Rajon Rondo (Celtics)-14.0 PTS, 9.8 AST, 2.5 STL
The Celtics are no longer the East’s best team after the All-Star break, but don’t tell that to Rondo. He’s had four straight double-doubles and the Celtics have gone 5-1 in that stretch against some of the NBA’s top teams. Boston took three from the King, Lakers, and Blazers before losing out to the Nuggets on the road.
Rondo’s minutes continue to be around 37 minutes a night, but he’s needed on the court for longer than that. What’s most impressive is that Rondo is averaging 11 assists per during the Celtics last five games, while averaging around 12 points a game as well. He could improve from beyond the arc but that has never been his game.
If the season ended today, the Celtics would be in the 3rd slot of the Eastern Conference playoffs squaring off against the Toronto Raptors.
Jodie Meeks (Sixers)-4 PTS, 0.5 AST
Before Meeks was traded to the Philadelphia 76er’s, he played 23 minutes during a Bucks 122-99 loss to the Rockets. He scored seven points, grabbed six rebounds and then was swiftly traded to another Eastern conference foe. Quite a ride for the former Kentucky Wildcat who could be vying for a National Championship rather than getting splinters riding the benches of the NBA.
Meeks struggled to get time in Milwaukee because of the jam-packed backcourt the roster had. The Sixers are much in the same with guys like Louis Williams, Willie Green, Jrue Holiday, and Andre Iguodala getting more minutes than Meeks. Some think the absence of veteran Allen Iverson will give Meeks an opportunity to play, but don’t hold your breath. Despite flashes of his potential with the Bucks, Meeks hasn’t been able to ‘put it all together’ to make an impact on the court. Look for much of the same with Sixers.
Chuck Hayes (Rockets)-4.6 PTS, 5.9 REB, 0.5 BLK
Ouch. That’s about all you can say in regards to the Rockets play as of late. Houston has lost four of their last five games as Hayes has seen his minutes decrease gradually ever since the All-Star break. Teammate and fellow center David Andersen is sharing minutes at the center spot, as the Rockets look to go smaller after the trading deadline passed.
You would think Hayes’ minutes might increase with the departure of Carl Landry to the Sacramento Kings, but that doesn’t seem to be the case quite yet. Hayes only played 13 minutes in the Rockets 125-115 loss to the Indiana Pacers last Saturday, grabbing zero rebounds and only scoring two points. Houston is on the outside of the Western Conference playoff race, with only a 27% chance of making it to the playoffs. It could be a long road towards the end of the season for Hayes and the Rockets.
Keith Bogans (Spurs)-4.6 PTS, 1.3 AST, 37.2% 3P
Despite playing some pretty good minutes—22.4 per game—over the last five games, Bogans isn’t really making an impact at least by the numbers. Defensively he’s been counted on heavily to provide some kind of stopping power over the elite guards of the Western Conference. It’s been tough so far, as San Antonio holds onto the 7th spot of the playoffs.
Losing to teams like Detroit and Philadelphia is essentially unacceptable. At (31-23) on the season, you’d think the Spurs would be better off than they really are, but then there are teams like the Lakers and Nuggets who are blowing the competition away. If Houston wants to keep up, they’ll have to rely on what got them going at the beginning of the season; tough defense and a reliable Hayes.
Tayshaun Prince (Pistons)-11.3 PTS, 4.8 REB, 2.3 AST
Prince has been solid in his return from an injury that kept him out of much of the first-half of the season. He’s averaging 14.8 points, 3.6 assists, and 6.8 rebounds in the Pistons last five games as we see flashes of his former self. The minutes continue to increase as time goes on and as his injury subsides. Prince is averaging almost 40 minutes a game.
The former Wildcat scored 22 points, grabbed four rebounds and dished out four assists during the Pistons 101-89 victory over the Kings Tuesday night. His ability to help the team will only bring them further out of the Eastern Conference cellar because the team only has 21 wins and are expected to be vying for a lottery spot rather than a playoff one.
Nazr Mohammed (Bobcats)-8.2 PTS, 5.3 REB, 0.8 BLK
Mohammed has been plagued by back spasms recently, having to sit out more than anything over the Bobcats last five games. He did post one of the better games of his career on February 10th, scoring 21 points and grabbing 20 rebounds during a 93-92 victory over the Timberwolves.
He didn’t play Monday night during the Bobcats loss to the Clippers, indicative to how much Charlotte needs Mohammed’s presence. His play could have gotten him traded during the trading deadline, but the Bobcats felt his performance would benefit the team towards the end of the season. Once the back spasms subside, expect Mohammed to jump right back in to his old spot as reserve center.
Jamaal Magloire (Heat)-2.2 PTS, 3.5 REB, 0.3 BLK
Magloire’s playing time is like a light switch. One time it’s on, the other time it isn’t. He’s averaged six minutes a game over the Heat’s last five games but hasn’t really done a whole lot with his time on the court.
The Heat are in the running for a playoff spot holding down the fifth spot in the Eastern Conference, but the team’s play has been anything but spectacular and could very well flounder as the season moves forward with teams like Chicago and Toronto hot on their heels.
Randolph Morris (Hawks)-2.3 PTS, 1.3 REB
Bummer.
Morris hasn’t played any minutes in any of the Hawks’ last five games. Not really a surprise at this point in the season, as the Hawks look to secure a higher seed than fourth in the Eastern Conference playoffs.
Kelenna Azubuike (Warriors)-injured
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