News release from the Mad Ants:
Mad Ants Begin 2016 NBA D-League Showcase Slate Thursday
(January 4, 2015) – The 2016 NBA D-League Showcase, presented by Samsung, tips off its 19-game schedule on Wednesday, Jan. 6 for a five-day slate of games at Santa Cruz’s Kaiser Permanente Arena, featuring each of the league’s 19 teams playing two regular season games apiece.
The 12th annual event resumes with four games on Thursday, Jan. 7, including the opening matchup of the day featuring the Mad Ants and Rio Grande Valley Vipers at 1:00 p.m. live on NBA TV. The Mad Ants will then turn around to play the Idaho Stampede in a 3:30 p.m. game on Saturday, Jan. 9 as the second part of a four game set that day, also to be seen live on NBA TV.
This season, eighteen of the 19 matchups at the Showcase are between teams in opposing conferences that will play each other only at the midseason classic. Following the conclusion of all 19 of those games, a 2016 NBA D-League Showcase Champion will be crowned based first on a team’s overall win-loss record at the event. The advanced basketball statistic Net Rating (calculated by subtracting Defensive Rating from Offensive Rating) will be used to break any ties among records. Offensive Rating is calculated by dividing a team’s total points by its total offensive possessions, while Defensive Rating is derived by dividing a team’s total points allowed by its opponent’s total offensive possessions. Any remaining ties will then be resolved using a team’s Strength of Schedule, as determined by that team’s pre-Showcase opponents’ winning percentage.
The 2016 NBA D-League Showcase presented by Samsung affords players and coaches the opportunity to display their skills in front of general managers and player personnel executives from all 30 NBA teams. More than 45 NBA D-League players have earned GATORADE Call-Ups during or in the days immediately following the last 11 NBA D-League Showcases. Stay up to date on our website and social media for Mad Ants Showcase news and results throughout the week. The Mad Ants will resume their season schedule on Wednesday, January 13th in Erie as they take on the BayHawks at 7:00 p.m.
Thursday, January 7th
- Game 1 Fort Wayne vs. Rio Grande Valley — 1 PM ET (NBA TV)
- Game 2 Bakersfield vs. Maine — 3:30 PM ET (NBA TV)
- Game 3 Raptors vs. Sioux Falls — 8 PM ET (NBA TV)
- Game 4 Texas vs. Delaware — 10:30 PM ET (NBA TV)
Saturday, January 9th
- Game 1 Los Angeles vs. Canton — 1 PM ET (NBA TV)
- Game 2 Idaho vs. Fort Wayne — 3:30 PM ET (NBA TV)
- Game 3 Rio Grande Valley vs. Raptors — 8 PM ET (YouTube)
- Game 4 Sioux Falls vs. Santa Cruz — 10:30 PM ET (YouTube)
About the NBA Development League
The NBA Development League is the NBA’s official minor league, preparing players, coaches, officials, trainers, and front-office staff for the NBA while acting as the league’s research and development laboratory. Featuring 18 teams with direct affiliations with NBA franchise for the 2014-15 season, the league offers elite professional basketball at an affordable price in a fun, family-friendly atmosphere. One-third of all NBA players at the end of the 2013-14 season boasted NBA D-League experience. In fostering the league’s connection to the community, its teams, players and staff promote health and wellness, support local needs and interests, and assist in educational development through NBA D-League Cares programs. Fans can watch all NBA D-League games on fortwayne.gleague.nba.com.
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