Wake Forest Athletics
Deacons in the NBA
3/28/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
March 28, 2011
By Currie McFayden, WakeForestSports.com
Here is a player-by-player look at how the former Demon Deacons have performed in the NBA during the month of March. (stats and records are current as of March 25)
SF Al-Farouq Aminu, Los Angeles Clippers
The No. 8 overall draft pick from 2010 has consistently seen some of his most extensive action of the season to date in the month of March. Although he has broken the double-digit barrier in points just once, with 10 points in a 122-101 win over Washington on Mar. 12, the rookie has been a force on the boards, grabbing at least two rebounds in all but two games this month. The six that he recorded in a 104-94 loss to Phoenix on Mar. 16 were his most in a single game since also tallying six back on Jan. 14. Despite coming off the bench to relieve starter Ryan Gomes, Aminu has also enjoyed his third-highest minutes per game in a single month during March, playing an average of 17.5 minutes per appearance. With 10 games to play, the Clippers are 28-44 and hold the fourth spot in the Pacific Division. They trail Golden State by just two games for the third position in the division, but the Clippers have been eliminated from playoff contention.
PF/C Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs
The Spurs suffered a major injury scare when Duncan crumpled to the floor after tweaking his ankle on Mar. 21 against Golden State, but coach Gregg Popovich confirmed that he expects to have the veteran back on the floor for the playoffs, if not sooner. Prior to the injury, Duncan played 20 or more minutes in every game this month and recorded three double-doubles in the process on Mar. 4, Mar. 9 and Mar. 11 to give him 24 for the season. In a pivotal 97-91 win over the Mavericks on Mar. 18, he recorded 22 points, the most since his season-high 28 on Dec. 16. San Antonio (57-14) has already secured its playoff berth and is all but a lock to clinch the Southwest Division as it holds a seven game lead with just 11 to play.
SF/SG Josh Howard, Washington Wizards
Once again, Howard has been limited by his nagging knee injury, and Mar. 16 marked one year since he had surgery to repair the torn ACL. Although his injury troubles continue to bother him, he was able to play in three games this month, with his best coming on Mar. 2 in a 106-102 loss to Golden State. Howard tallied 13 points and five rebounds in just 19 minutes of playing time to turn in a solid game. The Wizards, with a record of 17-53, remain in fifth place in the Southeast Division with 12 games to play.
F James Johnson, Toronto Raptors
Since being dealt by the Bulls on Feb. 22, Johnson has enjoyed a successful month as a starter for the Raptors. Dating back to that trade, he has played more than 20 minutes in 12 of 14 games, all of them starts. The second-year forward recorded a season-high 13 points on Mar. 1 in a 96-90 win over New Orleans and later matched that mark on Mar. 11 in a 108-98 win over the Pacers. These two games were his first in double digits since scoring 12 on Nov. 24. Toronto (20-51) holds fifth place in the Atlantic Division with 11 games to play but is out of the playoff picture.
PG Chris Paul, New Orleans Hornets
The dynamic point guard has enjoyed a resurgence in his play this month after a solid yet unspectacular February. He has had five games with 20 or more points, including a season-high 33-point performance in a 115-103 victory over Sacramento on Mar. 12. Paul ranks 13th in the league with 30 double-doubles on the season after recording five more this month. He also continues to lead the league in steals per game (2.43), total steals (170) and assists per turnover (4.35). While it is likely too late in the season for Paul to muster a true run for the league MVP award, he has played at a very high level this month and has New Orleans looking like a potentially dangerous first-round playoff matchup. The Hornets are 41-31 on the season and sit in seventh in the Western Conference. New Orleans is third in the Southwest Division, the only division in the NBA that features winning records by all of its members.
PG Ishmael Smith, Memphis Grizzlies
Since being acquired from Houston in a trade deadline move in late February, Smith has appeared in eight games for the Grizzlies and has primarily been used as a backup point guard behind Mike Conley. He played a month-high 12 minutes in a 118-85 loss to the Heat on Mar. 12 and has continued to get valuable in-game experience. Memphis (40-32) holds fourth place in the Southwest Division and currently has a two game lead over Houston for the final Western Conference playoff spot.
PF/C Darius Songaila, Philadelphia 76ers
Songaila has not seen any playing time for the 76ers this month, but he continues to provide depth for Philadelphia at the power forward position. The 76ers (37-34) have continued their surprising run in the Eastern Conference this month, solidifying their spot in the playoffs as the likely sixth seed. They also have a chance to finish second in the Atlantic Division behind the Celtics, a feat that they have accomplished just once in the last four seasons.
PG Jeff Teague, Atlanta Hawks
While Teague seems to have been bumped out of the starting lineup in favor of the recently-acquired Kirk Hinrich, he has also enjoyed his best month of the season by a wide margin. He tied his career high with a 24-point showing in a 91-82 victory against Portland on Mar. 12; he also had five steals, four rebounds and three blocks and three assists in that game as well. On Mar. 22 against Chicago, Teague had 20 points in just 19 minutes on the floor, making this the first month in his career with multiple 20-point games. With this momentum, he is likely to continue pushing Hinrich for the starting spot for the remainder of the season. Atlanta (40-32) is third in the Southeast Division and will likely be the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference for the playoffs.
Deacons Playing in Other Professional Leagues
Randolph Childress - San Severo (Italy)
Taron Downey - Nantes (France)
Chris Ellis - Dusseldorf (Germany)
Justin Gray - PAOK (Greece)
Jamaal Levy - Lanus (Argentina)
Trent Strickland - Antwerp (Belgium)
Kyle Visser - NY Phantoms (Germany)
David Weaver - Ilysiakos Athens (Greece)
Eric Williams - Pepsi Caserta (Italy)
