The SABL BS

Issue 90 May 2002

FROM COMMISSIONER SCOTT ELLIS, 2ND AMER. BASKETBALL LEAGUE

League LeadersPast NewslettersRecordsAll-StarsDraft Preview 2002Message/Chat Board

Standings/Team Highs MembersRosters & Stats2002 Draftable Players2001-02 League Disk

E-mail The Commissioner 2002-03 Constitution2002-2003 Schedule Of Events

Past Draft Results Trades2001-02 Season Preview2001 Draft2002 Draft

SABL Minutes 2001League Totals2000 Draft HistoriesLinks

2002 Draftable Players List is posted!

Just in time for Memorial Day, Tulsa Coach Philip Creider has given his annual gift to the SABL - his incredible compilation of all the available players in our draft this fall. Philip works hard on this every year so our scouting can be easier. It's on our 2002 Draftable Players link.

Check out the list and make sure none of your players are on it. And email Philip and thank him for all that he does for the good old SABL.

Dragons survive close scare, win Royal Conference

East Asia have move on to the SABL Finals for the 3rd straight year, defeating the Richmond Raiders by scores of 112-110 and 98-89.

Game 1 saw Asia come back after being down by 10 half way through the third period. Darrell Armstrong put back an offensive board with 32 seconds left for a 2 point Dragons lead. Richmond held the ball for a final shot and the game ended when Davis threw the ball over the head of Nowitski and turned it over with 6 seconds to play. Game 3 was an offensive dream as both teams were hot. Asia shot 54% while Richmond only shot 43%. However the Raiders were 14-30(47%) from downtown on the night. Asia outrebounded the visitors 48-29 and blocked 10 shots to their 3.

In Game 2 the Dragons jumped out to an amazing 20-2 run in the opening 8 minutes of the game. The home team then played defensively and ran the half court offence, hoping to neutralize Richmond's great run and gun game. The story of the game was 23 Raider turnovers to 9 for the Dragons. Ben Wallace had 10 boards, 7 steals and a block in 30 minutes of play to spark the win.

The Dragons now host St. Lucie in the SABL finals for the second straight year.

Raiders sweep Dragons in Richmond, lead series 3-2

An excited Richmond Coach Frank Rowley reports:

Richmond swept the 3 games at home, in rather convincing style as the Raiders of Richmond continued to take away the 3-point game of the Dragons. In the twelve quarters played at Richmond, Richmond outscored East Asia in eleven quarters, including the last eight in a row. 

 
Game #3 East Asia 101 - Richmond 116
 
    East Asia wins the battle of the boards 41 - 38, but losses the game as they shoot just 26% from 3-point land, and just 65% from the free throw line 17 - 26. Leading the way for East Asia was Darrell Armstrong with 23 points, followed closely by Eddie Jones with 20 points, but they took 45 shots to score those 43 points. Anthony Mason, David Robinson, & Jerome Williams round out the double figure scoring with 15, 14, and 11 points respectively. Ben Wallace contributed 8 points a game high 11 rebounds and 3 blocked shots.
    Richmond had 3 players score 20 points or more and 5 total in double figures. We shot 51% from the field (41 - 80), and 87% from the foul line (27 - 31). We had 10 steals to East Asia's 4 and blocked 6 shots to East Asia's 8. We also had 30 assists on those 41 baskets, to East Asia's 26 assists on 39 baskets. Leading the way for Richmond was Baron Davis with 22 points (including 3 of 5 from 3-point land), Jamal Mashburn & Predag Stopjakovic both scored 20 points. Dirk Nowitzki & Michael Finley rounded out the double figure scoring with 15 and 14 points respectively. Marcus Camby scored 8 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and blocked 3 shots.
 
Game #4 East Asia 88 - Richmond 102
 
    East Asia this time has more assists than Richmond 25 - 20, and fewer turnovers 14 to 16 for Richmond, but losses the battle of the boards 43 to 49, and ties in both steals and blocked shots with 9 and 5 respectively. East Asia had 4 players score in double figures and shots just 40% from the field (33 for 83) and just 17% from 3-point range (4 of 23). Leading the way for East Asia was Eddie Jones with 28 points, followed by Anthony Mason with 15 points, Darrell Armstrong with 14 points, and Aaron McKie with 11 points. Ben Wallace doesn't score but grabs 13 rebounds for the Dragons.
    Richmond shots 50% from the field (41 - 82) and 72% from the foul line (18 - 25). The Raiders have six players score in double figures. Leading the way was Michael Finley with 23 points, followed closely by Predag Stojakovic with 18 points. Laphonzo Ellis, Dirk Nowitzki both score 14 points, and Marcus Camby and Baron Davis score 12 & 10 points respectively. Camby also leads all rebounders with 14 boards. WE WILL BE PLAYING AGAIN IN EAST ASIA!
 
Game #5  East Asia 81 - Richmond 109
 
    East Asia this time only leads in steals 9 to 5 and blocked shots 5 to 3! They lose the battle of the boards 47 to 45, assists 25 to 24, turnovers 16 to 21 for the Dragons. They also just have 3 players score in double figures. Leading the way was Darrell Armstrong with 28 points, followed by Aaron McKie with 17 points, and Eddie Jones with 12 points. Ben Wallace and Anthony Mason lead the way with 13 rebounds and 12 respectively. 
    Richmond has 5 players score in double figures and the outshoot the Dragons 49% to 40% (40 of 81 Vs. 33 for 83). Richmond also outshoots the Dragons from behind the 3-point arc 64% to 31% (9 of 14 Vs. 9 of 29). Leading the way for Richmond was Predrag Stojakovic with 30 points on 11 of 16 shooting and 3 of 4 from 3-point land. He was followed by Dirk Nowitzki with 20 points on 6 of 7 shooting and 2 of 2 from 3-point land. Baron Davis, Marcus Camby, and Jamal Mashburn follow with 15, 13, and 12 points respectively. Camby leads all Raider rebounders with 9 boards. WE NOW LEAD THE SERIES 3 GAMES TO 2, AND HEAD BACK TO EAST ASIA, for the conclusion of the series.

Dragons take two from Raiders in East Asia

East Asia moved a step closer to a rematch with St. Lucie by taking 2 games from the Renegades this week.

Game 1 saw Asia jump to an 11 point first quarter lead and the play even for a 103-93 victory. Richmond started Mashburn at guard and took away the 3 pointer but Asia outshot Richmond 51%-42%, while the Renegades made 11 3s to Asia's 3. Jones gad 27, Mason 20 and Armstrong 19and 9 assists while Pedrag had 26 (6-11 3s) and Jamaal 18. Outlaw had 11, 8 rebs, 4 assists and 3 blocks in 28 minutes and took dirk out of the game and probably was the MVP of the game.

Game 2 saw Asia outscore Richmond 37-23 in the 4th to steal a 101-92 win from the visitors. Eddie Jones was on fire in the final period and finished with 33 points (11-18,9 rebs), Robinson had 21, 8 rebs and 3 blocks in 28 minutes, while Baron and Dirk scored 16 each to lead Richmond. Again Richmond had 9 treys and Asia only 2, but the Dragons shot 53% to 41% for the Renegades.

Action switches to Richmond for at least 2 more games.

Reggie rolls back to Bulldogs

Reggie Miller returns to the Miles Bulldogs.

Miller, who was a member of the then-Seattle franchise taken over by Tom Jargo, was acquired from the River City Renegades for two first-round draft picks in 2002. River City receives Chapel Hill's pick (No. 7 overall) and Miles' pick (No. 14 overall) in the fall draft.

This trade helps both clubs. Miles gets some veteran help, while River City coach Mike Resnick gets two young building blocks.

"We're giving up two great picks, but we are thrilled to have Reggie back," Jargo said. "We improve at shooting guard without having to sacrifice at another position. We sacrifice some tomorrows for veteran help today."

Trading Miller several years ago was Jargo's first trade in SABL.

"I got Donyell Marshall and Christian Laettner," Jargo said, recalling the trade with the Blocher Bombers. "Then I turned around and got Dikembe Mutombo (from the Holcomb Heat) for Marshall and Laettner. Funny how things come full circle."

Who's Trading?

These trades take effect once the 2002 Playoffs end:

5. River City trades Reggie Miller to Miles for Chapel Hill's 1st and Miles 1st round draft picks.

4. St. Lucie trades its 2003 2nd pick to Davenport for Weatherspoon

3. St. Lucie trades J. Vaughn to Brooklyn for P. J. Brown

2. Davenport trades its first pick to Brooklyn for Q. Richardson and Brooklyn's 1st pick.

1. Holcomb trades Garrity and Best to Finney for Mike Miller

East Asia again in Conference Finals, beats Tri-City

Chris Feeney's Blackhawks lost two of three at Tri City to Paul Bennett's Dragons, giving East Asia the Round Two victory 4 games to 1.

Paul now goes for the third year in a row to the Royal Conference Finals to try and win his third straight conference title. He will face the team that finished second to him in the East Division, but had the third-best regular season record in the SABL this year, Frank Rowley's tenacious Richmond Raiders.

If any team can keep East Asia out of the SABL championships, it's Frank's scoring machine. But if any team can stop the running Raiders, it's the Dragons, with the best rebounding and defense in the SABL this year.

What an exciting Conference Final!!!! Good luck to both teams.

"The Answer" on the block, question is who will get 'em

Despite setting our league's all time seasonal PPG record (34.6) and single game points scored record (63) this season, Allen Iverson is on the trading block, according to Finney Coach Doug Dillingham. The Longhorn leader says he'll trade Iverson for the right offer.

Lifetime Won-Lost Records now posted!!!

Yep, your old commissioner did a little work this month and compiled all-time Won-Lost records for our SABL teams, under the Records link. Who has the highest won-lost percentage? Who has won the most games? Who has lost the most? It's all there at the bottom of our Records page, so check it out!

Other seasonal notes:

Chris Feeney's Blackhawks made the playoffs this year, but their two-year hold on winning the North Division was broken by Iowa's Dennis Derby, who won his first divisional title this season.

In fact, Tri City has won three divisional titles, most of any Amazing Feeney in the SABL. Chris won in 1997-98, 1999-2000 and 2000-01.

The Finney Longhorns make the playoffs every year, but this was the first year they won a West Division title since 1998-99. Finney's won two divisional titles so far.

Aces sweep Longhorns, take conference championship

Scott Ellis's St. Lucie Aces, this year's South Division champs and defending SABL champs, won Games 3 & 4 in Finney, sweeping Doug Dillingham's West Division champs and advancing again to the SABL Finals.

That makes a record fourth Classic Conference title for the Aces, who are trying to win their second SABL championship in a row and their record fourth SABL title this season. The Aces also took a record 6th divisional title this season.

The Aces won Game 3 120-97 behind 16 assists from Sudden Sam Cassell and took Game 4 106-95 behind Shaquille O'Neal's 20 points, Kobe Bryant's 21 points and Chris Webber's 24 points.

The Aces will face either Frank Rowley's Richmond Raiders, Chris Feeney's Tri-City Blackhawks or last year's Royal Conference Champion East Asia Dragons in the finals.

Dragons tame Tri-City in Chiang Mai

Defending Royal Conference champs East Asia won Games 1 & 2 from Chris Feeney's Blackhawks.

East Asia defeated a much-improved Tri-City squad by scores of 107-98 and 108-73. The addition of Danny Fortson has given Tri-City a huge boost and that was almost enough in Game 1. Fortson scored 22 (9-11 shooting) and had 14 rebounds but Asia got 37 from Jones , 21 from Armstrong and 16 from Outlaw. Hughes had 18 and Marbury 17 for the losers. Outlaw played 32 minutes at center and effectively offset Fortson and Bradley.

Game 2 saw Asia hold Tri-City to 28 second half points in a blowout. Outlaw was untouchable at center, scoring 26 on 10-10 shooting (6-6 3pointer) while Ben Wallace grabbed 19 rebounds and Mason had a double-double. Marbury had 16 and Bradley 14 as the only 2 visitors in double figures.

Asia was 23-42 from downtown in the 2 games. Action now shifts to Tri-City for 3 games