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The SABL BS

Volume 2 Issue 79 June 2001

FROM COMMISSIONER SCOTT ELLIS, 2ND AMER. BASKETBALL LEAGUE

Asia takes Games 3 & 4 in SABL finals!!!!

More details later, but Coach Paul Bennett's East Asia Dragons are now just one win away from upsetting the St. Lucie Aces in the 2001 SABL finals! East Asia took Game 3 and 4 in Thailand, 115-107 and 139-115. East Asia now leads the series 3 games to 1.

Can Paul make it a home-court sweep in the series by winning Game 5 and capture the SABL crown? Or can the Aces bring it back to America by winning at least one game on foreign soil? Stay tuned as the ever-unpredicatable SABL playoffs continue!

TWISTERS LOOKING FORWARD TO NEXT SEASON

 

Tulsa- This reporter was fortunate enough to bump into Tulsa Twister coach, Philip Creider, at the recently-concluded U.S. Open Golf Tournament and was able to draw the following comments from the elusive coach.

 

Regarding the team’s prospects:

 

“I feel real good about our team’s prospects.  To win in the SABL you need some studs.  Players like Shawn Marion, Antonio Davis, and David Wesley are getting close to attaining that label.  Add to that list, a rapidly maturing Jermaine O’Neal and a young Raef LaFrentz and I would be excited if I were a Twister fan.”

 

Regarding anticipated roster and lineups:

 

“Going into the off-season I feel that much of my roster and lineups are close to being set so I do not expect to make any significant changes.  I will expect my trio of Davis, O’Neal, and LaFrentz to make up most of my minutes at Power Forward and Center. Marion will take up most of my Small Forward minutes with backup support from Eric Piatkowski and Jumaine Jones.  My guard play will be split between Wesley, Tim Hardaway, Chris Childs and Shammond Williams.  At this point, I would also expect to be able to call upon Joe Smith and Bryant Reeves for minutes as well.”

 

Regarding possible player cuts:

 

“I can tell you this; in the team locker room, minutes after the conclusion of our final game last year, I handed George McCloud his pink slip.  I know that this sounds weak on my part but Mac has always been a sad reminder for me of one of the worst trades in SABL history.  A few years back, I traded Jamal Mashburn to the St. Lucie Aces for Mac, an aging Ricky Pierce, and an unproductive mid-1st round draft pick.  Mac has had some solid games for us but, heck, having Mash right now would be pretty sweet.”

 

“Since we are drafting so high (3rd and 23rd picks) I will need to open up at least one other roster slot.  Hate to think it but Robert Horry could be the odd-man out.  I have come to appreciate his defense and shot blocking; his 3-pt shooting slipped this year however.  Still undecided.”

 

Regarding the upcoming draft:

 

“As I told Commish, Scott Ellis, this year’s pool pales in comparison to last year’s.  Here we are with the 3rd pick and I don’t think that there is as sure a thing as compared to last year’s triumvirate of Elton Brand, Lamar Odom, and Steve Francis.  At this point, my short list (in alphabetical order) looks like this:  Marc Jackson, Kenyon Martin, Darius Miles, Mark Miller, and Morris Peterson.”

 

“While the draft pool might be somewhat weak, I still have hunch that there are some diamonds in the rough.  Heck, I might even give some thought to trading Joe Smith for a mid-1st round pick.”

Regular season to start in November this year!!!!

We had another great season last year, but I think all of us would like to have a bit more breathing space, so we're adding an extra month to the SABL schedule. Just like the pros in the NBA, we'll start playing in November.

Who's trading?

I have now adjusted our rosters to reflect next season, which will start in NOVEMBER this year, a month earlier than we are used to:

3. Finney trades Holcomb's 1st pick and R. Strickland to Holcomb for Finney's 1st pick and C. Atkins.

2. Finney trades Posey, it's first pick and Garden City's first pick to Holcomb for R. Lewis & B. Barry.

1. Finney trades Ratliff, Oakley & Best to Holcomb for Oljauwon, Amechi & Posey & Garden City's 1st pick.

Dues, dues, dues, dues - I'm always dunning you for dues

Wanna know why? Well, why not? We have the best national Strat basketball league in existence, we've had back-to-back successful seasons and we have loads of drafting, trading and playing fun! Who could ask for anything more?

Returning SABL coaches don't have to get their $20 dues checks into my hands until Sept. 1,  but why not take a couple minutes now, make out that check to your favorite charity - er - I mean commissioner, and get it over with. You'll be glad you did.

Get those votes for 2001 SABL Coach Of The Year in!

When you send me your All-Star votes, also send me your choice for SABL Coach Of The Year. Last year, Brooklyn Coach Steve Feldheim won our first Coach Of The Year honor. Who will win this year? Votes are due by July 1.

Also time to pick your 2000-2001 SABL All-Stars!

Yes, it's that time again for all our SABL coaches to place their votes for our annual All-Star Games. Pick what you feel are the top 2 players at every position in the Royal Conference (East and North Divisions) and the top 2 players in the Classic Conference (South and West Divisions). Votes are due July 1. Vote for two people in each conference at Point Guard, Guard, Small Forward, Power Forward and Center. Vote in both conferences, not just your own.

Continuing an SABL tradition, I anticipate those Amazing Feeneys will again be playing this year's best-of-seven All-Star Series (no wimpy single game like in real-life!), once I forward the voting results and rosters on to them.

Akron Blimps fire their coach
Blimp owner Dave Scott relates this tale:

The Akron Blimps today announced the dismissal and public humiliation of coach Bobby "Buckets" Borchart. Borchart was tied up in the middle of Polymer Plaza and forced to watch as his trademark bowling shoes and shirt were donated to the Akron Zoological Park. Blimps owner Dave Scott had hoped that the shirt would be given to the zoo's guerilla, but he was dismayed to learn the zoo does not have a guerilla. It does have an old hound that was last seen burying the shoes next to the raccoon habitat.

Borchart came to the Blimps five years ago with a reputation for instilling a chaotic and aggressive style of play designed to take advantage of the home court. He lived up to this reputation brilliantly, improving the home record of 19 of the SABL's 20 teams. Perhaps his biggest moment came late last season when the St. Lucie Aces fans gave him a standing ovation as he was introduced before his final game on the Ace's court. That same crowd
booed with great vigor when Borchart was ejected from the game for spilling taco cheese on the court. It seems the Aces fans were concerned that the Blimps might come to life when directed by the assistant coach, a Commodore 64 computer.

Normally generous with his time for the media, Borchart was understandable upset following his dismissal.

 "Get that microphone out of my face," he said after the announcement. "I have a tee time in 20 minutes."

Asked why Borchart was allowed to continue with such a poor record, Blimps God-For-Life Dave Scott said, "At first I blamed myself for the teams failures, but then I came to my senses and found a scapegoat. Borchart
asked for a $50 raise, so I gave him the old heave ho!"

Among possible Borchart replacements are:
WILT CHAMBERLAIN, Hall of Fame center.

 "I was just talking to Wilt the other day, and although he seemed a bit subdued and sullen, I'm sure he
could bring more life to the team that Borchart."

ZYDRUNUS ILGAUSKAS, erstwhile center and podiatry patient.

"I'm already paying him a lot of money to sit on the bench, he might as well coach," said Scott.

CHARLES BARKLEY, once and future blimp/Blimp.

"Charley is rounding out as a fan favorite who has the physical presence and well-rounded experience we need," said Scott. "He's a heavyweight candidate."

SAMIR GIBARRA, Goodyear CEO.

"He has the management skills needed to bring any blimp down to earth."

Split at St. Lou: Asians descend on Aces
The 2001 SABL World Championships are underway and it's shaping up to be a classic series as Paul Bennett's East Asia Dragons, repeat Royal Conference winners, split the first two games at St. Lucie vs. the only team in league history to reach the SABL Finals four times, the two-time SABL champion Aces, coached by Commissioner Scott Ellis.
 
Game 1: Aces 114, Dragons 83
 
As lopsided as that 32-point victory margin was, it was actually a lot worse for East Asia than that score indicates. The Aces led by as much as 46 points at 10:47 in the fourth quarter until the Dragons mustered some pride to outscore St. Lucie 32-30 in that quarter. Until then, the Dragons' best quarter point total was in the third period, when they scored just 19 points. The Dragons shot about 33-34 percent from the field throughout the game, until the fourth, when they upped their scoring substantially.For the game, East Asia ended up shooting a still miserable 41 percent FG. They also committed 28 turnovers to St. Lucie's 17 and were outrebounded 44 to 32 and out-assisted 33 to 22.
 
The Aces shot 75% from the foul line (27 of 36), but the Dragons flamed out there, making only 9 of 16. Eddie Jones led the Dragons with 25 points while St. Lucie's Gary Payton scored 32 with 9 rebounds and 6 assists. Sudden Sam Cassell dished 12 assists to go with 23 points and Chris Webber scored 18 with 11 rebounds. Shaquille O'Neal had 14 boards.
  
Game 2: Dragons 112, Aces 106
 
East Asia came back strong in this one, leading almost the entire game and completely dominating the Aces on the boards, with 56 rebounds compared to St. Lucie's 32. That probably was the difference in this one.
 
Eddie Jones again led East Asia with 28 points and ex-Ace David Robinson hurt his old pals with 21 points and a big 5 blocked shots. Grant Hill scored 26 points with 8 assists and Shaq scored 25. Sam Cassell had 12 assists. 
 
Now the scene shifts across the Pacific Ocean to the beautiful Thailand tropics and East Asia for more SABL Finals excitement in Games 3, 4 & 5. Stay tuned!

East Asia is 2001 SABL Royal Conference Champs
Here's the report from victorious Dragon Coach Paul Bennett, who has now captured his second conference championship in a row by winning Games 6 & 7 in Thailand:

"East Asia barely held of a great challenge from the visiting Miles Bulldogs here in Chiang Mai.

 
Game 1 saw Eddie Jones lead the Dragons with 36 in what turned out to be a battle betwreen Jones and former teammate Antoine Walker. Walker led the 'Dogs with 25 and proved to be a pest all day long but it wasn't enough as Miles fell 98-89. Asia's rebounding advantage was enough to offset 24 turnovers and 7 Mutombo blocks. The Admiral had 16 pts., 12 rebs. and 3 blocks in his battle with Dikembe.
 
Game 2 saw Asia come from behind in a 120-116 win. Walker scored 30 with 12 rebs and 5 dishs and led Miles into the locker room at the half with a 55-54 lead. However Asia outscored Miles 39-35 in the third in one of the most exciting quarters played in Chiang Mai. Jones had 27, Robinson 25 (11 in the 4th), Armstrong 16 and 9 assists, but the MVPs were Jerome Williams and Bo Outlaw, who led the final half comeback. Williams finished with 17 (8-9 fgs) and 11 rebs in 28 minutes while Bo had 15 (6-10), 3 blocks, 5 rebs and 3 assists in 22 minutes.
 
The Dragons are eagerly looking forward to the Finals and the chance to take down the best team on paper in the league."

Congratulations to both Miles Bulldogs Coach Tom Jargo and Paul Bennett, whose franchise has now captured a record 6 conference titles in 7 years of SABL competition.