D-League Names All-League Teams

by Scott Schroeder on Apr 6, 2009 5:11 PM EDT Comment 29 comments

Erie's Erik Daniels hooking Denham Brown while showing off his tattoos. Photo courtesy: Dick Carlson/NBAE/Getty Images

Dear D-League,

You and I, as much as we both love D-League basketball, differ more than I'd like. You enjoy former NBA talent and lots of scoring. I enjoy learning about a player only because I live in Bismarck, North Dakota and watching that player succeed in his dream to become an NBA player (Dontell Jefferson, anyone?).

Today, the D-League announced it's All-League teams. When putting this together, I'd consider an All-League team as the best players I could team up to play an NBA team. Doesn't matter what their stats are - just the best five players at their respective position.

While all deserve the accolades they received, I don't think they came out in the right order. We'll have the official RU All-League teams, along with our picks for MVP, Rookie, Impact Player and Coach Of The Year awards out tomorrow morning for your perusal, but today, I just wanted to bring up a few of the most notable differences.

Erik Daniels hasn't played forward all season, yet they made him a forward so he could make the first team. Yes, he's an NBA forward, but he's started every game I've seen at center for the Bayhawks. He even started the All-Star game as the center. He's got a name, he has NBA experience and he's putting up stats this season (21 points, 10 boards), but I don't think he should have been a first-team forward when he hasn't started a game at forward all season. I would have put him on the first team for best tattoos, however.

I wouldn't put Will Conroy on the first team either. His numbers deserve it, yes, but if he was on another team, I don't think he'd have been putting up those numbers - first, his attitude would have him in trouble, and second, the vet's would have let him know what his role was, rather than watching him go out and score 26 points and turn the ball over more than four times a game.

Walker Russell as an Honorable Mention? It shows me that you guys pay attention to RU enough to realize that he's not having the best year ever shooting wise, but seriously. Russell broke the D-League assists record for most in a season and is averaging 16.3 points and 10.9 assists per game. He's going to help his team a lot more than he hurts it.

Continue on for the full list.

2008-09 ALL-NBA DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE FIRST TEAM

Position Player Team

Guard Blake Ahearn Dakota Wizards
Guard Will Conroy Albuquerque Thunderbirds
Forward Erik Daniels Erie BayHawks
Forward Marcus Williams Austin Toros
Center Courtney Sims* Iowa Energy

2008-09 ALL-NBA DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE SECOND TEAM

Position Player Team

Guard Trey Johnson Bakersfield Jam
Guard James White* Anaheim Arsenal
Forward Josh Davis Colorado 14ers
Forward Derrick Byars Bakersfield Jam
Center Chris Hunter Fort Wayne Mad Ants

2008-09 ALL-NBA DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE THIRD TEAM

Position Player Team

Guard Eddie Gill Colorado 14ers
Guard Dontell Jefferson* Utah Flash
Forward Ronald Dupree Utah Flash
Forward Cartier Martin* Iowa Energy
Center Lance Allred Idaho Stampede

2008-09 ALL-NBA DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE HONORABLE MENTION

Position Player Team

Guard Cedric Bozeman Anaheim Arsenal
Guard Joe Crawford* Los Angeles D-Fenders
Guard Malik Hairston# Austin Toros/Spurs
Guard Luke Jackson Idaho Stampede
Guard Othyus Jeffers Iowa Energy
Guard Walker Russell Fort Wayne Mad Ants
Guard Curtis Stinson Iowa Energy
Forward Will Frisby Dakota Wizards
Forward Richard Hendrix Dakota Wizards
Forward Jasper Johnson Albuquerque Thunderbirds
Forward Dwayne Jones Austin Toros
Forward Nick Lewis Bakersfield Jam
Forward Antonio Meeking Albuquerque Thunderbirds
Forward David Noel Reno Bighorns
Forward Trent Strickland Rio Grande Valley Vipers
Center Joe Dabbert Colorado 14ers
Center Kurt Looby Rio Grande Valley Vipers

* - player currently in NBA

# - player on assignment from the NBA

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Comments

No Mo Baker?

Not sure that I agree with that. Sure, I’m biased, but still.

by WizFan4Life on Apr 6, 2009 6:44 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I couldn't put him in the top 3 pg's in the league

But he did deserve a spot as an honorable mention…

Blogging at RidiculousUpside

by Scott Schroeder on Apr 6, 2009 7:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not being 1st, 2nd, or 3rd is fine

..but not even honorable mention? He got snubbed.

by WizFan4Life on Apr 6, 2009 7:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

We're putting out our own top 3 teams

for tomorrow. Too many honorable mention candidates to name, but Mo was snubbed. Maybe we can go with Top snubs?

Blogging at RidiculousUpside

by Scott Schroeder on Apr 6, 2009 7:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Good idea

I think you should do a “top snubs” list. I’m just not really happy with this. It’s great that Frisby made it onto honorable mention, but, in my opinion, Mo deserved it more, and that’s no knock on Will; Mo was just superb.

by WizFan4Life on Apr 6, 2009 7:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Isn't anyone else scared?

That Blake Ahearn and Will Conroy are on the same first team? I just want to see Blake get punched.

by Aisander D on Apr 6, 2009 7:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Blake is an elite SG in the D-League

But yes, Conroy would undoubtedly punch him. If he swings at his own teammates, Blake would definitely get swung at after not getting the ball when he’s open and complaining.

Blogging at RidiculousUpside

by Scott Schroeder on Apr 6, 2009 7:57 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Just saying

Will Conroy is the D-league Artest…..with much, much, much less evindence to support that.

by Aisander D on Apr 6, 2009 8:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Haha

Artest is good at defense, Conroy is not. There’s plenty of off-the-record evidence however.

Blogging at RidiculousUpside

by Scott Schroeder on Apr 6, 2009 8:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oh no

that reference had absolutely nothing to do with quality of play. All about craziness

by Aisander D on Apr 6, 2009 8:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I know

but my anecdotes about his craziness are all off the record, unfortunately..

Blogging at RidiculousUpside

by Scott Schroeder on Apr 6, 2009 8:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Damn.....wait a minute

do you think we could convince Conroy and Marbury to hang out sometime…..Truck Party 2 here we come!!!

by Aisander D on Apr 6, 2009 8:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Walker Russell, Jr.

Walker leads the league in assists, set an all time single season assists mark (with two more games to go, no less), and shares the league lead in both double-doubles and triple doubles. This body of work earns honorable mention? Give me a break.

by Nightmare Ant's Boss on Apr 6, 2009 8:52 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I was actually a bit more disappointed

That Ron Howard wasn’t included. Not an impressive season statistically, as we’ve talked about, but the defense is there. I have a hard time the coaches had the exclusive say on this list…

Blogging at RidiculousUpside

by Scott Schroeder on Apr 6, 2009 8:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ron Howard

I agree that he should have received recognition, as well. I certainly don’t agree that his season was not impressive statistically, however. Ron is scoring 18.8 points per game (13th best in the league and better than many on that list), shooting 50% from the field (better than many on that list, as well), and also playing the fine defense you noted. I think an outstanding year for a two guard, and it deserved recognition. But, I might be a bit biased!

by Nightmare Ant's Boss on Apr 6, 2009 9:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

True

I probably shouldn’t have said not impressive, as it was better than last season and that got him an NBA look. After watching too many Fort Wayne games in the last month or so, it’s tough to quantify what he does just seeing the stats.

Blogging at RidiculousUpside

by Scott Schroeder on Apr 6, 2009 9:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Jawad Williams?

Small sample size, but he’s been on a tear for the last 20 games. But half a season may not be enough to get on the honorable mentions.

by Aisander D on Apr 6, 2009 9:11 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Cartier Martin

Only played 21 games.

Blogging at RidiculousUpside

by Scott Schroeder on Apr 6, 2009 9:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

But Martin's also in the NBA right now.

Now writing for Ridiculous Upside, where we knew who Mike Taylor was before you did.

by Jon L on Apr 6, 2009 9:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

True

Just sayin. I don’t think games played should be part of the criteria, nor should current NBAer. Jermareo Davidson also comes to mind, who played well in the D-League, but didn’t make it on the list.

Blogging at RidiculousUpside

by Scott Schroeder on Apr 6, 2009 9:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oh, I agree

My point was that the D-League likely picked Martin despite his low games played because he’s gotten an NBA look. Sorry if that wasn’t clear.

Now writing for Ridiculous Upside, where we knew who Mike Taylor was before you did.

by Jon L on Apr 6, 2009 11:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

True

Cartier Martin – 20.6 pts, 5.4 brds, 1.4 asts, 47.7% Fgs — 15-6 record with Iowa
Jawad Williams – 25.7 pts, 4.2 brds, 2.3 asts, 45.4% Fgs — 11-8 record with RGV

I don’t know tough call. Maybe they didn’t want give Jawad any love because they already had tapped Trent Strickland and Looby.

by Aisander D on Apr 6, 2009 9:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'd say

that Williams and Jared Jordan deserved mentioning over Strickland.

Blogging at RidiculousUpside

by Scott Schroeder on Apr 6, 2009 10:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Also

Jawad started in the NBA this season, so similar, just NBA came at different stage of season..

Blogging at RidiculousUpside

by Scott Schroeder on Apr 6, 2009 10:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Add him to the snubs list

by Aisander D on Apr 6, 2009 10:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Putting it together right now..

But think he has a chance to sneak in 3rd team..

Blogging at RidiculousUpside

by Scott Schroeder on Apr 6, 2009 10:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Eric Daniels

True, Eric usually starts at center, but he’s played a lot of minutes at forward. I know you don’t like his game Scott, but he is the league leader in double doubles.

by ZinErie on Apr 7, 2009 7:38 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

A lot?

Townes is the only other player that could conceivably play center, and he’s barely getting 14 minutes a game, and hasn’t been there half of the season.

Blogging at RidiculousUpside

by Scott Schroeder on Apr 7, 2009 12:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Eric averages 40 minutes per game. Townes and Jarvis Gunter play center exclusively for Erie and average 25 minutes per game between them. I’d assume Eric plays about 15 minutes per game at forward.

by ZinErie on Apr 7, 2009 3:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs