NBA Summer League 2012: Winners and Losers from Monday's Action

After fitting in a week of games in Orlando, the 2012 NBA Las Vegas Summer League is officially in full swing now that the Boston Celtics have arrived.

At least the C's didn't have to worry about getting caught up in the myriad vices of Vegas over the weekend. Punching the clock on a Monday in Sin City is never easy, especially for those old enough to partake in the madness on offer.

But that didn't seem to affect most of the folks who took to the court to start the week. That's not to suggest, of course, that those who fared poorly were necessarily weighed down by indulgences off the hardwood.

Still, it's not exactly difficult to imagine young, newly-affluent men sharing their wealth with the nightclub and casino crowds, so to speak.

In any event, here's a look at the best and worst from Monday's slate of games.

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Lead image courtesy of ESPN.com.

Winner: Jared Sullinger

Speaking of the Celtics, Jared Sullinger picked up in Las Vegas precisely where he left off in Orlando—with a strong, efficient performance for his team.

The rookie out of Ohio State put up 14 points (on eight shots from the field), seven rebounds and a steal in his Sin City debut to help Boston beat the Atlanta Hawks, 87-69.

Sully showed off the same sort of inside-out game that made him such a hit in central Florida, at one point by stepping out and draining a three.

The Kevin Love comparisons may still be a bit premature, but the requisite tools are there for Sullinger to grow into a poor man's version of the two-time All-Star.

Loser: Justin Holiday

Jared Sullinger's Celtics aren't the only Orlando transplants in town for the Vegas Summer League. A slew of other roster-fillers have since scattered onto new squads, hoping to leave impressions on another swarm of coaches and scouts.

Such is the case for Justin Holiday. He spent last week with younger brother Jrue's Philadelphia 76ers and now finds himself hunting for scraps with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

But the success Holiday had in putting up strong numbers in Florida hasn't carried over to Nevada, where he's scored all of seven points on 10 shots in 29 minutes through two games.

That includes a four-point, two-rebound, one-assist afternoon during Cleveland's 94-88 win over the D-League Select Team on Monday.

A team that, unfortunately, Justin may have to latch on with after this week.

Winner: Tyler Zeller

Holiday's new teammates haven't all had quite as rough a go of things in Vegas.

Tyler Zeller, for instance, has looked much like the stud he was during his days as the ACC Player of the Year at North Carolina, though encouragingly against stiffer competition this time around.

Zeller tallied 19 points on just eight shots and 9-of-10 from the line, with seven rebounds, two steals and two blocks for good measure. He also managed to reduce his foul total from seven in his first summer league game to four this time around.

All the while, Zeller showed off the effective post game and the ability to run the floor that made him the 17th pick in the 2012 NBA Draft. If he continues to play like this, he just might earn himself some significant time in Cleveland's thin front court as a rookie.

Winner: Bernard James

The Cavs acquired Zeller's rights in a draft-day deal that sent Jared Cunningham, Jae Crowder and Bernard James back to the Dallas Mavericks.

James' play has been particularly encouraging so far. After pouring in nine points, eight rebounds and three blocks in his Summer League debut, James tallied his first double-double (13 points, 11 rebounds) in an 85-75 win over the Toronto Raptors.

Seeing James succeed is among the more heartwarming developments to come from the Summer League. The 27-year-old rookie spent six years in the United States Air Force and started his collegiate career at Tallahassee Community College before finishing up at Florida State.

The Mavs will be happy to have a bona fide staff sergeant on their bench this coming season, especially one who can actually play.

Loser: Antoine Wright

At 28, Antoine Wright is actually a year older than Bernard James, though he isn't exactly partaking in the Summer League as a rookie.

On the contrary, Wright—the 15th pick in the 2005 draft—is trying to get back in the NBA after spending the better part of six seasons there to start his pro career.

So far, his odds of doing just that don't look too good.

Wright "earned" Monday's "0-Fer of the Night", missing all nine of his shots on the way to a scoreless night in which he also picked up five fouls, turned the ball over once and had one of his shots blocked during the Clippers' 73-64 loss to the Timberwolves.

What's worse, Wright was known as a sharpshooter when he first came out of Texas A&M. It would appear, then, that his accuracy has gone much the same way as his NBA career.

That is, straight into the toilet.

Losers: Los Angeles Lakers

Frankly, Wright might fit in better with the Summer League squad for the Clippers' cross-hall rivals.

The Lakers dropped to 0-3 in Las Vegas by way of a brutal 106-56 defeat at the hands of the Miami Heat, who seem to have adopted the swagger of their championship counterpart.

Not to much for the purple and gold. The list of the blamed for LA is extensive, from Robert Sacre (one rebound for a seven-footer) to Darius Morris (13 points on 17 shots, six turnovers against three assists) to Andrew Goudelock (five points on 2-of-10 shooting) and beyond.

Luckily, the actual Lakers have some slightly better players at their disposal, and may soon add another big name if all goes according to plan.

Winners: Houston Rockets Rookies

Elsewhere in "As Dwight Howard Turns," the Houston Rockets' slew of talented rookies continues to impress in Las Vegas.

All three of Houston's 2012 first-round draftees scored in double figures during a 113-91 win over the Sacramento Kings on Monday.

Royce White opened plenty more eyes with his 11-point, 10-rebound, seven-assist performance, often times playing like a pass-first point forward of sorts. Jeremy Lamb wasn't too shabby either, chipping in 19 points in a starting role.

Even Terrence Jones got in the act, with 17 points and eight rebounds of his own.

The Rockets must also have been pleased to see the "return" of Lithuanian rookie Donatas Motiejunas, who disappeared on the court after a thrilling opener but has seemingly regained his form since.

At least, his 19 points and six rebounds against the Kings would suggest as much.

Loser: Thomas Robinson

On the other end of that result was Thomas Robinson, who was flatly outclassed by each of Houston's rookies.

The fifth pick in the 2012 draft had his third mixed-bag-of-a-game in as many tries on Monday. His 10 points, eight rebounds, three assists and two steals were nice.

The same can't be said of his five turnovers, seven fouls and eight missed shots (on 13 attempts), the sum of which were indicative of a player who still has a ways to go before he can be said to have found his bearings.

Then again, that isn't exactly a new or unusual problem for a rookie to face...

Winner: Jimmer Fredette

Just ask Jimmer Fredette, who's on a mission to change hearts and minds after a dismal rookie campaign in Sacramento.

Jimmer did plenty in that regard on Monday, when he exploded for a game-high 30 points to go along with four rebounds, three assists and a steal.

The switch back to shooting guard—Fredette's best position—seemed to suit him just fine, especially after the Kings (for whatever reason) went out and signed free agent point guard Aaron Brooks.

Chances are, Jimmer will return to Sac-Town as a designated scorer off the bench, though he'll need to do more than just destroy Vegas scrubs if he's going to shed the label of "Adam Morrison 2.0."

Loser: Xavier Henry

As long as we're on the subject of draft busts, why don't we check in on Xavier Henry?

You remember him, don't you? Athletic, 6'6 swingman? The Memphis Grizzlies took him with the 12th pick in the 2010 draft and sent him to the New Orleans Hornets this past January?

In any case, Henry's heading into his third NBA season but still doesn't seem to have figured "it" out just yet. The former prep phenom managed all of five points, two rebounds, an assist and two turnovers in 23 minutes of play during the Hornets' 76-68 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks.

In Xavier's defense, he's only 21, though it wouldn't hurt for him to acquit himself in a better manner, especially against low-level competition.