ChumpDumper
12-07-2005, 12:03 AM
T-Bird 102 Toros 94
Ok, maybe the press is just trying to be nice to our new team.
Here's the NBA.com headline: “Thunderbirds Rally to Top Toros.”
Well, that's half the story.
The Statesman showed the other half -- “Toros blow 18-Point Lead and Lose” -- but even that proves to be a distinct understatement considering just how that lead was blown.
The Toros led by 18 after three quarters, capping off a 33-point period that built on a 30-point second stanza, illustrating just how potent their offense can be when everything is clicking. They provided no clue as to what was to come next.
The Toros' offense ground to a crushing halt, due in no small part to the defense of the Thunderbirds – they are after all coached by defensive legend Michael Cooper. However, the Austin team's biggest enemy was the complacency brought about by the big lead itself and the relative ease with which it was achieved. In short, the Toros tried to coast, and that is something that can't be done against a team of hungry players -- and what D-League team isn't full of hungry players?
The 18-point lead was erased in a matter of six minutes. Six. I kept writing the gap on my notepad as it closed, so I could say how close the T-Birds got before Austin got it together and pulled away -- “4pt @ 7:30”...”2pt @ 6:52”...”1 @ 6:00”.... Shortly thereafter, Toro low post star Marcus Fizer ensured he would fail to close out his second straight game, this time collecting three personal fouls in the course of a few ref-baiting minutes to leave the debacle with six. He had been frustrated by Cooper's swarming and doubling schemes, but was productive when he did get the ball, finishing with 15 points on 5-8 shooting.
The Thunderbirds were beating to Toros to nearly every lose ball. TJ Cummings, who can only be called an undersized hustle player at this point in his career, scored 14 of his 22 points in the fourth – that 14 equaled the fourth-quarter output of the entire Toro squad. The Toros didn't help themselves by turning the ball over 22 times, many of those turnovers being unforced.
The Toros lack of a true shot blocker hurt them as well. T-Birds' leading scorer Joe Shipp (26 points on 9-17 shooting) and diminutive backup point Yuta Tabuse (14 points on 5-8 shooting) wreaked havoc with their dribble penetration. That often led to free throws, which the T-Birds converted to the tune of 87% (26-30). A similar effort from the Toros might have made a real difference in this game, but they could only manage a paltry 15-25 from the stripe.
Their miscues spoiled otherwise solid offensive outings for individual Toro players. Only two of eight players who put the ball up shot less than 50 percent, and season highs were reached by forward Andre Emmett (22 points on 10-17 shooting) and center Scott Merritt (16 on 7-11 ). The Toros next games are Saturday and Sunday in the Austin Convention Center against the Florida Flame, which includes a rogues gallery of Spurs' summer league/training camp vets and current timvp heartthrob, Theron Smith.
BOX SCORE (http://www.nba.com/dleague/games/20051204/ABQAUS/boxscore.html)
GAME NOTES:
None of the individual performances scored terribly high on the call-up-o-meter (flows better when pronounced like thermometer but looks better with the dashes) the way Erik Daniels' did during the last home game. Everyone looks like this is where they belong for now, which made the report of Chuck Hayes' being the first free-agent call up of the 05-06 season a bit of a surprise. The Rockets could use some rebounding, so the Malik Rose-like Hayes could be of help if they can find some athleticism for the perimeter as well.
Thunderbirds:
Yuta Tabuse: the Japanese Junebug is very quick but needs a consistent outside shot to make the show.
TJ Cummings: Tweener. Bulk up or get some handles and a perimter game. Decent athlete.
Tony Bland: Interesting experiment by Cooper to play the 6'5" Bland at the point for a few stretches, but he showed zero playmeking ability and jacked up shot after shot.
Toros:
Andre Emmett: Can score well when he has the ball, but getting him to give it up is like pulling teeth. His feet are set in cement when he doesn't have the rock.
Derrick Zimmerman: Good decision making -- very efficient scoring off drives. Handling oddly seems to have deteriorated since last season. Needs outside shot.
Scott Merritt: Nice all-around game, but does no single thing well enough to get much attention. Does whatever is asked of him.
Announced attendance was a touch over 2,000 which may have been generous by one or two hundred, but it was a fair crowd for a football Sunday afternoon. Note to Toros: I don't drink during the day, so keep that in mind if you want another $15-20 from me.
Ok, maybe the press is just trying to be nice to our new team.
Here's the NBA.com headline: “Thunderbirds Rally to Top Toros.”
Well, that's half the story.
The Statesman showed the other half -- “Toros blow 18-Point Lead and Lose” -- but even that proves to be a distinct understatement considering just how that lead was blown.
The Toros led by 18 after three quarters, capping off a 33-point period that built on a 30-point second stanza, illustrating just how potent their offense can be when everything is clicking. They provided no clue as to what was to come next.
The Toros' offense ground to a crushing halt, due in no small part to the defense of the Thunderbirds – they are after all coached by defensive legend Michael Cooper. However, the Austin team's biggest enemy was the complacency brought about by the big lead itself and the relative ease with which it was achieved. In short, the Toros tried to coast, and that is something that can't be done against a team of hungry players -- and what D-League team isn't full of hungry players?
The 18-point lead was erased in a matter of six minutes. Six. I kept writing the gap on my notepad as it closed, so I could say how close the T-Birds got before Austin got it together and pulled away -- “4pt @ 7:30”...”2pt @ 6:52”...”1 @ 6:00”.... Shortly thereafter, Toro low post star Marcus Fizer ensured he would fail to close out his second straight game, this time collecting three personal fouls in the course of a few ref-baiting minutes to leave the debacle with six. He had been frustrated by Cooper's swarming and doubling schemes, but was productive when he did get the ball, finishing with 15 points on 5-8 shooting.
The Thunderbirds were beating to Toros to nearly every lose ball. TJ Cummings, who can only be called an undersized hustle player at this point in his career, scored 14 of his 22 points in the fourth – that 14 equaled the fourth-quarter output of the entire Toro squad. The Toros didn't help themselves by turning the ball over 22 times, many of those turnovers being unforced.
The Toros lack of a true shot blocker hurt them as well. T-Birds' leading scorer Joe Shipp (26 points on 9-17 shooting) and diminutive backup point Yuta Tabuse (14 points on 5-8 shooting) wreaked havoc with their dribble penetration. That often led to free throws, which the T-Birds converted to the tune of 87% (26-30). A similar effort from the Toros might have made a real difference in this game, but they could only manage a paltry 15-25 from the stripe.
Their miscues spoiled otherwise solid offensive outings for individual Toro players. Only two of eight players who put the ball up shot less than 50 percent, and season highs were reached by forward Andre Emmett (22 points on 10-17 shooting) and center Scott Merritt (16 on 7-11 ). The Toros next games are Saturday and Sunday in the Austin Convention Center against the Florida Flame, which includes a rogues gallery of Spurs' summer league/training camp vets and current timvp heartthrob, Theron Smith.
BOX SCORE (http://www.nba.com/dleague/games/20051204/ABQAUS/boxscore.html)
GAME NOTES:
None of the individual performances scored terribly high on the call-up-o-meter (flows better when pronounced like thermometer but looks better with the dashes) the way Erik Daniels' did during the last home game. Everyone looks like this is where they belong for now, which made the report of Chuck Hayes' being the first free-agent call up of the 05-06 season a bit of a surprise. The Rockets could use some rebounding, so the Malik Rose-like Hayes could be of help if they can find some athleticism for the perimeter as well.
Thunderbirds:
Yuta Tabuse: the Japanese Junebug is very quick but needs a consistent outside shot to make the show.
TJ Cummings: Tweener. Bulk up or get some handles and a perimter game. Decent athlete.
Tony Bland: Interesting experiment by Cooper to play the 6'5" Bland at the point for a few stretches, but he showed zero playmeking ability and jacked up shot after shot.
Toros:
Andre Emmett: Can score well when he has the ball, but getting him to give it up is like pulling teeth. His feet are set in cement when he doesn't have the rock.
Derrick Zimmerman: Good decision making -- very efficient scoring off drives. Handling oddly seems to have deteriorated since last season. Needs outside shot.
Scott Merritt: Nice all-around game, but does no single thing well enough to get much attention. Does whatever is asked of him.
Announced attendance was a touch over 2,000 which may have been generous by one or two hundred, but it was a fair crowd for a football Sunday afternoon. Note to Toros: I don't drink during the day, so keep that in mind if you want another $15-20 from me.