As Glue as it Gets

We're taking a moment to shine some light on our favorite role players, the "Glue Guys," who hold their playoff-bound teams together with gutsy determination, all-out hustle, and with their concrete team-first mindset mixed with absolute and constant knuckling down. You'll rarely find these players with team leading point, rebound, or assist totals, but their abilities to fill the variables left unseen on standard stat sheets keep them playing big minutes on quality teams.

Tony Allen, Shane Battier, Sam Young, Darrell Arthur - Memphis Grizzlies

One giant key to the recent and current Memphis Grizzly winning ways has been their bounty of Glue Guys. At the wing positions, Memphis throws the adhesive rotation of Sam Young, Shane Battier, and Tony Allen at opponents, but it doesn't end there. Coming off the bench for the front court, Memphis brings Darrell Arthur, who's solid defense and ability to knock down the open jumper give the Griz one of the better bench rotations in the West. Boston is hurting at the loss of Tony Allen. His departure has lead to a big vacancy in toughness in the Celtics' wing rotation, and is a main component to Boston's stretch run struggles and their sudden question marks heading into the post season. Meanwhile, Memphis continues to win games, even after Rudy Gay's season-ending injury. The Griz execute using hustle and grit, and they win more than they lose. Their supporting cast is as strong as any when you consider Memphis's lack of star power, and perhaps the toughness they utilize is enough to power through a higher seeded team such as Dallas or San Antonio in a potential first round showdown.

Jodie Meeks - Philadelphia 76ers
Spreading the floor with shooters is a key component to a healthy NBA offense. Out east in Philly, the emergence of young Jodie Meeks has given the Sixers one of the best floor spreaders of the season's second half. Over the last 30 days, Meeks has poured in 44 triples, one less than Toney Douglas for the league lead. Not only does Meeks light it up with his fire shot, but his play on the defensive end has separated him from teammate guards Evan Turner and Jason Kapono. It should be interesting to see how 76er management moves forward with 2nd overall pick Turner, with Meeks showing so much in support of his teammates as the team's big-minute shooting guard. Meeks doesn't look to rebound, and he rarely finds himself making plays. No, Meeks' job in the Philly offense is to stand behind the arch and throw 'em up. He's a big reason why the 76ers continue to win games heading into the playoffs and should be able to put some scare into their first round opponent.



Ron Artest - Los Angeles Lakers
Depending on what time of year it is, Ron Artest is one of our favorite Glue Guys for very different reasons. Earlier this season, Artest's play was as erratic and strange as any we've ever seen. Not just weird on the court, Artest's bizarre antics in life were just as eye catching. Laker fans cringed at every early season Ron Artest shot, and whether they be off-balance fade-aways, wide open threes, or weird one-handed layups, Artest's touch was nonexistent for a huge stretch. Many wondered if he was too old and uncoordinated for today's NBA. The Ron Artest of the stretch run, however, has been the complete opposite type of player. Over the last two weeks, Artest is shooting .470 from the field, and he's connecting on 1.6 three pointers per game while averaging 2.7 steals and 1 block per game. His recent intelligent play on offense packaged with the tight-ship, all-in defense that we've all admired over his career can be applauded as a large piece of the blue ribbon Laker pie that most of their opposition has been eating for the past month. His successful contributions have been crucial to the recent belief by many that LA has the makeup to three-peat this June. It also makes you wonder if all the foolish shots and funky moves from the majority of Ron Artest's season were all one big ruse at our expense.

Shawn Marion, Jose Juan Barea, Roddy Beaubois, Brian Cardinal - Dallas Mavericks
Dallas's rotation throws a cool group of glue at the opposition. Big time stars Jason Kidd, Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Terry, and Tyson Chandler get the glory from the media and fans, but their teammate buddies Shawn Marion, JJ Barea, Roddy Beaubois, and Brian Cardinal keep the Maverick success a'plenty with timely contributions on the basketball court. Marion's inclusion in the starting lineup has finally given Dallas the replacement for injured Caron Butler, something they've been searching for with signings of Peja Stojakovic and Corey "Don't Call Me Ronnie" Brewer. Beaubois, injured for most of the year, has recently found his limited-minute groove in Dallas's rotation, and his capability of big time scoring makes him impossible for opposing defenses to ignore. JJ "The Biggest Little Puerto Rican in the NBA" Barea continues to play both guard spots with success. Whether alongside Jason Kidd or in place of him, Coach Rick Carlisle has mucho confidence putting Barea on the court for meaningful minutos. Brian Cardinal finds himself hitting big shots in a very improbable yet somewhat meaningful role on the championship contending Dallas team. Good for you, Brian Cardinal. You got the world where you want them, and as far as we're concerned, it's all jelly beans for Brian Cardinal here on out.

Who Left the West Wide Open?

The playoff picture out west has a sinister underdog's breeze blowing these days, with things looking a bit up-in-the-air with the middle seeds (and the higher seeds for that matter). It's a TD3Q glimpse out West, where "shaping-up" is something of an understatement.

The Trailblazers got a giant something-for-nothing from Michael "Air" Jordan and the Bobcats this trade deadline, finding magic in the vines with the acquisition of Gerald Wallace in exchange for player scraps and nose-bleed draft picks. Gerry Wallace is the ultimate all star glue-guy, bringing toughness to every pinpoint and angled bounce of the game. As LaMarcus Aldridge continues his first-team style domination on a nightly basis, and as Portland throws out one of the thickest rotations in the NBA, a first round showdown with OKC, Dallas, or the Lakers would definitely give ticket holders their money's worth. If lightning strikes twice, and at exactly the right moments, Portland's shot to blaze an upset trail all the way to the Western Conference Finals suddenly finds itself on the radar. They may hide camouflaged, slightly near the neutral zone, behind a wooded area with some shovels, but Portland is on the radar nonetheless.

This season's Old Memphis Grizzlies are the 2007 Golden State Warriors of 2011. San Antonio, Dallas, and the LA Lakers are all dancing around in their top seeded penthouses, crossing their fingers that Memphis, who sat on the outside looking in for the majority of the year, finishes as somebody else's first round counter-seed. Consider this promise that Rudy Gay will soon slide back to his early season form, refreshed and poised from his time on injury leave, back with mental vengeance tattoos as one of the team's top two options. Unlike last year's Grizzlies, the bench rotation has shaped up nicely, and with the reacquisition of Shane "Two Brain" Battier rounding out the ultimate collection of defensive minded glue guys, Memphis has a solid plethora of defensive toughness to compliment the offensive weapons. At 6 and 5, the Grizzlies hold a winning record against the Spurs, Lakers, and Mavs, and they certainly have our attention as a possible upset candidate heading into the playoffs.

The Nuggets are currently our 5th place darlings, and after trading Carmelo Anthony and his chinchilla fur coat collection for depth, offensive production, and potential, they find themselves with a talented, unselfish, and deep roster. While they don't yet have the chops to win a series against LA or Dallas, if they can hold onto that 5th seed, they should find a chance against the Thunder (who with all their stardom and solidness have never won a single playoff series). Although the Nuggets probably don't have the experience nor the resources to maintain their current pace for 5th place, they've grabbed our attention and have the ability to challenge in the first round, unlike whoever finishes in 8th (probably either Phoenix or New Orleans). Can Denver get four wins against LA or the Mavs? I suppose we shouldn't rule it out, since we're talking about Dallas here, but it seems highly unlikely, especially against the Lakers. Nugget supporters are lucky though, believe it or not. A major transition has begun and with it comes smooth sailing right off the bat. The Nuggets bring a togetherness to their games, and coach George Karl leads it by example (some say by hosting team dinners at top rated restaurants).

The 2011 NBA Playoffs should bring extra excitement right from the start, with at least 50% upset potential in the first round match-up arena (guaranteed!), we officially recognize 3 of the lower 4 playoff teams as barn burning tunnel rats, flying under the radar with potential for lengthy playoff runs. Keep a close eye on team records as these ever-important games unfold. Memphis and Portland are underdogs with teeth, and they could easily find themselves in 5th and 6th, making the race for 2nd between LA and Dallas all the more bone chilling! It's Halloween in March, only in the NBA!