2013 NBA D-League Playoffs

While NBA playoffs have not started yet, the NBA D-League's playoffs are in full swing. After an intense first round, four teams are left standing. They are the Austin Torors, Rio Grande Valley Vipers, Santa Cruz Warriors, and the Tulsa 66ers. The first round games were #1 Bakersfield Jam vs. #6 Austin Toros, #2 Rio Grande Valley Vipers vs. #8 Maine Red Claws, #3 Santa Cruz Warriors vs. #5 Fort Wayne Mad Ants, and #4 Canton Charge vs. #7 Tulsa 66ers. The reason that the games were not the classic 1 vs. 8 was because the D-League let the higher seeds pick their opponents. Here is a preview of the second round games.

#3 seed Santa Cruz Warriors vs. #6 seed Austin Toros

Jeremy Tyler
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The Santa Cruz Warriors beat the Fort Wayne Mad Ants in the first round. Their best player was F Jeremy Tyler. Coming off the bench, he dropped 34 points in game one and 25 in game two. He also had 11 rebounds in game two. Not only is he scoring, he is score efficiently. He's shooting percentage is 74.1%. That is incredible. G Stefhon Hannah and C Hilton Armstrong are also shooting the ball well. The Warriors have a real good core of players that have a high production rate.

The Toros upset the number one team, the Bakersfield Jam, in round one. The Toros also have a player who is on fire. G Lester Hudson was a rebound shy of a triple-double in their first game (He had 20 points, 11 assists, and 9 rebounds). In the second game of the first round series, he had 28 points and 12 rebounds. He is shooting 58.1% from the field and 42.9% from beyond the arc. F Rick Jackson had a double-double in both games, with a high of 17 bounds in the first game. The Toros have a lot of players who can put the ball in the basket. That is a key to their success.

This match-up looks to be close. Both teams have hot players who are scoring at will. I think the Warriors will win the the best-of-three series in three because their team has more threats offensively and defensively. 

#2 seed Rio Grande Valley Vipers vs. #7 seed Tulsa 66ers

The Rio Grande Valley Vipers swept the Red Claws, winning both games by a combined three points. In both games, G Glen Rice Jr. scored 27 points and DJ Kennedy had a double-double. C Chris Daniels also scored 28 points in the first game. The Vipers need to ride off of Rice Jr. and Daniels. The team lost their best player, Andrew Goudelock, because the Lakers signed him after the Kobe Bryant injury. They will need Rice Jr. to fill the role of Goudelock if the Vipers want to win. 

Rasual Butler
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The 66ers were the only team that went to a decisive third game in the first round. They defeated the Charge 100-98 in a thrilling third game. However, the team has been depleted as Oklahoma City recalled Perry Jones, Jeremy Lamb, and DeAndre Liggins. Lamb was their biggest scoring threat, Jones was an x-factor, and Liggins was playing well. Rasaul Butler has been clutch and needs to continue to be. He came off the bench in the first two games and played well. When they started him in game three, he went off and scored 24 points. Tony Taylor will try to pick off where the three recalled players left off. However, I do not think he can make it up. 

This series looks to be weak. Before the promotion of the Jones, Lamb, and Liggins, I liked the 66ers to win. Now, I think the Vipers will win easily. It's hard to recover when three starters will not be playing.