Coming Off I R

[eztds]

Nickle and JT thanks for the well wishes prior to my surgery yesterday. I don't do anesthesia very well.....therefore, I had no business "suit'n up" last night.

Not 100% today....but I'm gona go anyway!

First...JT...I looked at your thread from yesterday...AND...you have NO BUSINESS apologizing for the Detroit play! Your run on 4 unit plays has been nothing short of phenomenal.

Get up and dust yourself off coach. We need ya draw'n up those NBA X's and O's as only a HC can do.
_____________________________________________

For tonight......

Going with the Minn/Sac over 198 here's why:

-The last time these two met in Minn on Dec. 14.....Minn won it 114 to 94. That score woulda even been higher if not for a 13 pt. Sac 3rd period!

-The ONLY player not playing tonight that competed in the first one is Minn guard Terrell Brandon. Brandon went down on Dec. 15 in Dallas BUT has been ably replaced by Chauncey Billups.

-In Billups' 6 games since replacing Brandon he's scored.....23, 11, 17, 17, 12 & 22 for an average of 17 pts/game. Heck...Brandon was only averaging 13 pts/game before his injury.

-Webber will be the only other player who's performance one would question....Webber says "he's suck'n it up and will jump off the right leg due to his left ankle." In the last Minn game he scored 26 pts. I realize some posters here at MJ's think Sac is better without Webber???? Lets look....

Sac's last 7:

89....Webber with 16 but was only 6-20..ouch
133...No Webber
85....No Webber
92....No Webber
102...Webber with 19
104...Webber with 22
94....Webber with 26

In Minn's last 7:

94....Billups with 23
95....Billups with 11
94....Billups with 17
112...Billups with 17
103...Billups with 12
117...Billups with 22
114<-Mavs game with Brandon's injury.....no Brandon in any of the above.

-On Dec. 14 Minn shot 48% but a scoring drought by Sac in the 3rd period left them shooting 39%.

-Both teams are getting their points in recent games...especially the T-wolves.
-Outside of 2 Sac games (with 89 and 85) they scored well in their last 7 games.

-Tonight...Webber and the Kings avoid the "dud" 3rd period drought and shoot better than 39%....as both teams find the bottom of the bucket early and often!

GL to the Free Throws TEAM!

25-15 YTD...LN 0-0...Wed 3-0 ez

 

[dnuggets]

Not an over under player, but billups isnt close to the player that brandon is, the reason that minnesota is so good with brandone is hes unmatched 1/6.66 asts to turnover ratio by far the best in the nba. I have no opinion on totals just thought id point out that brandon is a HUGE loss.

 

[ClubFoot]

Welcome back, I saw your post from the other day and glad to hear you made it through ok. How is your vision?

 

[eztds]

Thanks for the astute comment dnugs.

I sure didn't mean to insinuate Billups was a "better" player than Brandon.

Yes....Brandon's loss is huge! The point I was trying to convey was that Billups can fill the scoring void left by Brandon.
However, your right in that Minn will miss Brandon's assists and ball handling abilities.

In fact, I hope Billups commits a few trunovers for quick, easy Sac buckets.....I'll take points anyway we can get 'em tonight. ez

 

[eztds]

Thanks Club

Made it out in flying colors. Vision will take about 3 weeks to stablize but already see about 60% better in the eye.

Normally....with cataract surgery most of the improvement in vision comes during the 1st week post-op.

Thanks for the concern. ez