by Andrew Hardison
Rajon Rondo (Boston Celtics)-13.7 PTS, 9.7 AST, 2.6 STL
At 26-9, Rondo and the Celtics own the third best winning percentage of any team in the NBA a mark helped greatly along by the services of Rondo. He’s already won an NBA Championship and is doing everything he can to get his team back there this season. Rondo leads his team in two statistical categories—assists and steals—and has shown the ability to score more when needed. There is no better example than Sunday’s game against the Toronto Raptors when Rondo scored 22 points to go along with his 13 assists and 10 rebounds. He also had four steals, showing you why he’s so integral to any of the Celtics success. He’s scored 20+ points in two of the Celtics three games last week, but lost to the Hawks on Friday when Rondo only scored 11 points despite playing 42 minutes.
With the NBA All-Star game coming up in February, you’d think because of Rondo’s play that he’d be at the top of the ballot of Eastern Conference guards. That isn’t quite the case as Rondo sits behind several NBA stars that have made their way to the top of the balloting due to the ‘fan’ voting that takes place every year. Despite dominating opponents left and right, Rondo sits with almost 270,000 votes from the fans to start the 2010 NBA All-Star. Compare that to players like Allen Iverson (900,000+) and teammate Ray Allen (500,000+) who clearly aren’t having near the seasons Rondo is.
Something certainly needs to change about the voting process because it is clear that the fans have their ‘players’ in the NBA and will vote them to start regardless of how they are playing. It is a disservice to players like Rondo who have done everything to make it to this point just to be turned away because the fans don’t recognize talent over favoritism. If he’s not picked to start—which doesn’t look like it will happen—Rondo will certainly find his way on the team with the coach’s vote.
Chuck Hayes (Houston Rockets)-4.7 PTS, 6.1 REB, 0.4 BLK
As the season has worn on, Hayes’ role with the Rockets doesn’t seem to be as prominent as it once was. His scoring and rebounding averages have gone down over the past weeks, as well as his minute totals. With his teammates—Carl Landry and Luis Scola mainly—outplaying him recently, it has been tough for Hayes in the teams last three games. For his position he doesn’t shoot a high enough percentage to warrant a ton of ‘offensive minutes.’ Hayes will get most of his chances in defensive situations, but continues to hold down the starting center spot for injured Yao Ming.
Fellow center and teammate David Andersen has really stepped in for the Rockets as he and Hayes share minutes at the position. The Rockets are still 21-16 with players like Hayes and Andersen doing everything they can to keep the Rockets in the thick of the Western Conference playoff race. If Hayes can continue to play solid defense, but give the Rockets a boost on the offensive end it would be a bonus in facing teams like the Mavericks, Suns, and Lakers.
Keith Bogans (San Antonio Spurs)-5.1 PTS, 1.4 AST, 42.1 3P%
The Spurs have traded games the past week, going 2-2 over their last four. Bogans is still getting solid minutes—around 25 per game—but isn’t really contributing too much on the offensive side, averaging around his season norm. What is surprising about Bogans play as of late is his willingness to focus on the defensive side of the ball. With players like Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Richard Jefferson, and Manu Ginobili, Bogans’ role becomes more defensive oriented. He’s done surprising well rebounding averaging about 4 a game, with Bogans grabbing five in the Spurs win Sunday night in a win over the Nets.
Fellow veteran Michael Finley continues to be nagged by injuries which have kept him out of most of the Spurs games recently, giving Bogans his opportunity. He will be counted on to continue his defensive efforts for the rest of the season and could help push the Spurs to the top of their division in doing so. His veteran experience is a bonus for any team, let alone the Spurs.
Jodie Meeks (Milwaukee Bucks)-4.7 PTS, 0.7 AST, 30.2 3P%
Meeks played one of the best games of his young career Sunday night when the Bucks lost to the Lakers 95-77. Due to teammate Michael Redd’s injury, Meeks was able to get more minutes and more shots. He finished the night going 5-8 from the floor, scoring 12 points, grabbing 5 rebounds and dishing out 2 assists. This is a good showing because Redd is now reported to be lost for the season due to a torn ACL and MCL.
The injury brings Meeks and Charlie Bell into the forefront of shooting guard minutes. If Meeks wants to get the bulk of those, his field goal percentage will definitely have to improve. Out of fourteen Bucks players, Meeks has the team’s fourth worst field goal percentage at 37.8%. He does have one of the team’s highest free throw percentages, a good sign for Meeks if he can get to the basket and create some contact. That hasn’t always been a part of his game, but there is no better time to start learning than now.
Tayshaun Prince (Detroit Pistons)-8.9 PTS, 3.8 REB, 2.2 AST
Prince is struggling this season mostly due to the fact that he’s still coming back from a back injury that has only allowed him to play nine regular season games. As a matter of fact, Prince may never be the same kind of player he was in his first six years in the NBA. Part of his game is being physically aggressive on the defensive end of the court, an act that can take a huge toll on one’s body. He also sat out the second half of the Pistons games against the Sixers Saturday night due to a knee injury.
Currently on a 12 game losing streak, the Pistons aren’t going anywhere in the Eastern Conference. We all know Prince is a tough guy and a tremendous athlete, but in situations like these giving an extended amount of rest to Prince wouldn’t be a bad idea. He is clearly wearing down as a player and the Pistons should decide how they will use him for the rest of the season based on his recent stem of injuries.
Nazr Mohammed (Charlotte Bobcats)-7.3 PTS, 4.1 REB, 0.7 BLK
Mohammed has been the surprise player of the former Wildcats in the NBA and has helped the Bobcats push towards their first playoff birth in the team’s been in the NBA. Mohammed continues to get around 20 minutes a game, sharing the center position with starter Tyson Chandler. Mohammed gives head coach Larry Brown a nice option off the bench and knows there won’t be too much of a let-off when Mohammed is in. He shoots around 50% from the field on the season and has been doing a solid job of rebounding when in the lineup.
At 16-19 on the season, Mohammed will continue to play at a high-level for the rest of the season if the Bobcats are to get to the post-season.
Jamaal Magloire (Miami Heat)-3.1 PTS, 3.7 REB, 0.4 BLK
Magloire minutes have come sporadically this season at best, getting 20 minutes one game and then none the next. This past week was one of those all too common instances as he got 21 minutes in two games for the Heat while getting zero minutes in the team’s other two games. He won’t be the primary scorer on the team, but has done a tremendous job in the rebounding department when he is on the court. In the two games he played in he amassed 18 total rebounds, a good showing for the former Wildcat.
Miami is in the thick of the Eastern Conference playoffs and if Magloire can continue to give solid production when he’s playing—despite being third on the Heat’s depth chart at center– it will help Miami’s defensive efforts night-in and night-out.
Randolph Morris (Atlanta Hawks)-2.8 PTS, 1.6 REB, 0.2 BLK
Morris probably sees the least playing time of any former Wildcat in the NBA this season due in large part to the fact that he’s fourth on the Hawks depth chart at center. He gets several minutes here and there, but nothing has changed with his status for Atlanta throughout the season.
Kelenna Azuibuike (Golden State Warriors)-injured
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