Julius Hodge was just called back to Denver, and Ramel Curry is just coming back from injury. They signed another couple of guards, but it really hurts having your three top scorers out at various points. I have to hope they can hold on to their playoff spot. That's life in the D-League....
Last edited by ChumpDumper; 03-18-2006 at 04:37 PM.
If anybody is interested: I saw Ford play tonight. He plays for Alba Berlin which is considered to be the best German team. He was alright. Had 5 monster blocks, scored some points and had a few rebounds but was in foultrouble throuhout the game. He might be a good addition for them as the season moves on.
But, Sharrod Ford is the missing big man, and is an all star in waiting.
The Spurs are gonna rue the day for cutting him!!!
wow, i dint know julius played in ATX, he' the one that played for NC State correct?
where do they play at, is it the civic center, im not from austin but i stay near by in killeen so thats about as close to b-ball as we get, well when we are not deployed.
but they would be pretty cool to check out one day ....
Yeah that's the same Hodge. They play in the Convention Center downtown. It isn't the NBA, but it's realatively cheap (getting cheaper next season) and the games are almost always close.
Fizer Out; Felix In
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/basket...08_sbok20.html
Seattle Post-Intelligencer
The Sonics did not renew the 10-day contract of forward Marcus Fizer, leaving the former lottery pick to sign with another team or head back to the NBA Developmental League. And the primary reason Fizer was allowed to go was shooting baskets at Furtado Center on Sunday well after his teammates departed into the beautiful, cool Seattle sunshine.
Felix stayed late at practice yet again, shooting mid-range jumpers and working on his ballhandling. He was working so long after practice that he had to yell to a Sonics' assistant that he wasn't overdoing it.
Because Felix is developing so quickly in practice as either a small or power forward, Hill said he realized Fizer wouldn't get much playing time in the final 17 games.
"We're probably not going to make the playoffs, we're working hard to develop things," Hill said. "To get (Fizer) minutes with the guys that are already here and still trying to win games is difficult."
Hill spent Friday working Fizer out during a voluntary practice and is convinced the former Iowa State standout and first-team All American still has something left to offer an NBA club.
"He really did a good job," Hill said. "He had a good at ude. He was in here early every day. I would venture to guess he was in here when he didn't have to be. I think he's an NBA player."
Felix has scored two points in two games, but has done most of his improving in practice. The Sonics like Felix's potential as a versatile forward who can play defense. He was chosen as the Continental Basketball Association defensive Player of the Year last week.
"He can run, he can really jump and he is developing his jump shot," Hill said. "With Damien (Wilkins) and Rashard (Lewis), again, it's difficult to get him a lot of minutes. And he beat me in bowling. I told him it's not smart to beat the coach because I control the minutes."
Felix finished off Hill in Ray Allen's bowling tournament Saturday.
Yep, I think I said somewhere that Noel's versatility would be a big plus.
Well, if Marcus felt any resentment about being in the D-League again, he took it out on the Albuquerque Thunderbirds. He dropped a D-league season-high 44 points on them tonight. It didn't look like his back was bothering him though he really didn't sit much while he played 42 minutes. According to the local paper, he lost 12 pounds while he was up in Seattle and he did seem to be running the floor a bit better.
That's awesome for him. Maybe he gets another callup from another team.
If not, I'm sure he's going to have a great shot at getting back in the NBA this offseason.
Here's the story ChumpDumper was talking about:
http://www.statesman.com/sports/cont...3/22TOROS.html
Toros' Fizer scores team-record 44 points in 102-94 victory over Albuquerque
He sets mark in first game back with team.
By Connor Higgins
Wednesday, March 22, 2006
Figuring he'd had enough rest in the past two weeks, Marcus Fizer wouldn't even sit on the Austin Toros bench when he was first pulled from Tuesday night's game at the Austin Convention Center.
Fizer returned to the Toros just one day after the expiration of his 10-day contract with the NBA's Seattle SuperSonics. For Austin, it wasn't a moment too soon.
Winless in six games without their scoring leader, the Toros cheerfully welcomed back a leaner, quicker Fizer, who scored a team-record 44 points in a 102-94 victory over Albuquerque.
A crowd of 1,726 fans was treated to a surprise, as Fizer's return was announced just a couple of hours before game time. Though he never left the bench with the Sonics, Fizer showed no signs of rust in his 42 minutes, notching the most points in an NBA Development League game this season. He also helped the Toros snap an eight-game skid.
Fizer shot 16 of 20 from the free-throw line and set another D-League season high with 31 field-goal attempts. He made 14.
Fizer shed 12 pounds while working with strength and conditioning coaches after Seattle signed him to a 10-day contract on March 8. He said the Sonics told his agent he would remain with the club, and newspaper reports also suggested the Sonics would sign him to another 10-day contract when the first expired.
"The ultimate goal is to stay (in the NBA)," Fizer said. "I'm quite confident that I would have had I been given a chance."
For now Fizer will mix it up teammates old and new. Forward Omar Thomas, picked up a week ago along with guard Quannas White, added 12 points off the bench in his first home outing, including a three-pointer to put Austin back on top after it squandered an 11-point lead in the third quarter.
The win put Austin a half-game out of second place with seven games remaining.
Note: The Toros waived center Scott Merritt before Tuesday's game because of injury. Merritt started 37 games, averaging 10.2 points.
Well, Marcus only scored 36 points in 38 minutes tonight. He's playing at an entirely different level right now. At the beginning of the season he looked like he was on a mission to get back into the NBA. Now he just looks like he's out there to punish the ball and anyone in his way. It's not very often you see this level of aggression. He even blocked four shots - something he never even did in his NBA heyday. He's noticeably thinner -- you can tell just by looking at his head-- and his movement on the court shows it.
Wow. I guess he's pissed off that the Sonics didn't keep him.Well, Marcus only scored 36 points in 38 minutes tonight. He's playing at an entirely different level right now. At the beginning of the season he looked like he was on a mission to get back into the NBA. Now he just looks like he's out there to punish the ball and anyone in his way. It's not very often you see this level of aggression. He even blocked four shots - something he never even did in his NBA heyday. He's noticeably thinner -- you can tell just by looking at his head
Yeah, he's on a rampage. When the Toros' new backup point guard, Quannas White, came into the game Marcus went right up to him and you could tell he was instructing White just to give him the damn ball. It was pretty funny. He doesn't belong at this level, but I'll enjoy it while it lasts.
That's funny. Well hopefully he gets a chance somewhere. I thought that the Nets were looking at him right before he went to the Sonics. Is that right?
Yeah there was some scuttlebutt about that before he went to Seattle. I'm sure something is going to happen for him next season if not this one. I won't mind too much if he plays out the season here. A half game seperates 2nd and 6th place -- 1 through 4 go to the playoffs.
Press Release - The New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets announced today that they have signed Marcus Fizer from the NBADL’s Austin Toros to a 10-day contract.
“Marcus is a proven NBA player and he’ll help strengthen our injury-depleted frontline as we make our playoff push,” said Hornets General Manager Jeff Bower. “He showed great professionalism this season by improving his game in the NBADL and we look forward to the contributions he’ll be able to make right away.”
Fizer was named the NBA Development League’s Most Valuable Player for the 2005-06 season earlier today after averaging 22.7 points and 7.8 rebounds in 35 games with the Toros. Fizer signed a 10-day contract with the Seattle SuperSonics on March 8, but did not appear in a game.
In other news, the Toros' playoff chances have gone to .
Good for Marcus though. The situation is much more wide open than Seattle was. The Hornets only have three big men under contract next season and only one under 30.
Damn... I caught one of the Toros games after Fizer was called up to seattle - went to OT and was a lot of fun, but I was looking forward to seeing Fizer destroy a team or two.
Good for him though.
There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote
