Vince Ellis

Detroit Free Press

LAS VEGAS – Stanley Johnson’s jumper was wet Monday afternoon at the Mendenhall Center on the UNLV campus

If you don’t get the reference, the basketball spent a lot of time going into the ocean (net) during the portion of USA Basketball practice open to the media.

The brief glimpse appeared to show Johnson’s reworking of his shot is starting to reap dividends.

And it comes just in time as the Detroit Pistons swingman begins the week as a member of the USA Select Team scrimmaging against Team USA.

“I told y’all at (Orlando Pro Summer League), it was rough obviously the first two (games), but the reason that I went there, I got it,” Johnson told the Free Press.

“I got what I needed. I’m not going to say much, but it should be an exciting year for us.”

After a promising rookie season, Johnson was tasked with becoming better at going left and raising the release point of his jump shot.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope not worried about pending contract extension

He struggled during the first two games of recent summer-league action, but found his shooting stroke late in the third game. It carried over the past two games, as the Pistons fell in the title game.

Johnson explained summer league was the first time he had tried the improvements in live action — a lot different from drills in an empty gym.

But the comfort level was there Monday.

“I was just more comfortable,” Johnson said. “Obviously the more you shoot, the better you’re going to get at it.

“For me, it was all about getting comfortable and working at it.”

■Dinner time: TMZ.com was on the scene Sunday night.

Knicks star Carmelo Anthony hosted a dinner for his Team USA teammates at the Wynn Casino.

Warriors star and Saginaw native Draymond Green (Michigan State) dished on the proceedings.

MSU great, NBA star Draymond Green: 'Being me has gotten me this far'

“It was a great experience,” Green said. “It was a great time. We enjoyed each other. A good meal and we really just sat down and laughed, joked and have that fun together. That’s the stuff that leads to the on-the-court stuff being great.”

Contact Vince Ellis: vellis@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @vincent_ellis56. Download our Pistons Xtra app on iTunes or Android!