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G League Rio Grande Valley Vipers

Vipers Clinch First-Ever Playoff Berth

March 16, 2010 - NBA G League (G League)
Rio Grande Valley Vipers News Release


MCALLEN, TEXAS - The NBA Development League Rio Grande Valley Vipers clinched their first playoff appearance in franchise history after the Sioux Falls Skyforce beat the Idaho Stampede 117-115 in overtime tonight at Sioux Falls Arena.

"It is appropriate that, on a day when this franchise made history by sending our fifth different player to the NBA, that we also make history with our first ever playoff berth. We look forward to competing in the NBA Development League playoffs and we're going to try our best to bring the first professional championship to the Rio Grande Valley in nearly six years," Vipers President Brian Michael Cooper said.

Vipers season ticket holders can reserve their playoff seats now with a 25% down payment on 2010-11 season tickets. They have through March 27 to do so. Playoff tickets go on sale to the general public on March 28 at 10:00 a.m.

The Vipers currently lead the Western Conference with a 30-12 record, including a 17-3 mark at home. The Vipers magic number to clinch the Western Conference Championship is five. Any combination of Vipers wins and Austin Toros losses that add up to five over the course of the rest of the season will result in the Vipers clinching not only the Western Conference Championship, but a top-two seed. The Vipers are 1.5 games behind the Eastern Conference-leading Iowa Energy (32-11) for the best record in the NBA Development League and guaranteed home court advantage throughout the playoffs. Should the Vipers and Energy finish tied in the standings, the Vipers will win the tiebreaker by virtue of sweeping the season series after winning two games in Iowa on January 9 and 10.

The NBA Development League is using an expanded playoff format this season. The conference winners will be the top two seeds while the remaining six teams will be chosen in order of best record, regardless of conference. The top three seeds will get to select their first round opponent from the bottom four teams. Each of the three rounds of playoffs will use a best-of-three format, with the lower seed hosting game one and the higher seed hosting games two and three if necessary.

Check out the Rio Grande Valley Vipers Statistics



NBA G League Stories from March 16, 2010


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