If D-League All-Star forward Ivan Johnson gets an NBA call-up, what will happen to the Erie BayHawks?

The question is will they end the regular season that way?

With a 23-9 record, the BayHawks have won their last eight games, have a superstar in Ivan Johnson and are playing with great chemistry under a first-year head coach in Jay Larranaga, who just turned 36 last month.

Will the winning continue?

As the BayHawks come out of the D-League All-Star break, here are five things to watch for as they resume play Thursday night at Tulsa (24-10), which leads the West Conference.

1. Ivan Johnson – If he gets an NBA call-up within say the next three weeks, Erie will have to play at least four to five games without him. That could be a turning point in the season.

2. Tulsa and Iowa – The BayHawks have to play the 66ers (24-10) three times and the Energy five times. Erie is 1-1 against Iowa (25-10), which is just .05 percentage points lower than them in terms of record. Big games for Erie.

3. Home cooking – With a 12-1 record at Tullio Arena, Erie will play 11 of its last 18 games at home. The BayHawks, who have won 11 consecutive home games, close out the regular season with five home games. Can they stay hot at home?

4. Making more changes – Adding PF Alton Ford gives Erie more size, but the team is rolling. Larranaga says they’re more talented with Ford and Garrett Temple returning from the Milwaukee Bucks, but will they all mesh?

5. Defensive-minded? – Erie prides itself on being a defensive team, but it has allowed at least 100 points in six of its last seven games. Erie had only given up 100 points 10 times in its previous 16 games. Can it get defensive again?