RealGM's D-League Player of the Week: Pierre Jackson (Idaho Stampede)

Pierre Jackson exploded for a pair of 40-point games this week to go with a 32-point showing. The point guard from Baylor averaged 40.7 points, six assists, and 3.7 rebounds per game while shooting 52 percent from the field although Idaho dropped all three games this week on the road. He currently leads the league in scoring, at 30.7 points per game, and can score at will despite his 5-foot-10 size. Jackson’s rights are owned by the New Orleans Pelicans, meaning that’s the only team that can call him up to the NBA, and it’s quite perplexing that they haven’t given him a shot this season. With the absurd numbers that Jackson has posted, he has been named RealGM’s Player of the Week.
 
Game of the Week: Erie Bayhawks 111, Iowa Energy 110

The last game of the week turned out to be the most exciting. The Bayhawks trailed by as much as 16 in the second half, but went on a 15-4 run to end the third quarter. A dunk by Alex Oriakhi assisted by Lewis Jackson with 46.8 seconds left cut the lead to one. After Erie got a stop on the defensive end, Jackson was found underneath the basket and converted a layup on the left-hand side with 3.1 seconds left that gave Erie the victory.
 
Scott Suggs led the way with a team-high 27 points. Micah Downs contributed 22 points off the bench while Jackson recorded a double-double with 15 points and 10 assists.
 
For Iowa, Washington Wizards assignee Glen Rice Jr. scored a game-high 29 points including six three-pointers. Moses Ehambe chipped in an additional 23 points.
 
Five Stars

Isaiah Canaan (Rio Grande Valley Vipers): The Houston Rockets assignee averaged 25.8 points, 6.8 assists, and 4.5 rebounds per game this week while shooting 43 percent from the field and 36 percent from behind the arc. Although shot selection can sometimes be an issue, the point guard from Murray State knows how to score and can also set his teammates up for open looks. Cannan has rarely seen action with the Rockets at the NBA level, but has had a good showing in the D-League this week. It will be interesting to see how long Houston keeps him down to develop.
 
Troy Daniels (Rio Grande Valley Vipers): Daniels has shown himself to be an all-around scorer by averaging 28.3 points on 48 percent shooting this week. He can slash to the bucket and finish at the rim or draw a foul but can also stretch the floor as the VCU product was 46 percent from three-point range. The 6-foot-4 shooting guard has length that helps him on the defensive end, but his scoring ability makes him one of the top prospects in the D-League. He has a legitimate chance to earn an NBA call-up this season.
 
Frank Gaines (Maine Red Claws): Gaines had a pair of 30-point showings with 35 against Iowa and another 30 versus Fort Wayne. This week the IPFW alum averaged 25.3 points per game on an efficient 50 percent shooting from the floor. The 6-foot-3 combo guard has been one of the top players for Maine this season.
 
Tiny Gallon (Delaware 87ers): In back-to-back weeks Gallon finds himself in the “Five Stars” category. This time he averaged 24.3 points and 14 rebounds per game on 60 percent shooting in three games this week. At 6-foot-9 and 290 pounds, the Oklahoma alum is tough to stop around the basket while he has also flashed the ability to step out and hit a mid-range jumper. Gallon typically demands double-teams which has helped him improve as a passer. If he can keep up his conditioning while continuing to perform at this level, the former second round pick could find a spot on an NBA roster.
 
Archie Goodwin (Bakersfield Jam): Goodwin was sent down by the Phoenix Suns for two games where he proved why he was a first round selection. The 6-foot-5 shooting guard from Kentucky averaged 29.5 points and six rebounds per game while shooting 43 percent from the floor and 42 percent from three-point range. Although he has struggled to find minutes in Phoenix this season, Goodwin is still only 19 years old and has plenty of time to develop into a starter. His biggest issue has been shooting from distance, as he’s 3-of-28 from three in the NBA, but his 5-of-12 showing in two games this week may give him some confidence going forward.
 
Call Ups

Vander Blue (Delaware 87ers): After playing seven games in Israel, Blue only needed four games in the D-League to earn a 10-day contract with the Boston Celtics. Blue averaged 19 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game for the Delaware 87ers and had his most impressive display with 35 points in his final game before earning the call-up. The rookie shooting guard from Marquette has scored three points in two games where he has seen a total of 11 minutes.
 
Othyus Jeffers (Iowa Energy): Jeffers was averaging an impressive 22.8 points and 11.4 rebounds per game while shooting 50 percent from the field this year for the Iowa Energy before earning a 10-day contract with the San Antonio Spurs. The 6-foot-5 shooting guard has bounced around in the NBA over the past few seasons but has yet to find a landing spot. Jeffers has played in both games while he’s been on the roster, scoring seven points on 3-of-4 shooting in a combined 18 minutes of action. He adds a tough defensive mindset with the injuries of Danny Green and Kawhi Leonard.
 
And One: Prospects from the D-League are starting to find a role on NBA rosters as James Nunnally (Atlanta Hawks), Dewayne Dedmon (Philadephia 76ers), and Manny Harris (Los Angeles Lakers) all earned additional 10-day contracts this week. It’s also reported by CSN New England that Chris Johnson is expected to earn an additional 10-day contract of his own with the Boston Celtics. NBA rules state that a team may only sign a player to two 10-day contracts in one season, meaning the upcoming games will be huge for these four players. If they continue to impress their respective teams, they have the chance of sticking on the roster for the remainder of the season.