NBA Insider
For tie-breaker reasons, the Grizzlies' game against the UtahJazz on Monday is suddenly a major happening .
The Griz have lost two of their three meetings , and Utah'spostseason hopes haven't faded.
The Jazz entered the weekend just a game behind the eighth-seeded Griz and appear to be finding a stride under new head coachTy Corbin. The Jazz has reached 100 points in nine of 10 gamesentering its game today against Houston. Utah has also won back-to-back games for the first time under Corbin after losing 10 of 13following Jerry Sloan's resignation.
Plus, the Jazz will get an offensive boost when starting powerforward Paul Millsap returns after sitting out the last five withleft knee tendinitis.
That's good news for the Jazz. But Corbin is stressing thatUtah's way of staying in the playoff hunt is with improved defense.
Despite the significant changes the Jazz has endured over thepast six weeks, swingman Raja Bell said he isn't sure that upheavalis the reason for the team's defensive woes.
"I think we've struggled with that the whole year," he said. "Idon't think, numbers-wise, we're a great defensive team. I'mreluctant to say it's because we've got new guys in. For whateverreason, we're challenged (defensively)."
Utah's remaining schedule isn't friendly, either.
The Jazz still must face Oklahoma City, Dallas, Portland, Denver,and two games each against New Orleans and the Los Angeles Lakers.
Celtics still guessing
Shaquille O'Neal (Achilles tendon) took shots during a Bostonshootaround last week, which is an improvement. The mere sight ofhim is cheering at this point. It may also mean nothing.
"Shaq looked pretty good," Boston coach Doc Rivers said. "I don'tknow what the time frame is, but the fact that he's on the floormeans sooner than later, I hope. It's the first time he's gonethrough stuff."
Rivers also admitted that if both O'Neals - Shaq and Jermaine -fail to make it back by the end of the season, the Celtics will havea serious size issue. It's an issue they clearly didn't think theywould have after trading Kendrick Perkins to Oklahoma City on Feb.24.
"It's huge if they don't come back," he said. "It's a lot of sizegone. But if neither one of them comes back, then yeah, we've gottensmaller."
Perkins calls out Gasol
At his introductory news conference, Kendrick Perkins said hedisliked "everything" about Los Angeles Lakers forward Pau Gasol.Then, the Thunder's big man went a step further in an interview withESPN's Sam Alipour. Perkins called Gasol soft and also took shots atLakers coach Phil Jackson.
"I don't like a lot of the Lakers," Perkins was quoted as saying."I don't like Phil Jackson. Phil is very arrogant. Pau is soft;trying to be something he's not. He's not a tough guy, but he triesto be just because he's on a team with Kobe (Bryant). Kobe tries tobring out his toughness, but he's still soft."
Waiting on Rubio
Internet headlines out of Spain last week again suggested RickyRubio's arrival in the NBA could be further delayed. But Minnesotabasketball boss David Kahn maintains, as he has for months, that heexpects the 20-year-old point guard to play for the Timberwolvesnext season.
In a Spanish radio interview, Rubio said his dream still is tofollow Gasol's path to the NBA, but he said he might wait anotherseason, particularly if NBA owners lock out players this summer. TheT'wolves sent three representatives to Europe to visit Rubio and hisfamily in February, and Kahn plans a May trip to Barcelona.
Back in the fold
Sacramento Kings guard Tyreke Evans was cleared to return topractice last week after being out four weeks with plantarfasciitis. Evans underwent three shock-wave treatments over threeweeks to alleviate the pain and said this is the best his foot hasfelt since before the season.
If Evans comes along well in his rehabilitation, the Kings wouldlike him to play limited minutes by the end of this week.
The Kings, however, are a different team since Evans has been outof the lineup. The team is excited by the addition of guard MarcusThornton, who is averaging 22.3 points in his first 11 games withthe Kings. That's led to speculation as to how Evans' ball-dominantstyle will mesh with Thornton.
- Ronald Tillery: 529-2353
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Hoops du jour
Boston at New York, Monday, 6:30 p.m. CDT, NBA-TV: The New YorkKnicks entered the weekend just 7-7 since they traded for CarmeloAnthony. They have multiple losses to Cleveland and Indiana, whichhas called into question their ability to do damage in the East.This meeting with Boston could serve as a true barometer.
10 From Tillery
The Grizzlies have two players in the NBA's top 10 for steals:
Player
Steals per game
1. Chris Paul (New Orleans)
2.48
2. Rajon Rondo (Boston)
2.34
3. Monta Ellis (Golden State)
2.22
4. Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City)
1.81
. 5. Mike Conley (Grizzlies)
1.74
6. Raymond Felton (Denver)
1.71
. 7. Tony Allen (Grizzlies)
1.67
8. Jason Kidd (Dallas)
1.64
9. Manu Ginobili (San Antonio)
1.63
10. Stephen Curry, (Golden State)
1.59
From the baseline
With 32 points last Monday, Oklahoma City forward Kevin Duranthas scored at least 30 points in 100 games as a pro. He is the fifth-fastest player since the NBA/ABA merger in 1976-77 to reach 100career 30-point games, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
Overheard
"If I could have not gone to school all the way 'til March andthen played in March Madness, then I would have done that. But Ihave no regrets not going to school." - Miami's LeBron James onmissing the college experience.
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