If you aren’t staying up until midnight to watch G-Leaguers turn over the ball and throw up bricks are you really a basketball fan? It’s a question all of us are asking to the chagrin of our neglected friends and family, but sickos we are and so tonight we stay up late. The Denver Nuggets won’t tip until likely after 9PM mountain tonight for their fourth Summer League contest this year. Their opponent will be the Los Angeles Clippers. The Nuggets have yet to win a game in Vegas so far, but winning isn’t really the point. They hope to continue to develop their young talent, get more information on some fringe NBA guys and, above all else, stay healthy.
The Basics
Who: Denver Nuggets (0-3) vs Los Angeles Clippers (3-0)
When: 9:00 PM MDT
Where: Thomas & Mack Center. Las Vegas, NV.
How to watch: NBA TV, Altitude TV, ESPN+.
Rival blog: 213 Hoops
The Three Things
The thing to watch for: who’s still playing
Hunter Tyson, the Nuggets 3rd year player, has already called it a wrap in Vegas. One has to wonder how much longer the Nuggets will want DaRon Holmes II, the only other player on the roster with a full NBA contract, to play. Holmes obviously benefits from the run as he missed the entire year last season due to injury, but that also is a double-edged sword because you don’t want to risk him getting hurt again. At this point I think Holmes has successfully shown that he is a capable NBA rookie and really there’s not a ton to gain to keep him in. The rest of the field? Have at it. I’d like to see more Tamar Bates, who seemed to find a little bit of his outside shooting stroke last game and continues to be a menace on defense.
The thing to remember: time’s running out to get that last two-way
Beyond the guys under contract (Tyson, Holmes, Bates) there hasn’t been anyone who has been consistent enough to make you think they are for sure getting a shot with the Nuggets this season. Reece Beekman and Curtis Jones have exhibit 10 contracts, so they are at least going to be with Denver in training camp and preseason. Both guys have had their moments, but it’s also clear to see why they are on the fringes. Beekman is probably the player who has performed the best of these fringe guys but his shooting has been woeful the past two games. E.J. Liddell looked great in the first game, but he’s come crashing down from that peak to the new low of getting tossed from a Summer League game. There’s only two games left in Vegas, if these guys want to take the next step towards their NBA dreams they need to make the most of the rest of this week.
The thing to bet: Under Plea watching 2.5 quarters tonight
As you know, I’m not giving you betting advice on Summer League games beyond dropping the gambler’s anonymous hotline (1-800-GAMBLER). So let’s have some fun here. I’m putting the line for quarters watched by long time Stiffs commenter PleaForIntelligence at 2.5 (-110). My theory? It’s Summer League, it’s garbage time Summer League for that matter and Mrs. Plea will make him go to bed by 10PM. Taking all bets!
