NBA Summer League 2016

Sam Smith

Some will say that it’s just NBA summer league, the Bulls fabulously fun 84-82 overtime win Monday against the Minnesota Timberwolves to finish with a perfect 7-0 record and win the summer league title.

But winning does matter; more so, perhaps, now than ever in professional basketball with high schoolers switching schools at a whim no matter the outcomes, shoe companies owning AAU teams and making games one big commercial promotion. Winning and losing, sure, depend on talent, but they also become habits. The Bulls are trying to build the right habits, and joke if you will, but Monday in Las Vegas did matter.

“People that say (it’s just summer league) are saying they didn’t win summer league,” said Bulls No. 1 pick Denzel Valentine, who made two memorable shots, one to force overtime and the second to win the game at the overtime buzzer. “Whoever is saying that, that’s a losing mentality. If you’re out here, you’re competing. If you’re out here and not competing, then why are you playing? Play these games just like an NBA game.”

Perhaps the NBA world will little note nor long remember the terrific basketball game played at the UNLV address Monday night. But perhaps the Bulls will benefit for what those players did there as Bobby Portis had 26 points with four of seven threes and 10 rebounds, Jerian Grant had 24 points, 10 rebounds and five assists and Cristian Felicio had 12 points and eight rebounds. Valentine had just seven points, five on those critical shots while scoreless in the first three quarters as he was three of 10 overall and one of seven on threes.

But Valentine and that closing group with Grant, Portis, Felicio and Spencer Dinwiddie, many of whom will play together this season in an intriguing reserve group, showed not only grace under pressure, but the sort of perseverance and resilience that forms a top competitor.

“I told the guys I don’t care where you win, but winning is important because it teaches you a lot,” said assistant Pete Myers, who coached the summer league team. “I don’t care if it’s the summer league, in the pro am; every time you lace ‘em up, every time you go out to play, winning should be on your mind. That’s what you should try to do. I told them in the locker room, ‘You’re the best team in the summer’. Who else can say that?

“Fred (coach Hoiberg) at the end of the year came to our coaches and we talked about changing the culture,” related Myers. “Bobby, Cris and Doug (McDermott, sitting courtside) were in our facility every day working out. This is the start of it; people don’t want to believe it, but this is the start of it; this is what you do. Now since we have been invested in those kids’ development, trust comes easier when it comes time to coach those guys. The guys are at our facility getting the work; they know they can come to our building and improve. It shows players you are invested in them getting better.”

Those Bulls summer leaguers were impressive.

Valentine continued to show a confidence and composure rare for a rookie.

“Four years of school,” Myers pointed out. “Who is his coach? He’s been in moments like this. You put the ball in his hand you know something good is probably going to happen. From the moment we saw him, the moment he came to work out, he’s a confident kid; he’s not afraid of the moment or the situation. I have this on the board in my office: Aggressive/Failure. That’s what he shows all the time. He’s not afraid to fail and I love him for it.”

Bulls fans likely will, as well, especially the way Valentine handled the close of a game that looked like a sure loss, then a sure win, then a sure second overtime.

“Coach Charlie (Henry, assistant) drew it up,” said Valentine of the regulation tying three with two tenths of a second left. “It was a flare for me or Bobby. I was wide open. They left me open for a reason because I didn’t make shots during the game. I would’ve left me open, too. But I got open and made the shot. I’m here for a reason. The Bulls picked me to be a confident player and come through when the team needs me and be a winner. That’s what I preached during my draft interviews. I just keep winning on my mind.

“As soon as they tied it up (in overtime),” Valentine related, “I went over to Coach Charlie and said, ‘Give me the ball. I’m going to win this game.’”

And what do you know if he didn’t live up to his promise, a stepback 18 footer at the buzzer after Minnesota tied it with a three with 11.7 seconds left.

Valentine pretty much took the ball and got himself in position to assume the responsibility.

“It was crazy when they hit that shot and then Denzel came back and hit that big one. We had a chemistry that was good for us to carry on to the season,” Felicio said afterward with some wonder and a beatific smile. “I did enjoy it; to win like that for me, it was the first time to win like that, something I will never forget. I have never experienced anything like that.”

Bulls players flooded onto the court to celebrate with Valentine followed by a trophy presentation. Las Vegas Summer league has become a show and big business, too. But the Bulls may have hit something of their own jackpot with players not afraid to succeed and not accepting of defeat.

“They gave me an incredible team,” said Myers. “We have two bigs who are coming (Felicio and Portis). It looks like they are going to be pretty good players up there. We had some veteran guys on the perimeter and they gelled well together. I’m just glad I had an opportunity to share this moment. The game moment, the tension, the competitive spirit it took to overcome some obstacles during the game. Young guys grow from this.”

Sure, it may prove instructive, but it also was a heck of a fun basketball game, played seriously with emotion, commitment to defense and competitive spirit. There was the back story of the Minnesota team now coached by former Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau. Thibodeau sat courtside while Hoiberg was a few rows up in the stands. Thibodeau’s assistants, Andy Greer and Rick Brunson, both former Bulls assistants, were on the Minnesota bench and were taking the game very seriously with exuberant greetings of players after big plays.

It was a fast start for the Bulls with Grant driving the ball and on one occasion all the way for a slam dunk. It was Grant’s best game of the summer and he won the final game MVP award. The Bulls led 14-4 and 18-13 after one quarter with tenacious defense. Felicio and Portis were aggressive trapping and helping on the pick and roll and Myers had the guards pressuring up into ball handlers. It was more aggressive than anything we saw last season.

The starting group was dominant as all were double figures plus in the plus/minus. The Bulls reserve group couldn’t score and left open the three-point shooters who led Minnesota to a 19-0 start to the second quarter and 14-point lead. It was 42-32 Minnesota at halftime. Promising Timberwolves rookie Kris Dunn sat out with a concussion sustained earlier in the tournament.

With the Bulls starters back to open the second half, the Bulls behind Portis’ three-point shooting went on a 19-2 run to regain the lead and then it was a battle of big shots the rest of the way.

After that third quarter, I ran into NBA Hall of Famer Spencer Haywood sitting courtside. The NBA Retired Players’ Association is having its annual convention this week and several former players were at the game. Haywood, of course, is famous for the Spencer Haywood Rule, which enabled players before their college classes graduated to enter the NBA. Haywood was remarking about Portis, whom he said impressed him most on the floor.

“I like the way he plays,” Haywood told me. “He’s old school in the way he’ll shoot and get inside. Old style. You can go somewhere playing like that.”

The Bulls certainly hope so as Portis led the team in summer league scoring and emerged as the motivational leader.

“It’s a confidence booster for the regular season coming up,” Portis said of the tournament win. “This team has been together and prepared and fought and went hard for the last two weeks and our team pushed each other. Credit to Denzel for making the shot, but I thought the team as a whole was like that from Game 1. I feel like out here this summer we had to find our roles on the team for what we could be in the season. Those five players who closed the game can be on the floor together; it’s going to be fun to play with those guys because we are all unselfish and we all play hard.

“I feel like the summer league is big for young guys to gain experience,” said Portis. “Last year we had a disappointing season and we are looking forward to this season. I feel like me playing (summer league) last year and coming back and helping these younger guys; yes, I’m young, too. But at the same time try to help guys get better and they help me get better.”

It looked like Minnesota would steal the game when Tyus Jones with 27 points made a long three-point heave with 3.6 seconds left against excellent Bulls defense. Felicio came out to double. Jones was trapped against the left sideline and threw up a desperation shot as the time clock expired. And it went in.

Henry, who worked for Hoiberg at Iowa State, designed a terrific play in which Felicio got an inbounds and reacted to how the defense played Portis and Valentine. They went with Portis.

“We have a coach who drew up the last two plays,” said Myers. “Coach Henry. He did a phenomenal job. The one play to take it to overtime and then at the end Denzel kind of did it himself; this is Fred’s system. It ain’t (our) plays, it’s Fred’s plays.”

Valentine, who’d made one shot in the first 39 minutes and 59.8 seconds, made his second and first three pointer to tie. No, they didn’t foul.

“I made so many big shots and I’ve played in so many different types of games,” said Valentine, who now joins the USA Basketball Select Team to practice against Jimmy Butler and the Olympic team the rest of the week along with McDermott. “I’ve had games like this where I’ve not scored all game and then hit big buckets. I’ve had games where I scored all the points and then missed game winners. That was our first time running it. That was all Coach Charlie. Coach Myers did a great job pushing us throughout the whole game. We were down 10 and 11 and he was holding us accountable, but staying positive. He was one of the biggest reasons why we were able to keep our heads up and still make plays when we needed to.”

The overtime looked easy for the Bulls as Grant scored five straight points to start. But Dinwiddie missed a pair of free throws leading by three with 18,6 seconds left. The Bulls then got suckered in by Jones, who passed to Xavier Silas for a three to tie the game at 82 with 11.7 seconds left.

“It was a play to get the ball out to me at the top,” said Valentine. “Screen and roll with me and Bobby. Slip out with Bobby and hopefully they messed up and maybe it was a kickback. Got the switch we wanted and I just attacked. I didn’t have my legs. I kind of slipped a little bit. But I pump faked and had a clean look and just shot it with confidence.”

Even Dwyane Wade on a shoe company trip to Asia tweeted about Valentine’s game winner.

“It’s just giving me confidence that I can play with anyone,” said Valentine. “I know it’s going to be a challenge. Those guys are the best in the world. But I’m excited for it.”

And good reason to get excited again to watch the Bulls.

bulls-finish-off-perfect-summer-with-the-perfect-shot

Bulls finish off perfect summer with the perfect shot

You don’t want to be a player for the Minnesota Timberwolves summer league team. Figure they’re looking at a five-hour practice before Monday night’s championship game finale.

That game is against the Bulls, the former team of Timberwolves coach and president Tom Thibodeau. Thibodeau, of course, is not coaching the summer ‘wolves.

But what delicious drama and bonus entertainment for the conclusion of the NBA summer leagues as the Bulls’ boys of summer play Thibs’ guys.

The Bulls reached the championship game of the summer league tournament format Sunday with an 85-79 comeback victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Bulls remained undefeated at 6-0 and denied at least the baby Cavs a back to back finals.

The Bulls, who trailed by as much as a dozen in the second half and by six with fewer than six minutes remaining, were led by Cristiano Felicio with 18 points and six rebounds and Bobby Portis with 16 points and nine rebounds. Denzel Valentine had 13 points and eight rebounds and made a pair of big threes in the second half, shooting three of eight overall from long distance.

It’s resulted in a productive summer league for that trio, who have excelled for a Bulls team that has defended aggressively under summer league coach, assistant Pete Myers.

It was the defense again Sunday that rallied the Bulls, a 16-7 run to open the second half bringing the Bulls within 53-52 with 4:15 in the third after the Bulls trailed by 10 at halftime. The teams then traded leads—there were 12 lead changes and six ties—until 2:24 left in the game when Valentine made a three for a 76-75 Bulls lead in the exciting, if not memorable, game. The Bulls then pulled away making free throws after a Jerian Grant jumper and Felicio layup.

Portis has been the Bulls leading scorer and leader in this summer league tournament. He’s averaging 15.8 points, which is 22nd overall, along with 9.3 rebounds, which ranks fourth overall. But he’s been aggressive and enthusiastic and even added a three-pointer in Sunday’s win. Perhaps the larger question for the Bulls going forward is how they could keep him out of the lineup and where he will play.

There is the qualifier that it is summer league, and the competition isn’t quite uniform NBA level. But Portis’ activity and energy has been contagious as he’s been a relentless competitor.

Felicio has alternated good games, and was adept Sunday rolling to the basket and finishing with Valentine supplying excellent passing. Valentine has demonstrated a consistently mature feel for the game that transcended his teammates. He’s generally played as the best point guard on the team even though it’s not his natural position. It’s conceivable with his confidence, ball handling and passing he could be a backup point guard.

Valentine also rebounds well and often was a one-man fast break in transition.

The teams traded the lead back and forth early with impressive hustle from the Bulls’ kids. On one play, Felicio missed on a roll, retrieved his own rebound, dribbled out and when the Cavs chased him he turned and drove for a three-point play. Both he and Portis had four offensive rebounds.

The Bulls defense has been generally more aggressive with the big men coming out to help on the pick and roll and the guards being asked to get into the bodies of their opponents. The Cavs’ kids shot threes well early, but the Bulls’ defensive pressure seemed to wear on them after halftime as the Bulls committed just seven turnovers to 17 for the Cavs. Playing 36 of the 40 minutes and with the ball in his hands often, Valentine had just one turnover.

The Cavs shot themselves into the double digit halftime lead with early three pointers.

After the Cavs took a 12-point lead early in the third quarter, the Bulls got within 59-57 after three quarters and tied it at 59 on four straight Grant free throws. Back to back Portis and Valentine driving scores and then a Spencer Dinwiddie finger roll and three kept the Bulls close enough for the defense to throttle the Cavs down the stretch. The Bulls again shot below 40 percent, but their second chances, defense and inside play were determinant.

Valentine for the tournament is averaging 12.3 points and 6.5 rebounds, Felicio 11.3 points and six rebounds and Grant 10.8 points and 3.7 assists.

Now it’s Minnesota, and if not championship rings, at least they do all get extra per diem for the stay.

The Bulls probably won’t see top Timberwolves rookie Kris Dunn, who hasn’t played since suffering a concussion earlier in summer league. He was averaging 24 points at the time. But Minnesota guard Tyus Jones already was named tournament MVP as he had 29 points Sunday to get the Timberwolves into the title game.

There’ll be much made of the Bulls/Timberwolves matchups this season with Thibodeau back coaching. Thibodeau and Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg will be watching from the stands Monday as assistants run summer league. But it would be no surprise if the Timberwolves players Monday morning wake up to 250-page scouting reports on every play the Bulls run with every option and the appropriate counters for each. Hey, who said summer league doesn’t matter and can’t be a lot of fun?

undefeated-bulls-play-for-summer-league-championship

Undefeated Bulls play for Summer League Championship

As much pride as Chicago must be feeling with the undefeated and No. 2 seeded Bulls 7:30 p.m. Thursday (Central time) playing Dallas for a chance to advance to the summer league quarterfinals, these games are just the beginning of the sorting out and placement process for this season’s Bulls roster.

The starting lineup is pretty much set with the trades and subsequent free agent acquisitions.

The real competition more likely will be for the backup jobs and the playing rotation. The summer league is the first look, and then comes training camp and the early days of the season.

There really has been no dominant standout for the Bulls in the first three games, though Bobby Portis leads the team in scoring and rebounding at 14.3 points and 10 rebounds, the latter which is tied for second among summer league players. The Bulls have been a defense first team in summer league with Portis their leading scorer, though 29th overall. Though in Portis’ toughest assignment in the second game against No. 1 overall draft pick Ben Simmons, Portis seemed to get distracted and got into a bit of a shooting and physical game with the highly regarded rookie. Portis came out of that game more under control and effective in the next game with 18 points and eight rebounds. Portis has been the best offensive rebounder in the games with almost four per game.

Here’s a look at the top Bulls players in the summer league and their prospects this season.

Bobby Portis - The second year player has been lively and active, particularly on the offensive boards while trying to establish a stronger presence in the post. He seemed to become impatient against Simmons with the game plan to lay off Simmons to lure Simmons into outside jump shots. Portis seemed to become frustrated while trying to stay with the game plan. Simmons, by the way, was impressive with strength, ball handling and passing and has a pretty good shooting stroke despite a reputation as a poor shooter. Portis’ biggest issue, meanwhile, may be where he can play.

It seems more likely that Cristiano Felicio, taller and stronger, will back up presumed starting center Robin Lopez. But power forward is deep with Taj Gibson, Nikola Mirotic and perhaps even Doug McDermott with teams playing smaller. Portis could play center against certain matchups as teams often play small these days, and he’s worked on being more aggressive on pick and roll defense. Training camp could determine whether he again is the odd man out.

“My whole life people always asked, ‘What position does he play?’” Portis acknowledged. “I’ve always heard, ‘He is a jack of all trades, he doesn’t do one thing great, he does everything good. Not one thing great.’ I’ve been hearing that my whole life. Whatever coach wants me to play, I’ll be good with it. But at the same time I’d like to play the four. But if coach wants me to play the five, I just want to win games.”

Denzel Valentine -  The first round draft pick has impressed with his natural ability to run a team, handle the ball and pass. He looks like he even could play point guard, though the Bulls seem deep at that position behind Rajon Rondo. Still, it is valuable to have additional players who can play pick and roll and make plays with the ball opposite traditional point guards.  Valentine has averaged 12 points, six rebounds, two assists and two steals with a mature play that belies rookie status. But his shooting has been rushed and awkward. He’s had trouble getting set for shots against defenders who get to him more quickly. He’s shot 31 percent overall and 14 percent on threes.

“He is just really a solid out and out player,” coach Fred Hoiberg said of Valentine after the third game. “That’s who Denzel is. Didn’t get off to a great start offensively shooting, but still making plays and making good passes and got his offense going in the second. He’s a really high IQ defense guy.”

Said Valentine: “It’s gone all right, got three wins, so that’s the key, try to get better. I’d like to improve on my shot. I haven’t been hitting shots like I wanted to, but I feel like my passing is pretty good, my pace is pretty good; just got to focus on making shots and on the ball defense. They are shots I can make; just got to make them. It’s getting used to the speed of the game, how to use my pace and size, slow it down a little bit. Most of the shots I’ve taken I’ve rushed. I saw that on film, so I just have to slow that down a little bit and relax and take the shot. The good thing is I’ve gotten better over the three games; may not have shot like I wanted to, but I think I’ve improved each game, which is the key.  Just got to find ways to affect the game no matter what position I’m at.”

Valentine looks in good position to be backup shooting guard depending on the progress with Tony Snell.

Cristiano Felicio - He’s averaging 9.7 points and 6.3 rebounds in about 20 minutes with an impressive 2.3 assists and 76.5 percent shooting. His 17 points against the 76ers was a highlight. He looks to have secured, for now, the backup center position. He came on strong the end of last season once he was given playing time and sacrificed a chance to play for his national team in the Olympics in his home country to prepare better for this season. He’s not an explosive big man, but he rolls well to the rim, runs the court, has good hands to catch the ball on the run and continues to work. He’ll get outplayed by athletic big men, but he’s good with position and is aggressive in pick and roll defense with help and recovery.

“We worked a lot on pick and roll defense in camp, more aggressive; we’ve forced turnovers with that and teams late in the shot clock, so that has been good,” Hoiberg said. “The biggest thing is the effort; these guys are really playing hard and leaving it all out there.”

Jerian Grant - The combo guard acquired in the Derrick Rose trade from New York has struggled to find a position. He’s had difficulty adjusting to the pace the Bulls have been trying to play with while seeming to revert to principles of the triangle offense game in wanting to take his man into the post. He’s often dribbled into trouble and is averaging almost three turnovers in just over 20 minutes. He’s averaging 10.3 points, but shooting 37 percent and 20 percent on threes.

“It’s such a different system than what he was playing last year,” Hoiberg agreed. “The big thing for him is getting that confidence up, going out and playing hard. Make plays for his teammates.&lt;/p

Said Grant: “I think I’m a point guard. When the ball is in my hand I can make plays and get the ball to guys where they want to be. At the same time, I’ve played off the ball. I can do either but I think I’m best making plays at point guard. One thing they told me even in New York is if you defend you will play; every game I go into it like that. I know if I defend I can change the pace or help win games by locking someone else or making plays.”

Spencer Dinwiddie - The guy who was acquired in trade in June, then released and then returned for summer league has been a spark off the bench at point guard. He’s averaging 12.3 points on 44 percent shooting and 92 percent on free throws and 33 percent on threes. He’s galvanized the offense, which has started slowly the last two games, with more pace. He’s a big guard at 6-6 who can defend.

“I thought Spencer was great,” Hoiberg said after the Game 3 win over San Antonio. “Got to the rim, broke down the defense, made plays. I thought he guarded well and I thought our pace was really good when he was in there as the lead guard.”

Said Dinwiddie: “I’ve been a pretty good passer with the Pistons; my assist to turnover ratio has been pretty good. I’ve been able to make plays and find guys. I’ve scored a little better in the D-league (last season) and summer league; just being a multi faceted player trying to come out and help the team win games.”

Among the other players on the roster, Dez Wells has started with minimal impact, though good defensively. The player who has stood out the most among the other group has been Jack Cooley of Notre Dame. The 6-9 forward is slow, but he’s physical and has moved players out of the lane with regularity. He’s averaged six points and 5.3 rebounds in just 12 minutes per game and is one of those players who seems to make things happen on the court. The Bulls likely won’t have room, but he may catch the attention of other teams with his tough play. Guard Patrick Miller has shown toughness and forward Brandon Davies, in his second summer league in July after playing in France last year, has shown nice flashes of aggressive play.

how-has-the-summer-league-squad-performed

How has the Summer League squad performed?

After two games in the NBA summer league, the guard who is leading the 2-0 Bulls backcourt in scoring, assists and shooting is not the first round draft pick, Denzel Valentine. It’s not the player who came from New York in the big Derrick Rose trade, Jerian Grant. It’s not the point guard who has been starting games with Valentine and Grant, Dez Wells, the undrafted free agent out of Maryland.

It’s been the guy whom the Bulls released for free agency salary cap signing space, Spencer Dinwiddie, who spent much of the last two seasons in the D-league for Detroit before being traded to the Bulls before the draft for Cameron Bairstow.

“I’m happy to be here and excited to play with these guys,” Dinwiddie said after team practice Monday. “When they first traded for me they said they believed in me and had a plan for me.”

And it could be a surprising role off the bench in the backcourt.

In the two games, Dinwiddie is averaging 12 points, second to Bobby Portis’ 12.5. He’s the only guard shooting above 40 percent, at 44.4 and he is leading in assists.

It’s a long way from being released and then returning to the team last week, and even longer from a massive ACL tear in early 2014 that also included his medial and lateral meniscus. But Dinwiddie, a physical big guard who has pushed the ball most effectively in the two games, is a confident, determined worker who returned from the devastating injury as quickly as any basketball player.

Just seven months after rehabbing with the trainer for NFL player Adrian Peterson, who also had an expedited return, Dinwiddie was back on the court as a draft choice of the Detroit Pistons, a positive, articulate kid who decided to declare for the draft as a junior despite being on crutches.

It sent Dinwiddie’s draft stock plummeting into the second round from a previously projected top 20 or maybe even lottery choice. But Dinwiddie, a solid 6-6 and 210 pounds, stood strong. Though, yes, on crutches.

“My belief in myself never wavered,” said Dinwiddie, who played at the U. of Colorado. “Being a first rounder, the biggest difference would have been financial stability. But either way you want to get to your second contract to attain that. I felt confident in my abilities and in limited time I feel I have shown I am a player in this league.

“I wasn’t that disappointed about going into the second round because I knew the possibility when I declared,” Dinwiddie noted. “If I had been healthy and projected in the top 20 and then fell into the second round I’d have been hurt. But I knew that possibility was likely and I was ready.

“The injury was very devastating,” Dinwiddie admitted. “Having it on national TV and the full range of emotions in front of everybody, it wasn’t an easy time for me and my family. At the time, with the severity of the injury people didn’t think I was going to play four years (in college). It was a tough time, but I came back in seven months. Just hard work. During my time in the league, I heard questions on my work ethic, which is crazy to me because I cut an injury recovery in half, almost. I tore my MCL and medial and lateral meniscus, too. All in one play and the first time I was really injured.

“They were saying anything can happen (in a return),” Dinwiddie recalled. “Maybe at three months your meniscus fails, at four months when you jump maybe your meniscus, maybe you clean it up and there may be debris. To get through all those hurdles and come back in seven months, cut the timeline almost in half and have people question whether I want to play the game and work ethic is kind of crazy. I grew up in a religious household and I am a religious man; as much as I had adversity, I hadn’t to that degree where my dream had almost been taken away. My attitude was if you do get hurt you do. I knew if I did get hurt that early it would be over anyway. More than likely it would be curtains if I did something early.

“But I just went out there and wanted to have fun and it was a blessing,” said Dinwiddie. “Haven’t had any knee injuries since or problems.”

Which may be good for the Bulls as Dinwiddie’s play early in the summer league is giving him an edge over Grant in the battle for backup guard minutes.

It’s been more difficult for Grant, averaging 10.5 points but leading the team in turnovers and two of 11 on threes.

“At first when you get traded you are surprised,” Grant said about being in the Rose trade. “You don’t know why you are leaving. But once you sit back and begin to realize, ‘I get to Chicago where my uncle played, a team that wanted me.” So I was excited. I asked my uncle Horace about it and he said, “Chicago is a great place to be.’

“I had a lot of ups and downs last season, a lot of inconsistency, 20 minutes one game, two minutes the next, 25 minutes and then you don’t play at all,” noted Grant. “It affected my game and my confidence.

“I thought I was going to come in, run a bunch of pick and rolls with the ball in my hands,” said Grant. “But obviously having Carmelo (Anthony), playing in the triangle offense, it’s different. You don’t get to really run the show as a point guard; you kind of set everybody up and everybody does their own thing.

“Being on the court inconsistent minutes you get in and begin thinking ‘Do I shoot this? I want to stay in so maybe I should pass it.’ It’s tough to play like that,” said Grant, who seems still to be adjusting to a different offense. “I started the last month of last season (averaging 14.5 points and 3.7 assists in 31 minutes over six games). So I played with more confidence. They’ve told me how much I fit with what they are trying to do.”

Still, it’s been an adjustment and in the meanwhile Dinwiddie seems to have nudged ahead.

Though there’s a long way to go before rotations and training camp, some questions regarding the reserves are being answered at summer league with the point guard position and use of big men, like Portis and Cristiano Felicio. Dinwiddie has been one of the more pleasant surprises.

“I thought Spencer was great,” coach Fred Hoiberg said after the Sunday win over the 76ers as the Bulls resume play Tuesday. “He got to the rim, broke down the defense, made plays. I thought he guarded well and I thought our pace was really good when he was in there as the lead guard.”

Rajon Rondo will be the starting point guard, but the Bulls still are looking for a backup to push the ball and Dinwiddie has shown progress and promise. Though another guard could also be added in free agency with open roster spots.

“Obviously Rondo is our starting PG,” agreed Dinwiddie. “I want to be part of that second unit. Whatever facet I can be to help out and help the team win games. I was excited when I was traded. The Bulls were one of the teams that were after me in that draft, and they said they’ve liked me and it seemed like I’d get an opportunity.”

Dinwiddie was even known as, “the Mayor,” in college for his cool maturity and confidence running the team. Hoiberg, the Bulls other nicknamed Mayor, doesn’t seem threatened.  Dinwiddie was a certain high first round pick with his exceptional guard size, ability to create, make a shot and play both guard positions. He was so highly regarded that even after the injury, he still was considered perhaps a low first rounder. He went No. 38 to Detroit and with a surplus of guards went back and forth to the D-league. He had a few big NBA games, including 12 points and nine assists in his first career start in 2014-15 against the Bulls.

But the Pistons couldn’t find a spot and traded him to the Bulls last month.

He was released to accommodate signings, and that seemed the end of his Bulls career. But he could be on the way to a roster spot the way he’s played this summer.

It’s a great story considering the end of his college career in excruciating pain with the ACL tear.

“After the injury, I sought out Adrian Peterson’s trainer, Russ Paine in Houston, because he had a very quick recovery,” said Dinwiddie, who fought through his own pain thanks to the help of Paine. “After I declared for the draft, I left school the end of April and went to Houston and trained and trained and trained and rehabbed and rehabbed and rehabbed. And I was able to make it happen.”

spencer-dinwiddie-shining-in-summer-league

Spencer Dinwiddie shining in Summer League

Here’s the truth: You never really know someone until you live with them, and even then it’s not always clear sometimes.

We’re mythmakers in the media, and I’ve been guilty as well, telling stories, revealing intimacies about heroes and villains, drawing that word picture that takes you inside to how they really are. Except it’s merely a snapshot of time and place-selfie, if you will–of a moment and an attitude or position.

I was thinking about that Monday afternoon as I sat for a few hours inside a gym on the UNLV campus watching Rajon Rondo go through drill after drill, shooting and driving, again and again with Bulls assistant coaches Jim Boylen and Randy Brown.

That’s what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas is about?

Actually, my hotel appears to have a convention going on of women in spiked heels and very short dresses, if they can be called dresses, accompanied by overweight men wearing oversized t-shirts and shower slippers. It’s better that look stays in Vegas.

My gambling, also, has not gone well in the 21st Century and much of the 20th. There are not many people who when they sit down at the gaming table the dealer has to stifle a laugh.

So I watched Rondo, the Bulls new point guard with a very guarded history and reputation.

He sat on the bench Sunday during the Bulls summer league game and then early Monday afternoon went through practice with the summer league team, giving instruction and demonstrating. Was this just for show?

The majority of the practice was closed to media as usual, but Rondo seemed not to notice or change when media entered the last 15 minutes, talking to players, running dribble handoffs with them.

The players then did some stretching and free throw shooting and filed out to take the bus back to the team hotel.

Rondo stayed and it was a curiosity to watch.

After all, here’s a player who has been an All-Star and all-defense four times, played for an NBA champion with the Boston Celtics and three times, including last season, led the league in assists and once in steals.

But Boylen was showing Rondo a way to shoot a baseline reverse. Again and again, Rondo sprinted from the right corner trying a reverse on the left side of the basket, then running to the left corner and trying a reverse on the right side of the basket. I’d seen Rondo do this in games for years, big games since he isn’t known for his perimeter shooting. Boylen was demonstrating stretching his arm out more when finishing than Rondo usually does, holding the ball higher. Rondo tried repeatedly, not connecting as much, again one time after another. Then spinning the ball off the backboard, trying to find just the right spot, attempting it over and over.

Then it was driving with the ball stretched ahead of him some and higher, pulling up and shooting from around the free throw line. Again and again for another half hour with some free throw shooting mixed in. Then some shots out on the wing, getting the ball in a different position, a changing arc.

Rondo was shirtless in that J.R. Smith look, and given the 6-1 Rondo’s bony, 180-pound frame it clearly wasn’t to show off.

I was thinking why Rondo was doing this, especially the dribble-reverse layup drills. After all, he is one of the better driving finishers in the game with his large hands. It was like Tiger Woods trying to change his golf swing after winning the Master’s by 15 strokes. Which, actually, Tiger did.

The best ones really never are satisfied. There’s always talk among great players about using the summer to improve your game, coming back with something additional or better. But it’s really more than that. Great athletes expect almost perfection. It’s why you often see the best ones not celebrating the wins all that much. They expect to win; it’s the losses they remember. Bill Walton barely can tell you anything about the 88 straight UCLA wins. But he’ll tell you almost play by play the loss to Notre Dame to end the streak.

So even though Rondo made these kinds of layups in championship series, he is open to seeing if he can do it better, more effectively. After all, no one is perfect in basketball.

The practice gym at the Cox Center, the auxiliary arena where the summer league games are going on, was empty except for Rondo and the two coaches and a trainer. Workers walked through occasionally. No one stopped. It was just men at work.

As they wrapped up, Rondo stopped to shake hands with Boylen and then with Brown. As they were walking off, Rondo stopped to chat briefly.

I asked him why given all his experience in situations was he changing a move he attempted thousands of times. I joked that he used to be a good finisher.

He said he could always get better, always improve. He smiled and said certainly with shooting. But he also said if someone wanted to work with you like the coaches did and put in their time, he respected and appreciated that and would take advantage. He said he usually comes to summer league to work out with young players. No big deal.

I said he must have gotten so many different instructions from so many coaches. He said you never know when someone can help make you better, who knew or saw something no one else did, that it was sort of an eternal quest.

I said this wasn’t the Rondo we always heard about.

He shrugged. That stuff doesn’t much bother him. Tough to coach, disruptive, inappropriate language. He said, like he did back in Chicago last week at his news conference, that he was satisfied people close to him knew how he really was. He added, hey, there actually was a good story about him today.

By an article about Rondo quietly being a mentor to 10 kids from Chicago’s South Side.

Rondo did so when he was with the Kings last season without any knowledge he’d be coming to the Bulls.

Rondo said he knew the ESPN writer, Marc Spears, from the Boston Globe, that he’s a good guy and had been asking Rondo if he could write something about the things Rondo does privately. He’s been doing projects like this with kids around the country for years, though doesn’t have them publicized. Others do as well. It’s not what makes anyone a good guy or who doesn’t a bad guy. It’s just what he says he likes to do.

Rondo said he was going to shower and then watch some summer league basketball as the Bulls were not playing until Tuesday evening.

NBA players come to summer league occasionally. Several were around this weekend because of the UFC fight in Las Vegas. The fights are popular with NBA players. Gary Payton, Dennis Schroder, Joel Embiid, John Wall, Andrew Wiggins and Karl-Anthony Towns were at games along with many former players who now are team executives. None seemed to be working out with the rookies and free agents from their teams other than Rondo.

It doesn’t change who he is or what he’s done or make him a good guy or a bad guy. It’s another snapshot, another broad brush stroke in the picture that continues to emerge of a player and a person we are just getting to know.

There’s an old saying about walking a mile in someone shoes before making any great judgment. That can be rewarding as well. Because then you have their shoes and they are unlikely to chase you a mile because they no longer have shoes.

This Rajon Rondo experiment just might be something worth watching. Might just be fun.

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Rajon Rondo gets to the point

Cristiano Felicio knows something about having to fill big shoes.

He’s hoping to help the Bulls do so this season with the free agency departures of Joakim Noah and Pau Gasol, and he took a big step in that direction Sunday with 17 points, 10 rebounds and four assists and making all eight of his field goal attempts in leading the Bulls to an 83-70 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers in summer league play.

“I didn’t play a good game yesterday; today I wanted to get more aggressive,” Felicio said. “Give more energy to compete and that’s what I tried to do. I was trying to help the team get the W and I did my part.”

The 6-10, 275-pound Brazilian plays with an efficient composure uncommon among young big men. Almost as if he’s channeling John Wooden to be quick but not hurry. It’s led to productive efforts when Felicio has gotten a chance, which he should this season to backup newly acquired center Robin Lopez.
While filling a big pair of shoes always has been a difficult part of Felicio’s life growing up with four siblings and a single mother stretched to the ends to even find shoes for young Cristiano.

“It was really tough,” Felicio politely explained in much improved English after the Bulls win. “We were like in five (kids) and at the time my mom was working, had to work pretty much the whole day to make sure food was on the table, get clothes to wear.
“It was tough because I was growing up and was kind of big and to try to find shoes, the right clothes for me in Brazil, it is hard. There’s not many people with my height back home, so she always had to spend more money,” Felicio said.

Felicio said his parents divorced about a decade ago and his father died suddenly five years ago. His mother, Miria Lucia, is a third grade teacher and had to stretch to take care of the five kids, including one growing so tall and fast. It’s why Cristiano began to pursue so diligently a career in professional basketball.

Felicio is even skipping a chance to play for the national team in the Olympics back home this summer to enhance his chances with the Bulls. He admits he has been criticized at home. But he has work to do, and Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg said Felicio and Bobby Portis have been the most relentless workers on the team this summer, barely missing a day in the gym.

“I’m just trying to be the best I can here and help them down there,” Felicio said.

Felicio did a nice job of that against the 76ers with astute passing, defense and back to back three-point plays late in the third quarter that broke open a 31-31 halftime game as the Bulls eased to the win.

The Bulls now are 2-0 and play next on Tuesday. Spencer Dinwiddie had 14 points off the bench and No. 1 draft pick Denzel Valentine added 13 points and six rebounds with another strong floor game and a team best plus-21 in the plus/minus. No. 1 overall pick Ben Simmons had 18 points for Philadelphia and a team worst -10 in the plus/minus. Bobby Portis forced Simmons into perimeter shooting, which is not his strength, and seemed to bother Simmons, who jawed and bumped with Portis on a few occasions. Portis had eight points and nine rebounds.

The Bulls also got a visit from new acquisition Rajon Rondo, who sat on the bench during the game and worked with the players.

“Rondo was great,” said Hoiberg. “A good presence for those young guys to see. He wanted to come out here. He said that the first day he came in: ‘If I do end up coming here I do want to come out and spend time with the young guys this summer.’ I think that says a lot about Rajon.
“Supporting them, talking to them on the bench, coming over in the timeout he was talking to the guys,” said Hoiberg. “I saw him giving Cris advice after the first sub and Cris responded with a big game.”

It was Felicio in a sustained third quarter sequence with a slick pass to Jerian Grant for a layup on a baseline cut, then switching aggressively on a pick and roll to thwart a score. Felicio then executed a classic drop step move and spin going up left handed for a score and foul and then an up and under reverse that enabled the Bulls to lead 58-49 after three and ease to the win.

“He was terrific,” Hoiberg said of Felicio. “He showed really good hands, made a couple of nice passes at the elbow to get our guys layups. Rebounded the ball well, played more physical, moved his feet better. I thought Cris was great.

“The biggest thing (this season) is he knows what to expect,” said Hoiberg. “I think he’s a lot more comfortable with the language than he was a year ago. He showed what he could do at the end of last season, setting screens, rolling to the rim, opening things up for our perimeter guys; he’s been really good this summer. He and Bobby have been in every day working their tails off, in the weight room getting stronger.”

There’s been the hint of competition for the backup center spot behind Lopez, though Felicio seems to have the big edge given his size and nimble moves and hands. He’s adept catching the ball rolling to the basket as well.

It’s quite the find for the kid who seemed to come to the Bulls from nowhere last year, one of those seemingly fill-out-the-roster guys never to be seen again. But Felicio was impressive enough to be signed. He sat around last season on the end of the bench and then made a few trips to the D-league. In April when he got a chance he opened some eyes.

Overall for the season, he averaged 3.4 points and 3.3 rebounds in 10 minutes when he did play in blowouts. Then in April, he averaged 7.9 points and 5.9 rebounds in 19.4 minutes while shooting 59 percent. The last three games of the season, starting two, he averaged 12.7 points and 6.7 rebounds on 65 percent shooting. He had 16 points, five rebounds and two blocks in a win over the Cavaliers when the Bulls still had not been eliminated from the playoffs.

“The playing time…I am getting more comfortable with the ball in my hand, passing the ball, trying to score,” said Felicio. “Thankfully, things were going my way. Bring energy and try to play hard, go after every rebound.”

Felicio is more than just an energetic player. He runs the court well, but has good hands with good instincts. He passes well and confidently and can make a 15 foot shot, though he has to be pushed some to take them. He’s not physically dominant, but works at it. Ironically, he was coached by Robin Lopez at an Adidas summer tournament as he was trying to get to the U.S.

“Great guy,” he said of Lopez. “I had a chance to have him as my coach in tournament play in Chicago in 2010,” said Felicio. “Great guy and great player. It’s going to be a great experience to learn from him.”

Felicio grew up in a mid sized industrial city in southeastern Brazil, Pouso Alegre, about 225 miles from Rio de Janeiro. He played soccer like all the kids, but when he was about 13 his coach looked up at the big kid with the worn shoes and suggested basketball. The country had begun to produce players, like Leandro Barbosa, Tiago Splitter, Anderson Varejao and Nene. It didn’t take long for Felicio to get hooked.

“I felt like it was my sport,” he said.

He played for two Brazil teams between 2009 and 2012 and then hoped to play college ball in the U.S. He was committed to the U. of Oregon. But the NCAA ruled him ineligible for playing in Brazil for teams deemed professional and he returned to play in Brazil.

“It was disappointing for sure when I planned to come here to play in the college level,” said Felicio. “I was about to turn 20, to come here and go to college to get my shot to the NBA; not going to the university was disappointing. I kept my head up, working and got my shot last year.”

He wasn’t drafted in 2014 and the Bulls gave him a chance last summer.

And he’s fitting in like a comfortable shoe.

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Bulls move to 2-0 behind Felicio’s 17 and 10

Denzel Valentine Saturday played one of the best four of 16 shooting—zero for nine on threes—games you’re going to see in the Bulls summer league opener, a 71-62 victory over the Boston Celtics.

“My shot wasn’t falling,” Valentine, the Bulls’ No. 1 draft pick, agreed after his NBA debut. “But I tried to do all the little things, defend, get some rebounds, add energy to the team, lead. Even if my shot is not falling, I can bring other things to the floor and with my shot falling that will be a bonus.”

He probably was a little embarrassed that the sound of his shot was more clank than swish, but sometimes you just know when you see something. You can’t always describe it, but you know it when you see it. Like Supreme Court justice Potter Stewart’s famous description of pornography, “I know it when I see it.” It’s the same with basketball players.

You don’t need a chart to see that Valentine has an unusually good feel for the game, handles the ball with confidence and passes impressively. Some players just seem to know where everyone is, like Bill Bradley’s famous “sense of where you are” about the basketball court. Valentine seems to have that.

Bobby Portis led the Bulls with 17 points and 13 rebounds, 15 points in the first half when the Bulls were tied at 38 after leading 20-10 after one quarter. Jerian Grant had 14 points after a tough start with three early turnovers. Jack Cooley had 11 points and point guard Spencer Dinwiddie was re-signed and had 10 points.

Valentine had eight points, six rebounds, two steals and one assist, though was second best among the starters in plus/minus while on the floor. And he should have had several more assists. But his passing was so good it caught Bulls big men by surprise.

Portis fumbled one behind the back Valentine pass and pounded the floor in frustration.

“Great basketball IQ,” Portis said of Valentine. “Hard nosed kid who plays hard; he has a lot of talent. It was three or four times I could have scored but I wasn’t looking for the ball and he passed it to me and I hope tomorrow I’ll get it right. I probably missed four assists for him, but this was our first time playing together. With him and (Rajon) Rondo we’ll have two guys who will pass the ball and get A-1 easy baskets.”

The Bulls closed the game with a 20-12 fourth quarter to pull away late. Celtics top rookie Jaylen Brown had nine points on three of 13 shooting.

Boston shot 32.8 percent in one of the lower scoring summer league games as the Bulls played aggressive defense. Yes, summer league. But it matters, too, because winning can become a habit. You’d rather, though when you don’t you can say it doesn’t count. It’s getting the AAU out of the player when they are posing instead of performing.

The Bulls were helping on screens, getting over and blitzing, defense often not pursed last season.

“I thought they really competed,” said Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg, who watched from the stands as assistant Pete Myers coached. “We worked a lot on defense in the minicamp and I thought they carried that over. We were very aggressive, trying to create turnovers, disrupt offense and I thought we were committed to that all game.”

Hoiberg played on the 2004 Minnesota Timberwolves Conference Finals team that featured veterans who liked to have the ball like Kevin Garnett, Sam Cassell and Latrell Sprewell. Hoiberg didn’t exactly predict a Conference Finals, but said those sort of styles can succeed.&lt;/p

“I’m really excited about our team next year with the amount of playmakers we’re going to have,” said Hoiberg. “That’s what the offense is all about, having guys who can get in the paint and spray it out. We still will try to get as much shooting on the floor as we can. It’s about molding your system and philosophy to who’s going to be on the floor and hopefully play unselfishly.”

How much and where Valentine will play remains uncertain with the Bulls making changes after last season.

But Valentine showed a rare calm and confidence for a rookie even with his poor shooting and that tendency to share with others.

He didn’t then go seeking out shots and continued to run the offense and involve teammates despite his misses, mature for a rookie.

“Just got to get my conditioning since it’s a while since I played in a real game, getting your rhythm, feeling it out, getting used to the speed of the game, playing with each other,” said Valentine. “That’s what we tried to do.”

Valentine scored the Bulls first basket and then threw a lob to Cristiano Felicio after a turnover, then made a steal after a Grant turnover to save a basket. It enabled the Bulls to start fast and catch the Boston players off guard. Portis was active on the offensive boards for several scores early as he said he’s also learned not to stand around waiting to shoot, like he did sometimes last season.

“I’ve always been a guy the ball was fed to and I’ve always been a guy the ball goes to,” said Portis. “So for me to be a fourth or fifth option, it’s been hard. But at the same time I had to learn. As the year progressed, I watched film, watched my favorite players and tried to do the things they do. I’ve always been a big time rebounder, I feel, on the offensive end. I feel that gives us momentum and can give the team a boost.”

While Valentine kept moving and got open shots, which he mostly missed, his strength was with the ball. He regularly drove into the lane and fanned out the ball, not being credited with those sort of hockey assists not counted in basketball. Valentine also worked into the paint to rebound regularly.