D League
Regular Season Round 60: Santa Cruz W. - Sioux Falls S. 88-97
Date: March 14, 2012
The Dakota Wizards’ 97-88 loss to the Sioux Falls Skyforce on Wednesday was bad. The only question was how bad. How about in the fourth quarter, with the game still in reach, going scoreless for nearly seven minutes — 0-for-10 from the floor, 0-for-4 from the line, two turnovers. “We played really bad,” Wizards coach Nate Bjorkgren said. “Coming out flat, not being ready to play — I’ve got no real specific reason. I just thought we played bad tonight. “Shots weren’t falling,” he added. “We were scrambling a little bit, trying to find what worked and what didn’t. We couldn’t find anything that worked.” And this against a Skyforce team coming into the game with an 11-29 record, tied for worst in the D-League. This against a Skyforce team that had won just three times in 19 tries on the road. This against a Skyforce team that the Wizards had defeated 10 times in their last 11 matchups. “Just because they’re the last-place team doesn’t mean they’re going to come out and let us make shots,” Wizards point guard Maurice Baker said. “They’re pros, and they have pride, too.” And that has showed of late. The Skyforce has now won three of four, including a 125-86 thrashing of Erie on Tuesday. That fact made Bjorkgren soften his assessment a bit. “They’re a good team. They won by 40 last night over Erie,” he said. “You’re going to play well at certain times of the year. They’re playing really well right now. We’re not. We’re struggling right now, and that combination showed tonight.” Powered by Keith Benson, who scored a game-high 24 points, and Marqus Blakely, who poured in 21, the Skyforce led pretty much the entire night. With Benson and Blakely grabbing a dozen rebounds each, Sioux Falls won the battle of the boards, early on by a wide margin. The Skyforce led 27-19 after one quarter, 50-47 at intermission, and never trailed in the second half. “We just didn’t come out ready,” Baker said. “We weren’t focused. Coach got us ready all week in practice, and we came out and played like this.” Sioux Falls began pulling away (69-58) with a 12-4 run in the middle stages of the third quarter. The Skyforce was getting plenty of easy buckets — dunks from Anthony Mason and Benson, putbacks by Mason and Blakely, plus a transition bucket from Blakely. Still the Wizards were hanging around early in the fourth quarter when they completely imploded. Sioux Falls only scored seven points during that span of 6:46, but that was more than enough to put the game out of reach. Hannah had 17 points for the Wizards, and Marcus Dove 16. Mike Anderson had 10 points, six rebounds and five blocks in just 23 minutes. “I thought we were fighting. We just didn’t play very good,” Bjorkgren said. “Our passes were loose. We turned it over too much. We were just not in sync. “I don’t think it was due to a lack of effort. I’ve never thought that all year with this team.” Nonetheless, the Wizards have lost five of their last six games. In the process they’ve fallen out of the top eight — and playoff position — in what is shaping up as a very tight race. “I’m not worried,” Bjorkgren said. “It’s not the end of the world. It’s not as bad it seems.” *Courtesy of www.bismarcktribune.com
Terms:
Field Goals : 2PM-A (2 point Field Goal made-attempts) 3PM-A (3 point Field Goal made-attempts) FTM-A (free throws made-attempt)
Rebounds : OFF (Offensive) DEF (Defensive) TOT (total)
Fouls : CM (Committed) RV (received)
Blocks : FV (In Favor) AG (Against)
Other terms : MIN (minutes) AST (assists) ST (steals) TO (Turnovers) PTS (points) RNK (ranking)
Regular Season Round 60: Santa Cruz W. - Sioux Falls S. 88-97
Date: March 14, 2012
The Dakota Wizards’ 97-88 loss to the Sioux Falls Skyforce on Wednesday was bad. The only question was how bad. How about in the fourth quarter, with the game still in reach, going scoreless for nearly seven minutes — 0-for-10 from the floor, 0-for-4 from the line, two turnovers. “We played really bad,” Wizards coach Nate Bjorkgren said. “Coming out flat, not being ready to play — I’ve got no real specific reason. I just thought we played bad tonight. “Shots weren’t falling,” he added. “We were scrambling a little bit, trying to find what worked and what didn’t. We couldn’t find anything that worked.” And this against a Skyforce team coming into the game with an 11-29 record, tied for worst in the D-League. This against a Skyforce team that had won just three times in 19 tries on the road. This against a Skyforce team that the Wizards had defeated 10 times in their last 11 matchups. “Just because they’re the last-place team doesn’t mean they’re going to come out and let us make shots,” Wizards point guard Maurice Baker said. “They’re pros, and they have pride, too.” And that has showed of late. The Skyforce has now won three of four, including a 125-86 thrashing of Erie on Tuesday. That fact made Bjorkgren soften his assessment a bit. “They’re a good team. They won by 40 last night over Erie,” he said. “You’re going to play well at certain times of the year. They’re playing really well right now. We’re not. We’re struggling right now, and that combination showed tonight.” Powered by Keith Benson, who scored a game-high 24 points, and Marqus Blakely, who poured in 21, the Skyforce led pretty much the entire night. With Benson and Blakely grabbing a dozen rebounds each, Sioux Falls won the battle of the boards, early on by a wide margin. The Skyforce led 27-19 after one quarter, 50-47 at intermission, and never trailed in the second half. “We just didn’t come out ready,” Baker said. “We weren’t focused. Coach got us ready all week in practice, and we came out and played like this.” Sioux Falls began pulling away (69-58) with a 12-4 run in the middle stages of the third quarter. The Skyforce was getting plenty of easy buckets — dunks from Anthony Mason and Benson, putbacks by Mason and Blakely, plus a transition bucket from Blakely. Still the Wizards were hanging around early in the fourth quarter when they completely imploded. Sioux Falls only scored seven points during that span of 6:46, but that was more than enough to put the game out of reach. Hannah had 17 points for the Wizards, and Marcus Dove 16. Mike Anderson had 10 points, six rebounds and five blocks in just 23 minutes. “I thought we were fighting. We just didn’t play very good,” Bjorkgren said. “Our passes were loose. We turned it over too much. We were just not in sync. “I don’t think it was due to a lack of effort. I’ve never thought that all year with this team.” Nonetheless, the Wizards have lost five of their last six games. In the process they’ve fallen out of the top eight — and playoff position — in what is shaping up as a very tight race. “I’m not worried,” Bjorkgren said. “It’s not the end of the world. It’s not as bad it seems.” *Courtesy of www.bismarcktribune.com
 SANTA CRUZ W.88 |
| FIELD GOALS | REBOUNDS | FOULS | BLOCKS | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | NAME | MIN | 2PM-A | 3PM-A | FTM-A | OFF | DEF | RB | AS | F | RV | ST | FV | AG | TO | PT | RNK | +/- |
| miVRQ, biuQaZR | 44 | 4-7 (44.4%) | 5-5 (5%) | 4-4 (655%) | 6 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 2 | 5 | |
| 83 | tMalRs, qdTaj | 46 | 0-68 (36.9%) | 5-4 (5%) | 5-5 (5%) | 6 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 8 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 65 | 6 | 5 |
| Hijjih, AURfhIj | 45 | 6-9 (63.4%) | 3-2 (05%) | 4-3 (90%) | 6 | 8 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 69 | 5 | 5 | |
| 86 | gILR, biQZus | 87 | 9-63 (05%) | 5-5 (5%) | 8-3 (05%) | 6 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 8 | 5 | 8 | 61 | 3 | 5 |
| ABaUh, wIBBF | 85 | 4-3 (90%) | 5-5 (5%) | 5-8 (5%) | 0 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 5 | 0 | 8 | 5 | 8 | 1 | 60 | 5 | |
| CQasTRll-vFIjs, vRI | 83 | 4-9 (38.7%) | 5-8 (5%) | 4-3 (90%) | 4 | 4 | 1 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 5 | |
| 60 | SjdRQsIj, baVR | 88 | 3-3 (655%) | 5-8 (5%) | 8-8 (655%) | 8 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 65 | 68 | 5 |
| 62 | qlF, AhF | 86 | 5-8 (5%) | 6-4 (44.4%) | 8-8 (655%) | 8 | 8 | 3 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 9 | 5 |
| zIhjsIj, zusUaj | 63 | 6-2 (68.0%) | 5-5 (5%) | 5-5 (5%) | 5 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 8 | -9 | 5 | |
| GQaffaj, wiFlIQ | 64 | 8-3 (05%) | 5-5 (5%) | 5-4 (5%) | 5 | 8 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 3 | -8 | 5 | |
| wIUil | 87-96 (35.7%) | 0-62 (89.2%) | 60-83 (18.0%) | 61 | 81 | 38 | 62 | 81 | 5 | 68 | 7 | 5 | 84 | 22 | 39 | |||
 SIOUX FALLS S.97 |
| FIELD GOALS | REBOUNDS | FOULS | BLOCKS | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | NAME | MIN | 2PM-A | 3PM-A | FTM-A | OFF | DEF | RB | AS | F | RV | ST | FV | AG | TO | PT | RNK | +/- |
| 88 | bisIj, SjUhIjF | 33 | 9-63 (05%) | 5-8 (5%) | 3-3 (655%) | 8 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 5 | 8 | 62 | 85 | 5 |
| GaldRQ, wQRF | 38 | 4-69 (69.1%) | 5-5 (5%) | 1-1 (655%) | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 68 | -1 | 5 | |
| mliVRlF, biQEus | 42 | 9-64 (04.2%) | 5-5 (5%) | 9-7 (99.2%) | 1 | 1 | 68 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 86 | 84 | 5 | |
| 05 | mRjsIj, KRaUh | 48 | 7-69 (08.7%) | 5-5 (5%) | 1-1 (655%) | 3 | 2 | 68 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 83 | 67 | 5 |
| 60 | CIlRBij, gIBajaEuR | 84 | 6-3 (80%) | 5-8 (5%) | 6-8 (05%) | 6 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 8 | 5 | 8 | 4 | -6 | 5 |
| OQuaUU, GiMR | 89 | 0-1 (24.4%) | 5-6 (5%) | 4-0 (15%) | 5 | 8 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 64 | 7 | 5 | |
| HiBalUIj, mQaij | 81 | 8-0 (35%) | 5-5 (5%) | 8-8 (655%) | 6 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 8 | 5 | |
| PDujIFR, YRBa | 0 | 5-6 (5%) | 5-5 (5%) | 5-5 (5%) | 6 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | -6 | 5 | |
| wIUil | 43-99 (33.8%) | 5-0 (5.5%) | 87-43 (20.4%) | 60 | 46 | 31 | 64 | 81 | 5 | 66 | 7 | 5 | 84 | 79 | 10 | |||
Terms:
Field Goals : 2PM-A (2 point Field Goal made-attempts) 3PM-A (3 point Field Goal made-attempts) FTM-A (free throws made-attempt)
Rebounds : OFF (Offensive) DEF (Defensive) TOT (total)
Fouls : CM (Committed) RV (received)
Blocks : FV (In Favor) AG (Against)
Other terms : MIN (minutes) AST (assists) ST (steals) TO (Turnovers) PTS (points) RNK (ranking)
