Sports Illustrated
Jack McCallum
Hidden factors
Role players are fueling some surprising starts
December 8, 2005 5:56PM
Except for those superstars who have been set back by injuries -- Miami's Shaquille O'Neal and Houston's Tracy McGrady are the big names -- most of the NBA's reliables are doing their thing so far this season. Philadelphia's Allen Iverson and the Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant are battling for the scoring lead; Tim Duncan is his usual solid self for the seemingly slump-proof San Antonio Spurs; Cleveland's LeBron James and Miami's Dwyane Wade are maintaining their reps as the best young players in the league; 2005 MVP Steve Nash has the Phoenix Suns on a hot streak -- without Amaré Stoudemire; and Kevin Garnett is filling up the stat line for a Minnesota Timberwolves team that has won its last five on the road.
But for this week's five-pack, let's look beyond the obvious and highlight some of the "secret weapons" for teams that are either meeting or playing beyond expectations. There will be disagreements about what constitutes secret, of course. Is San Antonio point guard Tony Parker, who is playing the best basketball of his young life, a secret weapon? My opinion is no -- Parker's scoring (20.9, almost seven points higher than his career average) may be a surprise but he's no secret.
But these five are ...
Chris Kaman, C -- Los Angeles Clippers
Chris Kaman
Surely this has happened to some of you: You're speed-thumbing through the NBA League Pass channels when all of a sudden you stop on a Clippers game and say: What is a young Gary Busey doing on the court?
His hair stringy and blonde, his energy level relentless, Kaman's appearance suggests one of those wild men who earn their minutes simply because they run around and drive the other team to distraction. That is not the case. The third-year center out of Central Michigan is a skilled back-to-the-basket pivotman and a great athlete who once protested that he didn't want to be compared to immovable centers like Greg Ostertag and Bryant "Big Country" Reeves. And he should not. Kaman and Elton Brand provide a formidable 1-2 punch around the basket, and that's a major reason that the Clippers look, at the very least, like a playoff team.
Boris Diaw, C/F/G -- Phoenix Suns
Boris Diaw
One of the easiest ways to assure anonymity in this league is to start your career with the Atlanta Hawks. Though the Suns desperately wanted Diaw to be a real player so that the Joe Johnson sign-and-trade wouldn't didn't look so bad, most of America barely noticed when this 6-foot-8' French greyhound, a former club teammate of Parisian Parker's, came aboard.
They've noticed now. Starting mostly at center for coach Mike D'Antoni, Diaw (Dee-OW) has looked comfortable whether running the floor or holding his own under the basket, despite being outweighed (he goes 203 pounds) by most of the bruisers. The Suns like to exploit matchups, and Diaw is quick enough to guard multiple positions, even perimeter players.
Troy Murphy, PF -- Golden State Warriors
Troy Murphy
This is the fifth season that the eternally promising duo of Jason Richardson and Murphy have been together in the Bay Area; and Mike Dunleavy has been there for four. None of them have ever seen a postseason game and, if that changes this year, the main difference will have been the addition of point guard Baron Davis.
But Murphy is a constant for the Warriors, a player who rebounds (8.6 per game) and defends his position quite well (though he's not a shot-blocker), scores reliably (16.1 a game), makes his free throws (80 percent) and can even step out and hit the three from time to time.
Shane Battier, PF -- Memphis Grizzlies
Shane Battier
Battier is a rarity -- a Duke player who has gotten kind of lost in the NBA shuffle. His scoring average has actually gone down after his 14.4 points per game in his rookie season, but his importance has gone up. He's shooting 55 percent from the floor, he has maintained his rep as a defensive specialist and he's an avid pick-setter and dive-on-the-floor energy guy for a team that has -- in case you haven't noticed -- the second-best record in the Western Conference.
Maurice Evans, G/F -- Detroit Pistons
Maurice Evans
You watch the confident Evans play for a few minutes and wonder: Why didn't this guy make a splash in Minnesota or Sacramento? He has a chance to do that now with a championship contender. Evans came to the league's most stable rotation -- five starters and sixth man Antonio McDyess -- and immediately established himself as a valuable role player, someone who defends, takes care of the basketball (even though he's not much of a passer) and will take the shot even though he knows he's often the last option.
The Pistons like someone in that hard-nosed, athletic third-guard role (last year it was Lindsey Hunter and in the championship season of '04 it was Mike James), and Evans has so far been perfect.
Jack McCallum
Hidden factors
Role players are fueling some surprising starts
December 8, 2005 5:56PM
Except for those superstars who have been set back by injuries -- Miami's Shaquille O'Neal and Houston's Tracy McGrady are the big names -- most of the NBA's reliables are doing their thing so far this season. Philadelphia's Allen Iverson and the Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant are battling for the scoring lead; Tim Duncan is his usual solid self for the seemingly slump-proof San Antonio Spurs; Cleveland's LeBron James and Miami's Dwyane Wade are maintaining their reps as the best young players in the league; 2005 MVP Steve Nash has the Phoenix Suns on a hot streak -- without Amaré Stoudemire; and Kevin Garnett is filling up the stat line for a Minnesota Timberwolves team that has won its last five on the road.
But for this week's five-pack, let's look beyond the obvious and highlight some of the "secret weapons" for teams that are either meeting or playing beyond expectations. There will be disagreements about what constitutes secret, of course. Is San Antonio point guard Tony Parker, who is playing the best basketball of his young life, a secret weapon? My opinion is no -- Parker's scoring (20.9, almost seven points higher than his career average) may be a surprise but he's no secret.
But these five are ...
Chris Kaman, C -- Los Angeles Clippers
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Chris Kaman
Surely this has happened to some of you: You're speed-thumbing through the NBA League Pass channels when all of a sudden you stop on a Clippers game and say: What is a young Gary Busey doing on the court?
His hair stringy and blonde, his energy level relentless, Kaman's appearance suggests one of those wild men who earn their minutes simply because they run around and drive the other team to distraction. That is not the case. The third-year center out of Central Michigan is a skilled back-to-the-basket pivotman and a great athlete who once protested that he didn't want to be compared to immovable centers like Greg Ostertag and Bryant "Big Country" Reeves. And he should not. Kaman and Elton Brand provide a formidable 1-2 punch around the basket, and that's a major reason that the Clippers look, at the very least, like a playoff team.
Boris Diaw, C/F/G -- Phoenix Suns
You must be registered for see images
You must be registered for see images
Boris Diaw
One of the easiest ways to assure anonymity in this league is to start your career with the Atlanta Hawks. Though the Suns desperately wanted Diaw to be a real player so that the Joe Johnson sign-and-trade wouldn't didn't look so bad, most of America barely noticed when this 6-foot-8' French greyhound, a former club teammate of Parisian Parker's, came aboard.
They've noticed now. Starting mostly at center for coach Mike D'Antoni, Diaw (Dee-OW) has looked comfortable whether running the floor or holding his own under the basket, despite being outweighed (he goes 203 pounds) by most of the bruisers. The Suns like to exploit matchups, and Diaw is quick enough to guard multiple positions, even perimeter players.
Troy Murphy, PF -- Golden State Warriors
You must be registered for see images
You must be registered for see images
Troy Murphy
This is the fifth season that the eternally promising duo of Jason Richardson and Murphy have been together in the Bay Area; and Mike Dunleavy has been there for four. None of them have ever seen a postseason game and, if that changes this year, the main difference will have been the addition of point guard Baron Davis.
But Murphy is a constant for the Warriors, a player who rebounds (8.6 per game) and defends his position quite well (though he's not a shot-blocker), scores reliably (16.1 a game), makes his free throws (80 percent) and can even step out and hit the three from time to time.
Shane Battier, PF -- Memphis Grizzlies
You must be registered for see images
You must be registered for see images
Shane Battier
Battier is a rarity -- a Duke player who has gotten kind of lost in the NBA shuffle. His scoring average has actually gone down after his 14.4 points per game in his rookie season, but his importance has gone up. He's shooting 55 percent from the floor, he has maintained his rep as a defensive specialist and he's an avid pick-setter and dive-on-the-floor energy guy for a team that has -- in case you haven't noticed -- the second-best record in the Western Conference.
Maurice Evans, G/F -- Detroit Pistons
You must be registered for see images
You must be registered for see images
Maurice Evans
You watch the confident Evans play for a few minutes and wonder: Why didn't this guy make a splash in Minnesota or Sacramento? He has a chance to do that now with a championship contender. Evans came to the league's most stable rotation -- five starters and sixth man Antonio McDyess -- and immediately established himself as a valuable role player, someone who defends, takes care of the basketball (even though he's not much of a passer) and will take the shot even though he knows he's often the last option.
The Pistons like someone in that hard-nosed, athletic third-guard role (last year it was Lindsey Hunter and in the championship season of '04 it was Mike James), and Evans has so far been perfect.
