Iowa Energy @ Tulsa 66ers - D-League Semifinals Playoff Preview - Game 2

by Scott Schroeder on Apr 18, 2010 10:00 AM EDT

The second game of this second round series tips off this afternoon at 4 pm CT from lovely Des Moines, Iowa as the #1 Iowa Energy take on the #8 Tulsa 66ers with the Energy leading the three-game series 1-0. If you don't live in Iowa (and don't care to watch the regular NBA playoffs), it can also be watched live over at AOL Fanhouse.

In the first game, Canadian Denham Brown came back with a vengeance to score 28 points on 17 shots as well as nabbing 12 rebounds right off of the plane to lead Iowa to a 107-102 victory in Tulsa. His point guard, Curtis Stinson, was the only other real contributor as he scored 20 points and grabbed 17 boards to go along with eight assists, but he also turned the ball over eight times - negating some of that performance.

For Tulsa, they were assigned two NBA guys right before tip-off which rendered my preview useless, but karma came back to bite them - Mustafa Shakur shot 1-for-7 in the first half before leaving with a foot injury while Byron Mullens had what I am assuming to be a pedestrian 11 points and 12 rebounds since Jon didn't put him in his recap. Tulsa was led by a third NBA player though, as Kyle Weaver had 19 points and 10 assists, though he also countered with eight turnovers and a 5-of-17 shooting performance.

Now, at least as of this writing, all three of the players I mentioned for Tulsa have been recalled to Oklahoma City. So, instead of redoing my match-up's like I originally had planned, I'll refer you to my previous preview which could potentially be right this time. That, or Tulsa will issue a press release at 3:59 this afternoon announcing that OKC has assigned Shakur (I believe Mullens and Weaver have both used all three assignments) and things will get crazy again.

Prediction: Iowa 107, Tulsa 99 with Stinson leading the way.

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Comments

This is weird

Tulsa starters:
PG – Wink Adams
SG – Cecil Brown
SF – Larry Owens
PF – Deron Washington
C – Marcus Lewis
They’ve combined to average 37.2 points per game in the playoffs.
Iowa’s starting their typical crew.

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by Scott Schroeder on Apr 18, 2010 5:11 PM EDT reply actions

If you're unfamiliar with what that means

I would assume that their bench (if it had 5 guys) would probably beat their starters.

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by Scott Schroeder on Apr 18, 2010 5:13 PM EDT up reply actions

Weird that Hardin's not starting.

Maybe that commenter can tell us if he’s hurt.

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by Jon L on Apr 18, 2010 5:18 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Probably will on Tuesday..

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by Scott Schroeder on Apr 18, 2010 5:30 PM EDT up reply actions

How I wish Curtis Stinson had a jumper..

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by Scott Schroeder on Apr 18, 2010 5:17 PM EDT reply actions

Iowa starts 1-for-12

12-3 with 5 left in the first

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by Scott Schroeder on Apr 18, 2010 5:25 PM EDT reply actions

Darian Townes with the hustle rebound

That wasn’t really expected.

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by Scott Schroeder on Apr 18, 2010 5:31 PM EDT reply actions

Except for the fact that it was against DeVon Hardin.

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by Scott Schroeder on Apr 18, 2010 5:31 PM EDT up reply actions

First Quarter Summary

It sucked.
Tulsa up 20-18.
Deron Washington has 7 points, 5 boards. (Note with 30 missed shots, that’s not exactly awesome)
Darian Townes has 6 points, 3 boards… only Iowa player that hasn’t looked terrible.

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by Scott Schroeder on Apr 18, 2010 5:39 PM EDT reply actions

Every team needs a Moses Ehambe.

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by Scott Schroeder on Apr 18, 2010 5:40 PM EDT reply actions

Jeff Trepagnier just threw up the ugliest shot I've ever seen

Way early in the clock, fadeaway 3-pointer. He made it.

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by Scott Schroeder on Apr 18, 2010 5:43 PM EDT reply actions

Iowa's awake

They found their energy, you might say.

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by Scott Schroeder on Apr 18, 2010 5:47 PM EDT reply actions

Halftime Stats

Iowa brought the Energy, lead 53-40.
Stinson with 13 (5-of-14 though), 6 rebounds, 3 assists
Pat Carroll with 9 (3-of-10 shooting though)
Tyndale is being hyped by Marty Tirrell and Co, but didn’t really impress me
Jeff Trepagnier 3-of-8 for 7 points AND 3 steals
Denham Brown with an unimpressive 3-of-8

Tulsa led by Deron Washington with 9 pts, 6 boards (Quiet 2nd)
Cecil Brown 0-for-7… Not healthy?
Latavious Williams 6 pts, 4 boards off bench. He should be drafted.

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by Scott Schroeder on Apr 18, 2010 6:09 PM EDT reply actions

Nate Tibbets picks up a technical

Terrible call that got Marcus Lewis for a block instead of what was an obvious charge by Pat Carroll.
For shame, Nicky Buchs.

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by Scott Schroeder on Apr 18, 2010 6:23 PM EDT reply actions

Oh, by the way

Curtis Stinson hurt his ankle at the end of the first half… playing now, but definitely not 100% healthy.

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by Scott Schroeder on Apr 18, 2010 6:25 PM EDT reply actions

How has Larry Owens looked?

I just tuned in, I would’ve expected him to dominate as the main offensive guy for Tulsa but he has a mediocre line.

Ridiculous Upside, where developing talent and winning are not mutually exclusive.

by Jon L on Apr 18, 2010 6:27 PM EDT reply actions

Also

I assume your heart is torn now between Marcus Lewis and Connor Atchley.

Ridiculous Upside, where developing talent and winning are not mutually exclusive.

by Jon L on Apr 18, 2010 6:28 PM EDT up reply actions

Know they've already been penciled in as Monstars

Even if their lines aren’t as good as their big men off the bench.

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by Scott Schroeder on Apr 18, 2010 6:30 PM EDT up reply actions

And by penciled

I mean penned. And then permanent markered. And then I drew little hearts around their names.

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by Scott Schroeder on Apr 18, 2010 6:31 PM EDT up reply actions

He's not been the main offensive guy

Without a point guard that knows what he’s doing, Tulsa’s offense is atrocious.
I would actually go with Larry as point-forward, which they’ve done, but not enough.

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by Scott Schroeder on Apr 18, 2010 6:29 PM EDT up reply actions

Oh God

Marcus Lewis and Curtis Stinson both just picked up technical fouls. I should have predicted this… No way a player as unheraldedly great as Lewis doesn’t irk Stinson.

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by Scott Schroeder on Apr 18, 2010 6:33 PM EDT reply actions

Cecil Brown with his first made shot of the playoffs

Big 3-pointer to cut the lead to 2, 63-61.
Tulsa’s on a 7-0 run since Curtis Stinson picked up a T…

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by Scott Schroeder on Apr 18, 2010 6:37 PM EDT reply actions

"That's an ouch-o from the former Gaucho."

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by Jon L on Apr 18, 2010 6:42 PM EDT up reply actions

With the Wink and the nod.

Moses isn’t comin’ with roses, either.

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by Scott Schroeder on Apr 18, 2010 6:44 PM EDT up reply actions

"Marcus, he of the big carcass."

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by Jon L on Apr 18, 2010 7:09 PM EDT up reply actions

There's a lot to love about Marty Tirrell

He’s good at swearing, wearing scarves and naming the mascot of every college for every player on the floor mid-game.
Plus, now tonight we find that he’s good at rhyming.

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by Scott Schroeder on Apr 18, 2010 7:14 PM EDT up reply actions

Congratulations to Alonzo Gee

for scoring 19 points against the Bobcats last week.

Ridiculous Upside, where developing talent and winning are not mutually exclusive.

by Jon L on Apr 18, 2010 6:37 PM EDT reply actions

Twas impressive

At halftime, they showed that huge dunk Hasheem Thabeet threw down against Iowa last week… was the #6 play of the week in the D-League.

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by Scott Schroeder on Apr 18, 2010 6:39 PM EDT up reply actions

Marty Tirrell goes crazy

Deron Washington, apparently, just punched Mark Tyndale in the face on the shot after he just picked up a flagarant for elbowing him in the face.
“He needs to be fitted for goat horns,” apparently.

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by Scott Schroeder on Apr 18, 2010 6:42 PM EDT reply actions