Toros Update (Week of 1/23/2012)

Toros Continue Sizzling Start

The Austin Toros continued to build on the best start in league history by sweeping the Idaho Stampede on Friday and Saturday for a pair of wins.  Justin Dentmon averaged 23 points per game in this weekend’s games coming off of an NBA D-League Player of the Week nod.

Playoff Push Continues

#1 Austin Toros 18-4

#2 Iowa Energy 16-6

#3 Los Angeles D-Fenders 17-8

#4 Rio Grande Valley Vipers 15-9

#5 Bakersfield Jam 12-10

#6 Tulsa 66ers 12-12

#7 Reno Bighorns 11-12

#8 Springfield Armor 11-12

Squeaky Johnson Coming to Your TV

The Toros parent team, the San Antonio Spurs, will be visiting the New Orleans Hornets tonight on FOX Sports Southwest.  This will be the Spurs first matchup with the team that has Squeaky under roster.  It will air at 7 PM.

What’s up next?

The Toros will travel to Iowa on Friday to play the team currently right behind them in the standings at 7 PM.  The game can be seen online at www.AustinToros.com for free.  Next week, the Toros will host a back to back at the Cedar Park Center.  The Rio Grande Valley Vipers will visit on Tuesday January 31^st at a special time of 11 AM followed by a game the next night on February 1^st at 7:30 PM.

Join us on Tuesday, January 24^th for Trivia Night with the Austin Toros

This Tuesday the 24^th, The Dig Pub in Cedar Park will host “Binge Thinking Trivia Night with the Austin Toros.”  This event will take place at The Dig Pub located at 401 Cypress Creek Rd. from 7-9pm.  Bring your friends, create a team to compete in a game of trivia and be teamed up with a player from the Austin Toros to play with you.  Win prizes and try The Dig Pub’s great line-up of food and beer!

Do you follow the Austin Toros on Facebook and Twitter?

Stay up-to-date on Toros breaking news, score updates and special offers by following the Toros on Facebook (www.facebook.com/austintoros), Twitter (www.twitter.com/austintoros), and Google+ (www.gplus.to/AustinToros). 

Coach Taylor Jenkins radio interview

Listen to Asst. Coach Taylor Jenkins talk Toros basketball to our good friends at 104.9FM the Horn.

Coach Jenkins Interview

Video Highlights

Toros vs. Idaho 1/21 - http://www.nba.com/dleague/video/2012/01/22/HighlightsAUSIDA012112flv-1974075

Toros vs. Idaho 1/20 - http://www.nba.com/dleague/video/2012/01/21/highlightsausida012012flv-1973085

Toros Charge Past Canton 114-97 To Improve to 16-4

(1/18/2012 - Cedar Park, Texas) The Austin Toros improved to 9-1 at the Cedar Park Center and 16-4 overall by defeating the Canton Charge 114-97.  The 16-4 start ties the single best record for an NBA D League team to start out the season.

Toros Coach Brad Jones

"It's really exciting," says Coach Brad Jones after the game on his team's historic start.  "We have a group of really good guys who have bought into what we're trying to do in our system.  We've had a really good start to the season and hopefully it will pay off..."

Da'Sean Butler and NBA Development League Performer of the Week Justin Dentmon lead the way for the Austin Toros, each scoring 21 points. 

Eric Dawson delivered yet another double double (his 11th for the season) with 16 points and 10 rebounds and Leo Lyons added a strong 15 points with 14 boards off the bench.  6 players scored in double figures for the Toros as they shot over 51% from the field and 47% from the 3 point line.

Box Score Courtesy of NBA D League

The defensive intensity was there tonight as well.  After spotting the Charge with a 20-11 lead, the Toros stormed back with a 16-2 run to take control of the game.  Former NBA player Keith McLeod lead the way for the Charge with 12 points in the 1st quarter alone.  But the Toros clamped down after that, holding the Charge to shooting 41% from the field.

"We really have worked hard on being a good defensive team," says Coach Jones.  "We feel like we're a really good offensive transition team and when we are able to get stops... we're really really good in transition."

So what happened early in the game that allowed Canton to get off to such a great start?

"We had talked about the pick and roll coverage we wanted to have on him (McLeod) but we didn't do a very good job of executing it during the early part of the game," states the Coach.  "Then we figured it out and I thought we did an excellent job."

The Toros now catch a 7AM flight to snowy Idaho for a back to back game this Friday and Saturday.  The next home game for the Toros is the 1/31 11am Matinee Game against the Rio Grande Valley Vipers.  The next night game is 2/1 at 7:30pm against the same Vipers.

Video of Coach Brad Jones after the game:

Austin Toros Update

I hope everyone had a great weekend!  Here’s a little update on your Austin Toros:

Toros Win Streak Survives Road Test

The Austin Toros defeated the Tulsa 66ers 91-90 Sunday afternoon in Tulsa, Oklahoma.  The Toros battled back from a 12-point 4^th quarter deficit to keep their win streak alive at seven.  Justin Dentmon led the Toros in scoring with 23 points.

NBA D-League Playoff Picture Update

#1 Austin Toros 12-3

#2 Iowa Energy 12-4

#3 Los Angeles D-Fenders 13-6

#4 Rio Grande Valley Vipers 11-7

#5 Tulsa 66ers 9-7

#6 Bakersfield Jam 9-7

#7 Springfield Armor 8-8

#8 Dakota Wizards 7-7

Toros Games on National TV This Week

Tomorrow (Tuesday) at 2:45, the Toros will play on NBA TV against the Erie Bayhawks.  Thursday at noon, the Toros will once again play on NBA TV against the Dakota Wizards.  All games are also free to watch online at www.NBA.com/dleague.

Squeaky Update

Former Austin Toros point guard Squeaky Johnson scored a career high of 9 points and dished out 2 assists in 17 minutes of action for the New Orleans Hornets Saturday night against the World Champion Dallas Mavericks.

Home Cooking

The Toros will play 4 road games before they return home to host Canton on Wednesday January 18^th.  The Toros are currently 8-1 at home.

Have a great week!

Legend Killers! Toros Take Down the Texas Legends 108-93

Eric Dawson and Leo Lyons Celebrate
as they pull away from the Legends

(Cedar Park, TX - January 7, 2012)- The 11-3 Austin Toros take down the Texas Legends for the 4th time this year with a 108-93 victory in front of an electrifying crowd at the Cedar Park Center.

Justin Dentmon led all scorers with an impressive 31 points and 8 rebounds.

Despite playing against former NBA big men Yi Jianlian, Greg Ostertag, and Sean Williams, the double-double machine Eric Dawson cranked out his sixth of the year with  18 points and 12 rebounds.

"When we found out that they (Legends) sent some guys down, it made me even more energetic," said Dawson after the game.  "I wanted to prove to people that I could play at a high level - the NBA level."

A double double against a couple of NBA player sure helped Eric Dawson make his case.

"I'm super excited about the win," said a much happier Coach Brad Jones tonight.  "This was a game our guys very easily could have lost, but our guys figured out a way to win.  I thought we had a much better urgency tonight, and I thought our depth in the end...was the difference in the game."

Click below to watch Highlights from last nights game as well as a recap from 104.9 FM the Horn's Ari Tempkin and Stew Myrick, who called the  game:

Leo Lyons

Leo Lyons had his best all around game of the season since coming back from a foot injury with 14 points and 7 boards.  Lance Thomas helped out with 11 pts and Da'Sean Butler pitched in with 8 as well. Despite being 'outsized' by the Legends, the Toros still managed to out rebound the Legends 59-49, showing how much heart and hustle this team plays with.

"I'm not going to lie and say it was easy," joked Leo Lyons about going up against the former NBA big men for the Legends.  "Greg Ostertag is a big load.  It's hard to move him out of that paint when he gets locked in.  We battled..."

Lyons didn't play in his first game until after Christmas this year due to his foot injury.  How's he coming along?

"It's a little sore right now," admits Lyons.  "But it's getting there.  The doctor says it's going to take awhile to get back to where I was but I'm just happy to be out there playing again."

Box Score courtesy of NBA D League

CEDAR PARK CENTER CROWD

Photo Courtesy of
AlphaandOmega SportsClub

The Toros played in front of the loudest and largest crowd of the season, just under 4,000 Toros fans, as well as their first game on national television.

"It was a great crowd tonight," said Austin Toros head coach Brad Jones.  "We appreciate the fans coming out tonight... We'll see them back here when we play Canton in a week and a half."

Did having a huge crowd help the Toros energy level on the 2nd game of a back to back?

"It helped alot!" said Leo Lyons, of the crowd's energy.  "We played yesterday so we needed the crowd's energy to go out there and do the things we need to do on the defensive end."

"It was cool," agreed Eric Dawson. "The crowd gave us energy.  We fed off of them and went out there and gave them 110%."

"They cheered.  A couple key free throws that they (the Legends) missed, I think Ostertag even air balled one, they were screaming so loud.  I just appreciate the fans for coming out," says a smiling Leo Lyons.

The next home game for the Austin Toros is Wednesday, January 18th at 7:30pm at the Cedar Park Center against the Canton Charge.  It's a 'Winning Wednesday', sponsored by Taco Bueno, meaning that if the Toros win, then you can bring in your ticket stub to the next 'Winning Wednesday' home game and receive a FREE TICKET! C'mon out and share the experience of a Toros home game.

Click below to watch the full interview with Eric Dawson, Leo Lyons, and Brad Jones:

On a final note:  Love was in the air at the Cedar Park Center last Friday.  Congratulations to Aron Lofton and Rachel Henderson on their engagement.  Aron Lofton popped the question during the Cedar Park Jewelry 'Kiss Cam' segment at the Austin Toros game.  This is the first time a marriage proposal has ever happened during a nationally televised NBA D League game, and thankfully the Toros weren't the only winners that night... Rachel Henderson said 'Yes'.  We wish you both a long and happy marriage!

Toros Declaw the Red Claws 109-103 In the Debut of Cory Joseph

(Cedar Park, TX) - Welcome back to Austin, Cory Joseph and Lance Thomas.

Cory Joseph

Cory Joseph, the former University of Texas Longhorn PG and 1st round pick of the San Antonio Spurs, made his victorious debut with the (10-3) Austin Toros tonight, scoring 11 points, with 5 rebounds and 2 assists in 31 minutes.

"It was a little bit of a slow start, but I feel like I got the first one out of the way and tomorrow I'll come back even stronger," said Joseph after the game.  "Yesterday was my first practice...we're in here working our butts off.  I want to see the fans come in here, show some support, and we won't let you down."

Lance Thomas, the former Duke product, made his return after a brief stint in the NBA with the New Orleans Hornets.  Thomas didn't look like he missed a beat, putting up 18 points with 6 rebounds and 2 assists.

"I thought Lance Thomas was terrific," said Coach Brad Jones.

Not to be forgotten, Eric Dawson put up another double-double (12 points and 10 boards), his fifth of this short season, and Justin Dentmon was the player of the game with a game high 24 points.  Once again, Justin was solid from the free throw line with under a minute left to ice the game.

"Don't miss a free throw", says Dentmon, when asked what goes through his mind when he's at the charity stripe in a pressure situation.  "If I do miss one, miss the second one...because the first one really carries you over to the second one."

The Toros take on the Texas Legends on Friday at 7:30pm at the Cedar Park Center.

"It's gonna be a tough game tomorrow night," said coach Jones.  "We've handled them 3 straight times, so you know, if they got anything to them, they're going to want to beat us...I hope our fans come out and support us tomorrow night."

"It's gonna be a tough matchup," says Dentmon.  "Let's get a win!"

Box Score courtesy of NBA D League.

Coaches Corner

Despite a 6 point victory, Austin Toros Head Coach Brad Jones was not necessarily thrilled with his teams' performance.

"I'm not excited about a lot of things, the way we played.  I thought we started the game off with the wrong mentality.  I didn't feel like we wanted to touch anybody on the defensive end... To our credit, as the game went on, we got a little better toughness about us, but I'm very happy we won the game because we did not play the typical Toros game," said Coach after the game.  "We did not have the same passion about being a good team as we've had to this point in the season."

So what are the things that the Coach wants his team to work on?

"We talk alot about being accountable and getting to the right spot, both offensively and defensively.  It's amazing when we do those simple things, then we're really really good.  There were a lot of times tonight we couldn't get to the right spot...that's what's unacceptable in my mind.  I understand guys trying to feel out... but at the same time, you still know where to get on offense and you still know where you're supposed to be on defense.  When we get it together, we're good."

They were good enough tonight for a win. Part of the reason that the team didn't play up to the Coach's standards may have to do with lack of familiarity with each other. Of course, as is the norm with D League basketball, there were roster shakeups this week, with the return of Forward Lance Thomas and the debut of G Cory Joseph.

"I think that's a little bit why we were out of sorts tonight.  It's 2 major guys coming in; 2 NBA guys," said Jones.  "Those are two really good players and we're excited to have them."

Coach Jones on the debut of Cory Joseph:

"He's like a little blur out there," said joked Jones of Cory's speed.  "Now he's just got to learn how to use it a little bit better.     You gotta remember, he should be a sophomore in college and he hasn't played much pro basketball.  He got...31 minutes tonight, so that's the most minutes he's gotten combined in pro basketball, so it'll be a process for him but that's why he's here."

Coach Jones on the possibility of Manu Ginobili rehabbing in Austin with the Toros:

"He'd make me look like a good coach if he played for me," laughed Jones.  "I have no idea, I think that's 6-8 weeks away.  But I'd be all for it!"

Watch the entire player's and coach's interviews below:

The Power of UT Basketball

It happened.  In the three years that I've been running the Toros, I've been asked one or two thousand times if having players from the University of Texas would help sell more tickets and expedite the growth of the Toros brand.  Now we get to find out.  At 1:16pm today I received the official news that the San Antonio Spurs have assigned UT's own Cory Joseph to the Austin Toros and his debut will take place this Thursday night at 7:30pm as the Toros take on the Maine Red Claws.

We all know that UT football fans will follow their team across the country for a bowl game and watch them every Sunday in the NFL, and now I'm hoping UT basketball fans and alumni follow one of their three first round draft picks in last year's NBA Draft just 20 minutes north of the Capitol to watch his development on the next level at the Cedar Park Center.  After all, playing for the burnt orange for just a single season must have left fans wanting more, right?

In a lockout-shortened NBA season, it's become even more important for young players like Cory to get as many minutes on the court as possible to continue his development.  And thanks to the NBA Development League, we all get to witness that development right here in Austin.

So I call out to all University of Texas alumni and fans of the burnt orange and invite you to come up to the Cedar Park Center to show your support for one of your own.  He may now adorn the Silver and Black of the Spurs and Toros, but a Longhorn he will always be.  It's not often we have this opportunity so let's have some fun with it!

So here's to you Cory Joseph...Hook 'Em!