We all saw this coming, but I dont know if anyone reported it yet. But all Day WDFN has been saying it.

http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/sports/14001146.htm

Pistons assign Acker to NBA's development league

The Detroit Pistons on Thursday assigned rookie guard Alex Acker to the Fayetteville Patriots of the National Basketball Developmental League.

Acker, who was the 60th pick of the 2005 draft, made his NBA debut on Feb. 21 against Atlanta. He scored the first points of his NBA career on Sunday against Cleveland, when he finished with two points.

Acker joins forward Amir Johnson, who was assigned to Fayetteville on Monday.

Great. Makes sense now because we have Delk and all.

http://www.nba.com/dleague/games/20060303/ROAFAY/boxscore.html

Acker:

21min
28 pts
8-13 FG
10-10 FT
2-3 3pt
3 reb
1 ast
2 stl

Amir:

18 min
16 pts
5-12 FG
6-8 FT
9 reb
1 ast
2 stl
1 blk

http://www.nba.com/dleague/games/20060303/ROAFAY/recap.html


Fayetteville 132, Roanoke 120
Patriots Frazzle the Dazzle
FAYETTEVILLE, N.C., March 3 – The Fayetteville Patriots got another big night from veteran NBA player Mateen Cleaves and a solid debut from a pair of newly-arrived Detroit Pistons to beat the Roanoke Dazzle, 132-120, in D-League action in Fayetteville on Friday.

Fayetteville improves to 7-24. The Dazzle drop to 18-18.

“In any game, in those last four minutes you have to execute and get stops,” said Patriots coach Mike Brown. “In a lot of games, we’ve been able to get the stops, but then we turn the ball right back over. We didn’t execute. Tonight we did both. These guys being able to stop them when it counted, and then run the offense and hit free throws. That was the difference.”

The teams kept each other in check, trading the lead but with neither able to stretch it past the double-digit mark. Roanoke was up by eight after the first period after Anthony Grundy netted 11, but Fayetteville took a 61-57 lead into the break due to the hot shooting of Cleaves and Alex Acker. Cleaves had 16 at the half, and Acker came off the bench to score 13 in the second quarter.

“I figured it was a 50/50 chance that I would get to play a little,” said Acker, who flew into Fayetteville on Friday after being assigned there by the Pistons on Thursday. “I wasn’t even sure they would have a jersey ready. But as soon as I got here, coach said ‘Are you ready to play?’ Then he showed me my jersey. I never thought I would get in the game that early, though.”

The Patriots led by as many as nine in the fourth, but Roanoke charged back and reclaimed the lead on the hot hand of league scoring leader Will Bynum, who hit two 3-pointers and seven free throws in a five-minute span. Then, Acker and his Pistons teammate Amir Johnson who was assigned to Fayetteville on Monday, dominated the final three minutes. Acker scored five, and Johnson hit five free throws to go along with a pair of steals, to shut down the Roanoke run.

“I had the chance to work with Amir a little, and he picks things up quickly,” Brown said. “And Alex just got here two hours before the game, we went over some plays in my office, and then we threw him to the sharks. But these guys have played this game since they were little kids. They should know what to do.”

Cleaves led the Patriots with 34 points and 12 assists. Acker finished with 28, while Johnson had 16.

Grundy led all scorers with 39 and Bynum added 28.

“I just wanted to have fun and play my game,” Johnson said. “It felt good to be out there. It’s been a long time since I played in a game like that, but I’m getting my wind back. I’m enjoying this. This is a nice town, the people are nice and I like the team. It just feels real good.”

The Patriots are back in action in Florida on Sunday. They return to the Crown on Thursday against the Flame.

sounds like the kids are getting some good game experience. this should be great for their confidence and individual development.

i think there's an NBDL that's going to be aired on NBATV in April. it'd be cool to see them in action.

I don't know if they'll still bein the D-Leauges come April. I believe the plan was to leave them there for the month, in which Fayetteville plays 15 games.

I wonder if we sent Johnson and Acker to the minors for their benefit or for the current Pistons - to tighten practices and make it all about "now" sorta deal.

sounds like the kids are getting some good game experience. this should be great for their confidence and individual development.

Warning: This is yet another shameless emoticon post...

[smilie=iagree.gif]

looks like the kids will play 14 more games in March and then there are 3 games scheduled in April. the Dleague ends April 9th.

why wouldn't they just let them play out the rest of the NBDL season?

I don't know if they'll still bein the D-Leauges come April. I believe the plan was to leave them there for the month, in which Fayetteville plays 15 games.

I wonder if we sent Johnson and Acker to the minors for their benefit or for the current Pistons - to tighten practices and make it all about "now" sorta deal.

Great post. Just what I was thinking, playtime is over.