On first glance, it's easy to dismiss the Bakersfield Jam. They're 10-25. They're 15.5 games behind the Vipers. They're in last place. The fans voted on the head coach during the off-sesason.
The Jam started the season 0-9. And that was all she wrote, right? Not so fast. After an inconsistent 4-9 stretch that saw Bakersfield fall to 4-18, Bakersfield beat Albuquerque on January 22, kicking off a stretch of six wins and seven losses. On the surface... Good? No. Better? Yes.
But let's go inside those seven losses. Average margin of defeat? 4.7 points per game. In order, they lost by: 2, 6, 3, 4, 9, 8, and 1.
The Jam have six players on their roster averaging double-digits scoring. But wait! There's more. Of the nine players currently on Bakersfield's roster, only seven played last night in a win at Austin (no easy feat) and the same seven played in their win over Albuquerque a few days prior. Center John Edwards (left ankle sprain... 10.1 points, 5.4 rebounds) and guard John Williams (viral... 8.8 points, 3.4 assists) are out right now, though Edwards is listed as probably to play tonight. So that means either five of the seven or six of the eight players are averaging double-figures.
The burning question tonight, how will Bakersfield respond to a quick turnaround. It's tough to answer that question right now. Depends on their itinerary. After playing Saturday night in Austin, I have to think they jumped on a bus for six hours to get to the hotel in the RGV and then are getting the chance to sleep-in before the 5:00 tilt tonight, but you never know. It's possible they stayed the night in Austin and took the first flight out to Dallas/Houston followed by a flight down here. Either way, fatigue could certainly be a factor, especially if the Jam are only using seven players.
The Vipers beat Bakersfield in the Showcase, 115-107 in early January. That was around the start of the Jam starting to find themselves and right before they acquired Blake Ahearn.
On the Vipers side, I'll be interested to see if they look to establish the three-ball early again. It made sense against Springfield since the Vipers were having trouble getting inside early on and were taking advantage of mismatches. The Jam have a lot more guard play than the Armor. So it'll probably be a bit of a different game.
Jonathan Wallace's shot has been looking good over the last two games, which has also helped Will Conroy (like he needs help?) to become more open for three-pointers. Conroy's hit four in five attempts over the last two games. The great thing about what the Vipers can do with all of those long range shooters (I mean, Ernest Scott started at power forward Friday and attempted 12 three-pointers) is really stretch the floor. It forces mismatches since opponents generally don't have four guys who know how to guard the perimeter on the court at the same time. The Jam might be able to boast that from time to time, so perhaps the Vipers will look to establish Kevin Rogers and Mickell Gladness early. Both had big games on Friday.
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If the Vipers win tonight, they not only cinch the first winning season in franchise history, but they'll push their franchise record to above .500 for the first time since they were 9-8 back in December 2007.
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Chag Purim!
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Saturday, February 27, 2010
That team only has five wins???
The Springfield Armor stunned me tonight. I wasn't expecting much. Yeah, they've played some close games recently, but 5-25, losers of 10-straight? What was I supposed to expect.
Certainly if you'd told me they'd lose, which they did, I'd have believed you. But to force overtime first? Well, that was unexpected.
But more unexpected was the consistency. With the exception of an early third quarter run by the Vipers, the Armor matched the Vipers basket for basket. Springfield has a very strong inside game. They established it early, which made them open for three-pointers later. It was text book basketball. They committed too many turnovers and probably flapped their gums way too much, but there's some talent on this team.
Someone once told me there are only two things you can control in sports, your attitude and your effort. The effort was certainly there by Springfield. The attitude? Well, having only seen them once, I'll give them the benefit of the doubt and assume it was just frustrations boiling over thanks to all the losing. However, if that's the case, then that means losing begets losing and I might be right about Springfield not winning another game this season.
However, if the Armor can learn to keep their emotions in check and just play one game at a time... They have a chance to be very dangerous. That team is good enough to win a bunch of games the rest of the way, no doubt about that in my mind. Remember, the team that lost most of those games isn't there anymore. The Armor have used 21 different players this year. Perhaps they finally have the right combination of players.
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For the record, the Vipers didn't have trouble with Springfield tonight because they've lost so many players to the NBA recently. The Vipers had trouble with Springfield because the Armor are a much-improved team. Do not discredit Springfield like that.
If the Armor learn some discipline, I think they're easily as good as or better than anyone else in the East.
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Will Conroy continues to dominate. You can almost smell his next GATORADE Call-Up coming. In my mind it's no longer a matter of if, just when and where. He's earned it and then some. Now here's a guy with the right attitude. Got sent down after his first 10-day, and rather than sulking, has three triple-doubles in four games. He's forcing someone to call him up.
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Electric crowd tonight. It was incredible. If I'd told you that a Vipers-Armor game was going to have a playoff atmosphere, what would you have said to me?
Many thanks to everyone who cam, especially those DECA students. You could tell they were having a good time.
I got to speak to a group from McAllen Memorial and San Benito. All high school students. Juniors and seniors. I was supposed to speak for 15 minutes. I went 40 minutes. I had to teach them Jack Falla's rules of life, after all.
I really enjoyed it. I could tell these kids are committed to learning and being the best they can be. It's nice to be able to speak to people who not only listen, but want to listen.
They gave me a round of applause for reaching my 700th broadcast today... er... yesterday (since technically it's now Saturday). It was pretty cool and very much appreciated.
I take pride in this accomplishment. I didn't get to celebrate with my Martinelli's Gold Medal Sparkling Cider as planned. Didn't have time to pick any up. I'll have to do that tomorrow... er... today.
You know, for my 200th broadcast (play-by-play of Boston University women's ice hockey @ Boston College, November 2006) I brought a couple of bottles with me and rather than drinking water during the game, my partner and my on-site pre-game/intermission crew and I just drank the cider. Now that was awesome.
Certainly if you'd told me they'd lose, which they did, I'd have believed you. But to force overtime first? Well, that was unexpected.
But more unexpected was the consistency. With the exception of an early third quarter run by the Vipers, the Armor matched the Vipers basket for basket. Springfield has a very strong inside game. They established it early, which made them open for three-pointers later. It was text book basketball. They committed too many turnovers and probably flapped their gums way too much, but there's some talent on this team.
Someone once told me there are only two things you can control in sports, your attitude and your effort. The effort was certainly there by Springfield. The attitude? Well, having only seen them once, I'll give them the benefit of the doubt and assume it was just frustrations boiling over thanks to all the losing. However, if that's the case, then that means losing begets losing and I might be right about Springfield not winning another game this season.
However, if the Armor can learn to keep their emotions in check and just play one game at a time... They have a chance to be very dangerous. That team is good enough to win a bunch of games the rest of the way, no doubt about that in my mind. Remember, the team that lost most of those games isn't there anymore. The Armor have used 21 different players this year. Perhaps they finally have the right combination of players.
---
For the record, the Vipers didn't have trouble with Springfield tonight because they've lost so many players to the NBA recently. The Vipers had trouble with Springfield because the Armor are a much-improved team. Do not discredit Springfield like that.
If the Armor learn some discipline, I think they're easily as good as or better than anyone else in the East.
---
Will Conroy continues to dominate. You can almost smell his next GATORADE Call-Up coming. In my mind it's no longer a matter of if, just when and where. He's earned it and then some. Now here's a guy with the right attitude. Got sent down after his first 10-day, and rather than sulking, has three triple-doubles in four games. He's forcing someone to call him up.
---
Electric crowd tonight. It was incredible. If I'd told you that a Vipers-Armor game was going to have a playoff atmosphere, what would you have said to me?
Many thanks to everyone who cam, especially those DECA students. You could tell they were having a good time.
I got to speak to a group from McAllen Memorial and San Benito. All high school students. Juniors and seniors. I was supposed to speak for 15 minutes. I went 40 minutes. I had to teach them Jack Falla's rules of life, after all.
I really enjoyed it. I could tell these kids are committed to learning and being the best they can be. It's nice to be able to speak to people who not only listen, but want to listen.
They gave me a round of applause for reaching my 700th broadcast today... er... yesterday (since technically it's now Saturday). It was pretty cool and very much appreciated.
I take pride in this accomplishment. I didn't get to celebrate with my Martinelli's Gold Medal Sparkling Cider as planned. Didn't have time to pick any up. I'll have to do that tomorrow... er... today.
You know, for my 200th broadcast (play-by-play of Boston University women's ice hockey @ Boston College, November 2006) I brought a couple of bottles with me and rather than drinking water during the game, my partner and my on-site pre-game/intermission crew and I just drank the cider. Now that was awesome.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Now that's a lot of GATORADE
The Vipers now lead the league in GATORADE Call-Ups after Mike Harris signed a 10-day contract with the Washington Wizards yesterday. It's the Vipers' fifth GATORADE Call-Up of the season (doesn't include Joey Dorsey and Jermaine Taylor).
That makes 10-former Vipers currently playing in the NBA.
Something we've discussed here in the past is that the Vipers can make-up for the loss of one of their star players because of fantastic depth. Well, what about the loss of a lot of star players?
Really, the only player left on the Vipers who can be considered a star is Will Conroy (though Craig Winder is certainly making a compelling case). Is that a problem?
Not necessarily. It certainly makes the Vipers more human, but the Vipers acquired a guy in Sean Barnette who started the season with Iowa and had some good spurts and was highly recommended by their head coach, Nick Nurse. Iowa's got the best record in the league, so you're happy to take someone who played there.
Of the course, question of why Barnette is no longer with Iowa could come up. I don't have an answer for that. After scoring a career-high 23 points at Dakota on January 14 he kind of fell of the face of the Earth. However, I am confident that he can step in and be solid at the 3.
You figure at least one more acquisition is coming in the next 24 hours... the Vipers only have nine active players right now and can add one more. Either way, it's going to be very interesting to see what the starting lineup looks like tomorrow.
That makes 10-former Vipers currently playing in the NBA.
Something we've discussed here in the past is that the Vipers can make-up for the loss of one of their star players because of fantastic depth. Well, what about the loss of a lot of star players?
Really, the only player left on the Vipers who can be considered a star is Will Conroy (though Craig Winder is certainly making a compelling case). Is that a problem?
Not necessarily. It certainly makes the Vipers more human, but the Vipers acquired a guy in Sean Barnette who started the season with Iowa and had some good spurts and was highly recommended by their head coach, Nick Nurse. Iowa's got the best record in the league, so you're happy to take someone who played there.
Of the course, question of why Barnette is no longer with Iowa could come up. I don't have an answer for that. After scoring a career-high 23 points at Dakota on January 14 he kind of fell of the face of the Earth. However, I am confident that he can step in and be solid at the 3.
You figure at least one more acquisition is coming in the next 24 hours... the Vipers only have nine active players right now and can add one more. Either way, it's going to be very interesting to see what the starting lineup looks like tomorrow.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
The NBA Needs an IR/DL
Called it an injured reserve, call it a disabled list... I don't care. The NBA needs to bring it back.
It's not right that a guy like Yao Ming, who is out for the season, counts against the 15-man roster. Also, there should be a way to hide Trevor Arzia and Kyle Lowry. When you think about it, the Rockets only have 12 healthy spots right now. One of those belongs to Jermaine Taylor, who was recalled from the Vipers today because the Rockets need more players with Ariza out.
The Rockets want Taylor to get a chance to play and develop with the Vipers, and quite frankly, with the way their talent has been poached recently, the Vipers need Taylor. It's also possible that the Rockets might want to send down Jordan Hill since he didn't really play with the Knicks and it would be great way for the 9th overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft to learn the Rockets system. However, since the Rockets can't bring in any talent to fill the spots of the injured, Taylor and Hill must be with the big club to provide healthy bodies.
If the Rockets could place players on an IR or DL, they could bring in players to replace them without having to recall a guy like Taylor or without having to worry about assigning a guy like Hill (note: I have no idea whether or not the Rockets plan on assigning Hill. I am only mentioning his name because he has NBA D-League eligibility).
Granted, from a Vipers standpoint, it probably wouldn't help the current short-roster problem. I am guessing the guys to get called up to take these injured spots would have been Antonio Anderson (thus keeping him from Oklahoma City), Mike Harris and Will Conroy.
But, hey, the goal of the Vipers is to help the Rockets win an NBA Championship, right? I think the Rockets have done a great job of using the Vipers as best they can within the given limitations of what they can do.
Hopefully in the next Collective Bargaining Agreement this will be one of the additions. Now that there is a legitimate source from which to find players to replace injured NBA players, it seems only logical. And boy would it ever help the NBA D-League attract more of the world's best non-NBA players. Sure, some would still take the money to go overseas, but I think more and more with NBA dreams would stick around in hopes that they might get their chance to show what they can do since there would be more opportunities.
It's not right that a guy like Yao Ming, who is out for the season, counts against the 15-man roster. Also, there should be a way to hide Trevor Arzia and Kyle Lowry. When you think about it, the Rockets only have 12 healthy spots right now. One of those belongs to Jermaine Taylor, who was recalled from the Vipers today because the Rockets need more players with Ariza out.
The Rockets want Taylor to get a chance to play and develop with the Vipers, and quite frankly, with the way their talent has been poached recently, the Vipers need Taylor. It's also possible that the Rockets might want to send down Jordan Hill since he didn't really play with the Knicks and it would be great way for the 9th overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft to learn the Rockets system. However, since the Rockets can't bring in any talent to fill the spots of the injured, Taylor and Hill must be with the big club to provide healthy bodies.
If the Rockets could place players on an IR or DL, they could bring in players to replace them without having to recall a guy like Taylor or without having to worry about assigning a guy like Hill (note: I have no idea whether or not the Rockets plan on assigning Hill. I am only mentioning his name because he has NBA D-League eligibility).
Granted, from a Vipers standpoint, it probably wouldn't help the current short-roster problem. I am guessing the guys to get called up to take these injured spots would have been Antonio Anderson (thus keeping him from Oklahoma City), Mike Harris and Will Conroy.
But, hey, the goal of the Vipers is to help the Rockets win an NBA Championship, right? I think the Rockets have done a great job of using the Vipers as best they can within the given limitations of what they can do.
Hopefully in the next Collective Bargaining Agreement this will be one of the additions. Now that there is a legitimate source from which to find players to replace injured NBA players, it seems only logical. And boy would it ever help the NBA D-League attract more of the world's best non-NBA players. Sure, some would still take the money to go overseas, but I think more and more with NBA dreams would stick around in hopes that they might get their chance to show what they can do since there would be more opportunities.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Other Teams are Taking Notice
I've blogged at length about how other teams are taking notice about what's going on between the Rockets and the Vipers, but one team finally decided to take advantage of the situation – the Oklahoma City Thunder. It's kind of ironic since the Thunder have their own single-affiliate by owning the Tulsa 66ers. So why did they have to go outside the organization to find the talent they need?
Well, it's possible Tulsa would have drafted Anderson if the Vipers hadn't. The Vipers picked 12th, the 66ers went 16th, so they never had the chance.
More importantly, the combined Rockets and Vipers staffs have done a fantastic job in developing talent, which is why players keep getting picked off the roster, yet the Vipers remain good.
Case and point – Craig Winder. He was a serviceable 9th or 10th man on a weaker NBA Development League team. Now he's the best sixth man in the league and is a big reason why the Vipers are as good as they are.
Winder started the season in Syria. If I'd told you before the season that Winder was going to be the third-leading active scorer on the team (behind guys who have already received GATORADE Call-Ups this season and should again: Mike Harris and Will Conroy), what kind of season would you think the Vipers were having?
If I tell you that now, you'd probably say, 'no surprise there.' Winder is averaging a career-best 11.8 points per game. But wait! There's more! Winder is averaging 23.0 points per game over the last four games. He played a season-high 35 minutes last night while scoring a season-high 25 points. Winder may come off the bench, but he's effectively a starter (Vipers head coach Chris Finch thinks starting is overrated, and he's probably right. After all, minutes played are much more indicative... Mickell Gladness started yesterday and played 2:48).
I am going to start the campaign now. Craig Winder for NBA Development League Player of the Year. His development has been off the charts. No, he doesn't have the best numbers in the league, but he's got the most energy and, in my opinion, has the biggest effect on a game of anyone in the league. When he hits the floor, the dynamic changes. As Coach Finch said yesterday, you bring him out while the other team's starters are still out there, but getting a little tired. You knock them down before they can get their second wind.
And when Winder's not in the game? He's very vocal. Kind of like having an extra coach. Apparently they players call him Coach Winder. The importance of this can't be underestimated. If Harris and Conroy should get their well-deserved GATORADE call-ups to the NBA while Temple and Anderson stick up there, then Winder will be the leader of this team. I think he can handle it.
Well, it's possible Tulsa would have drafted Anderson if the Vipers hadn't. The Vipers picked 12th, the 66ers went 16th, so they never had the chance.
More importantly, the combined Rockets and Vipers staffs have done a fantastic job in developing talent, which is why players keep getting picked off the roster, yet the Vipers remain good.
Case and point – Craig Winder. He was a serviceable 9th or 10th man on a weaker NBA Development League team. Now he's the best sixth man in the league and is a big reason why the Vipers are as good as they are.
Winder started the season in Syria. If I'd told you before the season that Winder was going to be the third-leading active scorer on the team (behind guys who have already received GATORADE Call-Ups this season and should again: Mike Harris and Will Conroy), what kind of season would you think the Vipers were having?
If I tell you that now, you'd probably say, 'no surprise there.' Winder is averaging a career-best 11.8 points per game. But wait! There's more! Winder is averaging 23.0 points per game over the last four games. He played a season-high 35 minutes last night while scoring a season-high 25 points. Winder may come off the bench, but he's effectively a starter (Vipers head coach Chris Finch thinks starting is overrated, and he's probably right. After all, minutes played are much more indicative... Mickell Gladness started yesterday and played 2:48).
I am going to start the campaign now. Craig Winder for NBA Development League Player of the Year. His development has been off the charts. No, he doesn't have the best numbers in the league, but he's got the most energy and, in my opinion, has the biggest effect on a game of anyone in the league. When he hits the floor, the dynamic changes. As Coach Finch said yesterday, you bring him out while the other team's starters are still out there, but getting a little tired. You knock them down before they can get their second wind.
And when Winder's not in the game? He's very vocal. Kind of like having an extra coach. Apparently they players call him Coach Winder. The importance of this can't be underestimated. If Harris and Conroy should get their well-deserved GATORADE call-ups to the NBA while Temple and Anderson stick up there, then Winder will be the leader of this team. I think he can handle it.
Mr. 3,005
There was a moment there tonight when Will Conroy was sitting on 2,999 points that I was concerned he might not get a chance to take another shot. Or, worse, that he might continue to be unselfish and pass it off. The man had 14 assists and there were times when I wished he had less. Conroy passed up on at least two wide-open looks at three-pointers and I'm not really sure why he was tentative to let it fly. Conroy hasn't shot a lot of three-pointers this season for some reason. But when he did let loose, he hit them both, and they were huge.
Conroy, the NBA Development League's all-time leading scorer, is the first to the 3,000 point plateau. Is that a good thing? To quote Shakespear, "aye, there's the rub." What more does this guy have to do to get an extended look in the NBA? He's had three incredible games since returning to the Vipers from a 10-day contract with the Rockets.
Perhaps Conroy is a victim of bad luck. The Rockets, from all accounts, had every intention of giving Conroy a second 10-day contract, but because of the All-Star break, gave a contract to Garrett Temple instead. Temple played well and earned a second 10-day contract. And did you notice when the Rockets made that big trade Kevin Martin came in and not only complicated the guard equation, but took Conroy's #12? If Temple continues to play well, that spot could be his for the rest of the season.
So what does that mean for Conroy? He only came back to the NBA Development League so he could play for the Vipers since the Rockets had a lot of interest in Conroy. He was the last cut out of Rockets training camp, after all. Kyle Lowry is still out, so there's always hope, but what if it becomes clear the Rockets are no longer an option? I reject the notion that would be it for Conroy's NBA chances.
You can't tell me there's not a team out there that wouldn't be helped by having a jack-of-all trades veteran point guard who is not only solid on the court but great in the community.
Are you telling me the New Jersey Nets don't need a back-up point guard for Devin Harris? Conroy would be a perfect fit for the Nets. First of all, they're awful so they might as well see if Conroy can play consistently at the NBA level since they're looking towards next year. I hardly consider the soon to be 30-year old Keyon Dooling a serviceable backup point guard. They need him off the court too. The Nets need some good will in the community in the worst possible way. They're a horrible team and are planning to move twice (first two years in the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ followed by moving to Brooklyn, NY) in the next few years, making the IZOD useless. So why should anyone support them? I have no doubt Conroy could be the community ambassador to fix that.
I have no doubt I could find more teams that could use Conroy, but the point is made.
Look, from a selfish stand point I want Conroy with the Vipers because having him around presents the team with the best possible chance to win a championship. And I like having him around since that means the Rockets can call him up at anytime and he can fit right in since he's already running all of the same plays down here. Remember, the #1 mission of the Vipers is to help the Rockets win an NBA Championship, and having Conroy (and Mike Harris) available for a call-up and seamless integration at anytime certainly helps the Rockets towards that goal.
But I also want to see Conroy get the chance he deserves. He's worked so hard and in my mind Conroy has earned a legitimate chance to prove himself. He has never gotten that and it's about time that changes.
Conroy, the NBA Development League's all-time leading scorer, is the first to the 3,000 point plateau. Is that a good thing? To quote Shakespear, "aye, there's the rub." What more does this guy have to do to get an extended look in the NBA? He's had three incredible games since returning to the Vipers from a 10-day contract with the Rockets.
Perhaps Conroy is a victim of bad luck. The Rockets, from all accounts, had every intention of giving Conroy a second 10-day contract, but because of the All-Star break, gave a contract to Garrett Temple instead. Temple played well and earned a second 10-day contract. And did you notice when the Rockets made that big trade Kevin Martin came in and not only complicated the guard equation, but took Conroy's #12? If Temple continues to play well, that spot could be his for the rest of the season.
So what does that mean for Conroy? He only came back to the NBA Development League so he could play for the Vipers since the Rockets had a lot of interest in Conroy. He was the last cut out of Rockets training camp, after all. Kyle Lowry is still out, so there's always hope, but what if it becomes clear the Rockets are no longer an option? I reject the notion that would be it for Conroy's NBA chances.
You can't tell me there's not a team out there that wouldn't be helped by having a jack-of-all trades veteran point guard who is not only solid on the court but great in the community.
Are you telling me the New Jersey Nets don't need a back-up point guard for Devin Harris? Conroy would be a perfect fit for the Nets. First of all, they're awful so they might as well see if Conroy can play consistently at the NBA level since they're looking towards next year. I hardly consider the soon to be 30-year old Keyon Dooling a serviceable backup point guard. They need him off the court too. The Nets need some good will in the community in the worst possible way. They're a horrible team and are planning to move twice (first two years in the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ followed by moving to Brooklyn, NY) in the next few years, making the IZOD useless. So why should anyone support them? I have no doubt Conroy could be the community ambassador to fix that.
I have no doubt I could find more teams that could use Conroy, but the point is made.
Look, from a selfish stand point I want Conroy with the Vipers because having him around presents the team with the best possible chance to win a championship. And I like having him around since that means the Rockets can call him up at anytime and he can fit right in since he's already running all of the same plays down here. Remember, the #1 mission of the Vipers is to help the Rockets win an NBA Championship, and having Conroy (and Mike Harris) available for a call-up and seamless integration at anytime certainly helps the Rockets towards that goal.
But I also want to see Conroy get the chance he deserves. He's worked so hard and in my mind Conroy has earned a legitimate chance to prove himself. He has never gotten that and it's about time that changes.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Wow
I'm really not sure how else to describe watching the best team in minor league basketball blow a late in the 3rd quarter lead of 23 points to a team they had beat 10 ways til Sunday.
On Thursday, I wrote the following about the Maine Red Claws:
The Vipers watched that game today on NBA Futurecast to scout Maine. So I would imagine the lesson they learned was as long as you don't ease up, they can put away Maine and keep them away. Play 48 minutes of basketball and the Red Claws are cooked.
When the Vipers went on a 20-2 run in the second quarter, it seemed as if they were going to run away and hide. But instead they let the Red Claws hang around just long enough for them to strike. A 16-0 run from the end of the third to the beginning of the fourth (starting at the point the Vipers took a 23 point lead) was the beginning of the end for the Vipers, who are probably guilty of easing up.
Telling stats:
The Vipers were 14-0 when shooting over 50% from the field in a game. Now they're 14-1. In fact, Maine shot slightly better from the field.
The Vipers went 2-for-22 from behind the arc. Worst output of the season. Maine was 8-for-16. The Vipers live and die by the three. Today they died by it. It shouldn't have mattered. Had the Vipers played good defense no one would remember those wild deuces. Heck, I didn't even realize how poorly the Vipers were shooting from behind the arc until late in the fourth when it started to matter.
All I can say is the Vipers lost this game. They had it in hand and blew it. Happens. They get a chance to right the ship in about 13 and a half hours.
See you there!
On Thursday, I wrote the following about the Maine Red Claws:
The Vipers watched that game today on NBA Futurecast to scout Maine. So I would imagine the lesson they learned was as long as you don't ease up, they can put away Maine and keep them away. Play 48 minutes of basketball and the Red Claws are cooked.
When the Vipers went on a 20-2 run in the second quarter, it seemed as if they were going to run away and hide. But instead they let the Red Claws hang around just long enough for them to strike. A 16-0 run from the end of the third to the beginning of the fourth (starting at the point the Vipers took a 23 point lead) was the beginning of the end for the Vipers, who are probably guilty of easing up.
Telling stats:
The Vipers were 14-0 when shooting over 50% from the field in a game. Now they're 14-1. In fact, Maine shot slightly better from the field.
The Vipers went 2-for-22 from behind the arc. Worst output of the season. Maine was 8-for-16. The Vipers live and die by the three. Today they died by it. It shouldn't have mattered. Had the Vipers played good defense no one would remember those wild deuces. Heck, I didn't even realize how poorly the Vipers were shooting from behind the arc until late in the fourth when it started to matter.
All I can say is the Vipers lost this game. They had it in hand and blew it. Happens. They get a chance to right the ship in about 13 and a half hours.
See you there!
Friday, February 19, 2010
YAO MING IS COMING TO THE VALLEY!!!!
HOLY [INSERT FAVORITE EXPLETIVE HERE]! YAO MING IS COMING TO THE VIPERS GAME ON MARCH 10!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
7:30 p.m.
State Farm Arena
BUY TICKETS NOW! This game WILL SELL OUT! Don't be left out!
That's right. THAT six-time All-Star. THAT Houston Rockets center. Yes... this one (photo credit NBAE/Getty Images):
Man he's tall. 7-6...
---
So I got a "scare" tonight, courtesy of the Springfield Armor. Perhaps they saw that I wrote that I didn't think they'd win another game this season (after my post earlier today, I'm not so sure I believe that anymore, since Felix and Bobbitt aren't that bad... but I'm not going to back down now, since it's always possible I turn out to be right... and then I get to say I told you so). Springfield fell to Reno 124-123. I don't know if there was an error in the box score or I just read it wrong, but when I left the office for dinner at Mimi's Cafe, honestly, I thought Springfield had won and I was preparing to eat my hat. Apparently I can hold off on that.
I wonder if the Armor knew I had written that. And if they did, would it matter? I like to think that the extra motivation isn't needed since they're playing in the most heavily scouted league (by the NBA) in the world and the reason most, if not all, players play in a league that has the word DEVELOPMENT in it is for a shot at the NBA. That seems like more than enough motivation every night to me.
But, if my words did give them extra motivation/do give them extra motivation to win over the rest of the season, I'll take it as a compliment. Since that's basically admitting that what I say matters (would also suggest I have a good following), and really, that's how you know you've made it in the blogging world. :)
7:30 p.m.
State Farm Arena
BUY TICKETS NOW! This game WILL SELL OUT! Don't be left out!
That's right. THAT six-time All-Star. THAT Houston Rockets center. Yes... this one (photo credit NBAE/Getty Images):
Man he's tall. 7-6...
---
So I got a "scare" tonight, courtesy of the Springfield Armor. Perhaps they saw that I wrote that I didn't think they'd win another game this season (after my post earlier today, I'm not so sure I believe that anymore, since Felix and Bobbitt aren't that bad... but I'm not going to back down now, since it's always possible I turn out to be right... and then I get to say I told you so). Springfield fell to Reno 124-123. I don't know if there was an error in the box score or I just read it wrong, but when I left the office for dinner at Mimi's Cafe, honestly, I thought Springfield had won and I was preparing to eat my hat. Apparently I can hold off on that.
I wonder if the Armor knew I had written that. And if they did, would it matter? I like to think that the extra motivation isn't needed since they're playing in the most heavily scouted league (by the NBA) in the world and the reason most, if not all, players play in a league that has the word DEVELOPMENT in it is for a shot at the NBA. That seems like more than enough motivation every night to me.
But, if my words did give them extra motivation/do give them extra motivation to win over the rest of the season, I'll take it as a compliment. Since that's basically admitting that what I say matters (would also suggest I have a good following), and really, that's how you know you've made it in the blogging world. :)
The Maine Equation
I was just thinking about that Morris Almond and T.J. Cummings trade to from Springfield to Maine again. And this is something I probably should've thought of sooner, and will probably talk about during tomorrow's broadcast.
When adding two players, you subtract two. Okay, no duh, right?
Here's what Maine did (all stats pre-trade):
Add:
Morris Almond - 26.8 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 40.8 mpg
T.J. Cummings - 15.1 ppg, 8.8 rpg, 35.3 mpg
Subtract:
Tony Bobbitt - 12.2 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 25.2 mpg
Noel Felix - 9.2 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 21.8 mpg
So, on first glance, Maine added 20.5 points and 5.6 rebounds per game. Pretty significant... Until you correct for minutes played. Almond and Cummings played 29.1 minutes per game more than Bobbitt and Felix. That almost erases an entire player, which could easily makeup for the difference in points and rebounds.
The proof is in the statistics per 48 minutes (see! this is why I use those).
Almond - 31.5 pp48, 6.1 rp48
Cummings - 20.5pp48, 12.0 rp48
Bobbitt - 23.2pp48, 5.0 rp48
Felix - 20.3 pp48, 12.8 rp48
So, it now appears that Maine actually added 8.5 points and 0.3 rebounds per game.
Now, don't get me wrong, adding 8.5 points per game is pretty significant. Maine was averaging 101.3 points per game. If they suddenly start averaging 109.8 points per for the rest of the season, as long as they can play defense (unlike in Tulsa yesterday), they're going to win most of their games.
Not so fast, though. For Almond and Cummings to average those minutes, other players have to lose minutes (or Almond and Cummings' minutes go down). Which means someone else is going to contribute less, but more, there's that human element of hot and cold stretches and having less opportunity to shoot out of it or the mental aspects of less opportunity to prove yourself.
What I'm saying is, sure, it was a significant trade for Maine, but I'm just not convinced it was that significant.
I guess we'll find out this weekend.
Saturday at 8:00 p.m.
Sunday at 5:00 p.m.
State Farm Arena.
See you there!
When adding two players, you subtract two. Okay, no duh, right?
Here's what Maine did (all stats pre-trade):
Add:
Morris Almond - 26.8 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 40.8 mpg
T.J. Cummings - 15.1 ppg, 8.8 rpg, 35.3 mpg
Subtract:
Tony Bobbitt - 12.2 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 25.2 mpg
Noel Felix - 9.2 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 21.8 mpg
So, on first glance, Maine added 20.5 points and 5.6 rebounds per game. Pretty significant... Until you correct for minutes played. Almond and Cummings played 29.1 minutes per game more than Bobbitt and Felix. That almost erases an entire player, which could easily makeup for the difference in points and rebounds.
The proof is in the statistics per 48 minutes (see! this is why I use those).
Almond - 31.5 pp48, 6.1 rp48
Cummings - 20.5pp48, 12.0 rp48
Bobbitt - 23.2pp48, 5.0 rp48
Felix - 20.3 pp48, 12.8 rp48
So, it now appears that Maine actually added 8.5 points and 0.3 rebounds per game.
Now, don't get me wrong, adding 8.5 points per game is pretty significant. Maine was averaging 101.3 points per game. If they suddenly start averaging 109.8 points per for the rest of the season, as long as they can play defense (unlike in Tulsa yesterday), they're going to win most of their games.
Not so fast, though. For Almond and Cummings to average those minutes, other players have to lose minutes (or Almond and Cummings' minutes go down). Which means someone else is going to contribute less, but more, there's that human element of hot and cold stretches and having less opportunity to shoot out of it or the mental aspects of less opportunity to prove yourself.
What I'm saying is, sure, it was a significant trade for Maine, but I'm just not convinced it was that significant.
I guess we'll find out this weekend.
Saturday at 8:00 p.m.
Sunday at 5:00 p.m.
State Farm Arena.
See you there!
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Strike That, Reverse It
So, if you scroll down a little bit you'll see I said Maine is the new beast of the East because they got Morris Almond and T.J. Cummings.
Um, yeah. Strike that, reverse it. They're still overrated.
The Red Claws lost to Tulsa 113-107 this morning. Normally I'd look at that score and say, Maine played a competitive game against a tough Western Conference foe, on the road, where the Vipers have lost twice. That's impressive.
Until you notice that it took a massive comeback by Maine to lose by just six. That Tulsa outscored Maine 35-21 in the first and 31-23 in the third.
Until you see that Maine had 51 rebounds (19 offensive) and still lost to a Tulsa team that had 34 rebounds (five offensive).
Until you see that Tulsa shot the [insert favorite euphemism here] out of the ball and got to the line 37 times (hitting 30 shots), doubling Maine's output from there.
Until you see that Maine made 22 turnovers (compared to 15 by Tulsa).
Until you see that Tulsa blocked eight shots while Maine blocked one.
So was the game really that close? Maine outscored Tulsa 37-25 in the fourth. Maine showing the ability to rally or Tulsa taking the foot off the pedal while up by a bit?
The Vipers watched that game today on NBA Futurecast to scout Maine. So I would imagine the lesson they learned was as long as you don't ease up, they can put away Maine and keep them away. Play 48 minutes of basketball and the Red Claws are cooked.
And in case your worried that this will become bulletin board material to amp up Maine, then I say this: If they need to read my blog post to get amped up to play the best team in minor league basketball, then they've got bigger problems. My guess is that's not the case, and I don't mean to suggest it is. Just heading that off at the pass.
---
Of course, before we can preview this weekend accurately we need to know what the Vipers roster will look like. The Rockets traded three and acquired four today. Garrett Temple's 10-day contract is up, so does that mean he's the fourth leaving to make space? Is he going to be back in the Valley on Saturday? He's played well for the Rockets over the last two games. So might someone else get waived? There are a few guys, specifically bigs on the Rockets roster with expiring contracts, who don't/might not play. One of them could be waived so Temple could get another 10-day contract or perhaps so Will Conroy could get another GATORADE Call-Up. Or, on the other side of the ball, with a suddenly full roster, does that free someone up (ie: Jermaine Taylor or Jordan Hill) to be assigned? I don't know. I honestly don't right now. Things will become clearer in the next 24-48 hours. Stay tuned.
Um, yeah. Strike that, reverse it. They're still overrated.
The Red Claws lost to Tulsa 113-107 this morning. Normally I'd look at that score and say, Maine played a competitive game against a tough Western Conference foe, on the road, where the Vipers have lost twice. That's impressive.
Until you notice that it took a massive comeback by Maine to lose by just six. That Tulsa outscored Maine 35-21 in the first and 31-23 in the third.
Until you see that Maine had 51 rebounds (19 offensive) and still lost to a Tulsa team that had 34 rebounds (five offensive).
Until you see that Tulsa shot the [insert favorite euphemism here] out of the ball and got to the line 37 times (hitting 30 shots), doubling Maine's output from there.
Until you see that Maine made 22 turnovers (compared to 15 by Tulsa).
Until you see that Tulsa blocked eight shots while Maine blocked one.
So was the game really that close? Maine outscored Tulsa 37-25 in the fourth. Maine showing the ability to rally or Tulsa taking the foot off the pedal while up by a bit?
The Vipers watched that game today on NBA Futurecast to scout Maine. So I would imagine the lesson they learned was as long as you don't ease up, they can put away Maine and keep them away. Play 48 minutes of basketball and the Red Claws are cooked.
And in case your worried that this will become bulletin board material to amp up Maine, then I say this: If they need to read my blog post to get amped up to play the best team in minor league basketball, then they've got bigger problems. My guess is that's not the case, and I don't mean to suggest it is. Just heading that off at the pass.
---
Of course, before we can preview this weekend accurately we need to know what the Vipers roster will look like. The Rockets traded three and acquired four today. Garrett Temple's 10-day contract is up, so does that mean he's the fourth leaving to make space? Is he going to be back in the Valley on Saturday? He's played well for the Rockets over the last two games. So might someone else get waived? There are a few guys, specifically bigs on the Rockets roster with expiring contracts, who don't/might not play. One of them could be waived so Temple could get another 10-day contract or perhaps so Will Conroy could get another GATORADE Call-Up. Or, on the other side of the ball, with a suddenly full roster, does that free someone up (ie: Jermaine Taylor or Jordan Hill) to be assigned? I don't know. I honestly don't right now. Things will become clearer in the next 24-48 hours. Stay tuned.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Vipers Waive Carter
February 8 - Vipers Acquire Russell Carter, who opened the season with Austin but hadn't played in a month.
February 9 - Weather prevents Carter from joining team in Fort Wayne for game.
February 10 - Snow prevents Vipers from reaching Springfield, game postponed, All-Star Break arrives early.
February 16 - Vipers waiver Carter.
February 9 - Weather prevents Carter from joining team in Fort Wayne for game.
February 10 - Snow prevents Vipers from reaching Springfield, game postponed, All-Star Break arrives early.
February 16 - Vipers waiver Carter.
New Beast of the East?
The Maine Red Claws must not have liked what I said about the Eastern Conference or perhaps they heard that I thought they were the most overrated team in the NBA Development League.
Notice the use of past tense.
All they did yesterday was fleece Springfield (who I don't honestly believe will win another game this season) by acquiring the league's leading scorer (Morris Almond) and the eighth-leading rebounder (T.J. Cummings), who won't even start on this ridiculously deep team that's had three different NBA-assignees (Bill Walker and J.R. Giddens from the Boston Celtics and Alexis Acinja from the Charlotte Bobcats) at times this year to add a boost.
I thought Maine was a pretender. They were feeding on a weak Eastern Conference and losing to better teams. Heck, Maine has lost to Springfield four times (they're 5-22... did I mention I don't think they're going to win another game this year?).
Now? Maine is a legitimate contendor, whether they get their NBA-assignees back or not.
As recently as Thursday I considered Maine perhaps the fourth or fifth best team in the league, leaning towards fifth, and even considering sixth. Now? They're a legitimate top-four team along with Rio Grande Valley, Austin and Iowa.
This move has two major effects on the Vipers:
1. The Vipers have their only two regular season meetings with Maine this weekend at State Farm Arena. Saturday at 8:00 and Sunday at 5:00. Almond and Cummings should have enough time to learn the system, and besides, they've seen Maine plenty this year from the other end. I was originally thinking these games were going to be similar to the Vipers blasting through of Iowa in Des Moines. Not anymore. I expect two down-to-the-wire competitive contests. Not that that's necessarily a bad thing.
2. The Vipers hold a 3.0 games lead over Austin for first place in the Western Conference and, if you want to lump everyone together, 3.5 games lead over Maine who has the fourth best record in the league. The Vipers are 2.5 back of Iowa for the best record in the league. I thought the race was going to be between RGV and Iowa for the top spot, but now, realistically, those four teams could finish in any order at the top. I've talked at length about Maine playing in the easier conference and therefore having an easier road to a great record. But what about Austin? They have three games with Springfield (and five with Bakersfield) left. Must be nice to get to beat up on the weakest teams in the league. But, hey, you can only play the schedule in front of you. The Vipers have two games left with Springfield themselves, plus three with Bakersfield, so let's not blow it completely out of proportion, but that's one extra game the team chasing the Vipers has against a team that I don't think will win again this year. And Maine's going to win more games because of the trade. So... it's going to be a photo finish.
Notice the use of past tense.
All they did yesterday was fleece Springfield (who I don't honestly believe will win another game this season) by acquiring the league's leading scorer (Morris Almond) and the eighth-leading rebounder (T.J. Cummings), who won't even start on this ridiculously deep team that's had three different NBA-assignees (Bill Walker and J.R. Giddens from the Boston Celtics and Alexis Acinja from the Charlotte Bobcats) at times this year to add a boost.
I thought Maine was a pretender. They were feeding on a weak Eastern Conference and losing to better teams. Heck, Maine has lost to Springfield four times (they're 5-22... did I mention I don't think they're going to win another game this year?).
Now? Maine is a legitimate contendor, whether they get their NBA-assignees back or not.
As recently as Thursday I considered Maine perhaps the fourth or fifth best team in the league, leaning towards fifth, and even considering sixth. Now? They're a legitimate top-four team along with Rio Grande Valley, Austin and Iowa.
This move has two major effects on the Vipers:
1. The Vipers have their only two regular season meetings with Maine this weekend at State Farm Arena. Saturday at 8:00 and Sunday at 5:00. Almond and Cummings should have enough time to learn the system, and besides, they've seen Maine plenty this year from the other end. I was originally thinking these games were going to be similar to the Vipers blasting through of Iowa in Des Moines. Not anymore. I expect two down-to-the-wire competitive contests. Not that that's necessarily a bad thing.
2. The Vipers hold a 3.0 games lead over Austin for first place in the Western Conference and, if you want to lump everyone together, 3.5 games lead over Maine who has the fourth best record in the league. The Vipers are 2.5 back of Iowa for the best record in the league. I thought the race was going to be between RGV and Iowa for the top spot, but now, realistically, those four teams could finish in any order at the top. I've talked at length about Maine playing in the easier conference and therefore having an easier road to a great record. But what about Austin? They have three games with Springfield (and five with Bakersfield) left. Must be nice to get to beat up on the weakest teams in the league. But, hey, you can only play the schedule in front of you. The Vipers have two games left with Springfield themselves, plus three with Bakersfield, so let's not blow it completely out of proportion, but that's one extra game the team chasing the Vipers has against a team that I don't think will win again this year. And Maine's going to win more games because of the trade. So... it's going to be a photo finish.
Monday, February 15, 2010
Home Stretch
The Vipers have 19 games left, 12 of which are at home (63.2%), you know, a place where they're 11-1. This is a best-case scenario for a team that's in a tight battle for a playoff spot.
But for a team comfortably in first place and with the second best record in the NBA Development League? Well, it's just icing on the cake.
The one thing teams in the NBA Development League don't often do is win on the road, making for photo finishes at the end and it really does come to who has the home games.
Consider these league-wide home court advantage winning percentages:
09-10 (.580) - Vipers one of six teams with winning record on the road.
08-09 (.590) - Champion Colorado 14ers one of only three teams with winning record on the road.
07-08 (.626) - Champion Idaho Stampede one of only two teams with winning record on the road.
06-07 (.567) - Champion Dakota Wizards one of only three teams with winning record on the road.
Iowa, the team the Vipers are chasing for the #1 seed, has nine home games and nine road games left. Iowa's got a winning record on the road too, so the unbalanced scheduled doesn't necessarily favor the Vipers, but it certainly doesn't hurt.
The Vipers have only three known road trips left, all back-to-backs. A weekend at Bakersfield, a weekend at Reno, and a quick trip through Utah and Idaho (I'm ignoring the Springfield game since I haven't heard makeup plans yet).
The Vipers had some tough travel in the first half of the season, so this is a nice reward for them. Now come out and support them. I will be taking attendance...
But for a team comfortably in first place and with the second best record in the NBA Development League? Well, it's just icing on the cake.
The one thing teams in the NBA Development League don't often do is win on the road, making for photo finishes at the end and it really does come to who has the home games.
Consider these league-wide home court advantage winning percentages:
09-10 (.580) - Vipers one of six teams with winning record on the road.
08-09 (.590) - Champion Colorado 14ers one of only three teams with winning record on the road.
07-08 (.626) - Champion Idaho Stampede one of only two teams with winning record on the road.
06-07 (.567) - Champion Dakota Wizards one of only three teams with winning record on the road.
Iowa, the team the Vipers are chasing for the #1 seed, has nine home games and nine road games left. Iowa's got a winning record on the road too, so the unbalanced scheduled doesn't necessarily favor the Vipers, but it certainly doesn't hurt.
The Vipers have only three known road trips left, all back-to-backs. A weekend at Bakersfield, a weekend at Reno, and a quick trip through Utah and Idaho (I'm ignoring the Springfield game since I haven't heard makeup plans yet).
The Vipers had some tough travel in the first half of the season, so this is a nice reward for them. Now come out and support them. I will be taking attendance...
Saturday, February 13, 2010
LeEast of the Probelms
I was going to use the Eastern Conference's (or should I saw Leastern Conference's) blowing of an early 17-point lead to lose by 17 as a chance to beat my favorite dead horse of how the Western Conference is so much better than the Eastern Conference, but, you know what? When you're taking the best players and coaches from east conference, there really isn't that big of a difference (despite the final result).
Here was my problem with today's All-Star Game – it was split into two 20 minute halves. This isn't a college game and it really isn't an exhibition in the truest sense of the word. This was a chance for the NBA Development League's best to show off in front of every team in the NBA. So why change the conditions on them? Why not play four quarters? Why not play the full 48 minutes?
Does it make a huge difference on how the game plays out? Unlikely. Basketball is basketball. Still, I don't get it. What will all of the fans who got tickets because they're going to watch the NBA Slam Dunk, Three-Point, Shooting Stars and HORSE competitions think, who have never before seen an NBA Development League game think?
---
On the plus side, Mike Harris scored 14 points. He had one dunk during the first half that was pretty cool. He took off from the foul line...
---
Anyone else see the Opening Ceremonies of the Olympics in Vancouver last night? I thought it was an incredible ceremony. I was really caught off guard by Steve Nash being there, but I thought that was awesome.
Still, while he and Wayne Gretzky being there symbolized something great, it also symbolized something, well, arguably not so great.
Isn't the Olympics supposed to be chock full of amateur athletes? Well, I guess that theory set sail long ago. Everyone seems to have coaches and a lot of these people train year-round, competing in international competitions and stuff.
It's easy to sit here and see NBA and NHL players shouldn't be out there since they're not amateurs and point our how much better the men's ice hockey team was when they used recently graduated college kids who weren't playing pro (read: Miracle on Ice, 1980). It easy to say none of the sports are like that. But that's not so true.
LeBron James and Yao Ming might get more press over here, but Sven Kramer, who easily won the Gold Medal with an Olympic record in the 5,000 meters speed skating competition today, is of their equivalent in the Netherlands.
I watch all of that and I still get into it, but the sport I have enjoyed the most so far? Men's short track speed skating and women's mogul.
In the men's short track I'll admit I'm rooting for Apolo Anton Ohno, but I'm really excited for 19-year old JR Celski from Federal Way, Washington. He finished with the bronze in the 1,500 (Ohno got silver). He had a scary crash at the US trials, hadn't raced since, and now look at him. He seems like more of an amateur and a great story to root for.
Then there's 18-year old Chloe DuFour-LaPointe from Montreal, Quebec. She just had an incredible run in the women's mogul and ended up finishing fifth. Again, a true amateur.
I think the other thing I enjoyed was watching Simon Ammann of Switzerland's celebration after winning the Gold Medal in the normal hill ski jumping event. The celebration of Hannah Kearney (Gold) and Shannon Bahrke (Bronze) at the end of the women's mogul was really pure and spirited as well.
These Olympians aren't after the all-mighty dollar or sponsorships (I know, Ohno got them, but he wasn't after them, I don't think). They're doing because, well... because they can.
It's that Olympic Spirit everyone always talks about. There are those competing who know they have no chance at winning a medal, yet there they are, competing anyway.
Did you know there is no US men's ski jumping team? Those athletes are in Vancouver on their own dime. They're not likely to win any medals. Yet there they are.
For all the talk about having superstars from the major sports in the Olympics, I seem to remember Olympic basketball being on at odd times in the morning during the summer of 2008. I barely saw any of that star power the Olympics claims to crave. Those sports aren't the most watched for a reason. If I want to watch Kobe Bryant I'll watch a nationally televised NBA game. If I want to watch a basketball game period, it's not during the Olympics.
I want to watch these other people I've never heard of. They're out their representing their countries. I respect that and I admire that. It's the same reason I rooted for and followed every team at Boston University. In fact, I once sent a message to a tracker runner I didn't know, who almost won a National Championship (came up short because of a hamstring injury... was winning at the time), congratulating her on a great run and thanking her for representing my school, and therefore me since I was a student at the time, so well.
I think that's why I watch as many Olympic sports as I can. It's my thank you for representing the USA (except in those instances when something like the US Hockey Team trashing a room at Olympic Village happens... ).
One of my pipe dreams is to call part of the Olympics one day. I think I'd like to call curling. Really, anything, winter or summer. Just to do it. Even if just once.
What can I say, I guess I have a little bit of the Olympics Spirit in me too.
Here was my problem with today's All-Star Game – it was split into two 20 minute halves. This isn't a college game and it really isn't an exhibition in the truest sense of the word. This was a chance for the NBA Development League's best to show off in front of every team in the NBA. So why change the conditions on them? Why not play four quarters? Why not play the full 48 minutes?
Does it make a huge difference on how the game plays out? Unlikely. Basketball is basketball. Still, I don't get it. What will all of the fans who got tickets because they're going to watch the NBA Slam Dunk, Three-Point, Shooting Stars and HORSE competitions think, who have never before seen an NBA Development League game think?
---
On the plus side, Mike Harris scored 14 points. He had one dunk during the first half that was pretty cool. He took off from the foul line...
---
Anyone else see the Opening Ceremonies of the Olympics in Vancouver last night? I thought it was an incredible ceremony. I was really caught off guard by Steve Nash being there, but I thought that was awesome.
Still, while he and Wayne Gretzky being there symbolized something great, it also symbolized something, well, arguably not so great.
Isn't the Olympics supposed to be chock full of amateur athletes? Well, I guess that theory set sail long ago. Everyone seems to have coaches and a lot of these people train year-round, competing in international competitions and stuff.
It's easy to sit here and see NBA and NHL players shouldn't be out there since they're not amateurs and point our how much better the men's ice hockey team was when they used recently graduated college kids who weren't playing pro (read: Miracle on Ice, 1980). It easy to say none of the sports are like that. But that's not so true.
LeBron James and Yao Ming might get more press over here, but Sven Kramer, who easily won the Gold Medal with an Olympic record in the 5,000 meters speed skating competition today, is of their equivalent in the Netherlands.
I watch all of that and I still get into it, but the sport I have enjoyed the most so far? Men's short track speed skating and women's mogul.
In the men's short track I'll admit I'm rooting for Apolo Anton Ohno, but I'm really excited for 19-year old JR Celski from Federal Way, Washington. He finished with the bronze in the 1,500 (Ohno got silver). He had a scary crash at the US trials, hadn't raced since, and now look at him. He seems like more of an amateur and a great story to root for.
Then there's 18-year old Chloe DuFour-LaPointe from Montreal, Quebec. She just had an incredible run in the women's mogul and ended up finishing fifth. Again, a true amateur.
I think the other thing I enjoyed was watching Simon Ammann of Switzerland's celebration after winning the Gold Medal in the normal hill ski jumping event. The celebration of Hannah Kearney (Gold) and Shannon Bahrke (Bronze) at the end of the women's mogul was really pure and spirited as well.
These Olympians aren't after the all-mighty dollar or sponsorships (I know, Ohno got them, but he wasn't after them, I don't think). They're doing because, well... because they can.
It's that Olympic Spirit everyone always talks about. There are those competing who know they have no chance at winning a medal, yet there they are, competing anyway.
Did you know there is no US men's ski jumping team? Those athletes are in Vancouver on their own dime. They're not likely to win any medals. Yet there they are.
For all the talk about having superstars from the major sports in the Olympics, I seem to remember Olympic basketball being on at odd times in the morning during the summer of 2008. I barely saw any of that star power the Olympics claims to crave. Those sports aren't the most watched for a reason. If I want to watch Kobe Bryant I'll watch a nationally televised NBA game. If I want to watch a basketball game period, it's not during the Olympics.
I want to watch these other people I've never heard of. They're out their representing their countries. I respect that and I admire that. It's the same reason I rooted for and followed every team at Boston University. In fact, I once sent a message to a tracker runner I didn't know, who almost won a National Championship (came up short because of a hamstring injury... was winning at the time), congratulating her on a great run and thanking her for representing my school, and therefore me since I was a student at the time, so well.
I think that's why I watch as many Olympic sports as I can. It's my thank you for representing the USA (except in those instances when something like the US Hockey Team trashing a room at Olympic Village happens... ).
One of my pipe dreams is to call part of the Olympics one day. I think I'd like to call curling. Really, anything, winter or summer. Just to do it. Even if just once.
What can I say, I guess I have a little bit of the Olympics Spirit in me too.
Friday, February 12, 2010
It's Dream Team Time!
The 1992 US Olympic Gold Medal winning Dream Team is a finalist for enshrinement in the Basketball Hall of Fame this year. The timing of this announcement is so perfect with the Olympics starting tonight.
Perhaps this year's Dream Team will take home the gold in honor of... oh... wait... no.
Can someone please explain to me why basketball is part of the SUMMER Olympics? It's a winter sport. You don't see hockey during the Summer Olympics, do you? Or baseball during the Winter Olympics? So, um, what the heck?
As an outsider, here's what I see (and this is one reason why I don't get as excited for the Olympics as I used to):
Hockey is played during the Winter Olympics because the NHL is willing to take a break during the middle of the season (and cancel All-Star festivities... ).
Basketball is played during the Summer Olympics because the NBA refuses to halt their season mid-stream for the Olympics.
Baseball was* played during the Summer Olympics despite the fact that MLB refused to pause their season.
*Baseball is no longer a part of the Summer Olympics line-up beginning with the London Olympics of 2012 because Major League Baseball refuses to halt their season to send Major Leaguers over (thought they do send the top minor leaguers who are Gold Medal contenders every year and actually won it in 2000 in Australia). Ironically, softball is no longer a part of the Olympics because they were too good (again, ironically, they did finally lose a game when Japan beat them in the Gold Medal game two years ago, but don't get me started on how shady that playoff format was because I am still furious over the fact that each team lost just one game (the US beat Japan, who then had to win an elimination game to get back to the Championship) and yet the US got the Silver, despite finishing with a 1-1 record against Japan. If it was really a double-elimination tournament, like supposedly it was, there should have been one more game to decide the champion).
ADB just informed me that the NHL is likely to stop doing Olympic Breaks. It makes sense since that break doesn't really benefit them in anyway. Do you think that will cause the IOC to drop hockey? It hasn't dropped basketball...
ADB also makes the argument that basketball is played during the Summer Olympics because that's when International Tournaments are played. That makes sense, but, you know what? International baseball tournaments are played during the winter (ie: The Pan-American Games). Can anyone else say double-standard? I'm at a loss.
So tell me how any of this makes sense.
It's almost as bad as the BCS.
Perhaps this year's Dream Team will take home the gold in honor of... oh... wait... no.
Can someone please explain to me why basketball is part of the SUMMER Olympics? It's a winter sport. You don't see hockey during the Summer Olympics, do you? Or baseball during the Winter Olympics? So, um, what the heck?
As an outsider, here's what I see (and this is one reason why I don't get as excited for the Olympics as I used to):
Hockey is played during the Winter Olympics because the NHL is willing to take a break during the middle of the season (and cancel All-Star festivities... ).
Basketball is played during the Summer Olympics because the NBA refuses to halt their season mid-stream for the Olympics.
Baseball was* played during the Summer Olympics despite the fact that MLB refused to pause their season.
*Baseball is no longer a part of the Summer Olympics line-up beginning with the London Olympics of 2012 because Major League Baseball refuses to halt their season to send Major Leaguers over (thought they do send the top minor leaguers who are Gold Medal contenders every year and actually won it in 2000 in Australia). Ironically, softball is no longer a part of the Olympics because they were too good (again, ironically, they did finally lose a game when Japan beat them in the Gold Medal game two years ago, but don't get me started on how shady that playoff format was because I am still furious over the fact that each team lost just one game (the US beat Japan, who then had to win an elimination game to get back to the Championship) and yet the US got the Silver, despite finishing with a 1-1 record against Japan. If it was really a double-elimination tournament, like supposedly it was, there should have been one more game to decide the champion).
ADB just informed me that the NHL is likely to stop doing Olympic Breaks. It makes sense since that break doesn't really benefit them in anyway. Do you think that will cause the IOC to drop hockey? It hasn't dropped basketball...
ADB also makes the argument that basketball is played during the Summer Olympics because that's when International Tournaments are played. That makes sense, but, you know what? International baseball tournaments are played during the winter (ie: The Pan-American Games). Can anyone else say double-standard? I'm at a loss.
So tell me how any of this makes sense.
It's almost as bad as the BCS.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Behind the Scenes Preparation
"It's not the legs that get you there, it's the heart that propels them." - Jack Falla
I am currently watching something incredible. A couple of members of our stats crew, Zena Davila, the leader of the pack, and Rachel Reida, who has been promoted from stat-runner to manual to secondary to jack-of-all trade for VERSUS (and is now learning how to do primary stats) as the season has progressed, are practicing inputing stats. Please note the time stamp on this post. Yes, it's about 10:30 p.m. on a Thursday night, more than a week before the Vipers' next home game, and these two young women are working hard to perfect their craft.
It's a side job for each of them. They have their own 8-5 jobs. Zena's hours extend a bit beyond 5 and Rachel's got other side-stuff she does too. Yet here they are, in their not so abundant free time, practicing and learning.
They're practicing on a New Orleans @ Milwaukee game from 2008. I would imagine they're both tired, but they're only at the end of the third quarter, so plenty of time left working.
This is the kind of behind the scenes preparation that will make them both successful and also make them both more attractive to future employers should it be necessary. It's always a tough trick to get prospective employers to realize what kind of behind the scenes stuff you do, you know, the stuff no one generally knows about and you're too modest to talk about?
Well, if anyone out there reading this is looking to hire either of them and just googled their names and found this blog post, they have my full endorsement.
I am currently watching something incredible. A couple of members of our stats crew, Zena Davila, the leader of the pack, and Rachel Reida, who has been promoted from stat-runner to manual to secondary to jack-of-all trade for VERSUS (and is now learning how to do primary stats) as the season has progressed, are practicing inputing stats. Please note the time stamp on this post. Yes, it's about 10:30 p.m. on a Thursday night, more than a week before the Vipers' next home game, and these two young women are working hard to perfect their craft.
It's a side job for each of them. They have their own 8-5 jobs. Zena's hours extend a bit beyond 5 and Rachel's got other side-stuff she does too. Yet here they are, in their not so abundant free time, practicing and learning.
They're practicing on a New Orleans @ Milwaukee game from 2008. I would imagine they're both tired, but they're only at the end of the third quarter, so plenty of time left working.
This is the kind of behind the scenes preparation that will make them both successful and also make them both more attractive to future employers should it be necessary. It's always a tough trick to get prospective employers to realize what kind of behind the scenes stuff you do, you know, the stuff no one generally knows about and you're too modest to talk about?
Well, if anyone out there reading this is looking to hire either of them and just googled their names and found this blog post, they have my full endorsement.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Snow Day
"And anything can happen on a Snow Day"
Don't tell me you never saw that movie. Can you say homework assignment?
To give you an idea of how bad the snow is (and why I don't want to hear anyone complain about this 52 degree weather we're enjoying):
The US Government shutdown because of snow. Okay, I concede, that's nothing surprising. I could make some political jokes here, but just in the context of snow, the District of Columbia doesn't seem to know how to handle that stuff. One of my earliest memories of CNN is someone with a snow blower outside the White House during the Blizzard of 1993/1994. Snow seems to shutdown the government a lot. Apparently they don't have the same resolve as the U.S. Postal Service, which operates through rain, sleet, snow, etc (except when they don't, and being from NY, I can tell you, it happens... I mean, it's a safety issue. Shoot, it's not like anyone mails declarations of war anymore...).
New York City schools shutdown. Now THIS is a rare event. They closed once in 1979. Then again during in early 1994 (my dad was a city public school teacher, and I remember his excitement to find out that he finally had another snow day). I'm not sure if it's closed since then. Probably not.
That same storm went up the east coast and hit Springfield. It also hit Fort Wayne on the way. There was no realistically safe way the Vipers were gonna make it to Springfield. So the game was postponed. Until when? I don't know yet.
The only feasible date I found when comparing the Vipers, Armor and MassMutual Center schedules last night during the Farmers Insurance Halftime Report was March 1st. Springfield's at Austin on 2/28 and the Vipers host Bakersfield that same day, so they could both catch the first flights out and make it to Springfield in time for the game. A little show and go, sure, but as long as there are no flight delays, it's somewhat feasible, even though it would fly in the face of one of the late great Jack Falla's most important rules – Leave Nothing to Chance. If you look at the schedules you might find more open dates, but the way I did it was also trying to avoid having either team play on three consecutive days. So if not March 1st, then when?
All I know is I'm glad it's not my headache.
---
There is positive in this. Antonio Anderson gets extra down time to rest his separated right shoulder. Speaking of which, a tip of my cap to Anderson for going out there and playing Saturday and Tuesday. Jack Falla's #1 Rule in Life – You Gotta Play Hurt.
Ya know, if Jack was around right now, he probably would've spent the day shoveling his backyard ice skating rink in Natick, Massachusetts, trying to stay ahead of the snow so as not to let the ice get ruined. As he wrote in his must-read book, Home Ice, one bad snow can ruin it for the season. I was told once he lived on the Weather Channel year round. Jack was a worrier, but he loved that rink. It was Home Ice and perhaps his last book, Open Ice, that inspired me to vow to have a backyard rink of my own someday. His only fictional piece, Saved, is easily my favorite book of all time.
Jack Falla was one of my professors at Boston University. I had him for Sports Journalism and Sports Communication (PR Class). An award-winning reporter at Sports Illustrated for one part of his life, an SID and even the top PR guy at the NHL for another part of his life, and always a son, brother, father and grandfather, Jack was an inspiration to every life he touched. No one ever said a bad thing about that man. No one could. There was nothing bad to say. When I did work for his class I was always afraid of disappointing him. There aren't a lot of people out there who can have that affect on a classroom. But that's the thing, it never felt like class. Yeah, I was learning, but it was fun. It's not often you find an 8:00 a.m. class that you not only look forward to going to, but want to be early for, but Sports Journalism was that. I took the Sports Communication course to try to make myself more valuable by adding PR knowledge to my broadcasting background. Boy did that work out. I took my notebook from that class with me when I moved down here back in May of 2007. I referred to it extensively during my first season with the WhiteWings baseball team, and I was always in contact with him for that first year and a half I was here. I even called him once for advice. And then I got the phone call that I will never forget. September 14, 2008.
It's a snow day like this that makes me wonder if his backyard rink, the Bacon Street Omni, is up this year. I know his family put it up last season. I hope it is. But even if it's not, his legacy lives on in his books, and more importantly, in the lives he touched, like mine. I not only believe in doing what I'm supposed to do, but doing it the right way. That's how it's supposed to be done. That's how Jack did it.
And you know why else? Because as Jack's paternal grandma always said:
"Hard works beats talent when talent doesn't work hard."
Don't tell me you never saw that movie. Can you say homework assignment?
To give you an idea of how bad the snow is (and why I don't want to hear anyone complain about this 52 degree weather we're enjoying):
The US Government shutdown because of snow. Okay, I concede, that's nothing surprising. I could make some political jokes here, but just in the context of snow, the District of Columbia doesn't seem to know how to handle that stuff. One of my earliest memories of CNN is someone with a snow blower outside the White House during the Blizzard of 1993/1994. Snow seems to shutdown the government a lot. Apparently they don't have the same resolve as the U.S. Postal Service, which operates through rain, sleet, snow, etc (except when they don't, and being from NY, I can tell you, it happens... I mean, it's a safety issue. Shoot, it's not like anyone mails declarations of war anymore...).
New York City schools shutdown. Now THIS is a rare event. They closed once in 1979. Then again during in early 1994 (my dad was a city public school teacher, and I remember his excitement to find out that he finally had another snow day). I'm not sure if it's closed since then. Probably not.
That same storm went up the east coast and hit Springfield. It also hit Fort Wayne on the way. There was no realistically safe way the Vipers were gonna make it to Springfield. So the game was postponed. Until when? I don't know yet.
The only feasible date I found when comparing the Vipers, Armor and MassMutual Center schedules last night during the Farmers Insurance Halftime Report was March 1st. Springfield's at Austin on 2/28 and the Vipers host Bakersfield that same day, so they could both catch the first flights out and make it to Springfield in time for the game. A little show and go, sure, but as long as there are no flight delays, it's somewhat feasible, even though it would fly in the face of one of the late great Jack Falla's most important rules – Leave Nothing to Chance. If you look at the schedules you might find more open dates, but the way I did it was also trying to avoid having either team play on three consecutive days. So if not March 1st, then when?
All I know is I'm glad it's not my headache.
---
There is positive in this. Antonio Anderson gets extra down time to rest his separated right shoulder. Speaking of which, a tip of my cap to Anderson for going out there and playing Saturday and Tuesday. Jack Falla's #1 Rule in Life – You Gotta Play Hurt.
Ya know, if Jack was around right now, he probably would've spent the day shoveling his backyard ice skating rink in Natick, Massachusetts, trying to stay ahead of the snow so as not to let the ice get ruined. As he wrote in his must-read book, Home Ice, one bad snow can ruin it for the season. I was told once he lived on the Weather Channel year round. Jack was a worrier, but he loved that rink. It was Home Ice and perhaps his last book, Open Ice, that inspired me to vow to have a backyard rink of my own someday. His only fictional piece, Saved, is easily my favorite book of all time.
Jack Falla was one of my professors at Boston University. I had him for Sports Journalism and Sports Communication (PR Class). An award-winning reporter at Sports Illustrated for one part of his life, an SID and even the top PR guy at the NHL for another part of his life, and always a son, brother, father and grandfather, Jack was an inspiration to every life he touched. No one ever said a bad thing about that man. No one could. There was nothing bad to say. When I did work for his class I was always afraid of disappointing him. There aren't a lot of people out there who can have that affect on a classroom. But that's the thing, it never felt like class. Yeah, I was learning, but it was fun. It's not often you find an 8:00 a.m. class that you not only look forward to going to, but want to be early for, but Sports Journalism was that. I took the Sports Communication course to try to make myself more valuable by adding PR knowledge to my broadcasting background. Boy did that work out. I took my notebook from that class with me when I moved down here back in May of 2007. I referred to it extensively during my first season with the WhiteWings baseball team, and I was always in contact with him for that first year and a half I was here. I even called him once for advice. And then I got the phone call that I will never forget. September 14, 2008.
It's a snow day like this that makes me wonder if his backyard rink, the Bacon Street Omni, is up this year. I know his family put it up last season. I hope it is. But even if it's not, his legacy lives on in his books, and more importantly, in the lives he touched, like mine. I not only believe in doing what I'm supposed to do, but doing it the right way. That's how it's supposed to be done. That's how Jack did it.
And you know why else? Because as Jack's paternal grandma always said:
"Hard works beats talent when talent doesn't work hard."
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Mind Boggling Numbers
If I'd told you Garrett Temple was going to lead the Vipers in rebounding with six against Reno, would you have thought they'd set a record for margin of victory? Or that they'd win at all?
Well, did you know the Vipers out-rebounded Reno 33-25 despite Rod Benson's 12 rebounds?
It's about team accomplishments, not individual.
And now let's flip it over.
Here are some numbers that just boggled my mind while putting together my game notes.
Reno Assists - 9
Will Blalock - 2
Desmon Farmer - 2
Mo Charlo - 2
Doug Thomas - 1
Rod Benson - 1
Dave Noel - 1
By way of comparison, Antonio Anderson had nine of his own. The Vipers had 31 total assists.
I mean, nine assists for an entire team? REALLY? But I think I'm disturbed that the person (or people in this case) with the most assists on the team had two. I mean, REALLY?
Well, did you know the Vipers out-rebounded Reno 33-25 despite Rod Benson's 12 rebounds?
It's about team accomplishments, not individual.
And now let's flip it over.
Here are some numbers that just boggled my mind while putting together my game notes.
Reno Assists - 9
Will Blalock - 2
Desmon Farmer - 2
Mo Charlo - 2
Doug Thomas - 1
Rod Benson - 1
Dave Noel - 1
By way of comparison, Antonio Anderson had nine of his own. The Vipers had 31 total assists.
I mean, nine assists for an entire team? REALLY? But I think I'm disturbed that the person (or people in this case) with the most assists on the team had two. I mean, REALLY?
Monday, February 8, 2010
"The Revolving Door Keeps Swinging"
-Clay Williams, Action 4 Sports on the 10 p.m. news today in reference to the Vipers' moves today.
Couldn't have said it better myself.
And you know who also said it well? Scott Schroeder over at the best D-League blog out there, Ridiculous Upside.
As a fan, how does it make you feel knowing that every time the Vipers take the court, you're watching guys who could be in the NBA tomorrow? And every time you turn on a Rockets game there are always a bunch of Vipers who you've seen play at what is now known as State Farm Arena? Pretty cool, isn't it?
Couldn't have said it better myself.
And you know who also said it well? Scott Schroeder over at the best D-League blog out there, Ridiculous Upside.
As a fan, how does it make you feel knowing that every time the Vipers take the court, you're watching guys who could be in the NBA tomorrow? And every time you turn on a Rockets game there are always a bunch of Vipers who you've seen play at what is now known as State Farm Arena? Pretty cool, isn't it?
Sunday, February 7, 2010
I Witnessed History
That's what the back of those Red Out t-shirts say. How appropriate.
Last night all the Vipers did was:
•Have the first nationally televised home game in Rio Grande Valley history
•Pick up win #22 for the first time in franchise-history
•Make head coach Chris Finch the winningest coach in team history
•Set a franchise-record for margin of victory
•Tie a franchise-record for fewest points allowed
I witnessed history. Did you?
If not, don't miss out down the line. 12 home game left, mostly on weekends. Get your tickets now. Give the Vipers a call at 972-1144.
Last night all the Vipers did was:
•Have the first nationally televised home game in Rio Grande Valley history
•Pick up win #22 for the first time in franchise-history
•Make head coach Chris Finch the winningest coach in team history
•Set a franchise-record for margin of victory
•Tie a franchise-record for fewest points allowed
I witnessed history. Did you?
If not, don't miss out down the line. 12 home game left, mostly on weekends. Get your tickets now. Give the Vipers a call at 972-1144.
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Get Red
Tonight the Vipers make Rio Grande Valley sports history by the hosting the first nationally televised game EVER down here. And just to make things a little more difficult on the green and gold Reno Bighorns, we're not only filling up the arena (less than 100 tickets remain), but can you say, RED OUT?
All fans are encouraged to wear red, but if you don't, we've got you covered. We've got a few thousand Red Out 2010 T-Shirts on-sale at the arena for just $5 each and half of the profits go to Channel 5 News Teach the Children. Home court advantage AND charity! How can you lose?
Doors at 6:30.
See you there!
All fans are encouraged to wear red, but if you don't, we've got you covered. We've got a few thousand Red Out 2010 T-Shirts on-sale at the arena for just $5 each and half of the profits go to Channel 5 News Teach the Children. Home court advantage AND charity! How can you lose?
Doors at 6:30.
See you there!
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Let's Dance!
Plenty of great stuff going on today. Make sure you tune into 104.9 Jack FM for Inside the Vipers Nest 6-to-7:00 p.m. tonight to find out all about it.
It's one of the kind of days that makes you (or someone you know) just want to break out and dance.
It's one of the kind of days that makes you (or someone you know) just want to break out and dance.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
The Stars Align
The Vipers have never had a player participate in the All-Star game before. During the 2007-08 season, C.J. Watson was selected, but he was already with the Golden State Warriors, so he didn't get to play (somehow I don't think he minded).
Last year Ernest Scott participated in the three-point shootout (and finished runner up, though if he'd been in the NBA competition he would've won based on how many he hit), which was a nice start, but this year, well, it's finally caught up with the Vipers.
Ladies and Gentlemen... your Western Conference All-Stars:
Mike Harris
Joey Dorsey
Antonio Anderson
Chris Finch
Paul Mokeski
Jai Steadman
Joe Resendez
(The Dream Factory, aka, slam dunk competition and three-point shootout, participants will be named later this week)
But wait, there's the potential for more (yes, I'm about to get greedy)!
Sundiata Gaines signed for the rest of the season with Utah, opening up a spot for a guard. Garrett Temple perhaps? Just saying is all...
How'd the Vipers celebrate? By coming back from a 14 point halftime deficit to win by 18. By scoring a franchise-record 44 points in the third quarter (more than Albuquerque scored in the entire second half). Okay, technically they announcements were made during the game so none of them knew (unless they were told in advance... not sure how that works), but, let's ignore that for now...
The Vipers now have 21 wins. You know, the same number they won during the 2007-08 season and during the 2008-09 season? One win from breaking the franchise record, and it's not even the all-star break.
I'll do you one better. With a win the Vipers' all-time record will be 64-64. They haven't been .500 since they were 9-9 in December 2007.
Come watch the Vipers go for history tonight at Jackson's All-American Sports Grill (corner of N. 10th St. and Dove in McAllen) at 8:00 p.m. during our first watch party of the season.
Food and drink specials:
$7 burgers
$15 large pizzas
$15 buckets
$5 banana bread beers
It might not be a bad idea to go grab a seat early and enjoy some Vipers basketball all day. At 3 p.m. you can watch NBA D-League Central on NBA TV with Vipers GM Gersson Rosas and then at 3:30 the Vipers' 100-94 win at Erie from January 23.
--
Noticed something interesting last night. Apparently when the Vipers go to Fort Wayne next Tuesday, it's going to be Disney night. Fans are invited to dress up like their favorite Disney characters and they should be ready to sing Disney music. Straight-up, I asked about replacing ADB on that trip when I heard about that. Sorry dude, but, you know me and Disney. I was denied, which is too bad, since I was going to do the entire broadcast in my Mickey Mouse voice while wearing the ears. I mean, you all would've loved that, right? right?
Did you know Donald Duck was banned in Finland for not wearing pants? If anyone from Fort Wayne is reading this, will Donald-impersonators be allowed at your game? And what does this mean for Scrooge McDuck? What about Huey, Duey and Louie? Daisey? Launch Pad? Darkwing Duck? The list goes on...
Last year Ernest Scott participated in the three-point shootout (and finished runner up, though if he'd been in the NBA competition he would've won based on how many he hit), which was a nice start, but this year, well, it's finally caught up with the Vipers.
Ladies and Gentlemen... your Western Conference All-Stars:
Mike Harris
Joey Dorsey
Antonio Anderson
Chris Finch
Paul Mokeski
Jai Steadman
Joe Resendez
(The Dream Factory, aka, slam dunk competition and three-point shootout, participants will be named later this week)
But wait, there's the potential for more (yes, I'm about to get greedy)!
Sundiata Gaines signed for the rest of the season with Utah, opening up a spot for a guard. Garrett Temple perhaps? Just saying is all...
How'd the Vipers celebrate? By coming back from a 14 point halftime deficit to win by 18. By scoring a franchise-record 44 points in the third quarter (more than Albuquerque scored in the entire second half). Okay, technically they announcements were made during the game so none of them knew (unless they were told in advance... not sure how that works), but, let's ignore that for now...
The Vipers now have 21 wins. You know, the same number they won during the 2007-08 season and during the 2008-09 season? One win from breaking the franchise record, and it's not even the all-star break.
I'll do you one better. With a win the Vipers' all-time record will be 64-64. They haven't been .500 since they were 9-9 in December 2007.
Come watch the Vipers go for history tonight at Jackson's All-American Sports Grill (corner of N. 10th St. and Dove in McAllen) at 8:00 p.m. during our first watch party of the season.
Food and drink specials:
$7 burgers
$15 large pizzas
$15 buckets
$5 banana bread beers
It might not be a bad idea to go grab a seat early and enjoy some Vipers basketball all day. At 3 p.m. you can watch NBA D-League Central on NBA TV with Vipers GM Gersson Rosas and then at 3:30 the Vipers' 100-94 win at Erie from January 23.
--
Noticed something interesting last night. Apparently when the Vipers go to Fort Wayne next Tuesday, it's going to be Disney night. Fans are invited to dress up like their favorite Disney characters and they should be ready to sing Disney music. Straight-up, I asked about replacing ADB on that trip when I heard about that. Sorry dude, but, you know me and Disney. I was denied, which is too bad, since I was going to do the entire broadcast in my Mickey Mouse voice while wearing the ears. I mean, you all would've loved that, right? right?
Did you know Donald Duck was banned in Finland for not wearing pants? If anyone from Fort Wayne is reading this, will Donald-impersonators be allowed at your game? And what does this mean for Scrooge McDuck? What about Huey, Duey and Louie? Daisey? Launch Pad? Darkwing Duck? The list goes on...
Monday, February 1, 2010
First Points + Milestone Tracker
A big congratulations to Will Conroy, who picked up his first career NBA basket and first two points for the Rockets last night. Conroy also had an assist in 10 minutes of action.
This isn't his first assist or first rodeo in the NBA. Conroy's had one stint with the Memphis Grizzlies and two with the Los Angeles Clippers, and though he had other rebounds and assist, he hadn't yet sunk a basket. Perhaps getting that monkey off his back will help.
Conroy makes up part of that two-head all-Vipers point guard duo in Houston. Did you know Aaron Brooks leads the Rockets in scoring (19.1 ppg) and assists (5.0 apg)? He also leads the team in three-point field goal percentage (.392).
--
Milestone Tracker
Vipers head coach Chris Finch picked up career win #400 on Friday and #401 on Sunday.
The Vipers are one win away from tying their best single-season wins mark of 21. There are 24 games left in the season. The Vipers are on pace to go 38-12, which would break the record for best record in league history, accomplished by the 2007-08 NBA Development League Champion Idaho Stampede (36-14). You know who played on that team? Vipers forward Ernest Scott, who tied his career high with six three-pointers last night.
The Vipers now have an all-time record of 62-64. The Vipers haven't been .500 since they were 9-9 and they haven't had a winning record since they were 9-8, way back in mid-December 2007.
And to clear up any confusion... I'm on pace to hit my 700th career broadcast on Saturday, February 20th when the Vipers host Maine at 8:00 p.m.
This isn't his first assist or first rodeo in the NBA. Conroy's had one stint with the Memphis Grizzlies and two with the Los Angeles Clippers, and though he had other rebounds and assist, he hadn't yet sunk a basket. Perhaps getting that monkey off his back will help.
Conroy makes up part of that two-head all-Vipers point guard duo in Houston. Did you know Aaron Brooks leads the Rockets in scoring (19.1 ppg) and assists (5.0 apg)? He also leads the team in three-point field goal percentage (.392).
--
Milestone Tracker
Vipers head coach Chris Finch picked up career win #400 on Friday and #401 on Sunday.
The Vipers are one win away from tying their best single-season wins mark of 21. There are 24 games left in the season. The Vipers are on pace to go 38-12, which would break the record for best record in league history, accomplished by the 2007-08 NBA Development League Champion Idaho Stampede (36-14). You know who played on that team? Vipers forward Ernest Scott, who tied his career high with six three-pointers last night.
The Vipers now have an all-time record of 62-64. The Vipers haven't been .500 since they were 9-9 and they haven't had a winning record since they were 9-8, way back in mid-December 2007.
And to clear up any confusion... I'm on pace to hit my 700th career broadcast on Saturday, February 20th when the Vipers host Maine at 8:00 p.m.
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