– Melvin Ely is one of the most valuable players in the NBA right now. He has career averages of 5.8 points per game and 3.8 rebounds per game. This season he averaged 3.9 points and 2.8 rebounds. Last season, Ely played in only six games for his new team after a mid-season trade. So why is he one of the keys to the Hornets advancing? Because last season he spent half a season on, and those six games playing for, the San Antonio Spurs.
Color commentator Reggie Miller made a salient point in Game 1 of this series when he said that Byron Scott and other Hornets should take cues from Ely on how to guard Tim Duncan and deal with the defending champs. Ely spent a half a season going up against Tim Duncan in practice and listening to Popovich in games. He knows the trainers, coaches, and players of the Spurs as only a teammate can. He knows what the team likes to do in certain situations. So the success he’s had guarding and helping out with Tim Duncan as the Hornets’ first big off the bench in the playoffs should not come as a shock.
Taking players from other rival teams is one of the most underappreciated advantages in the NBA. Oftentimes the fifteenth player on a contending team is more valuable than the seventh or eighth player on a losing team, simply because other contenders can use his insight as well as his basketball skills.
So when you see Derek Fisher somehow matching up with Deron Williams and Kurt Thomas killing the Suns, don’t be surprised. Fisher’s bringing more to the table than shooting and Kurt Thomas is bringing more than toughness and flopping. They’re bringing their memories.
–Chris Paul has stolen the “best runner in the lane” and “best floater in the lane” titles from Tony Parker. It’s funny to see people comparing Paul’s ability to score in the lane to Parker’s because while that skill is such a small facet of Paul’s game, it is the most valuable asset of Parker’s. Still, though, Parker still has the titles that matter: 3 NBA Championships, 1 NBA Finals MVP, and best-looking wife.
–One of these days I’m not going to be able to contain my anger towards these Spurs any longer and I’ll write a blistering 2,000 word article on why I hate their flopping, complaining, and general annoyingness. I don’t understand how Bill Simmons recently called them a hard-to-hate team. They’re the most infuriating team in the playoffs. I swear, if Duncan and his incredulous, “who me?” looks at the refs advance to the next round, my head might explode.
–Julian Wright could develop into a 15 and 8 guy very soon. Like next season soon. Once he makes his game more fluid, which he has been doing very effectively in the playoffs, he gives the Hornets outstanding athleticism at the Small Forward position. He’s going to get minutes next year for his defense alone. Not many 6′8″ players can keep up with Tony Parker.
–You know how David West was antagonizing Oberto after a call the other night? You know how Tim Duncan came over and nearly broke David West? You know that toughness he showed? That was like the exact opposite of what Dirk Nowitzki did to David West in Round 1. And people really think Dirk will win a title?
–I understand that Chris Paul makes people want to say “WOO!” But is it really necessary to say it after every CP3 point and assist? Now that he’s scoring 30 points and dishing out 15 dimes a night, I think the line has been crossed. “WOO” is becoming the DE-TROIT BAS-KET-BALL of the Western Conference. New Orleans, stop while you still can.
