The Los Angeles D-Fenders WIN while Lakers Anthony Brown debuts with 22

The Los Angeles Lakers recently sent their second round pick, Anthony Brown to the D-Fenders to get some game action and the "young gun" played well in debut v Bakersfield Jam.

Brown averaged 14.8 pts for the Stanford Cardinal in 2014-15.  His three-point accuracy bettered his Field Goal percentage (44% to 42%).  Projected as a late first round pick, the Lakers opted to select Larry Nance Jr. with the number 27 and                            lucked out with Brown sliding to 34 overall.

During Lakers SUMMER it seemed likely that Brown, Nance and undrafted rookie Robert Upshaw would be spending time on the D-Fenders.  That IS until Upshaw got waived by the Lakers and Nance's performance has outshined many other Lakers thus far.  Because of the glaring failures of the Lakers it would seem that Nance has a place on the Varsity.  His strengths FILL those holes.  His role could easily grow in prominence as other (veterans) on the team lack what he HAS.

UPshaw cleared waivers and was signed (fortunately) by the D-Fenders and has been playing well, all-around, team and fundamentally correct basketball.

Anthony Brown hadn't seen a minute of play on the NBA hardwood until a recent blowout loss in Phx where he is credited for " MINS 2."  Gee, thanks COACH.

Brown debuted for the D-Fenders Tuesday against the Bakersfield Jam, in Bako, and this is what transpired:

8-17 FG, 3-10 3 pt, 3-3 FT, 3 Bd, 3 A , 2 Stl, 3 TO  in 37 mins

Donning jersey #14, A.Brown might have been missing #3 (Lakers) as there are many across his stat line;  the nicest one for me is the one before the seven in minutes played.

Kid needs REPS/ bout time_ RT"@DFenders: Anthony Brown checking in for LA. D-Fenders up 8-3"

— Chauncey (@gonzosports1) November 18, 2015

Arguably, there is a glaring NEED for Brown on the Lakers right now, like Nance.  The Lakers are currently ranked 21st in three point shooting percentage and we know where there are at "D-Fensively."  Brown could easily be used much like the "situAtional LEFTY" in Major League Baseball. If he is to be tested why not insert him into the game for 1-3 minutes at the end of a quarter with his primary responsiblity of guarding a player like Steph Curry.  Yes, I test HIM against the game's best.  It doesn't have to be literally Curry, but the opponent's TOP 1, 2, OR 3 position on the floor.  I need to SEE where HIS "D" is at..

He could also be used as a sharp-shooter in the same area of a quarter (bottom end for just a few minutes).  Eric Piatkowski started his career like this.

BUT, "down-town" NEEDS REPS and if he can keep getting them for the D-Fenders and have a chance to develop on the floor then let him "B."

My suggestion is to make a decision on Sacre OR Brown (waive/ assigned to D-Fenders) to allow Big Upshaw on the Lakers.  Brown can use the quality AND guaranteed playing time on the D-Fenders.  Upshaw is not getting BIG minutes, but , Seriously, quit yanking everyone's chain.  Put him on the squad and use him exactly how Owens does: 16-22 minutes.  He has all-around game.

 Josh Magette? .... who?

.@joshmagette had five takeaways tonight and is averaging a league-leading 4.66 steals per game

— L.A. D-Fenders (@DFenders) November 18, 2015

He did NOT have 12 assists like he did the previous game but he added another SEVEN with 9 points and 1 TurnOver.

Manny Being Manny:  Are we used to Manny Harris doing this?

11-23 FG, 1-2 3 pt, 8-8 FT, 5 bds, 4 As, 2 Stl in 44 mins

Check OUT ALL of the D-Fenders (Zach Andrews, Vander Blue, Justin Hawkins... HERE) GAME NEWS AND BOXSCORE OF THEIR 114-105 WIN OVER BAKERSFIELD

nice job all around

Call-UPshaw UP? The Los Angeles D-Fenders have plenty of talent to choose from

Robert Upshaw landed on the Los Angeles Lakers Roster as an UnDrafted Rookie out of Washington where he was leading the Nation in Blocks with over 4 per game (19 games played).


At around 7-0' tall Upshaw has gotten himself lighter and he is making the best of it.

IN the home opener against the Warriors (11/14/15), Upshaw looked good.  He is only on record with 2 blocks in THIS game; there were at least two others that should have gone in his favor.

Such an exciting opening night victory for the D-Fenders! 🏀 -Tiege #LGLivin pic.twitter.com/Pu7d86u2Mv

— Laker Girls (@LakerGirls) November 15, 2015

     Regardless of those numbers and his others in the way of ReBounding and Scoring this kid is looking good.  His lateral movement, help and recovery defense is on point.  He did seem to taper off, energy-wise, in the second.  Perhaps THIS is what scouts are looking at?  Does he stay mentally focused?  Motivated?  Any Way you slice it, you cannot teach height and this kid has done nothing but take positive strides towards becoming and NBA player, so what gives? 

 There is ALWAYS MORE TO THE STORY 

Upshaw's Debut Highlights

     Upshaw has all-around game:  He has a nice touch, he can handle, pass and he is performing better with certain "anxious" tendencies that I had seen @ LAKERS SUMMER with better body control of his screen-setting, for example.  He leads with his defensive presence and his energy.  One question is, Can his Energy hold UP?  

How many games does he play in "The D" before HE IS called UP? 

 The Lakers can easily move Anthony Brown to the D-Fenders and LET HIM GET REPS.  I mean, if YOU'RE NOT going to use him in situations for defensive or three-point shooting purposes by THIS point, send him down.  Then, the Lakers can retain all of the talent OR simply waive Sacre.  Sacre is SOLID.  He will land on another NBA team.

     UPshaw is hovering around 18 minutes of PT but that is mainly because this D-Fenders team is LoaDed with Talent that beGins with returning Lakers Manny Harris and Vander Blue.

Zach Andrews starts in the middle on this team that has also seen Michael Frazier and Malcom Thomas as "DNP-CD" status

The "DNP-CD" was also status hanging for former Laker Xavier Henry which brings me to this:

Go Ahead and give me Xavier, Manny, Vander, and Josh Magette who dished out a game high 12 assists and is a player that many around campus are speaking very HIGHLY of.  






Add Andrews, UpShaw, Thomas from the D-Fenders squad. And Orton, Elliot Williams and Darrington Hopson from the Warriors Organization.  

NOW, put those gents up against "BKN."  

"Brooklyn?" A friend said AFTER a disappointing loss by the Lakers to the Denver Nuggets.  "They have to beat Brooklyn, RIGHT!?"  Thankfully, the Lakers DID.  BUT, could they (Lakers) Beat their own D-League Squad?

How about a  one-on-one match-up of Josh Magette vs. D'Angelo Russell?  

 Hibbert vs Upshaw?  How about Manny showing young D'Angelo how to GET to the free throw line... AND MAKE THEM?

As of Friday (11/13/15), Russell is averaging 50% from the charity stripe on .4 of .8 attempts per game while Mudiay was 2.4 of 3.8.  

Many good things were being said about Magette Saturday Night by AC Green.  Green ALSO commented that Coach Owens said that Magette should be called up to the NBA as well.

     Magette is solid.  He had the 12 assists with 4 turnovers but some of those were player errors on the other end.  I don't care about turnovers so much unless they lead to direct points by the opposition.

He stays in motion, runs an offense superbly and is always looking for his teammates.

hey, Marcelo Huertas has an NBA Contract...

This young man (Magette) as well as Upshaw, Manny, Vander, et al. ALL deserve a shot.

Jimmer was called up before he hit the hardwood for a regular season game in "The D." 

Oh yeah, add him to that "D-League squad" that was forming earlier.

The 31st NBA Franchise IS...(?)

Meanwhile, here are your D-League Teams

D-LEAGUE PROSPECT WATCH

Buy some Books, Don't Chew the Edges: Dwight Buycks Laker Guard

It was a bit surprising when the Los Angeles Lakers decided to sign Dwight Buycks to an NBA 10-day contract.  BY now, Lakers fans are very familiar with Jabari Brown.  And, perhaps, many know that he started the season with the Los Angeles DFenders.  Jabari had been the most consistent player on the squad and the team's leading scorer.  Some might have said that Vander Blue was also worthy of that same "Gatorade Call Up" that Brown received.  SO, some would suggest that BLUE would be called up after BROWN, should that opportunity arise.

Well, the Lakers liked a BLUE, However, it was the Guard for the Oklahoma City BLUE instead.  The LAKERS clearly liked what they saw in Dwight Buycks (BIKES), who had just finished displaying his talents in El Segundo in one of the final home games of the season for the purple and gold D-Fenders.

Buycks making the best of his NBA Call-Up

Buycks did well.  Very well.  He had to though.  Because of the hair. 

I had to explain two very important rules of roundball:

1) If you show up on the court and you are wearing "crazy" shoes, you better be able to play

2)  If you show up with hair like THAT (faux hawk), you BETTER be able to play

He can.

Lakers fans are now seeing why Lakers Brass made this decision.  Blue, after all, had been on a tear in the D-League.  In fact, he made the Fort Wayne Mad Ants look silly trying to guard him in the last two home games for the D-Fenders.  

Buycks STILL got the call.

And...



He, too, is making people look silly guarding him.

D-League Highlights of D Buycks : YIKES, D BIKES

Lakers be stockpiling them guards...

Lakers win in OT and the DFenders match with a win vs OKC BLUE

Blue vs Blue?

The match between the Los Angeles DFenders and the Oklahoma City Blue seemed that way at times as Vander Blue, especially in the second quarter, drove by anyone trying to guard him and finished at the rim or with short pull-up jumpers.  His 9 first half points "seemed" like twice that as he was scoring with determination and ease.  He finished with 27 on 10-19 FGs.  NBA Scouts have been watching him closely as of late and despite what the NBA D-League "Prospect List" says, with BLUE being #8, he is arguably the top player in the league.  Jamaal Franklin, who got bumped to #2 on "that" list finished with a nice Trip Dub of  11, 12, and 10.  Regulation ended with the teams knotted at 97 and the DFenders were LUCKY to get the dub: 106-105.

(Vander) Blue, blew by the (OKC) Blue

My name is Blue, Blue By YOU: Vander Blue has been on a tear for the D-Fenders

"My name is Blue..Blue Bayou (by you)."

I'm not sure if this is the sort of hardwood smack that Vander Blue of the Los Angeles DFenders runs as he is Blowing By HIS Defenders, but lately Mr. Blue has been on a tear averaging 33 points per game in the last five games since Jabari Brown's departure to the Lakers   (prior to the DFenders gm 3/25/15)

Vander Blue patiently awaiting that NBA callup

Fans of the DFenders were excited to see them bring in one of last year's top prospects in "the D."  Vander was one of the best all-around guards.

Manny Harris came back.

Josiah Turner, gone but NOT forgotten Soldier..

Josiah Turner, of the Los Angeles DFenders, got released Monday, March 16, 2015.  Fans of the DFenders could probably see that was coming.

Josiah Turner has made a career out of jukes and kicks

Manny Harris, the D-League's top prospect for much of last season and Laker for consecutive 10-day contracts (last season) decided to not hang around much this year.  Jabari Brown, just fresh off signing another 10-day contract with the Big Squad, was a new addition going into this season for the DFenders, Vander Blue had been added as well, Jordan Clarkson was "playing down" a handful of times earlier this year and other guards, like Keith Appling were ALSO pulling minutes away from JT.

The first time I saw "JT" play was last season and I was impressed.

Gone Swimming, the Lakers Talent Pool...

Splash!

Unfortunately, as it relates to basketball, this term is steadfastly becoming almost solely identifiable with Golden State Warriors' Guards Steph Curry and Klay Thompson.  The Warriors also HAD SPLASH 2.0 in their system when they had Seth and Mychel on their D-League Squad last season (the Santa Cruz Warriors)


The Lakers have had their fare share of talented players on their D-League squad, the Los Angeles D-Fenders.   It appeared as though it was only a matter of time before a player from "the D" was called up which did not necessarily mean from the D-Fenders.  They did, however, go right to the #purpleandgold and sign Jabari Brown to a ten-day contract (March 10, 2015).  

Mr. Brown made his own Splash felt by game four with the DFenders (November 21, 2014) : 30 Points on 9-17 shooting, 5-7 three pt FGs, and 7-7 from the line in 28 minutes of play.  THIS was happening with Manny Harris on the floor (who scored 32 that night).  Manny Harris donned the Lakers Jersey last season after becoming the "top D-League Prospect" and averaging around 31 points.  Harris played out his consecutive ten-day contracts with the Lakers (last season) and when they opted NOT to sign him he then left very soon to play ball in Turkey.  Manny was not going to wait that long THIS time and decided to leave earlier this season.  Enter Mr. Opportunity.  The DFenders have a variety of capable players at ALL positions.  And, in spite of yet another injury-plagued season for the Lakers, they were ONLY able to get Brown by way of being eligible for the NBA's "hardship exception."

Mychel Thompson "Rains" Supreme, DFenders Fall

       Mychel Thompson was on fire Sunday night in El Segundo, particularly in the third period of play when he went back-to-back threes in a matter of 30 seconds and scored an additional two-point bucket to score 8 points in about a minute-and-a-half of play.  Bingo Bango... BooYa!  Perhaps MT was inspired by the "alleged" comments of DFenders' Coach Phil Hubbard when he remarked that there were "no shooters" on the floor.  Meanwhile, MT WAS ON THE FLOOR.. it was the third period.. he scored 16 of his game-high 30 on 12-16 shooting from the floor, 5-8 from three, three steals, 4 boards, 4 assists, and, uh.. err... ONE-for-FIVE FTs ?! C'Mon MT! J/K The "FTs" were the only flaw in his game as the young Thompson was simply nails all over the floor and he was hitting deep balls with tremendous lift on his jumper.  Strong Game from the SoCal-er Gone NoCal, Indeed.

Everyone watched as MT drained Threes from Deep