UNC Basketball: Heels in the Pro’s ~ NBA (10/06/12)

I know that the fan base is still excited over North Carolina defeating Virginia Tech and is getting ready for the former Tar Heels now in the NFL, but guess what, some of the former UNC basketball players are already in action as the NBA, seventeen in all, is playing preseason and the former Heels in the EuroLeague, five for the time being, have begun their season. In this edition of “Heels in the Pro’s” NBA style it has a game with some Tar Heels in the National Basketball Association and one from overseas. But enough of the chit chat, let’s get going with this edition of “Heels in the Pro’s” NBA style for October 6, 2012…

In the first game for this recap is a friendly between the Dallas Mavericks and the Alba Berlin (coverage on NBATV) played in Europe. For the squad from the lone star state there is a pair of former Tar Heels, neither of them starting in this one. The first one is Vince Carter, entering his 15th season in the Association, who plays for 21 minutes in all. In that time frame the veteran 6’6″/220 lbs shooting guard scores a team best 14 points (5 for 9 ~ 4 for 8 ~ 0 for 0) to go with six rebounds, a steal and a +/- differential of -1. The other former UNC basketball player for the Mavs is fifth year forward Brandan Wright. However the 6’10″/210 lbs forward did not get any playing time in this one. On the other bench, for the German squad, it’s former Carolina big man Deon Thompson, who started for Alba and played a total of 35 minutes in all. For the 6’9″/245 lbs forward it was a game best 20 point performance (10 for 19 ~ 0 for 0 ~ 0 for 2) as well as five boards, four steals, a block and a pts differential of +5. In the end it was Dallas to win this game, as they defeated Alba by the final of 89 to 84.

The next game on the night that had a touch of carolina blue is another friendly between a NBA squad and a EuroLeague one, as the Memphis Grizzlies hosted Real Madrid. In this one for the home squad it’s former Carolina shooting guard Wayne Ellington, who came off the bench to play a total of eight minutes in all. For the fourth year 6’4″/200 lbs guard it was a two point performance (1 for 2 ~ 0 for 1 ~ 0 for 0) to go along with two rebounds and a -5 points differential. In the end it was Memphis taking this one from Madrid by a dozen points, with the final tally being 105 to 93.

The second to last game for the day, and with a former UNC basketball player in it, it’s another friendly between a team from the USA and one from overseas. This time it’s the San Antonio Spurs hosting Montepaschi Siena. For the squad from the lone star state it’s fourth year combo guard/forward Danny Green, who started for the Spurs and played a total of just nine minutes in all. For the 6’6″/210 lbs Heels it was a two points performance (1 for 3 ~ 0 for 1 ~ 0 for 0) to go with a pair of boards, a steal, a turnover and a -2 pts differential. In what was the most lopsided score of the day, San Antonio took down Montepaschi by 29 points, with the final score being 106 to 77.

In the last game for the first day that has former UNC basketball players in action in the NBA, it’s a game between two teams in the National Basketball Association. The Denver Nuggets (Western Conf ~ NW Div) traveled to the west coast to take on the Los Angeles Clippers (Western Conf ~ Pacific Div), and that means that fourth year point guard Ty Lawson will be in action for the mile high squad for another Tar Heel, head coach George Karl. The 6’0″/195 lbs floor general played 27 minutes in all, scoring eight points (3 for 6 ~ 0 for 0 ~ 2 for 4) to go with six assists, a pair of rebounds and a game high six turnovers while having a pts differential of -3. In the end, as far as the game was concerned it was Denver squeezing out the win by a duece over Los Angeles thanks to a driving lay up by the former Tar Heel as the time expired, with the final score being 106 to 104.

A late add on to the “Heels in the Pro’s” as another former UNC basketball player was in action overseas. Marcus Ginyard, the 6’5″ combo guard/forward, played his second game with Anwil, the Polish team that he signed with this season. After a good season opener for the former Tar Heel this one was not the same performance, as Ginyard scored 8 points (2 for 8 ~ 0 for 3 ~ 4 for 5) to go with eight boards in 31 and a half minutes of playing time. Anwil lost this game by three, with the final score being 68 to 65, behind very poor free throw shooting (18 for 29) and much worst shooting from beyond the arc (1 for 18).

This is what the former Tar Heel said about the game…

1/18 3PFG and 11 missed FTs and we lose by 3. Hate that we disappointed our fans, but we WILL play better. Thanks for support!! #Anwil

— Marcus Ginyard (@MG1NYARD) October 6, 2012

And this is what a blogger that follows the team told me when asked about the game…

@a_e_m generally Anwil had their chances. Stelmet was supposed to win the game easier that they did. Anwil resisted more than we expected

— Michał Fałkowski (@MichFal) October 7, 2012

Then added this about the league that the former UNC basketball players is in, which I found very interesting…

@a_e_m you know, the budgets between the teams are uncomparable. Stelmet’s is much bigger but Anwil was so close…

— Michał Fałkowski (@MichFal) October 7, 2012

And once again another add on to this “Heels in the Pro’s” as I totally forgot about the duo of Sean May and Jawad Williams. The former UNC basketball players began their season with Paris-Levallois against Orleans. Williams, a 6’9″/218 lbs forward, who has been playing professional since 2005, including several seasons with the Cleveland Cavaliers, started for his team and played a total of 31 minutes. In that time the former National Champ under head coach Roy Williams scored 18 points (4 for 8 ~ 2 for 5 ~ 4 for 4) to go with six steals, five rebounds, three assists and a pair of TOs. While May, who also started in this game for Paris-Levallois, and finished with 32 minutes in all, was the leading scorer for the squad and for the game. For the 6’9″/260 lbs forward it was 22 points (10 for 12 ~ 0 for 0 ~ 2 for 3) to go with seven boards, a steal and four turnovers. As far as the game went it was Paris winning this one easily, taking down Orleans by 18, with the final score being 93 to 75.

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