I’m particularly excited about tracking the progress of my Nole boys that ended up on the Clippers. Mfiondu Kabengele seems to be a scoring machine with 21 and 17 points in 2 games. Mann is getting great reviews as he is doing well as some sort of hybrid point guard (though a wing forward in college). The knock on Fi is that he does not seem strong enough and gets out muscled for rebounds. Mann does Mann things, meaning he does everything right and won’t be a liability on the floor. Perhaps his only knock is that he is hesitant to take open 3’s. 1 or both of these guys seem poised to make the Clippers opening day roster.

The Pelicans are shutting down Zion for the summer after a scary moment involving him banging knees with Kevin Knox.

A bunch of ACC rookies will be playing, how is everyone else doing?

I cannot get into non-competitive sports. The only reason to watch sports is for the consequences of it. Otherwise, what’s the point? Watching guys practice gets real old, real quick. I don’t love preseason football or spring training or preseason hockey and I can’t watch an entire summers worth of what is basically pick up basketball either.

I mean, good for the NBA to take the most dead part of your calendar and turn it into something that can make you some money. That’s admirable. However, I can’t believe that people want to watch that and I absolutely cannot believe that SportsCenter covers it like it’s a real thing.

Personally, I think that speaks to the weakness of Major League Baseball and how dead the calendar is this time of year. People are thirsting for any action they can find and if it means pretend basketball, so be it.

Just look at what a big deal the Women's World Cup was over the past few weeks. A huge part of that was the time of the year in which it fell. Can you imagine if that of been played in October? Nobody would care at all. The same is true in the spring with the NBA and, to a lesser extent, NHL playoffs. Nobody would care about women’s soccer when they have other viable options to pursue. However, do it in the middle of the summer, when there’s nothing on television, and people are glued to their television.

I think this bodes very well for the MLS. Clearly, there is an appetite for competitive sports during that time of year and the competition is not great. Maybe that is why that league has ballooned to approximately 7,435 teams over the past five years?

(07-12-2019 07:57 AM)Dr. Isaly von Yinzer Wrote:  Just look at what a big deal the Women's World Cup was over the past few weeks. A huge part of that was the time of the year in which it fell. Can you imagine if that of been played in October? Nobody would care at all.

I agree with pretty much everything you said. Speaking of the World Cup, it's going to be interesting to see what happens with the Men's World Cup in 2022 to be held in Qatar (what a dumb ice idea) and moved to Nov-Dec time frame with hopes to avoid the extreme heat, at least some.

Of course, there is a hope the American Men actually make the World Cup after an embarrassing miss at the '18 WC. If the U.S. is there, to your point how many casual fans are going to pay attention and/or even notice when the NFL, CFB, NBA, College Hoops, NHL, etc., are all in full force...not to mention, the holidays. (note, I'm a soccerhead so I'll be following, but in addition to the idiotic decision to hold this event in Qatar, I imagine it will be the least followed WC in decades due to the time of year)

.....as a Knicks fan I'm following my man R.J. and seeing his evolution into the NBA.

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2844...ers-so-far

Ranking the Top 25 NBA Summer League Players so F

25. Amile Jefferson, Orlando Magic C
24. Quinndary Weatherspoon, San Antonio Spurs SG
23. Jacob Evans, Golden State Warriors SG/SF
22. Chris Clemons, Houston Rockets PG
21. Jarred Vanderbilt, Denver Nuggets PF
20. Naz Mitrou-Long, Cleveland Cavaliers PG/SG
19. Jarrett Allen, Brooklyn Nets C
18. Brandon Clarke, Memphis Grizzlies PF/C
17. Mfiondu Kabengele, Los Angeles Clippers PF/C
16. Drew Eubanks, San Antonio Spurs C
15. Daniel Gafford, Chicago Bulls C
14. Jock Landale, Milwaukee Bucks PF/C
13. Terance Mann, Los Angeles Clippers SG/SF
12. Jaxson Hayes, New Orleans Pelicans C
11. Carsen Edwards, Boston Celtics SG
10. Tony Bradley, Utah Jazz C
9. Mitchell Robinson, New York Knicks C
8. Chris Boucher, Toronto Raptors C
7. Tyler Herro, Miami Heat SG
6. Bruce Brown Jr., Detroit Pistons PG/SG
5. Nickeil Alexander-Walker, New Orleans Pelicans PG/SG

Stats through two games: 24.5 points, 7.0 assists, 3.5 rebounds, 2.0 steals, 52.8 field-goal percentage, 46.2 three-point percentage

All eyes were locked on Zion Williamson to start the New Orleans Pelicans' summer league experience. As of July 11, the main storyline has instead been the play of Nickeil Alexander-Walker, the team's third first-round pick who's looked more comfortable and commanding than he did down the stretch for Virginia Tech.

While his scoring numbers stand out first, his facilitating has been the more satisfying development from a projection standpoint. He's delivered a number of high-level passes off the dribble, through crowds off ball screens and off penetration. A first-time viewer would believe they were watching a natural point guard, though signs leading up to summer league pointed to Alexander-Walker settling in as more of a secondary playmaker or combo guard.

His 24.5 points per game have been equally impressive, however. He's executed smoothly as a driver, mid-range shot-maker and pull-up shooter.

4. Cameron Payne, Dallas Mavericks PG
3. Anfernee Simons, Portland Trail Blazers
2. Kendrick Nunn, Miami Heat SG
1. Lonnie Walker IV, San Antonio Spurs SG

How many of these guys are rookies? Alexander has been great.