"Seriously, 52.  Are they just not seeing what I'm doing or what?" -- Pops

(Courtesy facebakersfield.com)

As much as you'd assume it was, this is not just an old post I moved back to the top.  As usual, I'm serious, call Pops up.  As in, this morning, before another team reads RidiculousUpside, 48minutesofhell, or the D-League website itself.  He's hot right now.

Yesterday afternoon, in a 131-124 victory over the Colorado 14ers, Mensah-Bonsu went off, scoring 39 points and grabbing 18 boards.  He also had four steals and made 13-of-16 from the charity stripe in his 46 minutes of action.  Seriously, 39 and 18, 35 and 14 at the end of regulation.  What in the World is preventing this dude from being called-up?  He's good enough to play on Britain's national team, but not good enough for a 10-day look?

Marcus Williams also had a pretty good game, scoring 30 points and dishing five assists for the Toros.  For the 14ers, eight players were in double figures.  Newcomer John Lucas III, who is probably better than the guy he's replaced, Eddie Gill, came off the bench to score 20 and dish five assists with just one turnover.  Not sure how they made it to overtime after starters shot like so: Billy Thomas 6-for-18, Josh Davis 3-for-10, Dominique Coleman 4-for-10, and Vernon Hamilton 2-for-8, but they did it.  Impressive, Colorado.

In the other game I didn't extensively cover, I wish I would have.  

Idaho was led by Luke Jackson, who shot just 4-for-13 from the field and missed all three of his shot's from behind the arc.  However, he was 15-for-16 at the line.  In two of his four NBA seasons, he's shot less free-throw's (playing in at least 13 games all four seasons).  He also picked up a technical foul.  Mildon Ambres had a good game for Idaho as well, scoring 19 points and grabbing 14 boards off the bench.  He also picked up a technical foul.  Jamaal Tatum came off the bench to score 11 and pick up a technical foul.  Lance Allred had a good game, with 18 points, 10 rebounds, and no technical fouls.  Coach Bryan Gates also picked up a technical in the victory.

Reno was led by Damone Brown, who came off the bench to score 17 points and didn't pick up a technical.  Patrick Ewing Jr. had a frustrating night, apparently after he didn't get invited to the Knicks tryout.  Ewing scored seven points, grabbed seven rebounds, shot 1-for-9 from the field, had three turnovers, fouled, and picked up two technicals. Yikes!  Kansas' own Russell Robinson got the start, shot 1-for-8 from 3-point land had five steals, picked up five personal fouls and a technical.  Reno's coach, Jay Humphries, picked up two technical's as well, the last with 2:47 in the fourth. 

Continue on for analysis that I don't dare put on the front page!

RidiculousUpside's most mentioned official, Marat Kogut, more than likely broke his own record, calling nine technical's in a 106-82 game between the victorious Idaho Stampede and hosting Reno Bighorns. Yes.  Nine technical's.  In one 24 point game.  I'm just as impressed as you are.  NINE.  Wow, Marat.  I think this is illegal for me to mention, and sorry to Vegas NBA fans, but I think Marat may have somehow had this in the Vegas sports books.  I can see him stopping at Terrible's, picking up some cheap breakfast, playing blackjack, dominating, and convincing the sportsbook to let him put his winnings on an over-under technical fouls bet on Sunday in the D-League.  +/- was eight, but Marat made sure there were nine.  Congrats to the Magic Man!