D-Fenders: Skyforce Too Much for LA in Game 1 of D-League Finals

The D-Fenders met the Skyforce in El Segundo for Game 1 of the D-League Finals.

The Los Angeles D-Fenders took their first round series in the NBA D-League Playoffs 2-1 over the No. 1 seed Reno Bighorns, winning two away games to take the series. What was even more impressive was that they did it without Justin Hawkins and Lazar Hayward, the latter suffering a broken hand in the series against Reno. The good news is that Hawkins is now back for the D-League Finals.

In the D-League Western Conference Finals, the D-Fenders faced the No. 2 seed Austin Spurs and won the first game at home by five points, but fell in Game 2. However, a spirited effort in Game 3 carried them to a win and to the D-League Finals.

LA took the floor at the Toyota Center in El Segundo, California for Game 1 of the D-League Finals on Sunday night to take on the Sioux Falls Skyforce, a team they didn’t face during the regular season in front of a packed hose.

Both teams offensive ratings were similar with the D-Fenders coming in at 108.9, just slightly higher than the Skyforce at 108.3. However, the D-Fenders limped into the playoffs, losing seven of their last eight regular season games, while the Skyforce won five out of their last eight games. All the same, both teams turned it on in the postseason.

Getting Justin Hawkins back clearly gave the D-Fenders a boost as they came out screaming in game one of the D-League Finals on their home floor. Ryan Gomes and Vander Blue scored the first 15 points.

The Skyforce, led by Rodney McGruder and D-League MVP Jarnell Stokes, came back and the two teams battled. The lead changed back and forth throughout the first half. What’s worse is that the D-Fenders went a bit cold and missed a couple shots, allowing the Skyforce to capitalize and skip into the locker room up six points at halftime, 51-45.

In the second half, the D-Fenders played catch-up the entire third quarter, falling behind by 11 points at one point. The last eight minutes of Game 1 brought heart-pounding action that had fans on the edge of their seats. Vander Blue got hot, tying the game after getting fouled on a breakaway and then making both shots and an ensuing jumper. Four D-Fenders were in double figures by then with Blue leading the way with 26 points.

The fans were out of their seats, banging their thunder sticks with reckless abandon. Josh Magette’s parents were courtside and the NBA scouts were also vocal and very busy writing notes as the D-Fenders tried to fight back and pick up a win on their home floor.

Justin Harper and Blue continued to be clutch for the D-Fenders, knocking down a three to bring the score within two. The Skyforce’s Bubu Palo made one free throw to put his team back up by three points. LA had to sink a three to tie the game to force overtime. Harper tried and missed, though, and another intentional foul to stop the clock put Sioux Falls guard DeAndre Liggins at the line. Liggins made both free throws. At that point, five points was just too large a deficit to overcome in under 10 seconds and the D-Fenders ultimately suffered the loss.

Their coach Casey Owens was not disappointed in his team, though he was disappointed in the loss. “We are who we are, we got eight guys,” he said. “I can really only think of two or three shots I was upset with tonight.”

Despite not being upset, Owens was able to identify what the problems were for the D-Fenders.

“We’ve got to be able to spread the floor, but that starts with us getting stops,” Owens said. “They shot 54 percent, so there’s not enough stops there to be effective.”

On playing Sioux Falls for the first time on the year, though, Owens reiterated that he was happy with the effort of his D-Fenders team and though that the team figured it out, but also echoed that he was sad to not pick up the win in Game 1.

“We figured it out as the game went on—it was really a one-possession game guys. We gave ourselves a shot,” Owens said. “I’m incredibly disappointed we didn’t win.”

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Stokes’ effort undoubtedly left Owens and the D-Fenders impressed with his exploits in the Skyforce frontcourt.

“That guy’s a handful. He’s kind of like the D-League version of [DeMarcus] Cousins out there. I mean he’s a beast,” Owens said. “So, we have to figure out and do something to make him less comfortable.”

Magette added to his coach’s take on Stokes, saying, “That guy Stokes is a load down there, just keeping them out of the paint is the biggest thing. I thought our zone was really good.”

Even coming off a loss, though, Vander Blue was able to see where the D-Fenders would be able to improve going forward in the D-League Finals in trying to beat the Skyforce.

“They’re a good defensive team, they started talking a little bit and that got me going a little bit,” said Blue. “I think we have to find a way to control Stokes a little bit. Down the stretch we pretty much had everyone sealed—we have to go back to the drawing board and try to slow him down.”

Blue elaborated on what the D-Fenders needed to do and seemed as if he was already preparing for their next game against Sioux Falls.

“I still think we played a little slow because we only scored 99 points; we averaged 117,” said Blue. “It was a Finals game, high intensity. Both teams want to win. We just gotta make sure we find a way to channel our energy so we last longer. I think if we have to help each other out, rotate, rebound and run I think we are going to do our best.”

Despite the disappointment of the loss, Blue called winning the West a “good feeling,” a sentiment also shown by Magette.

“It was special. We kind of call ourselves the 17 bricks, the 17 guys we travel with. We had a hostile environment in Austin. it was a special night for our entire team.” The reference to the bricks is in reference to Coach Owens bringing a brick to games and placing it under their bench as a good luck charm that the other team will shoot bricks.

Down 1-0, it’s now time for the D-Fenders to board a plane for South Dakota to take on the Skyforce for Game 2 on Tuesday, April 26. Anything can happen with this team, so all is not lost—it’s one game. That said, their backs are now against the wall and they have to win both games to be D-League champs. But if you ask the team, don’t count them out.

“That’s the thing about our team, we don’t lay down,” said Magette.

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Coach Owens affirmed that the Sioux Falls basketball court does not have an ice rink under it, so there are no worries about condensation on the away. The D-Fenders have a good chance to win, they have the talent and they already have a plan, we wish them luck and bid farewell to the Toyota Center for 2015-16 season.