NBA D-League Update

Published on April 17, 2012 under NBA G League (G League) News Release

FIELD SET FOR SEMIFINALS

The four-team field is set for the 2012 NBA Development League Semifinals presented by BBVA as the seventh-seeded Canton Charge defeated the second-seeded Springfield Armor, 115-106, and the third-seeded Austin Toros defeated the fifth-seeded Erie BayHawks, 99-85, to advance to the second round of the postseason.

The Charge and Toros join the top-seeded Los Angeles D-Fenders and the sixth-seeded Bakersfield Jam in the semifinals. Both best-of-three series will tip off on Friday, April 19, when the Toros travel to face the Charge at 7:30 pm ET in Canton, and the D-Fenders take on the Jam in Bakersfield at 10:00 pm ET.

The D-Fenders advanced to the semifinals having defeated the eighth-seeded Iowa Energy in two games (114-103, 94-92), while the Jam moved on after downing the Dakota Wizards, the fourth seed, in two games (107-94, 93-91).

The dates and times of the best-of-three NBA D-League Finals will be released when that information becomes available. Every semifinal game can be viewed live, online, for free via NBA Futurecast at nba.com/dleague.

Among the storylines for these upcoming series: Moon Over Charlotte: Replacing Jamario Moon, who was signed by the Charlotte Hornets this past weekend, will be tough task for Eric Musselman and the D-Fenders. In 12 games, 10 starts, for the D-Fenders during the regular season, Moon averaged 17.7 points, 7.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.8 steals, 1.3 blocks and 37.8 minutes. In one postseason game for Los Angeles, Moon scored 25 points and grabbed five rebounds in 39 minutes. The D-Fenders still have a deep and talented roster, featuring five players with NBA experience, and several who were in NBA training camps this season. Polar Bear Getting Hot: Bakersfield's Brian Butch, nicknamed "Polar Bear" dating back to his high school days in Wisconsin, averaged 22.0 points and 16.0 rebounds in the Jam's two-game sweep of Dakota in the first round. Butch also shot 7-for-14 from behind the arc. The D-Fenders will likely have to guard him with a much smaller player, such as Zach Andrews or Malcolm Thomas. Injuries have played a part in Butch's inability to catch on in the NBA, but he continues to be one of the top bigs in the NBA D-League. According to Luke: Canton, in its first NBA D-League season, has relied heavily on the play of NBA assignee Luke Harangody of the Cleveland Cavaliers. In fact, he's the only player on the Charge's roster with NBA experience. In 19 games this season, Harangody averaged 19.4 points and 12.6 rebounds. In the opening round against Springfield, he averaged 16.3 points and 7.3 rebounds. From Toronto with Game : Fresh off a 10-day contract with the Raptors, Justin Dentmon returned to Austin for Game 3 against Erie, and scored 12 points in 16 minutes. He should play a larger role in the next series given his production for the Toros this season -- he averaged 22.8 points and 5.5 assists in 40 games, and is a leading candidate for NBA D-League MVP honors.

Complete Playoff Coverage

PROSPECT REPORT Jeremy Wise, Bakersfield Jam -- Billed as more of a combo guard coming out of Southern Mississippi in 2009, though blessed with size of a one, Wise has used his time in the NBA D-League over the last three seasons to improve his point guard skills. This year, he posted the highest assist average (6.3 apg) for players who appeared in at least 40 regular season games, while adding 13.9 points and 4.1 rebounds. Though not a knock-down shooter from the perimeter, Wise still shoots a solid percentage from the field (46 percent) thanks to his ability to get into the lane and score on a variety of shots closer to the basket. He's also a pesky defender, who plays bigger than his 6-2 height. Wise has been in NBA training camps before, and will hopefully catch on with an NBA team for Summer League this year.

NEWS & NOTES Maine's Morris Almond Signs with Washington Wizards The Washington Wizards have signed Maine Red Claws guard Morris Almond for the record 54th GATORADE Call-Up of the 2011-12 NBA Development League season. Almond joins more than 100 NBA players with NBA D-League experience currently on 2011-12 rosters. Almond (6-5, 210, Rice) appeared 29 games, 28 starts, for the Red Claws this season, averaging a team-high 23.4 points to go with 6.0 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 37.9 minutes. He scored in double figures in 28 games, amassing 30 or more points in seven outings. Originally selected in the first round (25th overall) in the 2007 NBA Draft by the Utah Jazz, Almond appeared in 34 games in Utah during the 2007-08 and 2008-09 seasons, averaging 3.1 points, 1.1 rebounds and 8.6 minutes. More

Idaho's Mikki Moore Signs with Golden State Warriors The Golden State Warriors have signed Idaho Stampede center Mikki Moore for the record 53rd GATORADE Call-Up of the 2011-12 NBA Development League season. Moore joins more than 100 NBA players with NBA D-League experience currently on 2011-12 rosters. Moore (7-0, 225, Nebraska) appeared in 33 games, 32 starts, for the Stampede this season, averaging 11.0 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 28.1 minutes. He recorded six double-doubles and three games scoring 20 points or more. A 12-year NBA veteran, Moore returns to the Warriors having spent 23 games with the team during the 2009-10 season, when he averaged 5.0 points, 3.0 rebounds and 17.7 minutes. In 557 career NBA games, 181 as a starter, Moore averaged 5.8 points, 3.9 rebounds and 18.2 minutes. More

AROUND THE D-LEAGUE The Fort Wayne Mad Ants announced today that they are opening the search for the head coaching position for the 2012-13 season. Steve Gansey, interim head coach from this past season, will be one of the candidates for the position ... The Golden State Warriors have recalled forward Chris Wright from the Dakota Wizards. Wright, 23, has appeared in 19 games with the Warriors this season, averaging 2.1 points and 1.0 rebounds in 4.8 minutes per contest. He was most recently re-assigned to the Wizards on April 10 and played in the team's two playoff games against the Bakersfield Jam, averaging 16.5 points, 10.5 rebounds and 4.00 blocks in 31.5 minutes per game. Overall, in three stints with Dakota this season, Wright appeared in 11 games, averaging 17.9 points, 8.5 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.8 blocks in 29.5 minutes per contest.

ALUMNI ACHIEVEMENTS

Cleveland's Alonzo Gee scored 13 points on 5-for-7 shooting in 28 minutes in a loss to the Toronto Raptors last night. Not drafted by an NBA franchise in 2009, Gee signed with the Austin Toros, and was named the 2009-10 NBA D-League Rookie of the Year, averaging 21.0 points and 6.6 rebounds in 36 games with the Toros. After spending time with the Washington Wizards and San Antonio Spurs at the end of the 2009-10 season, Gee was signed by the Cavaliers in December 2010, and went on to average 7.4 points and 3.9 rebounds in 40 games.

GATORADE CALL-UP BOARD

Boston's Ray Allen needs 28 threes to pass Reggie Miller (2,560) for first on the all-time list ... Boston's Kevin Garnett needs 60 rebounds to pass Charles Barkley (12,546) for 16th on the all-time list ... The Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant needs 52 points to pass Hakeem Olajuwon (26,946) for eighth on the all-time list. Bryant needs seven steals to pass Rod Strickland (1,616) for 22nd on the all-time list.

ASSIGNMENT BOARD

NBA Players Currently on Assignment in the NBA D-League:

Player NBA Team NBA D-League Team Assignment Date G PPG RPG APG

Hassan Whiteside Sacramento Reno 11/29/10 7 5.1 3.2 0.1

DeMarre Carroll Memphis Dakota 12/14/10 6 35.7 18.3 6.8

Pape Sy Atlanta Utah 12/27/10 6 24.0 5.5 5.0

Devin Ebanks L.A. Lakers Bakersfield 12/27/10 6 26.5 12.0 8.0

Garret Siler Phoenix Iowa 1/4/10 16.0 4.0 7.0

Cole Aldrich Oklahoma City Tulsa 12/30/10 28.8 7.3 8.1

Today's Quote

Springfield Armor forward L.D. Williams, on his overall experience with the Armor this season: "We had a great group of guys from day one in training camp. We all put a lot of work in it, and from day one we were committed to what Coach MacKinnon, Coach (Chris) Carrawell and (general manager Milton Lee) brought to the table. I can't be more proud of these guys because we all stuck together." The Republican, April 17, 2012

NBA G League Stories from April 17, 2012

• Tulsa Shock Add Jason Glover to Coaching Staff - Reno Bighorns
• NBA D-League Update - G League
• Mad Ants Open Head Coach Search - Indiana Mad Ants

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