2 Up, 2 Down

Sometimes, teams are OK with being OK. They win some, lose some, and don’t get too high or low throughout. There have been times this season that the Rio Grande Valley Vipers have had these lulls. Over their last four games, they went even, 2-2.

The good news is that Isaiah Taylor returned to the lineup last week. While his impact was limited upon returning, he gives the Vipers a more explosive option than the steady Darius Morris.

With Morris, the team sometimes is just OK. He scores his points and moves the ball, but doesn’t push the pace like the speedy Taylor can. Taylor will be getting back to full throttle soon, and that is great news for an RGV team that started the season with high expectations, and have been just average since.

The D-League All Star rosters were announced and not one Viper made the cut. All Star Skills participants haven’t been announced yet, but it would be no surprise to see Jarvis Threatt, JP Tokoto, or my prediction, Gary Payton II, to represent in the dunk contest.

The Three Most Venomous Vipers

Darius Morris: The NBA veteran point guard has filled in admirably with Isaiah Taylor out, and even now that Taylor is back. He went for 30 points in RGV’s win over Sioux Falls.

JP Tokoto: A leading candidate for NBA D-League Defensive Player of the Year, Tokoto had a ridiculous six steals in the team’s matchup with Santa Cruz.

Jarvis Threatt: One of the longest tenured Vipers, Threatt scored double digits in three of the four most recent games off the bench.

Rental Rockets Report

Chinanu Onuaku: 16.7 PPG and 9.5 RPG over the last four games.

Kyle Wiltjer: 14.5 PPG over the last two games on 10-36 shooting.

Upcoming Must See Matchups

2/10 & 2/11 vs. Sioux Falls Skyforce

The Vipers will play a back to back against the Skyforce, who will be without recently called up No. 1 prospect Briante Weber, now on a 10-day contract with the Golden State Warriors

2/14 vs. Texas Legends

In a Valentine’s Day matchup, Manny Harris and the Legends will travel to State Farm Arena.