UPDATE: Media day just finished up. We will have quotes coming later. I caught a lot of Antawn, Caron, Antonio, Darius, JaVale, Dominic, Nick, Pech, Dray. Here is a photo gallery from today. Also here are a few things that caught my attention at media day.

Wizards TV Analyst Glenn Consor give his thoughts on which Wizards players caught his eye at NBA Summer League 2007

Dominic McGuire:
NBATV announcers stated he is the “steal” of the 2007 Draft at 47. Too early to make that claim however; Where do I begin? Rare combination of above the rim athleticism and feel for the game.

Can create off the dribble, get his own, and get to the rim. Reads opportunities and executes. Defender who can guard the 1,2, and 3. Decent range, a combination of Loul Deng, Scottie Pippen and Caron, in style of play. Will contribute ASAP. Tremendous pick.

Nick Young:
A flat out prolific scorer, didn’t get up many 3 pointers, but he can shoot it. A master at attacking angles and getting to the rim and the mid range game. Incredible first step, like Rip Hamilton. Shot selection will improve with time like all pure scorers.

Love his passion, and will need to harness his emotions, not to react on every play and sequence, it’s a long season. Has the physical tools to be a great defender, lateral foot speed, quickness, long arms, anticipation skills, and desire. Impressive ball handling skills, with the ability to go by defenders with a quick cross-over and stop and go game. Great pick.

Olesksiy Pecherov:
Will need to make the quick adjustment to the speed and athleticism of the NBA. Great range and quick release in the catch and shoot game. Will extend defenses and play a major role in the pick-and-pop game.

Will need to add upper body strength, some low post moves, to become a complete player. Has a nice feel for the offensive glass and works hard. I love his upside, and most importantly, appears very coachable. Great feel.

Mike Hall:
Love his moxie and toughness, much improved range and outside shooting from GW days, a position rebounder, old school, better defensive rebounder, no question in my mind he belongs in the NBA, somewhere. Will make a team and contribute off the bench.

Aaron Miles:
Plays within himself, showed he can stick the 15′ pull up jumper. Really understands his role as a set up guy, sees the floor and will make the extra pass, understands offensive schemes, and can get to the rim.

Greatest asset is his on-ball defense, can be a pest, recovers well off screens. Traditional point guard. Belongs in the league as a backup 10 mpg point.

Glenn Consor has been an NBA/Wizards analyst for 17 years and has served as an NCAA College Basketball analyst for Westwood One and SportsTalk 980 for 10 years. He has also served as an analyst for NBATV for the past four years. Consor, a four year starter at point guard for Rick Pitino’s Boston University teams in the late ’70s, played professional hoops for Maccabi Haifa (81-82) of the European League.

By Wizards PR Director Zack Bolno

Wizards forward Mike Hall made the most of his starting opportunity.

Inserted as a starter for the injured Oleksiy Pecherov, Hall connected on his first six shots and finished with 17 points in Washington’s 79-67 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday afternoon at Cox Pavilion.

Fourteen of Hall’s 17 points came in the second quarter as the Wizards overcame an 11-point deficit and outscored the Bucks 30-11 to build a 10-point halftime lead.

“We played hard the entire summer league and lost some tough games, but it was nice to end it on a positive note with a victory,” said Hall.

Milwaukee cut the deficit to 55-50 late in the third quarter, but J.R. Pinnock drilled a three-pointer to build the lead to eight.

Rookie forward Dominic McGuire, the Wizards’ 2007 second-round pick out of Fresno State, finished with a game-high and summer-league best 18 points. Guard Aaron Miles added 12 points on 5-of-5 shooting from the floor.

Washington totaled a summer league-high in points (79) and field goal percentage (48.3) against
Milwaukee (2-3).

The Wizards won consecutive games to finish 2-3 in the 2007 NBA Summer League.

NOTES

By Zack Bolno, Wizards PR Director

A new streak begins for the Washington Wizards.

Rookie guard Nick Young had a game-high 18 points and the Wizards made the critical defensive stops down the stretch in their 76-71 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers (2-3) on Saturday evening at Cox Pavilion.

The Wizards (1-3) won their first game of the 2007 Summer League and in the process snapped an overall nine-game losing streak in Las Vegas which dated back to July, 2005.

In their three previous summer league losses, the Wizards’ allowed their opponents to average 50.3 points in the second half. It was a much different half for the Wizards on this night as they limited the Cavaliers to just 32 second-half points in their victory.

“We did a nice job on the glass and made some very critical stops and critical rebounds, which we have not had in the previous three games,” Wizards Summer League Head Coach Wes Unseld said. “I think that was the difference tonight.”

The victory did not come easy as the Wizards struggled to get started in the first quarter. The Cavaliers had an early 12-point lead, but the Wizards fought back late in the second quarter and cut the deficit to four at the half (39-35).

The game featured 15 different lead changes and was tied on 12 occasions. With the Wizards trailing by three in the fourth quarter, forward Oleksiy Pecherov connected on three-pointer to tie the game at 70 with 2:25 remaining. After a Wizards’ defensive stop, Young followed with two free throws and an 18-foot jumper to give the Wizards a 74-70 advantage.

The Wizards had key stops down the stretch on Cavs’ guards Shannon Brown and Daniel Gibson who combined for just four points in the fourth quarter. On the Cavaliers’ final two possessions, Gibson turned the ball over on a traveling violation and Brown missed a jumper. Unseld credited the defensive job guards Aaron Miles, Brian Chase and Lee Humphrey did down the stretch in containing the Cavaliers’ talented duo.

Pecherov added 14 points and nine rebounds and rookie Dominic McGuire continued his impressive summer league showing with 11 points and eight rebounds for the Wizards. Center Jared Homan played some crucial minutes off the bench and added seven points and four rebounds in a little more than 18 minutes.

Washington will play the Milwaukee Bucks in its 2007 Summer League finale at 1:00 PDT. The game can be seen locally on Comcast SportsNet at 7:00 p.m. EDT.

NOTES
Washington committed just four turnovers in the second half.

The Wizards held the Cavaliers to just 32 second half points after allowing the Houston Rockets to score 32 points in the third quarter in Friday’s loss

Former George Washington standout J.R. Pinnock had eight points on 3-of-5 shooting in 13:07 of action.

In four games, Aaron Miles has 20 assists and just 5 turnovers in his role as the Wizards’ starting point guard

Rookie Nick Young leads the Wizards in scoring per game with a 15.7 average - He has scored in double figures in each game - 11, 20, 14 and 18 points, respectively)

ETC:
Dr. Jerel Banks entered the Cox Pavilion sporting his brother’s No. 42 jersey. His younger brother, Wizards forward Mike Hall, smiled when he saw his big ‘bro’ sitting directly behind the Wizards’ bench. Dr. Banks resides in Los Angles and is nine years older than younger brother, Mike, who contributed three points and five rebounds off the bench in the Wizards’ win over the Cavaliers.

You won’t have to read too far into this blast from the past to see why we all need to keep Summer League in perspective. Happy Saturday!