Carroll's Wonderland

Previous weekly reviews: 31.10 - 6.11. | 7.11 - 13.11. | 14.11 - 20.11 | 11/21 - 11/27 | 28.11 - 4.12 | 5.12 - 11.12 | 12.12 - 18.12 | 12/19 - 12/25 | 12/26 - 1.01 | 2.01 - 8.01

HERO OF THE WEEK

They say that two years ago, when the trainer (aka general manager) of the “Bobcats” Bernie Bickerstaff went to watch the NBDL farm league match, he was not even going to meet Matt Carroll . He was more interested in the once drafted Corey Alexander, but the pale-faced sniper, who sent almost all the balls thrown into the ring, could not help but attract attention. The contract was signed with both, but Corey has long been forgotten, and Matt in the midst of the second full season with the “lynxes” steadily comes out in the starting five. For this guy it is not a problem to throw 4-5 “three rubles” per match. “I was taken not for potential, but for the ability to hit,” says Carroll. “Let me not score from above with a 360-degree turn and do not know how much more.”

Carroll has been showing consistent performance for the second week in a row: in his last 8 matches, he scored 19.9 points. In many ways, through his efforts in the reporting segment, “Charlotte” won three times in a row, and in the defeat of “Milwaukee” on Monday, Matt was not to blame - he realized 5 of 9 three-pointer, finishing with 22 points.

TEAM OF THE WEEK

The tough schedule awarded Dallas with three out of four away matches - only a home win over Portland turned out to be easy. And the leaders of the league did not fall face to face, starting the next series. Moreover, none of the matches away was simple: “Utah” surpassed only three points, “Indiana” - in overtime, and “Toronto” and completely conceded throughout the meeting, until Josh Howard pulled out a victory simultaneously with the siren.

LEGIONARY OF THE WEEK

No surprises - Dirk Nowitzki . The German forward, “Dallas” not only scored 32.5 points and made 8.5 rebounds, but also decided for the team all three difficult fights. “Utah” he awarded a couple of the most important penalties in the end, in the five-minute match with “Indiana” brought “Mavs” ahead of “three” and added “fines”, and in the last attack against “Toronto” the hosts were already watching Dirk so closely that they missed under the ring of lone Howard.

CONFUSES OF THE WEEK

In the match, “Philadelphia” and “Charlotte” spoiled one of the employees of the “Bobcats”, which brought the judges a sheet with the wrong composition. In the official version, there was no spare playmaker Jeff Mackinnis, who the club recently acquired in order to survive Brevin Knight's injury. Jeff appeared on the site in the eighth minute and spent eight seconds there - exactly so much passed before the next pause in the game, in which the attentive coaches of the “76s” pointed out the absurdity. Makinnis was immediately removed, leaving Charlotte with the only playmaker - Felton ... "This is not a summer league in which you can send almost any of the spectators to the floor!" - the experienced Derek Anderson grinned.



Happened at the "lynx" and another funny thing. Fantastic 10 Okafor block shots in a meeting with “New York” just required a triple double striker (he had another 20 points and 9 rebounds). And when the hosts missed in the last Knicks attack, the visiting basketball players literally parted before Emeka - take a rebound! But the ubiquitous Carroll managed to hit the ball earlier. Only when Matt saw the reproachful looks of his teammates did he realize that he had done something wrong: "Oh, but I didn’t know ..."

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

01/13/07. Utah - Miami. In this episode, Andrey Kirilenko blocked the passage under the shield of Duane Wade. True, the “jazzmen" still sidestepped the champions, and today have suffered four defeats in a row. But coach Jerry Sloan does not exclude that the AK-47 will have to be sent to the bench - for an unconvincing game.



QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“Now Steve Nash is out of competition. In our league you have to do something dramatic. If Kobe scores an average of 35 points, and in one match - 81, but does not receive a prize, then something else needs to be done to get around Steve Nash ", - Gilbert Arenas , who scored 51 points and scored the trio in the meeting with Utah, talks about the possibility of winning the title of the most useful player in the championship.

TOPIC OF THE WEEK

Undoubtedly, this is the breakup of “Philadelphia” with Chris Webber and the subsequent transfer of the striker to “Detroit” . The signing of the contract is expected on Tuesday.

Read more about the logic of inviting Sea Webb to the Pistons here .

FIGURES OF THE WEEK

Until the summer of 2008, Philadelphia was obliged to pay Chris Webber about $ 43 million . According to rumors, as a result of the termination of the contract, "76th" saved only 5 million, therefore, 38 million will be paid to Sea Webbu. A lot for the player playing for another team.

MOMENT OF THE WEEK

While journalists are discussing how Flip Saunders will use Chris Webber, a modest guy from the bench is trying to attract attention. Carlos Delfino - with a “tomahawk” through Emeka Okafora, the same one that 10 New pots hung New Yorkers.



Chasing the week

It doesn’t work for Chicago against New Jersey . During the week, “bulls” twice (!) Squandered an 18-point advantage over netters. And if on January 5 they were 18-0, then last Thursday they achieved the same advantage in the third quarter. The more offensive it is to miss. Of course, Jason Kidd did his best, not only making a triple double, but also personally, with two balls in a row, who began the key spurt 14: 1.

WAITING FOR THE WEEK

Not very busy, but usually rich in good matches Tuesday will bring the “hot” duel “Dallas” and “Houston”. A curious match is scheduled for Wednesday in Detroit, where Utah will be awarded - both teams are in crisis and hope for the heroism of their leaders. “Pistons”, of course, are waiting for Chris Webber to appear on the floor. However, they certainly do not expect anyone like the best NBA sniper Carmelo Anthony, whose term of suspension is ending. Melo may first enter the Denver venue next to Allen Iverson on Saturday in Houston.

Nikolai TSYNKEVICH