So I went to my first D-League game yesterday

Springfield Armor hosting the Austin Toros

recap

phpBB [video]

As the video said, it was a bit of a dunk contest in the first half which was nice to see in person. However, I'm pretty sure all of us played in high school, and all of us know how to run a basketball offense....I dont know what is going on with the Armor's offense or what the hell Dee Brown and that not to shabby looking female assistant is planning on but the entire game was 3 players on one side of the court near the three point line and then the remaining 2 running a slow and ineffective pick and roll. They scored off it the first time and then never again. The only reason they got so many dunks was because the Toros defense was just as shitty and somehow gave up a lot of looks once the Armor started playing pick up basketball after that initial failed "play". The players were just slow with their cuts and set really really shitty screens. But they were athletic, I will give them that. They are just stupid though. Going up for boards with 1 hand and not even contesting shots on defense.

The play of the game by far was the buzzer beater dunk to end the first half. The entire arena finally woke up and cheered that one....

...and then the refs decided they wanted to be noticed. I mean the first half was nice and physical but all of you need to know that whenever a Massachusetts team plays another team not from Massachesetts, well, the MA team is going to get screwed over by the refs. Always. They were calling bullshit travels, nitpick fouls, flops, it was just terrible. They got lots of boos and for good reason. Toros came back from the 19 point deficient and won.

When I walked into the much smaller than the Garden MassMutual Center it felt even less important than a UMass game. No one was pumped, there was barely anyone in any Armor gear or colors (I wore my 2008 Celtics/Lakers shirt, w00t, living in the past!) However, the Mascot/Cheerleaders/Announcer/um, crowd Annoucer/jumbotron were really into it and did a decent job. High quality stuff from them even though the arena was at 1/4th capacity. All music they played had a drum machine cover over it to make it more hip hop. Smells like Teen Spirit and More than a Feeling....just butchered

All the posters in there and the programs hyped the shit out of this JamesOn Curry who evidently signed with the Clippers this past week....oops, the leader of the team is gone now. That would explain all the shit offense and pickup type of basketball I saw from them.

So overall, I had fun, I was entertained and got to see an OK basketball game even though the home team = shit. I got into it when I realized the players on the court could actually hear you (I was in the first row of the top section, so right next to the walkway) and got a few looks from them, lol. It was fun, and I do want to go again, our tickets were 9 bucks each and they did a good job of trying to get the atmosphere going which was exciting when the crowd was actually into the game in the first half.

Thanks for sharing your experience with us Jao. I wish I have the chance to watch professional basketball games like you guys.

For 10 dollars, it's even cheaper than going to the movies. And if the seats are pretty much empty, I guess you could move down a few rows too... Awesome.

Why can't Seattle get its own D-League team? I have to settle for WNBA. (though to be fair, its a surprisingly decent experience)

:cheeky: For 10 dollars, it's even cheaper than going to the movies. And if the seats are pretty much empty, I guess you could move down a few rows too... Awesome.

surprisingly they were really heavy on the seat security for the lower areas, they had ushers at every entrance for those sections checking tickets all game long

but for the upper sections we could have moved wherever we wanted

i got some pictures of where the seats are that i want to share, but i have no idea where the damn cord is for the camera

Thanks for sharing. Glad to hear it was a fun experience even if the game itself wasn't the best, sounds like a good night out for pocket change.

I got into it when I realized the players on the court could actually hear you (I was in the first row of the top section, so right next to the walkway) and got a few looks from them, lol.

Love that! Reminds me of the time I was shouting shit to some import player in the NBL during a game in 2004/2005. He heard me in between free throws (missing both) but then hit like 3 shots in dying moments to help his team pull off a very close game against my home team. Then after one of his shots he pointed up into the stands towards me and did some funny head tapping gesture that some Clippers used to do back in the day. Maybe if you shout shit to your team, they will play better?

I went to a D-league game a few years ago. That team had actually won the d league chamionship in 01. I dont remember a single player i had heard of. I also remember the mascot being just a blue guy. It was odd and I dont remember watching alot of the game. The team folded in 2003 apparently. I remember it being a good time but not nearly as fun as the NBA exhibition with the wizards nets (pre-arenas days including jordan and jason kidd/kmart/kittles days) played in the same arena.

Been wanting to see a Armor game every since they came over here, and tickets pretty damn cheap too.

saturday they have another game at 1pm, and that is the last afternoon game of their season

i dont really want to go into springfield at nighttime

That team had actually won the d league chamionship in 01.

Not saying much since they didn't hold a championship series until 2002.

That team had actually won the d league chamionship in 01.

Not saying much since they didn't hold a championship series until 2002.

lol maybe i read it wrong *goes to check source* ah ha...2001-2002 season not 2001 season. My mistake.

Why can't Seattle get its own D-League team? I have to settle for WNBA. (though to be fair, its a surprisingly decent experience)

lol you couldn't pay me to go to a WNBA game. my brother in law's wife is a physical therapist for the Chicago Sky. even she can't stand being at their games

D-league games... sounds cool. if it's anything like going to a minor league baseball game, i'm game

As the video said, it was a bit of a dunk contest in the first half which was nice to see in person. However, I'm pretty sure all of us played in high school, and all of us know how to run a basketball offense....I dont know what is going on with the Armor's offense or what the hell Dee Brown and that not to shabby looking female assistant is planning on but the entire game was 3 players on one side of the court near the three point line and then the remaining 2 running a slow and ineffective pick and roll. They scored off it the first time and then never again.

Just got back from the Red Claws vs. the Erie BayHawks, which was identical to your description for both teams. Three guys would clear out on every play, big man would set a screen then immediately slip it and nothing whatsoever would come of it. Eventually they just started hoisting terrible contested floaters that were somehow going in at about a 50% clip.

I think they've sold out every game so far (3,000 or so seats) and the crowd was great. I forgot how much the announcer and whoever plays the music over the sound system make me want to rip off my own ears. EVERYBODY CLAP YOUR HANDS! CLAPCLAPCLAPCLAPCLAPCLAPCLAPCLAPCLAPCLAPCLAPCLAPCLAPCLAP omfg kill me now.

So yeah, the Red Claws were down 10 near the beginning of the fourth quarter and came back to win which was capped by two Tony Bobbitt tomahawk jams (the first came off a great stolen pass but the second was because Mike Gansey slipped on a sweaty area of the floor with 12 or so seconds left ).

This guy is enormous and can barely run: http://www.nba.com/dleague/playerfile/i ... ohn_bryant

EVERYBODY CLAP YOUR HANDS! CLAPCLAPCLAPCLAPCLAPCLAPCLAPCLAPCLAPCLAPCLAPCLAPCLAPCLAP omfg kill me now.

you forgot the "C'MON NOW" i really fucking hate that as well, but thankfully I didnt have to endure that at the Springfield game.

Was that your first game?

Yep, first one. Kept waiting until the last minute to look for tickets and they were always sold out.

yea i saw the recap on their youtube channel. looks a lot smaller than the other D-League arenas but looks like an amazing basketball arena with that kind of homecourt advantage

So yeah, the Red Claws were down 10 near the beginning of the fourth quarter and came back to win which was capped by two Tony Bobbitt tomahawk jams (the first came off a great stolen pass but the second was because Mike Gansey slipped on a sweaty area of the floor with 12 or so seconds left ).

Mike Gansey, now there goes somebody I haven't heard about in a while. He was one heck of a college player, probably one of my favourites for the Mountaineers in Beilein's vaunted 1-3-1 defense

Me too, I had forgotten about him but was pleasantly surprised to see him on the BayHawks roster. Loved watching him at WVU.