D-League Showcase

[Klomp]

http://www.nba.com/dleague/news/showcase_081222.html

NEW YORK, Jan. 3, 2009 – The 2009 NBA Development League Showcase tips off its 16-game schedule on Monday, Jan. 5 and runs through Thursday, Jan. 8. The fifth annual event will take place at the McKay Events Center, home of the Utah Flash, in Orem, Utah and will feature all 16 NBA D-League teams playing two games apiece under one roof. Fans can stay in step with their favorite NBA D-League team by logging onto www.nba.com/futurecast to watch every Showcase game on-line for free.

The Sioux Falls Skyforce, currently 9-5 on the season and in third place in the Central Division, take on the Albuquerque Thunderbirds (2-10) at 11 a.m. MT in the opening game of the Showcase. Action continues with three more contests during the afternoon and evening on Monday and the schedules for Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday also includes four games each, beginning at 11 a.m. MT (see full schedule attached).

Nine members of the 2008 NBA Draft class are slated to participate in this year’s NBA D-League Showcase including NBA D-League players Joe Crawford (Los Angeles D-Fenders), Patrick Ewing, Jr. (Reno Bighorns) and Richard Hendrix (Dakota Wizards) and NBA assigned players Joey Dorsey (Houston Rockets, playing with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers), J.R. Giddens (Boston Celtics, playing with the Utah Flash), Malik Hairston (San Antonio Spurs, playing with the Austin Toros), Walter Sharpe (Detroit Pistons, playing with the Fort Wayne Mad Ants), Bill Walker (Boston Celtics, playing with the Flash), and Sonny Weems (Denver Nuggets, playing with the Colorado 14ers).

Additionally, six members of the 2007 NBA Draft class round out the NBA D-League Showcase rosters, including Sean Williams, currently on assignment with the 14ers from the New Jersey Nets and NBA D-League players Derrick Byers (Bakersfield Jam), Jermareo Davidson (Idaho Stampede), Jared Jordan (Rio Grande Valley), Chris Richard (Tulsa 66ers), and Marcus Williams (Austin).

The premier in-season basketball scouting event, the Showcase will welcome general managers, player personnel staff and scouts from each of the 30 NBA teams who will converge in Utah for four days to evaluate the league’s talent. The Showcase takes on an international flavor as numerous members of the international basketball community will also make the trip to Orem to watch the action unfold.

“With the extraordinary depth of talent in the NBA D-League this season, the NBA D-League Showcase affords NBA teams an opportunity to evaluate all of the League’s players in one location. Historically, we have seen NBA teams sign players immediately following the Showcase, and in some instances during the Showcase, too,” said Chris Alpert, Vice President of Basketball Operations and Player Personnel for the NBA D-League. “We are excited about being in Orem, Utah for this year’s Showcase and look forward to an exciting four days of basketball.”

NBA D-LEAGUE SHOWCASE PROGRAMMING SCHEDULE:

MON., JAN. 5

1 P.M., Sioux Falls Skyforce vs. Albuquerque Thunderbirds
3:45 P.M., Austin Toros vs. Colorado 14ers
6:30 P.M., Los Angeles D-Fenders vs. Bakersfield Jam
9:15 P.M., Reno Bighorns vs. Rio Grande Valley Vipers

TUES., JAN. 6

1 P.M., Idaho Stampede vs. Fort Wayne Mad Ants
3:45 P.M., Iowa Energy vs. Dakota Wizards
6:30 P.M., Erie BayHawks vs. Tulsa 66ers
9:15 P.M., Anaheim Arsenal vs. Utah Flash

WED., JAN. 7

1 P.M., Rio Grande Valley Vipers vs. Sioux Valley Skyforce
3:45 P.M., Fort Wayne Mad Ants vs. Iowa Energy
6:30 P.M., Albuquerque Thunderbirds vs. Erie BayHawks
9:15 P.M., Dakota Wizards vs. Reno Bighorns

THURS., JAN. 8

1 P.M., Tulsa 66ers vs. Idaho Stampede
3:45 P.M., Colorado 14ers vs. Anaheim Arsenal
6:30 P.M., Bakersfield Jam vs. Austin Toros
9:15 P.M., Utah Flash vs. Los Angeles D-Fenders

[Calinks]

I'm a little pumped for this. I want to see what Chris Richard is up to. I'll check out his game, and I want to see Courtney Sims in action. I want to see how well he plays defensively. I'll be checking some games out here and there.

[mnWI]

Sims is joining the Grizzlies unless another team jumps in soon.

[4ho5ive]

Blasted! Why do all of the good and young teams we are competing with in the youth/rebuild movement keep getting gooder and youngerer.

[mnWI]

Meh. They are only giving him a 10 day contract to begin with anyway, and his problem has always been that he can't handle very physical defense. Wouldn't surprise me to see him produce offensively at the NBA level, but it's not like the Wolves are missing on a future all-star or anything.

[Calinks]

Damn Grizzlies! We need size more than those fools. I don't even care about offense. If he can rebound and get a block here and there and provide some size in the paint on D I'm happy. I was hoping he could be a slightly better J Collins for us. He better not come out averaging 8 rebound and 2 blocks or some crap. I'll be pissed.

[mnWI]

Sims isn't a great shot-blocker or rebounder really. He's a very offensive rebounder, but his defensive rebounding is just average. Sims is mostly an offensive player, and the things you are looking for have been the reason why he hasn't made it in the past. Though he has improved in those areas, I still think he's a little too soft mentally to stand the physicality of the NBA in those areas.

[Calinks]

Thanks for the info. I hope he still plays tomorrow, I am looking forward to checking him out. It seems like the Grizz have been really active with personnel moves in the last couple of months. They are making all kinds of little moves here and there. When the heck are we going to start making a little noise?

[Calinks]

Sims is playing right now.

[Calinks]

Richard and Dupree are both playing on Tulsa right now.