D-League Playoffs: Second Round Preview

4. Los Angeles D-Fenders (33-18) @ 1. Idaho Stampede
(36-14)

Previous Meetings:
Idaho won the season series 5-3

Nov 27 - Idaho 118, @Los Angeles 111
Jan 24 - @Idaho 97, Los Angeles 90
Jan 26 - @Idaho 100, Los Angeles 99
Feb 8 - @Idaho 104, Los Angeles 90
Feb 9 - Los Angeles 118, Idaho 95
Feb 28 - Idaho 93, @Los Angeles 90
Mar 2 - @Los Angeles 115, Idaho 98
Apr 2 - @Los Angeles 105, Idaho 100

Team Stats

IDA points for 103.0
IDA points against 99.5

LAD points for 104.7
LAD points against 100.5

Records
IDA Home Record 22-4 .846
LAD Road Record 12-12 .500


Los Angeles D-Fenders

The D-Fenders won an opening round game against a tough Colorado 14ers squad for two main reasons. Center Jelani McCoy had a huge impact for the D-Fenders, and forced the Colorado guards into settling for jumpers rather than attacking the paint. Guard Errick Craven also stepped up in a big way for Los Angeles, finishing the game with 22 points and 8 assists while initiating the triangle for much of the game. Brandon Wallace had an impact on both ends of the floor, and Wendell White played very aggressively off the bench. Against Idaho, they will have their work cut out for them facing veteran point guard Randy Livingston. The Stampede have a number of players who can light it up from behind the three point line, and closing out on the shooters will be key for this reason. If Los Angeles can put together another strong team effort and Jelani McCoy can repeat his performance, it will give them a chance at moving on to the D-League finals.

Starting Lineup
PG Erick Craven (7.9pts, 3.1reb, 2.6 ast)
SG Coby Karl (17.3, 5.6, 4.4)
SF Sean Banks (21.9, 5.4, 3.1)
PF Brandon Wallace (8.0, 6.5, 3.0)
C Jelani McCoy (11.0, 7.9, 3.3)
Head Coach: Dan Panaggio

Team Leaders (Season)
Points: Sean Banks 21.9
Rebounds: Jelani McCoy 7.9
Assists: Brian Chase* 3.6, Jelani McCoy 3.3
* No longer with team

Team Leaders (Last 10 Games)
Points Sean Banks 20.9
Rebounds Jelani McCoy 9.3
Assists Jelani McCoy 4.8

Key Losses
SF Devin Green (Italy) 16.4pts, 6.4reb, 4.2ast PG Brian Chase (Turkey) 16.5pts, 3.8reb, 3.6ast PF Stephane Lasme (Miami Heat) 10.6pts, 7.5reb, 1.3ast

Assigned Players
Coby Karl (Lakers)

Players with NBA Experience
Jelani McCoy, Robert Whaley


Idaho Stampede

The Stampede enter their opening playoff game as the hottest team in the league, winners of their last 5 games including a tough home contest against the Iowa Energy to end the season. Coach Bryan Gates is coming off his second consecutive coach of the year award, and Randy Livingston brings more veteran savvy to the floor than any other player in the league. The home court should also prove to be a huge advantage for this team, who only lost four games at home over the course of the season. Inside, the loss of Lance Allred will certainly take an element out of their usual offensive scheme, but they have NBA assigned big man Josh McRoberts as well as Cory Violette up front. On the wings, Luke Jackson can score as well as anybody in the D-League, and Roberto Bergersen is always a threat from long range. Rookie guard Mike Taylor can light it up off the bench as well if he’s playing in control. The Stampede should have the advantage in the back-court and are the easy pick to win the D-League finals considering they won’t have to play on the road again this season.

Starting Lineup
PG Randy Livingston (16.5 pts, 4.2 reb, 10.5 ast)
SG Roberto Bergersen (13.1, 2.9, 2.8)
SF Brent Petway (7.3, 3.9, 1.3)
PF Cory Violette (13.4, 7.1, 1.8)
C Jason Ellis (5.4, 5.1, 0.6)
Head Coach: Bryan Gates

Team Leaders (Season)
Points: Randy Livingston 16.5
Rebounds: Lance Allred* 10.0, Mouhamed Sene* 9.0, Cory Violette 7.1)
Assists: Randy Livingston 10.5
* No longer with team

Team Leaders (Last 10 Games)
Points: Randy Livingston 18.7
Rebounds: Jason Ellis 9.1
Assists: Randy Livingston 8.1

Key Losses
C Lance Allred (Cleveland Cavaliers)
C Mouhamed Sene (Injury)

Assigned Players
PF Josh McRoberts (Portland Trailblazers)

Players with NBA Experience
Randy Livingston, Luke Jackson


6. Sioux Falls Skyforce (29-22) @ 2. Austin Toros
(30-20)

Previous Meetings:
Austin won the season series 2-0

Nov 30 - @Austin 114, Sioux Falls 109
Jan 16 - Austin 101, Sioux Falls 92 (at Boise)

Team Stats
AUS points for 109.1
AUS points against 106.8

SXF points for 105.0
SXF points against 104.1

Records
AUS Home Record 19-5 .792
SXF Road Record 10-15 .400


Austin Toros

The Toros start the playoffs after completing a trade to add veteran forward Darvin Ham towards the end of the season. They had a trade lined up to add another guard as well, but it fell through during the last week of the season. Two key players will determine the success of the Toros in the playoffs. Point guard Andre Barrett can light it up at times and shares the ball quite well in transition. With Barrett in control of the game’s tempo, it will be much harder for Sioux Falls to adjust. Big man Ian Mahinmi must come to play against Chris Alexander as well. Alexander played extremely well in the opening round playoff game against Dakota, and is the type of player who could put Mahinmi in foul trouble early in the game. On the other hand, Mahinmi might be an even more dangerous threat to take Alexander out of the game because of foul trouble. Though not as deep as they once were, the Toros feature a nice supporting cast including big man Jamar Smith who was just acquired within the last week. Along with Smith, they also bring Yemi Nicholson and Squeaky Johnson off the bench.

Starting Lineup
PG Andre Barrett (18.4pts, 3.2reb, 8.3ast)
SG Kenton Paulino (5.6, 1.1, 1.0)
SF Darvin Ham (10.1, 5.5, 1.8)
PF Justin Bowen (13.1, 6.4, 1.2)
C Ian Mahinmi (16.8, 8.0, 1.3)
Head Coach: Quinn Snyder

Team Leaders (Season)
Points: Keith Langford* 24.6, Marcus Williams* 19.2, Andre Barrett 18.4
Rebounds: Ian Mahinmi 8.0
Assists: Andre Barrett 8.3
* No longer with team

Team Leaders (Last 10 Games)
Points: Ian Mahinmi 19.4
Rebounds: Ian Mahinmi 9.4
Assists: Andre Barrett 10.1

Key Losses
SF Marcus Williams (Clippers)
SG DerMarr Johnson (Spurs)
SG Keith Langford (Italy)

Assigned Players
Ian Mahinmi (Spurs)

Players with NBA Experience
Andre Barrett, Darvin Ham, Ian Mahinmi


Sioux Falls Skyforce

The Skyforce won a road game in Dakota to open the playoffs thanks to the strong play of David Bailey and Chris Alexander. Bailey set the tone with 20 first half points and Alexander kept many of the Dakota big men in foul trouble throughout the game. Going in the second round, it will be important for Bailey to continue his high level of production. He’s the one player on the Sioux Falls roster who can light it up every night, and an off game from him would surely spell the end of the season for the Skyforce. Alexander will be faced with a tough matchup in rookie big man Ian Mahinmi. To beat Austin, one of the other scoring options for the Skyforce must step up as well. Carl Elliott and Elton Nesbitt are both threats to go off any given game, and forward Michael Joiner’s ability to space the floor should also come in handy. Off the bench Glen McGowan’s role will be quite important as well. Sioux Falls is hoping for a sloppy game where Bailey can lead them to the finals. The guards on Austin will be harder to stop than the ones they faced in Dakota, and Mahinmi can score the ball as effectively as any big man in the D-League.

Starting Lineup
PG David Bailey (15.4pts, 3.5reb, 5.6 ast)
SG Elton Nesbitt (15.4, 3.2, 3.6)
SF Carl Elliott (14.2, 4.5, 2.8)
PF Michael Joiner (10.3, 4.4, 1.0)
C Chris Alexander (11.6, 11.2, 0.9)
Head Coach: Nate Tibbetts

Team Leaders (Season)
Points: Kasib Powell* 22.2, Elton Nesbitt 15.4, David Bailey 15.4
Rebounds: Chris Alexander 11.2
Assists: David Bailey 5.6
* No longer with team

Team Leaders (Last 10 Games)
Points: David Bailey 23.0
Rebounds: Chris Alexander 12.6
Assists: David Bailey 5.8

Key Losses
SF Kasib Powell (Miami Heat) 22.2pts, 6.0reb, 3.0ast, Bobby Jones (San Antonio Spurs)

Assigned Players
none

Players with NBA Experience
none