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| Gilbert Arenas is expected to opt out of his contract this summer and seek a bigger contract, the AP reports. "If I'm 100 percent, then I'm going to ask for a max," Arenas says. "If I'm not, then it's negotiation time. If I know my knee's not going to be 100 per cent, then I'm not going to sit there and say: 'I want the max.'" The talented guard has said he might take less money with the Wizards if the team also brings back Antawn Jamison. |
Our View: The Wizards front office has a tough offseason ahead with Arenas and Jamison. If he's healthy, Arenas should be a fantasy stud no matter where he lands.
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| Josh Childress will be a restricted free agent this summer, but he'd like to stay in Atlanta. "We have to make sure that we all stick together," Childress tells the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "That is something that is going to come up this summer. So something that I think we all have to take a look at. If we are going to be good, we have to stay together." |
Our View: Childress may be talking nice now, but we have to believe some other team will offer him a chance at a starting job and a bigger role. Josh looks like he could be a solid fantasy player if he finds the right team.
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| The Wizards brass reiterated on Sunday that they plan to re-sign unrestricted free agent Antawn Jamison this offseason, the AP reports. "We've said it all along, from Mr. Pollin to Ernie (Grunfeld) to myself, that it's a priority to sign Gilbert (Arenas) and Antawn," head coach Eddie Jordan says. |
Our View: The Wizards will need to break the bank to bring back both Jamison and Gilbert Arenas. Signs point to the front office being willing to make such a commitment, but we'll see what happens when it actually comes time to signing the papers.
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| Josh Smith would like to stick with the Hawks for the 2008-09 season. He is a restricted free agent this summer. "Most definitely, we came a long way," Smith tells the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "I grew with this team." |
Our View: We'd be shocked if the Hawks let this budding star leave.
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| Deron Williams flirted with a triple-double in Sunday's Game 1 loss to the Lakers. The point guard managed 14 points, nine assists, and nine rebounds. Williams hit only 5 of his 18 shots, including 1-of-6 from beyond the arc. |
Our View: It was a rare bad shooting night for Williams and a rare night on the boards. We're not surprised to see him contributing in other ways even when he shot isn't falling.
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| Pau Gasol played the perfect No. 2 in the Lakers' win over the Jazz on Sunday. The center finished with 18 points, 10 rebounds, five assists, and two blocks. He shot 8-of-13 from the floor. |
Our View: Gasol's overall numbers didn't change much after moving over from the Grizzlies, with the exception of shooting percentage. He is taking advantage of being a secondary option.
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| Mehmet Okur didn't shot very well, but he finished with 21 points and 19 rebounds in Sunday's Game 1 loss to the Lakers. The center went 7-of-19 from the floor and missed all of his five three-point chances. |
Our View: Memo has been hammering the boards this postseason, but the Jazz need him to hit more shots if they hope to hang with the Lakers. We have to wonder why he averaged only 7.7 rebounds during the year.
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| Kobe Bryant scored 38 points in Sunday's Game 1 win over the Jazz. The MVP went to the free-throw line 23 times and sunk 21 of those shots. Bryant added seven assists, six boards, and a steal. |
Our View: The Jazz are known as a physical team, but they can't go so far as to give Kobe that many freebies. Jerry Sloan has his work cut out for him in figuring out Bryant in this series.
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| Kevin Garnett racked up a double-double in Sunday's 99-65 blowout win over the Hawks in Game 7. Garnett led Boston with 11 boards, and scored 18 points, with three assists, one steal, and one block. |
Our View: Garnett averaged 21 points, 8.8 boards, and two steals over the seven games of the series with Atlanta.
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| Al Horford scored eight points and hauled in a game-high 12 boards in a losing effort in Game 7, as Atlanta was blown out by Boston 99-65. Horford also recorded three assists and two blocks. |
Our View: Horford reached double digits in rebounds in five of the seven games of the series against Boston, and scored a high of 20 points in Game 1. Horford did his job for the underdog Hawks, and he should continue to make strides next season.
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| Paul Pierce led Boston to a convincing 99-65 win in Game 7 on Sunday, as he scored a game-high 22 points, with eight boards, three assists, and two steals. |
Our View: He fought through his hip ailment to help close the door on the persistent Hawks.
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| Marvin Williams has been ejected from Game 7 against Boston for committing a flagrant-two foul against Rajon Rondo, according to the AP. With just over nine minutes left in the third period, Williams clotheslined Rondo as the second-year point guard was going in for a layup. The referees reviewed the play on a video monitor and decided to throw Williams out of the game. Boston held a 33-point lead at the time of the infraction.
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Our View: Williams was questionable to play due to his sprained left knee, and was better off just sitting out the game.
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| Marvin Williams will play in Game 7 against Boston on Sunday, according to the AP. Williams sprained his left knee with nine minutes left in the fourth quarter of Friday’s 103-100 Game 6 win. He went through a 30-minute workout during the Hawks’ walkthrough on Saturday but did not put much weight on the knee, which was heavily taped.
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Our View: Williams averaged a career-high 14.8 points per game during the regular season, and scored 18 points in Game 6 before getting hurt against the Celtics.
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| Paul Pierce is expected to play in Game 7 against the Hawks, according to the Boston Globe. Pierce injured his right hip during Game 6 Friday night in Atlanta. Coach Doc Rivers said, "Pierce was the only guy that didn't go through walkthrough yesterday. Not because he couldn't, it's more that if he's hurting, no one is going to have him walking around on the floor. But I expect him to be fine."
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Our View: Pierce is averaging 17 points over the six games against Atlanta, and will need to fight through his injury in crucial Game 7 today.
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| Dwight Howard suffered a bruised left thumb in Saturday’s Game 1 loss to the Pistons, according to the AP. He sustained the injury when trying to haul in a rebound, and was accidently hit by Theo Ratliff. Howard said, "It’s fine. It’s just a bruised thumb. I’ll be all right."
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Our View: X-rays showed no serious damage, and he is expected to be ready for Game 2 on Monday. The Pistons are one of the most physical teams in the NBA, and Howard was bound to get banged up in the heated playoff series.
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| Rashard Lewis scored 18 points in Saturday's 91-72 loss to Detroit in Game 1. He also poured in seven boards, two assists, and one block. |
Our View: Lewis has two double-doubles over six games in the playoffs so far, and should remain a solid source of production until the Magic play their final game.
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| Peja Stojakovic contributed 22 points in Saturday's 101-82 victory in Game 1. He also notched four rebounds and a steal. He hit 2-of-4 shots from long range. |
Our View: He has hit 19-of-32 (59%) shots from long range through the playoffs so far, and the Hornets are very hard to beat when he is on target.
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| Chris Paul recorded a double-double in Saturday's 101-82 win over San Antonio, as he registered 17 points and 13 assists, with four rebounds and four steals. |
Our View: That was his fourth double-double of the playoffs. He also has one triple-double. Paul had a stellar regular season, and has not slowed down in the playoffs.
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| Manu Ginobili recorded a solid stat-line in Saturday's 101-82 loss to New Orleans, as he scored 19 points, six boards, seven assists, and one steal. |
Our View: He averaged 18.2 points through the first round against Phoenix, and you can always count on Ginobili in the playoffs.
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| Tony Parker scored a team-high 23 points in a 101-82 loss to the Spurs in Game 1 on Saturday. Parker also chipped in five boards, five assists, and one steal. |
Our View: Parker averaged 29.6 points through the first round against Phoenix, and is off to a good start against New Orleans.
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| David West scored a game-high 30 points in Saturday's 101-82 win over the Spurs. He also chipped in nine boards, two assists, two steals, and one block. |
Our View: West is averaging 26.3 points over his last three playoff games. 30 was his best effort so far.
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