NBA Report

Our new intern at Kentucky Sports Radio, (not "The Intern" of course, that is John Wilkinson), Travis is following the Cats in the NBA throughout the course of the season. We hope this will be interesting for those of you that dont follow the NBA much, and thus here is the first installment....This is his report from last week....a bit late.... Rajon Rondo, Boston After a preseason that made Rondo look like one of the top picks in the entire draft, he’s left a lot to be desired for the struggling Celtics and the NBA’s coach on the hottest seat, Doc Rivers. Rondo hadn’t been in double figures before he scored 13 against Utah in early November, and hasn’t done it since. He’s looked good as an assist man, having 7 twice and averaging 2.9 in modest minutes. Rondo was logging over 20 minutes a game for the first half of the year, but lately, Rivers has soured on him. He didn’t leave the bench at all twice last week and hasn’t played over 20 minutes since Nov. 17. He’s now gone three games in a row without a point Chuck Hayes, Houston Despite starting for the Rockets after an injury to Juwan Howard, Hayes is still only averaging about 22 minutes a game for 11-5 Houston. He’s now started 10 of the 12 games he’s appeared in, averaging 5.7 points and 7.3 rebounds. He’s had a solid week, grabbing 11 rebounds in a win over Minnesota, 8 in a losing effort to Phoenix, and 12 in a win over Cleveland. There aren’t many shots to go around on a team like Houston, but Hayes is making 56% of the shots he does get. Not bad for an undrafted free agent that everyone thought was too small to bang in the league. Scott Padgett, Houston The Rockets’ forward logged 21 minutes, 11 points and 6 rebounds–all season highs–in Houston’s Nov. 16 win over Chicago, but has played little since. Padgett has played in 9 games this season, averaging 3.7 points and 3 rebounds in 13.1 minutes. Derek Anderson, Charlotte Just picked up by the Bobcats, Anderson has appeared in 3 games. He started slow, scoring only 4 points against Atlanta, but has been in double figures in each of his past two games for a struggling Charlotte team. Jamaal Magloire, Portland A former all-star, Magloire hasn’t played well, or much, for the Blazers. He’s averaging only 4 points and 4.8 rebounds in 18 minutes a game. He hasn’t scored in double figures yet and has been in double figures rebounding only twice, both early in the season. Keith Bogans, Orlando Bogans scored 13 points in Orlando’s Nov. 25 win against Atlanta. He hasn’t been in double figures in any other game this season. He’s currently averaging 4.4 points and 1.6 rebounds for the Magic. Tayshaun Prince, Detroit In his fifth season with Detroit, Prince continues to improve. He has career-high averages in points (17.0) and rebounds (5.9), is shooting 50.7% from the field and 49.1% from three-point range, also both career highs. Prince is ranked in the top 50 in 16 statistical categories and has had three double-doubles. He tied his season-high with 31 points, including 6 three-pointers, in a Dec. 1 win over New York. Nazr Mohammed, Detroit Mohammed has played well for his new team, adding some offensive production in Ben Wallace’s old spot. He’s started all 17 games for the Pistons, averaging 7.1 points and 5.7 rebounds per game. He’s seventh in the league in offensive rebounds per 48 minutes (6.0), 25th in the league in blocks per game (1.18) and 24th in rebounds per 48 minutes (13.9). Antoine Walker, Miami Walker scored 18 points in Miami’s Dec. 2 win over Memphis. The 10-year veteran is averaging 10.3 points and 4.1 rebounds a game, and true to form, he’s attempted more three pointers than almost everyone else in the NBA (78 in 16 games). That would be great if he were hitting them, but at 23.1%, Pat Riley would probably love for Walker to settle down. Add to it that Walker is an abysmal 37.5% free throw shooter and is below 40% from the field. As charming as he once was, it’s clear that Walker is on the downswing of his career.