Patriots prove they\'re back to form
March 25, 2003 - NBA G League (G League)
Fayetteville Patriots News Release
The Fayetteville Patriots showed signs of getting into playoff form in their last two regular-season games after some sub-par performances after they clinched the NBDL regular season title about two weeks ago.
No one knew for sure until the actual playoffs began, however. Now everyone knows. The Patriots took 1-0 lead in the best of three first-round series with a 101-88 win over the Roanoke Dazzle at the Crown Coliseum. The Patriots 101 points set an NBDL playoff record, as they became the first NBDL team to score 100 points in the playoffs.
The Patriots placed six players in double figures led by Devin Brown who had 20 points, five rebounds and three assists on 6-for-8 shooting from the floor and 8-for-8 shooting from the free throw line. "I thought we stepped up two games ago,'' said Patriots coach Jeff Capel. "We went back to the basics offensively and defensively and (assistant coach) Sam Worthen and I really challenged these guys over the last week-and-half."
The Patriots lost three games straight against the three teams that are currently in the playoffs from March 11-March 17. Fayetteville then recovered by beating Greenville by 19 at home and went on the road and beat the Riverdragons by 10. But by the time the Patriots beat those teams they were out of playoff contention, so it still wasn't proven if the Patriots were playoff ready.
It was apparent in the first quarter either. The Patriots started slowly on Tuesday, shooting just 33 percent in the first half. The Patriots reserves as they have done all year, gave the Patriots a spark in the second quarter, however.
Omar Cook assisted Jason Capel on a jump shot and Bryan Lucas on a 3-pointer during back-to-back possessions and then hit a 3-pointer of his own to give Fayetteville a 36-25 lead with 5:35 remaining in the second quarter. The Dazzle never came in closer than nine points the rest of the way, falling behind by as many as 23 points in the second half thanks to a playoff-record 37 points scored in the third quarter by Fayetteville.
"They played like a team that knew it needed to hold serve at home,'' Roanoke coach Kent Davison said. "We need to play like that when they come into our building on Sunday. They had energy tonight because they had the home crowd on their side. I think we can benefit from that same energy from our crowd on Sunday."
The Dazzle played without NBA "call up" center Mikki Moore, who is now playing for the Atlanta Hawks. His replacement Eric Chenowith had six points, four rebounds and four blocks. Cory Alexander led the way for Roanoke with a game-high 27 points and seven assists. He also had seven turnovers.
Before losing their last two games to Roanoke, the Patriots were averaging 105 points in the previous six meetings. Davison said the Dazzle must not go back to allowing the Patriots to get comfortable offensively.
"You've to lock up on them on the perimeter,'' Davison said. "You can't allow Devin Brown and Junie Sanders get the ball in places where they are comfortable. If allow them post up, slash and get to the line, you're going to have trouble beating Fayetteville."
The Dazzle will try to even the series on Sunday at the Roanoke Civic Center. Game time is 4 p.m. If necessary, Game 3 will be in Fayetteville on April 4. Game 1 of the other semifinal playoff matchup between Mobile and North Charleston starts Friday in North Charleston.
"Everything was just clicking tonight,'' Cook said. "We brought tonight. We've worked hard all season to get to this point. We want to win it."
NBA G League Stories from March 25, 2003
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