Dawkins Waived

The Vipers waived Kenny Dawkins today. The 5-9 point guard out of Lamar averaged 2.9 points, 1.9 rebounds and one assist in 10.6 minutes of work over the course of eight games.

The Vipers have not announced a corresponding roster move, and there is no guarantee that there'll be one.

An NBA Development League team can carry a 10-man roster, not including the first two NBA-assignees. Each NBA team can assign up to two players at a time, except in single-affiliation situations, where the limit is four. Still for a team like the Vipers, there's rarely the worry of having to waive a guy because the parents clubs are sending so many players down (do you really think the Rockets, or any team really, are going to send three or four players down at the same time? They're limited to a 15-man roster, including injured players and NBA-assignees (we can debate the ridiculousness of that all we want, but until the next Collective Bargaining Agreement negotiations (next year), we're stuck with that), and not only do they to have players to play, but extra guys for practice purposes as well as protection and depth. With Yao out and McGrady on leave, the Rockets are down from 15 to 13 players. Joey Dorsey's with the Vipers, so now that number is 12. You see where I'm going with this?).

However, that doesn't mean the Vipers have to carry 11 players while Joey Dorsey is here.

Dawkins hasn't been playing much, and with the acquisitions of Will Conroy and Craig Winder, Dawkins wasn't going to get to play, barring multiple injuries. Waiving Dawkins gives him an opportunity to latch on elsewhere and get a chance to play.

If the Vipers do acquire a player to take Dawkins, it figures to be a big man, but those are hard to come by. Besides, right now, the Vipers are clicking on all cylinders and they aren't going to play more than 10 players in a game. So they don't have to make a move. They might, but perhaps only if the right players comes along.

After all, the Vipers are currently sitting at #2 on the Waiver list, meaning they'll have a chance to get a pretty good player, should one become available. If the #1 team (Sioux Falls) takes someone, then the Vipers become #1. Regardless of whether the Vipers make a move and drop to the bottom of the list or stand pat, they'll become #1 if Mike Harris remains on the Houston Rockets roster long enough for his contract to become guaranteed.

There are a lot of interesting things in the rules, but the long and short of it is, the Vipers will have the ability to get one and maybe two solid players off waivers if they become available. Waiving Dawkins isn't a prelude to anything because, if it was, the moves would have been simultaneously. This is simply a move to give a guy who wasn't playing a chance to go somewhere to play and develop so he'll have a shot at the next level.

A tip of the cap to the Vipers for not simply hiding Dawkins on the bench for the extra depth. I wish Dawkins all of the luck in the world. He's a nice guy. A quiet guy. Goes about his business the right way. I always root for those guys to succeed.

And That's the Series

Antonio Anderson seemed to be the only player on the floor at the end. A turnover to give Austin the ball in a one-point game. A foul to give Austin a chance to take the lead with free throws. And then, after only one free throw hit and it became a tie game, a drive down the left side, a cross to the right, and then an attempt to get inside. Austin played good defense and forced Anderson into a tough shot. The raucous Dodge Arena crowd held its collective breath as the ball rolled around the rim and then sat on the weak side. Someone exhaled, providing just enough wind to push that ball through the hoops with 1.8 seconds left to give the Vipers a 114-112 lead. Still, Austin had a chance to win it. After a timeout to advance the ball, Curtis Jerrells found a home on the left wing for a three-pointer to win the game. The ball never made it to the basket. The box score may not have a blocked shot next to Anderson's name, but there he was, leaping to the catwalk to change the trajectory of the shot to seal the win.

The aptly-named Mr. Anderson had 27 points, five rebounds and four steals while leading the Vipers in the second half. It used to be the good guys had no chance against Austin. It was like the Matrix. The Toros were the agents. Then some guy named Mr. Anderson showed up. Now the Vipers are 4-1 against Austin with two games remaining. The Vipers were 4-11 all-time against Austin entering this season before losing the exhibition game and the season opener to the Toros as well. Since then, it's been all Vipers.

It is incredible to think that we sit on the eve of the New Year, and yet the Vipers have already clinched a season-series. You can argue it's a product of the schedule, yes, but it's also a product of the Vipers being a really good team.

No, I take that back. Austin is a really good team. The Vipers are just better.

Yeah, That's Right, Will Conroy's a Viper

The rich just got richer.

The [arguably] best team in the NBA Development League just acquired the best scorer in league history, Will Conroy.

Conroy is the NBA Development League’s all-time leader in points (2,779), minutes played (5,852), free throws made (660), free throws attempted (948) and assists (1,267). He is also third all-time in steals (238).


Yes, the Vipers had to give up Kurt Looby to get him, but, if you're thinking this was a bad move, please re-read the last paragraph. When you have a chance to get Will Conroy, you do it, no matter the price.


It's almost impossible to fathom was this does to the deepest and most talented team in the league, and I'm still not entirely sure myself (more research is needed, so your homework tonight...). The Vipers already have an incredible three-guard lineup in Jonathan Wallace, Garrett Temple and Antonio Anderson. Now, one of them will likely come off the bench with Conroy starting. Craig Winder had a huge game on Saturday - he's available off the bench too. A five-guard rotation for six spots of that caliber... well, that's almost unthinkable. Excuse me while I go salivate.


Anyone have a towel?


Joey Dorsey returns tonight to start at center. Mickell Gladness is now his primary backup, but that's fine. Looby had a big game Saturday, but didn't do a whole lot off the bench this year. In limited action, Gladness has looked great, so he's earned this chance.


The other forward spot remains open for Julian Sensley, Ernest Scott and Stanley Asumnu. That's going to be the battle for playing time to watch at this point (though occasionally you'll see two of them out on the court as one plays small forward, which Scott and Asumnu are really more suited for anyway, but it doesn't happen as often thanks to the three-guard set).


Oh yes, this is going to be SWEET!

Well, if you'd read your game notes...

You'd know.

It's an old joke among broadcasters and communications executives alike. When ever anyone asks a question about the team. So, in order to avoid me having to say it to any of you...

Read Your Game Notes.

You will be tested on it later.

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In other exciting news, former San Antonio Spurs head coach Bob Hill, who is now an NBA Consultant is in town. He'll be my guest on the Farmers Insurance Half-Time Report tonight on 104.9 Jack FM (95.3 on South Padre Island) and NBA Futurecast.

Vacation All I Ever Wanted

Too bad I can't enter to win. But you can (unless you're a friend, family member or co-worker)! Want to win a Las Vegas vacation?

Details here.

I actually went and played Bingo last night with some co-workers over at Bingo Gardens on 23rd St., just south of 495. 135 games later (27 boards for five games)... no winnings, but it was a fun time nonetheless. Now, combining Bingo and Vipers basketball? Sounds like a heck of a deal to me.

Vipers vs. Austin Toros
Wednesday
7:30 p.m.
Dodge Arena

$1 Hot Dogs, Popcorn and Soda
$5 Tickets for Winter Texans

Get your tickets now... before it's too late.

I'm Listening

I wonder if Frasier Crane has that copyrighted. I hope not. That would be awkward. Maybe I should have gone with, "The Doctor Is In." Of course, that suggests I'm a medical doctor, which I'm not. I'm the Doctor Professor, after all, despite being neither of those things.

Here's the question, though. If you're in school and your professor has a PhD, do you call this person Dr. ____ or Professor ____? These are the things that keep me up at night.

Well, not really. I'm just excited about Wednesday night's 7:30 p.m. Vipers-Toros game at Dodge Arena (BUY TICKETS). The Vipers are 3-1 against Austin this season. To put things in perspective, the Vipers are 7-12 all-time against the Toros. Do a little quick math to see how the Vipers' arch-rivals dominated the first two years of the series. And to think, the Vipers just beat Austin without Mike Harris (GATORADE Call-Up to Houston Rockets) or Joey Dorsey (knee). Imagine is Dorsey is back on Wednesday? It really just speak to what I've been putting up on the chalk board all year... The Vipers are an insanely deep team with an incredible amount of talent and work ethic. They can make up for the loss of a player or two, even those of Harris and Dorsey's caliber.

It doesn't hurt to have an incredible fan base too. Attendance has been up noticeably this season, but the energy in the building has really been the thing standing out. Vipers fans have really been into it this year, and the players (and broadcasters) are feeding off the energy. The Vipers are 5-0 at home, and I have to give a tip of my cap to Vipers fans and a big thank you for being a big part of that.

Additionally, Vipers fans are helping to make Dodge Arena a place where no one wants to play as an opposing team because they not only have to deal with the Vipers, but the best fans in the NBA Development League. It really does make a big difference, not only during the game, but mentally leading up to it. So keep up the good work!

I was chatting with ADB the other day about the schedule, and he talked about how red-hot Maine comes here for a two-game series February 20-21 and that would be a tough stretch of games. And that's when I got to say something that I couldn't have said in years past, and it really felt good... "Yeah, Maine must be dreading having to come play here." I'm not even going to get into Maine being in the weaker conference, or how they lost to now 2-11 Bakersfield the other day because the Red Claws are a good team. Those will be good games when Maine comes to town, but the pre-game edge certainly belongs to the Vipers right now.

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Hoops Against Hunger Results Thus Far:
1. Thursday, December 10 - 70 pounds
2. Monday, December 21 - 286 pounds (356 total)
3. Saturday, December 26 - 300+ pounds (We have another box of donation in our office that will be dropped off at the Food Bank RGV in the morning... 656+ total)

Those last two games set single-game food collection records. The next Hoops Against Hunger game is Wednesday, January 13. Keep up the good work and thank you for helping the Vipers, Action 4 News and Clear Channel Radio to support the Food Bank RGV in our mission to Bounce out Hunger in the Rio Grande Valley.

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The Maine Red Claws sent us Whoopie Pies Monday as a holiday gift. After the Bakersfield Jam sent us bags of incredibly good nuts, I didn't think anything was going to beat that, but these were delicious! Second best whoopie pies I've ever had (home made ones from the parents of a friend in the Bangor/Orono, Maine area back in the winter of 2006). For those who are wondering what the heck I'm talking about, think of a chocolate sandwich filled with cream you would find in a snack cake, except thicker and sweeter. Can you say sugar rush?

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Okay, now for your homework (I'm a professor, remember?) – Go to the Vipers game on Wednesday, be very loud. No, wait, that's not loud enough. We're going to have to go straight to... *dramatic pause* ... ludicrously loud!

Prepare for ludicrously loud! Cancel the three-ring circus, close all the shops in the mall, secure all...

Oh, enough already. LUDICROUSLY LOUD... GO!

(You don't suppose Dark Helmet copyrighted that, do you?)