Monday, November 13, 2006 Sayson: You know it's bad when 57 pts. isn’t good enough By Homer Sayson Second overtime
CHICAGO — NBA Hall-of-Fame great Larry Bird once talked about "the feeling," an otherworldly sensation when the rim seems wide as an ocean and a player believes he can't miss a shot.
All-Star Michael Redd, a six-year pro with a velvet-smooth touch to his jumpshot, had exactly that "feeling" last night at the Bradley Center in Milwaukee, where the Bucks hosted the sweet-playing Utah Jazz.
And oh what an evening it was for the 6-foot-6, 215-pound 2-guard.
Redd sizzled with 57 points, the most scored by a Buck since the legendary Kareem Abdul-Jabbar dropped 55 against the Celtics last Dec. 10, 1971.
Redd, a 27-year old lefty, made 18 of 32 field goals. He swished 6-of-12 triples and 15 of 17 free throws. Although it was his first time breaking through the 50-point barrier, Redd has already scored 40-plus points six times in his career and he has made at least 30 in four of Milwaukee's first seven games this season.
Unfortunately, Redd's 57 was spoiled by a Matt Harpring lay-up in the final 1.8 seconds of play. The Jazz won 113-111 and they improved to a fast and furious 6-1 start. The Bucks, meanwhile, went down further to 2-5 after losing their four in a row.
The Jazz couldn't stop Redd, that was apparent from the get-go. But just as clearly, though, the Bucks couldn't stop Carlos Boozer and Derron Williams, either.
The 6-foot-9 Boozer, finished powered his way through 32 points and 10 rebounds while Williams, a 6-foot-5 point guard from Illinois, ran roughshod over the Bucks' defense by scoring 27 and dishing 15 assists. Harpring added 17 and seven rebounds.
Although his team's loss didn't make the 57 points seem complete, Redd was thrilled. "I will probably just go home and thank God. A second round pick, a guy who didn't know if he was going to make the team or not, to this. I am just grateful. I can't describe it," he told the Associated Press.
TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS. While both the 2-5 Suns and the 1-4 Mavs are struggling, West powerhouse San Antonio is off to a quiet but impressive 5-1 start.
The Spurs beat a perplexed Knicks team last night, 100-92. And as always, it was a united effort for the 2005 NBA champs. Tony Parker led the way with 33 points and six assists while Tim Duncan, no longer nagged by plantar fascilitis, tallied 24 points and 16 rebounds.
The Spurs went to work early. They built a 32-21 lead and never looked back. San Antonio shot 37 of 73 field goals. They killed the Knicks off the boards, 46-38, and they made more assists, 21-11.
Neither Fabricio Oberto nor Francisco Elson look like David Robinson, but with a combined effort of 10 points and 17 rebounds, they still proved too much for the Knicks, who got 21 from Quentin Richardson and fell to 2-5 in the East.
SPUTTERING PISTONS. Without Ben Wallace, we knew that the Pistons will go through some rough patches early on. But who knew it was going to be this bad?
The Pistons, who dropped to 3-4, didn't just lose to the Golden State Warriors last night at the Oracle Arena in Oakland, California.
They lost horribly, miserably: 111-79.
The Warriors made a joke out of the once-vaunted Pistons defense.
They shot 43 of 76 field goals (56.6 percent) and 12-of-21 treys (57.1 percent). Led by Baron Davis' 20, the Warriors paraded five guys who notched double figures in points.
And what about Ben Wallace's replacement? Well, Nazr Mohammed finished with zero points, one rebound and three fouls in 12 minutes.
