Vipers vs. T-Birds 1-2-09 Halftime

Halftime-

Vipers 48
ABQ 47

Red Panda is performing right now.

Vipers did a nice job of regaining the lead with .3 to go... another offensive rebound by Joey Dorsey and a put back. Dorsey has 12 and eight rebounds, while Smush Parker scored eight of his game high 13 points in the second quarter to lead the scoring load for RGV. Trent Strickland has only take six shots, it would be nice to get him going a little more.

Meanwhile Will Conroy continues to be a pest. 11 points , 4 assists three boards, and a steal. The Vipers should have a much bigger halftime lead but they let the T-birds stick around. Give ABQ credit they are doing the little things to chip away, mostly drawing fouls, getting to the line, and making their foul shots.

Expect more inside play in the second half with Ford, Strickland, and Dorsey doing a lot of posting up. The Vipers are terrible in the transition game right now, they need to get back on D.

Second half about to start....HERE WE GO!!

Vipers vs. T-Birds 1-2-09 2nd qtr

4:23 Remaining 2nd qtr

Vipers 36
ABQ 34

The Vipers are allowing the T-birds to hang around. Cory Underwood has come in to give the T-birds some good 2nd qtr minutes. Big Jasper Johnson, who has a striking resemblance to this guy hit a long three. Not bad for the 275 pounder.

2:59 remaining 2nd Qtr.

Vipers 37
ABQ 38

The T-birds have gone a nice little run to regain the lead. We have have had eight lead changes in the game. No Viper is in double figures Parker and Dorsey each have eight

Vipers vs. T-Birds 1-2-09 1st qtr

Here is the running gamer. You can follow the game here... or of course... here

5:54 remaining in the 1st

Vipers 11
ABQ 9

Vipers off to a nice start Doresy is a beast on the boards he already has 5. 4 of them are offensive rebounds.


2:40 remaining in the 1st

Vipers 15
ABQ 14

Vipers are getting great all-around production, But Dorsey continues to be a beast. The Vipers are out rebounding the T-birds 12-7.. this is HUUUGE




End of 1st qtr

Vipers 23
ABQ 18

Dorsey pacing the offense for RGV with 8, but the rebounding continues to be the story Vipers outrebounding ABQ 17-7 after the first period. Six of those boards are Dorsey's. Conroy who is the league's leading scorer has just two points

Vipers vs Albuuerque Thunderbirds Pre-Game 1/2/09

Happy New Year Viper Fans.

With the new year hopefully comes a new attitude for Rio Grande Valley as they begin a very important six game stretch where they play five of their next six games against two of the worst teams in the D-League. Tonight the first of back-to-back home games against the division rival Thunderbirds. 

The Vipers knocked of ABQ back on Dec 14th  with 122-99 win at Dodge Arena. The T-birds may be 2-9 but have been playing better recently. The beat Idaho back on Dec 26th and had a couple of tight home contests with the division leading Austin Toros. 

Will Conroy continues to lead the league in scoring. He is a pesky player, probably the peskiest in the league. He is one of those players that you hate when he is on the opposing club, but you love when he is on your team. He makes good plays, scores the basketball, gets his steals and his assists. A solid player, who likes to put pressure on the refs and flop a little bit too... See what I mean about he is a player you love to hate?

The Vipers have had a couple of long and intense practices, and they needed it. They worked on pick-and roll defense and worked on getting Joey Dorsey aka Ray Lewis with a basketball...along with Jared Jordan aclimated to the offense. Lets hope it helps.. Also still no replacement for Kendall Dartez we will let you know when we hear something.

Dont forget to tune in tonight on NBA Futurecast or on ESPN 1240-AM

Here are the starters 

RGV

G- Smush Parker

G- Alpha Bangura

C- Alton Ford

F- Joey Dorsey (Houston Rockets)

F- Trent Strickland

I am going to attempt a running gamer tonight... but bear with me as I am calling the game...but I will try...

GO VIPERS

History Repeats itself

Greetings Viper fans.




Seeing as how my blog is now a feature on RGVIPERS.com, it is probably a good idea that I start posting on a more regular basis. By the way my thanks to our new webmaster Jonah Goldberg, he is also the Vipers new Media Relations Manager. By the way he also serves as our Home Color Commentator on our radio broadcasts.





Let me just start by saying, RGV is a much better team than the record indicates. The Vipers have had a crazy schedule, even the eight game homestand was crazy. You had the last two D-League Champions, ( Dakota, Idaho) Two other playoff clubs (Sioux Falls, Colorado), and a very solid Utah club that had two NBA Assignees. Right now the Vipers cannot finish games. Coach Moser cant quite put his finger on it. But coaches don't like to make excuses. Since I am the broadcaster and subsequently a Viper apologist I will make the excuse. The Vipers are tired and have little to NO practice time. The first 12 games were in 24 days. 8 home games, against some of the clubs I mentioned, one was a day game with two back to backs. The the first road trip happened. 4 games in six nights in 4 different cities. Game one in frigid Colorado. Only day possible for practice was the Monday before and the floor was not maintained and slippery. Play Tuesday night. Fly for Tulsa on Wednesday, no practice just rest, why? Thursday the game was at 11:00 AM, no shoot around obviously. Win that game. Head over to Tulsa airport, wait, and wait, and wait. Flights are cancelled. Can't get to Des Moines, IA. We bus at 1:00 AM to Kansas City, that's as far as the roads would let us go. Stay the night in a great hotel in KC. Bus at 1:00 pm to Des Moines. Arrive in Des Moines at 5:30om head straight to arena. Play overtime game against Iowa. Fly out next morning at 5:30 AM for Austin. Play Austin on Sunday at 3:00 pm, bus home that night.





Look this is pro basketball, but you tell me that this was an easy stretch of games for a club that needs more practice time and I'll say that you need your head examined. Hopefully these next few days of practice will do the club wonders.





- Next item on the agenda, the assignment of Joey Dorsey. I was excited about the possibility of his assignment since draft day. I knew he wouldn't get any minutes with the big club, but I knew he would make the big club. He is a bruiser, a defensive force and someone who could develop into a strong Ben Wallace type of player. He needs playing time, and he will get a ton of it in RGV. He really is the type of player the Vipers need right now. A strong rebounder ( especially on the offensive side of the glass), shot blocking bruising defender, and a player to take some pressure off of Alton Ford, who can focus more on scoring with Dorsey in the line-up, and also to challenge Alton on the glass. I hope this is an extended assignment. I think it will be, although the Rockets have been mum as to just how long he will be on assignment.





- And now the bad news. Kendall Dartez is the latest Viper to graze in greener pastures overseas as he is off to China. Dartez had some interest from some clubs to join an NBA roster, likely after the showcase, but nothing ever panned out, he got an offer he couldn't refuse. I wish him the best, but now the Vipers will have to search far and wide for another big man, which are hard to find. This adds another hole to this club, who already needed a big, (before Dorsey's arrival), and a sharp shooting three-point specialist. Sadly the Vipers don't get any benefits in the waiver list because of Kendall's departure, that only happens with Gatorade Call-Up.



I am going to try to blog more... our friends over at Ridiculousupside...Who I have added to the blog roll, have challenged me to update more so I will. It's tougher to maybe link as much as I have in the past but I will try.

Untill later...Stay outta the paint

Vipers Game Blog

Halftime Vipers 52 - Wizards 42

Solid first half for Rio Grande Valley although Smush Parker is taking some terrible shots right now. He looks like he is just trying to get into a rhythm but hasn't been able to so far tonight. Craig Winder and Trent Strickland both have 11 points with Winder's coming off the bench. Alton Ford is drawing fouls from any Dakota players the crosses his way and he is making them pay as big Al has 12 points, but most importantly is 8 for 8 from the foul line. As for Dakota the don't have a single player in double figures.  Quemont Greer has nine points to lead the way for Dakota. The Wizards have played all 11 players. Let me just say that Hamed Haddadi is a beast. He needs ALOT of developing... but he is a beast!!

5:44 Remaining 2nd Qtr  Vipers 40 - Wizards 35

Dakota must like spotting its opponents  big leads and coming back. Vipers have led by as many as 12 but the Wizards have brought the game back into close single digits. Craig Winder has looked good off the bench with 9 points including two three pointers. Mo Baker is just a pest defensively and he has also put up seven points...He is a really good player on what could be a good Dakota team.

Second Media timeout 2:44 remaining Vipers 25, Wizards 13

Trent Strickland looks like the Trent Strickland from the weekend. He has nine 1st quarter points and is 4-5 shooting from the field. Quin Humphrey has been agressive in the early going as well with seven points.

Vipers are shooting over 70% from the field right now.. Lets see if they keep it up

Pre Game Versus Dakota Wizards

Hello Friends:

Well the Vipers got the stomach punch of the century in the third quarter of last night's game versus the expansion Erie BayHawks. The Vipers were nearly tripled up, outscored 35-12 in the third and dropped their first game of the season with a 101-86 loss. Personally I think it's better that it happened sooner than later. 

This Vipers team has a ton of talent, but has been developing some bad habits. They turn the ball over too much and think they can turn on a 10-0 run whenever they want. It doesn't always work that way in this league; especially when you play everyone in your division seven times. 

Tonight's opponent is Dakota. We saw Dakota twice last season and it is probably safe to say that they are the San Antonio Spurs of the the D-League and of minor league basketball. They just always win. I don't know what it is that draws people to Bismarck, North Dakota, but they put a winner on the floor year in and year out. They have four championships in the 12 year history of the franchise. One IBA championship, two CBA titles, and one D-League title. Duane Ticknor is their head coach, another minor league coaching legend. The schedule makers were not kind to the Vipers. Four of the first five teams the Vipers have faced this season have coaches with at least one minor league championship on their resume... NOT COOL!!!

The Wizards are 0-2, they suffered a home loss to Iowa to begin their season and started their road swing with a heartbreaking overtime loss to Austin last night despite coming back from a 19 point deficit. So Ticknor and the Wizards are dying for a win, lets hope they can wait till they go home.

Game Two vs. Utah Flash

Greeting my fellow Viper fanatics.

Well game one is in the book and the Vipers came out on top 83-82 to division rival Tulsa. The game ended up being much closer than it needed to be, but outstanding guard play down the stretch by Tulsa kept the Sixers in the game. Trent Strickland played a monster game scoring 24 and hauling in eight boards

Last night was not without its problems, shot clock did not work throughout the game. Public Address announcer Tony Forina had to give 10 second warnings with a countdown at 5 for every possession. There were issues with the live stats as well. Game started a tad late (7:23), and our official webcast NBA Futurecast was not operating.

Hopefully we've worked out the kinks and are ready to go tonight. Tonight the Vipers take on the Utah Flash. Oddly enough, even thought the Vipers only won 21 games last year, the Snakes beat every opponent in the D-League at least once except for one....Who was it...???? Yep you guessed it the Utah Flash.

This is seemingly the model franchise of the D-League. their owner Brandt Anderson is like the Mark Cuban of the D-League. Internet billionaire buys a basketball team, builds sparkling new practice facility, has largest front office in the D-League and is very active in the community. They do a great job in Utah, hence while they will be hosting the D-League showcase in 2009.

Random Notes: I am really digging the Snake Charmers secondary uniforms. They have a huge Vipers logo belt buckle which really stands out. Also I must say the Snake Charmers have improved from year 1 to year 2. A good mix of returnees and rookies. I like the squad Nora.

So far I like what this team has. Some good rebounding ability, great athleticism, good character players, and most importantly, veteran leadership. This team has the potential to be very good, provided there is a contingency plan if a certain Mr. Smush Parker gets a Gatorade Call-up.

TRAINING CAMP STARTS TODAY!

The day has finally arrived. Season 2 of Rio Grande Valley Vipers Basketball begins today. Well at least the training camp part of it. It seems as if the D-League decided to give coaches a couple extra days to get their camps started and whittle down their rosters from 17 all the way down to 10 for opening night.

Speaking with Coach Moser on the Vipers Coaches Show (Every Thursday at 5:00 pm on ESPN 1240) he was stoked about the team he was able to put together for this season. He was especially excited about former Lakers point guard Smush Parker dropping all the way to the 12th spot right into his lap. According to Parker's agent he is excited about the opportunity to showcase his game and get back to the NBA.

I am going to break down the 17 man training camp roster as best as I can. I am still getting to know the team and where they have been so bare with me.

Returning Players

1. G/F - Trent Strickland 6-6 Wake Forest
2. G - Quin Humphrey 6-4 Youngstown State
3. F - Stanley Asumnu 6-5 - Tennessee
4. G - Craig Winder 6-2 - Texas

Evaluation:

Sorry to say it is not the strongest returning line-up in the D-league. The Vipers will sorely miss Ivan Johnson who is a presence on the inside. Jesse Smith is now in Reno and should be a solid role player for that expansion franchise. The most important returnee is without a doubt Trent Strickland. Strickland is the quintessential pro hoops player. He fits into any role you give him. Early in the season Strickland played an off-the bench role but as the Vipers started to lose players to overseas defections he stepped up and filled in nicely and averaged over 13ppg. Strickland should continue to provide valuable minutes to the squad. As for the rest of the squad, Humphrey and Asumnu are very strong defensive players and both played big minutes last year, but they didn't have big nights offensively every night. Humphrey is a big time rebounding guard and both players work hard on both ends of the floor. As for Winder a very good, but streaky shooter. Stepped up for some big games and ran the offense late in the year along side Kris Collins (who is now in Austin).

I like all of these guys and they can all contribute, but will they all make the squad? Who knows. I think Strickland is a lock but not sure who else is. Coach Moser is keeping a tight lip on this. But these guys should know that no one has been guaranteed a spot on the roster or the rotation, they will have to earn it.

Allocation Players/Local Tryout:

1. C/F- Alton Ford - 6-10 - Houston
2. C/F- Kendal Dartez - 6-10 - Louisville
3. G -Damone Morris - 6-3 - Eckard College

EVALUATION -

SIZE!! This allowed Coach Moser to draft best available player and not need. Alton Ford is a familiar name to local hoops fans. He played at Houston Milby who played down here in the Valley in the Los Fresnos Tourney several years ago. He was a McDonalds All-American and was a Clyde Drexler recruit at Houston.. although he never played for Coach Drexler. He has bounced around the NBA and overseas. He is a big body who can score and rebound. Dartez much of the same, although not as big of a body. Long. Can block shots and rebound and has a couple years of D-League expereince. Not gonna light up the score sheet but can contribute off the bench. Damone Morris, the local tryout player,looks like he could be a steal. I am a big fan of small college guys who put up big guys. Why? They play with passion that some big time college program players don't. They play with a chip on their shoulder because they didn't get recruited by the big guys. Morris averaged 17 ppg for NCAA D-2 Eckard College in Florida and looks like a scorer in every sense of the word. I like this pick-up

Drafted Players - by round

1. G - Smush Parker - 6-4 - Fordham - LA Lakers
2. F- Delonte Holland 6-7 - DePaul
3. C- Kurt Looby 6-10 - Iowa
4. G - Alpha Bangura - 6-6 - St. Johns
5. G- Thomas Sanders 6-3 - Texas Pan American - Garnder Webb
6. C/F - Boomer Herndon - 6-10 - Belmont
7. C - Jeffrey Day - 6-9 - Creighton
8. G/F Lance Perique - 6-8 - Georgia State
9. G - Keoni Watson - 5-10 - Idaho
10. F - JR. Harrison - 6-6 - Rice

Evaluation:

Without a doubt the Vipers are thrilled to have a hungry NBA ready guy to lead the offense, until he gets a Gatorade Call-up of course. I like the Smush Parker selection.. Why? I know some of you might be saying, " But A.D.B. he's just going to get called up, won't that hurt us?" Well in a sense, yes. Parker has something to prove, it is always nice to have a guy who is hungry on your team. The other thing is, the Vipers start the season with 8 home games. Personally If I am a Team President, I love this pick because we have an NBA name guy to help put butts in the seat and to help my coach get off to a great start to the season.

Vipers Coaches Show is Back!!

The Vipers den is open for business again. After several months of hiatus the Rio Grande Valley Vipers Head Coaches show is back on the air. You can listen in every Thursday at 5:00 PM on ESPN Radio 1240 AM. As of right now the show is a 30 minute chat with Clay Moser and any other special guests we will have throughout the year. More on that later. However, we are discussing the possibility of doing the show on remote once a month and extending the time to an entire hour. This will give the fans a chance to interact with the show, and potentially win some great Vipers prizes.

We had our first show yesterday, and it went as smooth as possible. I have to say this.. Coach Moser is a great interview. He can give you the nuts and bolts, and he can give you a one liner. He can be serious and funny. But most of all he is informative and straightforward and those are two huge keys for a coach and his dealing with the media. He will make an entertaining guest week in and week out on the Vipers Coaches Show (Thursday's at 5:00 pm ESPN RADIO 1240 AM) .

As for potential guest on the show. The Rolodex is certainly full.. expect D-league President Dan Reed at some point, Daryl Morey (GM of Houston Rockets), Maybe other memebers of the other Rockets and Hornets Basketball operations department. We may be able to get NBA Commissioner David Stern at some point as well. There are all kinds of guests we can get if you have any suggestions, leave a comment, or send an email vipersradio@gmail.com . We will try to make it happen.

That's it for now... be sure to tune in to get all your Vipers info every Thursday!!