The D-League All-Star Game started just about how you’d expect at Richo Coliseum on Saturday. There was a turnover as one side tried to get creative, and because nobody had any interest in getting back in transition defense, it led to a ludicrous dunk the other way. In this case, Ricky Ledo got to do the honors.
Things settled a little from there, but only by All-Star Game standards. There were still an array of transition dunks and, more notably, attempts at highlight plays that resulted in a big play the other way. Ledo was often a major player, proving the most entertaining All-Star on the floor and working at both ends of difficulty outlet passes.
The Western All-Stars leaned on that part of the game more heavily, as the East was more willing to commit turnovers. Where the East made up for it was on the glass and from long-range, at some points grinding the game to a slow on the defensive end. Back the other way, it was on Jimmer Fredette to pull up at-will – it didn’t matter much if the triples dropped.
Fredette also mixed in a few closeout attacks, finishing the first half with a game-high 17 points on 7-of-10 from the floor. He also had four assists ass each side moved the ball extremely well, as these games require. Jordan McRae was the most active distributor, helping make sure 10 different East players scored in the half.
It was 11 scoring for the West, strangely led by Jeff Ayres. Strange, not because he’s not a good player, but because this is an All-Star game and it was weird to see a team running post-ups for Ayres or, on the other end, double-teaming Jordan Bachynski post-ups. In other words, it got weird on the way to a 64-56 halftime lead for the East.
That half saw appearances from Raptors 905ers Ronald Roberts and Scott Suggs, each of whom came off the bench. Suggs missed a pair of jumpers but had a steal and a rebound, while Roberts dished a nice assist to fellow big-man and the whole player rebounding more than him in the D-League, Alex Stephenson. Roberts also hit a corner three – he’s 0-of-2 on threes in his D-League career, and it seems his regretful absence from a Slam Dunk Contest that teammate John Jordan won had him thinking about finding his way into another competition. Range is actually a nice part of Roberts’ game that some sleep on, and while he’s not a 3-point threat, it’s nice for him to get to show that a bit with an All-Star triple.
Suggs earned the start in the second half, hitting a pair of triples in the early stages to help the East stay afloat as the West not only caught up but started to pull away. Vander Blue caught fire for that side, and while Fredette stayed hot, he needed Suggs’ 13 second-half points in support.
With 4:30 to play, the game was tied at 108, following the normal All-Star formula of being sloppy both ways for stretches until players on both sides realize they actually want the win. From there, East and West traded baskets, with Jarnell Stokes factoring in for the East and Brandon Ashley and Vincent Hunter doing work for the West. And, you know, Fredette being Fredette and making you think “well maybe” for the 100th time in the last five years.
Ultimately, Fredette proved too much. Chants of “Jimmer, Jimmer” rained down at Ricoh down the stretch, and he got an “MVP” chant as he iced the game with late free throws, pushing the East up 128-124, where the score would stay. Fredette finished with 35 points, five rebounds, and eight assists, winning the MVP and proving that in the D-League, anything really is possible.
Game Notes
*I’ve become a huge Raphiael Putney fan over the course of the season. The Rockets might have something with him in Rio Grande Valley. He has a rare mix of shooting and rim protection and he can really sing some Drake.
*I was high on Cady LaLanne as a late-second-round development project at draft time last year and continue to believe there’s something there.
*Quinn Cook seems like the most popular guy in the D-League. He threw alley-oops for two players in the Dunk Contest, got the best reaction for his on-screen singing at breaks, and dished 12 assists, which makes you friends.
*West coach Ken McDonald got hit with a technical for calling a timeout he didn’t have. In an All-Star game.
*This isn’t the best game for Roberts to get showcased in as an interior big, and it was his first game back after missing time with a hip contusion. He also jammed his finger at one point. That doesn’t mean everyone here isn’t patently aware he’s an NBA talent. Most importantly for the 905’s second half, he’s over that hip issue.
*Shout out to Suggs for a great showing. He finished third in the 3-Point Shootout with a total that’s usually enough to move you on, then shook off a slow first half for a monster second half.
