CBA Weekly

January 31, 2006 - Continental Basketball Association 1 (CBA 1) News Release

Former CBA Coaches Continuing Success in the NBA

Former CBA Coach Flip Saunders has led the Detroit Pistons to the best record in the NBA for the first half of the 2005-06 season, and in return will coach the Eastern Conference squad in the NBA All-Star Game, Sunday, Feb. 19 in Houston, Texas. As of Jan. 31, the Pistons hold a 37-5 record (.881 pct.), tops in the NBA, and are riding a season-best 11-game winning streak into tonight's game at New Jersey.

Saunders is on pace to challenge fellow CBA veteran coach Phil Jackson and his 1995-96 Chicago Bulls, who finished with a regular-season record of 72-10 (.878 pct.) en route to an NBA Championship.

Saunders is in his 11th season as head coach in the NBA (first with Detroit) after coaching seven seasons in the CBA with Rapid City, La Crosse and Sioux Falls. Saunders led La Crosse to two CBA Championships in 1990 and 1992. Additionally, Saunders' coaching stint for the Eastern Conference squad Feb. 19 will make him just the sixth coach in NBA All-Star history to coach both the Eastern Conference and Western Conference All-Star teams, joining, among others, Jackson on that list. Saunders also accomplished a similar feat in the CBA when he coached the American Conference to a 119-108 victory in the 1994 CBA All-Star game, then led the National Conference to a 119-115 win in the 1995 CBA All-Star Classic.

Last season, former CBA Coach George Karl took over the coaching duties for the Denver Nuggets on Jan. 27. Karl guided the Nuggets to a 32-8 (.800) record after assuming head coaching duties. His was the best winning percentage by a coach who took over midseason in NBA history (minimum 20 games). The Nuggets went 25-4 (.862) after the All-Star break, marking the fifth-best record after the break in NBA annals. Karl also posted a CBA single-season record 50 wins during the 1990-91 season while leading the Albany Patroons. The Patroons were 50-6 that year for a league-record .893 winning pct.

At the beginning of this season, there were 10 NBA head coaches with a CBA background, including; Rick Carlisle (Indiana), Maurice Cheeks (Philadelphia), Phil Jackson (LA Lakers), Eddie Jordan (Washington), George Karl (Denver), Sam Mitchell (Toronto), Flip Saunders (Detroit), Jerry Sloan (Utah), Terry Stotts (Milwaukee), and Bob Weiss (Seattle).

Who's the Next NBA Coach to Come Out of the CBA?

If past history holds up, there are several members among the current crop of CBA coaches who could very well be on the path to the NBA. Rockford Lightning coach Chris Daleo has coached in three of the past four CBA All-Star Classics, led the Lightning to the CBA Finals in 2005, and was named the league's Coach of the Year in 2003. He has posted over 100 wins in four seasons in Rockford. In the Western Conference, Sioux Falls Skyforce coach Dave Joerger has captured three of the last four CBA Championships, two with the Dakota Wizards (2002 & 2004) and last season with the Skyforce. The 31-year-old Joerger has 140 wins in five seasons in the CBA. Yakama's Paul Woolpert is already no stranger to the NBA, having served as a scout/video coordinator for the Seattle Supersonics and as a scout for the Portland Trailblazers and Atlanta Hawks. Woolpert led the Sun Kings to the CBA Championship in 2000, coached in two CBA All-Star Classics (including this year's 119-100 Western Conference win), and has amassed nearly 150 victories in five years with Yakama and Sioux Falls. Among the CBA coaches who have already tasted life in the NBA are Idaho second-year coach Joe Wolf, Gary first-year coach Jaren Jackson, and Albany first-year coach Michael Ray Richardson. All of these coaches played in the NBA.

Albany's James Thomas Becomes CBA's Ninth Call-Up to the NBA

Albany Patroons forward James Thomas signed a 10-day contract Jan. 27 with the Chicago Bulls, making him the ninth NBA call-up of the season for the Continental Basketball Association and the first for Albany, which is in its first year back in the league after a 12-year hiatus.

Thomas, originally drafted as the No. 2 overall pick in the 2004 CBA College Draft by the Yakama Sun Kings, signed with Albany on Dec. 23, 2005. The 2004 Texas alum has appeared in 26 NBA games over the past two years with Atlanta, Portland and most recently with Philadelphia. Thomas made the 76ers' 2005 opening-night roster and played in 15 games, averaging 1.5 points and 2.1 rebounds, before being released.

In 12 games for the Patroons this season, the 6-foot-8, 235-pound forward is averaging 19.7 points, 14.4 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game. He is shooting 51.2 pct. from the field and 68.6 pct. from the free-throw line. Thomas scored a season-high 28 points twice this year while pulling down a season-high 20 rebounds on three occasions. He registered 11 double-doubles in his 12 games with the Patroons.

Thomas also played in this year's 22nd CBA All-Star Classic on Jan. 17 for the Eastern Conference squad, scoring 17 points with a game-high 16 rebounds in 35 minutes of action.

Thomas becomes the third CBA player to sign with the Chicago Bulls this season, following Gary's Randy Holcomb (Jan. 5) and Sioux Falls' Stephen Graham (Jan. 17). For Graham, his signing with the Bulls was his second call-up of the year with the other coming Dec. 10 via the Houston Rockets.

Other CBA players to be called up to the NBA this year include: Michigan's Darrick Martin (Nov. 16) by Toronto; Idaho's Josh Davis (three times) by Milwaukee, Houston and Phoenix; and Yakama's Ronny Turiaf (Jan. 18) by the Los Angeles Lakers.

Michigan's Willie Simms Named CBA Player of the Week (Jan. 30, 2006)

The Continental Basketball Association announced Jan. 30 that Michigan Mayhem forward Willie Simms has been named the CBA Player of the Week for the week of Jan. 23 through Jan. 30. Simms, who is playing in his 13th CBA season, shot a sizzling 72.0 pct. from the field and 92.0 pct. from the free-throw line in three games last week.

Simms averaged 23.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.3 assists as Michigan finished 1-2 on the week. One of those losses, though, came against Eastern Conference-leading Rockford in overtime on Jan. 29. It was a game in which Simms made a last-second shot in regulation to send the game to overtime at 105 apiece, before the Mayhem dropped a 120-114 decision. In that game, the 6-foot-6, 235-pound forward scored a season-high 30 points on 10-of-14 shooting from the field and 10-of-11 accuracy from the free-throw line. For the week, Simms missed just nine shots (23-of-32), including a perfect performance in a loss to Sioux Falls on Jan. 26, going 7-of-7 from the field and 6-of-6 from the charity stripe for 20 points. Simms had 19 points in a 115-92 victory over Dakota on Jan. 25.

Since signing with Michigan on Jan. 3, Simms is averaging 21.4 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 2.9 assists in nine games. He has hit double figures in scoring in all nine games with six 20-plus performances. Historically, Simms is the all-time leader in the CBA in career games played (544) and minutes played (16,560). He is second all-time in points scored (8,099), less than 500 hundred away from all-time leader Tico Brown (8,538), and 29 rebounds away from becoming only the third CBA player to have 3,000 career rebounds. He also ranks 19th all-time in career steals (447) and 23rd all-time in career assists (1,195), while his current career field goal pct. stands 22nd all-time at .536 pct.

Playoff Format for 2006 CBA Playoffs Announced, Quarter Points to Play Key Role

The Continental Basketball Association announced Jan. 20 the format for this year's 2006 playoffs, set to begin following the conclusion of the regular season Sunday, March 12. The format was recently approved at league meetings during the CBA All-Star Classic by the CBA Board of Directors.

Among the unique changes in this year's playoffs will be the addition of the CBA's one-of-a-kind quarter point system. For the first time since the CBA began using quarter points to determine regular-season standings in the 1981-82 season, the league will be using quarter points to decide which teams advance from the first round of the playoffs. The two teams that accumulate the most total quarter points in their respective three first-round games will advance to play in the CBA Finals. Potential ties will be broken first by head-to-head playoff play. If two or more teams are tied, or if two teams that did not play each other in the playoffs are tied, then the team that is the higher seed will advance.

The finals will be a two-out-of-three game series using a (1-2) home-court format, with the lower seed hosting game one and the higher seed hosting games two and three (if necessary). Quarter points will not be used in the CBA Finals.

Each week in the CBA Weekly, we will show you how the playoff format for this year's postseason will work by giving you the playoff bracket "as of that week". This should help to give you a better understanding of how our 2006 postseason participants will be selected.

If the CBA Playoffs were to begin today (Jan. 31, 2006), here are the first-round matchups...
Eastern Conference Western Conference
1A-Rockford (4.5 avg.) 1B-Yakama (3.9 avg.)
2B-Gary (3.7 avg.) 2A-Sioux Falls (3.7 avg.)
3B-Albany (2.8 avg.) 3A-Idaho (3.6 avg.)

Rockford (1A) would host Yakama and Sioux Falls, travel to Idaho
Yakama (1B) would host Gary and Albany, travel to Rockford
Sioux Falls (2A) would host Gary and Albany, travel to Rockford
Gary (2B) would host Idaho, travel to Yakama and Sioux Falls
Idaho (3A) would host Rockford, travel to Albany and Gary
Albany (3B) would host Idaho, travel to Sioux Falls and Yakama

CBA Alum Spotlight - Toronto's Mike James

Former Rockford Lightning guard Mike James is in his fifth NBA season and is currently second on the Toronto Raptors with 16.9 points per game and 5.1 assists per game. James has played in 43 games this season for the Raptors and is shooting 46.9 pct. from the field, 44.2 pct. from behind the 3-point arc, and 81.9 pct. from the charity stripe. The 6-foot-2 guard played 14 games for the Lightning in 2001-02 and was named to the CBA's All-Star Classic. He averaged 23.3 points and 6.6 rebounds for Rockford before playing 15 games for the Miami Heat that season. James has played in 291 NBA games, averaging 10.3 ppg. and 3.7 apg.

Albany Patroons (10-20, 3rd Eastern Conference, 83.0 points, 2.8 QP Avg.)

The Patroons went 2-1 last week, winning their two home games against Dakota and suffering a loss at Gary, snapping a three game winning streak... the wins can be attributed to Justin Miller's double-double (points/rebounds) in each game and T.J. Thompson averaging 23.0 points and 7.5 assists. Thompson's assists contributed to several of Jamario Moon's acrobatic slam dunks and 23.0 ppg. Carl Mitchell averaged 18.5 ppg. during the home game wins and Chris Sockwell contributed 20 points in the second victory at home... although the Patroons suffered a loss to Gary, Thompson scored 23 points and Sockwell stepped up, scoring 16 points... last week's 2-1 record was completed without their double-double Patroon, James Thomas. Thomas was called up by the Chicago Bulls for a 10-day contract on Jan. 27, making his second appearance in the NBA this season... Albany plays at Rockford (Jan. 31) and then returns home to play four home games in five days.

Dakota Wizards (15-17, 4th Western Conference, 110.0 points, 3.4 QP Avg.)

Powered by a magnificent all-around effort by forward Kasib Powell, the Wizards snapped a four-game losing streak with an 88-85 victory over Gary on Monday, Jan. 30. Powell just missed a triple-double on the night finishing with 23 points, 12 rebounds and 9 assists... still struggling to find their rhythm on the road, the Wizards were happy to be home after dropping contests last week at Michigan and at Albany... guards Alfred Neale and James Wright have played well since being acquired by the Wizards from Sioux Falls Jan. 19. In six games, the rookie Neale is averaging 9.0 points and 4.2 rebounds while shooting 50.0 pct. from the field. Over the same span, Wright is averaging 9.8 points and 3.7 assists... Dakota will look to advance their position in the play-off race when they host the Steelheads on Wednesday, Feb. 1 and the Mayhem over the weekend for back-to-back games this Friday and Saturday.

Gary Steelheads (16-15, 2nd Eastern Conference, 114.0 points, 3.7 QP Avg.)

It was a week of frustration for the Steelheads, losing two of three games. Gary began the week undefeated since the All-Star break, but a trip to Rockford on Jan. 26 resulted in a 116-108 defeat. The Steelheads then dropped a hearbreaker to the defending CBA Champion Sioux Falls Skyforce on Jan. 28. Gary took a 21-point lead into the final quarter before Sioux Falls put together a 50-point quarter for a 106-100 win. Prior to the game, the Steelheads acquired forward Renaldo Major from the Skyforce in exchange for a 2006 fourth round draft pick. Gary rebounded vs. Albany on Jan. 30 by picking up all seven quarter points in a 100-84 victory. Three Steelheads contributed double-double performances in the victory, and a fourth came within one digit of a fourth double-double.

Idaho Stampede (16-15, 3rd Western Conference, 111.0 points, 3.6 QP Avg.)

Forward Josh Davis is back for the Stampede. After playing for three teams in the NBA this season (Milwaukee, Houston and Phoenix), Davis re-joined the Stampede on Jan. 27. In the two games that he has been back he's averaged 24.5 points and 13.0 rebounds. according to probasketballnews.com, Stampede coach Joe Wolf is the eighth best minor league basketball coach. The complete article can be seen at www.probasketballnews.com/conn_0131.html. the Stampede play their next three games on the road starting Feb. 1 at Eastern Conference-leading Rockford. Idaho will then travel to Albany to play a pair against the Patroons this Friday and Saturday.

Michigan Mayhem (6-21, 4th Eastern Conference, 61.0 points, 2.3 QP Avg.)

Michigan played three home games last week, moving their record to 6-21. The Mayhem met with Dakota on Jan. 25 and came out victorius, 115-92. The win was their second in three games... however, Michigan suffered a loss the next night against Sioux Falls, 119-104. After a couple days rest, Michigan took on Eastern Conference-leading Rockford for the seventh time this season. Forward Willie Simms' late bucket sent the game into overtime, 105-105, before the Lightning pulled away for a 120-114 win. For his efforts, Simms was named the CBA's Player of the Week, averaging 23.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 2.3 assists for the week... Jamar Brown registered the only double-double for the week vs. Rockford with 14 points and 14 rebounds... John White also led the league in three point field goals making 8-of-13 (61 pct.)... Michigan's next home game is Feb. 1 when it hosts Albany, followed back-to-back away games against the Dakota Wizards this Friday and Saturday.

Rockford Lightning (22-8, 1st Eastern Conference, 133.5 points, 4.5 QP Avg.)

Rockford is currently on a six-game winning streak and have won 17 of its last 20 games... at 22-8, Head Coach Chris Daleo has the Lightning off to their best start since the 1992-93 season when the team went 23-7 on their way to finish 44-12... Sidney Holmes averaged 8.7 points and 17.0 rebounds last week as the team went 3-0 to increase their lead over the rest of the Eastern Conference. Holmes pulled down a career high 20 rebounds in a 120-114 OT victory at Michigan on Jan. 30. Holmes is now third in the CBA in rebounds per game at 9.1. He leads the league in offensive rebounds per game averaging 3.8 a game... Marlon Parmer, who was named the CBA's POW two weeks ago, averaged 21.0 points, 4.3 rebounds and 8.7 assists last week. The 6-foot-3 guard is tied with Lightning rookie Roger Powell for fourth in the league in scoring (22.1 ppg) and has taken over as the CBA assist leader at 7.7 per game... Ronnie Fields had his streak of four consecutive games with at least four steals snapped on Sunday in Michigan. The veteran guard averaged 22.3 points last week while picking up 3.6 steals a game over the team's last five games. Fields became the Lightning's all-time leader in minutes played with 6,810, passing Fred Cofield in Thursday night's 116-108 victory over the Gary Steelheads.

Sioux Falls Skyforce (18-15, 2nd Western Conference, 123.5 points, 3.7 QP Avg.)

Sioux Falls won two out of three road games last week... the 'Force rebounded after starting the week with a 128-120 (6,1) defeat at league-leading Rockford on Jan. 25. The 'Force then travelled to Michigan on Jan. 26, defeating the Mayhem 119-104 (6,1), and finished the week with a dramatic 106-100 (5,2) come-from-behind victory at Gary on Jan. 30... the wins at Michigan and Gary gave the 'Force consecutive road wins for the first time all season... Geno Carlisle was nominated for CBA Player of the Week after averaging 18.3 ppg. and 5.0 apg. along with shooting 56.0 pct. (18-for-32) from the field and 62.0 pct. (8-for-13) from the three-point line in three games... rookie Stephen Graham rejoined his former teammates in Gary this past Saturday night as his 10-day contract with the Chicago Bulls expired and they chose not to resign him. To make room for Graham on the roster the 'Force traded forward Renaldo Major to Gary in exchange for a fourth round pick in the 2006 CBA Draft... the 'Force begins a seven-game homestand this week as they take on the Western Conference-leading Yakama Sun Kings on Thursday and Saturday night.

Yakama Sun Kings (19-11, 1st Western Conference, 118.0 points, 3.9 QP Avg.)

Yakama's 19 wins this season, which puts it atop the Western Conference and second-best overall in the CBA, are two more wins than the franchise recorded during the entire 2004-05 season. After 30 games last season, the Sun Kings were 11-19. which day of the week is the best for the Sun Kings: Tuesday, when Yakama is 7-2 this season. The Sun Kings have a .500 record or better on every day of the week except Monday when the team is 0-1. the Sun Kings are 9-3 vs. Eastern Conference opponents this season, going 5-1 at home and 4-2 on the road against their foes from the East. Yakama is 11-3 when leading at half-time this season and 9-3 when taking a lead in the final quarter of play. the Sun Kings are 20-10 in the fourth quarter this year. veteran forward Mark Strickland shot 60.5 pct. from the field last week, hitting 23-of-38 attempts from the floor.

• Discuss this story on the Continental Basketball Association 1 message board...

Continental Basketball Association 1 Stories from January 31, 2006

• Steelheads ready for rematch with Wizards - Gary Steelheads
• CBA Transactions - CBA 1
• Idaho Stampede Weekly Update - Idaho Stampede
• CBA Weekly - CBA 1
• Steelheads Play At Dakota Again - Gary Steelheads

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