Vegas Summer League Wrap up

Well, today is a sad day Kings Fans! Today marked the end of basketball until preseason starts! But rest assured that there is plenty to be excited about. Our future is looking bright and if you missed any of the action of Vegas Summer League check out what current and possible future Kings did while in Sin City.

Casspi: 24.6 MPG .489 FG% .438 3p% .633 FT% 4.4 RPG .6 APG .6 SPG .2 BPG 14 PPG

***22pt game vs Chicago hit buzzer beater at 3rd Q***

Greene: 21.6 MPG .462 FG% .429 3p% .800FT% 2.6 RPG 1.6 APG .6 SPG .6 BPG 13.2 PPG

***20pt game vs Toronto in loss 4/5 games in double figures***

Christmas: 14.4 MPG .524 FG% .333 3p% .727 FT% 1.2 RPG .8 APG .4 SPG .2 BPG 6.6 PPG

***13pt game vs Chicago***

Cousins: 29.7 MPG .333 FG% .000 3p% .735 FT% 9.8 RPG 1.8 APG 1.5 SPG 1.2 BPG 14.5 PPG

***T-Mobile Rookie of the Month 2010 tallied double double in 4/6 games almost 1 for week***

Whiteside: 25.8 MPG .439 FG% .000 3p% .417 FT% 5.0 RPG 0 APG .7 SPG 2.3 BPG 6.8 PPG

***4 blocks vs Detroit and Chicago***

Landesberg: 16.7 MPG .500 FG% .000 3p% .500 FT% 2.3 RPG 1 APG .7 SPG 0 BPG 8.3 PPG

***13pt game vs Lakers***

Sloan: 15.5 MPG .231 FG% .000 3p% .700 FT% 1 RPG 1.3 APG 0 SPG 0 BPG 3.3 PPG

***6pt game vs Detroit***

Chism: 16.5 MPG .688 FG% .000 3p% .750 FT% 5.8 RPG .5 APG .8 SPG 0 BPG 6.3 PPG

***13pt game vs Lakers***

Rice: 21.3 MPG .429 FG% .200 3p% .857 FT% 2 RPG 3.3 APG 1.2 SPG .2 BPG 8 PPG

***15pt game vs Detroit (did better than while with Utah SL team)***

Thompson: 14.3 MPG .545 FG% .000 3p% .857 FT% .3 RPG .3 APG .3 SPG 0 BPG 6 PPG

***12pt game vs Detroit (did better with Boston SL squad)***

Cummard: 5 MPG .000 FG% .000 3p% 1.00 FT% 1 RPG .5 APG 0 SPG 0 BPG .5 PPG

***1 pt game vs Toronto***

Atchley: 9 MPG .385 FG% .500 3p% 1.00 FT% 0 RPG 0 APG 0 SPG 0 BPG 3.3 PPG

***7pt game vs Chicago***

Downey: 12.3 MPG .364 FG% .000 3p% .500 FT 2.7 RPG 3 APG 1 SPG 0 BPG 3.7 PPG

***11pt game vs Lakers (only game he scored in of the 3)***

First asses the rookies we drafted. Cousins landed the T-Mobile Rookie of the Month award over former teammate, John Wall. I for one was surprised that this happened. In my belief, Cousins had a better week in Las Vegas, but I figured because of the media craze that came with Wall that he'd be favored to win it since he had a few great games. I was pleased when Cousins received the award. Then there is Whiteside. This was my first glimpse of Hassan and I was impressed. This kid can jump! From the first game on he was in the paint coming out of nowhere swatting shots away. I think it is safe to say that "SWAT" signs will be all around ARCO this season. He was beyond impressive in his aggressiveness at the basket.

Guards! What to do with them? We obviously need one or two...or three! My top two picks are Thompson and Rice. Rice had the better week in Las Vegas, but Thompson had a better summer league over all with his stint with the Celtics SL squad. Rice also played with the Jazz this summer but the stats were pretty equal. Both had impressive moments. Thompson had one fewer game with the Kings as he got hit pretty hard in the first half of the Minnesota game and did not play in Friday's contest with the Raptors. Christmas is also an impressive player and showed a well rounded game this week.

All in all, the Kings went 4-2 in Las Vegas this week, but in the end, the fans are the real winners! This young squad shows extreme potential and I for one cannot wait until the regular season.

Midway in Vegas

So tonight's exciting finish marked what Kings fans hope to be the first of many. With 2.8 seconds left on the clock Demarcus Cousins called for the ball which Donte Greene happily fed him down low. He, for the first time all game, took it up the middle and sank the short hook shot against Minnesota. His reaction to it was similar to that of Tyreke's, "This is my house!" in Chicago in the 35-point comeback win...only I will choose to leave his exact words out of this blog! Cousins has tallied a double-double in all three contests thus far in Vegas. His early performance has Lebron James calling for Wall or Cousins to win ROY.

From the first minute of the first game Hassan Whiteside came out swinging...or is it swatting? Either way, Whiteside has been making his presence around the net known from game one. At one point in the first game against the Pistons, where normal shot blockers block with their hands, Whiteside blocked a shot with his wrist. Yes, I said his wrist, meaning he jumped too high and got above the ball. Upon review of replays of his many blocked shots, he is shown blocking balls that are above the square on the backboard...and he looks so effortless in his ability to jump. 10...9....8.....3...2...1....LIFT OFF! Hassan 33 is headed to outer space!

Other bright spots for this young competitive squad has been the play of Ryan Thompson. Although tonight his play was cut short after taking a hard hit to the head after a collision at the basket, Ryan said via his Twitter account, "Just won our summer league game..it was crazy..hit my head pretty hard but I will be okay for friday." Which is a good sign for Kings fans who are pulling for the kid brother of Jason Thompson to join his brother in Sac-Town this coming season. Ryan has shown to be an aggressive scorer from the early seconds of each game he's started. According to Sacramento area sports reporters, rumor is that the coaching staff is very impressed with the way he is playing. The Kings did workout Ryan in the weeks leading up to this year's draft so some of what he is showing comes as no surprise to them. Newly signed rookie guard, Sloan has been playing well and showing Kings fans just what he intends to bring to the court this season. He has some fancy ball handling skills that have been impressive thus far. His court vision is also developing.

All I know for sure as that I will be lost for the next two months once Summer League play ends. I will be anxiously awaiting October to roll around for preseason contests and then finally....TIP OFF! Kings fans have something to be excited about...and if you have walked around the streets of Sacramento lately you can tell. This city's love affair with the Kings has resumed! Consider that flame rekindled Sac-Town!

Summer League

2010 Las Vegas Kings Summer League team roster has been finalized.

1. Omri Casspi SF 6'9 225 lbs. Israel
2. Donte Greene SF 6'11 226 lbs. Syracuse
3. DeMarcus Cousins C 6'11 270 lbs. Kentucky
4. Hassan Whiteside C 7'0 235 lbs. Marshall
5. Connor Archley F-C 6'10 225 lbs. Texas
6. Dionte Christmas G 6'5 205 lbs. Temple
7. Wayne Chism F 6'9 246 lbs. Tennessee
8. Devan Downey G-F 5'9 170 lbs. South Carolina
9. Lee Cummard G-F 6'7 190 lbs. BYU
10. Jason Ellis F 6'7 200 lbs. Boise State
11. Steven Hill C 7'0 245 lbs. Arkansas
12. Tyren Johnson F 6'8 204 lbs. Louisiana-Lafayette
13. Sylven Landesberg G 6'6 207 lbs. Virginia
14. Tyrese Rice G 6'1 190 lbs. Boston College
15. Donald Sloan G 6'3 205 lbs. Texas A&M
16. Ryan Thompson G 6'6 220 lbs. Rider

Before the actual analysis begins...am I the only one who thinks names will become an issue during practice and games? A Dionte and a Donte? A Tyrese and Tyren not to mention coaches in the habit of calling out to Tyreke? I'm confused just writing this! Thank goodness I'm not coaching!

I'm not going to sell you on current Kings players. If you haven't heard of the two returning players or read my opinions on the two newest members of the Kings...well read my previous posts and get with it! Kidding, but read up on who they are and what they bring to the team on mine and other sites!

Thompson:

A sentimental favorite of mine would be Ryan Thompson. I was hoping he'd get drafted on draft day, but it wasn't in the cards. I thought he would go to San Antonio personally, but I am happy he's playing on our summer league team. I figure we have brothers running things off the court why not have brothers on the court right? We did it once, well sort of, with Mike Bibby and Eddie House (yes they are brother-in-laws). Ryan has a good game, but it's not what I would consider well rounded. He has a good outside shot. Reviewing his sophomore and junior seasons he shot over 42% in both. He didn't have his best shooting year during his senior season. He has an established jumper and can take the ball inside and attack the basket. His biggest improvement needs to come in his defensive game. He has a realistic chance to make the Kings training camp roster, or any teams roster as he is confirmed for Boston's summer league team as well, by proving he can be that long range 3-point shooter in an NBA environment.

Landesberg:

When watching highlight videos, one could only notice the similarities between he and Tyreke. Not saying he's as good as Tyreke is, but he drives to the basket and scores a lot in the paint. He's a good rebounder and FT shooter. He lacks an outside shot shooting 38% 3 pt in his sophomore season.

Christmas:

High scoring ability. Like Kevin Martin, his shot is a little unorthodox, but he finds the bottom of the net more often than not so who cares what it looks like right? He's a good defender, but he lacks athleticism for a guard.

Chism:

He's QUICK!!! He lacks an outside shot with a 32% 3 pt in college and lacks the height and athleticism. The Kings have a pretty stacked front court already and he doesn't add enough to be a likely candidate for a Kings jersey.

Atchley:

Former D-League player for Iowa and Dakota teams. Decent numbers 16.1 ppg 9.5 boards, nearly a double-double. He lacks strength though.

Cummard:

Great shooter! While at BYU never shot under 51.7%, 85+% FT 2 of 3 years, 40+% 3-point shot. However, he's a spot-up shooter and it is unknown if he will be able to create his own shots in the NBA.

Downey:

Decent scorer, perhaps best known for his game against Kentucky in the SEC game. He's more of a SG than a PG and he's lacking size at 5'9"! Come on I'm that tall and I shouldn't be as tall as NBA players if you ask me! Unless your name is Nate Robinson or Muggsy Bogues!

Rice:

Moves well and is a good scorer. Again, he's not that athletic of a PF

Hill:

A former D-League player, did a short stint with Oklahoma City Thunder in 2009. He's a solid defender, but again, Kings are loaded in the front court.

Ellis:

He rebounds well. Aside from that, there's virtually nothing out there on this guy.

Sloan:

Athletic enough, lacks defensive skill set and outside shooting ability.

Johnson:

Sort of athletic, decent off the boards for his senior season, but he has a problem with TURN OVERS! We need to value the ball more as we had an issue with that last season, we don't need another butterfingers on the court!

Some have asked me the following questions, where is Brockman, JT, and Reke? Well, I have the answer to some of those.

I am not sure why Brockman is not listed on the roster as most anticipated he would be. Maybe the Kings feel he doesn't need to prove himself for his spot since they locked him up at least as a restricted free agent going into this all important Summer of Lebron (AKA 2010 Free Agency). JT isn't joining his little brother on the courts in Vegas because he's considered a proven player. This isn't to say that his buddy Donte Greene isn't, but JT isn't leaving Sac in the foreseeable future, so he doesn't have to head to Vegas, but I'm sure he will be there to cheer little bro Ryan on. Tyreke....really? Do you have to ask? One, he's ROY is there any doubt of his skills? Two, he's working out with Team USA and the Kings decided not to take the risk of injuring their star player (see Clippers and Blake Griffin). Tyreke expressed interest in playing for the Summer League team, but the organization decided to protect their assets!