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Line of the Night: Manu Ginobili (6.5) beats out both Kobe Bryant (6.0) and LeBron James (5.4) for his second LotN on the season (his first came in day #2). Give it up to Ginobili, he does not put up those sissy best lines. Yesterday, he scored 32 points, was 6-12 from three, and had a career-high 15 rebounds, 6 assists and a couple steals. Manu is currently ranked 19 on the player rater, which is remarkable for a sixth man averaging 30.5 minutes a game (you have to go all the way to #50 and Andrew Bynum to find a guy averaging less minutes than him).
Honorable Mentions: Kobe had 31 with 4 steals and a couple blocks (he was also 9-9 from the line); Kobe and Pau Gasol also win the award for most homoerotic moment of the night:
Kobe Bryant drove into the lane, met heavy traffic and flipped the ball behind his back toward the corner for Pau Gasol, who was cutting the opposite way. After the ball bounced harmlessly out of bounds, Bryant smiled at Gasol, who smiled back.
Feel the sexual tension
I can just see their eyes connecting for that brief moment which felt like entirety. Anyway, moving back to man-on-ball action. Larry Hughes (5.7) shot 12-19 on the night and finished with 40 points; LeBron had 29/7/10 with 3 steals and a block; Stephen Jackson (5.2) scored 41 off 11-18 shooting to lead Golden State to a 23-point comeback win over the Wizards.
Waiver Wire Line of the Night: Although he was mentioned in yesterday’s WWLotN, I can’t not say anything about Roger Mason’s (4.8) career-high (and team-high) 32 points, 5 threes and 6 assists in 41 minutes of play. With Antonio Daniels out with an ankle injury and Gilbert Arenas not expected back until March, his future’s so bright he’s got to wear shades.
In need of a point guard? Dare I say he who should not be named? Sam Cassell (4.0) had 21 points, 8 dimes and 3 steals in a Clippers win over the Bucks. He’s only been getting about 24 minutes a game, though. Can’t say that’s a good omen for his future production, especially if/when he gets traded somewhere to fill the veteran backup role.
Least Surprising Headline of the Night: O’Neal winded in first practice with Suns
The Biggest Loser: Andre Iguodala’s (1.6) line doesn’t look so bad at first glace - 17 points, 3 boards, and 4 assists. But the computer wants none of it. Maybe it’s the 7-17 from the floor or the 0-4 from the line, or the 0-3 from three, or the 4 turnovers. Or maybe adding all of the above together creates more suck than each part sucks by itself.
Dishonorable Mentions: Hey, Jason Richardson (1.6), don’t be laughing at AI2’s line, yours is nearly as bad. Actually, it looks even worse – 10 points off 4-14 shooting, 0-2 from the line, 1 rebound, and 1 assist – as the Bobcats lost to the Lakers 106-97.
