Pistons Lose Orlando Summer League Championship Game In OT, 87-84
TERRANCE HARRIS
Associated Press
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — A look at some of the highlights from the five games on the schedule Friday at the Orlando Summer League:
THE REPLACEMENTS WIN
On paper, the Orlando Magic White was the secondary team for the Magic in this week's Orlando NBA Summer League. The White unit was the only team out of the 10 that didn't have a legitimate NBA player or first- or second-round draft pick. But it was the White, comprised of D-League and overseas players, that finished the week 5-0 and won the league championship after defeating previously unbeaten Detroit in overtime, 87-84, on Friday at Amway Center.
"It has a lot to do with their spirit, their fight," said Bill Peterson, who served as the White coach. "I told them all week I was really proud of them, guys who weren't playing were up off the bench, the bench was engaged."
The White showed itself to be scrappy all week, with different players stepping up to make big plays. On Friday, it was well-traveled point guard Justin Dentmon who came up with the play of the game when he knocked down a one-legged, contested 3-pointer with 3.7 seconds left in overtime for the win. His shot provided the only points scored in the overtime period.
For the group of castoffs, it was a gratifying feeling to win it all and perhaps get the attention of some NBA scouts.
"It's a credit to the coach, he brought us together," said Dentmon, who scored 16 points. "We had never played with each other in our lives, and for us to come together and bond like that is unbelievable. We started making jokes in the locker room that they call us underdogs, but the better name is 'The Replacements.' In the movie, 'The Replacements' came together and they won, just like us."
LEARNING CURVE
Los Angeles Clippers rookie forward Brice Johnson showed some potential this week, but the first-round draft pick clearly needs more time to develop.
The 25th overall pick out of North Carolina had three impressive games; Johnson scored 23 points in back-to-back games, and then had 19 points. But he followed that with a six-point effort that came on 1-for-13 shooting during Friday's 106-77 loss to the New York Knicks for last place. The Clippers, despite having a couple of future players on the Orlando Summer League team, finished 0-5 on the week.
Johnson averaged 15.4 points, 6.8 rebounds and shot 50 percent from the field for the week.
A STEP BACK TO TAKE STEP UP
During last year's Orlando Summer League, Detroit Pistons first-round pick Stanley Johnson showed everyone he can score with the best of them.
But there was little else.
This week, however, the sophomore was out to prove he could do far more than be a scorer. The lottery pick (eighth overall) from 2015 showed his game is indeed growing.
Johnson, a 6-foot-7 small forward, picked up his defense this week and got the ball to the right places consistently. During Friday's losing effort to the Orlando Magic White, he scored 21 points on 8-of-19 shooting while grabbing five rebounds and giving out five assists.
PLAYING STRONG
Anyone with eyes could see that Orlando Magic second-round pick Stephen Zimmerman will need to spend some time in the weight room this summer if the 6-11 post player has any hope of contributing this upcoming season.
Also apparent this week was the toughness of the 19-year-old one-and-done player from UNLV, which he flashed at times for the Orlando Magic Blue. He blocked shots and mixed it up with stronger and bulkier players throughout the week, which gave his new coaches hope for what could come in the future — and with some time in the weight room.
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