NBA Summer League 2016: Friday Schedule, Latest Las Vegas Standings and Stats
As if the NBA Summer League stakes weren't low enough, eight teams have been relegated to consolation play Friday.
Knocked out during Wednesday's opening round, these squads will close out their stays in Las Vegas before the eight remaining contenders square off in Saturday's quarterfinals.
Careers aren't made by summer-league championships, but young players are looking to earn spots and elevated roles in the NBA. Many early draft picks have also made noticeable first impressions during the offseason event.
Here's a look at Friday's schedule with the updated standings. The full bracket is available at NBA.com:
| 4 p.m. | Sacramento Kings | San Antonio Spurs | --- |
| 4:30 p.m. | New Orleans Pelicans | NBA D-League Select | NBA TV |
| 6 p.m. | Portland Trail Blazers | Boston Celtics | --- |
| 6:30 p.m. | Milwaukee Bucks | Houston Rockets | NBA TV |
| Chicago Bulls | 4 | 0 |
| Toronto Raptors | 4 | 0 |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | 3 | 1 |
| Los Angeles Lakers | 3 | 1 |
| Denver Nuggets | 3 | 1 |
| Brooklyn Nets | 3 | 1 |
| Phoenix Suns | 3 | 1 |
| Washington Wizards | 3 | 1 |
| Atlanta Hawks | 3 | 2 |
| Miami Heat | 3 | 2 |
| Memphis Grizzlies | 2 | 2 |
| San Antonio Spurs | 2 | 2 |
| NBA D-League Select | 2 | 2 |
| Dallas Mavericks | 2 | 3 |
| Golden State Warriors | 2 | 3 |
| Utah Jazz | 2 | 3 |
| Minnesota Timberwolves | 2 | 3 |
| Boston Celtics | 1 | 3 |
| New Orleans Pelicans | 1 | 3 |
| Houston Rockets | 1 | 3 |
| Milwaukee Bucks | 1 | 3 |
| Portland Trail Blazers | 1 | 3 |
| Philadelphia 76ers | 1 | 4 |
| Sacramento Kings | 0 | 4 |
Terry Rozier Rolling
Terry Rozier is a prototype of a player who's in need of a summer-league splash. After a poor rookie season, last year's No. 16 overall pick must shove through a crowded Boston Celtics roster to earn a rotation role.
The 22-year-old guard has stood out through six productive games, averaging 20.0 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.5 steals per contest. After shooting 27.4 percent for the Celtics last year, he boasts a 54.2 field-goal percentage while converting seven of 16 three-point attempts.
| July 9 | 29 | 13 | 6-10 | 1-2 | 0-0 | 5 | 2 | 3 |
| July 12 | 31 | 26 | 5-9 | 2-3 | 14-18 | 6 | 2 | 3 |
| July 13 | 36 | 24 | 7-10 | 1-2 | 9-9 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
He has also lived on the foul line in Las Vegas, making 23 of 27 free-throw attempts over his last two games.
The NBA Summer League's Twitter account captured footage of Rozier humiliating a helpless Cleveland Cavaliers defender during Wednesday's 98-94 loss:
It's a small sample size in exhibition games, but Rozier is turning heads within the organization. Per ESPN.com's Chris Forsberg, Rozier's performance has earned praise from general manager Danny Ainge:
"I think that Terry Rozier has made a great case for himself for next year. He’s been our best player from the first day of training camp this summer. He’s been terrific for us. He was a good player last year in training camp, just didn’t get a lot of opportunities because of our depth at guard. I think he’s winning a spot.
"
He'll get one more chance to finish in style against the Portland Trail Blazers. Another strong outing would give him a discernible path to playing time.
Thon Maker's Erratic Summer
Thon Maker has validated the Milwaukee Bucks' decision to draft him at No. 10 overall while simultaneously showing why some critics thought it was a reach.
The Sudanese big man has flashed star upside on the Vegas circuit, averaging 14.8 points, 9.8 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game. His immense size (7'1") and athleticism have produced immediate results, but not without shortcomings.
| July 8 | 31 | 15 | 5-14 | 0-1 | 5-7 | 13 | 2 | 4 |
| July 10 | 33 | 17 | 7-15 | 1-4 | 2-4 | 17 | 2 | 6 |
| July 11 | 31 | 10 | 2-5 | 1-2 | 5-5 | 3 | 1 | 10 |
| July 13 | 30 | 17 | 6-17 | 3-6 | 3-4 | 6 | 0 | 3 |
The high scoring average doesn't reflect his 39.2 field-goal percentage. ESPN.com's Kevin Pelton examined his inefficient decisions.
"One sequence in the first quarter illustrated Maker's situation: He ran a pick-and-pop for a textbook three-pointer, then shortly after air-balled a spot-up three from the wing," Pelton wrote. "Maker has tried to do too much offensively throughout his time in Las Vegas, leading to low shooting percentages (6-of-17 Wednesday)."
Perhaps the most eye-opening summer-league stat: Maker amassed the rarest of double-doubles with 17 points and 10 personal fouls Monday, reaching the league's higher foul limit in 31 minutes.
He'll have to play smarter to get any court time in Milwaukee, which is a long shot for an international newcomer with an unpolished game. Yet he has teased a sky-high ceiling, and he'll get one more chance to excite Bucks fans for the future Friday.
Far from Kings in Vegas
If they don't salvage a consolation victory over the San Antonio Spurs, the Sacramento Kings will be the only team that goes home winless.
They're not just losing; they're doing so terribly. Opponents have outscored them by 77 combined points over four games. As a team, they're shooting a putrid 34.8 percent from the floor.
Sacramento went against the grain by drafting Georgios Papagiannis, whom ESPN's Chad Ford ranked at No. 46, with the No. 13 selection. The 19-year-old Greek center has gone 7-of-20 for 15 points in three games, averaging three turnovers and three fouls per contest.
| July 10 | 18 | 8 | 4-7 | 0-0 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| July 11 | 20 | 1 | 0-7 | 1-2 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 5 |
| July 13 | 20 | 6 | 3-6 | 0-0 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 4 |
This isn't the time and place to reach conclusions on prospects, but the early reviews are poor.
"One executive simply texted me a thumbs-down emoji when I asked him about Papagiannis," The Ringer's Jonathan Tjarks noted.
It's only the summer league, but the Kings' poor shooting and overcrowded paint bothered them all last season. Signing Arron Afflalo isn't enough to fix those woes.
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