Cyber Max

Antoine Walker and Gary Payton had experience, but also had big egos and ample contracts. Danny Ainge knew that chemistry was a problem last year, and did away with the two like Minnesota did with Cassell and Sprewell. Now the team is completely in Paul Pierce’s hands, and the roster really is aimed for the future.

The team is young and inexperienced. Doc Rivers has given all 12 players passable playing time. Like all of Rivers’ teams, the young players all play hard. Brian Scalabrine and Justin Reed particularly do a great job on the offensive glass. Dan Dickau after playing everywhere is slowly evolving into a quality PG, as has Delonte West. However between these young players like Ryan Gomes and Orien Greene there isn’t much diversity.

The offense has mucho potential. Paul Pierce has single-handedly lead this team to the playoffs for the past four years in a row. Pierce is great at slashing to the hoop and scoring easy shots. Walker never did provide an inside presence like Al Jefferson does. Jefferson is a great low-post scorer who happens to fold under pressure at times. Mark Blount received a giant contract but hardly played at all last year, is getting the playing time now and has developed a pretty good midrange shot.

Scoring hasn’t been much of an issue, but they’re 25th in Points Allowed. All these young aggressive players do their part, but Doc Rivers can’t exactly substitute a different player for them. Basically all the offense is revolved around Ricky Davis and Pierce. The Celtics are at the bottom in Points in the Paint because Center Raef LaFrentz spends must of his time at the 3-pt arch. Al Jefferson should get more playing then Mark Blount to reprieve that issue.

Danny Ainge has been public about trading Paul Pierce, and unless he does it for Kevin Garnett it’s a bad idea. Shooting Guards who can lead one-man teams are rare, and Pierce has been able to do that each year he’s been there. If Pierce is taken away then the whole team will crumble. Not much separates them and New Jersey, and Ainge is always active around the trading deadline. They can hustle their way into the playoffs but they need some of their players to standout among the rest.

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If there was one word to describe the Grizzlies night in Portland it’s this: irony. What’s ironic is that they just got Bobby Jackson and Lorenzen Wright healthy only to suffer two more injuries, including a devastating injury to Damon Stoudamire.

It was halfway through the second quarter that Memphis was rolling with a 10-pt lead. Mike Miller had hit all 6 of his shots in the 2nd and had collected 18 points with a ton of time to go. Then Miller hurt his knee twice on two separate drives to the basket and left with about 5 minutes left.

That was just an appetizer though, for with 4 minutes left Damon Stoudamire drove into the lane and appeared to slip on the floor as he crashed to the ground, landing on his back. He had to be carted off in a stretcher as he failed to get on his feet. A close look showed that Stoudamire hadn’t slipped at all but had actually badly pulled a part of his knee. The official word is definitely bad: a torn patella tendon (AKA he just destroyed his kneecap) which has season-ending injury written all over it.

Mike Miller made a comeback in the 3rd quarter and would finish the game with 23. However he was noticeably limping from then on; injuries will probably be a reoccurring issue for Miller who was just one day removed from being hammered by Kobe Bryant.

The Grizzlies still held a double-digit lead in the 4th when the Blazers at last made a run. Ruben Patterson attacked the basket and put pressure on Miller offensively. Martell Webster hit a pair of 3’s and Zach Randolph drove to the hoop to cut the deficit to 4. It was too late though, had Portland made their run earlier they could have rode the momentum all the way to a win. In the end, it appeared that the game might have been won thanks to the officials.

With 25 seconds left, Juan Dixon was battling for a defensive rebound over Shane Battier. And as the two attempted to tip the ball to themselves, Battier fell to the ground and allowed Dixon to get the rebound. However a foul was called on Dixon and sent Battier to the line who hit both free throws.

Controversy occurred again when the Grizzlies appeared to throw the ball out of bounds right after the Blazers scored a quick deuce. Once again a foul was called on Portland and was just as suspect as the last foul call. Bobby Jackson came to the foul line, playing his first game in over two weeks. Jackson was rusty throughout the game having made only 2-8 shot attempts. He split the pair and unintentionally gave the Trailblazers an opportunity to tie. But all they could do was get an open 3 for Zach Randolph (who has made only three 3’s his whole career) who missed it an ended the game.

The Blazers came into the game with Joel Pryzbilla, Darius Miles, and Sebastian Telfair all out with injuries. The Blazers move the ball around better with Steve Blake at PG than Telfair and had won their last three games coming into this one. Although Telfair gives them scoring, something that only Zach Randolph can do right now.

The Grizzlies are only 4 back of San Antonio at 18-10. Yet their season is up in the air. With Damon Stoudamire almost certainly done for the year Bobby Jackson will be the starter again. At this point in his career, Jackson might not be best suited to play 30 minutes a night (partly since he’s so injury prone). What a shame this would be if it ruins the Grizzlies season. They had a very productive defensive scheme going and it appeared that they could at least challenge for the #4 seed.

Ruben Patterson led the Blazers off the bench with 22. Zach Randolph and Pau Gasol both had 18 points and 9 rebounds. Stoudamire finished with 4 points through 14 minutes.

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Sunday (12/18)


Best:
T’Wolves @ Mavericks: Garnett and Nowitzki are as always the showcases of this match-up. If either Dallas or Minnesota wants success in June, they’ll need help from the supporting cast. Josh Howard is back for Dallas, as is Troy Hudson for Minnesota. Szczerbiak is the T’Wolves #2 man, but Dallas has an enigma with Terry, Howard and Daniels all producing sporadically.


Runner-up:
Rockets @ Lakers: This was always the game where Yao Ming would breakout for a 30-pt performance. With Shaq gone and Chris Mihm in, is Yao going to come and play? McGrady and Kobe provide perhaps the only one-on-one match-up in the NBA where both players are assured to score 30+ points.


Blowout:
Spurs @ Hornets: Western teams are always going to give their best against the Spurs, but even then it doesn’t translate to a W. The Warriors were in a similar spot earlier this year and lost at home by 30. The Hornets have had to travel between Baton Rouge and Oklahoma City just for home games, so facing the Spurs isn’t much of a break. How long can the Hornets continue play hard before they crack like the Saints did?

Monday (12/19)


Best:
Pistons @ Grizzlies: Two of the best defensive teams in the NBA face off in Memphis. Stoudamire and Jones have added veteran leadership on defense, something that Jason Williams and Bonzi Wells didn’t have the patience for. Detroit wins all their close games, so Pau Gasol will have to step up (again) to give Memphis a win.


Runner-up:
Warriors @ Celtics: These are two teams that might miss out on the playoffs solely because of inexperience. Only Fisher, Davis and Calbert Cheney have been in the playoffs for Golden State. Boston isn’t much better and doesn’t have a player who has been to the Finals. Golden State has a slight advantage, since Delonte West will have issues covering Baron Davis.


Blowout:
Raptors @ Magic: Toronto’s willingness to play hard has begun to waver. Jalen Rose is now on the bench for a serious lack of production. Jose Calderon is injured, which means there’s a lot of standing around. With Grant Hill back, Orlando’s offense is more fluent and shouldn’t struggle to take advantage of the Raptors weak D.

Tuesday (12/20)


Best:
Sonics @ Suns: Last year, the Sonics were the only team to win in San Antonio, Phoenix, Dallas and Miami. This year the Supersonics can’t even maintain their home court. Phoenix is better version of Seattle; still the two teams play exactly the same way. Expect no defensive pressure in this one. Both teams are prolific scorers and lethargic defenders.


Runner-up:
Spurs @ Bucks: Both teams rely heavily on their supporting cast, particularly Milwaukee. The Bucks need Ford, Redd, Simmons, Magloire and Bogut to all produce. The 3-pter is going to be tough for Milwaukee; they lead the League in 3-pt shooting, but San Antonio is one of the best teams in terms of defending the outside shot. Simmons and Bogut will have to get points in the paint for a Bucks win.


Blowout:
Hawks @ Heat: Only if Shaq and Wade don’t try at all; that’s the only way this isn’t a 30-pt blowout by halftime. Zaza Pachulia and Al Harrington are far too undersized to make a dent in Shaq’s box score. Joe Johnson wants to be a superstar but will get a rude awakening when he faces Dwyane Wade. If Miami is anything close to Detroit, they’ll put this game away after the 1st quarter.

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