ChumpDumper
11-25-2007, 03:25 AM
Box Score (http://www.nba.com/dleague/games/20071124/BAKAUS/boxscore.html)
- Normally I would start out with a thought about Ian Mahimni since he is a Spur, but Keith Langford is not to be denied. He put the team on his back in the second quarter and didn't put it down until he put the game away in the final second. He is really showing some potential as a combo guard and performances like tonight's will not be lost on NBA scouts. He had bricked a free throw in crunch time, but got a steal, a basket, a block and a clutch free throw in the final 16 seconds -- elevating an already excellent game into the stratosphere.
- From a developmental standpoint, this game seemed to be all about how players handle high-pressure situations, almost regardless of the outcome. Very late in the game, Squeaky Johnson was subbed out on offense on consecutive possessions by Majic Dorsey and Ken Paulino. Johnson was playing a decent enough game and played the rest of the game, so he didn't seem to be in the doghouse. Coach Snyder also seemed to test the big men to see how they played while in foul trouble. Ian and Kevin Pittsnogle didn't do so well, fouling out within thirty seconds of each other with almost five minutes to go. Tim Bush was available and had committed no fouls in his less than two minutes of play, but he was not called upon again. Asking Anthony Fuqua to close out that time while carrying four fouls of his own was a tall order, but Fuqua didn't foul again and played some really good defense down the stretch that didn't show up in the box score.
- Ian had another unfortunate game with the foul calls, but this one can't be blamed on the refs. A couple of his fouls were on the offensive end (illegal picks and the like) and at least one was due to a second effort after a good block. He's doing an ok job of not leaving his feet too quickly. He really needs to work on getting into position for rebounds, anticipating and moving when the ball goes up instead of reacting once it hits the rim. Many of his nine boards were due to his sheer advantage in athleticism, and it's not going to be as great an advantage in the NBA.
- With all the other bigs in foul trouble, Justin Bowen finished the game at power forward where he played more than a few minutes before that time as well. He had a great overall game and an easier time at power forward as he was matched up against combo forward Brandon Bowman instead of a larger opponent. Ten of his 17 points game in the first 15 minutes of the game or so, and most of the offensive rebounds he grabbed while swooping in to crash the boards around the more earthbound Jam players.
- Roderick Riley looks great. I mean he's a pretty ugly dude, but he probably hasn't been this thin since high school. There is no way he still weighs his listed 280; he must be closer to 260, with all the increased quickness and hops that implies. He's still pretty strong and difficult to dislodge and block out, so his overall worth as a basketball player has increased exponentially. I'm impressed he has been able to get into this kind of shape 5+ years into his pro career, and he should serve as an inspiration to fat bastards everywhere.
- Jim Harrick is a quality coach. He made some really good halftime adjustments to get the Jam back in the game after what could have been a knockout blow by the Toros in the first quarter when they led 30-14. Going zone and prodding his most experienced player (Bowman) to attack the basket and get the Toros bigs in foul trouble and helped get them back in the game and take the lead until Langford's heroics put it out of reach. He's got one of the weakest teams on paper to work with and kept them competitive to the end. He might catch some flack for not playing Golden State's Kosta Perovic that much, but in Harrick's defense Kosta did kinda suck for the most part. I'm not sure I can really judge Quin his own, because it looks like he's operating on orders from above as much if not more than running his own show.
- Marcus Williams was in attendance. He told me he should be back in a week or so. Mo McHone was talking to him intently during the game, so it's pretty obvious we haven't seen the last of him. I wasn't able to talk with Eric Dawson to find out when he will suit up, but I have to figure he should be back next week since he hasn't been waived due to injury as well.
- The crowd seemed smaller than the listed number. An adequate number but a little disappointing considering the debuts of other teams. On the upside, the court looks great and they got rid of the purple Raptor hand-me-downs and got proper new black and white stanchions. Russ Bookbinder and RC Buford were in attendance as well as the regular Spurs/Toros officials.
- Dennis Johnson's number was retired and one of his sons played a musical tribute to him. I cried all over again.
- Normally I would start out with a thought about Ian Mahimni since he is a Spur, but Keith Langford is not to be denied. He put the team on his back in the second quarter and didn't put it down until he put the game away in the final second. He is really showing some potential as a combo guard and performances like tonight's will not be lost on NBA scouts. He had bricked a free throw in crunch time, but got a steal, a basket, a block and a clutch free throw in the final 16 seconds -- elevating an already excellent game into the stratosphere.
- From a developmental standpoint, this game seemed to be all about how players handle high-pressure situations, almost regardless of the outcome. Very late in the game, Squeaky Johnson was subbed out on offense on consecutive possessions by Majic Dorsey and Ken Paulino. Johnson was playing a decent enough game and played the rest of the game, so he didn't seem to be in the doghouse. Coach Snyder also seemed to test the big men to see how they played while in foul trouble. Ian and Kevin Pittsnogle didn't do so well, fouling out within thirty seconds of each other with almost five minutes to go. Tim Bush was available and had committed no fouls in his less than two minutes of play, but he was not called upon again. Asking Anthony Fuqua to close out that time while carrying four fouls of his own was a tall order, but Fuqua didn't foul again and played some really good defense down the stretch that didn't show up in the box score.
- Ian had another unfortunate game with the foul calls, but this one can't be blamed on the refs. A couple of his fouls were on the offensive end (illegal picks and the like) and at least one was due to a second effort after a good block. He's doing an ok job of not leaving his feet too quickly. He really needs to work on getting into position for rebounds, anticipating and moving when the ball goes up instead of reacting once it hits the rim. Many of his nine boards were due to his sheer advantage in athleticism, and it's not going to be as great an advantage in the NBA.
- With all the other bigs in foul trouble, Justin Bowen finished the game at power forward where he played more than a few minutes before that time as well. He had a great overall game and an easier time at power forward as he was matched up against combo forward Brandon Bowman instead of a larger opponent. Ten of his 17 points game in the first 15 minutes of the game or so, and most of the offensive rebounds he grabbed while swooping in to crash the boards around the more earthbound Jam players.
- Roderick Riley looks great. I mean he's a pretty ugly dude, but he probably hasn't been this thin since high school. There is no way he still weighs his listed 280; he must be closer to 260, with all the increased quickness and hops that implies. He's still pretty strong and difficult to dislodge and block out, so his overall worth as a basketball player has increased exponentially. I'm impressed he has been able to get into this kind of shape 5+ years into his pro career, and he should serve as an inspiration to fat bastards everywhere.
- Jim Harrick is a quality coach. He made some really good halftime adjustments to get the Jam back in the game after what could have been a knockout blow by the Toros in the first quarter when they led 30-14. Going zone and prodding his most experienced player (Bowman) to attack the basket and get the Toros bigs in foul trouble and helped get them back in the game and take the lead until Langford's heroics put it out of reach. He's got one of the weakest teams on paper to work with and kept them competitive to the end. He might catch some flack for not playing Golden State's Kosta Perovic that much, but in Harrick's defense Kosta did kinda suck for the most part. I'm not sure I can really judge Quin his own, because it looks like he's operating on orders from above as much if not more than running his own show.
- Marcus Williams was in attendance. He told me he should be back in a week or so. Mo McHone was talking to him intently during the game, so it's pretty obvious we haven't seen the last of him. I wasn't able to talk with Eric Dawson to find out when he will suit up, but I have to figure he should be back next week since he hasn't been waived due to injury as well.
- The crowd seemed smaller than the listed number. An adequate number but a little disappointing considering the debuts of other teams. On the upside, the court looks great and they got rid of the purple Raptor hand-me-downs and got proper new black and white stanchions. Russ Bookbinder and RC Buford were in attendance as well as the regular Spurs/Toros officials.
- Dennis Johnson's number was retired and one of his sons played a musical tribute to him. I cried all over again.