I don't have much time right now. I'm in the middle of processing the Pats' 8-0 start and
watching the Red Sox close in on a World Series sweep. Tack on Boston College's BCS
ranking, a decent start for the Bruins, and the expectation for the Celtics, and it's a
good time to be a Boston sports fan.
The final week of the NBA preseason brought some significant fantasy news. Most notably
were the injuries to Mike Bibby and David West.
Bibby could miss up to three months, so
there's significant fantsy impact in Sacto. Quincy Douby, who started Friday night in
place of Bibby, is the first name floated as a replacment, but we could see Francisco
Garcia and Orien Green get some extra minutes early on with John Salmons eventually
getting some playing time when Ron Artest returns from his seven-game suspension. Don't be
surprised to see coach Reggie Theus mix it up among the candidates. Looking outside the
organization remains a possibility, but the Kings can only offer the minimum salary. John
Lucas will be released by Houston on Monday and Earl Boykins remains a free agent.
(Brad Hawpe just homered off Manny Delcarmen followed by a Cory Sullivan single. 3-1 Sox
over the Rox in the bottom of the seventh with Mike Timlin coming on.)
West is not expected to miss as much time as Bibby, but is doubtful for the season opener
Wednesday after suffering a Grade 2 ankle sprain. Melvin Ely got the start Friday and
scored 11 points (5-of-7) with five rebounds and two steals. Look for coach Byron Scott to
utilize a rotation involving Ely, Ryan Bowen and Hilton Armstrong to fill in for West, who
could miss up to three games...Speaking of the Hornets, Morris Peterson has been awful,
shooting just 27.7 percent from the floor during preseason...And Peja Stojakovic scored 22
points Friday night after suffering a mild setback last week in his recovery from back
surgery.
Looking at the older injuries, Rashard Lewis (ankle), Jason Kidd (back) and Chris Bosh
(knee) each made appearances in the final week, indicating they will be ready to start the
season. Bosh played limited minutes in back-to-back contests while Kidd played 30 minutes
Friday night...Lewis, starting at power forward, played for the first time in three weeks,
scoring 16 points in just under 32 minutes Friday night with five rebounds... The Nets
didn't want to play Nenad Krstic in back-to-backs, so expect some kind of playing time
limit to open the season. New Jersey coach Lawrence Frank still has to figure out his big
-man rotation with Jamaal Magloire, Josh Boone and Sean Williams available. Magloire will
likely eat up most of the available minutes.
(Bobby Kielty just made me breathe a little easier taking a Brian Fuentes fastball over
the boards in left. 4-1 Sox over Rox.)
Looking at the still-contested starting jobs, Keith Bogans nailed down the starting
shooting guard spot in Orlando. True, his competition battled injury, but Bogans was good
enough to earn the starting spot...Rafer Alston will be Houston's starting point guard. We
still have to see where this leaves Mike James and Luther Head, but we know Steve Francis
factor...Ronnie Brewer is officially the starting shooting guard in Utah with Gordan
Giricek coming off the bench. Giricek, meanwhile, should also get a healthy dose of the
backup minutes at small forward with Matt Harpring slow to recover from what was called
minor knee surgery in August... Portland coach Nate McMillan was expected to name his
starting point guard this weekend, but is holding off for a few days. Jarret Jack and
Steve Blake have been locked in a battle. Jack has performed better during the preseason
and gives the Blazers a benefit of continuity from being the starter last season. However,
Blake is the better defender and perimeter defense has been McMillan's concern in October.
No matter what he decides, McMillan has two capable point guards and will probably split
the minutes between the two...Still undecided are the fifth starters in Philadelphia,
Denver and Toronto. Rodney Carner and Willie Green are in the mix and coach Mo Cheeks
isn't tipping his hand. The Sixers could use another scorer in the starting five, and
Green is the better offensive guy while giving Cheeks a tough defender...Jason Kapono
started the last three preseason games and five of seven total for the Raptors, and looks
to be the starter come Wednesday against Philadelphia. I don't expect Kapono to get 30-
plus minutes, but he will offer 3-point value in reduced playing time...In Denver, Allen
Iverson will start at point guard, leaving coach George Karl in search of a shooting guard
when Denver opens the season Wednesday against Seattle. He won't have J.R. Smith to start
the season, if he's tempted to trust him with the job. Right now, it's down to two
unlikely candidates in Bobby Jones and Yakhouba Diawara. Jones has surprised Karl with his
shooting during the preseason and can bring it on defense.
Gotta get back to the World Series. The Red Sox need my complete focus.