If you’re wondering what this is all about, it’s basically just an abbreviated version of the usual “Starting Lineup.” I’m going to be trapped in a vehicle for most of Friday, so I had to find a way to condense things a bit. By now you’ve become accustomed to all things condensed anyway… haven’t you, NBA fan?
WINNERS
Anthony Randolph: Is the soon-to-be free agent playing himself into a fresh opportunity in the absense of Kevin Love? Thus far (granted, only two games) Randolph has not only filled in effectively, but he’s arguably been Minnesota’s best player. He scored 28 against Denver on Wednesday night–19 of which came during a furious second-half rally which nearly saw the T-Wolves recover from a 24-point deficit–and he posted 16 and 9 in Thursday night’s loss to the Clippers. Although he’s had more unimpressive moments this season than two solid games can make up for, he’s certainly teasing us with that intriguing versatility he showed out of LSU. During the Clipper game he knocked down an and-one jumper from about 18 feet and scored on an athletic offensive rebound/putback in the span of just a few possessions. If only for a moment, he looked like the more-athletic Lamar Odom I thought he could become back when he was killing it in summer league (and I mean KILLING it… he set what may still be the Vegas League record with 42 points in one game). Although I clearly overestimated his all-around abilities, the kid’s got some game. I get the impression that he’s a bit of a headcase, but there’s very little pressure on him right now. If Love misses more time and Randolph continues to allow the game to come to him I bet he draws a bit of interest. Remember, he’s still yet to turn 23.
Kenyon Martin: About a month or two ago I submitted a post entitled At Age 34, Kenyon Martin Still Scrapes The Sky. In that post I called Kenyon Martin “the Steve Nash of athletic power forwards,” or something to that effect. Although Nash has Martin by four years, follow-up dunking is an even younger man’s game than point guarding is. It’s remarkable that Martin can still throw down slam dunks similiar to the ones he was smashing a decade ago, especially after a history of knee problems and microfracture surgeries. Martin had two vintage alley-oops in LA’s easy victory over the T-Wolves, one of which was spectacularly finished with one hand…
Tim Duncan: Throw the loss to the Lakers out the window and ol’ Timmy is averaging about 15 and 12 in the month of April. That’s not to mention the 2.5 blocks or the 55% shooting. New-found contributors have been the story out of San Antonio, but Duncan’s steady play shouldn’t be slept on. He’s actually been beasting ever since that 12-game win streak started… I just didn’t feel like crunching all of those numbers. Duncan matched his season high with 28 points in a big win over the Grizzlies on Thursday. Memphis was rolling coming in, having beaten the Heat, Mavs, Clipps, and Suns consecutively. Thanks in large part to Duncan the Spurs were able to match the Grizzlies on the boards. They were nearly matched by Andrew Bynum alone on Wednesday.
Brandan Wright: The ex-Warrior had one of his finest games to date in his former stomping grounds. I didn’t pay a whole hell of a lot of attention to this game (I do know the Mavs won), but I’m going to assume Wright dunked his way to 16 points on 6-8. He also tacked on 9 boards and a pair of swats. Both the 16 and the 9 are season highs. Wright is becoming one of those guys who gets numbers whenever he gets minutes.
CJ Watson: With 49 seconds left in regulation and the Bulls down two, CJ Watson entered the game for Derrick Rose. This would mark the end of Rose’s night. The reigning MVP wasn’t injured… he’d simply gone 1-13. Shortly thereafter, Watson went on to knock down the contested step-back three that sent the game to OT.
He finished with 16 on 6-10 as the Bulls took a huge one on their home floor, 96-86. The victory put the Bulls up on the Heat by three games in the loss column, all but assuring that they’ll get that number-one seed. I love D-Rose, but it was kind of fitting that Watson, Korver (17 PTS), and Gibson (5 PTS in OT) led the charge in the game that puts the exclamation point on Chicago’s regular season. After all, they’ve been the ones keeping Chi Town on top for the past month.
Tom Thibodeau: How ’bout the man who pulled the trigger on the Rose substitution? How many NBA coaches garner that kind of respect, and lead their team with such massive cajones? I can only think of one other guy, and he’s widely regarded as the best coach in the game. To think this man doesn’t have an extension…
LOSERS
LeBron James: I’m sorry, but that first free throw was f@cking ugly. A brick right out of his hands. It didn’t look at all like the second one. That first one was an “I really hope I make this” free throw. That’s all I’m going to say about LeBron, ’cause the game was over then and there if he had simply put the thing in.
Erik Spoelstra: Miami couldn’t even get a half-decent look at the basket in overtime. They scored TWO points for christ’s sake. I’m honestly starting to doubt this team. They don’t look right, and the way they’re losing some of these games has to be at least a little demoralizing. Spoelstra better hope like hell these guys can figure it out awfully soon, because he’s gonna be a goner if they don’t win the title this year.
Heat Role Players: While Watson, Korver, and Gibson carried the Bulls to victory, Miami’s bench and non-big-three starters combined to score 15 points on 21 shots. No Heater not named Wade, ‘Bron, or Chris scored more than 4 points. Aside from Ronny Turiaf’s 8 boards none of them really contributed anything.
DeSagana Diop & The Charlotte Bobcats: Paul or Stephen Silas, whichever of the two coached today, dusted off DeSagana Diop for 9 boisterous minutes as the ‘Cats lost their 14th game in a row. Diop grabbed a rebound and dished an assist, but bricked his only shot, turned the ball over twice, and fouled three times in the process. Said the elder Silas: “It’s just one of those nights where nothing went right for us—nothing.” Eh… isn’t that every night?
The Grizzlies’ Starting Lineup: Mike Conley, Quincy Pondexter, Rudy Gay, Marreese Speights, and Marc Gasol went 22-55 as they turned the ball over 10 times and collected 16 personal fouls. Memphis is now a game and a half back in the race for fourth place.
