While I haven’t been able to get a close look at all of the recently traded players on the floor with their new teams, I did get to see a few of these notable players in action tonight and pass my first judgment. Of course, any statistician would tell you that the sample-size we’re looking at is too small (as these players have only played one or two games with their respective teams), but for the most part we can see how they will be integrated within their new teams’ lineup.
One of the biggest trades made before the deadline was the swap that brought Antawn Jamison to the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Cavs have every expectation that Jamison will develop into the best sidekick that LeBron James has had, and hope that their shared successes this season will help to sway James’ decision to stay in Cleveland after his contract is up. Jamison’s debut performance with the Cavs came tonight against the Bobcats, and it was without question his worst game of the year. He came off the bench for the Cavs, missed every one of his 12 shot attempts, and only got in the books with two free-throws late in the game. While it’s hard for any player to get rolling after they have missed their first several shots, it was probably even more difficult for Jamison as he was also trying to feel his way through the game with a new system and new teammates. Still you could see how Jamison could fit in…if he was any semblance of his Wizards self.
On several occasions Jamison was able to get spot-up threes, a trend that should continue as long as James forces defenses to collapse (read: always). The Cavs also had Jamison in for an early stretch when James was on the bench. Once Jamison gets a bit more comfortable, he will be a fantastic scoring option that can keep the momentum going while James needs a breather.
After the game Jamison said, “It was just one of those nights. It won’t happen again. I promise you that.”
It was a completely different story for the new players on the Bobcats. Tyrus Thomas and Theo Ratliff looked right at home in the Charlotte pinstriped whites. Thomas had a fantastic game for the Bobcats, hustling for rebounds and leaping for blocked shots. It seemed as though whenever Thomas was in the game he was very much in the mix. In just 25 minutes of play, Thomas grabbed 12 rebounds, blocked six shots, and pitched in six points as well. We also saw Larry Brown go with a small lineup involving Thomas, Gerald Wallace and Boris Diaw at the frontcourt spots. The athleticism and tenacity of that group demonstrated that they can give even the best teams fits. Ratliff was also productive in his limited minutes, grabbing five boards and blocking two shots. While the Bobcats can’t expect this kind of production every night from these two, they have to love getting eight blocks from their two new players off of the bench. They’ll live with that.
How about Josh Howard and Al Thornton? They are already getting settled as g0-to scorers for a Wizards team that has done away with their star players and uprooted their identity. Together they led the charge tonight in a spirited effort, resulting in a win at home against the Denver Nuggets (who were just coming off their big win against the Cavs). Thornton repeatedly took it right at Carmelo Anthony and ended up with a team-high 21 points. Howard also had a highly efficient 20 points on 8-11 shooting. Because the Wizards now find themselves without a marquee scorer, Howard and Thornton will likely continue to be leaned upon heavily to put points on the board for Washington. While both players had been experiencing reduced roles with their previous teams, the trade to Washington will certainly give them a real opportunity to be offensive focal points and put their skills on display.
Marcus Camby’s first appearance in a Blazers uniform left a lot to be desired, but one has to wonder how much of his mediocre play had to do with the overall abysmal performance by Portland tonight. The Celtics dominated nearly the entire game, and Portland was never able to get into a consistent rhythm. I hoped that Camby would come out as a man possessed, swatting any shot that was foolishly attempted in the paint and becoming a human magnet for all shots that didn’t drop. Unfortunately, Camby was more or less a non-factor in the game. While he did start the game, he just seemed to blend in and go about his business quietly. He ended up with a sub-par line of 2 points, 7 rebounds, 3 blocks (two on Glen Davis) and 5 turnovers. Still, with as bad as the Blazers played tonight, Camby provided them with a legitimate defensive presence in the middle. After making due with Juwan Howard and Jeff Pendergraph holding down the center spot, having Camby on the floor is a real luxury for the Blazers. As he gets comfortable with the team and his role, I think that Camby will develop into a major contributor for this team.
