by the Portland Trail Blazers that they will take him with the No. 1 pick in Thursday’s NBA draft.
It was not an easy choice. Oden tested better at predraft camp; Kevin Durant had the sharper workout in Portland.
Dominant big men are usually impossible to pass up, and Oden could be a great one. He has been compared to Bill Russell for his rebounding and shot blocking, and he led Ohio State to the national championship game even while never at full strength after surgery on his right wrist.
“You can see why he’d be a No. 1 pick,” Durant told reporters. “I think he’s one of the best centers to come out of college. He’s quick and agile, he’s 7-feet, 250. I’ve never seen that in a center before.”
a FOXSPORTS.com report
Greg Oden to the Blazers? Maybe, but the team says there are no guarantees.
Oden’s agent and Portland’s general manager refuted an ESPN report Wednesday that said Oden’s camp had been informed the former Ohio State phenom will be the top pick in Thursday’s NBA Draft.
“We haven’t been told that,” Mike Conley, Sr. told The Oregonian late Wednesday night. “(ESPN) can have their opinion, but the Blazers haven’t told us anything.”
The Oregonian report said Blazers GM Kevin Pritchard was “emphatic” that the ESPN report was premature.
“Nobody has been promised or told anything. Nobody,” Pritchard told the paper.
Oden and Kevin Durant are all but assured to be the top two picks in the draft — the only question is in what order.
The best NBA Draft party this year has to Daequan Cook’s, which will be held draft night (Thursday June 28 at 7:00pm) in Dayton Ohio at the Holiday Inn on Dryden Road.
It is open to the public and has a $20 admission charge. The party is to include Cook and 150 of his closest friends, so it might not be smart to roll over on the carpet laughing if Cook isn’t chosen in the first round.
The atmosphere should be tense since Cook has fallen in most recent mock drafts. Some of the mock drafts have Cook climbing up the first round. However, it should be one interesting party.
“It will be a light atmosphere,” Dunbar assistant coach Albert Powell told the Dayton Daily News. “There will be finger food, soft drinks and a big-screen TV.”
That sounds like Powell, who scheduled Cook’s NBA workouts, is trying to downplay the event.
Here is what some of the mock drafts are saying:
NBA.com (just posted- 6-26)- Doesn’t have Cook picked in the first round
Chris Ekstrand of SI.com (updated 6-26)- Cook going 23rd to the Knicks
Chad Ford (ESPN The Magazine)- Cook going 30th to the 76ers
- (Ford comments ‘…he has no clue on how to play the game…weak work ethic and massive ego.’
Tony Mejia of CBS.Sportsline (updated 6-18)- Cook going 23rd to the Knicks
- (Mejia ranks Cook as the 8th best shooting guard and comments read: ‘he has the skills, but needs more experience. An up-and-down freshman season ended with around the league suggesting he return to school.’)
Gary Parrish of CBS.Sportsline (updated 6-18)- Cook going 24th to the Suns
Jeff Goodman of foxsports (updated one day ago)- Cook going 25th to the Jazz
Peter Schrager of foxsports (updated two days ago)- Cook going 25th to the Jazz
Draftexpress (updated 6-26)- Cook going 22nd to the Bobcats
TSX (updated 6-25)- Cook going 27th to the Pistons
Ex-college coach Fran Fraschilla said, on ESPN radio this past Monday, that he wouldn’t draft Cook in the first round unless he had a “gun to his head.”
It seems to me that most mock drafters are just throwing Cook in the later portion of the first round. Everyone seems to agree that Cook was the best player at Pre-Draft Camp in Orlando, but he wasn’t playing against or with any other first-round talent. Also, his performances at the camp were up and down.
It’s easy to throw Cook in the first round of any mock draft.
However, it could be uneasy to watch Cook on draft night at the Holiday Inn.
The NBA Draft will take place a week from today on June 28th. The coverage will start at 7:00 p.m. (eastern) on ESPN.
Normally, the Buckeyes are not known for producing NBA talent. In the last five drafts Ohio State has not had a single player taken in either the first or second rounds of the draft. Also, no Buckeye in the last 14 drafts has been taken in the first round.
This year’s draft is practically guaranteed to have the first ever Ohio State player to be taken first overall in Greg Oden. Another Buckeye, Mike Conley Jr., should be selected in the top ten. Also, Daequan Cook is expected to go in the first round while Ron Lewis might be picked in the second round.
The last first round pick from Ohio State was in 1992 when the Dallas Mavericks picked Jim Jackson fourth overall. The last Buckeye to be drafted was in 2001 when the Miami Heat took Ken Johnson 49th overall. Johnson played in only 16 games in his NBA career. In 2000, Ohio State had two players taken in the second round. Michael Redd was taken 43rd overall by the Milwaukee Bucks and now is an NBA all-star. Scoonie Penn was the second to last pick of that draft and couldn’t make the Atlanta Hawks roster.
NBA.com features a consensus mock draft that lists 16 different mock drafts from all over the Internet. In all 16 mock drafts, Greg Oden is listed as the first overall pick, which belongs to the Portland Trail Blazers. At worst Oden could end up being the second overall pick if Portland chooses Kevin Durant.
In the 16 mock drafts, Conley’s draft position ranges from third to 11th overall. The Atlanta Hawks hold the third and 11th picks in the first round. There is no chance that Atlanta will pass on Conley twice.
Many Buckeye fans question the choice Daequan Cook has made by leaving Ohio State for the NBA (see Should Daequan Cook Dip Out of NBA Draft?). According to the mock drafts (14 of 16 have listed picks past the top 14), Cook’s draft position ranges from 23rd overall to not being taken in the first round. Four mock drafts have Cook going to the New York Knicks (23rd overall). Other mock drafts have Cook going to Philadelphia (21st overall), Phoenix (24th and 29th overall), Utah (25th overall) and Houston (26th overall). Two mock drafts have Cook being passed over in the first round.
In my mind, Ron Lewis could be the steal of this draft. In Ohio State’s last 10 games (including the NCAA tournament) Lewis averaged 17 points a game. Also, he scored 27 points in the overtime win over Xavier in the NCAA tournament as well as 25 points in the one-point win over Tennessee in the Sweet 16. However, Lewis could be the steal of the draft because no one thinks that he will be drafted. Only five of the 16 mock drafts list a complete rundown of the second round and none of them have Lewis being selected.
ESPN.com lists 100 prospects in their draft database and Ivan Harris is not among them. There are only 60 picks in the draft.
point guard during his rookie season. However, will have to split time with Kyle Lowry. Greg Oden showed that he could be in foul trouble this year by committing 19 fouls in two games (summer league rules allow a player 10 fouls before fouling out). And Ron Lewis might have not done enough to make the Houston Rockets’ roster.
In Orlando, Daequan Cook’s Miami Heat wrapped up their summer-league play on Friday with a 63-57 win over the Magic.
Cook scored 13 points in Miami’s 88-74 loss to Charlotte. In just over 22 minutes, Cook hit three of four three-point shots, was four of four at the free-throw line and had two assists. Cook played well on the defense side of the ball while guarding Adam Morrison. Morrison hit only two of six shots from the floor. However, Cook did commit six fouls and Morrison scored 10 of his 14 points on the free-throw line.
Dominant big men are usually impossible to pass up, and Oden could be a great one. He has been compared to Bill Russell for his rebounding and shot blocking, and he led Ohio State to the national championship game even while never at full strength after surgery on his right wrist.
The atmosphere should be tense since Cook has fallen in most recent mock drafts. Some of the mock drafts have Cook climbing up the first round. However, it should be one interesting party.
This year’s draft is practically guaranteed to have the first ever Ohio State player to be taken first overall in Greg Oden. Another Buckeye, Mike Conley Jr., should be selected in the top ten. Also, Daequan Cook is expected to go in the first round while Ron Lewis might be picked in the second round.
In the 16 mock drafts, Conley’s draft position ranges from third to 11th overall. The Atlanta Hawks hold the third and 11th picks in the first round. There is no chance that Atlanta will pass on Conley twice.