Four-Game Fun: Skyforce Goes 4-0 on Homestand, Within Striking Distance of Showcase Cup Tournament

It’s been quite the eventful week at the Sanford Pentagon for the Sioux Falls Skyforce. After dropping three in a row on the road, the team has done a 180 – and is in position to fight for the franchise’s first berth in the Showcase Cup Tournament at the 2022 NBA G League Winter Showcase in Las Vegas in two weeks.

 The team went undefeated in a pivotal four-game homestand this past week. It marked the second time in 10 months under Head Coach Kasib Powell that the Skyforce has reeled off a four-game home winning streak. Counting the 2021-22 regular season and 2022-23 Showcase Cup, the Skyforce is 14-8 at home under Powell.

Sioux Falls (8-6) wrapped up the home portion of the Showcase Cup with a 7-1 record, tying the best record at home to start in the G League era, and franchise best since the G League created the Showcase Cup.

The 118-95 sweep of the Motor City Cruise on Saturday moved Sioux Falls to two games over .500 for the first time since 3/7/20.

It’s been a complete team effort. 22 players scored in double figures in four games, by far a record this season for the Force.

They have outscored the opponent 473-373, good for first in the G League in plus-minus (no team is above plus-70) and fifth in points scored. The Skyforce is also first in assists with 29.5 and second with 50.8 rebounds per game. Not to mention, the team averaged 12.8 three-point makes, good for sixth in the G League.

There have been three mainstays in the four-game winning streak: defensive intensity and the efficient play of Orlando Robinson and DJ Stewart

Defense Wins Games

Coming into the four-game swing, the Skyforce struggled to maintain defensive consistency.

In the last four, the team ranks first in the NBA G League with their defensive rating (88.0). Defensive rating is a metric used to measure how many points are scored per 100 possessions.

Sioux Falls is holding opponents to just 16.8 points off turnovers in the winning streak, good for fifth in the G League.

They are also only allowing 41 points in the paint, good for first, and only 10 second chance points, which is second.

If this continues, the league might be put on notice.

Dynamic Duo

We’ve seen some great dynamic duos over the years – especially recently in the Sanford Pentagon.

Whether that was Briante Weber and Jarnell Stokes in 2015-16, or Duncan Robinson and Yante Maten in 2018-19, we could be on the brink of a new one-two punch.

Orlando Robinson has put together a string of games we haven’t seen in the NBA G League era – seven-straight double doubles. The last one?

26 points on 9-15 FGA and 21 rebounds. The last time that happened was 11/28/18 and Robinson became the seventh player in Skyforce history to have a 20/20 game.

In his last four games, Big O is averaging 25.5 points on 61.9 percent shooting and 15.8 rebounds (second in the G League). His 63 total rebounds lead the league. He also has a plus-minus of 112, which is second in the G League. 

His play earned him his second NBA Call-Up of the season – a two-way contract with the Miami HEAT.

DJ Stewart has been the perfect counterpart to Robinson – scoring 18.5 points on 53.8 percent shooting, 3.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.5 steals during the winning streak.

He’s scored 50 points on 19-32 FGA (4-7 3PA) in the last two games combined. Simply put, if you need a bucket in crunch time, Stewart will provide. His impact has been felt – his plus-114 plus-minus in the last four games is good for best in the G League.

If Stewart continues his steady play, his name could be called next.

What’s Next?

The most important games for the Skyforce since the Showcase Cup portion of the season were created.

Sioux Falls plays the Grand Rapids Gold (2-10, 2-4 at home) on Monday and Wednesday night.

If the team wins out, they will be 10-6 and a shot to be on the outside looking in when it comes time for the Showcase Cup Tournament, where the winning team splits $100,000.

Two victories would also mean the first six-game winning streak since the start of the 2018-19 season.

Talk about a way to ring in the New Year, after Sioux Falls went 2-9 in the 2021-22 Showcase Cup.

Things are looking up – and if they continue – Skyforce basketball at the Sanford Pentagon the rest of the season is going to be a lot of fun.