League Leaders
Points: Scott Stukes, WAS (35.4)
Assists: Griffin Harrington, PHI (10.4)
Rebounds: Cory Alexander, GSW (11.2)
Blocks: Tengiz Tsulukidze, PHI (4.1)
Steals: Justin Toxey, POR (3.5)
Rookie League Leaders
Points: Brandon Hemsley (BOS, 14.2)
Assists: Alan Smith, CLE (6.9)
Rebounds: Justin Maye, MIL (7.3)
Blocks: McEverett Woods, NY (3.7)
Steals: DeJuan Stewart, HOU (1.8)
February 1, vs Golden State (24-20): L 108-120
For the first time since we acquired Tsulukidze, we shoot a slightly worse percentage than the opponent (42.5 vs 43) and we go down the rabbit hole accordingly. League-leading scorer Cory Alexander burned us for 35 points, while we held him to shooting 11 of 27.
Record: 32-12
February 3, vs Milwaukee Moose (8-39): W 118-95
Back to our efficient form, we shot 56% on our way to the victory. Dobbins had 20 points, 7 boards, a block, and a pair of steals, while Griff’s contribution was 13 points, 15 assists, and 6 rebounds. Evans was our lead rookie, scoring 15 points on 100% shooting, with five rebounds, 4 assists, and a block (all in 26 minutes of play).
Record: 33-12
February 4, vs Chicago Bison (15-28): W 132-91
A forty point blowout is usually a bit boring to be a part of (whether you’re on the floor or in the crowd), but Griff and Zulu managed to keep themselves interested. Harrington had 25 points, 11 assists and 4 rebounds, while Zulu had 13 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, and 7 blocks. Baykurt did only what was necessary for the double-double, with exactly 10 points and rebounds. In 16 minutes, scoring 6 of six field goals, and 5 of six free throws, Rowan Evans had 17 points, 2 steals, 3 assists, and 3 rebounds.
Record: 34-12
February 10, @ Houston Blast (19-28): W 123-109
Dobbins had 22 points and eleven rebounds; yet, more impressively, he had 4 blocks and four steals. Harrington had 22 points, and 13 assists, as well as six rebounds and a steal. Baykurt started, and scored 25, tallied 2 blocks, a steal, and 5 rebounds. With fifteen points, Zulu added 4 blocks, a steal, an assist, and 5 rebounds of his own.
Record: 35-12
February 11, @ San Antonio Outlaws (14-33): L 100-103
Outlaws SG Hughes had a near triple-double, with 25 points, 9 assists, and 8 rebounds, beating down Griff, who only was able to put out 17, 7 and 4. Both Evans and Jones were able to score 20 points, with a bit of defense as well. Zulu had 6 blocks and 7 rebounds to go with his 13 points and 3 steals, while we fall.
Record: 35-13
February 13, @ Los Angeles Waves (26-22): L 97-114
We fall despite 28 points from Dobby, largely due to great effort by Waves SF Terrell Cleaver who had 36 points, 3 boards, and 3 steals. Rowan Evans was disappointing in his start, only scoring 8 points, and fouling out after 23 minutes of play.
Record: 35-14
February 15, @ Phoenix Beams (19-29): W 114-92
We get back at losing to the Waves, by beating up on their rival, the Beams. Dobby went ballistic with 17 points and 19 rebounds, to go with 2 assists, 3 blocks, and 3 steals. Griff Harrington had 18 and 8, while Zulu had 18 points, 11 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals, and 3 blocks.
Record: 36-14
[SIZE="4"]All Star Weekend!!!
[/SIZE]Dunk Contest:
Robert Gray, a shooting guard from Atlanta, took the dunk contest by storm by improving on his impressive dunks for the final.
Long Distance Shootout:
Alfons Korda, a power forward for Orlando, was the surprise of the final, coming from having the lowest qualifying score from the first round, he nailed 24 points (10 more than his first round score) in the final to take home the trophy.
Rookie/Sophomore Game: S 148-140
The sophomores beat up on the Rooks, as Griff Harrington drops 42 points, 12 assists, 8 rebounds, 3 steals, and a block on their heads. Jones was able to score 20 points in 30 minutes for the Rooks, but Evans played for only 7 minutes, and went scoreless.
All-Star Game: E 163-141
Eastern Starters:
Marcus Alexander, Burn
Marcus Griffin, Metros
Scott Stukes, Americans
Barry Jones, Irish
Tyrone Dudley, Hoops
Teams with Most All-Stars: Brooklyn Hoops (2)
Western Starters:
Shaun Horan, Blues
Cory Alexander, Spartans
Kevin Murphy, Rangers
Corey Atkins, Rangers
Justin Toxey, Pioneers
Teams with Most All-Stars: Dallas Rangers (2)
Griff had 24 points and 6 assists off the bench for the East as they fended off the East, but Stukes, the Small forward for the Americans, had 30 points, which claimed the All-Star MVP award.
February 19, @ Portland Pioneers (41-8): L 95-126
We haven’t played a home game since February 4th, and it is showing. We give up a near Triple-double to Toxey (33 points, 8 assists, 7 rebounds, and four steals), and our leading scorer was Jones, with 21. Both teams had only 4 players in double figures, but 3 of those four had more than 20 for the Pioneers.
Record: 36-15
February 20, @ Dallas Rangers (45-7): W 116-108
Griff had 28 and 8 assists to take down the Rangers, pushing both Zulu and Jones over 20 points as well, with his exquisite playmaking. Defense was abound Zulu added 6 blocks and a steal, both Harrington and Nagid had 2 steals, and we held the Rangers to 43%.
Record: 37-15
February 22, @ Seattle Speed (9-43): W 115-88
I confirm a rumor that I have Roberson, an inactive bench player, on the block for a trade before a win against the Speed. Griff really likes going off against weak teams, and he showed it tonight with 32 points, 6 assists, 3 boards, 2 blocks, and a steal. Naim Baykurt had a respectable 21 off of the bench, showing he was fully healthy
Record: 38-15
February 23, @ Denver Peaks (34-19): W 121-113
Baykurt graced the starting line up with his presence again, and made the most of it. He had 35 points, 9 rebounds, 3 blocks and a steal. Zulu flexed his blocking ability, and rejected 8 shots, to add to his 17 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 steals. Yet Harrington had a night to forget, turning the ball over more times than assisting (6-5), and only collecting 7 points.
Record: 39-15
February 25, vs Minnesota Coyotes (26-29): W 120-102
Baykurt continued his strong play into this game, scoring 29, collecting 14 boards, blocking a shot, and stealing the ball twice. Griff showed that he was not, indeed, in a true funk, by scoring 24 to go with 14 assists and 6 rebounds. Dobby and Zulu combined for 33 points, 9 blocks, and 13 rebounds, even though Zulu fouled out after only 26 minutes of play.
Record: 40-15
February 27, @ Washington Americans (25-33): W 129-114
Zulu had nary a block in this game, but he did have 26 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, and a steal, so I am not mad. Harrington had 26 points and 10 assists, also tallying 2 steals and a block, while Dobby had 20, and Baykurt had 23.
Record: 41-15
The Gears pulled away during my long road-trip, they are now 4 games ahead of us.
Standing: 2nd East (1st Atlantic)
Player of the Month: Shaun Horan, Blues
Rookie of the Month: Brandon Hemsley, Irish
Draft Watch # 3:
1 (1). Justin Wells, SF (FR-Arizona): 6’5, 208
2 (N/R). Steve Martin, C (SO-Elon): 6’9, 284
3 (N/R). Mike Anderson, PF (SO-Kansas State): 6’11, 253
4 (N/R). Carl Regis, PF (SO-Michigan State): 6’7, 240
5 (N/R). David Burke, C (JR-South Carolina): 6’10, 255
That was a lot of turnaround in the draft stock. Green (#5) fell all of the way to 11th, and the others weren’t that much better off.