D-FENDERS back-on-track; WIN at Home over Warriors
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Josh Magette (9) goes by in a blur while former Lakers Asst Coach Paul Pressey's Son, Phil, Defends. Ferrakohn Hill (17), Diamond Stone (1), Cam Jones (9) for Warriors and Travis Wear (background) for LADFenders also pictured
Josh Magette does what He Does. He captured yet another Double-Double with 19 Points and 17 Assists in the Los Angeles D-Fenders Win Over the visiting Santa Cruz Warriors, 134-109. Dude is averaging a "dub-dub" at about 12 points and 10 assists per contest.
The Other Dubs, from Santa Cruz, received a nice little "drop-in" from the Los Angeles Clippers.
Draft Selection Number 40, Diamond Stone (Maryland U) was in uni for the "Sea Dubs" Saturday Night for the D-League squad from NoCal. Stone was drafted by the Pelicans at 40 in the 2016 NBA Draft but traded to the Clippers for pick number 39. He has not played much for LAC (14 total minutes played).
One of the reasons this past draft will show as being "richer" than what most pundits rated it at will be players like Diamond Stone. Stone was consistently projected TOP 20 in many (early) Mock Drafts last season. This should also illustrate how inaccurate and invalid ANY early season Mock Drafts actually are. Dear Chad Ford...
The Skinny on Stone's Showing:
He did pretty well. He Did what he had to do.
He did what he is supposed to do. In Spite of a Losing Effort from Team Santa Cruz, Stone made the best of his reps and consistently dropped in the outside shot including 2-of-4 from three point range. His outside shot and face-up game looked really good technically. He also played big with a nice balance on the boards: 5 DREBs and 4 OREBS for 9 overall. I want to see this number higher in D-League games however. The 2 blocks were a nice addition to his Team-High 31 points.
he (Zubac) said the
D-League was "less physical."
Really Zubac? The opposing team's GUARD at 6-o tall got as many boards (13) as Zoob had points. Ivica had three rebounds. Additionally, Zubac got Man-handled by Joshua Smith and other much smaller players on the visting Rio Grande Vipers. Dude needs to "DEVELOP" the physical side of the NBA desperately.
That Being Said, it will be guys like Stone and Zubac we will eventually be talking about as being perhaps the two "best bigs" of the 2016 draft and they were selected "40" and "32" respectively. I anticipate that when Zubac matures he may be the "very best Big" overall. However,they BOTH need to sharpen parts of their game and they both need reps.
Therein lies the beauty of "The D."
Mitch and CO Scouted Stone but opted to Draft Zubac. Personally, I love Zublocka, but in comparison to the debut of these two "draft picks," the CLEAR edge is to the sharper Stone. It will be fun to watch these two Develop and emerge.
Oh yeah, Vander did what Vander Does as well: 28 Points, 10-15 FG, 2-3 3 Pt, 6 Rebounds, 4 Assists, 2 STls. Vander Blue was a PLUS THIRTY-ONE. Magette led with a PLUS 32.
Travis Wear, who played sparingly (20 mins) simply because of the eventual lead that LA achieved, dropped in 23 Points on 5-7 from Three Point Range. Incidentally, Wear is the Starting Center. Wear added 7 Boards. Wear's PT was limited also in the previous game because of Ivica Zubac. In addition to Blue, Magette and Wear, the D-Fenders have other NBA-Ready Talent in Justin Harper and Roscoe Smith. Harp had another solid effort with 19 pts, 8 Rebs. Roscoe, 1 of SEVEN D-Fenders in "dubs" had 15 and 8. All Five of these put these efforts and numbers up consistently.
Harper (#23) Is Looking Leaner, Stronger and Better than he did last year when he received a Call-UP from the Detroit Pistons.
New Additions, David Foster (Jersey No. 50) who Did Not Play (DNP) last game because Zubac was assigned, David Nwaba (11), Julian Jacobs (5), and Troy Devries (7)ALL had decent contributions as well in the Victory.
Nwaba, particularly for me, is REALLY standing out. His effort, hustle, energy athleticism and determination shine through so far on a consistent basis. This can also be applied to Jacobs. Nwaba had 10 Points, 9 Boards and was second on the Team to Foster's FIVE BLOCKS. I want to see THIS every game. I don't like BIGS that do NOT take full advantage of their size. Many (BIGS) make themselves smaller by not having their hands UP and crouching down ( see Roy Hibbert Every Laker Game in 2016). When Foster's Hands Are UP, Good Things happen = FIVE BLOCKS.
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Phil Pressey (26) and Mykal Thompson (15) for NoCal BOTH have ties to SoCal. Pressey is the Son of former Lakers Assistant, Paul. Phil had 21 Points and 8 assists. FAST. Mychel, son of World Champion Laker and current Laker Broadcaster Mychal Thompson, had 7 points and 3 rebounds.
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I feel like something is missing...
OH YEAH...
