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New York Daily News: Assist for Telfair
Scores just two but passes test
By JULIAN GARCIA
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER
Telfair surveys floor on way to two-point, 11-assist performance.
OKLAHOMA CITY - Sebastian Telfair thinks he knows what it takes to play in the NBA, which is why he was perfectly happy after scoring just two points in one of the most prestigious and important postseason high school all-star games.
After all, the Coney Island product, who is considered perhaps the best "pure point guard" in the country, may have solidified his standing as a potential first-round pick in June's NBA draft by doing exactly what players like him are supposed to do - make his team better.
He dished out a game-high 11 assists to help lead the East team to a 126-96 win over the West in front of 14,040 fans and numerous NBA scouts and executives during the McDonald's All-American Game at the Ford Center last night.
Telfair didn't play with the flash of J.R. Smith, the St. Benedict's Prep guard who scored a game-high 25 points to win co-MVP, but he did help possible lottery pick Dwight Howard earn the other half of the award. Smith scored 19 points and many of them were set up by Telfair.
"Easy job for me," a smiling Telfair said. "I got the best big man in the country on my side. Coming out and scoring 30 wouldn't have helped me. I think having 11 assists helped me more."
Telfair attempted just two shots - one jumper - but finished two assists shy of the game record. Perhaps most important, he held Duke-signee Shaun Livingston, another point guard considering the big jump, to just one point and three assists.
Howard was impressed.
"He told me he didn't care about points or assists," said the 6-10 forward from Atlanta. "He said he thought the pros wanted to see him shut somebody down instead of showboating."
Telfair, who had three rebounds and four turnovers, scored his only points on a driving layup early in the first half. He picked up three fouls midway through the half and sat on the bench until the second half began. He finished with five fouls in 20 minutes.
Meanwhile, Smith hit five of his 11 three-point attempts, including a few from NBA range. He also threw down five dunks and hooked up with Howard for a thunderous ally-oop in the first half.
The most high-profile executive at the game was Pat Riley, who sat a few feet behind Carmelo Anthony, the Denver Nuggets star who played in the McDonald's game at the Garden two years ago.
After the game, Telfair chatted with Anthony in the hallway before heading to a post-game party. Today he'll hop a flight to San Antonio, where he will play in the Hoops Summit.
"This meant a lot," Telfair said. "I think one of the best things I got out of this week was having fun with the best players in the country."
And proving that he's one of them.
Scores just two but passes test
By JULIAN GARCIA
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER
Telfair surveys floor on way to two-point, 11-assist performance.
OKLAHOMA CITY - Sebastian Telfair thinks he knows what it takes to play in the NBA, which is why he was perfectly happy after scoring just two points in one of the most prestigious and important postseason high school all-star games.
After all, the Coney Island product, who is considered perhaps the best "pure point guard" in the country, may have solidified his standing as a potential first-round pick in June's NBA draft by doing exactly what players like him are supposed to do - make his team better.
He dished out a game-high 11 assists to help lead the East team to a 126-96 win over the West in front of 14,040 fans and numerous NBA scouts and executives during the McDonald's All-American Game at the Ford Center last night.
Telfair didn't play with the flash of J.R. Smith, the St. Benedict's Prep guard who scored a game-high 25 points to win co-MVP, but he did help possible lottery pick Dwight Howard earn the other half of the award. Smith scored 19 points and many of them were set up by Telfair.
"Easy job for me," a smiling Telfair said. "I got the best big man in the country on my side. Coming out and scoring 30 wouldn't have helped me. I think having 11 assists helped me more."
Telfair attempted just two shots - one jumper - but finished two assists shy of the game record. Perhaps most important, he held Duke-signee Shaun Livingston, another point guard considering the big jump, to just one point and three assists.
Howard was impressed.
"He told me he didn't care about points or assists," said the 6-10 forward from Atlanta. "He said he thought the pros wanted to see him shut somebody down instead of showboating."
Telfair, who had three rebounds and four turnovers, scored his only points on a driving layup early in the first half. He picked up three fouls midway through the half and sat on the bench until the second half began. He finished with five fouls in 20 minutes.
Meanwhile, Smith hit five of his 11 three-point attempts, including a few from NBA range. He also threw down five dunks and hooked up with Howard for a thunderous ally-oop in the first half.
The most high-profile executive at the game was Pat Riley, who sat a few feet behind Carmelo Anthony, the Denver Nuggets star who played in the McDonald's game at the Garden two years ago.
After the game, Telfair chatted with Anthony in the hallway before heading to a post-game party. Today he'll hop a flight to San Antonio, where he will play in the Hoops Summit.
"This meant a lot," Telfair said. "I think one of the best things I got out of this week was having fun with the best players in the country."
And proving that he's one of them.
