Insider Jan. 5th continued, & Peep show

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Insider Jan. 5th continued...........
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Sam the Man: Does any point guard in the West deserve a spot in the All-Star Game more than Sam Cassell this year? Cassell has been amazing for the Wolves so far this year, averaging a career-high in points (20.5 ppg), field goal percentage (51 percent) and 3-point percentage (40 percent). Add in 7.5 apg and a stellar 3.12 assist-to-turn over ratio and you can easily make the argument that he's the best point guard in the West this year.
Sam Cassell
Point Guard
Minnesota Timberwolves
Profile


2003-2004 SEASON STATISTICS
GM PPG RPG APG FG% FT%
32 20.5 3.3 7.5 .507 .815



Steve Nash, Stephon Marbury, Mike Bibby, Andre Miller, Tony Parker and Gary Payton are his closest competitors, but only Payton has had a more dramatic impact on his team among West point guards. Payton has a +19.6 plus/minus rating at the moment. Cassell's +13.7 plus/minus rating is second among West point guards. The next closest guard is Marbury with a +6 rating.

The even better news for Wolves fans is that Cassell continues to get better. He averaged 18.1 ppg and seven apg on 48 percent shooting in November. In December he upped the averages to 23.8 ppg and eight apg on 54 percent shooting from the field. In his first two games in January he's upped it again to 24.5 ppg on 59 percent shooting from the field.

Cassell already has one vote, from coach Flip Saunders. "I don't know how he couldn't be an All-Star," Saunders told the Minneapolis Star Tribune. "There might not be -- right now, from beginning to end -- anyone who has played more consistent as a point guard in the league."

Cassell agrees, though he feels that he's been underrated his whole career: "I've been doing the same thing for seven years. The numbers have been there, the winning percentage has been there. I can't worry about nothing I can't control.

"If it happens to be this year, it will be well-deserved, I think. But who knows, man, who knows? I'm going with Kevin Garnett anyway. If I'm going to be on the court or be in the stands, I'm going with Kevin."

Garnett is a pretty good choice, by the way. He leads all players in the NBA with a +19.8 plus/minus rating.


Is Richardson Queuing up for a big deal this summer? What a week for the Clippers' Quentin Richardson. He's averaging 25 ppg and 8.4 rpg over his last five, including an amazing 44-point, 10-rebound, five-3-pointer effort over the Nuggets on New Year's Eve.
Quentin Richardson
Shooting Guard
Los Angeles Clippers
Profile


2003-2004 SEASON STATISTICS
GM PPG RPG APG FG% FT%
30 18.4 6.8 2.1 .400 .758



Coach Mike Dunleavy, however, says that Richardson is just scratching the surface. "I expect him to grow a lot more [as a player]," Dunleavy told the L.A. Times. "I don't think he's anywhere near as good as he can be&.One of the things he's got to get better at, he's got to become efficient at getting better shots. He takes shots that you would consider to be questionable at times, but based on his ability to make shots he gets an opportunity to test the waters. He's got a pretty pure stroke when he's got it going, but you've got to learn how to manufacture shots when you're not going good, whether it be in the post, taking the ball to the basket, offensive rebounding or better open shots."

Richardson hits the free-agent market next summer as a restricted free agent. Expect him to get plenty of looks from teams like Denver, which covets his toughness (Dunleavy calls him a "power guard) and outside shooting stroke. The Clippers are said to be looking very seriously at making a run at Kobe Bryant. If a team comes with a big offer sheet early, they may be able to steal Richardson away.

Richardson is just happy that the Clippers' fortunes finally seem to be turning. "The atmosphere is definitely better. Guys feel like we're moving in the right direction, with them signing EB and Corey&. I mean, my first choice, obviously, is to stay here. I like it here, but that doesn't mean it's going to happen. I'm just waiting to see, playing it out."


Is Tinsley out of Carlisle's doghouse? Pacers coach Rick Carlisle wasn't a big fan of Jamaal Tinsley's game. When Tinsley was finally activated last week, he was out of Carlisle's dog house by necessity. With Kenny Anderson injured and Anthony Johnson hobbling, Carlisle needed Tinsley as much as he hated to admit it.
Jamaal Tinsley
Point Guard
Indiana Pacers
Profile


2003-2004 SEASON STATISTICS
GM PPG RPG APG FG% FT%
10 5.4 2.2 4.1 .351 .800



Given the chance, Tinsley has shined for the Pacers. He's started the last three games for the Pacers and put up an impressive 11.3 ppg, 8.3 apg and 4.7 rpg during those games -- all Pacer wins. His 18-point, nine-assist, five-rebound game versus Baron Davis should be enough to convince Carlisle to give Tinsley a longer look. But so far, Carlisle's been silent on the issue.

Jermaine O'Neal, who's been miffed all season by Tinsley's demotion, has gone out of his way to let everyone know that he believes that "Jamaal's the most talented point guard that we have."

Tinsley certainly gives the Pacers a boost offensively. While he still has a questionable jumper, his ability to motor up and down the floor gets the Pacers running, something O'Neal and Ron Artest have been begging Carlisle to let them do. The team has struggled to grind it out in the half-court offense and Tinsley gives them chances at easy buckets. Defensively, Tinsley can be disruptive as well.

Over the course of the past week Carlisle has called Tinsley the difference and claimed that "You can't put a price on what that does for your team." Strong words coming from a guy who had buried Tinsley on the injured list most of the season. With Johnson getting healthy and Anderson on the mend, is Tinsley doomed to go back to playing third string?

"I'm just playing the role they give me," he told the Indianapolis Star. "Like I said, ain't nothing going to break me. I just wait for my number to be called.. It's a coaching decision. Whatever makes the team work, if that helps, I'll roll with it."
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Peep Show
By Terry Brown
NBA Insider
Monday, January 5
Updated: January 5
9:18 AM ET




IversonPhiladelphia 76ers: Allen Iverson is back, but that doesn't mean he's happy. "I honestly didn't want to feel I had to rush back," Iverson said in the Philadelphia Daily News. "I found out a lot about being injured, [more] than at any time before, because it was like we were struggling and people were getting antsy, people that I thought cared about me [who were] only worried about wins and losses. I just found out a lot about a lot of people during that time. It made me look at people a different way. I felt like, by me being hurt, people had a problem with it. I never thought that would be an issue. I thought some people that I thought cared about me, I felt that they only cared about me for what I can do with this [basketball] right here." Iverson wouldn't name names but did say he has no problem with new head coach Randy Ayers.
Sacramento Kings: Many think Ray Allen is best shooter in the NBA. Well, Ray thinks the Kings' Peja Stojakovic is. "We're totally different," Allen said in the Seattle Times. "Our shots are totally different. He has a very awkward shot where he brings it from the left side of his body and when he shoots it, it always looks like it's going from left to right. But he practices. He works hard. And that's where it pays off. He's not blessed to shoot. He's just blessed to work at it."

New York Knicks: There isn't much head coach Don Chaney can do about Antonio McDyess' physical condition, but he can help out mentally. "I just reassured him [he's] on the floor to help the team," Chaney said in the New York Post. "Obviously he's not going to bring his full game because he's not 100 percent but having him on the floor rebounding and scoring is going to help us." New boss Isiah Thomas agreed, though there are constant rumors of the forward being traded. "We want to get better from within. Antonio is a big part of what we're trying to do. We need him, but we need him feeling better about himself."



MaloneLos Angeles Lakers: Karl Malone is mortal, and now on the injured reserve list for the first time in is career. "I hate it," Malone said in the Los Angeles Times. "But, in the long run, I think it's the smart thing to do. I was putting pressure on me, on the training staff, on Phil Jackson maybe coaching a different way, all because I never wanted to be on the injured list. I hadn't resigned myself to the injured list, but I didn't want to hold another player back, Rick Fox or Jamal, either&. In hindsight, maybe we should have started the injured list at the Seattle game." He is expected back on Jan. 14 after sitting out the mandatory five games.
New Jersey Nets: Eddie Griffin officially becomes a Net on Wednesday, an active NBA player near the end of the month and then a defendant in court on assault and marijuana charges sometime in between. "We'll have him obviously do a lot of things on the offensive end, try to get him familiar with what we do," head coach Byron Scott said in the New York Post. "We'll see what kind of shape he's in. If he's not in the type of shape we hope he can be in, then everyday he'll be with Rich [Dalatri, strength coach] also."

San Antonio Spurs: The San Antonio Express News is reporting that Manu Ginobili will be placed on the injured reserve list for a strained lower back and will miss the next five games. He was hurt during Saturday's loss to the Sixers and will be replaced by guard Alex Garcia.



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