Fantastic February Has Skyforce in the Thick of the Playoff Race
Published on March 1, 2022 under NBA G League (G League)
Sioux Falls Skyforce News Release
A tale of two months has shown the Sioux Falls Skyforce the ups and downs in the grind of a G League season.
The team started the regular season off to a 2-1 start, but lost the last eight games to sit at 2-9 once the calendar hit January 31. The slow start put the Skyforce at the bottom of the Western Conference and in the bottom four of the G League.
February was a 180-degree turn on the season. There is now optimism and hope, with consistent play. Sioux Falls is positioning themselves to be back in the playoffs for the first time since being crowned G League champions in 2015-16.
A 7-3 record on the month has the Force sitting at 9-12, just two games out of the final Western Conference playoff spot.
Bottom line, it's great to be playing competitive basketball in March.
How Did It Happen?
The Skyforce benefitted from playing six of their 10 games in February at home, going 5-1 in that stretch. They went on a five-game home winning streak, the longest since the 2016-17 season. Highlighted in the winning streak was a 130-119 victory over the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, who sit atop the G League with a 15-5 record. The loss for the Vipers was the only one this month, as they went 10-1.
Crucial road wins over OKC and Memphis in the last two games, who are either in the playoffs or within striking distance, have the momentum up even higher. Sioux Falls had previously lost the last six road games before earning the wins last week.
For the month, Sioux Falls adjusted and found an offensive identity. They rank in the top-1o in four offensive categories per game: three-point percentage (first with 41.2) free throw percentage (fourth with 78.6), turnovers (fifth with 15.2 - compared to the last team in the G League being at 19.4), and field goal percentage (seventh with 47).
The team has been steady and reliable, even with a slower pace of play, which is beneficial when you shoot the ball at a high percentage and take care of the basketball.
They also rank seventh in the G League in steals per game, with 9.9.
In the advanced statistic rankings, the Force is in the top-10 in true shooting percentage (third with 61), offensive rating (eighth with 111.4) and efficient field goal percentage (10th with 53.9).
Javonte Smart
The team goes as Javonte does offensively, and it is no surprise that the Force's record took off when Smart started playing at an All-G League caliber level.
He is averaging 27.7 points per game for the month of February, which is good for fifth out of all players who logged minutes in the G League in February. He is second in the G League when it comes to players who have played more than three games.
Smart's three point shooting opens up so much for Sioux Falls. They are 5-1 when he makes four-plus three pointers in a game in February and he has done so in six of his last eight games. He has made 42 three's in the month, good for third in the G League. His 45.7 percent from deep is good for fourth in the league with a minimum of 50 attempts. Smart has made 33 percent of Sioux Falls's three pointers and shot 43 percent of them in the month.
On Feb. 15, Smart became the first player since Yante Maten on Dec. 2, 2018 to score 40-plus points in a game. He had a career-high 40 points on 11-18 FGA (career-high 8-13 3PA) and six assists in the crucial win over Rio Grande Valley. He was also the first player since Duncan Robinson in 2018-19 to have seven-straight games of 20-plus points scored.
The Miami HEAT rewarded his play with a two-way contract, after they converted Caleb Martin to a standard deal.
Not too bad of company to be in for the LSU product.
DJ Stewart
No Skyforce player has improved as much as Stewart since training camp. His acceleration has him on the path of earning an NBA Call-Up. He has been the one-two punch with Smart, but also has shown he can lead the team when Javonte is with Miami, which is crucial for the Force's playoff chances.
He is averaging 21.7 points on 48.2 percent shooting, 5.4 rebounds and 4.0 assists in the month, all are career highs for any month for DJ. In 10 games, Stewart has shot over 50 percent from the field in seven, with over 10 attempts in each game played.
He followed that up with a 32-point performance in his home state of Mississippi in a victory over the Memphis Hustle on Feb. 26. He added five rebounds and four steals, as well.
In order for the playoff push to happen, Sioux Falls will need Stewart in both capacities.
Micah Potter
The big man is finding his footing. After earning an NBA Call-Up with the Detroit Pistons, Potter has been one of the most efficient scorers in all of the G League.
Potter is averaging 17.7 points per game on 58.9 percent shooting and 9.1 rebounds. His 53.5 percent from deep is good for eighth in the G League this month.
Sioux Falls is 2-1 when Potter etches a double-double, as he had two of his best games as a professional in those two victories. He posted 21 points and 15 rebounds in a victory over Salt Lake City on Feb. 12.
He posted a career-high 32 points on 12-14 FGA on Feb. 15 against Rio Grande Valley. His 87.5 percent from the field was tied for second-most in the G League with 10-plus makes in a game during the month.
Look for Big Jam to continue to take great shots and help the Force win the rebound battle. They are 6-1 when they out-rebound the opponent.
Sam Thompson
Sam has 'it'.
And by that, his impact on and off the court goes beyond measurable statistics.
With Thompson playing, Sioux Falls owns a 9-6 record this season. Without him, they are 3-9. That doesn't include the Showcase Cup before he was signed. The team averaged 37.8 rebounds per game without him and it has upped to 41.8 when he has been rostered. Their plus-minus was -88 and is +5 with him.
The Skyforce is also 4-1 when he scores 10-plus points, which he has scored 17-plus in two of his last four games.
In the back-to-back road victories, Thompson had two clutch buckets and a block in the closing minutes of the OKC victory on Feb. 23 and hit crucial free throws to end a surging Hustle comeback in the final minutes on Feb. 26.
Sam knows how to win and doesn't care if he gets four or 15 shots. The ultimate veteran is crucial to a team with younger players and he gives the Skyforce a sense of consistency.
What's Next?
The next month will decide the team's fate, with 10of the final 14 games coming against teams currently in the Western Conference playoffs. The other four games come against teams that are 1.5 games or less away from the final Western Conference spot. Sioux Falls has seven games at home and seven on the road, as well.
The Skyforce is not far behind, as they sit just two games back of Oklahoma City (12-11) for the sixth and final playoff spot.
This upcoming week is the most important of the season. On Thursday and Friday, Sioux Falls hosts the Texas Legends (8-10) at the Sanford Pentagon. The Legends are just 1.5 games out of the playoffs.
It does not get any easier, as after the Friday game, the Force must turn its attention and travel to the Iowa Wolves (9-7), who are currently the fourth seed in the playoffs. However, Sioux Falls sits just 2.5 games behind them.
It is easy to enjoy a remarkable month with incredible highs, but for Head Coach Kasib Powell and the Skyforce, the focus isn't on the past. Each game is like a playoff game and in order to make the playoffs a reality, they must build on the success from February.
You can catch any of the final seven home games of the 2021-22 season at the Sanford Pentagon in March. Tickets can be purchased at the will call office, or online at ticketmaster.com.
NBA G League Stories from March 1, 2022
- Wisconsin Herd Defeated by Grand Rapids Gold - Wisconsin Herd
- COVID-19 Vaccination, Facemasks No Longer Required at Windy City Bulls Home Games - Windy City Bulls
- Vipers to Host Loteria and Batman Themed Nights - Rio Grande Valley Vipers
- Adam Caporn Named NBA G League Coach of the Month; Craig Randall II Named NBA G League Player of the Month - Long Island Nets
- NBA G League News & Notes: March 1 - G League
- Fantastic February Has Skyforce in the Thick of the Playoff Race - Sioux Falls Skyforce
- Windy City Knocks off Maine for Second Night in a Row - Windy City Bulls
- Clippers End February with Wire-to-Wire Win over Squadron - Ontario Clippers
- Santa Cruz Warriors Beat NBA G League Ignite, 110-98 - Santa Cruz Warriors
- Edwards' 38 Powers Stars Past Wolves - Salt Lake City Stars
- Salt Lake City Stars Edge Iowa Wolves, 113-109 - Iowa Wolves
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