Monday, December 27, 2004
No longer the Terri-Bulls
By Chad Ford
ESPN Insider
The Good, the Bad, the UpsideInsider's Chad Ford rounds up the state of the NBA every Monday, looking at The Good and The Bad and offering a little dose of optimism in The Upside.
Now that Shaq and Kobe have hugged at halfcourt and the Pistons and Pacers have played 48 minutes without attacking fans or each other, maybe it's time to move on to the real stories in the NBA as we wrap up Week 8. Stories like:
<LI>With all the hype surrounding Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant, did anyone notice the Heat are in the middle of an 11-game winning streak?
<LI>In the West, the Suns are proving they have staying power, posting an 11-game win streak of their own. That streak is in serious jeopardy, however. The Suns head into San Antonio on Tuesday for what could be a sneak preview of the Western Conference Finals.
<LI>Speaking of winning streaks, the Bulls had won five in a row and seven of their last 10 before Sunday's loss in Milwaukee. Have we seen the end of the Terri-Bulls and the talk of trading Eddy Curry and Tyson Chandler?
<LI>The Charlotte Bobcats are just two wins away from ending all the preseason talk that they might be the worst team in the history of the NBA. Even their biggest supporters, like me, didn't see the debate ending in December.
<LI>The Knicks are leading the Atlantic, yet they've beaten only one team with a winning record.
It's time for another Monday edition of the Good, the Bad and the Upside – in a peaceful, Shaq vs. Kobe-free world.
The Good
Chicago Bulls: Eleven-game win streaks are impressive. But when you've been as bad as the Bulls the past six years, a five-game win streak is enough to get us paying attention.
[size=-1]Eddy Curry[/size]
[size=-2]Center
Chicago Bulls[/size]
[/size]2004-2005 SEASON STATISTICS
[size=-2]GM[/size][size=-2]PPG[/size][size=-2]RPG[/size][size=-2]APG[/size][size=-2]FG%[/size][size=-2]FT%[/size][size=-2]23[/size][size=-2]14.7[/size][size=-2]6.3[/size][size=-2]0.8[/size][size=-2].509[/size][size=-2].684[/size]
Factor in that Chicago is doing it on the backs of Eddy Curry and Tyson Chandler, and maybe it's time to throw a parade.
It's been a long, long time, Bulls fans. The Bulls hadn't won this many in a row since Jordan was wearing and seeing red. Even though the streak ended in disappointing fashion in Milwaukee on Sunday, there's plenty to be encouraged about in Chicago these days.
The Bulls are getting it done with defense – a sure sign the sudden improvement isn't likely to end.
During their 0-9 start, the Bulls were outscored by an average of 101.6 to 90.3. Over their past 15, they have played 9-6 ball and are outscoring opponents 90.1 to 89. During that stretch, the Bulls held their opponents to a league-low 37.5 percent shooting. That includes impressive wins over the Pistons, Timberwolves, Cavaliers, Lakers and Blazers.
[size=-1]Tyson Chandler[/size]
[size=-2]Power Forward
Chicago Bulls[/size]
[/size]2004-2005 SEASON STATISTICS
[size=-2]GM[/size][size=-2]PPG[/size][size=-2]RPG[/size][size=-2]APG[/size][size=-2]FG%[/size][size=-2]FT%[/size][size=-2]25[/size][size=-2]8.6[/size][size=-2]9.5[/size][size=-2]0.9[/size][size=-2].516[/size][size=-2].637[/size]
Curry has come up big over the past month, averaging 18.2 points and 7 rebounds during the five-game winning streak. Chandler has added 8.4 rebounds and 2.6 blocks over that stretch. Put those two together and you have a superstar big guy in the middle.
But the real difference-maker has been rookie Ben Gordon. After an awful start, he is coming on fast. Gordon scored 19 against the Pistons and 23 against the Blazers – both wins for the Bulls.
Overall, Gordon is averaging 17.9 ppg on 51 percent shooting in Bulls wins and 8.9 ppg on 35 percent shooting in Bulls losses.
[size=-1]Ben Gordon[/size]
[size=-2]Guard
Chicago Bulls[/size]
[/size]2004-2005 SEASON STATISTICS
[size=-2]GM[/size][size=-2]PPG[/size][size=-2]RPG[/size][size=-2]APG[/size][size=-2]FG%[/size][size=-2]FT%[/size][size=-2]25[/size][size=-2]12.5[/size][size=-2]2.4[/size][size=-2]1.6[/size][size=-2].434[/size][size=-2].808[/size]
The sudden strong play of Chicago's three young players has created a monumental shift in the front office. Just weeks ago multiple team sources claimed a trade was imminent. Now? Sources claim the Bulls have quit returning phone calls about all of their players.
GM John Paxson confirms this.
"We're not actively pursuing [any trades]," Paxson said. "We are trying our best to win games right now. Ideally, what we'd like is to be comfortable with this core and let them grow together."
Is that wise considering Curry and Chandler's trade value is suddenly on the rise? Maybe now is the best time to unload them.
"I don't sit there and wish every day that Eddy Curry and Tyson Chandler play well so that we can get something better for them in trade," Paxson said. "Let's be honest here: There are not a lot of big men in this league who have the talent. And quite frankly, the pipeline of bigs coming behind them is not the greatest, and it's young.
"Moreover, we have some good chemistry right now. That's a credit to our staff for getting these guys to believe in themselves. One of the real nice things is that even when we started off so poorly, they didn't like losing but they didn't get frustrated. They'd bounce back every day and continue to work. We want to see that continue."
There's a good chance it will. Seventeen of Chicago's next 18 games are against teams hovering at .500 or with losing records. Eight of the next nine are in the United Center.
If the Bulls can capitalize on the soft spot in their schedule, they could be in playoff contention by the end of January. If that happens, you can expect the Bulls to stand pat heading toward the February trade deadline.
Miami Heat: The best story in Los Angeles on Christmas day wasn't Shaq vs. Kobe. It was the Heat as a team – winners of eleven straight. Unlike the Lakers, who seem to still be going through a soap opera a week with Kobe and his teammates, the Heat are quietly threatening to run away with the East. No drama or theatrics here. Just solid team basketball.
And unlike the Lakers, the Heat are not a one-man show.
In Miami's last five, Shaq has put up impressive numbers of 24 ppg, 9.5 rpg and 4.3 apg. But he's far from the only story. Dwyane Wade's numbers – 26.2 ppg, 7.8 apg and 5rpg over his last five – continue to trump Shaq's.
[size=-1]Eddie Jones[/size]
[size=-2]Shooting Guard
Miami Heat[/size]
[/size]2004-2005 SEASON STATISTICS
[size=-2]GM[/size][size=-2]PPG[/size][size=-2]RPG[/size][size=-2]APG[/size][size=-2]FG%[/size][size=-2]FT%[/size][size=-2]29[/size][size=-2]11.7[/size][size=-2]4.5[/size][size=-2]2.6[/size][size=-2].395[/size][size=-2].792[/size]
And after a very rough start, Eddie Jones seems finally to have found his lost shooting touch. Jones has been fantastic lately, averaging 19.4 ppg and shooting 14-23 from 3-point range in the last five. Factor in the steady play of Damon Jones (12.4 ppg, 4.6 apg) and Udonis Haslem (11 ppg, 11 rpg) in Miami's last five, and the Heat have something else on the Lakers – a real team.
The love should continue. In January, the Heat hit the softest part of their schedule. After a tough matchup against the Pistons in Detroit on Thursday, Miami plays just two teams with a winning record next month – the Sonics twice and a road game vs. the Suns.
Detroit Pistons: The real story in Indiana on Christmas was one of missed opportunities. With half the Pacers' roster out of commission, the Pistons were supposed to be the team running away with the East at this point. Instead, they blew a huge opportunity to get some distance between themselves and the Pacers in the Central Division.
When Jermaine O'Neal stepped onto the court on Christmas day, the two teams were actually tied in the Central. If someone would've told you that a month ago, when O'Neal, Stephen Jackson and Ron Artest were suspended, you would've laughed in their face.
The game actually meant something to both teams, and it had nothing to do with the fight. The Pacers humiliated the Pistons on the court in their first meeting. With Larry Brown complaining about how lethargic the Pistons had been, you had to wonder – If the team can't get up for a game like this, maybe it was a one-season anomaly.
The Pistons won, but not in the convincing fashion the Pacers did in the first matchup. Detroit killed Indiana on the offensive glass, then won the game at the free throw line in the waning minutes. Still, it was a big victory in hostile territory.
Will it be enough to awaken the Pistons from their early season slumber? No one is really sure.
"I don't know," Ben Wallace said. "We'll have to see if we have turned that corner. We aren't going to look at one game and say that's going to be the turning point. We have to keep coming together and get this thing done."
[size=-1]Steve Nash[/size]
[size=-2]Point Guard
Phoenix Suns[/size]
[/size]2004-2005 SEASON STATISTICS
[size=-2]GM[/size][size=-2]PPG[/size][size=-2]RPG[/size][size=-2]APG[/size][size=-2]FG%[/size][size=-2]FT%[/size][size=-2]27[/size][size=-2]15.8[/size][size=-2]3.3[/size][size=-2]11.2[/size][size=-2].533[/size][size=-2].878[/size]
Phoenix Suns: Meanwhile, the Suns continue to run all over their opponents, increasing their win streak to 11 Sunday night with a win over the Raptors. While much has been made about their run-and-gun offense, few are picking up on the other reason the Suns are so tough to beat. They aren't turning the ball over.
The Suns are averaging the fewest turnovers of any team in the league at just 12.9 per game. That shows what having a great floor leader like Steve Nash can do. Many coaches claim they don't like to run because it leads to a lot of recklessness and turnovers. But if you have a guy like Nash directing traffic – that major fear is seriously mitigated.
The Suns will get their stiffest test of the season Tuesday in San Antonio. The Spurs are the only team close to matching the Suns' point differential. The two teams are really at the opposite ends of the spectrum. The Suns push at every opportunity. The Spurs employ a deliberate, half-court approach run through Tim Duncan on one end and stifling defense on the other.
If the Suns can leave the Alamo with a convincing victory, it will be time to start joining the revolution.
San Antonio Spurs: Gregg Popovich continues to ride Tony Parker hard. After a key basket by Gary Payton in the third quarter of the Spurs game versus the Celtics on Sunday, Popovich called a timeout and laid into Parker for his defense.
[size=-1]Tony Parker[/size]
[size=-2]Point Guard
San Antonio Spurs[/size]
[/size]2004-2005 SEASON STATISTICS
[size=-2]GM[/size][size=-2]PPG[/size][size=-2]RPG[/size][size=-2]APG[/size][size=-2]FG%[/size][size=-2]FT%[/size][size=-2]28[/size][size=-2]14.4[/size][size=-2]3.7[/size][size=-2]5.7[/size][size=-2].460[/size][size=-2].692[/size]
"He was just disappointed in the defense," Parker told the San Antonio Express-News. "He (wanted) me and Bruce (Bowen) to play better defense on Paul Pierce and Gary. That's what we did after the timeout. We reacted."
The Spurs reacted by scoring the next 11 points and ran away with the game.
Popovich praised Parker's defense and floor leadership after the game. After a slow start, Parker is quickly picking up where he left off in the playoffs last season. He's averaging 19 points and 6 assists over his last five while shooting 55 percent from the field.
"Now, I'm just taking my time and letting it come," Parker said. "I have a lot of confidence now."
New Jersey Nets: The team is clearly improved with Jason Kidd back in the lineup – especially Richard Jefferson, who happens to be averaging 31.2 ppg, 6.8 rpg and 5 apg over his last five.
[size=-1]Richard Jefferson[/size]
[size=-2]Small Forward
New Jersey Nets[/size]
[/size]2004-2005 SEASON STATISTICS
[size=-2]GM[/size][size=-2]PPG[/size][size=-2]RPG[/size][size=-2]APG[/size][size=-2]FG%[/size][size=-2]FT%[/size][size=-2]25[/size][size=-2]23.4[/size][size=-2]7.6[/size][size=-2]4.2[/size][size=-2].452[/size][size=-2].838[/size]
Now the question is whether Vince Carter can take them to the next level. We'll find out Monday, when Carter makes his debut against the Pistons in Detroit.
The Nets are 5-4 with Kidd back. Given the mediocrity in the Atlantic, at that pace they could still potentially make the playoffs and even win the division. If Carter is as ready as he keeps telling everyone, he should help change the Nets back into that run-and-gun team we all loved from a few years ago.
But will he be enough? The Nets still have major issues on their front line, though rookie Nenad Krstic is helping to soften those fears. He's played a major role in the last two Nets victories and is averaging 12 points, 8 rebounds and 2 blocks over his last three.
Jefferson claims Krstich is an all-star in the making.
"He's one of those few guys in the gym as long as I am, working on his game," Jefferson told the NY Daily News. "You can see the carryover. You can see him making shots he wasn't making a month ago. You can see him being aggressive. The away he offensive rebounds is unbelievable. He's a legit 7-footer.
"But there's not that many 7-footers who are that versatile and can move but also, he's got some fight in him. He's not a 7-footer who wants to be on the perimeter shooting a bunch of 3s. He wants to be down there banging and fighting in the trenches."
Seattle SuperSonics: There are a number of theories about why the Sonics have defied almost every expectation this year. Here's another: Coach Nate McMillian is no longer over-coaching his team on the offensive end. He's giving his players the freedom to ad-lib in the offensive set, making them very tough to scout or defend.
"It's difficult to scout something when it is not scripted," guard Antonio Daniels told the Seattle Post-Intilligencer. "When everything just happens on the fly like that, it's tough."
In fact, McMillan has completely dispensed with running plays to the team's low-post players. Instead the team's power forwards and centers are instructed to just get out and set screens, making it difficult for defenders to cover players like Ray Allen, Rashard Lewis and Vladimir Radmanovic. "We had 'bigs' that could set screens," McMillan said. "That's what they do. That was a way that we could use those guys."
No longer the Terri-Bulls
By Chad Ford
ESPN Insider
The Good, the Bad, the UpsideInsider's Chad Ford rounds up the state of the NBA every Monday, looking at The Good and The Bad and offering a little dose of optimism in The Upside.
Now that Shaq and Kobe have hugged at halfcourt and the Pistons and Pacers have played 48 minutes without attacking fans or each other, maybe it's time to move on to the real stories in the NBA as we wrap up Week 8. Stories like:
<LI>With all the hype surrounding Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant, did anyone notice the Heat are in the middle of an 11-game winning streak?
<LI>In the West, the Suns are proving they have staying power, posting an 11-game win streak of their own. That streak is in serious jeopardy, however. The Suns head into San Antonio on Tuesday for what could be a sneak preview of the Western Conference Finals.
<LI>Speaking of winning streaks, the Bulls had won five in a row and seven of their last 10 before Sunday's loss in Milwaukee. Have we seen the end of the Terri-Bulls and the talk of trading Eddy Curry and Tyson Chandler?
<LI>The Charlotte Bobcats are just two wins away from ending all the preseason talk that they might be the worst team in the history of the NBA. Even their biggest supporters, like me, didn't see the debate ending in December.
<LI>The Knicks are leading the Atlantic, yet they've beaten only one team with a winning record.
It's time for another Monday edition of the Good, the Bad and the Upside – in a peaceful, Shaq vs. Kobe-free world.
The Good
Chicago Bulls: Eleven-game win streaks are impressive. But when you've been as bad as the Bulls the past six years, a five-game win streak is enough to get us paying attention.
[size=-1]Eddy Curry[/size]
[size=-2]Center
Chicago Bulls[/size]
You must be registered for see images attach
[size=-2]Profile[/size]2004-2005 SEASON STATISTICS
[size=-2]GM[/size][size=-2]PPG[/size][size=-2]RPG[/size][size=-2]APG[/size][size=-2]FG%[/size][size=-2]FT%[/size][size=-2]23[/size][size=-2]14.7[/size][size=-2]6.3[/size][size=-2]0.8[/size][size=-2].509[/size][size=-2].684[/size]
Factor in that Chicago is doing it on the backs of Eddy Curry and Tyson Chandler, and maybe it's time to throw a parade.
It's been a long, long time, Bulls fans. The Bulls hadn't won this many in a row since Jordan was wearing and seeing red. Even though the streak ended in disappointing fashion in Milwaukee on Sunday, there's plenty to be encouraged about in Chicago these days.
The Bulls are getting it done with defense – a sure sign the sudden improvement isn't likely to end.
During their 0-9 start, the Bulls were outscored by an average of 101.6 to 90.3. Over their past 15, they have played 9-6 ball and are outscoring opponents 90.1 to 89. During that stretch, the Bulls held their opponents to a league-low 37.5 percent shooting. That includes impressive wins over the Pistons, Timberwolves, Cavaliers, Lakers and Blazers.
[size=-1]Tyson Chandler[/size]
[size=-2]Power Forward
Chicago Bulls[/size]
You must be registered for see images attach
[size=-2]Profile[/size]2004-2005 SEASON STATISTICS
[size=-2]GM[/size][size=-2]PPG[/size][size=-2]RPG[/size][size=-2]APG[/size][size=-2]FG%[/size][size=-2]FT%[/size][size=-2]25[/size][size=-2]8.6[/size][size=-2]9.5[/size][size=-2]0.9[/size][size=-2].516[/size][size=-2].637[/size]
Curry has come up big over the past month, averaging 18.2 points and 7 rebounds during the five-game winning streak. Chandler has added 8.4 rebounds and 2.6 blocks over that stretch. Put those two together and you have a superstar big guy in the middle.
But the real difference-maker has been rookie Ben Gordon. After an awful start, he is coming on fast. Gordon scored 19 against the Pistons and 23 against the Blazers – both wins for the Bulls.
Overall, Gordon is averaging 17.9 ppg on 51 percent shooting in Bulls wins and 8.9 ppg on 35 percent shooting in Bulls losses.
[size=-1]Ben Gordon[/size]
[size=-2]Guard
Chicago Bulls[/size]
You must be registered for see images attach
[size=-2]Profile[/size]2004-2005 SEASON STATISTICS
[size=-2]GM[/size][size=-2]PPG[/size][size=-2]RPG[/size][size=-2]APG[/size][size=-2]FG%[/size][size=-2]FT%[/size][size=-2]25[/size][size=-2]12.5[/size][size=-2]2.4[/size][size=-2]1.6[/size][size=-2].434[/size][size=-2].808[/size]
The sudden strong play of Chicago's three young players has created a monumental shift in the front office. Just weeks ago multiple team sources claimed a trade was imminent. Now? Sources claim the Bulls have quit returning phone calls about all of their players.
GM John Paxson confirms this.
"We're not actively pursuing [any trades]," Paxson said. "We are trying our best to win games right now. Ideally, what we'd like is to be comfortable with this core and let them grow together."
Is that wise considering Curry and Chandler's trade value is suddenly on the rise? Maybe now is the best time to unload them.
"I don't sit there and wish every day that Eddy Curry and Tyson Chandler play well so that we can get something better for them in trade," Paxson said. "Let's be honest here: There are not a lot of big men in this league who have the talent. And quite frankly, the pipeline of bigs coming behind them is not the greatest, and it's young.
"Moreover, we have some good chemistry right now. That's a credit to our staff for getting these guys to believe in themselves. One of the real nice things is that even when we started off so poorly, they didn't like losing but they didn't get frustrated. They'd bounce back every day and continue to work. We want to see that continue."
There's a good chance it will. Seventeen of Chicago's next 18 games are against teams hovering at .500 or with losing records. Eight of the next nine are in the United Center.
If the Bulls can capitalize on the soft spot in their schedule, they could be in playoff contention by the end of January. If that happens, you can expect the Bulls to stand pat heading toward the February trade deadline.
Miami Heat: The best story in Los Angeles on Christmas day wasn't Shaq vs. Kobe. It was the Heat as a team – winners of eleven straight. Unlike the Lakers, who seem to still be going through a soap opera a week with Kobe and his teammates, the Heat are quietly threatening to run away with the East. No drama or theatrics here. Just solid team basketball.
And unlike the Lakers, the Heat are not a one-man show.
In Miami's last five, Shaq has put up impressive numbers of 24 ppg, 9.5 rpg and 4.3 apg. But he's far from the only story. Dwyane Wade's numbers – 26.2 ppg, 7.8 apg and 5rpg over his last five – continue to trump Shaq's.
[size=-1]Eddie Jones[/size]
[size=-2]Shooting Guard
Miami Heat[/size]
You must be registered for see images attach
[size=-2]Profile[/size]2004-2005 SEASON STATISTICS
[size=-2]GM[/size][size=-2]PPG[/size][size=-2]RPG[/size][size=-2]APG[/size][size=-2]FG%[/size][size=-2]FT%[/size][size=-2]29[/size][size=-2]11.7[/size][size=-2]4.5[/size][size=-2]2.6[/size][size=-2].395[/size][size=-2].792[/size]
And after a very rough start, Eddie Jones seems finally to have found his lost shooting touch. Jones has been fantastic lately, averaging 19.4 ppg and shooting 14-23 from 3-point range in the last five. Factor in the steady play of Damon Jones (12.4 ppg, 4.6 apg) and Udonis Haslem (11 ppg, 11 rpg) in Miami's last five, and the Heat have something else on the Lakers – a real team.
The love should continue. In January, the Heat hit the softest part of their schedule. After a tough matchup against the Pistons in Detroit on Thursday, Miami plays just two teams with a winning record next month – the Sonics twice and a road game vs. the Suns.
Detroit Pistons: The real story in Indiana on Christmas was one of missed opportunities. With half the Pacers' roster out of commission, the Pistons were supposed to be the team running away with the East at this point. Instead, they blew a huge opportunity to get some distance between themselves and the Pacers in the Central Division.
When Jermaine O'Neal stepped onto the court on Christmas day, the two teams were actually tied in the Central. If someone would've told you that a month ago, when O'Neal, Stephen Jackson and Ron Artest were suspended, you would've laughed in their face.
The game actually meant something to both teams, and it had nothing to do with the fight. The Pacers humiliated the Pistons on the court in their first meeting. With Larry Brown complaining about how lethargic the Pistons had been, you had to wonder – If the team can't get up for a game like this, maybe it was a one-season anomaly.
The Pistons won, but not in the convincing fashion the Pacers did in the first matchup. Detroit killed Indiana on the offensive glass, then won the game at the free throw line in the waning minutes. Still, it was a big victory in hostile territory.
Will it be enough to awaken the Pistons from their early season slumber? No one is really sure.
"I don't know," Ben Wallace said. "We'll have to see if we have turned that corner. We aren't going to look at one game and say that's going to be the turning point. We have to keep coming together and get this thing done."
[size=-1]Steve Nash[/size]
[size=-2]Point Guard
Phoenix Suns[/size]
You must be registered for see images attach
[size=-2]Profile[/size]2004-2005 SEASON STATISTICS
[size=-2]GM[/size][size=-2]PPG[/size][size=-2]RPG[/size][size=-2]APG[/size][size=-2]FG%[/size][size=-2]FT%[/size][size=-2]27[/size][size=-2]15.8[/size][size=-2]3.3[/size][size=-2]11.2[/size][size=-2].533[/size][size=-2].878[/size]
Phoenix Suns: Meanwhile, the Suns continue to run all over their opponents, increasing their win streak to 11 Sunday night with a win over the Raptors. While much has been made about their run-and-gun offense, few are picking up on the other reason the Suns are so tough to beat. They aren't turning the ball over.
The Suns are averaging the fewest turnovers of any team in the league at just 12.9 per game. That shows what having a great floor leader like Steve Nash can do. Many coaches claim they don't like to run because it leads to a lot of recklessness and turnovers. But if you have a guy like Nash directing traffic – that major fear is seriously mitigated.
The Suns will get their stiffest test of the season Tuesday in San Antonio. The Spurs are the only team close to matching the Suns' point differential. The two teams are really at the opposite ends of the spectrum. The Suns push at every opportunity. The Spurs employ a deliberate, half-court approach run through Tim Duncan on one end and stifling defense on the other.
If the Suns can leave the Alamo with a convincing victory, it will be time to start joining the revolution.
San Antonio Spurs: Gregg Popovich continues to ride Tony Parker hard. After a key basket by Gary Payton in the third quarter of the Spurs game versus the Celtics on Sunday, Popovich called a timeout and laid into Parker for his defense.
[size=-1]Tony Parker[/size]
[size=-2]Point Guard
San Antonio Spurs[/size]
You must be registered for see images attach
[size=-2]Profile[/size]2004-2005 SEASON STATISTICS
[size=-2]GM[/size][size=-2]PPG[/size][size=-2]RPG[/size][size=-2]APG[/size][size=-2]FG%[/size][size=-2]FT%[/size][size=-2]28[/size][size=-2]14.4[/size][size=-2]3.7[/size][size=-2]5.7[/size][size=-2].460[/size][size=-2].692[/size]
"He was just disappointed in the defense," Parker told the San Antonio Express-News. "He (wanted) me and Bruce (Bowen) to play better defense on Paul Pierce and Gary. That's what we did after the timeout. We reacted."
The Spurs reacted by scoring the next 11 points and ran away with the game.
Popovich praised Parker's defense and floor leadership after the game. After a slow start, Parker is quickly picking up where he left off in the playoffs last season. He's averaging 19 points and 6 assists over his last five while shooting 55 percent from the field.
"Now, I'm just taking my time and letting it come," Parker said. "I have a lot of confidence now."
New Jersey Nets: The team is clearly improved with Jason Kidd back in the lineup – especially Richard Jefferson, who happens to be averaging 31.2 ppg, 6.8 rpg and 5 apg over his last five.
[size=-1]Richard Jefferson[/size]
[size=-2]Small Forward
New Jersey Nets[/size]
You must be registered for see images attach
[size=-2]Profile[/size]2004-2005 SEASON STATISTICS
[size=-2]GM[/size][size=-2]PPG[/size][size=-2]RPG[/size][size=-2]APG[/size][size=-2]FG%[/size][size=-2]FT%[/size][size=-2]25[/size][size=-2]23.4[/size][size=-2]7.6[/size][size=-2]4.2[/size][size=-2].452[/size][size=-2].838[/size]
Now the question is whether Vince Carter can take them to the next level. We'll find out Monday, when Carter makes his debut against the Pistons in Detroit.
The Nets are 5-4 with Kidd back. Given the mediocrity in the Atlantic, at that pace they could still potentially make the playoffs and even win the division. If Carter is as ready as he keeps telling everyone, he should help change the Nets back into that run-and-gun team we all loved from a few years ago.
But will he be enough? The Nets still have major issues on their front line, though rookie Nenad Krstic is helping to soften those fears. He's played a major role in the last two Nets victories and is averaging 12 points, 8 rebounds and 2 blocks over his last three.
Jefferson claims Krstich is an all-star in the making.
"He's one of those few guys in the gym as long as I am, working on his game," Jefferson told the NY Daily News. "You can see the carryover. You can see him making shots he wasn't making a month ago. You can see him being aggressive. The away he offensive rebounds is unbelievable. He's a legit 7-footer.
"But there's not that many 7-footers who are that versatile and can move but also, he's got some fight in him. He's not a 7-footer who wants to be on the perimeter shooting a bunch of 3s. He wants to be down there banging and fighting in the trenches."
Seattle SuperSonics: There are a number of theories about why the Sonics have defied almost every expectation this year. Here's another: Coach Nate McMillian is no longer over-coaching his team on the offensive end. He's giving his players the freedom to ad-lib in the offensive set, making them very tough to scout or defend.
"It's difficult to scout something when it is not scripted," guard Antonio Daniels told the Seattle Post-Intilligencer. "When everything just happens on the fly like that, it's tough."
In fact, McMillan has completely dispensed with running plays to the team's low-post players. Instead the team's power forwards and centers are instructed to just get out and set screens, making it difficult for defenders to cover players like Ray Allen, Rashard Lewis and Vladimir Radmanovic. "We had 'bigs' that could set screens," McMillan said. "That's what they do. That was a way that we could use those guys."
Last edited:
