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The Edge: Small Forwards
June 5, 2000
SportsLine.com staff
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| 1999-00 Stats |
| G |
PPG |
RPG |
APG |
STL |
BLK |
| 80 |
18.2 |
4.8 |
4.0 |
84 |
49 |
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| 1999-00 Stats |
| G |
PPG |
RPG |
APG |
STL |
BLK |
| 80 |
15.9 |
4.1 |
2.2 |
47 |
12 |
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| Playoff Stats |
| G |
PPG |
RPG |
APG |
STL |
BLK |
| 17 |
20.1 |
4.4 |
3.5 |
11 |
9 |
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| Playoff Stats |
| G |
PPG |
RPG |
APG |
STL |
BLK |
| 17 |
12.7 |
4.5 |
2.2 |
10 |
3 |
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| The NBA's Most Improved Player this season is a tough assignment for anybody. He got 19 points a game against one of the best perimeter defenders in the league, Latrell Sprewell, in the Eastern Conference finals. He could easily burn Rice for 20-plus a game as the Lakers 6-8 forward has never wowed anybody with great defense.
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Outside of the breakout game against the Blazers in Game 4 at Portland (21 points on 7-of-11 shooting), Rice has been quiet in the playoffs. His scoring average is down from the regular season along with the 3-point shooting and field-goal percentage. He's a prime-time scorer in the past, though, and the Finals could be the stage on which he emerges.
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| Breakdown: Could it be the Pacers go against the Lakers as Jalen Rose goes? That was the case in the regular season split. In Indiana's victory, Rose was excellent, going for 19 points on 8-of-12 shooting. In the loss, Rose was a miserable 4-of-15 from the field, scoring 13 points to go along with four turnovers. Rose should be able to break down Rice on the drive and he's an excellent passer on the move when defenders sag onto him.
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Edge: Pacers
The official site of Shaquille O'Neal
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