Insider continued...........
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Kwame or Etan? It's still too premature to write off Kwame Brown, but there's a growing feeling in Washington that Etan Thomas may be a better answer than Brown at the four for the Wizards.
Etan Thomas
Forward-Center
Washington Wizards
Profile
2003-2004 SEASON STATISTICS
GM PPG RPG APG FG% FT%
13 9.5 8.1 1.2 .483 .635
Over the last five games, Thomas (11 ppg, 8.4 rpg, 1.6 bpg on 50 percent shooting) and Brown (10 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 0 bpg on 51 percent shooting) are averaging similar numbers. Brown has started every game for the Wizards this season, but it's usually Thomas who finishes them.
Thomas' defense and physical strength have bolstered what has been a historically soft front line.
"He's the heart and soul of what we do," said coach Eddie Jordan. "We've kind of taken his personality, his grit, determination and second effort. He's our leader right now."
Point guard Gilbert Arenas agrees. "He's been the catalyst the whole season," Arenas said. "You have to give all the credit to [Thomas]. It's great because you know he's going to be there. It's like every rebound that goes up, you know he's going to get it or give us a second chance at it. He's going to battle and be a warrior out there."
League sources claim that Jordan is reluctant to give away Brown's starting position at the moment despite Thomas' inspired play. He doesn't want Brown to lose confidence and feels like benching Kwame will just do more damage at the moment.
Marc Jackson returning to rookie form Maybe that rookie season Marc Jackson put up in Golden State wasn't a fluke after all. Remember way back during the 2000-01 season when Jackson had that breakout performance that almost landed him Rookie of the Year honors. That season Jackson averaged 13.2 ppg and 7.5 rpg on 46 percent shooting. Since then, the best Jackson has been able to muster is 5.5 ppg and 2.9 rpg last season with the T-Wolves.
Marc Jackson
Forward-Center
Philadelphia 76ers
Profile
2003-2004 SEASON STATISTICS
GM PPG RPG APG FG% FT%
14 10.4 6.4 0.8 .434 .769
Since landing in Philly, however, things have been different for Jackson. Over his last five, Jackson is averaging career highs of 15.4 ppg and 8.3 rpg and seems to have cemented his role as the starting center on the Sixers' front line.
You think Kevin McHale wouldn't mind having him back right now? The T-Wolves dumped Jackson after landing center Michael Olowokandi in free agency. Olowokandi's numbers over his last five? 5.5 ppg and 1 rpg.
Odom on a new high Maybe Pat Riley knows what he's doing after all. The Heat are terrible, but you can't fault the play of Lamar Odom during the Heat's rough stretch.
Odom has been on fire over the last five, averaging 19.2 ppg, 8.4 rpg and 3.4 apg while shooting 48 percent from the field and the 3-point line. More importantly, look at the plus minus numbers for Odom and the Heat. The Heat are being outscored by an average of 19.1 ppg when Odom's not on the floor.
Meanwhile, Brian Grant appears to be in another of those funks. He's averaging just 7.6 ppg and 6.8 rpg in the last five.
News of the Weird If you predicted the following before the start of the regular season, you must be a witch.
Ronald Murray would be the only player in the league to have just one game in which he scored under 20 points. Murray has scored 20 points or more in 10 of the 11 games he's played.
Paul Pierce would have five consecutive games in which he scored less than 20 points a game.
Zach Randolph would rank seventh in the league with 11.1 rpg.
Brian Cardinal and Anthony Peeler would be among the league leaders in 3-point field goal percentage.
Antoine Walker would NOT be among the top 10 players in 3-pointers attempted after shooting 132 more 3s than the third-most prolific shooter in the game (Allan Houston) last season.
Earl Watson would rank second in the league in assists per 48 minutes.
Mehmet Okur would rank fourth in the league in rebounder per 48.
------------------------------
Peep Show
By Terry Brown
NBA Insider
Monday, November 24
Updated: November 24
9:02 AM ET
GarrityOrlando Magic: When it rains, it pours, and you find out Pat Garrity will have season-ending surgery on his right knee. "My guess is that puts me at March before I can see if it works and that seems like an eternity now," Garrity said in Florida Today. "Waiting four months to start rehabilitating is going to make it tough (to come back this season)." This will be the third operation in four months for Garrity and his knee.
Washington Wizards: "I feel bad," Gilbert Arenas said in the Washington Times. "I was in the middle of a spin and I heard something pop in my stomach and groin area. It was like a charley horse." Actually, it was a bruised abdomen. We think. "I don't want to misdiagnose it, but it's bad," Wizards coach Eddie Jordan said in the Washington Times. "It's bad right now." Gilbert may miss the next two road games for the Wizards.
Seattle SuperSonics: You can take away Jerome James' starting center position. You can take away his reserve spot in the rotation. But you can't take away his god-given right to not care. "I don't care. I'm different from everybody else," James said in the Tacoma Tribune. "I come to work, I do my job, I practice hard, I show up on time. Whatever they see fit for this team on the floor, then that is their call. That's not my call. My call is to do what they ask when my name is called."
LaFrentzBoston Celtics: Nobody misses Raef LaFrentz more than his former Kansas teammate Paul Pierce. "Man, I think Raef is very important," said Pierce in the Boston Herald. "I think he's a double-double guy for us. I think he's going to be a strong rebounder, strong defender and give us double-figure scoring and a defensive presence. I think he's definitely going to be a key for us in his return . . . Raef brings another dimension. He's a big guy who can draw his man out to the perimeter along with the other two perimeter guys and myself. It gives you more flexibility on the lineup. It gives you more flexibility on just being able to drive." LaFrentz is eligible to come off the disabled list with right knee tendinitis after tonight but may not play until next Monday.
Los Angeles Lakers: The Los Angeles Times is reporting that while Shaquille O'Neal missed Sunday night's win over the Grizzlies with a strained right calf, it wouldn't be too long before he returned to the lineup. "This is one of those injuries that, although it's painful, you're not capable of hurting it worse," Shaq said. He could play as soon as Wednesday.
Cleveland Cavaliers: Head coach Paul Silas and swingman Ira Newble were caught arguing in public after the latest loss but will settle their differences behind closed doors. "I'm not going to comment about it, we're going to handle this thing in house," Silas said in the Akron Beacon Journal. Most believe the argument was over playing time and may result in Newble being fined or even suspended.
-----------------------------------------------------
Kwame or Etan? It's still too premature to write off Kwame Brown, but there's a growing feeling in Washington that Etan Thomas may be a better answer than Brown at the four for the Wizards.
Etan Thomas
Forward-Center
Washington Wizards
Profile
2003-2004 SEASON STATISTICS
GM PPG RPG APG FG% FT%
13 9.5 8.1 1.2 .483 .635
Over the last five games, Thomas (11 ppg, 8.4 rpg, 1.6 bpg on 50 percent shooting) and Brown (10 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 0 bpg on 51 percent shooting) are averaging similar numbers. Brown has started every game for the Wizards this season, but it's usually Thomas who finishes them.
Thomas' defense and physical strength have bolstered what has been a historically soft front line.
"He's the heart and soul of what we do," said coach Eddie Jordan. "We've kind of taken his personality, his grit, determination and second effort. He's our leader right now."
Point guard Gilbert Arenas agrees. "He's been the catalyst the whole season," Arenas said. "You have to give all the credit to [Thomas]. It's great because you know he's going to be there. It's like every rebound that goes up, you know he's going to get it or give us a second chance at it. He's going to battle and be a warrior out there."
League sources claim that Jordan is reluctant to give away Brown's starting position at the moment despite Thomas' inspired play. He doesn't want Brown to lose confidence and feels like benching Kwame will just do more damage at the moment.
Marc Jackson returning to rookie form Maybe that rookie season Marc Jackson put up in Golden State wasn't a fluke after all. Remember way back during the 2000-01 season when Jackson had that breakout performance that almost landed him Rookie of the Year honors. That season Jackson averaged 13.2 ppg and 7.5 rpg on 46 percent shooting. Since then, the best Jackson has been able to muster is 5.5 ppg and 2.9 rpg last season with the T-Wolves.
Marc Jackson
Forward-Center
Philadelphia 76ers
Profile
2003-2004 SEASON STATISTICS
GM PPG RPG APG FG% FT%
14 10.4 6.4 0.8 .434 .769
Since landing in Philly, however, things have been different for Jackson. Over his last five, Jackson is averaging career highs of 15.4 ppg and 8.3 rpg and seems to have cemented his role as the starting center on the Sixers' front line.
You think Kevin McHale wouldn't mind having him back right now? The T-Wolves dumped Jackson after landing center Michael Olowokandi in free agency. Olowokandi's numbers over his last five? 5.5 ppg and 1 rpg.
Odom on a new high Maybe Pat Riley knows what he's doing after all. The Heat are terrible, but you can't fault the play of Lamar Odom during the Heat's rough stretch.
Odom has been on fire over the last five, averaging 19.2 ppg, 8.4 rpg and 3.4 apg while shooting 48 percent from the field and the 3-point line. More importantly, look at the plus minus numbers for Odom and the Heat. The Heat are being outscored by an average of 19.1 ppg when Odom's not on the floor.
Meanwhile, Brian Grant appears to be in another of those funks. He's averaging just 7.6 ppg and 6.8 rpg in the last five.
News of the Weird If you predicted the following before the start of the regular season, you must be a witch.
Ronald Murray would be the only player in the league to have just one game in which he scored under 20 points. Murray has scored 20 points or more in 10 of the 11 games he's played.
Paul Pierce would have five consecutive games in which he scored less than 20 points a game.
Zach Randolph would rank seventh in the league with 11.1 rpg.
Brian Cardinal and Anthony Peeler would be among the league leaders in 3-point field goal percentage.
Antoine Walker would NOT be among the top 10 players in 3-pointers attempted after shooting 132 more 3s than the third-most prolific shooter in the game (Allan Houston) last season.
Earl Watson would rank second in the league in assists per 48 minutes.
Mehmet Okur would rank fourth in the league in rebounder per 48.
------------------------------
Peep Show
By Terry Brown
NBA Insider
Monday, November 24
Updated: November 24
9:02 AM ET
GarrityOrlando Magic: When it rains, it pours, and you find out Pat Garrity will have season-ending surgery on his right knee. "My guess is that puts me at March before I can see if it works and that seems like an eternity now," Garrity said in Florida Today. "Waiting four months to start rehabilitating is going to make it tough (to come back this season)." This will be the third operation in four months for Garrity and his knee.
Washington Wizards: "I feel bad," Gilbert Arenas said in the Washington Times. "I was in the middle of a spin and I heard something pop in my stomach and groin area. It was like a charley horse." Actually, it was a bruised abdomen. We think. "I don't want to misdiagnose it, but it's bad," Wizards coach Eddie Jordan said in the Washington Times. "It's bad right now." Gilbert may miss the next two road games for the Wizards.
Seattle SuperSonics: You can take away Jerome James' starting center position. You can take away his reserve spot in the rotation. But you can't take away his god-given right to not care. "I don't care. I'm different from everybody else," James said in the Tacoma Tribune. "I come to work, I do my job, I practice hard, I show up on time. Whatever they see fit for this team on the floor, then that is their call. That's not my call. My call is to do what they ask when my name is called."
LaFrentzBoston Celtics: Nobody misses Raef LaFrentz more than his former Kansas teammate Paul Pierce. "Man, I think Raef is very important," said Pierce in the Boston Herald. "I think he's a double-double guy for us. I think he's going to be a strong rebounder, strong defender and give us double-figure scoring and a defensive presence. I think he's definitely going to be a key for us in his return . . . Raef brings another dimension. He's a big guy who can draw his man out to the perimeter along with the other two perimeter guys and myself. It gives you more flexibility on the lineup. It gives you more flexibility on just being able to drive." LaFrentz is eligible to come off the disabled list with right knee tendinitis after tonight but may not play until next Monday.
Los Angeles Lakers: The Los Angeles Times is reporting that while Shaquille O'Neal missed Sunday night's win over the Grizzlies with a strained right calf, it wouldn't be too long before he returned to the lineup. "This is one of those injuries that, although it's painful, you're not capable of hurting it worse," Shaq said. He could play as soon as Wednesday.
Cleveland Cavaliers: Head coach Paul Silas and swingman Ira Newble were caught arguing in public after the latest loss but will settle their differences behind closed doors. "I'm not going to comment about it, we're going to handle this thing in house," Silas said in the Akron Beacon Journal. Most believe the argument was over playing time and may result in Newble being fined or even suspended.
