Empty the Bench

With four of the NBA’s top five teams and seven All-Stars in action Sunday afternoon on ABC, you knew there’d be some big-time individual performances. You didn’t know that Detroit Pistons reserve SF Jarvis Hayes and Houston Rockets starting PG Rafer Alston would outshine all of the stars.

With 15 three-pointers and 60 combined points between them, Hayes and Alston came out of nowhere to lead their respective teams to big wins. Hayes’ performance, especially, was a surprise. Signed to a modest one-year deal last summer to back up Tayshaun Prince, the 6-8 former lottery pick of the Washington Wizards was shooting just 37% from three-point range on the season and hadn’t scored in double digits since February 24.

Rafer Alston Photo Credit: Icon SMI

Against the Hornets, however, he couldn’t miss, going 6-7 FG in a 10-minute period in the second quarter, including 5 three-pointers. In all he put up 19 in the second and tied a career-best with 29 on the game; the 7 three-pointers are the most he’s dropped in a single game since joining the league in 2003. Check out ETB’s preseason interview with Mr. Hayes here.

In Houston, “Skip to My Lou” Alston one-upped Hayes, finishing with a career-high 8 three’s on the afternoon on his way to 31 points and 5 assists. With Tracy McGrady ice cold from the field—he started 0-9 before finally sinking a leaner in the paint—Alston’s scoring outburst was crucial in helping the Rockets keep the feisty Lakers at bay… and their winning streak intact.

When his teammates couldn’t throw a rock in the ocean at the onset of the second half, it was Alston who drained the three that ended a field-goal drought that had dragged on for the first 6 minutes of the third quarter. And every time the Lakers pushed back and cut down the deficit, it seemed Alston was always the one to stop the run with a swish. On the season, the 31-year-old vet is averaging 12.7 points, 5.7 assists, 3.6 boards, 1.3 steals, and 2 threes.

Though neither player can be expected to repeat performances like these for some time, this does underscore one of the strengths for the Pistons and Rockets and help reveal why they’re such dangerous teams. Both squads’ depth is such that on any given night a different guy is capable of stepping up and hurting you. It’s a trait shared by most of this season’s top teams, and one that’ll be essential come playoff time.

Tags: Jarvis Hayes, Rafer Alston, Detroit Pistons, Houston Rockets