The former Tulsa 66er Ramon Sessions is going to be an influential piece to the Lakers postseason puzzle if they plan on moving past Oklahoma City in the second round of these NBA playoffs. Session was shutdown to put it lightly in game 1, shooting just 1-7 from the field, notching 2 points and dishing out only 3 assists in the Lakers’ embarrassing loss. When you are assigned to Russel Westbrook it is understandable that you might struggle defensively, but that shouldn’t disturb your play as a facilitator and third or fourth option in the Lakers offense to point where you are a complete non factor.

Perhaps Sessions can draw from his D-League days where he dominated fools. Sessions was the first player assigned to the NBA Development League in the 2007-2008 season and averaged 30.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 5.0 assists. Sessions won Performer of the Week honors twice in that season, and would ultimately be called up by the Milwaukee Bucks and prove himself. Sessions doesn’t have to put up 30 points against the Thunder, but his play needs to be elevated for the Lakers to have any shot in this series.

On the season thus far, Sessions is averaging 11.3 points, 5.5 assists, and 3.3 rebounds per contest. Those are numbers that we all know Sessions is capable of posting. After Steve Blake’s clutch shooting performance in the Lakers game 7 with Denver, a little more pressure has been put on Sessions to make his minutes count. It was clear that L.A. cannot hang with Oklahoma’s speedsters, so they will need to slow the game down and make the Thunder beat them in the half court. Naturally this does not fit Sessions’ strength which is his transition game, but the time is now for Sessions to grow his game and impact this series in a positive manner.

Kobe, Pau, and Bynum will need Sessions to provide that spark along with the smarts that he displayed earlier in the season when it seemed he had finally gelled with the Lakers big three. If Session cannot find that game that certainly lies within him, then the Lakers maybe be seeing brooms in the stands very soon.

A lot is being asked from the two time NBA D-League player Devin Ebanks. Once Metta World Peace elbowed his way out of the Lakers lineup, the starting small forward playoff duties were passed on to Ebanks. Ebanks started the Lakers first and second game in their Denver Nuggets first round series scoring 12 points and grabbing 5 rebounds in his first appearance. With the suspension of Metta World Peace, the Lakers will look to call on Ebanks. Whether it be off the bench, or in the starting unit, Ebanks will provide solid production offensively and more importantly defensively.

Devin Ebanks played this season for the NBADL’s head coach of the year Eric Musselman’s Los Angeles D-Fenders for three games. In those three games Ebanks averaged 17 points  7 rebounds and the D-Fenders were 3-0. Two of those wins came against this year’s NBA D-League champions the Austin Toros. However, along with Ebanks the D-Fenders also had Gerald Green in that two game series with Austin. Both players have proved their games can transfer from the D-League to the Association almost seamlessly. Ebanks final D-League game this season came against the Idaho Stampede in which he posted his highest point total 23 points and grabbed 9 rebounds, which must of been enough for Mitch Kupchak to see in order for the call back up to the Lakers.

Ebanks has the size and game to be successful at the small forward position in the NBA, he shined during his time at West Virginia and Lakers head coach Mike Brown has seemed to have a special liking toward Ebanks, choosing to start him over Matt Barnes often. Even when Metta World Peace re-enters the Lakers rotation, Ebanks will still be an integral part to their playoff roster adding depth at the position. His defensive skills could come in handy especially if they face the length and speed of Oklahoma City.

The Lakers relying on Ebanks as their starter in these playoffs goes to show that the D-League alumni can get it done even on the NBA’s most intense stage. If Ebanks can put together a productive playoff run and help the Lakers get deep into this postseason we may not be seeing the two time NBA D-League vet add another stint to his resume’.

It was fitting to end the D-League season with two teams battling it out as their two rosters and organizations exemplified what the NBA Development League has become, and what it will further develop into. The last two teams standing were of the expanding single affiliate model, where an NBA team owns and operates their very own D-League team i.e. the Los Angeles Lakers-Los Angeles D-Fenders. In a nutshell, the NBADL Finals provided fans a thrilling look at what the D-League product has become.

Both Austin and L.A. had an intermixed bunch of players, some former NBA’ers, some former collegiate standouts, and some just young and raw upcoming talent. Austin’s Justin Dentmon won league MVP honors and played magnificently for the Toros down the stretch ultimately guiding his team to the championship. Dentmon was also called up during the season, spending a brief stint in the Association like so many players did this season. Dentmon is a classic D-League star, often thought as undersized and having ball control issues, Dentmon used this season in the D-League to improve his game and show that he indeed is an NBA caliber talent. It is stories such as Dentmon’s that makes the D-League so fun to watch, we were literally watching future difference makers in the NBA  earn their stripes in the small, yet excitable arenas across the country.

These two teams also had recognizable former NBA names on their rosters as well in this year’s final series. For the D-Fenders, it was Kareem Rush. Rush had a notable run with the D-Fenders NBA affiliate the Los Angeles Lakers in which he logged some NBA playoff minutes with Shaquille O’neal and Kobe Bryant. Rush is in the twilight stage of his basketball career, but proved valuable in the D-Fenders postseason run. Rush has always had a knack for the three ball and from the looks of his minutes with the D-Fenders that skill has not left him. For the Toros, they had another recognizable long range specialist in Ronald “Flip” Murray. Between the two (Rush/Murray) they played 833 games in the NBA and surely they were able to share their experiences with their teammates for their respective D-League teams.

These two teams proved that the winning formula in the D-League is in balancing a combination of players young and old, while coaching with what you have. Both coaches Eric Musselman and Brad Jones did a fantastic job of adjusting to their roster changes throughout their season while piling up W’s. These two franchises should be the model for the other D-League franchises to build off of, as they were able to show that the NBA Development League is just beginning to come into it’s own.

Earlier this season when Linsanity was still a thing, and “D-League” was seemingly trending on Twitter nightly, nationally syndicated radio host Jim Rome interviewed Los Angeles D-Fenders head coach Eric Musselman to discuss his team, the Jeremy Lin phenomena, and what it is like to coach in the D-League. What Musselman may, or may not of known, is that the legendary “Jungle Karma” from getting interviewed on Rome’s radio program (The Jungle), would follow him and his team the rest of this season. Sure you can attribute Musselman and the D-Fenders success to outstanding game planning, near flawless roster rotations, and limitless player talent, but it is hard to explain the D-Fenders record breaking winning season without mentioning the “Jungle Karma” being a significant factor.

February 17, the date Musselman’s interview aired, the D-Fenders had won 6 games in a row and sat atop the D-League standings. Before the interview focused on what at the time was known as the Jeremy Lin phenomena, Musselman discussed what it was like to coach in the D-League. Musselman rapped about the hardships of coaching in the league where one must balance player development along with winning as a team. “Everybody wants to win, that’s why they keep the scoreboard”, said Musselman when asked to talk about this particular challenge unique to the NBA Development League. If John Calipari has mastered coaching with the “one and done” system, Musselman has mastered coaching with the current D-League system. L.A. recorded a crazy amount of call-ups from their squad this year, and also a good amount of assignments to help keep Musselman on his toes. There had to come a point in the season where not even Musselman could name his entire roster before entering a game on a given night.

The 2-game set after Musselman’s Jungle visit pitted his D-Fenders against the Austin Toros, the team which now stands between him and a D-League Championship. The D-Fenders capitalized on the karma then winning what would be their only two meetings with the Toros, 109-94 and 102-98. The D-Fenders have dropped only 2-contests in their last 19-games, including this postseason where they are 4-0 entering tonight’s game. Both their loses in that stretch came on the road (at Idaho, at Bakersfield) and the D-Fenders will open their championship quest on the road in Austin.

Despite all of the roster fluctuations that the D-Fenders have undergone this year, they still have some excellent players looking to help guide the team to the title. Malcolm Thomas, Orien Greene, Mardy Collins and Elijah Millsap have shined as of late for the D-Fenders, and they will need to continue to play well in order to achieve victory over a very stout Austin Toros bunch. Millsap has played particularly well, averaging 23.3 points in the 4-playoff games thus far.

Can the “Jungle Karma” carry Musselman and the D’s one more series, and cap off what has become a very memorable season? We will just have to wait and see.

When the D-Fenders and Jam square off Thursday, April 19 for game 1 of their semifinal match-up, it will be the ninth time the two squads have tangled in the 2011-2012 D-League season. Splitting their season series 4-4, this three game set will be the deciding factor of who deserves Southern California D-League bragging rights. The Jam have proven to be the D-Fenders’ ultimate foe this season defeating them 4-times in the regular the season, the Idaho Stampede were the only other team to get near that mark with three wins coming against the D-League’s record winning squad. Both teams enter Game 1 at the Jam Events Center taking the first two games of their respective first round series, and they will need two more wins to propel them into the Championship round to cap off their well established competitive rivalry.

The D-Fenders should come as no surprise at arriving in the semifinal of the D-League playoffs. They took down last year’s champs, the Iowa Energy 114-103, and 94-92. The D-Fenders are without Jamario Moon who added a nice boost to Eric Musselman’s squad late this season, Moon was called up to the Charlotte Bobcats. Moon was enjoying a nice run with the D-Fenders averaging 17.7 points. L.A. will now have to rely on their latest group of stat sheet stuffers, Malcolm Thomas, Elijah Millsap, Orien Greene, and Mardy Collins. L.A. will be the favorite in this one-seed vs. sixth-seed match-up, but they will have to earn every bucket.

Bakersfield enters game 1 with reasonable confidence knowing that they’ve split the season series with L.A. Trey Johnson and Brian Butch were the Jam’s standouts in their last contest which wrapped up their series against the Dakota Wizards. Johnson had a game-high 24 points while pulling down 5 rebounds and Butch added 12 points to go along with 17 rebounds. The Jam will need these two to keep playing at a high level to compete with the sheer talent that the D-Fenders have, and if they can steal that ever so important game 1 in El Segundo they may just be able to pull off the upset.

Not to get all David vs. Goliath on you, but the Bakersfield Jam remain one of the D-League’s non-NBA team owned or operated franchises whereas the D-Fenders are. There have been arguments as to which ownership model can better suit a franchise, and which method ultimately lends itself to a more successful product both on the court and off. However, judging by both team’s home court venues you would not be able to guess which is which. Both play in very intimate settings, but both home courts will boast an intense feel to what has become a very fierce rivalry. This series should provide plenty of playoff drama, and plenty of passion fueled basketball. Enjoy.

The Los Angeles D-Fenders will open the first round of their playoff quest against the opponent of their choice, and in the luxury of their home court in El Segundo, California. The odds are in the D-Fenders favor to roll through the competition and cap off their incredible  season with a D-League championship. However, there may be a team that can knock off the D-Fenders, as they say, the season starts over once the playoffs begin, as the 38 wins that L.A. amounted during the regular season suddenly will disappear and be forgotten. Those 38 wins did help L.A. secure home court advantage throughout the playoffs where the D-Fenders have enjoyed success, posting a 21-4 record, their last loss dating all the way back to January against Bakersfield.

So out of the other 7 teams competing for the D-League championship whom stands a chance to knock off undoubtedly the league’s best team? Could it be Bakersfield? They did beat L.A. 4 times during the regular season splitting their 8 games overall with the D-Fenders. L.A. also dropped a game to the Dakota Wizards in the second game of the season, Dakota will be Bakersfield’s opening opponent so if the D-Fenders get past the Iowa Energy, the awaiting opponent will know that they can beat them.

Looking at the other three teams on L.A.’s side of the bracket, the most likely candidate to take down the D-Fenders is the aforementioned Bakersfield Jam. Even though the last time the Jam knocked off the D’s it was in Bakersfield and they will not have home court this time around, the Jam seem to have the tools to stay with the D’s. Perhaps the short break will help the Jam eliminate the reminder of getting beat by the Idaho Stampede in their final two contests. The Jam will need to play a perfect series to have any chance with the D-Fenders. Bakersfield could provide a speed bump in the D-Fenders trip to the finals, but most likely that is all they will be…a speed bump.

On the other side of the playoff bracket the Springfield Armor and Austin Toros seem like possible candidates to snatch the D-League crown from the D’s. Going strictly off their body of work it is difficult to judge how a series between L.A. and Austin would go. They played each other only twice during the regular season, both times it was the D-Fenders who came out victorious. The Toros have been a solid club all season long and perhaps the late addition of NBA veteran Ronald “Flip” Murray can help the Toros combat the NBA knowledge and experience the D’s have. It would be a drag out contest if these two lock up in the finals, but the D-Fenders would seem to be too much for Austin to handle.

Going chalk with it, the last seemingly hurdle for the D-Fenders would have to be the Springfield Armor. Springfield went 7-3 in their last 10 games and won 2-straight entering the postseason. If there is a roster as stacked as the D’s it is in Springfield. A series between these two starting fives would be a treat for D-League fans as there are some serious ballers on both sides. These two teams met at the D-League Showcase and the D-Fenders cruised to a 15-point win. Many of the same players remain for the Armor from that contest, but L.A. has quite a different lineup than what they rolled out with in Reno. This match-up would be  Heat vs. Thunder in terms of a dream D-League match-up for fans. Despite the likely stiff competition the D-Fenders will receive, they have done nothing to prove otherwise that they will be the last team standing and crowned D-League champs.

The “one-and-done” rule may not be what traditionalists of collegiate basketball prefer, in fact many purists despise the rule. However, one thing remains sure, having the one-and-done system in place benefits the NBA Development League. Would a two-and-done rule benefit the D-League still? How about all four years-and-done? Now more than ever NBA teams are using their D-League affiliated teams as sort of a training grounds, assigning youngsters who need a bit more polishing before they play night in and night out in the Association. The one-and-done rule disallows players to jump immediately from high school to the NBA, which had been the system before the 2005 NBA season. Frankly, with the D-League establishing firm roots as the NBA’s minor league system, any (insert number)-and-done system would continue to benefit the D-League.

The D-League continues to build it’s reputation as a place stock full of NBA worthy players working on their games to either get back at the level they had once reached, or prove that they are capable running with NBA caliber players on a nightly basis. This would remain the D-League’s spot in basketball’s overall landscape regardless of what stipulations college basketball, or the NBA puts in place on mandating any certain time frames for players to stay in the college ranks. Whether a player has spent 4-years with the same university, playing in the same conference, that player still will lack any experience of what it is actually like to play at the NBA-level. Sure their maturity level may be higher, perhaps even a bit more developed physically, but from a basketball standpoint their game is still raw and unexposed stepping from their college gym to entering an NBA arena.

The D-League is in a great position no matter what college basketball and the NBA decide upon. Even the crazy talent that Coach John Calipari is churning out of Kentucky may ultimately need a few games in the D-League. It really isn’t a far fetched idea.

Players themselves are not the ones’ who would benefit from a longer college stay. College teams would benefit. Yes, teams would become tighter, more cohesive, and probably put out a better product. The competitiveness within college basketball would become greater, but the NBA doesn’t care about that. Neither does the D-League. The NBA and the D-League are concerned with players, so regardless of how many minutes a kid has logged for their alma mater, they still haven’t logged a minute that would equate to what they will experience at the NBA level. Thus, no matter if the one-and-done rule stays or changes the D-League will remain an excellent source for players to development their games for the NBA stage.

The race for the top spot in the East Conference of the D-League standings is officially on. It has become a 5-team race with about a hand-full of games remaining on the schedule for each team. Let’s take a look at what is in store for each team, and which team is in the driver seat as we head into the playoffs to end the season in the pole position out of the East.

Canton Charge – The Charge have gone 8-2 in their last 10 games and before they ran into the Springfield Armor, who subsequently is the team nipping at their heels at just a .5 game behind, enjoyed a 7-game win streak. Luke Harangody who is on assignment from the Cleveland Cavaliers, has averaged 19.2 points and 11.2 rebounds per contest and has contributed heavily to the success of the Charge. Looking ahead the Charge have 2 out of their 5 remaining games at home which they’ve posted a 15-8 record. The Charge’s last two games comes against the Erie Bayhawks who are currently 5th in the standings, but only 2.5 games back, and remain part of the discussion if they can muster up a last gasp winning streak. It won’t be easy for Canton, but entering this stretch already atop the standings is an advantage. Prediction: 2nd

Springfield Armor – Springfield enters a home set with Sioux Falls riding a 3-game win streak and suddenly looking to be the favorite to end up number 1 in the Eastern Conference standings when all is said and done. The Armor own the season series with Sioux Falls (2-1), however after their two home games against the Skyforce, the Armor will take their act to the road for their remaining games. The Armor have gone 8-13 on the road thus far this season, so the last 4 games will be hard fought contests if history tells us anything. JamesOn Curry remains the catalyst for this bunch, he nearly achieved a triple-double against Maine and will likely be the one to do all the heavy lifting for the Armor come playoff time…barring a call-up of course. Prediction: 1st

Dakota Wizards – Dakota opens up their final 6-games hosting 4 then finishing the season in Fort Wayne against the Mad Ants whom they’ve gone 1-2 on the season with. The Wizards are 5-5 in their last 10-games, but the emergence of Stefhon Hannah as of late could be the difference for the Wizards to jump up a spot of two for the final playoff seeding. In Hannah’s last three games he has gone for 37, 23, and 24 points. The 37-point effort came against Erie as Dakota smashed the Bayhawks and had no answer for the Missouri product. Their remaining schedule is generous and look for the Wizards to take advantage of it. Prediction: 3rd

Iowa Energy – The reigning D-League champs have hit a bit of a rough patch as they enter the postseason. They have gone 2-8 in their last 10 games and recently dropped one to the Erie Bayhawks on the road by double digits. The final 6-games for the Energy will be three at home and three on the road, three of which will be against teams that they have yet to face in this regular season. A trip to Texas against formidable opponents in the Toros, Legends, and then a Los Angeles rendezvous with the D-Fenders. Perhaps the unfamiliar territory will benefit the Energy and right the ship with positive momentum, as they enter the this season’s postseason stretch. Experience is on their side and that can never be counted against. Prediction: 5th

Erie Bayhawks – The Bayhawks have 5-games remaining and 4 of which will be at home. Out of the 5-teams vying for top spot out of the East, the Bayhawks have the most favorable schedule. It may come down to their home-away set with Canton which will be must see games regardless. The Bayhawks inserted Joey Graham who has averaged 20.3 points and 7.0 rebounds in his 3-game stint thus far for Erie. His front court presence may be exactly what Erie will need for a postseason push. Prediction: 4th

The term “waived” has a different meaning or connotation when it comes to it’s use in the NBA Development League. Around the sporting landscape a player who is “waived” is essentially understood by fans that the player has been cut, at least that seems to be the common perception if you read fan’s reactions on Twitter and message boards. You learn to hate the word “cut” at an early age in sports, and some sooner than others i.e. Myself. Anyone who has had to hear those words from a coach’s mouth can probably remember the conversation word for word, and perhaps every particular detail of that entire day. Getting cut simply meant that you didn’t have what the coach was looking for, or you flat out couldn’t perform at the level of the other players on the court. However, being “waived” and being “cut” are completely different things especially when it comes to the D-League.

Recently, Antoine Walker made Twitter headlines when it became known that the Idaho Stampede had “waived” Walker. After the news had been retweeted and spread across the Twitter landscape, Walker responded with a tweet essentially explaining his situation a bit more in depth. The reason Walker even had to say anything at all, is because being “waived” in the D-League does not carry the same weight as it does other sports. So in an effort to help clear the air on this confusing term that is used almost daily by D-League squads around the league, here is a quick guide you can reference next time you read (insert former NBA player name here) is being “waived” by a certain D-League team.

According to a league source, there are essentially three ways a player can be “waived” in the D-League. There is “waived due to personal reasons”, “waived due to injury”, and “waived”. It is common for team’s to waive a player due to personal reasons. This gives the team a built in reason for the waiving i.e. family reasons or personal matters. By waiving a player due to personal reasons, the team is allowed to keep the player’s rights, so it basically equates to a person taking a personal day from the office.

When a player is “waived due to injury”, this mandates a player cannot play for a certain amount of games, but the team still is able to keep the player’s rights. Pretty self-explanatory, but again a common way a player gets “waived” in the D-League that perhaps can be misconstrued.

Finally, when a team decides to “waive” a player the team is ending their ties with the player, and allowing the player to hit the player pool queue. Team’s who sit in front of the player pool line have first dibs based on an order decided from the draft order in the start of the year. To dive into that, would be like explaining an Italian bottle of wine’s front label…let’s just let it be, shall we? Anyhow, being flat out “waived” is probably the closest equivalent to what is used in the other major sport leagues…to borrow a phrase from Donald Trump, “You’re fired!”

Hopefully this will help provide a little more guidance to an admittedly complicated issue and next time a player is deemed “waived” nobody is quick to write an obituary for the player’s career.

Blake Ahearn made D-League headlines once again this week, not for his usual place atop a Reno Bighorns’  box score in scoring or assists, but for getting waived by the Reno Bighorns. After a double take and further investigation, the D-League’s leading candidate for League MVP was waived for personal reasons as he and his wife await the birth of their first child. Ahearn has been repeatedly mentioned in the D-League’s official Prospect Watch and deservedly so. His season this year in the D-League has all but wrapped up the MVP award honor and here is why.

The numbers…Ahearn leads the D-League in scoring averaging 23.8 points, and also became the NBA D-League’s All-Time Leading Scorer this season. Ahearn’s shooting ability puts him head and shoulders above the rest in the D-League, while his physical stature lends itself to the opposite. If left open, he will drain it, end of story. Ahearn’s ability to knock down free throws is another attribute that simply cannot be matched elsewhere in the D-League. Ahearn holds the record for consecutive free throws as he made 99 in a row earlier in the season. Ahearn’s constant trips to the line intermixed with a combination of hard driving lay-ups and the capability to knock down a jumper from anywhere on the court all contribute to Ahearn’s solid scoring average.

Ahearn’s is averaging 5.1 assists per game, and totaled 187 thus far on the season, ranking him 8th out of the D-League’s top passers. Ahearn has a fantastic ability to drive and dish. His shiftiness in the lane leads to many of his assists, as he can effortlessly wrap a pass around a defender and set up an easy deuce for a teammate.

With a +20.81 efficiency per game rating, Ahearn rates amongst the league’s best in the respective category. Any fan who witnesses Ahearn running point for the Bighorns can tell you that when Blake Ahearn is on the floor, great things seem to happen. Whatever the called upon task may be, Ahearn usually answers emphatically, and you guessed it…effectively.

Adding a D-League MVP trophy to his mantle would mesh nicely with his D-League Rookie of the Year honor he received from the 2007-2008 season. As we all know the feng shui of a trophy case is highly important. The former Missouri State Bear polished his skills while playing in the Missouri Valley Conference achieving first team all-MVC  honors in consecutive years (2006 and 2007). Soon after, Ahearn would be initiating his dominate D-League career averaging 19 points in his rookie campaign.

Ahearn has come a long way from his college days, and would be a nice addition for an NBA team searching for depth at the guard position. The hang-up reportedly is his size and speed. Maybe Ahearn winning the D-League MVP honors would finally get him past those doubts in NBA scout’s minds? The likelihood of Ahearn winning the MVP is extremely high, and perhaps that could catapult him back onto a team’s roster in the NBA where he deserves to be.