Ric Bucher has always liked nothing more than breaking down guards, whether it be on a
playground or on paper. Here he does it for ESPN.com. We call it "On Guards" for obvious reasons. Look for this feature each Monday. Better yet, be on guard for it.
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| Anderson |
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| McKie |
This week's feature guards: Philadelphia's Aaron McKie vs. Sacramento's Nick Anderson.
It's never clear when opportunity will rear its head; all that's certain is
what will happen if you're not ready when it does. Anderson had a chance to
start anew when he arrived in Sacramento last season. Installed as the
starting shooting guard and a mentor for Jason Williams, he came in
overweight and didn't exactly set a perfect example for the precocious point
guard and fellow Floridian. McKie, on the other hand, has made the most of
Eric Snow's absence due to injury, especially since being put into the
starting lineup.
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RIC'S GUARD RANKINGS
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THE WEEK'S TOP 10
1. Kobe Bryant - NBA Player of December
2. Allen Iverson - Making defensive effort, scored league-high 54 vs. Cavs
3. Jason Kidd - Triple-double vs. Grizz, hasn't hit a trey in four games
4. Eddie Jones - Three-point stroke is broken but defense and savvy have been
key to Heat surge
5. Gary Payton - Still one of best, but can't handle quick guards the way he
once could
6. Stephon Marbury - Tough as they come but looks as if he's running on fumes
7. John Stockton - Jazz' woes illustrate he can't take over anymore when Karl
is struggling
8. Jalen Rose - Led Pacers to overtime win over Kings and Michigan buddy
CWebb
9. Andre Miller - Keeping the Cavs' afloat with aggressive penetration
10. Steve Francis - flirted with triple-doubles in four of the last five
games
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On the rise: McKie
(11.5 ppg, 4.4 apg, 4.2 rpg, 1.4 stls, .526 FG, .785 FT)
You know all about the career-first back-to-back triple doubles that earned
him NBA Player of the Week honors. Do you know whence they came? Credit coach
Larry Brown, who rigged his offense so that McKie could play effectively in
the backcourt with Allen Iverson. The Sixers post up McKie, which puts him
around the basket for rebounds and gives him opportunities to collect dimes
kicking the ball out for spot-up Js on the perimeter. This is McKie's seventh
season, but I'd swear he's been around longer than Anderson. Maybe that's
because McKie has been playing the same way since he started out with the
Blazers -- no blazing speed, no significant hops, just steady and strong and
technically solid. He's not the kind of shooting guard who could be the
cornerstone of a championship backcourt, but his steadiness, headiness and
complete unselfishness is an ideal complement to Iverson's creative,
where's-he-going-now flair. Along the way, he's on pace to set career highs
in points, assists and rebounds, as well in shooting percentage (52.6),
another by-product of the post-up plays and the attention Iverson draws.
On the slide: Anderson
(1.9 ppg, .4 apg, 1.1 rpg, .6 stls, .270 FG, .000 FT)
He arrived ready this season to battle Doug Christie for the starting
two-guard spot, only to find himself at small forward on the depth chart. Coach
Rick Adelman apparently decided if Nick wanted to play the heavy, he could
battle among the frontcourt big bodies and back up starting small forward
Predrag Stojakovic. Stojakovic has been so consistent and impressive Adelman has
him playing nearly 40 minutes a night, up from 24 last season. The leftover
minutes have gone to 6-8 Hidayet Turkoglu, whose size and athleticism have
worked well in the Kings' system. Anderson, meanwhile, is spotting up behind
the arc in his limited minutes, 26 of his 37 field-goal attempts being treys.
All of which leaves Jason Williams and Christie starting in the
backcourt, Jon Barry and Bobby Jackson finishing games because of their
defensive tenacity -- and Anderson wondering how he went from playing 29
minutes a game last season to 8 a night this season, including more DNPs than
appearances.
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| Strickland |
This week's guard to watch: Erick Strickland
If Glen Rice is feeling heat, it's from Strickland more than Houston or
Sprewell. Strickland's athleticism and energy fit far better with the Knicks'
tempo than Rice's achy-breaky gait and half-hearted D. Rice missed Sunday's
game with a foot injury; if he misses much more time, he could be battling
Strick for minutes in the rotation.
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ALSO SEE
On Guards (Rose and McGrady), Dec. 28
On Guards (Bibby and Jackson), Dec. 18
On Guards (Stockton, Blaylock), Nov. 27
On Guards (Nash, A.Miller), Nov. 20
On Guards (Anderson, Billups), Nov. 13
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