Lonzo Ball: NBA Summer League 2017 MVP!!!

LVSL Semifinals: Lakers beat Mavs 108-98; Lonzo 16 pts, 10 assists (0 TO's), 4 rbds, 1 stl

Travis Wear (15 min) 4 pts, 3 rbds, 1 assist.

LVSL Quarterfinals: Lakers beat Nets 108-98; Lonzo 14 pts, 7 assists (3 to's), 9 rbds, 1 stl

Travis Wear 12 pts, 5 rbds, 2 blocks, 2 assists

T.J.'s summer 2017

Orlando Summer League July 1-6 2017

with Isaac Hamilton and The Pacers 

Game 1 - July 1 vs. Magic W 85-74
T.J. DNP; I. Ham DNP

Game 2 - July 2 vs. Hornets W 84-77
T.J. 12 pts, 5 rbds; I. Ham 4 pts, 1 rbd



Game 3 - July 3 vs. Heat W 86-83
T.J. 19 pts, 10 rbds; I. Ham DNP



Game 4 - July 4 vs. Mavs L 94-79
T.J. 7 pts, 4 rbds; I.Ham 4 pts, 2 rbds

Game 5 - July 5 No Game

Game 6 - July 6 vs. OKC W 89-80
T.J. DNP; I.Ham 8 pts, 1 assist, 1 stl

Lonzo line vs Cavs: 16 pts, 12 assists (7 to's), 10 rbds, 2 blocks, 5 steals (2nd Triple Double of summer)

Lonzo line vs 76ers: 36 pts, 11 assists (6 to's), 8 rbds, 2 blocks, 5 steals

Bryce Alford looks to seize opportunity with Warriors

jul 12, 2017 | connor letourneau | s.f. gate | ARTICLE LINK

LAS VEGAS — It didn’t take Bryce Alford long to learn that an elite college pedigree doesn’t necessarily translate to an NBA contract. During his eight pre-draft workouts, front-office executives consistently told him that he would probably need to take a circuitous route to the league.

“They said they thought I was an NBA player,” Alford said. “They just thought I needed to find my niche. It might be an interesting path to get there.”

Less than three weeks after he went undrafted, Alford is trying to parlay a Summer League stint with the NBA champions into a training-camp invite somewhere. His chances improved in the Warriors’ 78-76 double-overtime loss Tuesday night to Minnesota. Filling in for Jabari Brown (rest) in the starting lineup, he had 16 points, five rebounds, two assists and two steals in 27 minutes.

Alford’s aggressive shooting helped lift Golden State out of its early offensive rut. Eager to shed his label as a one-dimensional gunner, he initiated the offense at times and flashed some nifty passing. The hope is that it was enough to impress an NBA team in need of a combo guard capable of stretching the floor.

Golden State, which already boasts a backcourt deep in scorers, is expected to add a big man when it fills its 15th and final roster spot. Alford’s best chance is to try to show another team that he can be a sharpshooter in the mold of JJ Redick or Kyle Korver.

“He gave us a little boost,” said Chris DeMarco, the Warriors’ Summer League head coach. “We were obviously looking for some scoring, and he did it. He knows how to play the game.”

A lightly touted prospect coming out of high school in New Mexico, Bryce blossomed into one of the best shooters in UCLA history under his father, head coach Steve Alford. Bryce finished his four-year career as the only player in school history to tally more than 1,700 points and 500 assists. His 329 three-pointers were a Bruins record, eclipsing Jason Kapono’s 317 more than a decade earlier.

Last season, while playing alongside Lonzo Ball, Alford posted career-best shooting percentages from the field (44.7) and three-point range (43). Still, many scouts figured he didn’t have the speed or athleticism to defend NBA guards. It also didn’t help that, at 6-foot-3, 185 pounds, he is a shooting guard with a point guard’s frame.

“I knew it was a long shot to get drafted,” Alford said, “so I was probably going to have to do some work.”

Alford chose Golden State over other Summer League offers, in part because UCLA emulated the Warriors’ system. The problem was that, while stuck behind Brown on the depth chart, he totaled only seven minutes over his first two outings. It remains unclear how much Alford’s playing time will dip when Brown returns to the rotation Wednesday against Minnesota.

DeMarco’s primary focus, of course, is on developing the four players already under contract. Patrick McCaw rebounded from an off night Monday with 20 points on 7-for-15 shooting. After coaches challenged him to be more aggressive, rookie Jordan Bell (five points, 11 rebounds, five assists, five steals and six blocks) delivered his most well-rounded performance yet.

Less encouraging was Damian Jones, who piled up seven fouls (three shy of the Summer League limit), committed four turnovers and shot 2-for-6 from the field. Kevon Looney, who wasn’t much of a factor the first two games, sat out Tuesday because of an allergic reaction in his eyes.

Had the Warriors not picked up his third-year option in October, Looney would have a tough time getting the front office to justify re-signing him this summer. Some have speculated that Golden State would be best off waiving Looney before training camp to free a roster spot for a more promising young player.

Like Alford, he might need to take the long route to a lasting NBA role.

“This isn’t an easy business to get into as a player,” Alford said. “You’ve just got to stay hungry and be ready when your name is called. That’s just what I’ve been trying to do.”

Connor Letourneau is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: cletourneau@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @Con_Chron

Lonzo Ball's 2nd Game of the Summer: 11 pts, 11 assists (4 t.o.'s), 11 rbds, 1 blk, 1 steal (Triple Double) vs the Celtics

Hoops Documentary spotlight: Rebounds

from Gato Trotsky on You Tube.  

I absolutely love basketball documentaries!!! Hoop Dreams, Shoni Schimmel's "Off The Rez," Sebatian Telfair's "Through The Fire," "Heart of the Game," and LeBron James' "More Than A Game" are a few of my favorites. 

While scourin You Tube for more hoop docs, I found "Rebounds." I absolutely loved it!!! And so I wanted  to call hoopaholics' attentions to this gem. 

This documentary follows Americans Tim Jones and Derrick Miller during their season in Chile playing in Puente Alto CD. It gives us a glimpse of how one would follow their dreams of playing pro hoops when they are not quite the baller Lonzo Ball is. 

Here is the doc description on You Tube:
Published on Jul 6, 2011

"Thousands of American basketball players that don't make it into the NBA, go around the world looking for a chance to play. Some of them go to Europe, Asia or any place in the world where basketball is played. This documentary follows Tim Jones and Derrick Miller during their season in Chile playing in Puente Alto CD. Crossing the tension of the game with their experiences off the court this film gives an insight of the life of basketball players overseas."

Enjoy!!! 

And if you do enjoyed this, do check the other docs I mentioned (if you haven't already). I'm sure you'll love them, too. Their trailers below. 

Hoop Dreams (Arthur Agee, William Gates)

Off The Rez (Shoni Schimmel)



Through The Fire (Sebastian Telfair)

Heart of The Game (Darnellia Russell)


More Than A Game (LeBron James) 

For more hoop doc suggestions, check out this list:
The 35 Best Basketball Documentaries Ever (Watch For Free)

Finally, leave your hoop doc favorites and suggestions in the Comments section. I'm always up for another great hoops documentary!!! Thanks!!!

UCLA Men's Basketball hangin out with Kanye and 2 Chainz