NBDL weekly report

by NBDL Press Release
Published on February 27, 2002 under NBA G League (G League)

FIRST PLACE HAS GREENVILLE FEELING GROOVY

Being a head coach in the NBDL is not unlike serving as the head chef at a busy restaurant. You're responsible for selecting the ingredients (players), measuring the correct quantities (minutes) and finding the right blend (team chemistry) that leads to the most desirable finished product (victories).

But in the inaugural season of the NBDL, unlike a Friday night at Spago, you have to do it without an established recipe. For some coaches, it has taken longer to earn favorable reviews from local critics. For Milton Barnes of the Greenville Groove, the raves are coming at the right time.

After a 15-16 start, Greenville has gone 13-2 to improve to 28-18 and knock North Charleston (27-18) from first place. And the Groove is riding a league-high eight-game winning streak, thanks to coming up with the right mix of players who fit into the overall team concept.

"It never goes exactly as planned," Barnes told the Greenville News. "Certainly I was hoping it would pick up a little bit sooner in terms of the level we're playing at right now. But it's all working out for the best."

Barnes has made seven trips to the waiver pool this season. Barring unforeseen circumstances, such as an injury or an NBA call-up, he's done making changes and will finish the campaign with what he has.

"You've got to sell them on the plan," Barnes said of his troops. "When you've got guys like Jeff (Myers), Billy (Thomas), Rahim (Lockhart) and Tom (Wideman) helping sell what you're doing, it makes it a lot easier for the other players to buy in."

What Greenville has been doing is playing strong defense. In Monday's 106-93 victory over North Charleston, the Groove held the Lowgators to 39.7 percent shooting, while making 55.1 percent of their own attempts. Greenville also outrebounded North Charleston 40-32.

"We've nicknamed ourselves the Ravens (after the Baltimore Ravens) because that's the type of defense we play," said Myers. "We're swarming. We're just coming out and playing hard and that's where it starts, on defense."

One key during this stretch has been the play of former Mississippi standout Ansu Sesay, who has averaged 15.8 points during the winning streak. Thomas, Greenville's designated sharpshooter, has averaged 17.1 points.

"A lot of teams started out well and we didn't," said Sesay. "We got better as the season went along. You can't take anything away from North Charleston. They're still a good team. They're still dangerous. But right now, we're just rolling."

LaRUE SIGNS WITH JAZZ FOR REMAINDER OF NBA SEASON

The Utah Jazz on Thursday signed guard Rusty LaRue, formerly of the Asheville Altitude, to a contract for the remainder of the 2001-02 season.

LaRue had previously signed a pair of 10-day contracts with the Jazz on January 28 and February 11. LaRue, 28, is averaging 6.6 points in 11 games with Utah. In the NBDL, LaRue averaged 12.1 points in 26 games.

LaRue became the second NBDL player to eventually sign an NBA pact for the remainder of the season; Anthony Johnson, formerly of the Mobile Revelers, was signed by the New Jersey Nets for the duration of the NBA campaign on January 28.

FOWLKES SIGNS 10-DAY PACT WITH CLIPPERS; FIFTH PLAYER CALLED UP TO NBA

Tremaine Fowlkes, a 6-8 forward formerly of the Columbus Riverdragons, on Saturday signed a 10-day contract with the Los Angeles Clippers and became the fifth NBDL player to be called up to the NBA this season.

"Tremaine is very talented and is recognized as one of the best players in our league," said Columbus coach Jeff Malone. "This is one of the main reasons the NBDL is here ? to get guys to the next level. Losing Tremaine will obviously impact our team during the stretch run to the playoffs, but this is an opportunity for other players to step up and perform. Our whole season rides on how we respond."

Fowlkes, 25, is averaging 6.3 points and 3.3 rebounds in three games with the Clippers. In the NBDL, he averaged 16.7 points and 5.8 rebounds in 42 games with the Riverdragons, and recorded a league-high 10 offensive rebounds against Roanoke on November 26.

THE LOWDOWN ON DOWN LOW

The NBDL playoff races are heating up, and the North Charleston Lowgators are facing a challenge from the red-hot Greenville Groove. The Lowgators' every move on and off the court are chronicled in "Down Low: Life in the D-League," with new episodes premiering every Tuesday at 12:30 a.m. EST on ESPN and repeating during the week on ESPN and ESPN2.

The unique behind-the-scenes look at the Lowgators' season features unprecedented access to the team, giving viewers a true taste of the squad's ups and downs in the NBDL's inaugural season.

NBDL NOTABLES

• ARTIE GRIFFIN of Roanoke scored 32 points in an 80-79 victory over Columbus last Wednesday.

• RASHAD PHILLIPS of Mobile scored 23 points off the bench in an 88-84 overtime triumph over Huntsville on Thursday.

• SEDRIC WEBBER of North Charleston scored 23 points in an 89-83 defeat of Columbus on Thursday.

• DAVID CROUSE of Huntsville had 17 points and 14 rebounds in an 85-80 victory over Roanoke on Saturday.

• NATE JOHNSON had 18 points and 10 rebounds in an 85-74 triumph over North Charleston on Saturday.

• OMAR COOK of Fayetteville had 25 points and 12 assists in a 97-94 overtime loss to Asheville on Saturday.

• THOMAS HAMILTON of Greenville grabbed 14 rebounds in a 79-66 defeat of Mobile on Saturday.

• KELVIN PRICE of Huntsville had 10 points and 11 rebounds in an 82-74 victory over Roanoke on Monday.

• RAHIM LOCKHART of Greenville scored 20 points off the bench in a 106-93 triumph over North Charleston on Monday.

• JEFF AUBRY of Fayetteville had 16 points and 16 rebounds in an 87-83 defeat of Asheville on Tuesday.

NBA G League Stories from February 27, 2002

• NBDL weekly report - OSC Original by NBDL Press Release

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer(s), and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.