Tip: 7:30 p.m., Cedar Park Center
Streaming: YouTube
Background
Record: 2-8, 4th in East Division
Off. efficiency: 98.9 points per 100 possessions, 11th
Def. efficiency: 113.1, 17th*
Net rating: -14.2, 17th*
Pace: 107.8 possessions per game, 4th
Four factors
Effective FG pct: 50.1, 7th
Turnover pct: 19.8, 14th
Off. rebound pct: 25.5, 14th
FTA rate: .334, 9th
Opp. effective FG pct: 54.6, 17th*
Opp. turnover pct: 18.4, 7th
Def. rebound rate 65.1, 17th*
Opp. FTA rate: .339, 12th
The leaders
Points: Reeves Nelson, 13.3
Rebounds: Damian Sanders, 9.8
Assists: Dustin Salisbery, 2.2
Blocks: Norvel Peele, 2.2
Steals: Nelson, 1.8
Summary
The Delaware 87ers have dropped their last four games — three of which were at home — by an average margin of 19.3 points. Their 2-8 record is 14th, better than three teams, though their net rating (per 100 possessions), a more reliable indicator of performance, is dead last by a wide margin.
Where they excel
Delaware takes the “right” shots, from the restricted area and beyond the arc — they average 32.3 shots in the restricted area and 35 percent of their field goal attempts are 3-pointers. The 87ers turn the ball over on almost a fifth of their possessions, diluting their otherwise prudent shot selection.
Where they struggle
Defense — like everywhere, because IT BURNS MY EYES. Delaware is last in points allowed per possession, opponents effective field goal percentage and defensive rebounding percentage. The 87ers particularly struggle defending the most valuable real estate in the game — the paint — and the second-most important spot, the corner, where opponents are taking almost 10 shots per game. They have a lot of problems.
Player to watch
The Los Angeles Lakers called up 87ers point guard Kendall Marshall yesterday, who led the team in points, assists and steals. 6-8 forward Reeves Nelson is second in points, in just four games, and he’s shooting at a gaudy 58.8 percent clip. Nelson, 21, averaged 12.1 points and 7.3 rebounds in 68 games with UCLA.
Stats: NBA D-League/Stats</a
*There are only 17 teams in the NBA D-League
