[Note by Ridiculous Scott, 02/14/09 6:27 PM CST ]
Just a little update -- Phoenix Stan is the man. Case closed.
Also, no, Meeking is not a 3-point shooter. Every once in awhile they pop in the box score, but if he thinks his 3-point game is going to get in the NBA, we've got issues.
[Note by Phoenix Stan, 02/14/09 4:27 PM MST ]
One last thing. Antonio Meeking went 5 for 6 from three point range. Since he's 270lbs (at least) and 6'7" I had to ask him about this part of the game.
At the risk of making a fool out of myself since I really don't know anything about his game and was too stupid too look up his numbers BEFORE I asked, I asked him if that was a normal part of a his game or a all star thing.
Well, for the record he said it is a part of his normal game and something he's been working on. He's about 30% from three this season and 17% for his career.
Since I don't cover the D-league like Scott does I have no idea if things like this are normal. If 270lb forwards shooting three IS normal then there's really no reason no to move to Reno or Bismarck or where ever just to see that.
[Note by Phoenix Stan, 02/14/09 4:09 PM MST ]
Co-MVPs! Courtney Sims and Blake Ahearn!
Coach Nurse attributed the win to increased intensity in transition D in the second half. He thought Sims 4 blocks were huge and a part of his game that he's going to need to show more at the next level when he doesn't need to worry about getting into foul trouble and playing big minutes.
Ahearn showed his all around game with 13 assists and a series of three's that broke the game open.
More on the game later.
[Note by Phoenix Stan, 02/14/09 3:43 PM MST ]
MVP goes to...not sure yet.
[Note by Phoenix Stan, 02/14/09 3:39 PM MST ]
The answer is NO. There is NO GARBAGE TIME in the d-league when guys are playing for a contract every night out.
Petway just sky'd for a put back jam. Too bad he didn't stay down and just grab the rebound and make the easy play
Trey Johnson just drove the lane like Deron Williams...except he missed the reverse layup.
Ok...now. BIG Meeking with two straight 3's.
and Petway finally gets to show off w/ a dunk
Make that 3 three's for Meeking. What up with that!
That's game. 113 Red. 103 Blue
Later peeps.
[Note by Phoenix Stan, 02/14/09 3:35 PM MST ]
4:31 left in the game
Great balance from Red with 6 guys in double figures and two more with 8. Pentway trails w/ 2pts
For Blue Conroy leads w/ 13 and Hunter with 12.
Nice pump fake by Lance to get two guys in the air and slip under for the easy lay in. I bet LeBron taught him that last year.
Games getting a bit more sloppy with 2 min left. Red up 103 - 87
Is this garbage time?
[Note by Phoenix Stan, 02/14/09 3:31 PM MST ]
Hey Amare. Did you see that hustle right there by Richard Hendrix? Just asking.
Red Team up 95 - 81
[Note by Phoenix Stan, 02/14/09 3:30 PM MST ]
Can someone please get me a bottle of water?
No. I guess I am not Craig Sager after all.
[Note by Phoenix Stan, 02/14/09 3:27 PM MST ]
Red Team running away with this thing. 93 - 74
[Note by Phoenix Stan, 02/14/09 3:25 PM MST ]
There are a lot of tall men around. Expected. Problem comes when they stand in front of me.
The rather large Meeking just missed a 3. I am guessing that's not the best available shot. I could be wrong on that. I don't know his game. But I am guess shooting 3's isn't it. Can I get an amen on that?
[Note by Phoenix Stan, 02/14/09 3:24 PM MST ]
Red team leads 80-70 w/ FG 50% vs 43% for Blue
[Note by Phoenix Stan, 02/14/09 3:22 PM MST ]
Here in an RU exclusive I can report that the Dancing Dads only can dance choreographed moves. I have that from a solid reliable source within the Dads.
[Note by Phoenix Stan, 02/14/09 3:16 PM MST ]
Way to make me eat those words. Petway with a turn around fading J.
JR Smith James White for 3
Red Team up by 11 now...12. 79- 68.
Good half time adjustment from Nurse to slow it down and limit the TO's.
Meeking just LEVELED Trey Johnson. At least I think that's who's body I saw laying in a puddle.
Dancing Dads bringing the house down!
[Note by Phoenix Stan, 02/14/09 3:11 PM MST ]
Crowd is nice btw. Full stands and into the game.
Lance Allred w/ the hands! Catch and finish strong son!
Oooh, but you are not going to out run James White for a loose ball. Not.Going. To. Happen.
Baker with a poor pass. Turnover leads to easy Conroy bucket.
Byars? Why don't I know these guys? Oh, right. It is impossible to watch D-league games on TV.
I have yet to see Brent Petway do anything impressive. Well, beyond work the crowd that is. He does have showman game.
[Note by Phoenix Stan, 02/14/09 3:09 PM MST ]
Ahearn taking it over w/ 13pts and 10 assists. He is AUTOMATIC from down town. It's a real shame he's not actually the 6-2 they list him as.
[Note by Phoenix Stan, 02/14/09 2:59 PM MST ]
2nd half starting back up...btw from NBA D-league twitter:
If you missed the All-Star Game, it'll be replayed on NBATV at 9pm (ET) or watch it online with NBA FutureCast! http://www.nba.com/dleague/
Blake had 8 assists in the 1st half btw. Failed to mention that.
James White goes JR Smith...not in the good way
Red team comes out of the locker room strong. Seems like they are trying to get the pace under control.
Ahearn w/ a three. Of course. His release is fairly quick. He's a smaller Ray Allen.
Luke Jackson's a guy I've never heard of. He's got Rudy F like curls.
Ahearn just his three straight 3's to give the Red a 63-58 lead.
[Note by Phoenix Stan, 02/14/09 2:48 PM MST ]
1st half stat highlights:
Iowa Energy stars Sims and Jeffers lead all scoring with 9 each
Blue Team led by 8 each from Conroy and Hunter.
Each team has 10 pts off turn overs. Blue has 7 second chance pts to 4 for Red but Red leads points in the paint 28-22.
Blue leads 51 - 43 at the half with the defensive play by the Blue guards and their faster player over coming the Red size advantage.
Half time fun? Mascots chucking balls in the general direction of the basket. The Warriors Blue Man Dude has got some game...he's also dealing with a lot less fur.
[Note by Phoenix Stan, 02/14/09 2:37 PM MST ]
Blake's got more handle then I was expecting.
Walker Russel who the Suns worked out a few months ago looks sharp as well. He's a slighter build then Conroy. More of a slippery little point guard.
These guys are really playing their asses off. No one is walking the dog around here...
Walker Russel with an amazing behind the back then right up into his shooting motion! Holy cow! Its that how Mad Ants always roll?
1st half ends with the score of 51 - 43 Blue
The back court duo of Conroy and Walker really controlling this game.
[Note by Phoenix Stan, 02/14/09 2:34 PM MST ]
Sweet block from Sims as he showed on a pick and roll and recovered quickly
Nurse is pissed as his team's D gets lax and gives up a back door alley oop.
41-37 blue
[Note by Phoenix Stan, 02/14/09 2:31 PM MST ]
Suns Golden Grannies on the court entertaining their own way
In that last stretch the Blue got 4 points off 4 turnovers. Nice pressure from Walker Russell.
[Note by Phoenix Stan, 02/14/09 2:25 PM MST ]
Antonio is a big boy. Like Craig Smith big.
Sims hits a nice three from the top of the arc. Nothing but net. I hope he gets some playing time for the Suns just to see what he's got.
Nurse subbed his A unit back in at that last break while Snyder also went a bit deeper on the bench.
A lot of full court pressure in this game has lead to quite a few turnovers for both teams.
The blue team used that team take a 39-35 lead.
[Note by Phoenix Stan, 02/14/09 2:19 PM MST ]
Time out at the 9:40 mark in the 1st. Red team up 28 - 22.
Lance Allred led the Red Team in that second internal with 7 points.
Snyder's blue team on had one sub so far in the 1st period. Bozeman in for Dupree.
[Note by Phoenix Stan, 02/14/09 2:17 PM MST ]
James White is fearless. Kind of reminds me of JR Smith. In both ways you might imagine.
24 - 17 Red team with the lead
[Note by Phoenix Stan, 02/14/09 2:15 PM MST ]
Per his plan. Nurse subs out his entire starting 5 for the 2nd unit while Snyder leaves in his big guns Conroy and White.
Two very different approaches to this game from the coaches.
[Note by Phoenix Stan, 02/14/09 2:13 PM MST ]
Right. the score. 19 Red team - 17 Blue.
Red has the advantage when the game slows with their size up front (Sims and Hendrix) while Blue is pushing the ball w/ White and Conroy.
Conroy w/ 8 pts for Blue and Jeffers with 8 for Red. Jeffers been hitting some nice mid range stuff and got to the rim a couple of times.
[Note by Phoenix Stan, 02/14/09 2:08 PM MST ]
Blue team looks more "all-star" ish with the running and dunking quick shooting while the Nurse's Red team is playing more under control and possession type game.
As I write that Jeffers hits a quick two.
Conroy drives the lane, absorbs the contact and finishes for an and 1. He's got a little bit of Jameer Nelson in him.
Nurse up pacing the sideline while Snyder looking cool and composed. Stress cool.
This game is getting fun. Fast paced and solid passing. White just hit Davis for an oop and Ahern shows he's not just a 3 pt shooter w/ a bucket in the lane.
time out...phew!
Holler up people if you are out there!
[Note by Phoenix Stan, 02/14/09 2:06 PM MST ]
Red Team is in their home whites. Blue team in with the pretty colors.
This isn't the best angel to watch the game btw. Not complaining. Just saying.
[Note by Phoenix Stan, 02/14/09 2:05 PM MST ]
Tip off. James White shows that he's got range as well as big up's as he hits a three. Conroy for 2 makes is a quick 5-2 game.
I just realized that the score board is literally directly over my head. Awkward.
[Note by Phoenix Stan, 02/14/09 1:59 PM MST ]
Kenny the Jet Smith's daughter sang the National Anthem. Knocked it out of the park too. Is their a basketball equivalent of knocking it out of the park?
[Note by Phoenix Stan, 02/14/09 1:54 PM MST ]
Good afternoon America! Welcome to the d-leauge all star live blog!
(that really does sound cool in my head using my best Michael Buffer voice)
I am sitting baseline while the team's warm up. I just spent a few minutes with Blue Team Coach Quin Snyder talking about the Toro's and a bit about this game. Quin's a sharp looking dude. Think grizzled old coach and then do a 180.
I will work on the audio and writing that up later. My fault, but we spent most of our time talking about general stuff and I only got a little bit into this game with him. His basic approach is to keep it simple.
Having talked to Coach Nurse earlier in the week and again last night I can tell you he's got a few more wringles thrown in.
Stay tuned on this channel for some wicked live blogging. I will do my best to match the effort and passion of the boys in Red and Blue on the court. PLEASE do chime in with your comments below. I hate talking to myself.
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