SB Nation - Cheik Samb

Q&A: Ridiculous Upside (Part 2 of 3)

Atma Brother ONE — Wed, 13 May 2009 06:15:10 -0000

If you thought we were ridiculous in Part 1 wait till you see what we've got here.

Atma Brother #1 (Golden State of Mind): In relative terms how good are the teams in the NBDL? Where would they finish in the NCAA tourney?

Ridiculous Scott (Ridiculous Upside): North Carolina was pretty good this season, and I'm not sure the best D-League team could beat them. Not in terms of talent, as there were more talented teams, but it's difficult to get any sort of roster continuity in the D-League, as they only carry 10 players, and thus, if a player isn't doing what he's supposed to be doing, he's going to get cut (this includes injuries as well). If a D-League team was together for three seasons, they'd be head and shoulders above any NCAA Team. The Colorado 14ers, this season's D-League champions, started Josh Davis (52 NBA games), Eddie Gill (187 NBA games) and Billy Thomas (53 NBA games), bringing John Lucas (60 NBA games) and Nuggets Rookie Sonny Weems off the bench. In January, Sean Williams (Nets) and Cheikh Samb were also assigned to Colorado. I would have no qualms taking them all the way in my bracket, though that doesn't mean much, as my wallet would tell you after this seasons Madness that happened in March.

Atma Brother #1 (Golden State of Mind): In your estimation is it better to send a young player who is riding the pine in the Big Leagues (ahem, Patrick O'Bryant) down to the Minors for "development" or keep him practicing with his NBA team? What can young NBA players gain from playing in the NBDL that they can't from practicing with their respective teams?

Ridiculous Scott (Ridiculous Upside): In my opinion, I'd prefer players to play in the D-League rather than riding the pine, and not just so the millions of GSoMer's start to read RU. Getting in NBA practices is great, but toward mid-season, NBA teams aren't regularly practicing, leading to the bench warmers basically turning into donut getters. In the D-League, players can gain confidence and, more importantly, real live playing time. Guys can learn a lot in practice, but executing in game situations is a whole 'nother ball game.

Atma Brother #1 (Golden State of Mind): Which D-League players in particular should NBA junkies be following closely? Who are we foolishly sleeping on right now? More specifically the biggest weaknesses on the 2008-2009 Golden State Warriors were passing and defense. Are there any hidden gems in the NBDL that can help the Dubs out in these areas?

Ridiculous Scott (Ridiculous Upside): Actually, the Warriors apparently nearly called-up Othyus Jeffers, who was, in our opinion, the best defensive player in the D-League this season (number 4 here). Other great defenders include, at the SF, Brent Petway (probably best remembered for winning the NCAA dunk contest), F/C Kurt Looby (rookie out of Iowa that averaged 2.5 blocks in 25 minutes per game), SF Renaldo Major (former GSW call-up) and PG Dontell Jefferson, if he isn't re-signed by Charlotte. As far as passing, options include Walker Russell or Jared Jordan. Both are short point guards, which I've learned you guys aren't interested in judging from the comments on my mock draft, but that's about all the D-League has to offer in terms of pure point guards.

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Can you believe we still have some more ridiculous in the pipeline? Don't forget to stop on by Ridiculous Upside for all your 2k9 NBA Draft needs.

Poll

Would Patrick O'Bryant be a much better player if the Warriors didn't send him down the D-League several times?

YES: The Notorious P.O.B. would be a much better player if he wasn't sent down

65 votes

NO: He's a bust, moving on...

365 votes

430 votes | Poll has closed

Happy Birthday Mouhamed Sene!

Seth — Tue, 12 May 2009 14:50:10 -0000

More photos » by Frank Franklin II - AP

The bestest birthday boy. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Browse more photos »

Knick legend Mouhamed Sene turns the big 2-3 today, and we'd be foolish not to pay our regards. P&T wishes Mouhamed the happiest of B-days. Sene's seven-day, single-game Knick career was full of highs and lows, but on this special occasion, let's celebrate the best of times. It seems like just yesterday that he was a bubbly 22 year-old, gleefully rejecting Net scrubs with his forearms. We'll never forget the improbable and-one, the triumphant fist pump, or the animated argument with Dick Bavetta that we desperately wish we had tape of. One game, so many memories. Today, we party in the name of Sene.

My birthday present for "Mou" is a Ben Wallace inflatable defender, only with his face and name on it! What's yours?

Also, this is kind of awkward, but please don't tell Cheikh Samb about the party. There's only room for one ten-day terror. Sorry, Cheikh.

The 2008-2009 Colorado 14ers: A Look Back

Jon L — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 15:34:55 -0000

Drafting Trey Gilder was just one reason why the 14ers won the championship.

View full size photo »

Now that they've won the championship, I thought I'd take a look back at Colorado's season. Consider it an internet version of those Sports Illustrated videos that come out for whomever wins the Super Bowl. We'll start with the draft, then go month-to-month, highlighting key performances that helped the 14ers achieve victory.

The Draft

Colorado's draft was...top-heavy. Their first pick (second overall) was James Mays, a 6-9 forward from Clemson who had originally been drafteed by the Denver Nuggets. Mays started 12 games for the 14ers, averaging just under 19 points a game on 46 percent shooting, with eight and a half rebounds, two assists, two steals and a block in 33 and a half minutes. He tore his ACL in early January, though, and was out for the rest of the year. They followed that up with Trey Gilder in the second round and Dominique Coleman in the fourth, but those are really their only other draftees of note. Unless you're a big fan of Marlon Palmer, John Gilchrist or David Godbold, I suppose. Of course, almost none of the players available in, say, the ninth round of the D-League draft are good bets to be on a roster at the end of the season. Still, players they passed over at one point or another include Kurt Looby, Othyus Jeffers and David Noel.

Retrospective Draft Grade: B+; It's hard to argue with picking up two starters and a guy who probably would've been a sixth man on any other team in the first four rounds. Coleman and Gilder in particular had key roles in Colorado's championship run, which is discussed after the jump.

November/December

The 14ers got off to a good start, going 8-4 in the first month (plus three days) of the season. During that stretch they played Albuquerque in a home and home, Rio Grande Valley twice and Tulsa three times. Standout performances from this period include Mays, who had 27 points on 19 shots, 11 rebounds and six steals against Albuquerque and 37 points on 19 shots and 11 rebounds against RGV; Dominique Coleman, who in the second game had 20 points on 14 shots, 10 rebounds, six assists and six steals; and Eddie Gill, who had 23 points on 12 shots, 10 assists, seven rebounds and two blocks against Sioux Falls Mays tore his ACL eight and a half minutes into the December 30 game against Fort Wayne, and wouldn't play again this season.

January

A new year, same result; the 14ers went 8-4 again in January. They spent a fair amount of time in Texas, facing the Toros three times (twice in Austin) and Rio Grande Valley three more times, all in Hidalgo. Notable performances include Cheik Samb, with 21 points on 12 shots, 10 rebounds and four blocks against Tulsa; forward/center Sean Williams, who had 16 points, 16 rebounds, six blocks and six assists against Austin; and Gill again with 20 points on six shots (he had a lot of free throws), 14 assists and six rebounds against Rio Grande Valley.

February

Colorado only played seven games in February, going 4-3 while playing Austin two more times. Vernon Hamilton saw some starts here, and while he provided some solid rebounding, he's not a very efficient scorer. Notable 14ers performances included Billy Thomas, who scored 24 points on 13 shots against Bakersfield and 30 points on 18 shots with six rebounds, seven assists and seven steals against Iowa; and Trey Gilder, who had 23 points on 15 shots and nine rebounds against Los Angeles and 19 points on 12 shots against Sioux Falls, all off the bench.

March

This is where Colorado really started to heat up, going 11-2 over the month of March. Austin was the league and division leader when the month started, but not when it ended. The 14ers played almost everyone in the league this month, playing 11 different teams. Notable player performances included Dominique Coleman, who scored 24 points on 18 shots with nine rebounds and eight assists against Dakota; Josh Davis, who had 29 points on 16 shots with seven rebounds against Austin; and Eddie Gill again, who had 12 points on seven shots and 12 assists against Idaho.

April (regular season)

Colorado finished the regular season 3-3 in April, including getting blown out in each of the last two games. Trey Gilder had a fantastic month, with 32 points on 19 shots and 12 rebounds and 26 points on 14 shots and 10 rebounds in back to back games against Albuquerque, and 25 points on 20 shots and 10 rebounds against Reno. Other standout games included Eddie Gill (he seems to have one big game a month) with 23 points on 15 shots, seven assists and only one turnover against Tulsa; and John Lucas III, who had 22 points on 13 shots and eight assists in the second Albuquerque game.

Playoffs

Colorado went undefeated in the playoffs (they pretty much had to), defeating Erie, Austin and Utah twice in the finals. They ran away with the game against the BayHawks, led by Josh Davis (33 points on 15 shots, eight rebounds and two blocks) and Dominique Coleman (19 points on 13 shots, 13 rebounds, five assists and five steals). Austin gave them a tougher time, but the 14ers won out behind solid performances by Eddie Gill (23 points on 13 shots and seven assists) and Sonny Weems off the bench (27 points). Colorado began the finals thinking they would cruise to a title, racking up 78 points in the first half of the first game against Utah. The Flash came back to make a game of it, even though the 14ers ultimately won that game, and kept it close in the second game until Colorado pulled away to win the title. Game one honors go to Billy Thomas (27 points on 18 shots and seven rebounds), Josh Davis (25 points on 15 shots and eight rebounds) and Sonny Weems (28 points on 13 shots). Game two standouts were Joe Dabbert (21 points on 10-10 shooting, seven rebounds and five blocks), Davis again (21 points on 7-10 shooting and seven rebounds) and Weems again (25 points, seven assists).

That wraps up Colorado's season. They were a contender pretty much from the start, and Eddie Gill provided some steady performances as players like James Mays, Sean Williams and Cheik Samb came and went. The younger players like Gilder, Weems and Coleman started stepping up as the season went along, giving the 14ers the best bench in the league and helping them win the 2009 D-League championship.

Friday Golden Langurs

Seth — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 19:28:08 -0000

Happy Friday, fellas and females. The Knicks play a basketball game against the Orlando Magic basketball team tonight, but in the meantime let's take a look around the web, shall we?

- Mouhamed Sene will wear the number 18 in what promises to be a long, storied Knick career. The more I think about it, the more I feel slighted by Donnie Walsh for not allowing Sene's tenure to overlap with Cheikh Samb's. Gosh, the things we could've called them. The Senegalese SwaT Team? The Dakar Duo? Sene's not even from Dakar. I'm just really upset.

- In better news, P&T friends The Disciples of Clyde are teaming up with the cats from FreeDarko to form an über-podcast of basketball goodness. If these guys could somehow join forces with Will Smith, I wouldn't ever have to listen to anything else. Is FreeDarko Presents: The Wild Wild Disciples of Clyde Podcast too much of a mouthful?

- Marc Berman sure is tired of Mike D'Antoni and the Knicks. Time to get caught up in life. Know what I'm sayin'?

- John Starks is getting caught up in newfangled break-away pants. See, the old pants had all those spaces between the snaps that let cold air bite your skinny little legs. With Starks and friends' new "Zipways", that problem is eliminated:

"Anyone who has worn tearaway pants in the past has experienced the problems," Starks said. "The biggest problem I've seen is that all the buttons don't snap off, so a guy has to reach down to get them off."

Starks said Zipway pants are also an upgrade because they don't have the air pockets that the standard tearaways do.

"You can definitely wear ours in the winter," Starks said.

I could use a pair of those. They'd really cut down the time between stretching out and blogging.

- Donnie Walsh spent much of the last month or so in Europe checking out the likes of Jorge Garbajosa, Carlos Delfino, and Ricky Rubio (<3<3!!!1). If Walsh is scouting overseas, what the hell is Isiah Thomas doing right now?

- Could Nate's recent struggles doom his Knick future?

- From the "things that may have looked smart in September that probably don't feel so good now" department...the Knicks-Magic game tonight is on national television.

- Wilson Chandler wants you to see Knowing. From his blog:

Anyway, this week, my movie pick is the new Nicolas Cage flick “Knowing”. It’s a really good sci-fi thriller so check it out and let me know what you think.

Anybody down for starting a Wilson Chandler movie club? We'll all get together and see the movies he recommends. So far, we'd have rented Black and White, Starsky and Hutch, and Little Monsters and gone to see a number of other choice flicks. Maybe we could get Wilson to join in some day. I can't imagine anything I'd rather do than watch a Nicolas Cage movie with Wilson Chandler.

That's it for now, y'all. The Magic thread will be up before long. Enjoy your afternoon.

Courtney Sims is a (UPDATE: Very) hot commodity; Knicks calling soon?

Scott Schroeder — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 19:33:56 -0000

According to The Knicks Blog, the New York Knicks have been heavily scouting "shot-blocker" Courtney Sims, who has already played out two 10-days with the Phoenix Suns. If they're looking for a shot blocker though, they should stick with Cheikh Samb. If they want a solid big man with good length, limited but effective post moves, a fadeaway jumper, and great D-League numbers, they should go with Sims. Definitely, go with Sims.

I shot Nick Nurse, Sims' D-League coach, an email this afternoon to see what he thought of Sims. Nurse responded quickly with lots of good things to say:

"Courtney is a very talented scorer and is 6-11... he has tremendous touch and skill with his shooting and moves around the post... continues to develop new ways to score... has a good right hand jump hook, but his turn around is coming and his face up shooting, even out to three, will be very good eventually... if he continues to improve in the next 12 months as much as he did in the last 12, he should be playing in the NBA... has work to do with his running and strength, both of which are better than they look (and better than average), but he needs to get better in these areas."

That said, if Sims plays Tuesday night with the Energy in Bakersfield, I'd be surprised.

This would have been the perfect time to take a look at Patrick Ewing Jr., it'd seem, but after he recently sprained his MCL, that won't be able to happen for probably another two weeks at the earliest.

With Jermareo Davidson now out for the season in Golden State with a stress fracture that requred surgery, I would assume that Golden State could use Sims as well. Both are long and athletic post players who can run the floor, rebound and block shots. Both have a decent touch around the basket and can step out and hit the jumper if needed, although Sims jumper looks much uglier.

I would have actually preferred Sims to be called-up over Davidson earlier this season, and now, Golden State, you have the opportunity to right this wrong. Keep with your love of the D-League. Look how wonderfully Kelenna Azubuike and CJ Watson have worked out, both who dominated the D-League when you called them up!

Since it seems as though the Knicks are thisclose to signing Sims, I'd look for Golden State to take a look at Dwayne Jones or Chris Hunter.

Rod Benson, however would be my pick. Since moving to Reno, the Boom Tho Movement, which originated in Golden State is in full effect. Benson is averaging 15.6 points, 9.1 rebounds and 2.7 blocks in under 32 minutes of action.

Demetris Nichols (Knickels? Knickols?) to Sign 10-day With Knicks

Scott Schroeder — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 03:22:02 -0000

As I'd heard last week after the mass D-League tryouts, Demetris Nichols was the best non-D-League prospect there (Rumor is he never missed a shot at the tryout), but for the time, only Cheikh Samb was going to stick. I've got word tonight from his agent that he is on his way to New York. It sounds like D'Antoni wanted to get the guys he had acquired via trade into some sort of rotation before bringing Nichols aboard, so that issue is apparently figured out..

Nichols is a stud. Syracuse fans know it, Knicks fans love him, and he's even starting to grow on yours truly. Although I wasn't a fan of him in the D-League last year (he stood at the 3-point line and couldn't hit his shots), this year I am a fan (he stands at the 3-point line and hits his shots).

The 6'8" swingman averaged 20 points, five rebounds and shot 44% from 3-point land. Along with being a solid defender and having good size out of the 3-spot, I'm not sure what's not to like. In his last game with the Iowa Energy, he had 20 points, six boards, and five assists.

Rejoice, D-League fans, the NBA does know how to use 10-days!

According to our poll with the call-up rankings, it seems Blake Ahearn is next!

In the League: March 4, 2009

ben.renz — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 11:05:35 -0000

Los Angeles 123, Fort Wayne 116 - If Fort Wayne wants to get out of the bottom of the barrel, losing to teams with a worse record isn't a good start. Granted though, the D-Fenders are the best awful team in the D-League. Joe Crawford is a star and Dwayne Mitchell had a monster game last night with 27 points and 9 rebounds. Brandon Heath is continuing his tear with 25 of his own and 9 dimes to boot. Fort Wayne lost this one by allowing LA to net 43 in the 2nd quarter alone. The lack of Coleman Collins sure didn't help the Ants, and Chris Hunter being held to 21 minutes is a shame. Walker Russell continues impressing however, with 24 points, 14 assists and 7 boards. LA shot 59% in the win and I've come to like this team, and come to dislike the Ants more.
Iowa 100, Sioux Falls 95 - Here we had my game of the night, and I was actually right in guessing the outcome! So I celebrated this morning with some fruit snacks. JamesOn Curry got 26 minutes off the bench in his first game back with the Energy, and boy oh boy was he a non-factor. 8 points, 3 fouls, 2 steals. JamesOff. Courtney Sims sent a message with 18 points, 11 rebounds and 3 blocks. Cheikh Samb to the Knicks? No fellas. Courtney Sims is the better big man. Othyus Jeffers was a beast with 28 points and the little guy grabbed 12 boards while he was at it. Sioux Falls' Kasib Powell had 23 points, 6 rebounds and 4 dimes in the loss and Chris Ellis pulled down 10 boards, but shot an unfortunate 2 for 9 from the field. The Skyforce played good team ball in this one, but were outscored by 10 in the 3rd and never really recovered.
Rio Grande Valley 133, Albuquerque 119 - The Vipes never trailed in this one and Kurt Looby is getting my NOD OF THE NIGHT with his 11 points, 17 rebounds 5 blocks. Loob's got talent. I've been impressed with his play for a long time. Great game from him. Trent Strickland also had a brilliant game for Rio with 27 and 9 boards to add. The Thunderbirds' just couldn't execute in this one despite Keith McLeod's 34 points, but Mark Walters did have a solid individual game with 15 points, 10 boards and 6 robberies. Too bad it wasn't enough. Albuquerque drops a winnable one to the underachieving Vipers. I feel like this has happened before...

Tuesday Andean Mountain Cats

Seth — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 22:23:49 -0000

Evening, folks. The Knicks don't play again until tomorrow, but I thought I'd take you on a quick tour of the internet in the meantime. Strap in.

- Cheikh Samb is a Knick, will wear #25, and practiced today. Click that second link. Is that really the best picture the Daily News could find of him? I think this gaffe should begin a long-term challenge around here. From now on, pictures with Cheikh Samb in the background are gold at Posting and Toasting. The smaller and more peripheral he is, the better.

- Cheek? Chick? Sheek? Anybody? (Update: Alan Hahn says "check". Excellent.)

- Tommy Dee, oddly enough, thinks the Knicks will draft Wayne Brady this June. For a guy that's been around the NBA for a bit, you'd think he'd understand that overwhelmingly harmless actor-comedians don't usually go until at least the early second round.

- Nate Robinson's ankle is bugging him, but I bet he'll play tomorrow against Atlanta.

- I don't know exactly what this means, but Rod Benson was traded to the Reno Bighorns- our D-League affiliate. I would assume this somehow makes the possibility of Boom Tho! in NYC more likely, but I'm not entirely sure. Gotta ask Ridiculous Scott about that one. Fingers crossed.

- In celebration of "Latino Night" (because Al Horford's coming?), the Knicks will wear special "Nueva York" jerseys for tomorrow's game. Cheikh Samb- who played two years in Spain- is going to be very confused. (Update: I'm stupid. This is a league-wide thing.

- Also, D'Antoni should dye his moustache black, wear a wide-brimmed hat, and be Juan Valdez for the night.

That is all. Have a good evening and check back tomorrow for Knicks-Hawks coverage.

Samb's the man?

Seth — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 04:31:50 -0000

I'm not in the business of presenting rumors as if they're fact (hence the "?"), but I have it from a pretty good source that the Knicks made some progress today in filling the open roster spots. That's right, a source.

Word has it New York sent home all of the D-Leaguers brought in to try out (a list of which can be seen here) with the exception of Cheikh Samb. Samb, a rail-thin big man from Senegal, played in a few games for the Nuggets this year. He can block a shot, but hasn't shown much else in a couple NBA stints. It is worth mentioning that all transactions will likely wait until after tomorrow's Stephon Marbury arbitration, and that other non-D-Leaguers (like Quincy Douby) might still be in the running. We'll see what happens. Just thought I'd pass along the information.

Minor Updates

Scott Schroeder — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 22:59:52 -0000

[Note by Ridiculous Scott, 02/18/09 9:18 PM CST ]

UPDATE: Richie Frahm, Jared Jordan, and John Lucas III have all just been added to the D-League. Wow.

Just so everyone knows, I now have one of my three answers I was looking for answered, thanks to the wonderful Joanna Shapiro. Patrick Ewing Jr. missed the dunk contest as he was recovering from an illness. Bobby Jones missed all-star weekend due to some family reasons.

So we've got that settled. Still am working on finding answers as to why no D-League Dream Factory Friday Night is on the internet if Rick Kamla was there or why Nancy Lieberman was put in the box score last night when it should have been Stanley Burrell. Baffles me. Simply baffles me.

In other news, the D-League has been infused with talent as of late. In the last month and a half, 10S guys have come into the D-League with previous NBA experience -- James Lang, Dwayne Jones, John Edwards, Billy Thomas, Steven Hill, Justin Reed, Demetris Nichols, Pops Mensah-Bonsu, Kevin Burleson, Herbert Hill and Jawad Williams have all popped up around the D-League. That's not including other NBA prospects like Rod Benson, Taj McCullough, Gerry McNamara, Longar Longar and Kevin Kruger.

I also wonder if Cheikh Samb or anyone that is a trade casualty ends up in the D-League soon.