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.
| |  | |
| Harper |
| |  | |
| Smith |
This week's feature guards: The Blazers' Steve Smith and the Lakers' Ron Harper.
This week's matchup is fresh from the Broken-Down Bodies Dept. Both Smith
and Harper have their best days firmly behind them, yet both continue to fend
off challenges for their minutes by far younger, more agile players with
their guile. Both are quasi-guards, Smith listed as a 2-guard even though he
initiates the offense as much or more than Damon Stoudamire, while Harper is
considered a point even though he splits ball-handling duties with Kobe.
Despite all that, both also are playing for talented teams that still
desperately need a significant contribution from both of them to have a
chance at a title. One's delivering and one isn't.
|
RIC'S GUARD RANKINGS
|
| |
THE WEEK'S TOP 10
1. Kobe Bryant - Has not lost any of his aggression, despite the bad wing
2. Tracy McGrady - Averaged 9.2 rebounds over last five games
3. Stephon Marbury - Won game and head-to-head battle with AI
4. Allen Iverson - Reverted to trying to do too much vs. Steph
5. Steve Francis - All-out effort earning nothing more than close losses
6. Jason Kidd - Not playing with the same energy for obvious reasons
7. Ray Allen - Recent pace will give him career highs in assists and rebounds
8. Terrell Brandon - Scored no less than 17 points during 10-game win streak
9. Andre Miller - Gutty performance playing despite broken tooth early vs.
Pistons
10. Latrell Sprewell - In his best, most aggressive groove of the season
|
On the rise: Steve Smith
(14.1 ppg, 2.8 apg, 3.7 rpg, .7 stls, .446 FG, .893 FT)
The lateral mobility is gone, so just about anyone can get a step on him.
The straight-away speed has tailed off, too, so forget about taking anyone
off the dribble. The post-up game doesn't get much use, either, thanks to
Portland's surplus of big men. Yet Smith has been giving the Blazers such a
big lift in recent weeks off the bench he could be a candidate for Sixth Man
of the Year. One reason is that being a sub pairs him against slightly less
athletic or less savvy opponents than he faced as a starter. Another reason
is that he's been filling in for the injured Scottie Pippen, putting him on
the floor with Bonzi Wells and Damon Stoudamire and thereby drawing the least
of the other team's perimeter defenders. But credit him for taking full
advantage of that by knocking down threes and other spot-up jumpers when the
Blazers' surplus of big men draw double teams, or attacking the basket and
drawing fouls when his defender runs back out at him. Most importantly, he
has recognized those stretches in a game when Rasheed Wallace gets passive
and filled the void with his own offensive aggression. Wells took his
starting job but Smith still is playing 30 minutes a night and has scored in
double figures over the last 16 games, averaging 16.5 points, 4.6 free-throw
attempts and shooting 50.5 percent. Not bad with a pair of knees so creaky
it's sometimes painful to watch.
On the slide: Ron Harper
(6.3 ppg, 2.4 apg, 3.5 rpg, .8 stls, .476 FG, .705 FT)
With Shaq out and Kobe ailing, the Lakers have been desperate for someone
else to step up. That Harp hasn't answered the bell I attributed to age
finally having caught up to him, but the aggression he showed Sunday against
the Kings betrayed that notion. His nine shots were his third-highest total
this season and his 11 points was only the fourth time in the last 23 games
he's scored in double figures. The Lakers don't need a lot from him, but they
need something, and all too many nights it has appeared Harper is willing to
sit back and do little more than watch Kobe and Shaq feud. He's averaging one
free-throw attempt per game, which is not enough for a guard averaging 24
minutes.
This week's guard to watch: The Bulls' Jamal Crawford
To catch his act you can't blink, though, because he usually doesn't get
much run with the woeful Bulls, even though he'll make more plays in three
minutes than starter Bryce Drew has made all season. It looks as if the Bulls
may be finally recognizing his abilities, because he's had 20-plus minutes in
four consecutive games, his longest stint in the regular rotation all season.
He has the size, handle, quickness and instincts to be a triple-double threat
at point guard, reflected by his six points, four rebounds and four assists
in 22 minutes against the Sonics.
|
|
ALSO SEE
On Guards (Brandon and R. Strickland), Jan 29
On Guards (Hunter and E. Strickland), Jan .22
On Guards (Francis and Eisley), Jan. 16
On Guards (McKie and N. Anderson), Jan. 7
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
|
