If you’re a glass half full type of person, there are still two full days of the 2011 D-League Showcase to enjoy, including tonight’s dunk contest and 3-point competition. If you’re a glass half empty type, I’m sorry to relay the fact that the Showcase is already halfway over with four more games in the books last night. Either way, a lot happened yesterday on the court and off it (did I mention the dunk/3-point contestants lists were unveiled?). But first, if you missed it, I broke down day one yesterday with a Price is Right theme.
There’s lot to get to from day two of the Showcase, so for the sake of time and not beating a pet population’s dead horse, I’m scrapping the gimmick-laced format for a more conventional approach today. D-League Digest is a peaceful blog, but proceed with caution. Today’s recaps are loaded with bullets. Read on for notes from all of yesterday’s action.
Dakota Wizards 97, Austin Toros 119 | Box Score
- Austin shot 53.6 percent for the game compared to Dakota’s 38 percent.
- The Toros had eight players score between 10 and 16 points.
- Washington Wizards assignee Hamady N’Diaye played just under 20 minutes for Dakota off the bench, scoring 7 points on 1-3 shooting, grabbing 4 rebounds and committing 5 fouls.
- Wizards center Chris Johnson, who may have been the top prospect in this game, was the lone player to record a double-double in the game with 17 points and 12 rebounds.
Springfield Armor 95, Utah Flash 89 | Box Score
- Utah’s Andre Ingram, one of the top 3-point marksmen in the league, missed from distance with 15 seconds left and the Flash down by three. Ingram was just 3-11 shooting for the game, 1-4 from 3.
- Atlanta Hawks assignee Pape Sy struggled for the second straight Showcase game. He scored just 5 points on 1-7 shooting in 17 minutes.
- Scottie Reynolds was fairly quiet for the Armor: 8 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 steals, and 4 turnovers at point guard for Springfield.
- Vernon Goodridge played well for Springfield (9 points, 5 rebounds, 3 blocks) before fouling out in 27:48. Goodridge is a strong, athletic power forward with an NBA body, but foul trouble is an issue for him.
New Mexico Thunderbirds 97, Maine Red Claws 98 | Box Score
- Dominique Coleman’s attempt rolled off the rim in the final seconds, allowing the Red Claws to hold on for the one-point victory.
- Mario West did a little bit of everything for the Red Claws, scoring 18 and dishing out 7 assists to go along with 3 rebounds and 4 steals in a team-high 43:53 of playing time.
- Tiny Gallon shot 8-11 from the field en route to a double-double (19 points, 13 rebounds).
- Shane Edwards carried the torch for the Thunderbirds with 29 points on 11-18 shooting, including 7-10 from the line to go with 10 rebounds (6 offensive).
Erie BayHawks 79, Idaho Stampede 74 | Box Score
- This game was sloppy. Actually, that’s an understatement. Each team shot 27-75 from the field (36 percent). Erie had 23 turnovers. Idaho had 26. Erie won because they hit 10 triples compared to Idaho’s 6.
- In the individual matchup, give the slight edge to Cedric Jackson over Blake Ahearn. Jackson was the lone bright spot for Idaho with 20 points on 9-14 shooting, 7 assists, 6 rebounds, 3 steals and just 2 turnovers. Ahearn scored 16 but shot just 5-14 from the field (2-7 from 3) and had 5 assists with 5 turnovers.
- There’s no way to sugarcoat it, Antoine Walker looked old. And not call-up material. He scored just 7 points in 34 minutes on 2-13 shooting and added 10 turnovers, and a technical foul.
- Raptors assignee Solomon Alabi was a non-factor for most of the game. He finished with 4 points on 2-8 shooting and 6 rebounds. Defensively he contributed 2 blocks and 2 steals.
- Only two players had more than 10 rebounds. Ivan Johnson grabbed 13 for Erie. Carlos Wheeler had 14 for the Stampede.
Dunk/3-Point Contestants Announced
Yesterday, participants were announced for the 2011 NBA Develpment League Showcase Slam Dunk Contest and 3-Point Contest. Both competitions are new additions to the Showcase. In previous years, the D-League’s dunk and 3-point contests were held during All-Star weekend.
Marqus Blakely (Bakersfield Jam), Chris Johnson (Dakota Wizards), Dar Tucker (New Mexico Thunderbirds) and L.D. Williams (Springfield Armor) will compete in the dunk contest. Corey Allmond (Fort Wayne Mad Ants), Andre Ingram (Utah Flash), Marcus Landry (Reno Bighorns), Chris Lofton (Iowa Energy), Scottie Reynolds (Springfield Jam), Jamar Smith (Maine Red Claws), Robert Vaden (Tulsa 66ers) and Booker Woodfox (Texas Legends) will compete in the 3-point contest. The events will be held together tonight at 10:30 p.m. Eastern. Each competition will air on VERSUS on Jan. 15 and Jan. 29.
The four players may complete two dunks in each round, with five judges each awarding between five and 10 points for every made dunk. The two dunkers with the highest composite score after the first round advance to the final round. The player with the highest composite score after the final round wins.
My pick: L.D. Williams, the explosive, rim-rocking guard from Wake Forest.
Joey Whelan’s pick: Dar Tucker, who won the contest during last year’s All-Star weekend
The three-round, three-point shootout will feature a moveable “Money Rack” consisting of all “Money” balls and increased points awarded for shots made from deeper shooting spots. The top four shooters advance to round two and the top two shooters then advance to the Finals.
My pick: Chris Lofton, who recently hit 7-9 from 3-point range as part of a 44-point outburst against Bakersfield.
Joey Whelan’s pick: Lofton
Mini D-Links: Showcase Digestibles
- Matthew Brennan explains who was hot and who was not from the opening day in the Showcase.
- Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress offers his insights and storylines from day one of the Showcase.
- Excellent NBA writer Art Garcia has notes from his viewing of the D-League Showcase so far.
- Tom Martin of The Dream Shake has some additional notes with a bit of a Vipers flavor.
- Bret LaGree of Hoopinion isn’t very high on Pape Sy, the Hawks assignee who did not look good in limited action for the Utah Flash on Monday. He played more in yesterday’s game, but the results weren’t much better, especially on the offensive end.
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