Vegas, Baby, Vegas...

by Andrew Feinstein on Jul 15, 2008 1:01 AM MDT

Trying to be a responsible Nuggets blogger (and since I was unable to watch the first game on Saturday), I was hoping to watch the second game played by the Nuggets Summer League team today. But for reasons that completely befuddle me, NBATV is only showing some of the games, not all. And the rest of the games - like today's 90-79 "victory" over the Toronto Raptors - are streamed at NBA.com on a tiny screen with one camera angle and no announcers. I couldn't even make out the players' uniform numbers or see if new "Assistant Coach" Nick Van Exel hit any of the refs after a bad call!

Before we get to my cheap seats commentary on the Summer League, I must take a shot at NBATV for not showing all the games. Simply put, what's the @#$%& point of NBATV if they don't show everything NBA?!! I don't need to watch the 80th airing of NBA Access with (Michael Jordan ass-kisser) Ahmad Rashad, and I sure as hell don't need to watch WNBA Action, either. And to stream the games online in the worst possible way is another disgrace altogether. I mean, what are Nuggets fans supposed to do at work all day if they can't watch the Summer League games properly online?

If the NBA is too cheap to broadcast all the summer games, I suggest they hire team-specific bloggers - like yours truly - to announce the competition. Trust me, we'll do it for nothing more than a free trip to Vegas and a nominal per diem. (While we're being curmudgeonly, shame on Altitude* for not showing the Nuggets Summer League games, either. Are you telling me the Nuggets Summer League game isn't more compelling than the Miss Colorado Pageant? I didn't even know there was a Miss Colorado Pageant!)

Regarding the games, since the Nuggets don't play again until Thursday I thought we'd take a quick look at Games 1 and 2. In both games, Grizzlies and Kings' castoff Dahntay Jones (pictured above) - a guy we overlooked in our Summer League team analysis - has put up the biggest numbers. Jones had 16 points today on 60% shooting, and on Saturday he posted 21 points on 53% shooting.

Jones - a former first round pick from Duke - is one of those players that quickly fell off the NBA radar for me. In looking at his career numbers, his best season appeared to be 2006-07 when he put up 7.5 ppg in 21.4 minutes of playing time and he was a bust in his other NBA campaigns. But Jones is getting rave reviews out of Vegas thus far, and even though he's a competitor of newly acquired Sonny Weems in the "freakishly athletic 6'6" guy off the bench" category, a training camp invite might be his if he keeps this up.

Other notable Summer League action has been the Game 1 performances from Weems' (17 points in 20 minutes of action), Keith Langford (14 points in just 16 minutes) and my dark horse candidate to make the Nuggets' training camp, Elton Brown (13 points and 11 rebounds in 26 minutes). In today's Game 2, Brown posted another double/double (11 points, 10 rebounds) and point guard Taurean Green had a decent, well-rounded outing (17 points including 12 free throw attempts, and 4 assists), while Weems laid an egg with a 1-7 shooting day.

Has anyone besides me tried watching these games?

*If for some reason Altitude broadcasted the Summer League game even though it wasn't on their schedule, then I apologize to all the Altitude executives whom I may have offended for putting the Miss Colorado Pageant on the air. Actually, check that: they should still be ashamed for airing the Miss Colorado Pageant no matter what.

Tweet Comment 17 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Nick Van Exel is working as an assistant coach on the Nuggets' summer league team? Working on the finer points of ill advised 3's and matador defense?

Was Kenny Anderson not available?

Are they bringing in Corey Blount to work with the big men?

by Anonymous on Jul 14, 2008 8:50 PM MDT reply actions

I think I'm going to ignore your WNBA comment, but I have tried to watch the games. First, I looked through my TV guide and noticed that the Nuggets have no games being aired on NBA TV. Then, I TRIED watching a game online, but just like you, I couldn't make out what I was watching so I stopped. I think more games should be aired, but at the same time I don't any will be.

by nataly on Jul 14, 2008 10:48 PM MDT reply actions

man i'd call the games AND use my own camera to get you another camera angle. for nothing too. heck i'd even make my own way to vegas. perhaps pay for my lunch and i'd be good. heck, i'd do anything for a free feed.

i tried watching online. but it was f*cked up. but it's good. the boxscore is enough for me. elton brown is playing consistently (statistically) throughout both games.

who we got next?

by andrew fisher on Jul 15, 2008 12:41 AM MDT reply actions

I'm trying to watch the games too, but, fuck off, it's no avalaible in my region, Europe. That's what NBA.com says.

I think Jones is gonna be a good Bench Guard for us, and I think that we should sign the Cheaper Shaun Livingston, don't you think so?

by Lucas Navarrete on Jul 15, 2008 1:55 AM MDT reply actions

Don't get too high on Dahntay Jones. Fools Gold. The guy wouldn't even pass salt.

He's funny to watch if he's on the other team: Jones has the ba-- Yep, he's cranking it up.

by Anonymous on Jul 15, 2008 3:04 AM MDT reply actions

^Yep I agree...

Dahntay Jones's game is great when it comes to summer league games.

I think the best performer so far has been big man Elton Brown. He can box out, he goes after the glass, he has pretty high offensive and defensive awareness as far as positioning is concerned, he's light on his feet so he can run very well despite his bulk and size. He was guarded by two 7 footers in the first game in Marreese Speights and Jason Smith but they couldn't stop him from grabbing the boards.

Then gotta give a look at Chris Sumpter. He's a power forward who can shoot it and run very well.

Taurean Green has skills but he has to have more drive.

Forget Jones, we already have J.R. and Sonny, who is pretty decent and imo should be in the rotation next year with that size, nimbleness, agressiveness and athleticism.

- Snake -

by Anonymous on Jul 15, 2008 5:10 AM MDT reply actions

Just watched game #2, I seriously think Nuggets should reserve a roster spot for Brown. He really has a knack for rebounding and he has real nice low post move. I think he has a chance to be better than Nene.

Green's problem is he's weak from the waist up. And he appears light headed and not strongly motivated.

Weems will be in the rotation because he defends better than J.R. Smith... and if he's effective offensively (doubt it), he could be a threat to start. But I doubt it.

- Snake -

by Anonymous on Jul 15, 2008 6:17 AM MDT reply actions

The streaming online is awful. Too bad the NBA is too busy losing money on WNBA and the D-League to dump a bunch of money into Summer League and lose money on it as well...
As far as the Nuggets go, people are right about D Jones (full disclosure, I'm was at Duke when he was). He's like a homeless man's Josh Howard, doesn't pass, can't shoot from beyond 18 feet and gets lost on the court at times. Beyond that, he is what he is, there is a reason a first round pick from a big school with as much athleticism as he has is in the summer league after playing for 2 NBA teams over like 5 seasons...
I loved the two 8 minute stints I watched of who I have to assume was Elton Brown on the streaming feed from the first two games. My only concern about him is that he has like 13 fouls and 0 blocks in 50 minutes of summer league so far, but he's nimble around the hoop and appears willing to do some dirty work. Now that we have an open spot in the rotation for a 4th big, he seems like a good fit.
The only other three players who appear even worth a look at this point are Langford, Weems and Greene, at least two of which will be in training camp.
As I said before and someone said above I love Sumpter, but I can't see it working out - he'd basically be the third SF behind Melo and Kleiza, doesn't seem like it makes sense to use a roster spot. This also screws Mike Hall who went to GW who (from the box scores) looks like he's been playing well.

Last thought, truehoop has someone at the games posting day long recaps if you want a couple paragraphs of in person nuggets reporting. Ridiculousupside also has some info on the action.

by Eric B on Jul 15, 2008 7:23 AM MDT reply actions

I don't have NBATV anymore -- I have basic digital cable, and as soon as the NBA season ended, so did my NBATV access. I'm one of the ones who isn't in Altitude's viewing area, so I have to shell out $200 a year for NBALP. I'm thinking this year I'll ask someone to split the cost so I can access their online account instead. It's worth it, for sure (even though they need to add one more channel -- occasionally the first 30-60 minutes is cut off when a lot of teams are playing, as was the case for AI's debut, and a few times during the regular season), but money is tight.

I'll just have to wait for the next season. I never was one to watch my local team's summer games, anyway. Maybe pre-season, but not summer.

by ohxten on Jul 15, 2008 8:52 AM MDT reply actions

Altitude doesn't even show the pre-season games on TV, so they'll never show the summer league games. I'm guessing it probably costs too much to get the rights to air those games, anyway. They are still NBA property, even if they are just summer league. NBA.tv showcases the top draft picks. I have no problem with watching the games online. You can hear the PA announce the names and after a few minutes, you figure out which players are on the floor.

by Brian on Jul 15, 2008 9:50 AM MDT reply actions

Sex sells! Sweaty men or sweaty women from our old stomping grounds?

Just kidding. I agree Andrew.

by viracocha303 on Jul 15, 2008 10:13 AM MDT reply actions

"I'm one of the ones who isn't in Altitude's viewing area, so I have to shell out $200 a year for NBALP. I'm thinking this year I'll ask someone to split the cost so I can access their online account instead. It's worth it, for sure (even though they need to add one more channel -- occasionally the first 30-60 minutes is cut off when a lot of teams are playing, as was the case for AI's debut, and a few times during the regular season), but money is tight."

Suck it up. Iverson is 33yo. There ain't all that much more sweetness there to appreciate.

Until he falls off the cliff, NBALP is a no-brainer. Just go without food for a week.

by Petey on Jul 15, 2008 12:53 PM MDT reply actions

the Nuggs don't want us watching the games on Altitude because then they might have to answer questions like "why are we paying Hunter $3mm to ride the pine when we could sign someone like Brown for $800k?" Basically, they don't want fans second guessing their roster decisions, because, they're obviously making questionable moves year in and year out. My picks off the summer team would be Weems, Langford, and Brown. Not sold on Jones. Also, I still like Livingston if he can be had cheap. The kid's only 22, and he's 6'7.

by micb on Jul 15, 2008 5:44 PM MDT reply actions

I have to go with Green and Brown as the only two guys i think we could actualyl use for more then bench fillers next season, bot have been fairly impressive. And again with livingston, its such a huge risk, i wouldn't do it for anything more than a one year min. contract

by Zachm219 on Jul 15, 2008 6:34 PM MDT reply actions

So, apparently the Nuggets traded Camby to the Clippers for a second round pick.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3491156

by Anonymous on Jul 15, 2008 7:37 PM MDT reply actions

Jesus Christ! I hate this franchise. We GAVE AWAY CAMBY FOR NOTHING!!!!!

by Eric on Jul 15, 2008 7:46 PM MDT reply actions

I love that the Nuggets are finally making a move this off-season, but all we can get for Camby is a 2nd round pick? This better be a precursor to more trades, maybe Kyle Lowry or Luke Ridnour for this 2nd round pick?

by Greg on Jul 15, 2008 7:55 PM MDT reply actions

Comments For This Post Are Closed

STIFF LIST (as of 4/26 by Andrew Feinstein)

1. METTA WORLD PEACE

Metta resorted back to Ron Ron last Sunday by clubbing James Hardenwith an "inadvertent celebratory elbow", landing him a 7-game suspension. Apparently, changing his name didn't prevent NBA commissioner David Stern from overlooking Metta's past behavior problems.

2. CHARLOTTE BOBCATS

The 'Cats are on the verge of securing the worst winning percentage in NBA history. Given that the guy who runs the team - Michael Jordan - had previously drafted Kwame Brown and Adam Morrison, should this really be a shock?

3. OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER
The team that was supposedly built to overcome the lockout-shortened season managed to lose 7 of its last 14 games, ceding the Western Conference's 1-seed to the Spurs in the process. Their reward might be a first round matchup with defending champion Dallas.

4. BILLY HUNTER AND DEREK FISHER

With report after report coming out about NBPA union head Hunter's shady, nepotistic dealings and questions arising about Fisher's own role in dealing with NBA owners behind Hunter's back during the lockout, this off-the-court scandal could prove to be more exciting than the playoffs themselves!

5. STEVE NASH AND THE PHOENIX SUNS
The Suns are on this list for squandering the last few great seasons from Nash. Nash is on this list for his stupidly stubborn loyalty to a franchise as awful as the Suns.