November 1-15, 2004

GLOBAL SPORTS PROGRAMMING NETWORK

November 7th, 2004

Dinos Better Than Expected

Greg Ross Dino Beat Reporter

Overall 5-5

Away 4-2 Home 1-3

Tied for 8th in Western Conference

Power Ranking-12th

The Roswell Dinos have had good and bad in the opening 10 games of the WBA schedule. Up until Montana came to town the Dinos were winless at home. After a humilating loss in Montana who was winless at the time the Dinos came back to return the favour as Walt Jackson had a career high 27 in the win. Christobal Dasher has been a soild performing averaging a double double. But on wonders how bad this team would be had they not acquired Buck Jones. Wesley Phillips has seen little time as a result and is very unhappy and rumours our he's been demanding a trade. However with his huge contract that is not likely to happen. Ajani Valentine has been spliting time at the 2 gaurd and the small forward since Walt Jackson moved to the small forward spot at the end of the preseason. Dasher in turn moved to the four allowing Roy Golden a free agent pick up to get into the starting line up. Coach Armstrong has been pleased with his teams play thus far and had this to say," I think we how over achieved a little which is good to see. This team is very young and as a result you never know what you'll get night in and night out. Once they devlop a consistant level of play you will see great things I think. Christbal Dasher is a guy who we have counted on to be a leader out on the floor and he has. Buck Jones has been shooting well and we hope once guys like Walt and Ajani get use to life in WBA that Buck will be able to shoot a little less and pass a little more." If the playoffs were to start today the Dinos would be tied for the 8th seed.

With that in mind I asked Owner Borbath if he felt the teams expectations have changed? Borbath stated," No not at all. like I have said the idea was to build for next season and if we made the playoffs we would love it if only to give our young players some experience at that level. But no matter what happens we feel that we have a great player in Walt Jackson." I also asked about Wesley Phillips and his situation. Borbath responded,"Wesley Phillips is

is a guy who is typical of professional sports today he was given a contract that was to big and now that he hasn't performed and got much playing time he is unhappy. Unfortunately for him and for us his contract is so large that because of cap restrictions and such he is almost untradeable. It isn't like I have GMs pounding down my door to get their hands on Wesley. I suspect the situation will be taken care of in the off season."

The Dinos have been impressive on the road at 4-2. Buck Jones said this about that," Well its no secret that the team is moving next year and I think it is a more comforterable situation for us on the road. It's something that will serve this franchise well if it carries on into next season and the rest of this year. I really have enjoyed my time since coming here and J.B our owner gets you excited to be here and is very excited about bringing basketball back to his home country. The idea of going to a new place is exciting. After being in Alaska I doubt Canada could be any colder."

Christbal Dasher will definately be part of the move and Buck Jones likely will be as well. But Dasher is locked in as far as a contract goes. We asked the veteran about his thoughts on his team thus far. Dasher says" It's fun to come to work again with all the young guys and a new owner who wants to win it's great. I mean last year was a long painful season for me. I hate to lose and it eats me up when ever we do. If we went 81-1 that 1 loss would still bug me. But 500 is a long way from where we were last year.I'm also happy playing at the four spot I think I get some better match ups playing there and Roy has done well at the center. When you get Buck at the point and Ajani and Walt on the court at the sametime with me its give us multi options on the floor and it makes baskets come easier for everyone. I think getting that win at home was big to get that monkey off our backs and to give those Motana guys some of it back. After we lost in their build I was furious. I got in Walt and Ajani's faces about it I think that game brought them down to earth. You got to work hard every night in WBA I don't care whos in front of ya."

I tried to get in touch with Wesley Phillips for some qoutes about his situation however he refused to comment.Well before the season started I said it was going to be a fun ride with this team and so far it has been. I expect it to continue as we go along.