LAS VEGAS — The most important line in the box score Sunday was not Chase Budinger’s game-high 21 points in Houston’s 84-67 loss to Portland in the NBA Summer League.

It was not Budinger’s awakening at the three-point line with a 4-of-7 performance, finally connecting after missing four attempts in Houston’s first two games at Cox Pavilion adjacent to Thomas & Mack.

It definitely was his 5-of-6 performance from the free-throw line. That alone shows he played more aggressively, heeding the request of Houston coach Rick Adelman. After Houston’s game against Dallas on Saturday, in which Budinger only posted four points on 3-of-7 shooting from the field, including 0-of-1 from three-point range, Adelman told Budinger that he wants more inspired play from the former Arizona wing player.

Budinger only attempted two free throws (making one) in the first two games here, which exemplifies some of his perceived passive play.

“The important thing is you can never get down on yourself at this level,” Budinger said when the summer league started Friday. “You have to leave all that behind you, and look forward to the next the play, the next game.”

The constructive criticism of Adelman with Budinger, and Rockets assistant coach (and seven-time NBA all-star center) Jack Sikma with Jordan Hill here thus far, is not uncommon for second-year players. Budinger and Hill are trying to adjust to the demands of the Rockets after their rookie seasons. That’s a significant reason why both returned to Las Vegas after competing here last summer.

“I’m confident in what I can do,” said Hill told me Friday. “I know I have to just go out there and use my athleticism and length and speed. I’m quick enough to outrun guys, block shots, and rebound. It’s just getting all of that together.”

Houston’s coaches are particularly concerned about their backup center to Yao Ming. They want to see if Hill can fill that role. Their concerns have not subsided, as Hill has struggled with his court vision and defensive posturing.

NBA-TV analyst Kevin McHale, a former Boston Celtics great, has not been enamored with Hill in Las Vegas. He alluded to that on the network’s broadcast of the Washington-Golden State telecast following Houston’s game.

After play-by-play man Joel Myers made a comment about New York regretting not drafting Brandon Jennings in the 2009 draft, McHale brought up Hill’s name. The Knicks passed on the opportunity of drafting Jennings to select Hill with the eighth overall pick. Two picks later, Milwaukee drafted Jennings, the former UA signee who played professionally in Italy for a season before Milwaukee drafted him.

“After watching Jordan Hill play here, they (the Knicks) are probably wondering, “Yeah, maybe we should have (taken Jennings),” said McHale, a former general manager of the Timberwolves.

Hill improved his defense Sunday, slightly outplaying Portland forward-center Jeff Pendergraph, formerly of ASU. Pendergraph scored nine points on 4-of-10 shooting with six rebounds. He failed to score after the first quarter. Hill out-rebounded Pendergraph by three and scored 10 points on 4-of-9 shooting.

Unless a player is an unquestionable star after their rookie season, they usually do not return to the NBA Summer League.

Four members of the NBA’s All-Rookie team did not make a return appearance here — Jennings, Sacramento’s Tyreke Evans (the Rookie of the Year), Golden State’s Stephen Curry, and Chicago’s Taj Gibson.

The fifth member — former UCLA point guard Darren Collison of New Orleans — is the only one to return here. Collison spelled the injured Chris Paul often during his rookie season, but the Hornets want to give him more games to work on his skills.

Every rookie has to make an adjustment to an upgrade in opposing talent, more than 50-plus games than their collegiate experience in a season, and the increased travel. Budinger believes he handled that part well with a little help from a Rockets veteran.

“Going from college to the NBA was a tough adjustment,” Budinger said, “but one thing that helped me was learning a lot from Shane Battier. He kind of took me under his wing.

“He taught me all the tools of playing in the NBA. He taught me how to be a smart player out there, especially guarding those superstars and being in the right position defensively. He helped me as a player, defender and person.”

When asked what was the most difficult aspect of being a rookie, Budinger chuckled and said, “How much traveling you do. You live out of a suitcase. The good thing is I went to a lot of cities I’ve never been to. All of it was fun. You know, I’m playing basketball for a living. You can’t beat this.”

NOTES: Former UA guard J.P. Prince, who transferred to Tennessee after his freshman season at Arizona, is a member of the Wizards’ summer-league team. He played only seven minutes and posted no points and two rebounds against Golden State. … Hill stuck around after Houston’s game to watch No. 1 draft pick John Wall of Kentucky play for Washington against the Warriors. Usually, the players here bolt for the exit after their games. Wall’s popularity far exceeds the interest drawn from Evans, Jennings and Curry here last year. A standing-room-only crowd of 3,000 watched Wall score 24. Officials estimate approximately 2,000 fans were turned away.

This entry was posted on Sunday, July 11th, 2010 at 11:14 pm and is filed under Sports. Tags for this post: 2010 NBA Summer League, Chase Budinger, J.P. Prince, John Wall, Jordan Hill. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.