New-look Vipers hope to snap five-game skid Wednesday vs. Colorado

PHARR - If anyone owns a Vipers program from the season-opener, it might be a good idea to purchase an updated version in advance of Wednesday night's game against the Colorado 14ers at Dodge Arena in Hidalgo.

Since the Vipers (7-13) last played at home, they've lost point guard Smush Parker to China, and power forward Joey Dorsey was recalled by the Houston Rockets. Further changing their look, the Vipers added forward Marcus Hubbard.

With nine active players, and without two starters, the Vipers look for their first victory since Jan. 2.

"We need to come out like rabid dogs and try to put a string of wins together," Vipers coach Clay Moser said. "Win three, lose one; win four lose two-type of runs as opposed to short winning streaks and longer losing streaks."

Moser pointed to a lack of energy and effort at the NBA Development League Showcase as the culprits for 20-plus point losses to Reno and Sioux Falls, but the team was in a position to win games last weekend at Albuquerque.

If the Vipers are to snap out of their losing spell Wednesday night, they'll need to be focused and energetic from the start if they want to keep up with Colorado (11-6). During the 14ers' previous visit they raced to a 135-121 victory over RGV on Dec. 9.

While Moser said the 14ers have slowed their pace just a bit with the loss of key players such as James Mays (torn Achilles, out for season), they do still have point guard Eddie Gill and NBA assignment player Sean Williams. Gill and Williams were teammates with the New Jersey Nets last season.

"It's not as crazy as it was. They've tempered that a little bit, but they still do come after you some," Moser said. "I suspect that they'll come after us quite a bit simply because we haven't handled it very well."

The Vipers are hoping new starting point guard Jared Jordan can withstand Colorado's onslaught and successfully orchestrate the offense. The 6-foot, 205-pound Jordan is the man who is taking the reins from Parker. He had a trial run a few weeks ago as the Marist product actually started two games for Parker after Christmas when Parker was benched for disciplinary reasons.

With Parker taking his game across the world to Guangdong, the Vipers are Jordan's team now.

"It's a good opportunity for me. It's kind of what I wanted," Jordan said. "Everybody wants an opportunity to play a lot and start. I'm ready for that. I want to see what I'm capable of doing, passing the ball and getting them easy shots.

"(Parker's) a good player. But it's basketball and you just have to have confidence in yourself. It's something you've been doing your whole life, and you're a professional now. You have to be ready and act the part."

IN THE BONUS: Wednesday will be Hubbard's home debut. A first-round pick of the Dakota Wizards in the 2008 D-League draft, Hubbard (6-9, 230) is averaging 6.0 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.0 assists in three games with the Vipers. He worked with the starters during Tuesday's practice, but Moser would not confirm that Hubbard would start tonight. He started last Saturday's game in Albuquerque.

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