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Reverend Maynard
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Heaven
Age: 17
Posts: 6,942
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Miller still has something left in the tank
Quote:
Miller still has something left in the tank
DIME Magazine / Dime Magazine
Eleven NBA games went down last night. A.I. vs. Detroit, Jason Kidd vs. Mike Bibby, Jason Richardson vs. Ray Allen were some of the better individual matchups.
But which was best? None of the above.
Try Jeff Foster vs. Joel Przybilla. We couldn't be more serious.
These two guys killed each other last night, with Foster going for 14 points, 17 boards and a block, while Pryzbilla hit right back with 18 points, 17 boards and six blocks. It was Foster's Pacers who got the win, though.
Have some of Reggie Miller. Doesn't matter if the guy says he's retiring, Reg can still fill it up. Miller went 10 of 17 from the field and finished with 36 (27 in the second half).
Tough night for Kirk Hinrich. In the midst of turning in one of the best performances of his career — 28 points, three boards, four dimes and two steals — he had to leave the game with two minutes left after spraining fingers on his shooting hand. Will he be able to run in the Rookie-Sophomore game on Saturday?
By the way, those Bulls have won 24 of their last 34 games.
Another team on the move is New Jersey. The Nets rode Jason Kidd's 64th career triple-double to a W over the Kings in The Swamp. In the last week, the Nets lost a heart-breaker to the Spurs, pummeled the Nuggets and now beat the Kings. If they had RJ, they'd be rolling .
Steph's dime to Tim Thomas (who basically made a reverse layup with his eyes closed) was sick .
Ray Allen might have finished with 26 in a tough loss to the Warriors last night, but it was Flip Murray who kept the Sonics in the game. Ray went flat in the fourth quarter and Flip took it upon himself to score, hitting ridiculous shots, one after another.
Special thanks to Andre Iguodala and Tony Allen. Both guys came up with huge dunks last night to help us justify putting them on yesterday's "Best Dunkers in the NBA Today" list .
So, you all have been writing in and it seems like people felt that the most glaring omission from the list was T-Mac. Gotta disagree. We love T-Mac and think he's one of the best athletes in the world, but as far as dunking goes, we don't think he's on the list. Maybe if this were two or three years ago.
We were most shocked by multiple votes for Stromile Swift (we're not counting the passionate plea from one Canadian reader to put Chris Bosh on the list. Not happening.).
So we arrived in Denver last night for the long All-Star weekend. We'll be hitting you with All-Star Smack through till the game on Sunday.
We're out like Bosh's spot on the list.
Fantasy Smack
It was feast or famine last night in the league as players either gave it their all before their vacation or had their minds on the beach rather than on the hardcourt. In the feast category, we have players like PG Rafer Alston and SG Jamal Crawford. Now usually we don't condone stealing, but if you gotta eat, you gotta eat. And feast they did with 5 and 6 steals, respectively.
In the famine category you've got players like PG The Answer, PG Chauncey Billups, and PG Kirk Hinrich. They all took one bite of Grandma's dinner and promptly gave it right back. A.I. and Billups coughed it up 6 times while Hinrich did them better and had 7 turnovers. What's worse is that Hinrich severely sprained two fingers on his shooting hand and is expected to miss some time.
PF Rasheed Wallace recorded his third double-double (13 points, 11 boards) in his last 4 games and should continue his hot streak after the break. The Pistons are beginning to show the same dominant form that led them to the title last year and 'Sheed was a huge part of that.
Like he usually does this time of year, i.e. the trade deadline, SF Jalen Rose starts putting up huge numbers. Including last night's game, he's averaging 20.6 ppg over his last 5 contests — last night he had 25 — an increase of 4 over his season average of 16.6. He's the type of player that plays best when he knows he's being watched; his expiring contract means he's got a huge target on his back.
Someone whose first name starts with a D led Miami in scoring last night. SG Dwyane Wade? Nope. C The Diesel? Or is that C The Daddy? Both no. That would be PG Damon Jones who poured in a season and career-high 31 points on 9-11 FG plus a redonkulous 8-10 bombing from deep. Before last night, Jones was shooting a sick 64.3% from deep over his last 5 games. The best part is that he's probably available in your league.
Keep an eye on PF Mike Sweetney. His minutes are way up recently and he's beginning to get a better feel for the daily rigors of the league. Last night's 18 points and 9 boards could be a preview of things to come in the second half.
C Jeff Foster has put up back-to-back 17 rebound games. You bring the chips and dip, I'll bring the 7 blocks. OK C Marcus Camby, we'll see you there.
It looks like he's going to be in the dunk contest, but we'll take SG J.R. Smith on our fantasy squad. If peeps in your league are still sleeping on the rookie, snap him up or risk missing out on nights like last night's 25 points (10-17 FG), 3 boards, 3 dimes and 2 swipes .
His squad struggles, but SG J-Rich should have been an All-Star. We'll take 30 points (12-23 FG), 7 caroms, 5 dimes and 4 steals with us to Denver for you Jason .
Stud of the night: SG Reggie Miller, Ind
Yo, SG Reggie, you sure you want to retire? No seriously, you sure? 'Cause, uh, you know you put up 37 points on 10-17 shooting including 4-10 from deep and 12-12 from the line? Seriously man, reconsider.
Fantasy stud: C Joel Przybilla, Por
After being drafted 9th overall by Milwaukee in the 2000 draft, Pryzbilla went out and promptly did nothing for four seasons. He's got career averages of 2.6 ppg and 4.5 rpg. So where is his recent run, including last night's 18-point (8-12 FG), 17-rebound, 6-swat performance, coming from? We have no idea. But like all like all hot streaks in fantasy basketball, we say enjoy it while you can.
As long as PF Zach Randolph is playing on a balky right knee, i.e. the rest of the season, you can expect more bust out games like last night from Przybilla.
Fantasy dud: PG Andre Miller, Den
We just can't shake the feeling that sometimes it doesn't look like Miller is trying. It becomes even more obvious when he's in the same backcourt as PG Earl Boykins, who looks like he's playing every possession like it's his last. In 30 minutes of burn last night, Miller went 1-6 from the floor for a whopping total of 2 points. Even worse, he only dished out 1 dime (he's averaging 6.3 apg on the season) and gave up the rock 4 times. Pathetic effort.
Honorable mention goes to F/C Theo Ratliff who managed 0 points, 2 boards and 1 block in 24 minutes of play.
Injury report:
Is this a case of things to come? PG Shaun Livingston, who we love, also weighs about as much as Mary Kate Olson. That's a great feature to have if you want to be a child movie star, but not so much if you're trying to ball night in and night out in the league.
Livingston who missed most of the season already with a dislocated kneecap sat out last night with an aching shoulder. It turns out that it was actually torn cartilage and he'll miss a month. What a shame.
With PG Marko Jaric expected to be out for a long while too, now is the time to get on Rick Brunson's makeshift bandwagon if you're hurting for some dimes. Randolph sat out again as he rested his sore knee. F/C Stromile Swift left the game in the third after spraining an ankle.
The future, err, we mean PF Al Jefferson suited up for the C's after missing 10 games with a severe ankle sprain. He only played 3 minutes, but fans of the leprechaun have to be feeling good .
Hinrich was sent to the locker room with two minutes left in the game to have his right hand checked out.
SG Mike Redd took the cautious route before his vacation and sat out his third straight contest with a sore finger .
Stat Line of the Night: 19 points (7-14 FG, 3-5 3PT), 11 rebounds, 10 dimes
PG Jason Kidd may want out of The Swamp and if he does, he's doing a heck of a job showing his skills. Either that or he's reminding people he's a triple-double threat every time he steps on the court. Last night was his third triple-dip in his last 6 games. And for you assist-to-turnover ratio fans, J-Kidd only lost it twice.
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http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/3402552
__________________
And I begged, "Angel of the Lord, what are these tortured screams?" And the angel said unto me, "These are the cries of the carrots, the cries of the carrots! You see, Reverend Maynard, tomorrow is harvest day and to them it is the holocaust." And I sprang from my slumber drenched in sweat like the tears of one million terrified brothers and roared, "Hear me now, I have seen the light! They have a consciousness, they have a life, they have a soul! Damn you! Let the rabbits wear glasses! Save our brothers!" Can I get an amen? Can I get a hallelujah? Thank you Jesus.
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Miller still has something left in the tank
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