In addition to getting their first game action against NBA-level talent, Summer League is an opportunity for players to get use to some of the rules that differ in the NBA as opposed to college basketball.  For big men, the toughest rule change they are going to have to deal with is the defensive three second rule.  This rule is exclusive to the NBA and it is defined as follows:

a. The count starts when the offensive team is in control of the ball in the frontcourt.

b. Any defensive player, who is positioned in the 16-foot lane or the area extending 4 feet past the lane endline, must be actively guarding an opponent within three seconds. Actively guarding means being within arm’s length of an offensive player and in a guarding position.

c. Any defensive player may play any offensive player. The defenders may double-team any player.
d. The defensive three-second count is suspended when: (1) a player is in the act of shooting, (2) there is a loss of team control, (3) the defender is actively guarding an opponent, (4) the defender completely clears the 16-foot lane or (5) it is imminent the defender will become legal.

e. If the defender is guarding the player with the ball, he may be located in the 16-foot lane. This defender is not required to be in an actively guarding/arm’s distance position. If another defender actively guards the player with the ball, the original defender must actively guard an opponent or exit the 16-foot lane. Once the offensive player passes the ball, the defender must actively guard an opponent or exit the 16-foot lane.

It is something that Derrick Favors struggled with in his first game as a pro:

Here, Favors meets his man, Cedric Simmons at the top of the key.  Simmons is cutting through the paint, and Favors gives him a bump for his troubles.

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When watching Summer League basketball, there are certain things that you need to look for when watching the games.  Going into the Jazz game, I was focused on Gordon Hayward and his ability to work off of the basketball on both offense and defense.  This is important for Hayward because he isn’t going to be a guy with the ball in his hands creating off of the dribble, the Jazz don’t need him for that.  What I think Hayward will be doing with the Jazz is working off of screens, so if he already has a knack for that he will be ahead of the game:

On Offense

This might not look like anything, but it is pretty significant in my opinion.  Here, you have Hayward understanding his responsibilities and act on them.  Here, the Jazz point guard attacks the basket off of a cut leaving the backside open for a fastbreak.  However, Hayward recognizes this and replaces Gaines, preventing the fastbreak.

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