2009 Preseason Preview

by Matthew Brennan, NBA D-League.com

The 2009 preseason schedule kicks off on Friday and continues for the next six days. Every NBA D-League team will play one game before the games count for real on Friday, November 27. Let's take a look at each match-up that will be taking place in the NBA D-League preseason.

Sioux Falls at Dakota (Friday): The two archrivals will kick off the preseason when they meet on Friday night in Hazelton, North Dakota. The Wizards are returning many of their key performers from last season, while the Skyforce are rebuilding after losing their top three scorers from the 2008-09 squad. This game will feature the debuts of two of the league's new head coaches, with former Clippers assistant Rory White leading Dakota and Tony Fritz coaching his first game for the Skyforce after being elevated from assistant coach. He will look to lead Sioux Falls back to the playoffs after the team missed out last season. While will be under the gun as Dakota has made the playoffs three straight times and won two division title since entering the NBA D-League.

Fort Wayne at Erie (Friday): The BayHawks start their second season after reaching the playoffs in 2008-09, while Fort Wayne is still looking for their first winning season in their third campaign. Mad Ants center Chris Hunter and guard Ron Howard were both in NBA training camps and will return to play for new head coach Joey Meyer. An interesting twist to this game is that the teams executed a trade last week, with NBA veteran Rob Kurz heading to Erie in exchange for forward Alade Aminu, the BayHawks' first-round pick in the 2009 Draft.

Austin at Rio Grande Valley (Saturday): The NBA D-League's Texas representatives square off on Saturday in South Padre Island. The teams may share the same state, but their on-court fortunes have been in contrast over the past two seasons with the Toros racking up 62 regular season wins compared to only 42 victories for the Vipers. This game should feature an intriguing match-up at the center spot, as last season's leading rebounder (Austin's Dwayne Jones) will tangle with last season's blocked shots king (Rio Grande Valley's Kurt Looby). The Vipers also feature the only NBA player currently on assignment in the form of Houston's Joey Dorsey.Chris Finch will make his head coaching debut for the Vipers against Quin Snyder, the reigning NBA D-League Coach of the Year.

Iowa at Tulsa (Saturday): Iowa, last season's central division champions, will travel to Oklahoma to face the 66ers on Saturday afternoon. The Energy return star point guard Curtis Stinson but will be moving on without last season's MVP Courtney Sims or Rookie of the Year Othyus Jeffers. The 66ers are looking to bounce back from a rough season in 2008-09 and will make their debut under the leadership of former Sioux Falls head coach Nate Tibbets. The big story in this game will be the 66ers debut of high school star Latavious Williams, who is looking to use his season in Tulsa as a springboard to next June's NBA Draft.

Springfield at Maine (Monday): The NBA D-League's newest teams (and natural geographic rivals) meet for the first in what should be many contests. This game will showcase an excellent match-up at the guard spot between NBA-experienced players in Maine's Billy Thomas and Springfield's JamesOn Curry. Maine's Austin Ainge, the youngest coach in NBA D-League history, and Springfield's Dee Brown will also make their head coaching debuts.

Utah at Idaho (Monday): These two teams battled down to the wire in last season's West Division race, but enter this season as a pair of contrasts. The Flash return a good number of key players from last season and head coach Brad Jones, while Idaho brings in new head coach Bob MacKinnon as well as a host of new faces on the court. Each team features a player who spent plenty of time in the NBA this season, with Dontell Jefferson returning to spark Utah's offense while the Stampede welcome center Anthony Tolliver to the squad after a post-Draft trade.

Reno at Bakersfield (Tuesday): The Bighorns kick off their second NBA D-League season on Tuesday when they travel to Bakersfield to meet the Jam. Bakersfield made the playoffs last season but is starting over with new head coach Will Voight and almost a completely new roster. They have an intriguing player to follow this season in forward Amara Sy, who is the highest drafted foreign player in NBA D-League history. A veteran of top European leagues, the French Sy was the fourth overall choice in the 2009 Draft. Reno brings some of the top players in NBA D-League history into the 2008-09 season in guard Desmon Farmer and center Rod Benson. Farmer is the fifth leading all-time scorer in NBA D-League history while Benson is third in career rebounds.

Los Angeles at Albuquerque (Wednesday): The D-Fenders face Albuquerque next Wednesday in the final preseason game of the schedule. Both teams are looking to bounce back into contention after missing the playoffs last season. This game will see the first and third players taken in the 2009 Draft in action, as first overall pick Carlos Powell makes his debut for the Thunderbirds while third choice Deron Washington will be in action for the D-Fenders. Former New York Knicks call-up Joe Crawford should also be in the lineup for the D-Fenders after being one of the NBA D-League's top scorers in 2008-09. NBA veteran player Chucky Brown will be making his head coaching debut for Los Angeles as the Lakers' minor-league affiliate enters their fourth season.