Nate Robinson, G, Knicks
Stats: 17.8 ppg, 3.8 rpg in the Vegas Summer League
Stats: 15.2 ppg, 5.8 apg at the Minnesota Summer League
The skinny: Robinson was the most exciting player on the floor for two straight weeks and had scouts walking away convinced that he could be an instant impact player in the league. His speed and intensity can overcome any size limitations.
In fact, scouts in Minnesota said he started to show that he could distribute the ball. Still, make no mistake, Robinson is a scorer -- much like the Bulls' Ben Gordon, Robinson's job will be to jump-start the offense (and the crowd) whenever he enters the game.
I still can't get over the fact that the Suns traded him. He would be perfect -- perfect -- in Phoenix.
Ike Diogu, PF, Warriors
Stats: 18.4 ppg, 8.4 rpg in the Reebok Vegas Summer Shootout
The skinny: The questions about whether Diogu has the size or skills to play the four in the NBA are quickly dissipating. He started off the summer slowly and finished with a flurry, dropping 37 points and 12 rebounds on the last day.
He looks more and more like the second coming of Elton Brand.
Now, 2 negative ones:
Al Jefferson, PF, Celtics
Stats: 7.5 ppg, 6 rpg in the Vegas Summer League
The skinny: Jefferson's great summer league performance last season coupled with flashes of brilliance during the season had Celtics fans already clearing out a spot for Jefferson in Springfield. He definitely didn't take another step forward in Vegas. He shot just 44 percent from the field and never did much to impact the games. That's what the Celtics expected from Jefferson last summer, not this one.
Darko Milicic, PF/C, Pistons
Stats: 9.8 ppg, 5.8 rpg on 36 percent shooting in the Vegas Summer League
The skinny: The excuses are about to stop. With Larry Brown out in Detroit, it's now time for Darko to respond.
We can talk all we want to about rust (he hasn't played in two years) and conditioning (it's tough to keep in shape when you're the towel boy), but the Pistons had to be disappointed in what appeared to be an indifferent effort by Milicic.
The rust will come off with playing time and the conditioning will improve. But what happened to the aggressive play that convinced the Pistons that Darko was not your typical Euro softie? Darko had flashes when he looked very good, but much of the time he just didn't look like he cared.
That had better change or Flip Saunders will put him on the same seat on the bench that Larry did.
-Arlos
