NBA.com Duke Stats
Line of the Week
This is not a reprint of a previous column, although it may feel that way after reading that Mike Dunleavy, Jr. once again matched a career-high with another 30+ point game Monday night in a win against the Knicks. This time Mike did it with some serious flair, as evidenced by this play which was named both the #1 play on Sportscenter’s Top 10 Plays and the Play of the Day on NBA.com. For the night, Dunleavy finished with 36 points on 12-of-20 (.600) from the floor and 4-of-7 (.571) from long range, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 blocks, and one steal.
Mike is now averaging 22.5 points and shooting 49.1% from the field in 14 games since the All-Star break. Monday’s outburst marks the fifth time in the last 13 games that Dunleavy has scored at least 32 points, a feat only surpassed by two players in the NBA during that stretch… Kobe Bryant and Lebron James.
Mike Dunleavy finishes off Sportscenter’s #1 play of the day with this acrobatic shot against the Knicks for two of his 36 points.
Top Performer
Shane Battier hasn’t gotten enough recognition in this column (or any other for that matter) for his selfless play, terrific outside shooting, and amazing defense. But this week he has more than earned Top Performer status, as he has played a vital role in the Houston Rockets’ 22 consecutive wins; the second-longest winning streak in NBA history, which finally came to an end Tuesday night against Boston. The streak is even more impressive considering that not only do the Rockets play in one of the most competitive conferences the league has ever seen, but they also won 10 straight games after losing All-Star center Yao Ming to injury. In Sunday’s win against the Lakers, Battier earned plenty of recognition for his outstanding defense against perhaps the best player in the NBA, Kobe Bryant. Shane defended Bryant one-on-one, allowing his teammates to concentrate their efforts on the rest of the Lakers lineup. It took Kobe 33 shots to get his 24 points, and the Rockets walked away with the victory. During the game, the ABC commentators Mark Jackson, Jeff Van Gundy, and Mike Breen couldn’t stop raving about Battier, and you can read the multitude of complimentary quotes in this recent Duke Blue Planet column. Here are some more articles focusing on Shane’s contribution to the winning streak:
Boozer/Jazz Tie Record Home Win Streak
The Utah Jazz made an impressive run through the NBA Playoffs last season, led by some remarkable performances by Carlos Boozer. If the recent results out of Utah are any indication, they may be preparing to do themselves one better this year. No one can top Houston as the hottest team in the NBA right now, but Boozer and Co. are coming fairly close, matching the longest home winning streak in Jazz history, a streak previously accomplished by Hall of Fame duo Karl Malone and John Stockton. Utah has won 19 straight games at home led by the continued inside dominance of All-Star Boozer, who is averaging 21.6 points and 10.4 rebounds on the year.
Corey Still Soaring
Mike Dunleavy isn’t the only Blue Devil who is making 30+ point games a habit recently. Corey Maggette continues to step up for the Clippers in the absence of Elton Brand, leading the team in scoring with a career-high 22.4 points per game (11th in the NBA). His last two games are even more impressive, scoring 34 points in each while shooting a combined 20-of-34 from the floor. Corey has been the biggest bright spot in the Clippers’ difficult season. The team has struggled without All-Star Brand in the lineup, but Maggette certainly gives the fans in L.A. something to look forward to whenever the two former Duke teammates are able to team up again for the Clips.
Luol Back on Track
Luol Deng has not had a smooth season for the Bulls. After getting off to a rough start for a team that was expected to compete for the top of the Eastern Conference, Luol had to deal with a nagging Achilles tendon injury that kept him off the court for weeks, then came back to a lineup that had been dramatically altered by a mid-season blockbuster trade. However, in the last eight games, Deng has stepped back up to the level that had him leading the Bulls on a playoff run last summer, averaging 18.6 points per contest during that stretch, including a 20-point (on 65.1% from the field), 9-rebound, 2-assist, 2-steal effort on Tuesday in a win against New Jersey.
Duke Blue Planet NBA Fantasy League Update
While it’s not clear that the Blue Devils are ever going to field a fully healthy team on the fantasy court this season, they have still managed an impressive performance despite missing perhaps their top fantasy producer in Brand. The breakout seasons from Mike Dunleavy, Jr. and Corey Maggette, as well as the resurgence of a healthy Grant Hill in Phoenix have kept the Blue Devils comfortably in the top three all season.
1. Connecticut Huskies: 16,616.0
2. North Carolina Tar Heels: 16,524.2
3. Duke Blue Devils: 14,149.0
4. Arizona Wildcats: 11,289.7
5. Florida Gators: 11,260.1
6. Kentucky Wildcats: 9784.2
7. Kansas Jayhawks: 9124.5
2. North Carolina Tar Heels: 16,524.2
3. Duke Blue Devils: 14,149.0
4. Arizona Wildcats: 11,289.7
5. Florida Gators: 11,260.1
6. Kentucky Wildcats: 9784.2
7. Kansas Jayhawks: 9124.5
Scoring summary: one point for each point scored, 1.5 point for each rebound, two points for each assist, steal or block, 0.5 points for each 3-pointer made, and -1.2 points for each turnover. Field-goal percentage is included by subtracting 0.2 points for each field goal attempt and adding 0.5 points for each field goal made, which would mean you break even by shooting 40% from the field.
Quote of the Week
“I’m willing to concede we’re the worst team in NBA history to have a 20-game winning streak. I’m willing to concede that. People ask ‘why?’ I ask ‘why not?’ Why not? Why can’t you? There is no rule in sports that just because you don’t have the superstars, you don’t have a certain look that other teams have, it doesn’t mean you have to be a certain team. Our team is still developing. It is fun to see the growth of this team together. We’re playing so well together and we have such great chemistry, anything is possible.”
-Shane Battier, Houston Chronicle, March 14, 2008, on the 22-game win streak by the Rockets
