The Eastern Conference champion Iowa Energy, the No. 1 seed in the upcoming NBA Development League Playoffs, selected the seventh-seeded Utah Flash as their opponent in the first round of the 2011 NBA D-League Playoffs, it was announced today following a teleconference held with the league’s eight playoff-bound teams.
For the third consecutive year, the top three seeds in the NBA D-League playoffs – the two conference champions and the wild card team with the best regular season record – had the opportunity to select their first round opponent among the four lowest-seeded playoff teams. The lower-seeded team will host Game 1 of the best-of-three first round, while the higher-seeded team will host Games 2 and 3, if necessary.
The Reno Bighorns (34-16), the No. 2 seed and the Western Conference champions, selected the No. 5 seed Erie BayHawks (32-18). That series will begin on Sunday, April 10, when the BayHawks host the Bighorns at 5 p.m. ET. The Rio Grande Valley Vipers (33-17), the No. 3 seed, chose the sixth-seeded Bakersfield Jam (29-21), and will tip off on Friday, April 8, at 10 p.m. ET at Bakersfield.
The two remaining playoff teams, the No. 4 seed Tulsa 66ers (33-17) and No. 8 seed Texas Legends (24-26), will begin play on Wednesday, April 6, at 8 p.m. ET at
The second game between
Dates and times for the best-of-three semifinals have yet to be determined and will be announced when they are available. The semifinals will follow the same format as the first round, with the lower-seeded team hosting Game 1 and the higher-seeded team hosting Games 2 and 3, if necessary. The three-game NBA D-League Finals will tip off following the conclusion of the semifinals and will follow the same format.
Final Playoff Picture
Clinched Playoff Berth:
First Pick:
Second Pick: Reno Bighorns selected Erie, they are 1-0 against Erie this season.
Third Pick: Rio Grande Valley Vipers chose Bakersfield, they are 2-2 against Bakersfield this season.
First-Round Series (Best of Three)
Game 1 - Wednesday, April 6 -
Game 2 - Monday, April 11 -
*Game 3 - Tuesday, April 12 -
Reno Bighorns v. Erie BayHawks
Game 1 - Sunday, April 10 - Reno @ Erie, 5 pm ET
Game 2 - Tuesday, April 12 - Erie @ Reno, 10 pm ET
*Game 3 - Thursday, April 14 - Erie @ Reno, 10 pm ET
Rio Grande Valley Vipers v. Bakersfield Jam
Game 1 - Friday, April 8 - Rio Grande Valley @ Bakersfield, 10 pm ET (VERSUS, 11:30 p.m. ET)
Game 2 - Tuesday, April 12 - Bakersfield @ Rio Grande Valley, 8 pm ET
*Game 3 - Wednesday, April 13 - Bakersfield @ Rio Grande Valley, 8 pm ET
Tulsa 66ers v.
Game 1 - Wednesday, April 6 - Tulsa @
Game 2 - Friday, April 8 -
*Game 3 - Sunday, April 10 -