Empty the Bench

Check back every morning for Empty the Bench’s take on the previous night’s NBA action… in some cases, we’ll even have recaps and our own analysis up immediately following the games. We’ll never cover ALL the games (especially nationally televised contests), but will slant towards the ones we think hold interest, whether from a competitive or fantasy standpoint. Don’t miss Andrew’s excellent recaps from last night for commentary on the Celtics, Timberwolves, Wizards, and more.

Detroit Pistons at Milwaukee Bucks

Michael Redd finally returned to the Bucks’ starting lineup tonight, posting 17 points on 7-18 shooting. To say the Bucks need their star player healthy just to be competitive on most nights is stating the obvious; since he was sidelined, the Bucks posted a paltry 3-18 record. Facing the Pistons doesn’t exactly come at a good time, but then again, Detroit is the only team from the Central the Bucks had beaten thus far in the season (on Opening Night). They almost pulled it off again tonight.

Mo Williams missed a driving layup at the buzzer that would have won the game for his puke-green-uniformed Bucks, and the Pistons hung on by the gray hairs in Sheed’s bald spot for an 84-83 road victory at the Bradley Center (Detroit is the only EC team w/ a winning road record). Another disappointing loss in a disappointing season… one has to wonder why loaf of white bread head coach Terry Stotts is still behind the bench. Yes, he’s had injuries to deal with, but does the Buck’s front office really think there’s much reason to keep this guy around?

Fantasy Player of the Game: Rasheed Wallace, shooting 7-19 from the field (including two treys) with 11 boards, 3 blocks, 4 assists, and just 1 turnover. If only he was still center eligible…

Fantasy Dud of the Game: Tayshaun Prince, shooting 2-12 and finishing with just 7 points and 5 rebounds. When he’s off, he’s really off.

Bench Player of the Game: Antonio McDyess, scoring 15 points with 7 rebounds and 2 blocks. Yeah, I told you Dice could have a decent fantasy game from time to time.

Closing Comment: The Bucks’ announcing team of play-by-play guy Jim Paschke (right) and color commentator Jon McGlocklin makes not only for an incredibly dull tandem, but an uncomfortable one at times. First, Paschke asserted that the Bucks had no excuse for their sagging offensive output–despite injuries to nearly all their key scorers–because “every player [on the team] is a scorer.” McGlocklin refuted him with a chuckle, pointing out that while some of the Bucks might think they are scorers, “they most certainly are not.” McGlocklin, in fact, babbled on with his counterpoint for damn near 3 minutes to really hammer it home. Paschke paused, then said “This team was built to score is my point.” Later, in referencing the Bucks’ playoff chances, Paschke optimistically said “It might not take 41 wins to make the playoffs in the East… it might only take 40.”

Orlando Magic at New York Knicks

The Knicks playoff run officially kicked off last night with a 100-94 win at home over the reeling Orlando Magic. Empty the Bench normally treats New York franchises like a new single from Green Day (read: internal vomiting), but there’s something about watching a Knicks game that appeals to our innermost guilty pleasure nodes. There’s Clyde Frazier’s singsong color commentary, Stephon Marbury’s bald head and wild 3-pointers, and of course Isiah Thomas’ nightly experiments with his rotation and players’ heads.

More than anything, though (at least lately), the Knicks are a pretty entertaining bunch. Last night Madison Square Garden was rocking, and the team really seemed to feed off the energy. As much as they love to boo their prodigal son, the hometown fans equally love to cheer for Marbury when he does something good, like hitting a huge 3-pointer late in the 4th quarter to pad the Knicks’ always precarious lead. Eddy Curry is like Mr. Snuffleupagus down on the block, David Lee has basketball magnets implanted in his hands, and Stevie Franchise… well… he has creaky knees. I’d like to see this crew in the playoffs this season.

Fantasy Player of the Game: We never thought the pimply kid from the University of Florida would amount to much more than a role player, but damn were we wrong. Coming off his dominant performance in the Rookie/Sophomore Challenge in Las Vegas, David Lee posted yet another double-double with 14 points, 16 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals and 2 blocks (he did have 7 turnovers though). Lee has easily been one of the better waiver pickups of the fantasy season.

Fantasy Dud of the Game: Grant Hill had a wonderful start to the season, but he’s wearing down more than Pierce Brosnan’s acting career. In 24 minutes of court time last night, Grant was 2-4 FG for 5 points and 2 rebounds. Ugh.

Bench Player of the Game: See David Lee. Is coach Isiah Thomas brilliant for refusing to start Lee, or just a bit thick?

Closing Comment: We’re looking forward to seeing Darko face his former teammates tonight when the Magic play #2 of a back-to-back in Detroit. He’s really been coming on lately since being elevated to a starting role (Tony Battie is injured), but we can’t help but feel a little skeptical. Darko is in a contract year, Darko has a tendency to take plays (quarters?) off, and Darko has never shown that he’s the kind of guy who hustles night in, night out (see David Lee). Whether he ends up staying in Orlando, or simply signs with the highest bidder this offseason, it’ll be very interesting to see where his game is at for the 2007-08 season. Will he revert back to the lazy old Darko, or start to finally and consistently realize the massive potential that once made him the 2nd overall pick in the draft?

Utah Jazz at Portland Trail Blazers

Yes, yes, I know… the Jazz were playing without Carlos Boozer AND Deron Williams last night, but so what–the Blazers have a loooooong history lately of not winning games they should, which makes last night’s nailbiting 103-100 win over the Jazz very satisfying. They almost blew it though.

Memo Okur has shown a very serious penchant for hitting big shots, and last night was no different. After an absurd technical foul call against Travis Outlaw for checking into the game w/o his jersey fully tucked in (F-you, David Stern) helped the Jazz comeback cause with just a few minutes left, Okur drained a long three with Outlaw in his face, and had a chance to tie it up with 5 seconds left. He somehow got free again, hoisted it up, and the ball toilet-bowled it around the cylinder and fell out. Whew.

Fantasy Player of the Game: I dreamt last night that Brandon Roy was actually Steve Nash’s son. So, uh, yeah… Roy was just sick during the Blazers’ impressive upset of the Jazz in front of their amped-up home crowd. He finished with 27 points on 11-15 shooting, tacking on three 3-pointers and 7 assists. The rookie has mad game, no doubt about it. Awhile ago I traded Roy to Andrew for Channing Frye in our fantasy league, and would now appreciate, Andrew, if you’d go ahead and trade him back to me. Jerk.

Fantasy Dud of the Game: Andrei Kirilenko, why did you drop $10 million on a robotic clone of yourself w/o first testing its performance? We want the real AK-47 back, and so do the Jazz. Last night Kirilenko’s putrid season continued with a 5-point, 1-5 FG, 6 rebound “effort.”

Bench Player of the Game: Dan Dickau, the little point guard that could, actually logged 18 key minutes last night w/ Sergio Rodriguez out, and hit some big free throws down the stretch to help seal the deal.

Closing Comment: LaMarcus Aldridge, Jarrett Jack, Brandon Roy, Travis Outlaw, Martell Webster, Sergio Rodriguez, and Zach Randolph. The Blazers have hope, folks, they really do. At times last night the perpetually underperforming Blazers looked like a real NBA team (gasp!), and I can’t help but feel that, if they can keep the above core together, this team could develop into a solid bunch that’s competitive on most nights. Of course, that’s assuming their roster of dunkers develop into consistent jump shooters and defenders, but Brandon Roy has a very tangible, calming influence on everyone else when he’s on the court. I like this team down the road.

Memphis Grizzlies at Seattle Supersonics

I don’t have too much to say about this that’s not said below. Both teams are wallowing near the bottom of their respective divisions (and in the Western Conference, of course), but there’s certainly a lot of fantasy relevance when these teams square off. Lewis, Allen, Wilcox, Rudy Gay, Gasol, Mike Miller (please, please, please cut your hair, Mike, or at least take those silly barretts out), and sometimes Hakim Warrick (see below) and Luke Ridnour. There’ve been rumors circulating that the Sonics might trade Rashard before he becomes a free agent, but that’d be a pretty insulting move to the fans. Fork up the cash and secure one of the most talented young guys in the league, Sonics.

Fantasy Player of the Game: Welcome back, Rashard Lewis. One of my personal favorites in the league, Rashard brushed aside any lingering doubts about his formerly torn tendon last night with a dominating performance. Check out these stats: 34 points (13-25 FG), 7 boards, 1 block, 1 steal, and only 3 turnovers. The Sonics are actually fun to watch when Lewis, Allen, and Wilcox are all at the top of their games, like they were last night (I know they were playing the Grizz).

Fantasy Dud of the Game: Hakim Warrick’s up-and-down stat sheet hit another valley last night with a 6-point, 2-7 FG, 5 rebound effort.

Bench Player of the Game: Not much contributions from either bench tonight, but Grizzlies guard Dahntay Jones did score 10 points in 8 minutes. Woo.

Closing Comment: Jerry West, please go ahead and trade Pau Gasol. He’s bringing down your team with his half-assed effort and fantasies about taking his brain out of his head so he can get away from it all and not think (seriously, he said that). But don’t trade him to a team that has a chance for success, at least in the short-term. Wouldn’t bitchy, whiny Gasol look GREAT in a Bobcats uniform? How about in a 76ers jersey? I like the prospect.

On another note, kudos to Ray Allen, perhaps the quietest, most under-appreciated star the NBA has today. The guy is one of the most dominant shooters out there, and gets very little credit for it. He’s flying under the rader and having perhaps his finest season as a pro, averaging 27 points/game with just over 4 rebounds and 4 assists to boot. He’s also one of the best 3-point shooters in the league, and he’s got a noggin that you just want to rub like a genie’s lamp, doesn’t he?

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