Each week, ESPNDallas.com will take a look at the Texas Legends, the D-League affiliate for the Dallas Mavericks, in order to see how the two are working hand in hand to improve one another.
To this point, Texas Legends forward Eric Griffin hasn’t gotten a call-up to live his dream of playing in the NBA. With a chip on his shoulder, he’s taken out his disappointment on the rest of the D-League. In turn, he’s been rewarded for his efforts as Griffin was selected to play in the 2015 NBA Development League All-Star Game. The game will tip off at 1:30 p.m. CT on Sunday, February 15th at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY and will air live on NBA TV.
Griffin came to the Legends from the Dallas Mavericks training camp. His results with the Legends reveal why the Mavs had such in an interest in the dynamic forward during the Las Vegas Summer League. In 27 games with the Legends this season, the standout has averaged 18.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.4 steals and 2.7 blocks in 34.4 minutes of play.
The intrigue is there in his game due to his ability to make an impact on both sides of the floor. His agility, strength and athleticism allow him to get deep in the paint and convert down low for high-percentage opportunities. In addition, his length allows him to have a strong enough disposition on the defensive end of the floor.
The 6-8 product of Campbell University was also named to the Honorable Mention All-Showcase team earlier this season.
Coming off the All-Star announcement, Griffin played like an All-Star as he tied for team-high honors with 20 points on 50 percent shooting from the field and 3-point range and added four blocked shots in the team’s 99-90 loss to the Canton Charge on Wednesday.
Mark your calendars
The Legends have a home-and-home, back-to-back series with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers. The first game will be played in Frisco on Saturday, February 7 at 7:00 p.m. CT. In what will be the fourth meeting between the two teams in nine days, the Legends will travel to Hildago to take on the Vipers on Sunday. The game will tip off at 5:00 p.m. CT. Texas will then host the Santa Cruz Warriors on Wednesday, February, with the game tipping off at Dr. Pepper Arena at 7:00 p.m. CT.
Fans will be able to watch the D-League live on the NBA D-League YouTube Channel (YouTube.com/nbadleague), the Legends’ website, as well as via the NBA D-League Center Court mobile app -- the league’s free mobile application providing fans with access to NBA D-League content.
But not least …
Last week, ESPN’s Tom Haberstroh and Grantland’s Zach Lowe shined a light on an intriguing development in the NBA. Their studies revealed that home-court advantage isn’t what it used to be. Home teams won just below 64 percent of their games during the 1974-75 season. That number has steadily dropped over time and has reached a new low mark as home teams are winning around 54 percent of their games this season.
On the D-League level, Texas is the only team in the entire league that is playing above .500 but has a losing record at home. The Legends are just 5-9 at Dr. Pepper Arena this season. They will look to rectify that record and protect their home floor in their final 11 home games of the season.
