Dorsey making an impact with Vipers

HIDALGO - Joey Dorsey isn't trying to impress anybody at this week's NBA Development League showcase in Orem, Utah. He's just happy to be back to playing basketball again.

After helping Memphis reach the NCAA tournament championship game last April, the 6-foot-9, 268-pound power forward was selected in the second round (No. 33 overall) by Portland, who traded his right to Houston.

Unfortunately for Dorsey, he injured his ankle in summer league, and then played just two minutes in three games for the Rockets because of a logjam of big men in Houston and a painful case of plantar fasciitis. He was assigned to the Vipers the day after Christmas.  

Sent to the Valley with Rockets assistant strength coach James Scott, Dorsey is averaging 11.8 points and 9.5 rebounds per game in four games with the Vipers. His minutes are being monitored to approximately 30 per game (he's averaging 30.5), which of course is much more than he was logging in Houston.

"It's been great playing a lot of minutes," Dorsey said. "The foot still hurts. It hurts after the games are over. It's getting better, but after the game I have to ice it for 15, 20 minutes because it hurts really bad."

Dorsey appeared to be laboring during Saturday's 116-105 loss to Albuquerque. He admitted before the game that when fatigue sets in he is more cognizant of his foot.

"Once I start feeling it, I start to favor it and begin running on my tippy-toes a lot and that makes the inflammation build up," Dorsey said. "(Scott) told me to keep running on my heels."

The Vipers (7-9 heading into Monday's game) expect to have Dorsey at least through this weekend's games at Albuquerque.

"We're sure glad to have him," Vipers coach Clay Moser said. "We don't have to limit him. They just asked that we get him 30 (minutes) a night."

D-League call-up

The Golden State Warriors signed Idaho forward Jarmareo Davidson on Monday. He was averaging 16.1 points and 10.8 rebounds with the Stampede. The 6-foot-10 Davidson had 15 points and 11 rebounds during a 102-97 loss to the Vipers on Dec. 7 at Dodge Arena.

Upcoming schedule

After playing Reno late Monday night, the Vipers conclude their Showcase schedule at noon on Wednesday against Sioux Falls. The Vipers lost to the Skyforce 121-118 in overtime on Dec. 11 at Dodge Arena in their previous meeting.

Following Wednesday's game, the Vipers travel to Albuquerque for Friday and Saturday games against the Thunderbirds before having six of their next eight games at home.

Todd Mavreles covers the Rio Grande Valley Vipers for The Monitor. You can reach him at (956) 683-4451.