Boston Celtics: Paul Pierce’s Potential Departure Means Jeff Green Is ‘The Guy’
With the pending departure of Celtics captain Paul Pierce on the horizon, many fans will be looking to Jeff Green to fill the sneakers of the Boston mainstay for at least the near future and hopefully the long term as well.
Pierce’s shoes are certainly big ones to fill.
There is no doubt that his No. 34 will one day hang in the rafters amongst all of the Green Team’s legends, which is the biggest honor that can bestowed upon a Celtics player.
And for Pierce, it is well-deserved. He owns a myriad of team records and is the franchise’s second all-time leading scorer behind John Havilcek. He is also second to Larry Bird in Celtics career scoring average.
Any time you can be mentioned in the same sentence as Hondo and Larry Legend, you know you’ve had a great career. Throw in the fact that Pierce is a 10-time All-Star, an NBA Finals MVP and a bona fide Hall of Famer and it will certainly not be the easiest transition for the young Georgetown alum.
Jeff Green’s talent and potential are undeniable. We saw glimpses this season of just how dominant he can be on any given night.
The performance that obviously sticks out is his national breakout show in March against the Miami Heat. Green scored 43 points and went toe-to-toe against the world’s best player in LeBron James.
James would ultimately score 37 of his own, including the go-ahead basket at the end of regulation to seal the deal for the Heat, but fans walked away from that game knowing that the Celts have a legitimate budding superstar on the roster.
The problem for Green has been consistency. Couple that with the fact that some of his best games during the regular season came while Kevin Garnett was out due to injury and it was hard to gain a complete understanding of how he could ultimately fit into the lineup.
He definitely seemed to thrive as a starter and, should Danny Ainge make the move to trade The Truth, will be thrust into Pierce’s spot.
Many analysts have also questioned if Green has the same natural killer instinct that Pierce has exhibited throughout his Celtics career.
At times this season, it seemed as though head coach Doc Rivers was desperately trying to pull that side out of him. Yet there were other times when Green showed his merciless side, knocking down big shots in pressure situations—particularly in Game 5 of the playoffs against the Knicks.
Green has not yet been given the opportunity during his NBA career to be “the guy.” If Pierce is ultimately traded, then he will certainly be pushed into that role.
Even though it may not be the flawless transition fans are hoping for, Green Teamers should take solace in the fact that Green has the potential to be the best player on the court on any given night.
It’s certainly sad to see Pierce go, but it will be exciting to see what Green can ultimately do for this team. His inconsistencies this year will certainly lead many to question whether or not he can be that type of franchise player.
It must be remembered, though, that Green was coming off of major heart surgery and missed an entire season. Not only did he have to adapt to a new team essentially, he also had acclimate himself to simply playing the game of basketball again.
As the season went on, fans got to see Green gain confidence with each game back and having a more solidly defined role this upcoming season will only help his progress.
Many have speculated on Rivers’ role in a possible rebuilding stage for this team. Ainge recently stated (via The Boston Globe‘s Gary Washburn) that the Celtics coach would be coming back next season, quashing any rumors that had been floating around previously.
One theory for him staying may be that he knows he has something here with the young combination of Green and Rajon Rondo. Garnett has previously said that he believes Green will ultimately be one of the best players to ever play the game.
Could that be Doc’s feeling as well?
Amid the doom and gloom that have been thrown out there regarding this team’s future, Green should be looked at as a bright spot. Will he have the same impact that Pierce had on this organization over the past 14 years? It’s way too early to tell.
One thing is for certain, though. He has the potential to be everything Pierce was and then some.
Potential, however, will only get you so far. It’s up to Green whether or not he wants his number hanging in the rafters next to the captain’s.
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How Andrew Wiggins Would Impact Each Potential College Choice
Andrew Wiggins has the college basketball world abuzz with his decision as to where he’ll be playing next year, which is likely to made at 12:15 p.m. on Tuesday, according to Huntington Prep coach Rob Fulford.
Wiggins—widely considered the best high school player since this guy called LeBron James—has a mountain of hype surrounding him—making the decision as to where he’s playing basketball next year a big one. It’s the type of decision that could completely change the college basketball landscape, with the team that lands his services potentially becoming title favorites in 2013.
That might seem like an overreaction, but it’s not. The kid is that good.
So where’s Wiggins going to be playing next year?
Well, for that, you’ll have to tune in to his announcement around lunch time on Tuesday, but there’s four key programs thought to be in the mix for the star
Read on to see who they are, and how Wiggins’ arrival could impact them in 2013.
Florida State University Seminoles
Wiggins is going to be a star wherever he ends up next season, but at Florida State, he would be the undisputed go-to option from the opening tip.
FSU has the allure of having good friends in the program, and for the Seminoles, it would be the biggest commit in a long time. After all, they are the only program out of the four mentioned that haven’t won a National Championship, and it would definitely get them back in the media spotlight.
Statistically, Florida State ranked outside the top 100 in terms of offensively efficiency in 2012—something that having Wiggins would definitely change.
Be that in terms of scoring or in terms of rebounding, Wiggins would be able to transform the Seminoles from being another middle-of-the-road team in 2012 to a team with some serious underdog status. What’s more, they would be more than capable knocking off the top programs around the country with his arrival, and could well make a surprise run once they get going later in the year.
Kansas Jayhawks
Having lost star Ben McLemore to the NBA draft this year, signing Wiggins would be a huge recruit for Kansas, and one that could allow them to continue to compete at the highest level in 2013.
Allen Fieldhouse would be buzzing again, for the Jayhawks would be national title contenders again—despite losing several of their starters. And with their sound defense and good recruiting so far, Wiggins’ offensive skills would definitely be welcomed.
Eric Bossi of Rivals.com writes (via USA Today):
Kansas, maybe even more than Florida State, is a place he could make an immediate impact. They don’t really have that true high flyer. He could also, theoretically, play power forward for them because he’s so quick and athletic.
Kansas would again be competitive for a Big 12 title and, depending on the cohesion it develops early on, could well enter March Madness as a No. 1 seed.
The presence of Wiggins would rejuvenate this young team into an explosive offense powerhouse that is more than capable of getting the job done.
North Carolina Tar Heels
With James Michael McAdoo opting to stay on for another year, North Carolina finds itself in a particularly strong position if they can secure Wiggins.
Not only would have they have an explosive frontcourt in Roy Williams’ push-the-pace offense, they’d have arguably the most explosive offensive player in the league—capable of dominating inside and in transition, as well as racking up plenty of boards at either end of the court.
Marcus Paige is a pass-first guy in the backcourt who could establish a great connection with Wiggins—turning the Tar Heels into the team to beat next season. Moreover, it would give UNC a huge advantage over their rivals Duke, who have picked up top prospect Jabari Parker for the year ahead, and could establish a thrilling rivalry between Wiggins and Parker at an individual level also.
It’s perhaps a stretch to say that they’re title contenders, but they’re definitely capable of making a strong run in the NCAA Tournament, given the experience that many of their players will have and the fact they’ve got a guy like Wiggins on their roster.
Kentucky Wildcats
However, the strongest impact that Wiggins could have next year would be at Kentucky—and it’s not even close. In the eyes of many, the Wildcats are already the team to beat for the National Championship thanks to their strong recruiting class. Adding in Wiggins would simply confirm that fact even more, and create one of the most most star-studded lineups seen since the Fab Five.
Yes, the Wildcats would be that good next season.
John Calipari‘s team would have at least six first-round draft prospects on hand, and that could only mean big things for the Huntington Prep star.
For at Kentucky, opposing teams can’t afford to double-team him every time he gets the ball in good positions—like they could do if he was at FSU, for example.
Wiggins would thrive in a dribble-drive offense like Kentucky’s, and most likely playing at small-forward, could have an impact both as a scorer and a creator.
He’s unlikely to do that anywhere else, for they would likely need his scoring skills more than anything; yet at Kentucky, they’ve already got plenty of go-to options.
If he wants to win a title, Kentucky is the place to go, for with Wiggins in their roster, the Wildcats would be tremendously difficult to shut down in 2013.
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Pros, cons of potential college basketball rules changes
New rule changes could make for better offense, but will it be better overall basketball?
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The 10 College Basketball Teams with the Biggest Bust Potential for 2014 Season
A year ago, Kentucky had to replace its entire starting lineup, yet a team filled with question marks was ranked preseason No. 3.
That team finished the season in the NIT losing to Robert Morris. (That’s a team, not a guy.)
We should have seen the bust potential, but John Calipari‘s one-and-done approach had just produced a national champion. Expectations were still high.
Next season several teams that will debut at the top of the polls will also have some big question marks. Appearing on this list of teams with the biggest bust potential is not such a bad thing because it means that team has the potential to be really good. Or the potential to be the 2014 version of Kentucky.
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Breaking Down Andrew Wiggins’ College Options and Their Championship Potential
Before Andrew Wiggins can become the No. 1 overall pick in the 2014 NBA draft, he’ll have to decide which college he’ll attend next season.
The 6’8″ small forward has narrowed his list down to four schools: Florida State, Kansas, Kentucky and North Carolina. And although his presence would make each program better right away, all won’t have the same shot to raise a championship banner in year No. 1.
CBS Sports college basketball insider Jon Rothstein sums it up best.
Here we’ll break down Andrew Wiggins’ potential college destinations and determine the championship potential of each.
Florida State Seminoles
By far the most intriguing of Wiggins’ four options, Florida State is hardly a basketball powerhouse. After all, the Seminoles went 18-16 last season and finished .500 in the ACC.
Wiggins would step in right away and become a scorer and an impact player on both ends, but he alone wouldn’t be able to lift Leonard Hamilton’s team over the likes of Duke and North Carolina in the ACC. That said, it’s not at all unrealistic to expect a Wiggins-led Seminoles team to earn an NCAA Tournament bid in 2014.
Still, this is a Florida State team that lost in the opening round of the NIT this past season and then lost its leading scorer Michael Snaer (14.8 PPG).
Wiggins can get the Noles to the dance, but making a deep run against the nation’s top teams is asking too much of a freshman in a relatively star-less rotation.
Championship Potential: 3
Kansas Jayhawks
With or without Andrew Wiggins in 2013-14, the Kansas Jayhawks will be competitive in the Big 12 and looking to earn a berth in the NCAA Tournament. Bill Self has brought in another talented class, one that could become elite with the addition of Wiggins.
If there’s a school on Wiggins’ radar that can become an instant championship threat with him in the starting lineup, it’s Kansas.
The reigning Big 12 champions lost a lot of experienced firepower this offseason, but will bring back players like Naadir Tharpe and Perry Ellis to play alongside Wayne Selden and some other talented newcomers.
With Wiggins holding down the three spot and taking the scoring pressure off guys like Tharpe and Ellis, this is a team that could steamroll through the regular season, land a high seed in the NCAA Tournament and then make a run to Cowboys Stadium, site of the 2014 Final Four.
Championship Potential: 9
Kentucky Wildcats
John Calipari is set to bring in a tremendous amount of elite talent this offseason, but adding Wiggins to that mix no doubt makes the Wildcats a threat to cut down the nets for the second time in three years.
Sure, Kentucky struggled mightily last season despite boasting some big-name players. But the loss of Nerlens Noel was huge for the Wildcats, and this upcoming season’s team will hardly resemble last year’s.
Willie Cauley-Stein will return in the middle, but he’ll be surrounded by a handful of McDonald’s All-Americans, including the Harrison twins. With Wiggins on board, this roster would be unrivaled in terms of talent.
Youth and inexperience would be all that stands in the way of a title.
Championship Potential: 10
North Carolina Tar Heels
North Carolina plays a style of basketball that would showcase everything Andrew Wiggins does well on the offensive end. Roy Williams has gravitated towards an uptempo style of basketball in recent years and you would be hard-pressed to find a player who isn’t a fan of it.
Losing wing scorer Reggie Bullock to the NBA draft doesn’t necessarily help the Tar Heels, but it would open things up for Wiggins if he decided to play in Chapel Hill.
Wiggins could step in and play as an undersized power forward in Williams’ small, shooter-heavy lineup. Bullock’s absence would allow for more opportunities for Wiggins on the offensive end, and therefore assist him in both developing and ultimately becoming a star for North Carolina.
With Williams directing from the bench and Wiggins, P.J. Hairston, James Michael McAdoo and Marcus Paige delivering on the court, this is an NCAA Tournament team that could challenge for a Final Four berth in 2014.
Championship Potential: 8
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Dwight Howard Rumors: Breaking Down Best Potential Destinations for D12
Come the 2013 NBA offseason, no individual will generate quite as much attention as unrestricted free agent Dwight Howard. The All-Star center is prepared to enter free agency after more than two calendar years of uncertainty as to what his future will hold.
The question is, where would the best potential destinations be for D-12?
Howard, a three-time Defensive Player of the Year, has experienced nothing short of turbulence during his past two seasons in the NBA. From trade demands to underwhelming on-the-court production to career-altering back surgery, we’ve seen it all.
Even still, Howard is one of, if not the most highly-touted free agents in 2013.
Howard’s resume speaks for itself, as his three Defensive Player of the Year awards are met with seven All-Star Game appearances and six All-NBA selections. Even during a down season in 2012-13, D-12 led the NBA in rebounding and ranked in the top five in blocked shots.
Yes, that’s a down season.
Having led the league in rebounds five times and blocks another two, it’s safe to say Howard is deserving of the praise he receives. Even if the Los Angeles Lakers and Orlando Magic have struggled to cope with his recent antics, D-12 is an elite center.
Even as we fish for ways to bestow this label upon other big men, Howard may just be the best center of our generation—so where should he end up?
Dallas Mavericks
During a recent interview with Fitzsimmons and Durrett on 103.3 KESN-FM, Marc Stein of ESPN labeled the Dallas Mavericks as one of the teams with an opportunity to sign Dwight Howard (via The Dallas Morning News). Before Mavs fans jump the gun, the chances of Howard joining the Mavs are slim.
With that being said, this is what owner Mark Cuban has been building towards for virtually two seasons—don’t expect him to let this opportunity slip away without a fight.
The Mavericks certainly present an interesting situation for Howard, as he would potentially play alongside legendary power forward Dirk Nowitzki. Seeing as Nowitzki led the Dallas Mavericks to the 2011 NBA championship alongside Tyson Chandler, there’s no reason we couldn’t see a repeat.
There aren’t many players left from that squad, but building around Howard, Nowitzki and, potentially, O.J. Mayo isn’t a bad start.
Shawn Marion is unlikely to turn down upwards of $9.0 million in 2013-14, thus providing Dallas with an elite perimeter defender. Assuming they land a franchise point guard, D-12 could lead the Mavs right back into title contention.
Keep in mind, Dallas went 28-18 to close out the 2012-13 NBA season after Dirk battled injuries early in the year. They did so being led by Darren Collison and Chris Kaman at point guard and center, respectively.
Howard would make this team a legitimate title contender and there’s no question about it.
Houston Rockets
In the previously alluded to interview, Marc Stein stated that the team most likely to steal Dwight Howard from the Los Angeles Lakers is the Houston Rockets. This comes as no surprise, as Houston has a significant amount of cap space.
They also boast a superstar in James Harden and took the Oklahoma City Thunder to six games without any form of defense—intrigued?
If D-12 were to end up in Houston, he would immediately become the anchor for a team that ranked second in scoring offense. With a young core including Harden, Chandler Parsons and top five draft choice Thomas Robinson, the future is certainly bright.
Keep in mind, both Harden and Jeremy Lin specialize in running the pick-and-roll as facilitators.
In Houston, there would be no superiority complex along the perimeter, as the offense would run through D-12. Harden would clearly be the go-to scorer, but Howard’s presence offensively would be significantly greater than it was in L.A.
If that’s not enough, the Rockets would have a valuable trade piece in Omer Asik to provide Howard with even more firepower if need be. This is a young team with promise and an active general manager, folks.
As long as Houston commits to building their defense, there isn’t a better fit for Howard in terms of basketball reasoning.
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers may have experienced a turbulent season, but there is no reason for Dwight Howard to rule them out as an option. Not only are the Lakers one of the most decorated franchises in all of professional sports, but they hold a significant edge over the competition.
They own Howard’s bird rights and can thus offer a longer and more lucrative contract.
Due to the income tax laws in California and Texas, the pay differential wouldn’t be significant. For a player with a history of back and shoulder injuries, however, job security is of the utmost importance.
L.A., in position to lose their second franchise center in as many years, is likely to gamble with a large amount of guaranteed money for D-12′s services.
Per the previously alluded to interview with Marc Stein of ESPN, the Lakers are expected to re-sign Howard. Not only do they provide him with the best form of a contract, but they place Howard in an unparalleled situation for success.
Even if they fail to win in 2013-14 with Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash and Pau Gasol, all three of those players will become free agents and thus present L.A. with the opportunity to reload.
For those pessimists out there, note that the Lakers went 28-12 to close out the 2012-13 regular season. They were 10-2 during their final 12 games and likely would have given the San Antonio Spurs a better test if not for Kobe Bryant’s season-ending Achilles injury.
Hate it or not, everyone wants to play in Los Angeles and the Lakers remain the most decorated franchise there.
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NBA Rumors: Latest on Lakers, Bucks and Pistons Potential Coach Hirings
With the offseason already here for a number of NBA franchises and a handful of clubs soon to join them after getting eliminated from the playoffs, the coaching carousel has once again begun spinning.
There are currently five vacancies for a head coaching gig and plenty of assistant opportunities opening up.
Let’s take a look at a few of these gigs and find out which candidates are being considered to fill these voids.
Milwaukee Bucks
After Scott Skiles was fired in the middle of the season, interim coach Jim Boylan led the Bucks to 22-28 record and four-game sweep at the hands of the Miami Heat in the first round of the playoffs.
This clearly was not what ownership was expecting from this team, especially not after trading for J.J. Redick at the deadline in February.
Ken Berger, CBS Sports’ NBA Insider, found that management is exploring a number of proven commodities to fill the vacancy.
The Bucks are allegedly seeking out former Orlando Magic head coach Stan Van Gundy, Kelvin Sampson—the Houston Rockets top assistant and interim head coach while Kevin McHale was attending to personal matters—and Lakers assistant Steve Clifford.
Clifford is interesting because he was a promising assistant under both Stan (Orlando) and Jeff Van Gundy (Houston) early on in his career.
Since the Bucks are looking for a defensive-minded coach to control the locker room, it makes sense to hire Stan Van Gundy—especially if they are trying to make a playoff run in 2013-14.
Detroit Pistons
The Pistons parted ways with coach Lawrence Frank after another dismal season in 2012-13 as the team finished his two-year tenure in Detroit with a 54-94 record.
While Frank did an admirable job developing the young, upcoming stars—such as Andre Drummond and Greg Monroe—the franchise was not going to turn the corner with him at the helm.
ESPN’s Marc Stein found via league sources that the team brass is currently conducting a search for a replacement. Former Portland Trail Blazers head coach Nate McMillan is on the short list, as is Lindsey Hunter, the Phoenix Suns interim head coach.
McMillan surprisingly was not hired by any team for the 2012-13 campaign, despite leading the Blazers to back-to-back 50-plus win seasons in 2008-09 and 2009-10. He made three straight postseason appearances before being canned midway through the lockout-shortened 2011-12 season.
Detroit is a perfect scenario for McMillan, as the veteran coach can take over an up-and-coming roster and guide the Pistons back to prominence.
Los Angeles Lakers
Don’t worry (or rejoice) Lakers’ fans; Mike D’Antoni is not going anywhere—yet.
However, after the embarrassing sweep in the first-round of the playoffs, this club direly needs to shake things up. One of those changes will be bringing in a defensive-minded assistant, according to Berger.
That would ideally be Team USA co-worker McMillan, but he’s likely to get offered a head coaching gig and would be more likely to accept that over being D’Antoni’s assistant.
Alvin Gentry, former head coach of the Phoenix Suns and an assistant under D’Antoni during his tenure in the desert, is one possible candidate—although he will also be interviewing for head coaching gigs this spring.
If Gentry winds up reuniting with his former mentor in L.A., it could be a major boon for the team’s defense and prospects of improving in 2013-14.
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Derrick Rose Wouldn’t Match Huge Expectations in Potential Playoff Return
If Derrick Rose were to announce his intention to return for Game 6 of the Chicago Bulls‘ series with the Brooklyn Nets or for the start of a possible second-round encounter with the Miami Heat, expectations for both himself and the team would go through the roof.
It would be impracticable for a returning Rose to reach those sky-high expectations. He’s missed an entire year of play and would be thrown into the playoff fire, which is completely different than it would have been if he returned during the regular season.
As it stands now, his ability to return remains in limbo. The latest comments came from the superstar point guard’s brother, Reggie Rose, who told Teddy Greenstein of the Chicago Tribune that the younger Rose was at around 90 percent and didn’t rule out a playoff return.
When asked if it needs to be 100 percent to return, Rose replied: “His 100 percent might not be your 100 percent. It’s hard. But the Bulls organization has basically told him: We support you. When you are ready, we will welcome you with open arms.”
Like coach Tom Thibodeau, Rose has not ruled out his brother returning for a potential series with the Heat.
“I think anything is possible,” he said.
Anything might be possible, but a rusty Rose finding a way to excel against a ferocious Heat defense in a playoff series would be incredibly difficult. There’s simply no way to completely simulate what he would face on the practice court.
Rose is one of the most explosive players in the league when healthy, there’s no doubt about that. But even if he feels 100 perfect health wise, by no means does that mean he would be in perfect game shape. Again, those are two different things.
At the same time, fans would be expecting him to produce like the Most Valuable Player version of himself to help the Bulls finish off the Nets or upset the Heat. It’s inevitable, and just another reason he shouldn’t risk further injury this season.
The other Bulls deserve a lot of credit. They are one win away from reaching the second round despite having to endure endless chatter about whether or not Rose will be joining them on their title quest. It’s the type of distraction that could easily derail a team.
It also shows Chicago has put a formidable group together around Rose. One good enough to secure the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference and, with one more win, a spot in the second round of the postseason. All without a single minute from their star teammate.
The progress that’s been made throughout the season paints a favorable picture for the future. When you combine that with the fact the Bulls would be major underdogs against the Heat should they advance, the risk of Rose suffering a setback isn’t worth the likely limited reward.
He must be worked back in slowly and the playoffs certainly aren’t the place to do that.
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Would Amar’e Stoudemire’s Potential Round 2 Return Ruin Carmelo Anthony’s Mojo?
Amar’e Stoudemire is nearing a return to action, but will that help or hinder Carmelo Anthony and the New York Knicks?
I’ve clung to the hope that Stoudemire can help ‘Melo and the Knicks contend for quite some time. And I still believe that he can help them.
Watching the Knicks in STAT’s absence has also made it clear that New York can win without him, so I understand the trepidation behind his inevitable return. The same return that according to Amar’e himself is imminent (via Ian Begley of ESPNNewYork.com):
Injured New York Knicks forward Amar’e Stoudemire believes that if his rehab progresses without a setback, he could return in the second round of the playoffs.
…
“If everything goes great [with rehabilitation], then I’m willing to play,” Stoudemire said. “Sooner than later, hopefully, if everything continues to improve.”
Stoudemire hopes to begin running full speed by the end of the week. If his knee responds well, he will progress with his rehab.
Just in case you were left hoping that the Knicks wouldn’t play Stoudemire if he did return, head coach Mike Woodson put an end to that speculation before it started.
“If he’s able to make it back, he will be back in the rotation, ready to play,” Woodson said (via Begley). “I’m expecting him to do what he was doing before he left because he played some pretty good, positive minutes for our ball club before he got hurt.”
Woodson assessment of Stoudemire before his latest injury was spot-on. In 29 games he was averaging 14.2 points on 57.7-percent shooting. He’s the only player in the NBA to be averaging at least 14 points in fewer than 24 minutes per game, and his per-36 minute averages of 21.8 points and 7.7 rebounds puts him in the company of LeBron James as the only two players (minimum 20 games) to be eclipsing such marks while also shooting 55 percent or better from the field.
There’s no doubt Amar’e was regaining his form before being sidelined. His footwork in the post was Hakeem Olajuwon-esque, and he was just moving well in general for someone who was operated on for a set of failing knees.
For those who understand Stoudemire, the Knicks and the situation at hand, the question was never “if” he would be effective, though. He’s a six-time All-Star and a proven scorer. We can hate on his contract all we want, but he’s an offensive juggernaut.
But could he stay healthy? And could he play alongside ‘Melo? Those were the two questions the Knicks needed to ponder most.
Somehow, the first one has become a bit of a non-issue. New York wants him to stay healthy, but the team has proved they can win without him (38-15 during the regular season).
Amar’e is no longer considered a necessity. Until he can prove otherwise, he’s considered a luxury. And as much as I’m inclined to believe he could emerge as a championship-caliber necessity, I’d have to agree.
The Anthony query is the real issue. These two were supposed to lead the Knicks toward a title together, but have instead spent most of their time apart or failing next to each other.
Which makes Stoudemire the hindrance. If this pairing doesn’t work, it’s Amar’e who will be blamed. ‘Melo is on a scoring tear, and prior to the start of the playoffs, he was on an efficiency tear as well.
And the Knicks find themselves in position to advance beyond the first round of the playoffs for the first time since 2000 as a result. Better yet, STAT finds himself in a position to return this season. It’s less about him as a player then, and more about how he complements the one who brought the Knicks to where they are.
Leading into this season, such an observation didn’t bode well for Amar’e. He didn’t complement Anthony effectively. The Knicks outscored opponents by an average of just 0.6 points per 100 possessions when the two were on the floor together to finish out the 2010-11 campaign, and they followed that up with a minus-3.3 per 100 possessions last season.
But wait, there’s more.
Per NBA.com (subscription required), Anthony went from averaging 27.8 points per 36 minutes on 45-percent shooting (36.6 from deep) without Stoudemire on the floor last season to 20.3 points on 40.9-percent shooting (30.4 from deep) with him.
The drop in scoring was understandable. With two alpha dogs on the court at once, their point totals stood to decline. But the steep decline in efficiency for ‘Melo was troubling.
And now, it’s still as troubling.
The Knicks are being outscored by 4.3 points per 100 possessions when the two are on the floor together, progressively worse compared to last season. A small sample size hasn’t helped the case, but the deficit is staggering nonetheless.
Now, we’re left to ask: Why bring STAT back at all? He and ‘Melo have yet to deliver together, so why potentially jeopardize the team’s postseason aspirations?
Because there’s hope.
Anthony’s numbers with Stoudemire on the floor are significantly better this year than they were last. He’s averaging 28.5 points per 36 minutes without Stoudemire, and 24.8 without. What stands out to me, though, is his efficiency totals.
Sans Amar’e, ‘Melo is shooting 37.6 percent from three. Once Stoudemire steps on the floor, this number climbs to 39.7.
“Big deal, right?” you all say sarcastically.
In this situation, it is.
Coming off the bench, Stoudemire’s primary task is confusing the defense. Either they can converge on him and risk leaving one of the Knicks’ (usual) four shooters open, or they can attempt to defend him one-on-one. With Anthony hitting a higher percentage of his deep balls, it means Stoudemire’s presence is working, even if only slightly.
It’s also worth mentioning that the two five-man lineups in which Amar’e has been used most both contain ‘Melo. And these two units combine to outscore opponents by an average of 12.6 points per 100 possessions.
I’ll admit, it’s a small victory. But a win’s a win. I refuse to give up on this pairing until one of them isn’t donning orange and blue, or we see enough of them together, in succession, to legitimately conclude otherwise.
And so long as there’s hope, and numbers to back it, Stoudemire won’t serve as a statistical deterrent. His presence could diminish the number of shots ‘Melo takes, but it also opens up the floor for him when Woodson utilizes the two correctly.
Stoudemire has the potential to make it easier on Anthony and everyone involved. And yeah, as he works through the rust, he also has the potential to create some problems.
Will he ruin ‘Melo’s point-totaling mojo, though? No. Anthony will get his points. He’ll find ways to score. He’ll remain the superstar that he is with or without Amar’e. That isn’t the question. It was never the question.
“[A healthy Stoudemire] just adds one more good piece, great piece, to the puzzle back out on the floor as we continue this journey,” Woodson said (via Begley).
Is this very “journey” Woodson speaks of one that will culminate in a title?
That’s what has always been the question. With or without Amar’e.
*All stats used in this article were compiled from Basketball-Reference, Synergy Sports, 82games.com and NBA.com unless otherwise noted.
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2 Potential Marcin Gortat Trades for the Phoenix Suns
Marcin Gortat has been the Phoenix Suns‘ starting center for almost three years and looked to be the team’s starting center for years to come.
That was until the debacle known as this season.
Gortat endured his worst season as a Phoenix Sun and it’s clear he is no longer in the long-term plans of the organization.
With his expiring contract, Phoenix can either trade him or potentially lose him for nothing during free agency.
For a rebuilding team like Phoenix, it’s a no-brainer to get some value for Gortat while it still can.
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