Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Playoffs: Day Ten

A snapshot of each PG in each game of the 2008 NBA Playoffs

TOR @ ORL (GAME 5)

TJ Ford (TOR) – You know, he played exactly half the game (24 minutes) and produced 14/5/5; if I didn’t know any better, I’d say that’s a triple-dip pace… Ah, but stats don’t tell everything, he and Calderon were outplayed this series by Jameer Nelson, plain and simple… Will he be around? Or if he is, will he be starting? … Averaged 11 points this series (below his season average) and shot just 36% FG.
Jose Calderon (TOR) – Also did the “half-a-game” thing… 12/3/4, not bad, but like Ford, wasn’t the best at his position in this series… May be saying adios to his buddy Ford now… Although you get the feeling Toronto would much rather part with Ford than the budding Calderon, especially if Mike D’Antoni is in the pipeline.
Jameer Nelson (ORL) – Successfully made that two-headed point-guard dinosaur extinct… It wasn’t enough that he thoroughly beat CalderFord, but he also tacked seven extra points per game over his seasonal average (from 10 to 17) in this series… his 19 points came on 7-13 FG… Hit a huge three that ended things with roughly three minutes left… Great series considering expectations.
Keyon Dooling (ORL) – Nine valuable points in 17 bench minutes.

BOS @ ATL (GAME 4)

Rajon Rondo (BOS) – The only blemish on an otherwise fine night (14/3/12) was his 6-16 shooting… Was finally outscored – not sure if outplayed – by Mike Bibby… Always love to see how young PG’s respond to playoff pressure, well, he gets his chance in Game 5.
Sam Cassell (BOS) – Seven ineffective minutes for the 53-year old.
Mike Bibby (ATL) – Shot better than 50%? Outscored the guy he was going against? Hawks tie series? Am I making this up? … Finally showed up, and it helped his team tie the series… Look for another big game in Game 5; also look for him to make me look oh so smart and go 2-13.

LAL @ DEN (GAME 4)

Derek Fisher (LAL) – Tough game for Nostradamus… I guess his whole looking-ahead-to-Utah theory after Game 2 ain’t looking so cocky now… Had just seven points on 3-9 FG in 39 minutes… Pretty quiet series – just 8.5 points on 43% FG.
Jordan Farmar (LAL) – Six points in 13 minutes… Probably didn’t contribute as much as LA would’ve liked, but hey, they won 4-0 so what do I know?
Allen Iverson (DEN) – Unfortunately, having the biggest heart doesn’t equate to playoff advancement… The good news is he can now give his body a rest… Great season, barring his rookie year and the famed 2001 MVP campaign, my favorite Iverson season… still got it… had just 22 points in Game 5 on 10-22 FG… Averaged just 24.5 for the series, but had two 30-plus games in LA.
Anthony Carter (DEN) – All you need to know is that he had a hard time finding a suitable matchup, and was basically deemed useless or unusable (pick one) by George Karl… good year for AC though, may have found a home.

Monday, April 28, 2008

Playoffs: Day Nine

A snapshot of each PG in each game of the 2008 NBA Playoffs

CLE @ WAS
Delonte West (CLE) – Was Paxson to Lebron’s Jordan… hit the game-winning three with less than five ticks left, off a James feed, for a 100-97 lead… Capped a 21-point afternoon… Just what the Cavs needed today.
Daniel Gibson (CLE) – Boy, his outside shooting sure is a breath of fresh air, isn’t it? Was starting to think that any non-manchild wearing a Cavs’ jersey was offensively inept… continuing strong playoffs… 12 points off the bench… averaging 12 points in three CLE wins.
Gilbert Arenas (WAS) – Got through a full game today… Played 32 minutes after just 10 in Game 3… Missed potential game-tying three, this after hitting crazy banker to tie it… Just doesn’t have that Agent Zero feel right now… Needs a vintage performance if his team is to win Game 5.
Antonio Daniels (WAS) – Seven points in 17 minutes.

SA @ PHX
Tony Parker (SA) – Actually seemed mortal today… Of course, 35 points would’ve seemed mortal compared to that Game 3 masterpiece… The most effective guy guarding him? Hill, nope. Bell, nope. Nash, yeah OK. Boris Diaw? You betcha! Go figure… Promised big game for Game 5.
Damon Stoudamire (SA) – 11 points in 13 gar-bagh-related minutes… Break out the dinosaur Raptors jerseys… In all seriousness, nice to see Mighty Mouse out there.
Steve Nash (PHX) – Won’t knock you dead with his digits, but still crammed 15/5/4 into 29 minutes… I’d love to see a classic Nash 26-point/14-assist performance in Game 5… Is that too much to ask?

DET @ PHI

Chauncey Billups (DET) – As one Pistonologist noted to me prior to gametime: “He needs to just imagine that Andre Miller has a Kidd or Nash jersey on, then he might respect him…” Any questions? … Had his best game of the series: 18/6/7… Still needs to turn up the juice, or better yet, cut Miller down.
Rodney Stuckey (DET) – Little-used after getting good burn earlier in the series.
Andre Miller (PHI) – Basically was “out-Millered” by Billups… Just 13 points in 42 minutes, after averaging 18.3 coming in… Will “out-Millered” ever become part of everyday hoops vernacular?
Louis Williams (PHI) – Went for 10 points in 13 minutes… poor man’s Pargo.

NO @ DAL
Chris Paul (NO) – Man, is it disappointing or what when he has a so-so night? … Just kidding, instead of putting up Kevin Johnson-like numbers he got himself a W instead… Looking forward to seeing his approach to a Game 5 that his Hornets should win.
Jannero Pargo (NO) – Had an eventful two-game stretch in Dallas… Went for 30 in Game 3, was the subject of a Jason Kidd takedown in Game 4… In all honestly, I think Kidd was checking his head for lice… OK, maybe not… Has had a nice series, perhaps an underrated cog to this juggernaut known as the Hornets.
Jason Kidd (DAL) – Capped perhaps his worst playoff game ever with a McHale-like takedown of Pargo… hopefully won’t be suspended… If you look closely, he wasn’t going after him… Just 3 points on 1-6 FG.

Sunday, April 27, 2008

PG Playoff Watch


We're a week into these playoffs, so here are some thoughts on five notable PG's:

Jameer Nelson (ORL) – The same guy who was said to be killed by The Great Calderon/Ford tandem (gotta be honest, there was a hint of sarcasm in that) has proven to be the Magic’s playoff barometer: In Orlando’s three wins he averages 20.3 points, while in their one loss (Game 3) he had just six, albeit with back spasms, while giving up 39 and 16 to CalderFord. Oddly enough, he’s gone Horry on us and played his best ball of the year after the regular season finishes.

Tony Parker (SA) – To be brutally graphic, there were traces of vomit in my mouth after watching Parker’s 41-point performance against the Suns in Game 3. I wasn’t sick from watching Parker, but rather, how the Suns chose to defend that suddenly-vaunted pick-n-roll that he and Duncan have made borderline unguardable. Parker is the top scorer in a series that involves Amare Stoudemire and Tim Duncan, and also has him matched with Steve Nash. Speaking of…

Steve Nash (PHO) – I’m in total denial about his decline, but Friday’s game was the first time in the four years that I’ve closely watched the Suns in The Nash Era where I’ve seen the Suns down, and have had doubts about whether Nashy – as he has done time and again – could bring them back. He couldn’t. He even claimed to being “an outsider” and that’s a good way to put it. He just seems a step slower, he’s not getting into the nooks-and-crannies of every defense as much, is finding it increasingly harder to get his shot off, has kept pushing the ball up to a minimum, and has had the unenviable task of trying to guard Parker with Grant Hill hobbled. I’m a firm believer in never writing off champions, and I’m not doing that here, but I think it’s time to get him a back-up that will allow him his 30 minutes (max) per night for the ’09 season. Of course, Phoenix drafted Rajon Rondo in 2006 and owner Robert Sarver – in a fit of rage that involved them burning draft picks in the name of luxury tax - gave him away.

Andre Miller (PHI) – It’s not every day that an underrated guy (like Miller) totally busts a perennial All-Star (Billups) in a playoff series. Of course, this series is basically still in its infancy; and a guy as good as Billups surely can’t continue to have this odor for an entire series – right? – so maybe I’m jumping the gun. All I know is this: Miller was the Sixers’ MVP this year, was the single biggest reason (Iguodala included) why Philly has thrived in the post-AI era, and is still known by less fans than ever.

Rafer Alston (HOU)
– I have to give credit here. I stated, just last week, that with Alston or no Alston, Deron Williams was going to have his way with Houston in this series. Well, in the first two games – minus Alston – Williams was the key to Utah coming out of Texas up 2-0. However, Alston has returned to the series for the games in Salt Lake, and I honestly underestimated the impact that he had on these Rockets. Not only did he take the ball-handling responsibilities away from T-Mac in the fourth quarter of both games – believe me, giving McGrady one less thing to think about in crunch-time is huge – but he has given Houston hope. Yeah, they’re down 3-1, but they’re going back to Houston, and they have their PG back.

Thursday, April 24, 2008

Playoffs: Day Five

A snapshot of each PG in each game of the 2008 NBA Playoffs

PHI @ DET
Andre Miller (PHI) – Modest game by his suddenly-lofty Sixer standards… actually out-played Billups though… 14 points and just three assists… the only Philly to starter to show up.
Louis Williams (PHI) – 17 points in 23 minutes off the bench… shame much of it came when the game was cooked, glazed, and ready to serve.
Chauncey Billups (DET) – Second straight sub-par game… I honestly wonder how much it has to do with either his opponent (Miller) or his mindset? … When was the last time he had two bad straight games? … Will probably have back-to-back 25-point games, and several daggers, in the two games in Philly.
Rodney Stuckey (DET) – How could anyone not like this guy? … I don’t know what it is, but I love him… 12 points in 28 minutes, but more importantly, he’s out there when it counts… only he and Maxiell played off the bench when the game was still to be decided.

ATL @ BOS
Mike Bibby (ATL) – He of big mouth… Well, that bandwagon comment sure went down well, didn’t it? … By the way, he’s 4-17 FG since he made those comments… If the crowd wasn’t in his head, then Rondo sure was… Can he get his game back?
Acie Law (ATL) – Popped off the bench for 12 points… 4-4 FG, 4-4 FT, and four TO’s, that’s symmetry people.
Rajon Rondo (BOS) – I was going to write “ageing by the day” but that would’ve made absolutely no sense… He’s busting Bibby so far… How about this: He’s growing with every game. Yep, that’s it… Oh yeah, by the way, 12/6/8 and four steals.
Sam Cassell (BOS) – Seems to be content coming off the bench - until they play an actual contender that is… 10 points in 12 minutes, led the bench in points.
Eddie House (BOS) – Three minutes and no points… why am I telling you this?

DEN @ LAL
Allen Iverson (DEN) – Started at the point with Carter shuffled to the bench… Seriously, he shows up for every big Nuggets game, can’t say the same about Melo… 31 and six, I swear, he’ll slow down one day… OK, no he won’t… Has been T’d up both games.
Anthony Carter (DEN) – Big Lakers lineup – and the fact Kenyon Martin is guarding Kobe - has basically made A.C. redundant… just nine ineffective minutes off the bench.
Derek Fisher (LAL) – I was surprised by his “Looking forward to playing Utah” comments prior to the game… If you get busted for 30 every night (like Fisher does guarding AI), then you’re probably one of the last guys who can talk… 10 points in 29 minutes… I hope Iverson lays 40 on him sometime before this series ends.
Jordan Farmar (LAL) – Yet to light the playoffs on fire… just four points, on 2-6 FG, in 19 minutes.

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Playoffs: Day Four

A snapshot of each PG in each game of the 2008 NBA Playoffs

DAL @ NO
Jason Kidd (DAL) – Dropped a 7/4/8 stink-bomb on 3-10 FG… What do you know? A rare “triple-single” for Kidd… Still a legend, don’t get me wrong… Let’s do the math: Kidd 18 points and 17 assists, Paul 67 points and 27 assists through two games.
Jason Terry (DAL) – 16 points in 31 minutes off the bench.
Chris Paul (NO) – Missed six shots from the field and two FT’s in Game 2… turned it over three times in 39 minutes… had five fouls… oh yeah, put on one of the best point guard displays for someone his age maybe ever… If this were the regular season, a 32/5/17 line would have fantasy owners hyperventilating.
Jannero Pargo (NO) – 10 points and four assists in 22 minutes off the bench… Now, that is more like it.

TOR @ ORL
T.J. Ford (TOR) – Missed two jumpers and had two turnovers in the first five minutes of the fourth, was promptly hiked from the game… Was 1-8 from the field… Not to use the same un-funny joke as in my Game 1 recap, but “Why is he starting again?”
Jose Calderon (TOR) – Played identical time (24 minutes) as Ford and had 12 more points and three less turnovers… hit two big 3s late… 18 and 5 on efficient shooting and low turnover-count is more like Calderon than Game 1.
Jameer Nelson (ORL) – Still riding high after Game 1… Has a combined 42 points in the last two games; hadn’t had a combined 40+ over two games all year… Clearly winning the PG battle thus far.
Keyon Dooling (ORL) – Is clearly The Coaches Choice as Nelson’s backup over Carlos Arroyo… Committed dumb foul that gave the Raptors the last possession, and a chance to steal it… shot 2-9 FG in 18 minutes.
Carlos Arroyo (ORL) – The only way he gets more minutes is if the entire Toronto squad plays in USA Olympic jerseys and pretends it’s 2004.

PHX @ SA

Steve Nash (PHX) – Always want him to shoot more when he has nights like this (10-15 FG)… Was a little rattled in that third-quarter collapse… There’s a first time for everything… Is having a helluva time on defense… He’ll be ready for Game 3.
Tony Parker (SA) – Got anywhere he wanted in Game 2, most notably the paint, and proclaimed afterwards “He has no fear” when penetrating… 32 points and seven assists… Will always shoot a high percentage when he shoots from an average of six-feet.
Jacque Vaughn (SA) – Five minutes and no points… classic Jacque Vaughn performance.

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Playoffs: Day 3

A snapshot of each PG in each game of the 2008 NBA Playoffs

WAS @ CLE (GAME 2)
Antonio Daniels (WAS) – Once again, split a game with Arenas… Unlike the ’06 series, has failed to make an impact… Just eight points in two games, including four in Game 2.
Gilbert Arenas (WAS) – Looked like “Played-just-a-dozen-games-since-November Gilbert” tonight… Shot just 2-10… think he regrets pre-series comments? ... Friendly confines of home may do the trick… Will he crack that starting lineup?
Roger Mason (WAS) – Made the most of gar-bagh time… 10 points in 22 minutes… Played mostly at the two.
Delonte West (CLE) – Way down on Game 1 production – turns out, Cavs didn’t need a big one from him… As always, takes a huge amount of ball-handling responsibility from LBJ… Shot just 1-5 FG in 23 minutes.
Daniel Gibson (CLE) – 13 points in 29 minutes… think Cleveland didn’t miss him down the stretch of the regular season?

UTH @ HOU (GAME 2)
Deron Williams (UTH) – Really won’t be challenged this series, Alston or no-Alston… 22 points on 8-15 FG… found time to block two shots… Not get too far ahead, but you think Kobe might guard him the second round? … Scary part for Houston is, this guy is a killer at home.
Ronnie Price (UTH) – Eight points in eight minutes off the bench in a six-point decision? You’ll certainly take it… If you’re counting at home, that’s 13 points in 11 minutes this series.
Bobby Jackson (HOU) – Played a lot better than Game 1… Still shot poorly (7-17 FG), but that Sacramento Bobby Jackson was there… Tough ask to play starters minutes against a good team when he’s been a bench guy for going-on eight years.
Aaron Brooks (HOU) – Like Jackson, redeemed himself after a poor series opener… 11 points in 18 minutes on 5-9 FG… Unfortunately, didn’t translate to a win… how will he handle the tough confines of Utah?

Monday, April 21, 2008

PG Evaluations: New York


Over the coming weeks, 'Runnin' The Point' will be taking a look at every team's PG situation based on this year and offering an assessment, starting with non-playoff teams.

KEY NUMBER: 1 – The number of times Stephon Marbury has averaged 20 and seven over the course of a full season as a Knick. The significance? He did it each of the five seasons prior to this train-wreck known as the Marbury-Isiah Era.

THE GOOD STUFF: (… taking a deep breath…) Marbury was good once; I swear - he really was. Well, he was never a traditional PG, but there was a time when you’d put his numbers up against anyone. As a matter of fact, if I remember correctly, Oscar Robertson was the only other guy to average 21 and eight assists over his first eight seasons. Of course, that guy is long gone – never coming back. His actions are fast making this one of the most hilarious legacies ever. Wait a minute… whoops… this is “The Good Stuff:” My bad…

THE BAD STUFF: Do I really need to do this?

THE BACK-UP: Nate Robinson, he of 943-dunk-attempts-to-claim-the-2006-dunk–comp fame, actually had a decent year – 12.7 points, 2.9 assists, and probably one catch-ya-off-guard-dunk every ten games. Robinson has improved his game steadily in each of his three years, but honestly, if you take a look around the league do you see any team that he’d fit in well with? Could easily be out of the league in three years, if that makes any sense. He’s just that kind of guy.

EVALUATION: Donnie Walsh should be scanning the free-agent list as we speak for a decent PG, if only he had the dollars to spend. New York is pretty much stuck with what they have. Marbury had season-ending surgery on his ankle halfway through this season, but Walsh has reportedly told “Starbury” (snickering) that he figures in the Knicks’ plans for the ’09 campaign. Seriously, he did. What would it take for him to turn this stuff around? Realize his limitations at his age, control his ego, play like a traditional PG, try to average maybe 14 and eight, and basically do the opposite of everything he’s ever done. Harsh? Yes, but honestly, this is what he should do.

ALSO SEE: PG Evaluation Index

Playoffs: Day 2

A snapshot of each PG in each game of the 2008 NBA Playoffs

TOR @ ORL (GAME 1)
T.J. Ford (TOR) – 1-9 FG in 22 minutes… thoroughly outplayed by Jameer Nelson… why is he starting again?
Jose Calderon (TOR) – 9 points, 8 assists… but like Ford shot poorly (3-11 FG)
Jameer Nelson (ORL) – Faced doubters who said he’d get eaten alive this series… first 20-point game since January (24 points)… killed the Toronto PG tandem, then gave us the whole “I’m as good as them…” speech afterwards, uh-huh…
Keyon Dooling (ORL) – Continued Magic PG dominance… 10 points in 17 valuable bench minutes.

DEN @ LAL (GAME 1)
Anthony Carter (DEN) – Struggled to find a suitable spot against bigger Lakers… probably will come off bench in Game 2… hard foul on Kobe in the third which I enjoyed because Kobe gave the whole “He’s not worthy of fouling me” face afterwards
Allen Iverson (DEN) – 30/5/7 line… another ho-hum from AI… struggled from the foul line, continuing late-season theme… probably was operating on 23 minutes sleep… who on LA does he guard? Or should I say, who guards him?
Derek Fisher (LAL) – Non-factor… always valued on defensive end though… shot just 1-5 FG in 29 minutes.
Jordan Farmar (LAL) – Also a non-factor… six points in 19 minutes.

PHI @ DET (GAME 1)
Andre Miller (PHI) – Came on after a slow start… 20 points in 45 hard minutes… huge put-back late in the fourth after Billups refused to box him out… continues to be overlooked – continues to put up games like this in total anonymity.
Louis Williams (PHI) – Nice contribution with nine points in 22 minutes.
Chauncey Billups (DET) – Shot poorly from the field (3-9 FG)… having said that, why just nine shots? Outplayed by Miller… clanked three FT’s in this one, had done that just once all season… don’t expect another stinker in Game 2.
Lindsey Hunter (DET) – Dusted off the mothballs… hit a three in 12 minutes of burn.

ATL @ BOS (GAME 1)
Mike Bibby (ATL) – I was real excited about his playoff experience… by the way, he was killed by a playoff debutant (Rondo)… shot just 2-10 FG… did I mention he has playoff experience? … also had just one assist in 34 minutes.
Acie Law (ATL) – Hit his only shot in garbage time… welcome to the playoffs.
Rajon Rondo (BOS) – In the first Boston playoff game since the great Dennis Johnson passed away, Rondo had a classic DJ-like performance (apologies for hoop sacrilege)… 15/6/9/2 steals and shut down a so-called playoff performer (Bibby)… any questions about his youth and inexperience?
Sam Cassell (BOS) – 10 points and instant offense in 16 minutes off the bench… exactly what they got him for.
Eddie House (BOS) – Hit a three, all is well in the world

Sunday, April 20, 2008

Chris Paul's Playoff Debut

I questioned Chris Paul's lack of playoff experience... everyone questioned it. Sure, it was only one game, but geez, talk about putting that talk to rest.


Playoffs: Day 1

WAS @ CLE (GM 1)
Antonio Daniels (WAS) – Started but played bench minutes (20), scored four points.
Gilbert Arenas (WAS) – Best scoring game since return, looked confident, shot well (8-16 FG, 4-5 3-PT), fouled out.
Roger Mason (WAS) – 12 scoreless minutes.
Delonte West (CLE) – 16/5/5 with two steals and two blocks? Yeah, that’ll work as leader of LeBron’s entourage.
Daniel Gibson (CLE) – 11 points, five assists, two 3s, in almost two-and-a-half quarters of work in best game since February.

PHX @ SA (GM 1)
Steve Nash (PHX) – Spent all day Friday in bed with the flu, scored just 11 in regulation, hit 14 more in two OT’s (25 points), added 13 assists, hit crazy three at the end of the 2OT, just two TO’s in 45 minutes.
Tony Parker (SA) – 26 points in 51 minutes, shot very well (11-20 FG), fouled out.
Jacque Vaughn (SA) – 3 scoreless minutes – let’s hear it for Jacque Vaughn!

DAL @ NO (GM 1)

Jason Kidd (DAL) – Had trouble keeping Paul out of the paint, 11/9/9 isn’t too bad right? Five shots in 39 minutes one game after a 27-point night aren’t enough.
Jason Terry (DAL) – 24 uneventful minutes for eight points.
Tyronn Lue (DAL) – One minute.
Chris Paul (NO) – Not a bad playoff debut huh? 35 points, 10 assists, and one giant big “You were worried about my playoff debut?” statement… now, can he do it over a series?
Jannero Pargo (NO) – Tough shooting night (1-9 FG) for Hornet super-sub, better player than this.

UTH @ HOU (GM 1)
Deron Williams (UTH) – Took advantage of Rockets’ lack of PG depth, 20 points and 10 assists in 44 controlled minutes.
Ronnie Price (UTH) – Spotted Williams for four minutes.
Bobby Jackson (HOU) – Playing out of position, had a costly turnover instead of an open layup, struggles mightily with his shot (3-15 FG) in 33 minutes.
Aaron Brooks (HOU) – Fell in love with his jumper late, like Jackson struggled from the field (1-7 FG).

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

It Shall Be Called "Pulling A Delk"

The black-tie crowd rises in unison and applauds as Tony Delk approaches the podium to announce the winner of the award named in his honor. What award? The first annual Tony Delk Award for Random Statistical Explosions. The award, in honor of Delk’s ridiculously random 53-point performance in January of ’01 in Sacramento as a member of the Suns, is remembered fondly by all NBA fans. OK, maybe just casual fans. You know, I lied - only remembered by hoop junkies. Anyway, Delk currently resides in hoops lore with a career average of 9.1 points per game over a 10-year NBA life that included stops in eight cities – so, to say his 53-point game came out of nowhere would be a vast understatement. And no, this isn’t about Delk, but rather, handing out an award that he inspired.

(Delk sighs…. takes in the noise of the 20,000-plus seated in the auditorium)

(A fan yells from the crowd… “We love you Tony!”)

(Delk smiles and nods in approval, then mimes “Thank-you”)

Delk: “It gives me great pleasure to hand out the inaugural Tony Delk Award for Random Statistical Explosions, because it brings back such great memories of my hot night. Could it be seven years already?

“We were playing my old team (Sacramento), who had just let me go the previous season, in their own barn – Arco Arena – and the time just felt right for me to have a performance that, chances are, I couldn’t have duplicated alone in the practice gym.

“I remembered the words that the great Willie Burton had once passed on to me – ‘If I (Burton) can do it, anyone can…’ – and just went out and tried to make everything. It worked.

“But the reason I’m here isn’t to pump up my own tires, but rather, honor another young gentleman who gave us all something to scratch our head about last night. A performance so startling, that people were yelling out my name in remembrance when they heard of the performance. A performance by a guy you’ve never heard of…

(The crowd gasps)

And so, the winner of the Tony Delk Award for Random Statistical Explosions is… Ramon Sessions!

(Of course, this award doesn’t exist, but it should! And in all seriousness, how on earth did a second-round pick/part-time D-Leaguer playing just his fifteenth – fifteenth – NBA game record 20 points, eight boards and 24 assists in a single game? Not only was it a Bucks franchise record, but Sessions was one assist shy of equaling the rookie record for assists in a game. He was just six short of the NBA record! Talk about making the most of an opportunity; Sessions is averaging a double-double this month while taking the reigns for the Bucks' final few games. Is this random? Is this explainable? Is there any way we can prove Tony Delk is really Ramon Sessions’ father? I don’t know the answer to any of those, but all I know is this: Great game kid.)

Monday, April 14, 2008

PG Evaluations: Indiana


Over the coming weeks, 'Runnin' The Point' will be taking a look at every team's PG situation based on this year and offering an assessment, starting with non-playoff teams.

KEY NUMBER: 43 – The number of games Jamaal Tinsley will end up missing for the year if he sits out the remainder of the Pacers’ season (two games).

THE GOOD STUFF: 12 points and 8 assists a game for your starting PG is good, but not great. Over December and January, Tinsley averaged 13.5 points and 8.7 assists – who wouldn’t take that? Seriously, I’m having trouble writing three “good” sentences without having the temptation to use the words “gun possession” or “off-court incident” or “indiscretion.” Believe me, I tried.

THE BAD STUFF: I’ll focus on the court here. 52 games or less played in three of the past four seasons. Punch the numbers 38% FG, 28% 3-PT, and 72% FT into the computer and you get: Bad Shooter.

THE BACK-UP: Travis Diener, a poor man’s Steve Blake, emerged as the Pacers’ back-up PG and basically full-time starter (late-January to mid-March) in Tinsley’s absence. He’s played more games this year than he did in two years in Orlando, and he’s done a decent job. His stats (7 points, 3.8 assists) won’t make you rush to the computer to trade for him in your fantasy league, but he takes care of the ball, knows his limitations, and at the bargain basement price of $1.5 mill (seriously, that’s bargain basement) he’s a good guy to have around if others get hurt.

EVALUATION: OK, when healthy and (perhaps?) sane, Tinsley is a more-than-serviceable PG. Eight assists a game? Yeah, that’ll work. But here’s the thing: His attitude, off-court stuff, and general unpredictability in his seven NBA seasons makes him very hard to rely on for a full season. Sure, the talent is there, but like a lot of NBA guys “with talent,” sometimes the other stuff gets in the way and just flat-out doesn’t make it worthwhile. Tinsley is Exhibit A.

ALSO SEE: PG Evaluation Index

Sunday, April 13, 2008

Old School: KJ


SportsCenter dropped a little doozy the other night: Only three guys since the NBA-ABA merger in '76 have had seasons in which they averaged over 21 points and 11 assists while their team won 50 games or more. Nice stat. Anyway, the three guys were Magic (predictably), Kevin Johnson and Chris Paul.

Magic won MVP's in the three years that he did it, while Paul is in line for a top-three finish this season. KJ? Not a single, stinkin' MVP vote.

But he gets the next best thing... he becomes a blog topic here. I know, I know, spoiling him for sure, but the guy was a stud, he deserves it.

For the record, KJ turned the trick in '90, when he put up a career-high 22.5 points per game, throw in 11.4 assists, 54 wins, a trip to the conference finals and all while combining with Tom Chambers to form one of the coolest tandems in NBAville. By the way, KJ was 23 at the time, just one year older than Paul is now.

Definitely one of the most overlooked PG's of his generation, considering his exploits, and he was probably never better than he was in '90. He dropped 30-plus in Game 5 of PHX's opening round win at Utah, including the game winner as time expired - the game has since been preserved on the NBA's Greatest Games and it's on NBA TV from time to time. He then led the Suns past Magic and his Lakers in a 4-1 series, which at the time was considered a minor miracle. He started alongside The Magician at the very next All-Star Game.

Now get this garbage: On January 9, 1990, the Suns hosted the Lakers and KJ had 34 and 15, while Magic had 24 and 24. Seriously, people talk about Kidd and Nash going at it, or Paul and Williams now, but have two PG's ever gone at it like that? Not bloody likely.

Final note: Everyone remembers his dunk on Olajuwon in the '95 playoffs, but just know, it was only good enough for the second best dunk of his career. And if you don't believe me, just ask Mark Eaton.

From The Tube: AI vs Marbury circa '97

I actually got this game on DVD in the mail last week.

March ’97: Sixers at Wolves. Iverson at Marbury. It was a match-up of one team playing well below expectations (Philly) against a team exceeding them (Minny). It was also a match-up of two youngin’s, both locked in a tight battle for the Rookie of the Year Award. AI had the glitzier stats – and besides, even then he was flat-out the better player - whereas Marbury had good numbers (surprisingly a more team-oriented PG – yes, you read that correctly), but had made a positive difference to his team, as the T-Wolves were on the cusp of their inaugural playoff appearance.

Anyway, the Sixers – led by AI, Stack, DC and Spoon (yeah, a team with this much talent won just 22 games!) – jumped out to a huge lead, with AI leading the way. Marbury bought the Wolves back, fouling out Iverson in the process, and finishing with 24 points in a 104-100 win.

This was their first pro meeting, and a number of things stood out: 1) Just how hard those guys were going at each other, it was nice to remember a time where there was a place for one-on-one rivalry within a game; 2) Iverson was donning the cornrows for I think the fifth time ever in his career IIRC (he used to go with the mini-fro mostly that year); 3) AI controlled the first three quarters, while Marbury took over late, leading a Minnesota charge; 4) It still amazes me now that Philly had AI, Stack, DC and Spoon (respective career averages the day this game was played: 23, 19, 19, 17) and still couldn't at least break even over their 82 games - they lost a bunch, but boy were they fun to watch; 5) Even at age 19, KG was insanely competitive, crazy, huh?

Anyway, this is all I could find on YouTube, trust me, the full game is a cracker. Enjoy!


PG Evaluations: Chicago


Over the coming weeks, 'Runnin' The Point' will be taking a look at every team's PG situation based on this year and offering an assessment, starting with non-playoff teams.

KEY NUMBER: 4.8 – The drop in points per game for Kirk Hinrich from ’07 to ’08. Hinrich went from dropping 16 a night for The East’s Next Top Team to a struggling player barely averaging double figures on a team who plummeted below expectations. This happened in a matter of 10 months.

THE GOOD STUFF: Uh… umm, well, Hinrich’s alma mater (Kansas) won the NCAA title, that would make Captain Kirk happy, right?

THE BAD STUFF: Geez, where to begin. Somebody contaminated the water in Chicago this year, and Hinrich was the main consumer. Just 11 points per, 41% shooting, and an immeasurable confidence drop. How bad was it? My game notes from Chicago’s December meeting with Boston: “Hinrich is trying too hard… probably time to bench him.” The footnote to that scribble: 10:28 left in the third quarter.

THE BACK-UP: 27 years from now when some junkie is sifting through the Bulls media guide, they will see that in 2008 Chris Duhon had another ho-hum Duhon kind of year: 5 points, 4 assists in 20 minutes per game off the bench. What they won’t see is the suspension for disciplinary reasons stemming from discontent over a lack of playing time. Probably no big deal in a lost season, but the Bulls could’ve done without it, especially from a mediocre player.

EVALUATION: Just write this one off. A bad year for a good player (Hinrich) who probably wasn’t playing in the greatest environment known to man. But no excuses. Here is a guy who, as mentioned, was putting up almost 17 a night for a team many predicted to win the East. The one thing that really stuck out to me was the confidence Hinrich has lost. It will be how he bounces back from it that perhaps determines his fate as a professional – really, it will. Keep an eye on it.

ALSO SEE: PG Evaluation Index

PG Evaluations: Charlotte


Over the coming weeks, 'Runnin' The Point' will be taking a look at every team's PG situation based on this year and offering an assessment, starting with non-playoff teams.

KEY NUMBER: 12.5 – As in, shots per game by Bobcats PG Raymond Felton, which is good for third on the team. Why am I telling this? Well, Felton led his team in shots taken last season – something I noted prior to this season. He’s the point guard. He plays with Gerald Wallace and Jason Richardson. This is more like it.

THE GOOD STUFF: Any time you put up 14.3 points and 7.3 assists, you can play. That’s good. But what’s even better from Felton is that, in roughly 36 minutes – or three quarters per game – he turns it over just a shade more than twice a game, for about 2.5 assists per turnover. For a young pup, you’d think that would get better the older, wiser, more experienced that he gets. Of course, Stephon Marbury was a better PG as a rookie than he ever was after that… so who the heck knows?

THE BAD STUFF: Like last year, Felton’s shooting was questionable. No one will mistake him for Dale Ellis – sorry, how about a name you know, like Larry Bird – when shooting the ball, as his 41% FG indicates. His 28% from three-point range indicates he should perhaps have a clause in his contract prohibiting him from taking a shot outside 15-feet. Luckily enough, he has time to get better.

THE BACK-UP: Charlotte went with Jeff McInnis as their top back-up. He went to North Carolina. So did Felton. So did the guy who bought them to Bobcatville, some guy named Jordan, who they say was a good player in his day. See the theme? Anyway, McInnis once played for the Clippers, so he knows how to lose with pride, so Charlotte is right up his alley. He put up 4 points and 4 assists per while playing roughly two-thirds of the season. Earl Boykins was also bought in, and although he stands roughly the height of a Doberman, he is strictly a shooter first.

EVALUATION: While there wasn’t a drastic increase in his numbers, Felton added another year of experience as a starting PG. While fellow ‘05ers Chris Paul and Deron Williams were fighting for playoff position – and in Paul’s case, trying to decide where the MVP trophy would best fit in his living room – Felton was punching the clock down in Charlotte for a fourth-year team still vying for its first playoff appearance. Still, Felton is an up-and-coming player on an up-and-coming team. His numbers, if he was drafted any year other than ’05, would compare very favorably others at his position. Good player.

ALSO SEE: PG Evaluation Index

PG Evaluations Index

Over the next few weeks I'll be taking a look at every team's PG situation based on this year, starting with non-playoff teams, then moving to the eliminated teams as they bow out, and finishing with the final two teams standing in June.

Charlotte / Chicago / Indiana / New York / Miami / Milwaukee / New Jersey / Atlanta

Monday, April 7, 2008

Player Spotlight: Luke Ridnour

The league operates in funny ways.

If you’re competing with another guy for a spot or for minutes, then if something ill happens towards that guy (traded, injury, suspension, etc) then you’re almost happy that it happened - in a sick, twisted way - because it means more opportunity for oneself.

Take Luke Ridnour for example.

Caught on the wrong side of a three-way PG scrum in Seattle with Delonte West and Earl Watson, Ridnour, himself a former starter, basically had his first-half of the season count for naught. Struggling with injury, and then struggling for minutes when actually healthy, it was clear that PJ Carlesimo’s drug of choice was a West/Watson rotation.

Prior to the All-Star break, Ridnour was playing less than 20 minutes per and contributing just five points and four assists, down from career averages of nine and five.

Then in mid-February, Seattle traded West to Cleveland. Ah-hah… Ridnour goes from not-sure-if-I’m-gonna-get-off-the-bench-tonight to Seattle’s backup PG.

And Ridnour, like a lot of reserves in this league, usually makes the most of an opportunity to play a lot of minutes. Since the All-Star break, he’s at around 22 minutes, eight points, four assists and exactly one spot in the rotation that is set in stone – the latter probably the most important aspect.

His 19 points in Seattle’s We’re-gonna-screw-your-playoff-chances win over Denver on Sunday night was a season high. Late in March he had a string of four straight games in double figures, something that once was considered the norm is now something to hang your hat on. Ridnour also had 15 assists in a February game in Golden State.

Moral: Take your chances when they’re there.

Friday, April 4, 2008

Chalk Up Another Snub


Maybe I’m making too big of a deal out of this.

NBA Entertainment is planning to launch a collectors edition DVD to commemorate the ’86 Celtics – one of the greatest teams ever – on April 15, and I managed to catch a glimpse of the cover online. There’s Bird (of course), McHale and Parish (gotta have them), Walton (it was, after all, The Walton Team) and Danny Ainge.

Where is Dennis Johnson?

Chalk up another snub for a guy who has had his fair share of them.

And like I said, maybe I’m making too big of a deal out of this, but c’mon, there wouldn’t even be a commemorative DVD without DJ. There wouldn’t. They would’ve won a heap of games without McHale, same goes for Parish (providing Walton held up) and Boston won plenty of games before Walton got there. Do I need to mention how Boston – with The Big 3, DJ and Walton – would’ve done without Ainge?

Take DJ, the second most valuable player on those teams behind Bird, out and there’s no title. That’s how important he was. Need a guy to show up in a big game? DJ. Who’s going to guard the opposition’s best player? DJ. Who’s going to get the ball to Larry late in the game? Only one guy for that.

And it’s no great surprise that this tiny, little snub has occurred because, after all, the late Dennis Johnson has consistently been denied entry into the Hoops Hall of Fame – the committee would rather include some European coach who won a few games for a team we’ve never heard of, or a player of far fewer accomplishments than DJ.

This is a guy who once had double-figure blocks, from the guard spot, in a five-game Finals series (’79), guarded the greatest PG of them all (Magic) over the final four games of the ’84 Finals as well as anyone ever, once destroyed Isiah Thomas in an oft-forgotten playoff game (Game 5 of the ’85 ECSF; DJ had 30 and laid waste to Thomas), helped carry the gutsiest team (’87 Celtics) to the Finals by peaking – with Bird – over a 52-day stretch in the spring on ’87, and was also The Guy Who Cut To The Basket when Bird, his on-court kindred spirit, made the famous steal in Game 5 of the ’87 ECF against Detroit.

But that’s OK because DJ, who sadly passed away in February ’07 of a heart attack (or as Walton called it, “from a broken heart”), had the respect of his teammates, which is all that really mattered anyway. Bird, who played with Cowens, Maravich, Archibald, McHale, Parish and Walton, liked to say that it was DJ who was the best player he played with. Think about that.

So maybe I shouldn’t make a big deal about some silly little DVD cover and DJ’s exclusion. Just know though, that he should be there.

UPDATE: Now that is more like it.

Thursday, April 3, 2008

Player Spotlight: Baron Davis

Baron Davis, filthy beard and all, may go 0-2 for season ’08.

First off, he was on the rough end of an early-season Blazers rally that eventually got Brandon Roy a spot on the Western Conference All-Star team at surely Davis’ expense; now his Warriors are quite possibly in line for a 50-win season, which may also mean missing the playoffs. (You have no idea how ridiculous that felt just writing that.)

Funny thing is, Davis is in line for perfect attendance this year, as he hasn’t missed a game. What’s the point? Well, when you’ve missed an average 26 games per season over your last five then getting anywhere near 82 is cause to hang a banner.

For the record, Davis is having a career-year, even better than ’04 when his first two months were just cracking (topping out at 25/8 in Nov. ’03; he was even thrown around in early MVP chatter that year) before – surprise! – injuries took care of that.

Davis continues to be one tough cover - Jon Barry even compared his strength at taking it to the rack to Lebron’s – and he often looks like he’s coasting through things, jacking fadeaway threes, spin dribbling, creating space, and just generally doing things at a pace that would get you embarrassed at the Y.

I guess if when you’re that good… does it matter?

Tuesday, April 1, 2008

Don't forget Nashy

Just when all but a few want to hand Chris Paul this year’s MVP and anoint him Best PG In The Game status, Steve Nash goes and drops a subtle reminder.

Before getting in too deep, let me explain something: Chris Paul has had a better year than Steve Nash – plain and simple. In all the measurable things – even assists, something Nash has owned since rejoining the Suns in the summer of ’04 – Paul is superior to Nash in ’08.

But when it comes to the immeasurable, Nash is still #1 for point guards.

Take Monday’s game with Denver. Trailing by 14 at the end of one (and by as many as 22 in the second), the Suns were headed for defeat. But Nash - who had scored just 27 points in his last three, and coming off a 2-9 evening at New Jersey, and not to forget he was playing with a sore shoulder - decided enough was enough.

He bought Phoenix all the way back, nailing 8-12 threes while finishing with a season-high 36 points in a 132-117 win. Nash is without peer when it comes to a point guard realizing when to set-up others and when to grab a game by the throat and start scoring. Tonight, his team needed scoring - so he scored.

(And surprisingly, for a guy who distributes the ball as well as Nash, I’ve always loved the games where’s he been greedy. Like his 48-pointer on Dallas in Game 4 of the ’05 WCF; the 42-point game at New Jersey that PHX won 162-158 and defined their season, helping them start a run of 34 wins out of 37; hauling the Suns on his back against Washington in Dec. '06 when he scored 32 second-half points (for a total of 42) in a game where Phoenix, lagged by travel complications that had them arrive at the arena 90 minutes prior to tip-off, just couldn’t get going. You sometimes get the feeling, when he’s feeling it, that he might just be their best offensive player, and that includes Amare Stoudemire.)

And here’s the difference between he and Paul: Nash knows when to do this. Sure, Paul is statistically playing the position as well as anyone his age has, but a lot of the greatness that lies within Nash is how he has adapted and evolved his game over time. Just watch him when others try to guard the pick-n-roll, Nash has a reaction or read for every stinkin’ defensive scheme. That’s something Paul can’t possibly have access to… yet.

Paul’s statistics sure are gaudy, but it’s the subtle stuff that Nash the best at. And to say Paul is the single most important player to his team – this year or any year – as some have suggested, just close your eyes and imagine how Phoenix would play without Nash. It would be a train-wreck.

Those who think Paul is the clear-cut best PG going around might want to stop and see; those who saw what Nash did to the Nuggets may have a different opinion.