Ready to tip
If the parking lot at UNLV is any indication, the crowds should be sizable for the opening day of the NBA Summer League’s 10-day run at Cox Pavilion and the Thomas & Mack Center. The front lots were completely full an hour before the doors open. And there were long lines at the ticket office and doors to get in.
The opening-day lineup has plenty of interesting storylines, beginning with Stephen Curry, who debuts for Golden State in the first game at 1 p.m. against Houston. Curry sat down with the R-J for a lengthy Q&A, which will appear in Saturday’s paper, that was most entertaining. Here’s a sample: When asked who would win a game of H-O-R-S-E between himself, his brother Seth and his father, Dell, a former NBA player, Steph said: "If we played10 games, I’d win five, my dad would win three and my brother two. I’m still the King of the Currys."
In the 3 p.m. game, Sacramento faces Detroit. The Kings have the first Israeli-born player who hopes to play in the NBA in 6-9 forward Omri Casspi. It also will be the first peek at Tyreke Evans, the young combo guard from Memphis who the Kings took at No. 4 overall.
The Lakers are on the 5 p.m. game, facing Toronto. All eyes will be on Adam Morrison, who was featured in today’s R-J. He needs to play well here just to get his confidence back on track, not to mention giving Lakers management some hope that he fits in with them somewhere.
The Raptors, who dealt former UNLV star Shawn Marion to Dallas Thursday, have former Laker Smush Parker on their summer league roster. But no Marcus Banks. He gets a reprieve.
The final game at 7 has Marion’s new team, the Mavericks, meeting Milwaukee. It’ll be interesting to see what Brandon Jennings does. He’s talked a lot of trash since he was taken by the Bucks at No. 10. Let’s see if he can back it up.
Another guy who likes to talk, Las Vegasí Lorrenzo Wade, is trying to latch on with the Bucks as a free agent.
NO MACK TODAY
The Summer League has to wait until Monday to occupy the Thomas & Mack. Why? A used-car sale has taken over the big house. But it will be worth the wait because the Lakers face Blake Griffin and the Clippers at 5:30 in the first game in the Mack.
TWO REBELS, TWO WOLF PACK
Wink Adams and Romel Beck are the two former UNLV players representing in this year’s Summer League. Adams is with the Knicks, who don’t play until Tuesday while Beck is with the Spurs, who play Sunday.
For you UNR fans, JaVale McGhee is back with the Wizards and Kevvin Pinckney is playing for the Clippers.