It’s hotter than ever, everywhere in the world right now, but out in Vegas, by way of California, the Golden State Warriors are still scorching the strings.
Sweet music to talking heads and the ears that would have these rumours.
Earlier this week, in a true California classic, the Warriors beat their rival Lakers, 92-88, in a closer than close contest for the Sin City semis. Despite the Lakers’ summer squad coming into the game unbeaten, behind their steal of a rookie Cameron Carr, set to be to LA what Cameron Crowe is to indie Hollywood.
Carr made a crucial mistake, failing to “meet the ball” as commentator and Warriors champion Andre Iguodala said it best. The 2015 NBA Finals MVP, no stranger himself to being on the receiving end of a clutch defensive play off the block. This is a mistake that the other Cam in the City of Angels (respect to the Sparks sophomore blocking Brink truck in the W) is better to learn from now. Instead of during the regular season.
The Lakers and their young gun making a killing can still hold their heads high, and pat them, like the amazing signature downtown celebration from Jon Elmore.
But after stealing the semi-finals off the Lake Show, will swiping LeBron off the Lakers be next for Golden State?
At least the purple and gold got Kevon Looney’s winning pedigree to counter. Even if the jamming James leader of the Looney Tunes squad is out of this space.
A Paris Olympic reunion with Steph Curry. Draymond Green telling us on his podcast that he’s going to turn into P.J. Tucker with sneakers beyond the arc. And most importantly, the close schooling of James’ daughter out in Cali’. Although all bets are on a Miami reunion, with a Cleveland (“this is for you”) one still not a cavalier idea, fans are favouring this super-team. One that could even yield another reunion with Anthony Davis (not to mention his son Bronny), and could soon be dubbed the “Olden State Warriors.”
The King has held the whole summer hostage, with Shams playing court jester, but before we well and truly get down to all of that, we had a summer league to watch. Spoilt rotten, in-between worldwide hoops and the WNBA celebrating its 30th anniversary with on-court coronations.
The raw and ready NBA Summer League, out in Las Vegas, always makes for some epic excitement above the rim and in the hearts of those trying to make it to a two-way, like everyone’s T-Mobile in the early 2000s.
Showtime has been above the rim with sidekicks Adou Thiero and Arthur Kaluma. The latter who now has himself a contract between the NBA and the G-League’s Coachella Valley Lakers in a festival of fun.
Yet it’s Summer League MVP Yaxel Lendeborg’s, and his double-double of 21 points and 10 rebounds in the final, who is Kevin Garnett, big ticket big. All as Chicago’s own KG has dubbed new Bull rookie Caleb Wilson and the dominance of his devastating destroyer dunks, “Little Ticket”.
Lendeborg, the 11th pick in this summer’s NBA Draft, has been on a tear this off-season, leagues above the rim. Not to mention making half of his shots and 33.3% from 3. Averaging 13.6 points and 6.2 rebounds in this tournament, Yaxel is ready to make that axel jump off the boards, bringing out the big guns like roses.
The NCAA winning formula of YL, Deivon Smith and LJ Cryer (combining for 57 points) are a new big-three in a city of splash. Perhaps the Warriors won’t be so old after all. These youngsters had enough buck to bounce the Memphis Grizzlies led by one of the hottest rookie prospects, Duke kid and Carlos Boozer’s son, Cameron Boozer with the third pick. Another ‘Killa Cam’, like purple haze, with 19 nice points.
This is the Dubs second Summer League ‘chip after Ian Clark led them to victory back in 2013. A time when the Warriors were just getting started as the NBA champion was just a kid from Akron in the same South Beach he might take his talents to again.
That’s decisions to be made for LeBron’s lasting legacy. Right now, the future of the NBA starts here, throwing up the “W”. And it’s more than whatever.
