Comers and Goers: The Jackson Two

This is a semi-weekly look at players who are gaining playing time and players who are losing it.

Comers


Stephen Jackson, GF, Indiana Pacers

Since returning from his suspension against Boston on January 26th, Stephen Jackson has resumed his role as scorer and long-range bomber for the Indiana Pacers. He's now played four games, and his numbers look pretty nice:

GP	FG	FT	3PM	PTS	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO
4	.383	.688	2.3	16.5	5.8	2.5	2.3	0.5	2.8

What do we like about this? We really like the 2.3 threes, and we like the 2.3 steals even more. We like the fact that he's averaging 38.3 minutes in this time.

What don't we like?

Basically, we don't like anything else about it. The percentages right now are both terrible: that's .383 on 15 shots, and that hurts, badly. Although we can expect the FT to rise back to about .800 as S-Jax gets his stroke tight, it wouldn't be reasonable to expect a quantum leap forward from the .383 in FG.

Stephen wasn't a very good shooter when he was playing the role of third scorer for the Pace Show and taking 13.9 shots a game. Overall this season he's at .406. Now he's the second scorer on a team that is desperate for scoring with Artest out.

That means more shots for Stephen, and with a .406 cumulative FG so far on the season, that means you can expect that percentage to drop below the dreaded .400 plateau in the very near future as he starts hoisting up shots that would have been "unadvisable" with Artest still in the lineup. Now, those shots are necessary.

16.5 points are nice, and are a slight improvement on his pre-suspension average of 15.7, but he'll need to score more than that to make a significant contribution in the PTS category in most leagues.

On the flip side, it wouldn't be unreasonable to expect Jackson to maintain his increased production in steals, as he'll also be called upon to fill, to a certain extent, Artest's defensive shoes.

Samuel Dalembert, C, Philadelphia 76ers

After spending 36 minutes on the floor last night in a relatively undistinguished performance last night, Dalembert's minutes per game average over the last five is up to 29.2. His stat line doesn't look that pretty...yet. Make sure he's on your team when it starts to.

This guy has Coach O'Brien's number. Look for big minutes to continue.

Marko Jaric, PG, LA Clippers

Jaric is officially back.

Actually, he's been off the IL since Jan. 24, but last night was his first start, finally supplanting Rick Brunson, who sucks, and who had taken Marko's spot while he was out.

He responded huge, with 15 PTS, 5 REB, 7 AST, 6 STL, 2 3PM... And zero turnovers.

This is the kind of line that makes me want to shit, seeing that Jaric is owned by the guy in second in my league.

Jaric is the kind of player who could single-handedly decide some leagues, believe it or not. He is so pointy in threes and steals, and, to a lesser extent, in assists, that he really has a chance to significantly affect final standings in these categories.

He's a big hit in FG, and his blocks and FT aren't that great, but he has the potential to be a positive contributor in every other category.

Add him. Play him. Now.

Brevin Knight, PG, Charlotte Bobcats

Brevin's back after missing five games (and the vast majority of another) with a sprained ankle.

Jason Hart, we hardly knew ye. In the six games during which Brevin was injured, Hart averaged 13.8 PTS, 8.67 AST, 5.17 REB, 2.0 TO and .67 STL. That's good for a 4.33 A/T ratio (exactly his average).

The steals aren't where I thought they might be, but for the sake of comparison, Brevin's season averages are 7.5 PTS, 9.2 AST, 2.2 REB, 2.1 TO, and 1.7 STL.

It looks to me like Brevin and Hart are very similar players. Knight steals more (although not as much more as the numbers above suggest). Hart boards more.

For now they'll split minutes. Expect Brevin to regain his starting spot when the ankle is 100%.

Darius Miles, GF, Portland Trail Blazers

Goers

The following players should not be dropped, but should probably not be starting right now...

Corey Maggette, GF, LA Clippers

Hedo Turkoglu, GF, Orlando Magic

Cliff Robinson, FC, Golden State Warriors

Speedy Claxton, PG, Golden State Warriors

Troy Murphy, F, Golden State Warriors

Jamaal Tinsley, PG, Indiana Pacers

The following players have been placed by me on general drop advisory. If you see someone blowing up on the waiver wire, you should strongly consider dropping these players in order to pick him up...


Mark Jackson, C, Philadelphia 76ers

Chances are, Mark's not wearing that pretty smile on his face right this minute.

Not unlike Primoz Brezec, Mark Jackson began the season as a good-score, good-percentage center who would board enough to keep himself in the lineup as an offensive threat.

Unlike Charlotte, Philadelphia has other options.

Problem is, Jackson has absolutely no D. He doesn't man up, he doesn't steal, he doesn't block... and he's a center.

His minutes in January decreased from 28.9 (in December) to 21.7. His scoring and rebounding dropped from 15.1 and 6.4, respectively, to 9.1 and 4.3. Over the past five games, Mark is averaging numbers that look like this:

Min	FG	FT	3PM	PTS	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO
17.6	.306	.636	0.0	5.8	4.2	0.8	0.0	0.0	1.2

Ouch. Those numbers are ugly. Even his momma thinks those numbers are ugly.

Now would probably be a good time to get off the bus.

Drop them like they're hot...

Rodney Buford, GF, New Jersey Nets

Rotney wasn't filling exactly filling out the stat sheet when he took over for the injured Richard Jefferson. Now he's got torn ligaments in his left ankle. He should be out 4-6 weeks. Consider him an absolute must-drop.

In other news, it really is raining shit on the New Jersey Nets right now. Check local listings for wrist-slitting parties in your area...

Allan Houston, SG, New York Knicks

Houston went back on the IL on 1/28 with "patellofemoral arthritis" in his left knee. As nearly as I can tell, that means something like "knee-leg arthritis." Sounds like the whole thing is fucked, and arthritis isn't really the kind of thing that ever improves.

Houston says he epxects to miss "more than the five game minimum," but he doesn't think it will be season ending injury.

Dude's knee is finished. You didn't hear it from me, but I think Houston's done. I wouldn't expect him to play more than 20 more NBA games... period. Think retirement, Allan. Think it soon.

Jamal Crawford owners are stoked.

Willie Green, G, Philadelphia 76ers

Following a three game stint in which he started in place of an injured Allen Iverson and averaged 19.67 points (albeit on terrible shooting... that's the way they like it in Philly), Willie Green is back to the bench.

And by the bench, I mean the deep bench.

Last night, Iverson was back in the lineup, scoring 27 points on 8-24 shooting in 44 minutes on the floor. When a guy like that is in the lineup ahead of you, there isn't a whole lot left over.

Green racked up another DNP-CD. Expect Slick Willie to make a habit of not playing starting right about...now.

You shouldn't have added him in the first place, but just in case you did, now's the time to get over him.