Colorado 14ers Weekly
April 14, 2008 - NBA G League (G League)
Colorado 14ers News Release
LAST WEEK'S RECORD: 3-0
OVERALL RECORD: 29-21
LAST WEEK'S GAMES
April 8 vs. Austin Toros - Colorado won its fourth straight and kept hope alive for the Southwest Division title with a 109-87 victory over Austin. The 14ers outrebounded the Toros 53-33 on the night, led by Roderick Riley's 14 boards to go along with 10 points. John Thomas added 25 points and seven rebounds, while Denver Nuggets assigned player Taurean Green scored 23 on 8-10 shooting in the win.
April 11 vs. Sioux Falls - The 14ers used a 33-21 advantage in the fourth quarter to pull away from the Skyforce and clinch a playoff berth with a 110-94 victory. Justin Cage led the way with 23 points, five rebounds, three assists, and three blocked shots in the win. Roderick Riley added his second straight double-double, and Eddie Gill fell one assist shy of a triple-double for Colorado.
April 12 at Albuquerque - Rookie Damien Lolar scored a career-high 31 points to go along with eight rebounds and four steals as the 14ers topped the Thunderbirds 116-109 in the regular season finale. Justin Cage added 19 points and 12 rebounds, and Eric Osmundson knocked down four 3-pointers in the 14ers sixth consecutive win. Colorado completed a season sweep of Albuquerque with the victory, going 8-0 against the Thunderbirds.
UPCOMING PLAYOFF GAMES
Tuesday, April 15 at Los Angeles D-Fenders, STAPLES Center at 4:30 p.m. MST
Radio: KCKK 1510 AM and KSXT 1570 AM
Live video streaming is available at www.14ershoops.com and www.nba.com/futurecast
Friday, April 18 - Colorado / Los Angeles winner at Idaho Stampede, Qwest Arena at 7:30 p.m. MST
Radio: KCKK 1510 AM and KSXT 1570 AM
Live video streaming is available at www.14ershoops.com and www.nba.com/futurecast
2008 NBA Development League Playoffs and Finals presented by Delta
First Round:
April 15 - Colorado @ Los Angeles, 6:30 p.m. ET
April 15 - Sioux Falls @ Dakota, 8:00 p.m. ET
Second Round:
April 18 - Winner of Colorado/Los Angeles @ Idaho, 9:30 p.m. ET
April 19 - Winner of Sioux Falls/Dakota @ Austin, 8:00 p.m. ET
Finals:
Game 1 - Date/Location TBD
Game 2 - Date/Location TBD
Game 3 (if necessary) - Date/Location TBD
NEWS
COLORADO 14ERS GUARD BILLY THOMAS
RECEIVES 2007-08 JASON COLLIER SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD
NEW YORK, April 11, 2008 - Colorado 14ers guard Billy Thomas has been named the recipient of the 2007-08 Jason Collier Sportsmanship Award, as voted by the NBA Development League head coaches. The award honors the player who best represents the ideals of character and conduct on and off the court. Thomas, who earned the same award in 2002-03 prior to it bearing Collier's name, will be honored by the league at the 14ers final home game tonight.
Thomas has enjoyed success on the hardwood as well. A 2008 D-League All-Star, has played in 34 games for the 14ers where he is averaging 16.4 points, 3.9 assists and 3.6 rebounds in 37.3 minutes. His best game of the season came on March 29, when he scored 34 points against the Tulsa 66ers. A two-time GATORADE Call-Up, Thomas has played in 10 NBA games this season (four with New Jersey and six with Cleveland).
"It's a credit to Billy and his sense of community and respect for the game that he receives this award," said Joe Wolf, Colorado general manager and head coach.
"This is the second time Billy has been voted by our coaches to receive this award," said Chris Alpert, D-League's Vice President of Basketball Operations and Player Personnel. "He is not only a tremendous basketball player (as evidenced by his two call-ups this season, one to the New Jersey Nets and one to the Cleveland Cavaliers), but he is also a terrific ambassador of the game who has tremendous respect for the game, his teammates, referees, and opponents."
The name of the Sportsmanship Award was changed in 2006 to honor former D-League, Houston Rockets and Atlanta Hawks center Jason Collier, who passed away suddenly on October 15, 2005. Collier was a first team 2003-04 All-D-League selection as a member of the Fayetteville Patriots, but more importantly, a player and person who exemplified the qualities of a faithful teammate, husband, father, son, brother and friend. He was ready to begin his sixth NBA season at the time of his death. Current San Antonio Spurs forward Ime Udoka was the initial winner of the award in 2006.
NOTES
Colorado is the hottest team in the D-League entering the post-season, having won six straight games by an average margin of 15.1 points per game.
For the second straight season, the 14ers finished first in the D-League in points per game, averaging 109.3 per contest.
The 14ers finished the regular season as the D-League leader in 3-point attempts, 3-point makes, and 3-point percentage as team.
Colorado also led the D-League in free throws made and attempted.
Billy Thomas became the first ever two-time winner of the Jason Collier Sportsmanship award in the NBA Development League.
Kaniel Dickens' 2.9 3-point field goals made per game was the top mark in the D-League this season.
Dickens finished seventh in the league in scoring at 19.2 points per game.
Eddie Gill finished the regular season as one of only two players to post two triple-doubles.
Gill finished ninth in the D-League in scoring at 18.5 points per game, third in assists at 8.5, fourth in minutes at 39.2, and tied with Billy Thomas for second in steals at 2.2.
Rookie Justin Cage finished the regular season 12-24 from 3-point range, and his .500 mark from long-distance was tops in the D-League.
Cage also finished third in the D-League in field goal percentage, shooting .603 for the season.
The Denver Nuggets assigned rookie guard Taurean Green has scored in double figures in three of the four games he has played with the 14ers.
About the 14ers: The 14ers are in their second season after winning the D-League Western Division Post-Season Championship in 2007. Colorado set very high standards in its first season in the NBA Development League with a long list of honors. In 2006-2007 the 14ers became only the second team in D-League history to have three players named as All D-League First Team Performers when Louis Amundson, Elton Brown, and Von Wafer were recognized by the league's coaches. Amundson also took home Rookie of the Year Honors, while Brown led the D-League in rebounding and double-double performances on the season. Colorado also placed a league high five players in the first ever NBA Development League All-Star Game in 2007, with Amundson, Brown, and Wafer all being selected along with Pooh Jeter and Rick Rickert. Head Coach Joe Wolf was also chosen as the first ever Western Division All-Star Coach for the game in Las Vegas. Jeter also went on to be named as an Honorable Mention All D-League Performer in 2007. To date the 14ers have had nine GATORADE NBA Call-Ups in team history, with Louis Amundson now playing for the Philadelphia 76ers, and Von Wafer for the Portland Trail Blazers. Eddie Gill and Billy Thomas both received two call-ups this season, and Kaniel Dickens also received a call-up this year. Gill, Thomas, Brown, and Dickens were also named D-League All-Stars this season. In addition Gill was named as a First Team All D-League Performer, Dickens to the Second Team, and Thomas to the Third Team.
Mile High Sports Radio KCKK AM 1510 and The Sports Extra KSXT AM 1570 are the radio homes of the Colorado 14ers for all regular season and post-season game broadcasts. Every 14ers game broadcast can also be found online at www.14ershoops.com or www.nba.com/futurecast with live video streaming now available for the 2007-2008 season. 14ers Head Coach Joe Wolf also appears on Mile High Sports Radio 1510's "Drive Time Sports" every Tuesday afternoon at 4:30 throughout the season.
For more information on the 14ers schedule and team, log on to www.14ershoops.com. Tickets for all 14ers home games at the Broomfield Event Center are available at all Ticketmaster outlets, 303-830-TIXS, and at www.ticketmaster.com.
• Discuss this story on the NBA G League message board...
NBA G League Stories from April 14, 2008
- Colorado 14ers Weekly - Colorado 14ers
- Idaho's Randy Livingston Named D-League.com Performer Of The Week - G League
- NBA D-League Daily Developments - G League
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
