G League Weekly: Talking playoffs, performances, deals

As the G League season is officially past the halfway mark, the playoff picture is beginning to shape up. So let's take a look at how the G League playoff format has changed with the 26-team league.

Much like the NBA, the three division winners from each conference automatically qualify, while the remaining three spots in each conference are selected by the next three best records. The conferences are seeded one through six, with the division winners earning the top three seeds, while the remaining seeds are filled based on regular season-records, other than the division winners.

After the teams are seeded, the fun can begin. With three single-elimination rounds, teams don’t have much room for error. The win-or-go home mantra is much like the NCAA Tournament because it creates a nervous energy throughout the league.

While the first three rounds are single elimination, the championship round is a best-of-three series. During the G League Finals, each team alternates hosting a game with the (1-1-1) format, the team with the better record ends up hosting two games. The championship format is mirrored off the last three games in the NBA Finals.

If the G League Playoffs Began today…

East

1. Westchester Knicks (21-11)
2. Fort Wayne Mad Ants (16-12)
3. Lakeland Magic (14-13)
4. Raptors 905 (16-12)
5. Long Island Nets (16-13)
6. Wisconsin Herd (16-14)

West

1. South Bay Lakers (17-11)
2. Texas Legends (17-11)
3. Iowa Wolves (15-12)
4. Reno Bighorns (17-11)
5. Rio Grande Valley Vipers (18-12)
6.  Austin Spurs (17-12)

What you missed this week:

1/19	Nigel Hayes Signs 10-Day Contract with Los Angeles Lakers Hayes played in 30 games this season with the Westchester Knicks, where he averaged 14.9 points, 6.6 rebounds on 44% shooting from three.
1/20	Beau Biden Foundation Night The Delaware 87ers held their second annual fundraiser for the Beau Biden Foundation Night. The 87ers wore special jerseys in their game vs the Erie Bayhawks, which were auctioned off following the game.
1/20	Jarell Eddie Signs 10-Day Contract with the Boston Celtics Eddie has 31 games of NBA experience, spending time with the Washington Wizards (2015-2016) and the Phoenix Suns (2016-2017) but has spent the better part of four seasons in the G League, with career averages 13.9 points, 4.1 rebounds while connect on 49% from the field.

Top Performances of the week:

• QuinnCook (Santa Cruz Warriors) tried to will Santa Cruz to victory all on his own as he had 43 points, 11 assists in a 116-113 loss to Iowa Wolves.
• Chicago Bulls two-way star AntonioBlakeney (Windy City Bulls) has been taking the G League by storm all season and Friday night was no different. Blakeney had 33 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists while the Bulls defeated the Wisconsin Herd, 110-100.
• The Canton Charge needed all of CalebSwanigan’s 13 points and 13 rebounds in their 111-110 victory on the road versus the Erie Bayhawks. The most important bucket was Swanigan’s last as he tipped in a layup as time expired.
• Long-time NBA journeyman DonaldSloan has quietly been having himself a season with the Texas Legends. Sloan had one of his best nights of the season when he cashed in 34 points, 5 rebounds and 9 assists. As impressive as that stat line is, the most impressive feat of the night was Sloan hitting nine 3-pointers. The Legends defeated the Grand Rapids Drive, 146-114.won 146-114.
• MarcusThornton and the Canton Charge were unable to pull out a victory over the Sioux Falls Skyforce .It wasn’t Thornton's fault as he had 30 of his 35 points in the second half. The Skyforce won, 103-100, to steal the road win in Canton.
• Atlanta Hawks two-way player TylerCavanaugh turned in a 28-point, 13-rebound performance in a 128-123 victory over the Delaware 87ers.
• Sloan had a good game Friday night, and he tried to one-up himself Saturday has he had 35 points, six rebounds and 12 assists in a three-point victory over the Rio Grande Valley Vipers.
• There were number of good performances Saturday night, none were better than XavierRathan-Mayes, as he had 25 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists. For those of you keeping track, that my friends, is a triple-double.
• Two Memphis Hustle players helped the Hustle beat the Oklahoma City Blue, 103-98, on Sunday night. TrahsonBurrell had 25 points, 9 rebounds and teammate KobiSimmons added 25 points.

Players to watch this weekend:

• Blakeney, G Windy City Bulls
• JustinDentmon, G Texas Legends
• TreyDavis, G Maine Red Claws
• DarrunHilliard, F Austin Spurs
• DevinWilliams, F Maine Red Claws
• Swanigan, F Canton Charge
• MichaelHolyfield, C South Bay Lakers
• ShevonThompson, C Raptors 905