Got to give them credit.

The Erie BayHawks could have folded tonight, but they took Springfield out in the fourth quarter to prevail, 107-90.

After the game, I got a chance to interview Springfield coach Dee Brown, who we all know and love for what he did in winning the 1991 NBA Slam Dunk Contest with the no-look dunk.

Much is made in the D-League on hiring names and how that can be a good thing or bad thing. After watching Brown, I think the guy not only has an idea of how to coach, but more importantly, has an idea of what the D-League is.

“It’s not a very easy league to coach in,” Brown said. “When I took the job, I knew it was going to be that way. … Somebody told me a quote that you got training camp and you got 18 guys trying to get into the league. Then when you make the team, you got 10 guys trying to get out the next day.”

True.

So although Springfield had the D-League’s worst record at 7-43, Brown knows the mentality of the players. So he’s a step ahead for next season.