Austin Toros in This Weekend's NBA D-League Playoffs

NBA D-League Playoffs featuring Austin Toros
Saturday, April 19
Austin Convention Center (500 E Cesar Chavez Street)
7pm
[info] | [tickets]

This post is by future Austinist contributor Matt Moore, author of the NBA and NBA D-League blog Hardwood Paroxysm and a contributing writer for Deadspin.com and AOL Fanhouse -- Ed. Note

Okay, Austin. We're going to level with you.

We understand this is a football town. We respect that. This town loves football like nothing else. There is no other true love. And this is a Longhorn town, first and foremost. It's a terrific school with a championship tradition. We're not fighting for your affection.

But you've got some time before the next round of football practices begin and before the baseball season really starts to get hot and heavy.

And in the meantime, there's a playoff game going on with pro-level talent in Austin this weekend.

It's the NBA D-League Playoffs featuring your Austin Toros.

Wait! Just hear us out.

There are a ton of reasons for you to come out Saturday to the Austin Convention Center to see the Toros play the winner of Sioux Falls/Dakota for a spot in the D-League playoffs. But before we get to them, let's eliminate some misconceptions you may have about the Toros. Let’s play a little True-False game.

False: D-League Games Are Low Scoring and Boring.
Let's put it this way. On Friday night, the Toros scored 40 points. In the first quarter. D-League teams can shoot, they can score, and there are plenty of highlights. The Toros are averaging 109 points per game and shooting 50% from the field. Most of the teams like to push the tempo because of the inexperience on the defensive end. It’s like a college game, only with fewer turnovers and actual NBA talent.

False: There Is No Real NBA Talent In The D-League.
The D-League serves as more than just a minor league for players to try and get in the league; it's also a way for NBA teams to develop players. That’s its primary goal. The Toros feature arguably the most exciting assignment player in the league. At 6'9"and 230 lbs., Ian Mahinmi is the future of the San Antonio Spurs. Other assignment players include Ramon Sessions for the Milwaukee Bucks, who went from the D-League to starting this season, Utah Jazz rookie Morris Almond has spent extensive time with the Utah Flash, Aaron Brooks and Steve Novak helping the playoff-bound Houston Rockets win 22 games in a row this season, and Shannon Brown for the Chicago Bulls developing his game. On top of that, there have been a record number of call-ups from the D-League this season, and players like Jamario Moon (Raptors), Mikki Moore (Kings), Jordan Farmar (Lakers), and Kelenna Azabuike (Warriors) all spent time in the D-League.

False: The Players Aren’t Really Playing For Anything.
Every single one of these guys knows that NBA scouts are watching. And they are. There will be several NBA scouts in attendance during the playoffs. On top of that, the NBA D-League champion will receive a bonus for winning the championship. That’s enough to get these guys a moving.

But the biggest reason, if you talk to any D-League player, is that these guys are competitors. They were mostly stars in college, and no matter what level they’re playing at, they love to win and hate to lose. They want to prove that they are a level above the rest to scouts, to the fans, and to themselves. You’ll see guys throwing their bodies around, hard fouls, and some legitimately nasty slams. These guys are playing for themselves, their futures, their teammates, and most of all, for their pride.

The game features two teams with proven winners—the Toros' opponent on Saturday, the Sioux Falls Skyforce, produced the D-League MVP and current Miami Heat player Kasib Powell, as well as a number of other NBA call-ups this season. It's going to be a tremendous game.

Now, why should you come check out the Toros on Saturday? We've got 7 reasons for you.

Want To See A Spur?
Ian Mahinmi (pronounced “Yahn Ma-heen-mi”) is his name, annihilating undersized power forwards is his game. Mahinmi was selected in the first round by the San Antonio Spurs. The Spurs loved his size and raw athleticism, but decided to let him simmer in his home country of France for a year. Now they’ve migrated him stateside and inserted him into their incubator, the Toros. Since the Spurs purchased the Toros earlier this year, they’ve installed elements of their offensive and defensive systems. So basically, Ian’s learning pieces of the playbook for the team that drafted him, while also getting playing time and development coaching in the D-League. Mahinmi is, to be quite honest, a beast. Averaging 27 points, 13 rebounds, and 3 blocks per game, Mahinmi is the primary reason for the Toros’ division win this season. He’s got incredible footwork and touch for a guy his size. Even though he’s still raw, he improves with every game. In two years or less, you won’t be seeing Mahinmi at the Austin Convention Center. You’ll be seeing him at the AT&T Center in San Antonio.

Speed Racer’s Got Nothin’ On Him:
Andre Barrett is the starting point guard for the Austin Toros. He’s also played guard for the Bulls, the Rockets, the Magic, the Raptors, the Suns, the Bucks, and most recently the Los Angeles Clippers. He’s an NBA-talent point guard who’s only downside is his size (5'10"). But what he lacks in height, he makes up for in speed, and he is arguably the fastest player in the D-League. He’s worked hard to transition from being a scorer to getting his teammates involved, and now with Mahinmi, he leads the Toros offense, which has the second highest scoring average in the league. Barrett is a demon on the break,and watching him shred the defense is a sight to see.

The Consummate Pro:
Two weeks ago, the Toros traded longtime Toro Anthony Fuqua to the Albuquerque Thunderbirds for Darvin Ham. If the name sounds familiar, it’s because he’s a former Texas Tech Red Raider. He also shattered a backboard in the NCAA tournament. He’s been in the NBA for 12 years, including with the 2004 NBA champion Detroit Pistons. He did play by play commentary for FSN during the Dallas Mavericks playoff run last season, and then was invited to training camp with the Mavs. Avery Johnson told him to get back in NBA shape. It was easy to be skeptical towards Ham when he first took the court against the Toros at 34 years old. “How could this old guy possibly get up and down the court with these young…. Oh, Dear God, he’s killing them.” Ham has a pro game, and it shows on the court. He’s also taken on a leadership role with the Toros, often keeping forward Josh Gross from popping off at the mouth, and giving Mahinmi guidance on the defensive end. Best of all, it’s plain to see that Ham genuinely loves the game, even in the D-League.

More Than Meets The Eye:
Quin Snyder’s had more than his share of turmoil in his career. But after everything, he’s in a place he really cherishes. He has the anonymity he wants, and is able to teach and coach. Snyder will tell you that he’s just happy to be in a good situation, and it’s clear that his past has had its toll on him. But Snyder has a passion for coaching and it shows. A lot of D-League coaches sit back on their bench and stew, often seeming as though they’re just trying to get through the next day. Snyder is off the bench, constantly coaching, working the refs, encouraging his players, and calling out adjustments. In his first season, Snyder has brought a division championship to Austin. No longer hampered by having to develop basic skills, Snyder’s ability to coach the finer points is perfectly suited for the D-League.

The Longhorn Connection:
You had to have seen this coming. An Austin team needs a Longhorn on its squad, and Kenton Paulino is the Toros’ guy. You may remember Paulino from 2005, when he hit the game winner against ~~Western~~ West Virginia to advance the Longhorns to the Elite Eight. He’s second behind Andre for three pointers for the Toros, and with Marcus Williams moving onto the Clippers, has gotten more minutes in the backcourt.

Free Stuff:
Don’t lie. You can sit there and say you’re not one of those people that yell and scream when they say they’re handing out free stuff. We all say that. And yet, it’s always the one team in the game where the ACC acts like Michael Jordon, or more appropriately, Vince Young has walked in the door. And the Toros do it all night long. They’ve got a strong community presence and that means awesome giveaways. Don’t act like you won’t scream. You know you will.

It’s Cheaper Than A Tank Of Gas:
Okay, that’s not saying much. But given that during this time of year getting tickets to a basketball game can cost a pretty penny, this is a pretty sweet deal. Tickets for Saturday’s home playoff game start at $5, and that’s cheaper than a freaking movie. So, just to recap: Playoff basketball, NBA level talent, free stuff, $5. Top it. We dare you.

Those are all good reasons, but the best reason is: This is Austin’s team. These guys play all year for less than what some of the guys at the gas station make (seriously), for a chance to live their dream and to entertain you. Come out and support them. After all, it’s not every day you get to say you saw a superstar before they were big-league.