Empty the Bench

Photo Credit: Ales Fevzer/Grazia Neri/Icon SMI

“I could take your DNA and replicate a man. I could do so many things, with my own bare hands!” – Mickey Melchiondo, Ween

- Playing behind guys like Tony P and Manu Ginobli, he barely got off the bench in San Antonio. And Minnesota Timberwolves GM Kevin McHale decided there was no room for him on a T’Wolves roster with world-beaters like Sebastian Telfair and Michael Doleac already in the fold, so he waived him after acquiring the 6-3 Yugoslavian in a low-visibility trade with the Spurs. But now, finally, in the fourth year of his NBA career, Beno Udrih seems to have found a team that appreciates his considerable talents and knows he can contribute on a nightly basis. Since joining the Sacramento Kings, Udrih has played just over 35 minutes a game, posting respectable averages of 14.3 points, 4 assists, 46% FG, 88.6% FT, and 1.2 steals. With incumbent starter Mike Bibby out indefinitely, Udrih should continue to see big minutes for the Kings, who’ve been surprisingly competitive so far. Some people even think they’re going to the playoffs.

- At times petulant, disinterested, and just plain pouty during his three-year tenure with the Detroit Pistons, swingman Carlos Delfino has staked himself a new NBA life this season as an integral part of the Toronto Raptors rotation. He never quite fit in with the Pistons, often publicly complaining about his uncertain role with the team and unable to ever come to terms with fluctuating minutes in Flip Saunders’ wild and wacky substitution patterns. Some of his unhappiness certainly had merit, as his three-point shooting, ability to run the floor, and ball-hawking talents went largely untapped.

Shipped to Toronto in the offseason for two future second-round picks, Delfino is flourishing with the Euro-friendly Raps and is well on his way to achiving career highs across the board. Thus far he’s getting about 27 minutes/per (which is over 10 minutes more than he ever averaged with Detroit) and is chipping in 10.5 points, 5.1 boards, 1.3 steals, 1.4 feeds, and about 2 three-pointers a night. Those numbers should continue to rise as the season wears on; he’s been on a tear over the past six games, averaging 16 points, 6.3 boards, and 2.6 three-pointers over that stretch.

- There’s still a major logjam in the Atlanta Hawks’ frontcourt–isn’t it time to move Josh Childress while he still has value?–but Al Horford, the third-overall pick in this June’s NBA draft, is doing his best to help make up for the team’s big draft-day mistake in ‘06 (the offensively challenged Shelden Williams). The versatile 6-10 forward/center has pulled down 53 boards in his last four games, and we think by season’s end the ex-Florida Gator will be considered a serious contender for Rookie of the Year honors… especially if Kevin Durant continues chucking the rock up 17 times/per and only making 39% of them. Right now most of Horford’s points come on putbacks and dunks, but that jump shot will come along in time and the rebounding and hustle stats (1 steal, 1.2 blocks a night) are already there and going up. This kid should be a double-double machine for the next decade.

- Isn’t it just hil-arious when your team’s starting center inexplicably sprains his ankle and is forced to sit out a game against one of your hated division rivals? Those classy New York Knicks apparently thought it was a riot when that happened to Eddy Curry on Wednesday during the team’s game-day shootaround. “It was a freak accident,” Curry said. “I don’t know how it happened. Just something freak. Everyone was cracking up. I just rolled it, fell to the floor.” We could not confirm it, but ETB believes that “fatness” contributed to the injury.

- Cleveland Cavaliers forward Anderson Varejao has not only successfully landed himself a new contract, but he’s also waged a winning PR campaign over these past few months that has elevated his status from a solid bench player–which is what he is–to a guy some feel is an “elite rebounder and defender” in the NBA. Are we missing something here? To be fair, Varejao played an instrumental role in the Cavs’ improbable run to the NBA Finals last season, and like the Detroit Pistons’ Jason Maxiell (who by the way is a much more polished and effective player on both ends of the court) the energy and hustle he brings off the bench is one of those intangibles that’s impossible to quantify in the box score.

From our view, though, it’s puzzling to read so much effusive praise for a guy who averaged 6.8 points, 6.7 rebounds, and .6 blocks last season on 47% FGs and 61% FTs. Varejao is what he is–a role player who gives his team a nice boost off the bench and only modest returns from a skill standpoint. Playing with The Best Basketball Player on the Planet certainly helps his cause, too. As far as fantasy b-ball goes, sit tight and let everyone else needlessly scramble to add the 6-10 Brazilian; he’s not especially valuable.

- We’re becoming big fans of Pistons’ reserve Jarvis Hayes, and not just because he’s the first player we’ve ever interviewed for Empty the Bench. Signed to a modest one-year deal in the offseason after four years in Washington, Hayes has settled into his role off the bench rather nicely and is providing the kind of instant scoring the team desperately needed. A lottery pick back in ‘03, Hayes is making the most of his 19 minutes a night, shooting the ball at a 48% clip and nailing at least 1 three-pointer/per. His numbers aren’t staggering (8.5 points, 2.7 boards), but he’s the kind of glue player that’s so important on teams with championship aspirations like Detroit. His baskets always seem to come when they’re needed the most, like when he helped pull the Pistons back into the game Wednesday in New Orleans after they fell behind early by 15. He only scored 9 on the night, but five of those came in the first quarter at the tailend of an extended scoring drought. It’ll never show up in the box score, but some points are bigger than others.

- The Memphis Grizzlies continue to amass young talent, and now it’s hopefully just a matter of waiting for it all to come together so this franchise can get back into a perennial hunt for the playoffs. Last year’s lottery pick, Rudy Gay, has already developed into an incredibly versatile fantasy performer (18 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.3 steals, 1 block, 1.7 three-pointers, 47% FG), while Darko Milicic has lent them a legitimate shot-blocking presence down low (2 per). But it’s rookie Juan Carlos Navarro who has been one of the biggest surprises so far. The 6-3 combo guard finds himself starting at shooting guard partly because he’s an excellent shooter from downtown who’s not afraid to hoist it up. Over his last six games, he’s averaging 7.5 attempts from three-ball land. His minutes continue to experience some flux, but he should continue getting about 28-30 a night, especially with fellow rook Mike Conley Jr. out.

- The light has suddenly turned on for Marko Jaric in Minnesota. As a 6-7 swingman who can handle the ball and play point guard, Jaric has consistently tantalized with his talent but never really made good on it, save for the 04/05 season when he averaged 10 points and 6 assists for the Clippers. But with Randy Foye still rehabbing his troublesome knee and yet to get on the court, and a never-will-be named Sebastian Telfair in the starting lineup, Jaric has taken full advantage of his opportunity. During a four-game stretch at the end of November, the 29-year-old Yugoslavian averaged 16.7 points, 6.25 assists, 1.75 steals, and 57% from the field before sitting out 2 1/2 games with a sprained ankle. He was dynamite in his return Thursday night, flirting with a triple-double in putting up 18 points, 8 boards, 9 assists, and 3 steals. Jaric has also recently started dating Victoria’s Secret model Adriana Lima, which we’re sure has absolutely nothing to do with his sudden resurgence on the court.

- One of these days, Seattle Sonics coach PJ Carlesimo is going to settle on some semblance of a regular rotation–much less a starter–at the point guard position, but until then prepare to watch Luke Ridnour, Delonte West, and Earl Watson be jettisoned in and out of the lineup until one of them proves he’s the guy. Coming into the season ETB hypothesized that West, acquired in a draft-day deal with the Celtics, would quickly establish himself and get plenty of burn, but he’s struggled in the early going and hasn’t really found any kind of consistency with his shot- or decision-making (7.7 points, 3.3 assists, and 2.3 turnovers in 21 minutes/per). He’s now sidelined with the dreaded, nagging, plantar fascitis. Ridnour broke his nose, came back with a facemask, then promptly tore a thigh muscle. He should be back this week, but no telling how he’ll produce because in the six games he’s played in, he’s been awful. For now Watson is the guy, and he’s showing signs of coming around, averaging 12.6 points, 6.6 assists, and 50.8% from the field over his last few games. Stay tuned to this riveting storyline in Seattle…

- Just how awful wide open is the Eastern Conference? Heading into Saturday night’s action, just three teams–the Celtics, Pistons, and Magic–have posted winning records thus far. Three! Any number of squads could still theoretically squeeze into the playoffs, even the Knicks, but unless something drastic happens around the trade deadline it’s pretty obvious that the Pistons and Celtics are on a crash course for the Eastern Conference Finals. And boy, that’s going to be one fun series to watch.