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Thunderbirds: Roster changes a fact of life in D-League
Photo by Michael J. GallegosTribune
Tribune
The T-Birds' John Edwards misses a dunk against Brad Buckman of the Austin Toros. Albuquerque lost 96-88 at home Friday night. Edwards had 14 points and nine rebounds in 20 foul-hampered minutes.
Photo by Michael J. GallegosTribune
Tribune
The Thunderbirds' Chris Rodgers reacts to a foul by Austin's Tory Bell as he drives to the basket. Bell played guard for Albuquerque this season before asking to be released last month because he wasn't playing enough. He scored 27 points and talked a lot of trash as the Toros beat the T-Birds 96-88 Friday night.
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For the P.A. guy, it's simple.
During the dark and dramatized player introductions Friday night at Tingley Coliseum, the anonymous voice barked a few subtle commands at Albuquerque Thunderbirds fans.
Welcome Duane Erwin . . . Welcome Chris Rodgers . . . Welcome Wesley Wilson.
There, he blended in the newest T-Birds. Easy.
Inside the ever-changing world of minor league sports leagues, such as the NBADL, the process becomes a bit more complex.
"It's not that our offense is hard," said Albuquerque point guard Tony Bland, who led the T-Birds with 18 points in a 96-88 loss to the lowly Austin Toros. "We just have a lot of plays. It's hard not to get frustrated. I've got to do more than just play. I've got to coach.
"We got three new guys this week. I've got to teach them. But that's what this league is about."
The NBADL is also about player movement.
Guys go from team to team, as former Thunderbirds guard Troy Bell.
Playing for the Toros, Bell dumped a game-high 27 points on his former teammates and, more than once, made sure they knew about it. Bell starred in several playful yet testosterone-fueled exchanges between Albuquerque players and coach Michael Cooper on Friday night.
Unhappy with his playing time, Bell asked Cooper for his release. The coach granted the request on Dec. 27. Three days later, Bell landed in Austin. His name had yet to be stitched to his Toros jersey Friday.
Before bearing the light snow outside Tingley, Bell chatted with several T-Birds and embraced Cooper. Bell smiled the entire time.
"I didn't know these guys for a long time," Bell said of his Albuquerque teammates. "But they were some of my best friends. I just felt like it was time for me to go."
Sometimes relocation isn't decided by the player.
The NBA's Atlanta Hawks requested Dijon Thompson, the Thunderbirds leading scorer and rebounder, join them. He was expected to sign a 10-day contract with the Hawks on Friday. Thompson, who led the T-Birds in scoring in five of their last six games, will replace the recently waived Cedric Bozeman in Atlanta, his former roommate at UCLA.
NBA teams plundered two other top shelf NBADL players Friday, the first day they are allowed to offer 10-day contracts. Expect more to follow.
"It's tough to lose a great player like that," Bland said. "But I'm happy for him."
Cooper said Thompson's move threw the Thunderbirds' chemistry. Bland elaborated, saying Albuquerque needs to rediscover a go-to offensive player.
"I shot about twice as many times as I usually do," said Bland, who averages 6.2 field goal attempts per game and fired 13 Friday.
Several T-Birds stepped into that role Friday - at least temporarily.
Undersized guard Steven Barber ignited an Albuquerque run in the fourth quarter that pulled the Thunderbirds back into the game. Barber finished with 13 points before leaving with an apparent ankle injury late.
Post players John Edwards and Erwin played well early. Edwards notched 14 points and nine rebounds in 20 foul-hampered minutes. Erwin scored just four points, but pulled down 13 rebounds.
Brandon Robinson (13) and Joe Shipp (14) also reached double figures in points.
"We can score," Cooper said. "The problem's on the defensive end. We're just not getting to the right spot."
After a 6-2 start, the suddenly generous Thunderbirds have dropped six of their last seven games. In that stretch Albuquerque has allowed nearly 10 more points per game than it did in the early part of the season. Friday the T-Birds handed the Toros (3-13) their first winning streak of the season.
"When you're playing like this sometimes it just takes one thing to get you out of it," Bland said.
Knowing life in the NBADL, that one thing will likely be a roster move.
