Drive Finds Extra Gear in Saturday Win Over Skyforce

Grand Rapids fits the definition of a team on the rise by sustaining their win streak including a second straight over the Sioux Falls Skyforce 116-107 Saturday night at the DeltaPlex Arena.  

The Drive (10-6) have not lost since before Christmas and have found the chemistry to fit their components.  Their starting lineup Saturday night had 4 players with previous NBA experience.  One of them is Spencer Dinwiddie (7 points, 9 assists) while on assignment from the Detroit Pistons.  Adonis Thomas followed up last night’s sterling effort to front the scoring line with 23 points with Willie Reed putting together a monster effort of 21 points on 10-13 shooting, 14 rebounds and 4 blocks.  Reed summed up the main reason for keeping the Skyforce at bay.  “We controlled the glass and the paint and we forced them to shoot jump shots.”  Get a look at how good Reed was in his package at the top of the post.

Let us not discount the starting five that Sioux Falls (8-9) employed to counter the Drive as four of them were with the Miami Heat during the preseason and Shabazz Napier is on assignment carving up the Drive for 26 points.  His best stuff is on the clip below.  The one starter who was not with Miami a few months ago is Scotty Hopson who can lay claim to NBA experience with Cleveland and contributed 20 points and 8 rebounds.  Tyler Johnson was also a 20-point man for the Skyforce as well.

The two teams will have an immediate interaction to complete this three-game series with a Sunday showdown at the Sanford Pentagon.

BONUS COVERAGE!! Tyler Johnson going strong to the goal. He is becoming a highlight reel favorite in the NBA Development League.