Bibby-4-Three
G-League
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12408777/from/RS.2/
By Matt Guokas
NBCSports.com contributor
Updated: 8:36 p.m. ET April 20, 2006
Matt Guokas
The NBA playoffs could hold a few surprises starting as early as the first round as some of the matchups like the Spurs-Kings and Nuggets-Clippers could be determined by the health of star players.
Spurs seek clean bill of health
The West is totally up for grabs as there is not one team -- not even defending NBA champion San Antonio -- that sticks out to me as a overwhelming favorite.
San Antonio has to be concerned because it has been a tough year for Tim Duncan, who has been nagged by injuries and who has been playing hurt.
Duncan hasn't shown he's been at 100 percent, and his numbers point to that as he averaged career lows in points (18.6), rebounds (11.0), blocks (2.03), and field goal percentage (.484).
The playoffs are a long grind, and Duncan is so important to the Spurs that if he is not right physically, San Antonio is definitely in jeopardy of not getting a crack at a second straight championship.
Manu Ginobili has also battled injuries, missing 17 regular-season games. He too must stay healthy in the playoffs. If Duncan and Ginobili cannot bring their best games, the Spurs' title defense will be a flawed one.
The Spurs have been relying so much on point guard Tony Parker, who has had a fabulous regular season, but come playoff time he usually steps back a little bit, and he's not nearly as effective a player during the postseason.
When playing against Parker in a series, opponents can prepare for him and try and take certain things away from him, while also going at him from the other end of the floor and making him defend.
The top-seeded Spurs will encounter a Sacramento team that saw its season turn around after a Jan. 25 trade that sent Peja Stojakovic to the Pacers in exchange for Ron Artest. By adding Artest, the Kings got a player who helps them win games at both ends of the floor.
Upon acquiring Artest, the identity of the Kings changed. Their defense greatly improved. Sacramento went from allowing opponents 100.2 points per game before obtaining Artest to limiting teams to 94.0 points per game after his arrival.
Before Artest came to Sacramento, the Kings allowed opponents to shoot .461 from the field. After his arrival, that percentage dropped to .444.
Artest can greatly affect a game as can Mike Bibby, and Brad Miller, who is a tough guy to handle because he is a big man who can go outside and shoot the ball, pass the ball, and put it on the floor enough to create things -- and that's a weapon most teams don't have.
Historically, Sacramento has been very tough in its own building so if the Kings can steal a game in San Antonio, they become all the more dangerous. I'm not saying Sacramento is going to knock off the Spurs, but if it happened, it wouldn't shock me.
By Matt Guokas
NBCSports.com contributor
Updated: 8:36 p.m. ET April 20, 2006
Matt Guokas
The NBA playoffs could hold a few surprises starting as early as the first round as some of the matchups like the Spurs-Kings and Nuggets-Clippers could be determined by the health of star players.
Spurs seek clean bill of health
The West is totally up for grabs as there is not one team -- not even defending NBA champion San Antonio -- that sticks out to me as a overwhelming favorite.
San Antonio has to be concerned because it has been a tough year for Tim Duncan, who has been nagged by injuries and who has been playing hurt.
Duncan hasn't shown he's been at 100 percent, and his numbers point to that as he averaged career lows in points (18.6), rebounds (11.0), blocks (2.03), and field goal percentage (.484).
The playoffs are a long grind, and Duncan is so important to the Spurs that if he is not right physically, San Antonio is definitely in jeopardy of not getting a crack at a second straight championship.
Manu Ginobili has also battled injuries, missing 17 regular-season games. He too must stay healthy in the playoffs. If Duncan and Ginobili cannot bring their best games, the Spurs' title defense will be a flawed one.
The Spurs have been relying so much on point guard Tony Parker, who has had a fabulous regular season, but come playoff time he usually steps back a little bit, and he's not nearly as effective a player during the postseason.
When playing against Parker in a series, opponents can prepare for him and try and take certain things away from him, while also going at him from the other end of the floor and making him defend.
The top-seeded Spurs will encounter a Sacramento team that saw its season turn around after a Jan. 25 trade that sent Peja Stojakovic to the Pacers in exchange for Ron Artest. By adding Artest, the Kings got a player who helps them win games at both ends of the floor.
Upon acquiring Artest, the identity of the Kings changed. Their defense greatly improved. Sacramento went from allowing opponents 100.2 points per game before obtaining Artest to limiting teams to 94.0 points per game after his arrival.
Before Artest came to Sacramento, the Kings allowed opponents to shoot .461 from the field. After his arrival, that percentage dropped to .444.
Artest can greatly affect a game as can Mike Bibby, and Brad Miller, who is a tough guy to handle because he is a big man who can go outside and shoot the ball, pass the ball, and put it on the floor enough to create things -- and that's a weapon most teams don't have.
Historically, Sacramento has been very tough in its own building so if the Kings can steal a game in San Antonio, they become all the more dangerous. I'm not saying Sacramento is going to knock off the Spurs, but if it happened, it wouldn't shock me.