| NEXT 5 HOME GAMES |
| Fri. |
3/16 |
Albuquerque |
3:30pm |
| Sun. |
3/18 |
Fort Worth |
1:00pm |
| Sun. |
3/25 |
Bakersfield |
2:30pm |
| Tue. |
3/27 |
Fort Worth |
3:30pm |
| Fri. |
3/30 |
Idaho |
3:30pm |
| STAT OF THE WEEK |
| 21 points, 13 rebounds |
| D-Fenders center Wesley Wilson went 10-15 from the field for a career-high 21 points in a 99-89 victory over the Anaheim Arsenal on March 2nd. Wilson also pulled-down a career-high 13 rebounds in his 25 minutes of play. |
| QUOTE OF THE WEEK |
"We anticipate it becoming a definite advantage in years ahead. More importantly, we have coaches running the triangle offense. If we send a guy down, we can tell the coach to play him 40 minutes a game and run our offense. So I think every team should consider it, because it could become a useful teaching tool."
- Lakers/D-Fenders General Manager Mitch Kupchak, on the Lakers owning a D-League team |
| TEAM LEADERS |
| PPG |
Sean Banks |
19.6 |
| APG |
Brian Chase |
3.8 |
| RPG |
Andre Patterson |
7.9 |
| BY THE NUMBERS |
| 1.7 Forward Andre Patterson's average number of blocks per game. Patterson ranks second in the league in this category. He has recorded a game-high 6 blocks twice so far this season. |
| 345 The number of steals the D-Fenders have recorded this season through the first 39 games. Los Angeles ranks second in the league in this category and averages 8.8 per contest. |
| 5 Consecutive home games won at STAPLES Center. Los Angeles has not dropped a game at home since the loss to the Colorado 14ers on January 26th. |
| MARCH BIRTHDAYS |
 |
| Jackie Manuel |
29th |
| D-FENDERS FACTS |
| Los Angeles has 11 games remaining on the regular season schedule, 8 of which will be played on their home court at STAPLES Center. |
| D-Fenders guard Daniel Horton was named to the 2002 McDonald's High School All-American team. Horton played for the west squad at Madison Square Garden in New York City. |
| PAST EDITIONS OF OFF THE DRIBBLE |
| See past editions of "D-Fenders Off the Dribble" by checking out the D-Fenders Fan Zone at www.d-fenders.com |
|
| D-Fenders Eye NCAA Tournament |
|
Seven of the ten D-Fenders players have participated in the NCAA tournament during their college careers. Their overall tournament record is a solid 17-10. Center Wesley Wilson and forward Andre Patterson made it as far as the regional semi-finals, but guard Jackie Manuel surpassed each  of his current teammates by reaching the NCAA Championship game in 2005. Manuel and the University of North Carolina took home the title by defeating the Illinois Fighting Illini 75-70.
"Winning the championship didn't really sink in until a couple of months later. Sometimes it still hits me. It was a great experience and definitely a very crazy one. Watching the tournament now gets me excited and I like talking to my current teammates in the locker room about their experiences. I will always remember playing the championship game in St. Louis and taking a team picture under the St. Louis Gateway Arch," said Manuel.
The D-Fenders players will be watching throughout the month to support their schools and ex-teammates. Seven of the ten D-Fenders' alma maters will be represented among the field of 64. |
| Come Early |
|
Get to STAPLES Center early and experience twice the excitement of professional basketball with your Los Angeles D-Fenders playing prior to Lakers home games. Your Lakers ticket is your ticket to watch the D-Fenders. The D-League continues to develop talent from across all disciplines for the NBA's 30 teams and the entire NBA umbrella. There already have been 16 players to receive GATORADE Call-Ups from the D-League to the NBA this season. Nineteen NBA players have been assigned to ten D-League affiliates so far during this season. |
| Chatting with the D-Fenders |
|
#15 SEAN BANKS
 What do your fellow teammates not know about you?
"I have been playing chess since middle school. I played everyday after I first learned the game, but now I mostly play against my uncle. Just like basketball, it takes a lot of concentration and strategy. You have to think 3 to 4 moves ahead. It is a harder game than it looks. You have to read a lot of books and practice on the computer to be really good." |
|
#30 ANDRE EMMETT
 What is your favorite hobby?
"I like shooting pool. I started playing when I was 11 or 12 years old, and I wasn't very good at all. Now I'm a little better. Pool is very competitive and fun. I think of it like basketball – just put the ball in the hole. You have to look at the different angles to get the ball to go in. I still play with friends that I grew up with, but I'll play with whoever wants to play." |
| Upcoming Events: Do Not Miss! |
|
D-Fenders/Lakers Autographed Ball Sweepstakes
Attend the D-Fenders game on Sunday, March 18, at 1:00pm and enter for your chance to win team balls autographed by D-Fenders and Lakers players. Must be 18 years of age or older to enter.
D-Fenders Hotline (310) 426-2140
Call (310) 426-2140 to learn more about free offers to groups of ten or more from the D-Fenders!
Fiesta Lakers
On Sunday, March 25, join the D-Fenders and Lakers in celebrating the Latino community in Los Angeles at Fiesta Lakers in the Los Angeles Convention Center 11am-4pm.
Affiliate Games
Watch the D-Fenders take on their Southern California rivals, the Anaheim Arsenal on Sunday, April 1, and Thursday, April 12. These affiliate games will feature unique uniforms and exciting events to highlight each team's affiliation with the NBA.
Fan Appreciation Night
Don't miss the D-Fenders final home game of the season Thursday, April 12, at 3:30pm where the D-Fenders will honor our devoted fans. |
| What They're Saying...... |
| |
Favorite sports team (non basketball) |
The last movie I saw… |
Favorite pizza toppings |
Batman or Superman |
| Brian Chase,#4 |
San Francisco 49ers |
Norbit |
Sausage |
Batman |
| Wesley Wilson, #28 |
San Francisco 49ers |
I can't remember |
Tomato Sauce |
Superman |
| Chet Mason, #23 |
Ohio State Football |
Saw III |
Pepperoni |
Superman | | |
Third Edition, Mar. 16, 2007
