ChumpDumper
12-03-2006, 04:15 AM
The shorthanded Toros remain winless after a heartbreaking 111-106 loss to the Anaheim Arsenal. Heartbreaking because the Toros overcame a 19 point halftime deficit to draw even and briefly lead the Arsenal in the fourth period. Jamar Smith again led all scorers with 24 and all rebounders with 9, starting at power forward and switching with little difficulty to small forward as the game progressed. He had little difficulty scoring on larger or smaller matchups and only looked a bit more challenged on defense against a very quick Jerry Dupree, who looks like he might have grown a little since coming out of USC. Jamar also led the Toros with four assists which is all that needs to be said about the point guard situation in Austin.
I have to take time again to pimp the play of Anthony Fuqua. He was a tremendous catalyst for the second half comeback, totalling ten points (mostly garbage points), six rebounds and one block in just under sixteen minutes. His hustle and activeness was so self-evident that it was inexplicable that coach Dennis Johnson decided to close out the game with Brad Buckman and Rod Benson instead of him once Kris Clack fouled out. "Bucko" ended up with 22.5 minutes and 2-10 shooting and Benson totalled zero points in almost 12 minutes. I'm not bagging on these two guys -- they each have talents and roles to play, but Fuqua is simply playing at a much higher level and his minutes need to reflect that DJ did an impressive job finding the right plays an combinations to get back in the game but didn't follow through at the most critical time when Clack left the game.
The Toros remain a frustratingly unbalanced team. Their steadiest players are the holdover big men from last season: Jamar Smith, Scott Merritt and Anthony Fuqua. The new swingmen, Kris Clack and BJ Elder, are hit and miss; and the point guards are, well, shooting guards forced into their roles by the departure of true point Darius Washington to Italy just before training camp. The rotation has been further complicated by the knee injury suffered by returning backup center Jeff Hagen, who had lost 20-30 pounds in the offseaon and figured to build on his minutes from last season as well. He has been waived by the team to recover from his injuries, though they have the right of first refusal once he gets healthy. His replacement, small forward Justin Bowen, is expected to join the team for their next game Tuesday at Arkansas.
Coach Johnson has a tough road ahead of him, trying to develop two points guards while trying to keep them from giving up the middle so much on defense -- The Arseanals starting guards were a combined 16-22 from the field. He's doing a very good job making in game adjustments, but has to be near perfect to overcome his teams institutional deficiencies.
boxscore (http://www.nba.com/dleague/games/20061202/ANAAUS/boxscore.html)
I have to take time again to pimp the play of Anthony Fuqua. He was a tremendous catalyst for the second half comeback, totalling ten points (mostly garbage points), six rebounds and one block in just under sixteen minutes. His hustle and activeness was so self-evident that it was inexplicable that coach Dennis Johnson decided to close out the game with Brad Buckman and Rod Benson instead of him once Kris Clack fouled out. "Bucko" ended up with 22.5 minutes and 2-10 shooting and Benson totalled zero points in almost 12 minutes. I'm not bagging on these two guys -- they each have talents and roles to play, but Fuqua is simply playing at a much higher level and his minutes need to reflect that DJ did an impressive job finding the right plays an combinations to get back in the game but didn't follow through at the most critical time when Clack left the game.
The Toros remain a frustratingly unbalanced team. Their steadiest players are the holdover big men from last season: Jamar Smith, Scott Merritt and Anthony Fuqua. The new swingmen, Kris Clack and BJ Elder, are hit and miss; and the point guards are, well, shooting guards forced into their roles by the departure of true point Darius Washington to Italy just before training camp. The rotation has been further complicated by the knee injury suffered by returning backup center Jeff Hagen, who had lost 20-30 pounds in the offseaon and figured to build on his minutes from last season as well. He has been waived by the team to recover from his injuries, though they have the right of first refusal once he gets healthy. His replacement, small forward Justin Bowen, is expected to join the team for their next game Tuesday at Arkansas.
Coach Johnson has a tough road ahead of him, trying to develop two points guards while trying to keep them from giving up the middle so much on defense -- The Arseanals starting guards were a combined 16-22 from the field. He's doing a very good job making in game adjustments, but has to be near perfect to overcome his teams institutional deficiencies.
boxscore (http://www.nba.com/dleague/games/20061202/ANAAUS/boxscore.html)