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Bosh
returns for the Raps; Harris out with another ankle injury; Marion
makes it back for Miami; Bynum gone for the regular sked; Udrih sits
out; Haslem may be gone for the season; and more...
BEEN MISSING BOSH
At 2-8 so far in March, the Toronto Raptors are obviously excited about the expected Wednesday return of Chris Bosh. Yet one Raptor should feel especially fortunate: Jose Calderon.
With Bosh inactive since the end of February, Calderon lost his
favorite assist target. But he also found himself asked to carry an
unusual amount of the offensive load for the small-ball Raps and
opponents have keyed on the Spanish Fly accordingly. In March, Calderon
as seen his turnovers rise and his shooting percentage fall. Meanwhile,
the recent return of oft-injured point-man T.J. Ford
to the lineup has cut into Calderon's court time, and has in turn cut
into his point and assist totals, with Calderon's minutes falling from
nearly 32 a game before the All-star break to just over 28 in March.
But Bosh's return should open up the middle for the Spanish Fly on
his drives to the basket, while also providing an excellent target to
help him rack up assists. As the Raptors take on the woeful Heat on
Wednesday, can Bosh help Calderon jump-start his underrated game?
DEVIN OUT AGAIN Devin Harris
sprained his ankle during in the second quarter of the Nets 112-96 loss
to Chicago on Tuesday night, and did not play at all in the second
half. INTEL: Harris had seemed to be coming on in New
Jersey, with back-to-back 19 point efforts. He has had significant
problems with his ankles this season, so the Nets are likely to be
cautious in getting him back on the court. Talented backup Marcus Williams, who had 16 points and three helpers in the game, can be expected to start for New Jersey as long as Harris is out, and Vince Carter might also see a little more involvement distributing the rock for the Nets going forward.
SHAWN BACK ON COURT
Returning from a two-game absence caused by a sore back, on Tuesday Heat forward Shawn Marion
played 28 minutes in a rare Miami win on, 112-106 at Milwaukee. He
finished the evening with only eight points but snagged 12 boards. INTEL:
Marion is an elite producer (except in the assists category) as long as
his back holds up. With a recent MRI reportedly revealing Udonis Haslem
will require surgery for bone spurs on his foot and ankle, Marion may
be required to play even more minutes than usual. In March he has
regularly been over 40 most games, which may contribute to his back
woes.
BYE BYE BYNUM . . . 'TIL THE PLAYOFFS
The Los Angeles Lakers announced Tuesday they are not expecting center Andrew Bynum to return until the first round of the playoffs. INTEL:
Bynum was in the midst of a breakthrough year until his injury,
averaging a double-double in points and rebounds and blocking over two
shots per game. While he may not be much of a factor again this year,
the addition of Pau Gasol
to the Lakers frontcourt should only free Bynum up further next season.
It isn't unreasonable to picture the 20 year old in several All-Star
games over the next decade or so.
BEN-OH! UDRIH SITS OUT
After straining his back Sunday night against Toronto, Kings point guard Beno Udrih sat out Tuesday as Sacto took on the Golden State Warriors. INTEL:
Tough luck for Udrih, especially if he misses any significant amount of
time. Since he entered the starting lineup following the trade of Mike Bibby,
Beno has been an absolute revelation, averaging nearly 16 points and
just over six assists per game. His replacement Tuesday was journeyman Anthony Johnson, who can be expected to provide workmanlike numbers as long as he's in the starting lineup.
HE SAID WHAT?
In eyebrow-raising comments Tuesday, Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor told the St. Paul Pioneer-Press Tuesday that he believes Kevin Garnett "tanked it" last season. INTEL:
Unfortunately Garnett's Boston Celtics have no games remaining with
Minnesota this year, so he'll have to wait until next season to serve
Taylor some humble pie. Taylor was reportedly responding to a local
columnist who suggested the Timberwolves tanked it last season, so it's
fairly clear that Taylor is trying to stick up for his current team
than anything. It has the look of sour grapes, and the only upshot for
Boston fans is that it may motivate Garnett to raise his game to an
even higher level than he already has this season.
ELTON STILL WANTS TO PLAY
While he has not set an official return date, Elton Brand reiterated to the Orange County Register reecntly that he would like to play in a few Clippers games before the season ends. INTEL:
Brand has missed the entire season so far with a ruptured Achilles
tendon. Clippers fans would probably like to see their star on the
court, however briefly, though it would be unwise to expect major
minutes or numbers from Brand if he does indeed return.
MAX FACTOR
Detroit power forward Jason Maxiell
matched a season high with 18 points Tuesday night in the Pistons'
136-120 victory over the Nuggets. He also added seven rebounds in a
team high 32 minutes. INTEL: As much as anything else,
this serves as proof that anyone can score on Denver. While Maxiell has
been a solid bench player for Detroit this season (especially on the
defensive end) games like this are all too often balanced out by
contests such as his zero point, two rebound effort against Sacramento
last week. Still, his center eligibility makes Maxiell a valuable
long-term prospect and he has the talent to be a star if he could just
get the playing time (which won't happen soon in Motown).
BONJOUR JOEL?
With the injuries piling up in Miami, big-man Joel Anthony has been logging increased minutes in the Heat's last three games, including Tuesday's contest. INTEL:
A veteran D-Leaguer, Anthony had been used sparingly by the Heat this
season. He hadn't registered a point through the first four months,
until suddenly getting 38 minutes of action last week vs. Orlando. With
Udonis Haslem's season likely over and a right knee injury forcing Alexander Johnson
to sit out Tuesday's game, it will be interesting to see if coach Pat
Riley keeps giving the Canadian this kind of playing time. He is a raw
but but intriguing prospect who might be worth watching for next
season.