Orlando Summer League day seven recap: OSL accolades
By Ian Levy
Orlando Summer League has come and gone. It’s been a fun week, and it’s been a rough week, but on our final day we have a new champion. On top of that, we give away accolades for the MVP, the most fun team of the week, and the best highlights. Then there’s our starting five, along with a sixth man, featuring the six best players of the week.
Oklahoma City Thunder vs Los Angeles Clippers
For a game that tipped off at 8AM, this contest featured a lot more scoring than one would expect. Usually these early games are sluggish, and lack scoring, but this one was high scoring from the get go, and surprised everybody when it reached 100 points. Sure, it needed overtime to get there, but there’s been plenty of overtime games that got nowhere near that level of scoring.
It’s hard to find anybody that stood out above the rest, because both teams put up big numbers and played well, but it’s hard to not notice Jordan Hamilton lead all scorers with 29 points. It may have been in a losing effort, and he didn’t make any of his five 3-pointers, but seven free throws and eight rebounds is really impressive for a player that usually hangs out around the perimeter.
MVP: Jordan Hamilton
Honorable Mention: Dakari Johnson
Miami Heat vs Detroit Pistons
This game just started, but Stanley Johnson is already at minimum an honorable mention for playing in this game despite their being no point. He’s been far and away the best player at Orlando Summer League, and a blast to watch. Of course, then everything in this game became awful. The Miami Heat took a lead early on and just built on that the rest of the way through.
The Heat got huge performances out of Josh Richardson and Zoran Dragic, with Richardson leading all scorers by dropping 18 points, and their impact on the floor was felt throughout the game. Richardson in particular played the type of defense that he’s been known for all week, and Detroit struggled mightily against it.
MVP: Josh Richardson
Honorable Mention: Zoran Dragic
Orlando Magic (White) vs Memphis Grizzlies
Championship Game
The championship game! A battle between the two best teams in all of Orlando Summer League, and oh man was it a summer league game. Orlando Magic (White) went down big at the beginning, but they made a strong push to take the lead in the third quarter. The game remained close from that point on to the very end, and it honestly had some really fun moments. There were some real real dramatics, and it went all the way down to the wire to the game needing to be decided in sudden death double overtime.
So who was the hero? Why it was Russ Smith of course. Smith has had an incredible OSL, and he topped that off with a heroic game winner. Although it’s hard to overlook the performance by Chris Singleton on the other side of the ball. His 16 point four steal game was a huge part in keeping Magic (White) in it to the very end.
MVP: Russ Smith
Honorable Mention: Chris Singleton
Orlando Magic (Blue) vs Indiana Pacers
It might be weird to play games following the championship, but that’s just the way it goes in Orlando Summer League. The Magic (Blue) took on the Pacers the day before, and this rematch was nowhere near as close. Blue took a commanding lead early on and never let go of it. From the very beginning it was quite clear that both teams were just playing to get the day over with.
In games where nobody cares, Joe Young thrives, he dominated with 28 points and put on a show for everybody. His 23 attempts were borderline hilarious, because the guy was just out there straight gunning with no regard for anything else. Not that anybody can blame him when he’s dropping 28 points, but the sheer disregard for efficiency was hilarious.
MVP: Joe Young
Honorable Mention: Tyler Harvey
Charlotte Hornets vs Brooklyn Nets
The final match of the game was between the two bottom teams. The Nets lost every game of the week, and the only team the Hornets managed to beat were the Nets so its fitting that they played each other to finish the day. Brooklyn only played with six players which put them at a pretty massive disadvantage while the Hornets went full force the entire game.
Frank Kaminsky had a great performance with 19 points, and pulled down six rebounds as well. He’s been very inconsistent throughout summer league and has struggled to play well consistently. Today, he put together his most complete game of the week, and now he can enter the rest of the offseason working on what he did right, and improve on what he struggled with.
MVP: Frank Kaminsky
Honorable Mention: Rondae Hollis-Jefferson
Highlight of the day
Russ Smith championship shot
Accolades for the week
MVP: Stanley Johnson
There wasn’t a player that played in more games, and played better, all week than Stanley Johnson. He showed unexpected ball handling, and an ability to take his man off the dribble that helped him dominate defenses. He was bigger, stronger, faster, and better than everybody that consistently played at Orlando Summer League.
Honorable Mention: Aaron Gordon
Gordon would have been the run away MVP had he played in another game, but the Magic were smart to not risk injury in games that didn’t matter. Gordon was a monster all week, consistently putting up 20 points in an efficient manner, and his dominance on the boards was obvious every game. Gordon was the best player at all of summer league, and everybody should be excited for what he does his sopohmore season in the NBA.
Friendly Bounce Orlando Summer League starting five
PG: Russ Smith
SG: Justise Winslow
SF: Stanley Johnson
PF: Aaron Gordon
C: Myles Turner
Sixth Man: Joe Young
Surprise Player of the week
Chris Singleton
Nobody turned more heads this week than Chris Singleton. He was hungrier than anybody else there, and he had something to prove. This was someone that had spent time in the D-League the year before, and his feeling was that it didn’t help him at all. Singleton came to Orlando intending to show teams that he could play, and that’s what he did.
Best team to watch
Orlando Magic (White)
The Magic (White) team was the “D-League” team, and therefore considered one of the weaker teams at summer league. Instead, they dominated almost everybody they played, and were one of the best shows at all of Orlando Summer League. Their hustle, flow on offense, and defense made them the most organized team of the week, and therefore the most enjoyable team.
Best highlight
Mario Hezonja’s dunk