This is the last preseason Tuesday. Kind of sad, isn’t it?
No:
Toronto Raptors 123, New York Knicks 120 (2OT)
Terrence Ross dropped 27 points in 25 minutes. He went 7-for-15 from the field overall, 6-for-13 from distance and 7-for-9 from the free-throw line. Translation: He either made the defender pay for playing off him or he blew right by him and drew a foul. Ross’ emergence could (and should) run Rudy Gay out of town (Gay did score 19 on 5-for-10 shooting, 2-for-4 from distance and 7-for-7 from the line himself, making my previous comment seem slightly invalid, but I’m not backing out of it) … Beno Udrih led the Knicks with 19 points and seven assists.
The Daily Rant: Chris Douglas-Roberts scored five points in 12 minutes of play for the Knicks; he’ll have trouble finding a roster spot. If you’re having trouble placing CDR, you may remember that he missed three key free throws in the 2008 national championship against the Kansas Jayhawks, which led to an overtime loss for Memphis. If that’s what you remember, then I’m hoping I can place something more in your mind about one of my favorite college basketball players of all time.
CDR played alongside Derrick Rose, who was a sure-thing one-and-done freshman. During that season, Douglas-Roberts AND Rose led that team and we can’t let history forget that. Over time, stories get simplified to fit into small textbooks or become estranged on abandoned websites and certain characters get forgotten within the lines of translation. CDR will not endure like Derrick Rose (due to Rose’s NBA success) and therefore, he’ll be cut out of history sooner, but not to me (and hopefully not to anyone reading this). Here are both players’ averages for that season:
CDR: 18.1 points, 4.1 boards, 54 percent FG, 41 percent 3pt, 28.7 MPG
Rose: 14.9 points, 4.5 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 48 percent FG, 34 percent 3pt, 29.2 minutes
The numbers alone prove here that these two were on a near-even responsibility level. Rose was a better player in every aspect but pure scoring, but Douglas-Roberts excelled late in games, using his length and craftiness to get open for off-balance leaners, lateral runners and fade-away jumpers that he hit at an alarming clip. As a wing scorer, there weren’t too many better than CDR in 2008 and he proved that through the NCAA tournament, where he scored 140 points (about 23 per game).
Against Kansas in the title game, CDR did miss three free throws and he did mishandle the ball several times down the stretch. I was his biggest supporter and even I muttered the “C” word, because there was no other way to put it (“choke” is the “C” word in case you couldn’t figure it out). He had a chance to end the game and he didn’t get it done. Those free throws and the last two minutes of that game stripped him of a fine legacy and probably did a number on his confidence. Would things have turned out differently in the NBA if he sank those free throws and/or Kansas wasn’t able to execute offensively down the stretch? Maybe. I’d like to think the cream rises to the top, but let’s be honest, it’s ignorant to think no one could fall through the cracks.
I always thought CDR could cut it in the NBA and I’d like to think he just fell through the cracks. He can’t be as good as C.J. Miles? I don’t believe it.
Cleveland Cavaliers 104, Philadelphia 76ers 93
James Anderson, Spencer Hawes, Evan Turner, Tony Wroten and Thaddeus Young all scored in double digits for the Sixers, combining for 75 of the team’s points … Michael Carter-Williams shot 1-for-11 and scored just five points in 32 minutes. MC Dubs did record five steals, but overall, he’s been a disappointment this preseason … Tristan Thompson led the Cavaliers with 16 rebounds in 28 minutes. Can he contend for the league’s rebounding title? If Varejao is healthy it might be tough … Kyrie Irving scored 17 points and dished out 12 assists in 29 minutes, although he did commit five turnovers.
Chicago Bulls 105, Milwaukee Bucks 84
Gary Neal led the Bucks with 14 points, but posted a minus-27 plus/minus; Derrick Rose was the other point guard in the game (it all makes sense!) … Rose scored 24 points on 10 shots, getting to the free-throw line 11 times in 27 minutes … Mike Dunleavy started alongside Rose, Luol Deng, Taj Gibson and Carlos Boozer and I’ve got to say, that’s a lineup I’d like to see some more of; the Bulls never have that much offense on the floor … Deng scored 15 points, and shot 10-for-12 from the free-throw line. Call me crazy but, I’m guessing that Khris Middleton had a tough time staying in front of him.
Houston Rockets 100, Dallas Mavericks 95
Jose Calderon and Monta Ellis combined for 22 points and 10 assists and the more I think about it, the more interested I am in seeing that backcourt (in real games, that is) … Dirk Nowitzki scored 11 points in 25 minutes, but also added four blocks …The Rockets decided to start Omer Asik next to Dwight Howard and the two combined for 26 rebounds. Does this mean the Rockets should start Asik next to Howard? No. Terrence Jones should start, which would give Houston so many frontcourt options, with reserves like Omri Casspi (who has played some stretch 4 this preseason, played 3 in Sacramento and Cleveland), Ronnie Brewer (played the 4 in New York last year, previously played 3 in Chicago) and Francisco Garcia (figures to be one of the first two wings off the bench) … Garcia added 15 points off the bench and shot 5-for-10 from distance.