LAKERS NOTEBOOK: NO D-LEAGUE FOR YOUNGSTERS.Byline: Ross Siler Staff Writer FORT WORTH, Texas Fort Worth is the fifth-largest city in the state of Texas, 18th-largest city in the United States[1], and voted one of "America’s Most Livable Communities. - If not for a run of injuries this season, Andrew Bynum Andrew Bynum (born October 27 1987, in Plainsboro, New Jersey) is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association. Bynum is listed as 7'0" and 285 lbs and plays center. , Von Wafer Vakeaton Quamar Wafer (born on July 21, 1985 in Homer, Louisiana), nicknamed Von, is an American professional basketball player in the NBA for the Denver Nuggets. He was selected by the Los Angeles Lakers as the 39th overall selection (ninth pick of the second round) in the , Devin Green Devin Green (born October 25, 1982) is a professional basketball player. He was undrafted out of Hampton University, and was signed by the Los Angeles Lakers as a free agent, appearing in 27 games in the 2005-2006 season. or Ronny Turiaf might have found themselves here at Nolan Catholic High School Nolan Catholic High School is the Catholic college preparatory school in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Fort Worth administered in the Marianist Tradition. It serves the mission of the Church by educating and forming youth in the Roman Catholic Faith. on Tuesday afternoon. A half-hour drive from American Airlines Center For the arena in Miami, Florida, see . Current arenas in the National Basketball Association Western Conference Eastern Conference , the Fort Worth Flyers The Fort Worth Flyers is the name of a NBA Development League minor league basketball expansion team based in Fort Worth, Texas. They began play in the 2005-06 season. Logo design: A blue capital "F" reminiscent of a biplane over a basketball. of the NBA Development League The NBA Development League, or D-League, is the National Basketball Association's officially sponsored and operated developmental basketball organization. Known until summer 2005 as the National Basketball Development League (NBDL present the alternative to life on the bench for the Lakers' rookies, never mind that the parking lot outside the practice gym is filled with moms in minivans. So far, the Lakers are not among the teams that have taken advantage of the NBA's new minor-league system - a total of 20 players from 15 teams have been sent down - but Flyers coach Sam Vincent is a big believer that there is something to be gained. ``Even if you're only sending a guy down here for three weeks, it's still beneficial time,'' Vincent said. ``You see our guys. We work hard, we play hard, we practice hard. ``For the kids who aren't getting meaningful minutes on the court, to be able to come down here and play 15, 20 minutes in a game, I think only helps their development.'' Vincent has stayed in contact with Lakers assistant general manager Ronnie Lester all season. The Lakers have needed their rookies on the active roster most nights with Slava Medvedenko, Aaron McKie and Laron Profit all suffering long-term injuries. ``I think this first year, everybody's had a little bit of a wait-and-see approach,'' Vincent said. Lakers coach Phil Jackson said Tuesday he would be reluctant to send a player to the NBA Development League during a home stretch, believing the practice time is too valuable. The Lakers will play 22 of their final 33 games at Staples Center (counting a Clippers home game) after this trip ends tonight. The D-League season ends April 9, and most likely the Lakers will not send a player down. Vincent, meanwhile, has gotten the chance to coach three NBA-assigned players this season in Portland's Martell Webster and Sergei Monia, and Dallas' Rawle Marshall. Webster was the No. 6 pick out of high school and averaged 25 minutes in the eight games he played with Fort Worth. Vincent was asked to specifically work on defensive rotations with Webster, who was recalled by the Blazers earlier this week. ``If it were up to me,'' Vincent said, ``I think all young players should kind of get indoctrinated through the D-League.'' --Developing situation: Vincent also said he thought the Lakers would have an affiliate closer to Los Angeles next season. The NBA NBA abbr. 1. National Basketball Association 2. National Boxing Association NBA (US) n abbr (= National Basketball Association) → Basketball-Dachverband (= is hoping to expand the eight-team D-League as quickly as possible. --Welcome back: After getting his visa approved, Turiaf flew to Houston to meet up with the Lakers. He could be activated tonight, but Jackson described Turiaf as ``searching in the dark'' after having practiced only three times since signing. CAPTION(S): box Box: LAKERS at HOUSTON - Ross Siler |
|
||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion