Last Night in the D-League, Where Jeff Freakin' Trepagnier Happened

Unfortunately, I didn't watch any D-League action except the first half of LA-Albuquerque last night.  Blame it on Christmas break, my friends being in town and the al-al-al-alcohol.  Regardless, I did get quite a few texts about the games that happened, and I fancy myself one of the best box score reader's in the blogosphere, so I'm going to give this a shot.

Iowa Energy 140, Fort Wayne Mad Ants 137 (3 OT) (Box Score)

• This game, from what I'm told, was really good.
• Remember when Jeff Trepagnier was a second round pick for the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2001?  Okay, me neither.  Still, last night he scored 34 points on 17 shots off the bench.  He also added seven boards and four blocks, neither of which are staples of the typical Trepagnier game.  His seven 3's are, however, a staple of his game.
• Curtis Stinson had a triple-double.  Stinson shot 7-of-23 from the field.  One of those sentences are good, one of those are terrible.  21 assists, 14 points, 11 boards and seven turnovers.  It was a triple-double, and his team won, but yikes.
• Cartier Martin shot just 7-of-20 from the field, but finished with 22 points and seven boards. Note that he did have some clutch shots.
• Oliver Lafayette got the start over Kyle McAlarney, who I assume was still suffering from a bout of food poisoning from a chinese restaurant on Christmas day.  Lafayette had 30 points, 14 assists and eight boards, but missed some crucial free-throw's.  He also had six turnovers, which is neither here nor there, I guess.  Without watching triple-OT games, it's hard to decipher what the numbers would have been in regulation.
• Jared Reiner continued his impressive play with 23 points, 13 boards and five blocks.  I continue to be impressed with him, and not just because he's a tall white big man.
• Sean Sonderleiter only played six minutes.  This is why the Mad Ants lost.
• Ron Howard finished with 29 points, but according to the play-by-play, he missed seven jump shots.  When I'm at the Showcase, I'm going to have a long talk with Opie about finishing at the rack.  For some of us, the jump shot isn't our game.
• Rob Kurz had 22 points, 11 boards and five blocks.  Had I watched this game, I'd probably be led to believe that he's no longer just a perimeter play, because 11 boards and five blocks don't scream I sit at the 3-point line all game.

Erie Bayhawks 91, Bakersfield Jam 78 (Box Score)

• Bakersfield guaranteed they were going to beat the worst game in the D-League and by golly, they did it.
• Cliff Clinkscales, according to the box score, is as sucky as I was I thought he was.  Note, Steve Weinman raved about his assist to turnover ratio Monday at D-League Digest. I noted he can't dribble with his head up.  As much as I love Weinman, I hate Cliff Clinkscales - not the name, the ball player.  Still, four assists and no turnovers is good.  0-for-2 from the field in 25 minutes isn't.
• I've been meaning to rave about Cedric Jackson for awhile (check his numbers), but I hadn't.  He's an all-around baller.  Last night, he finished with 17 points, 10 assists and six boards off the bench.
• For more on this game, check out Blog Talk Bayhawk's review.

Los Angeles D-Fender's 91, Albuquerque Thunderbirds 80

• Michael Fey showed up, which is nice.  Granted, his matchup was Kevin Pittsnogle, but 19 points, 11 boards and four blocks is the right way to get on track.  He also hit all seven of his free-throw attempts, which doesn't hurt.
• Diamon Simpson is the most deserving of a call-up that doesn't put up outstanding numbers.  14 points, 12 boards and four blocks last night is nice, but he's a player that gets it.  Love watching him play.
• Shane Edwards, out of perennial powerhouse Arkansas-Little Rock, had a great line for the Thunderbirds.  The 6'7" Edwards finished with 24 points and 16 boards (seven offensive).  He also chipped in two blocks for good measure.
• Carlos Powell, who joined Twitter yesterday, struggled.  Still, his 17 points on 5-of-16 from the field was second best on the team.
• Jason Horton, who was also broken down by Steve Weinman at one point, started and player over 21 minutes.  He had zero points, zero field goal attempts and six turnovers before fouling out. This is terrible.  Absolutely terrible.  Is there a worse possible line than that?