Maine Red Claw Preview (w/ exculsive Jon Jennings interview)

 The Maine Red Claws 2011  

　Interview between George Wood and Mr. Jon Jennings

Their GM is Jon Jennings,  Mr. Jennings was a former Celtic assistant coach.    (He actually brought me to the Locker room area after a Red Claws game!!!)   I actually asked him a question during a recent Red Claws game.  "How do you acquire players, do you have to pay their contracts, sign them or trade for them"   he replied " the league pays their contracts and we do a draft".    I also asked him "what happened to C Mike Tisdale "(who did not play in the game)   he answered "we had to release him" to clarify I asked "for Ricky Davis"   he said "yeah".   I then asked him about PG Kenny Hayes I asked do you think he was a good move?  he said "oh yeah".   He also said that Ricky Davis was a good move to acquire a vet and he said that they do not trade players but the NBA signs the players.    

Special thanks to Chris Taylor and Jon Jennings!!!   And all of the players who were willing to sign autographs and speak with us.  

What are the Red Claws

Just to clarify the Maine Redclaws play in the Portland exposition building in Portland Maine.   They are the minor league affiliation of the Boston Celtics, Philadelphia 76ers and the Charlotte Bobcats.   They are basically the paw sox of the Celtics. In case you do not know the red sox send Young players to the Pawtucket paw sox.   The only difference is that the NBA D-league has a few rules,
1. players must have played less than 3 NBA seasons
2. the only exception is for vets trying to make a comeback
3. teams only can send 2 players to the D-league
4. the NBA pays the D-leagues contracts (not the NBA teams players)
5. Injured players do not normally get sent to the minors
6. D-league players can be called up by any team but the players the teams send down are that teams property.
　

　
　

The Team

　
　

Ricky Davis SG/SF　

His first D-League shot

A former NBA star, played for the Celtics, Clippers, Heat, Timberwolves, Charlotte and Cavs. He played with stars KG and Paul Pierce. In 2005 he averaged 19.7 points as a Celtic. He played for the C’s for 3 years. He was drafted by the Hornets (21^st) and made over 6 Million Dollars in 2006 as a Timberwolf!!! He also went to Iowa College where he averaged 15 points. He is roughly 33 years old. Formal name is Tyree Ricardo Davis. Davis Is best known for his role with the 06 Celtics. He played the SF and SG positions and is presently playing for the Maine Red Claws. His career stats include 9912 points, 583 threes and 732 steals in 10 NBA seasons. He also was a above average shooter, in 2006 he played in 81 games and started all of them. He has a shot at making a comeback in the NBA as a scorer off the bench.  He appeared slow and slightly out of game shape but once healthy and in shape he could average 15 points a game.

　

Paul Harris SF/PF

In College Harris averaged 12 points and 8 REBS. Then he went undrafted which is surprising after Daniel Orton went at number 21 (by the Magic in 2011) Orton averaged less than 5 points and 5 REBS. Harris then joined the Minnesota Timberwolves, where he played along Johnny Flynn. After the Summer League (the Timberwolves cut him) he went to Utah where he had a shot at making there. They invited him to Training camp (2010) but was waived. Then in 2010 he returned to Utah for Training camp again, yet again he was cut. He then helped the Tropang Texteres win a Commissioners cup. After that he joined the Maine Red Claws where he has quickly become a vital member of a good D-League team.  During his warm up he hit everything but had THE WORST OF LUCK during the game.

　

Durrell Summers G/F

Summers is a scorer in every way possible. In fact he is averaging over 15 points per game and shooting about .300 from down town and .460 from the field. He also produced super stats in high school. In his senior year he averaged about 35 points per game.!!! He also averaged about 11 points in college Summers is 6-5 making him a large SG and small SF at age 22. His all around fantasy stats are impressive as well, About 4.5 REBS, 1 steal and 1 assist. His nickname is Summertime which is tattooed on his arms. He is best known for his slam dunk on Stanley Robinson and playing in 2 NBA preseason games for the Bobcats.

　 　  　

　

Anthony Kent PF/C

Kent is a lean mean rebounding machine. He averages almost as many REBs as PPGs and is a versatile PF who sees time at C. He is averaging 7 points and 5 REBs this year. That’s not too shabby for a 28 year old big man. He attended college at Ball state.  He may be there only real C.

　

　

Xavier Silas G/F

Silas is son of former NBA player James Silas. Xavier is a skilled swingman who is on pace to average 12 points and 4 assists this year. He went to NIUPPG in his senior year. He was drafted by the 76ers only to play preseason games before he was sent to the D-league. Before the NBA he played in France.  Silas was a college star.

Kenny Hayes G

Hayes is a second year G who has risen to stardom after a good rookie year in which he averaged over 13 points per game in just 17 minutes!!!!!!!!! He attended Miami College where he played well enough to help secure a D-league starting job. He played okay in his rookie year but exploded in his second, averaging almost 20 points. Hayes also shoots well (over 46% last year). Hayes is 6-2 and 174 pounds, a NBA sized body.

The Coach's and Front Office

Dave Leitao-Head coach-this is his first year

Donyell Marshall-assistant coach-former all american and NBA player.  In his final seasons he played with LeBron James and present day celtic, Sasha Pavolvic.

Austin Ainge- Former team Head coach and the first coach in team history, he is danny Ainge's son.  Danny is a former celtics star and present GM.   Austin is now part of the Celtics front office, along with his father.

Jon Jennings-GM-former Celtic assistant coach and president of Red Claws operations.

Dave Pewter-Trainer



Crusher The Mascot!!!!

　Justin Brownlee PF

Justin is 23 and is already scoring in bunches and can really play. He already is averaging 14.3 points per game, 7.7 REBS and 2.1 assists. Those stats are similar to Tayshaun Prince, an all star SF who can really play. Brownlee is 230 pounds and is 6-7 which gives him a legit NBA ready body. Brownlee is a future NBA player who could play well for years. He went to college at ST. Johns. He also has a 18+ efficiency rating.  He is oner of the few rebounders i have ever seenb nail threes the way he does. 

Dominic Caligari F/C

Calegari is a 24 year old Forward, He is 6-10 which allows him to win most match up battles at PF and makes him versatile option. He is presently averaging 9.4 points and 6.7 REBS. During the game He bossed and appeared NBA ready.  He showed he can play C and SF along with PF.

　　

Jermone Randle PG

Jermone Randle is a NBA talent.  He dominated the pre season and training camp on the Mavs roster only to be cut.  The guy can play.  After the game i siad to him, "good game" he said "me?, not me".   The guy can play and shoot and is a great locker room presence.　

　

Courtney Pigram SG/PG

Pigram is a 6-1 guard from East Tennessee state college in which he won the men’s player of the year award. He has played in a few countries including Andorra and China. Pigram presently is enjoying a great season for the Red Claws, as he is averaging over 20 points per game and 3 assists. Pigram is a huge scoring threat at age 26. While in the D-league he has played for the Stampede and Red Claws. He is a future NBA SG.  Pigram is a true scorer.  He also made a all americian award in college.

Antiono Anderson SG/SF

Anderson is a Sg who played for the U of Memphis where he posted a triple double.  He is one of two players in the history of Memphis University to have contributed a triple double (the other being Penny Hardaway).   He went undrafted in 2009 but attened the Bobcats training camp.  He was cut but the Cats only to be signed to two 10 day contracts by the Thunder!!!.   He then played in the D-league for the Vipers.   After a injury he joined the Red Claws.