Las Vegas Summer League Day 1: Point Guard Duel, Big Man's Debut Headline The Slate Of Games

Today marks the beginning of the true basketball addict's event: the Las Vegas Summer League. Over the next ten days, 22 teams composed of their own young players and several other random ones will play five games each out in the sweltering heat. It's basketball at it's purest, which is coincidentally why NBA addicts love it. 

Today's Day 1 slate features eight games, and we'll be updating you on them here in this stream. Here's the full schedule:

Dallas Mavericks vs. Denver Nuggets: 4 p.m. EDT

Houston Rockets vs. Phoenix Suns: 6 p.m. EDT

Detroit Pistons vs. Los Angeles Lakers: 8 p.m. EDT

Golden State Warriors vs. New Orleans Hornets: 10 p.m. EDT

Ridiculous Upside has a great preview of all the action here, but I figured I'd throw in my two cents on a few players to watch:

1.  Greg Monroe

With Warriors big man Ekpe Udoh sidelined with a wrist injury, Monroe becomes the highest draft pick in the 2010 draft to play tonight. Tonight is the first time we'll be able to answer some of the key questions with Monroe. Namely:

• Is he athletic enough to guard players on this level?
• How will he fare on a team that won't run the Princeton offense?
• Does he have a jump shot?
• Can he prove he's not merely a system player?

2.  Jordan Hill and Patrick Patterson

3.  Ty Lawson vs. Rodrigue Beaubois