First Round Playoff Chumps

Author:
SI Staff
Publish date:
May 8, 2006

First Round Playoff Chumps

Carmelo Anthony

Anthony was helpless in the presence of Quinton Ross' withering defense in the first round; he was unable to work his way to quality shots and let his frustrations show in a series of embarrassing nationally televised pout sessions. Anthony averaged 21 points a game but netted more turnovers than assists, failed to hit a three-pointer in the entire series and averaged only 6.6 rebounds in over 38 minutes a contest. Tellingly, he also shot 33 percent from the floor.

Mike Bibby

With Peja Stojakovic traded to Indiana, someone had to assume the role of Sacramento's postseason bricklayer, and Bibby was more than ready to lay the foundation. Bibby watched his per-game scoring average drop from 21.1 points in the regular season to 16.7 in the playoffs, while shooting 35 percent from the floor. He also shot 35 percent from behind the arc and averaged only 5.2 assists (to three turnovers) in nearly 43 minutes of action.

Tyson Chandler

Having to guard Shaquille O'Neal is never fun, and Chandler did play Games 5 and 6 on a sprained ankle, but even those limitations can't account for his putrid production in Chicago's first-round loss to the Heat. Playing only 17 minutes per game due to foul troubles, Chandler scored just 11 points in the entire series -- registering more whistles (29) than rebounds (27), while blocking as many shots (two) as Kirk Hinrich.

Larry Hughes

Shooting like a man with a broken hand, Hughes offered little help to LeBron James outside of his innate ability to pick up steals. Larry shot 31 percent in Cleveland's first-round win, contributing only 12.3 points and 8.3 combined rebounds and assists per game while playing over 40 minutes a contest.

Stephen Jackson

Jackson seemed resigned to a first-round loss from Game 1. His Pacers could have used a potent all-around attack from their wingman, but Jackson sleepwalked through Indiana's six-game loss. Shooting 37 percent from the field and missing 20 of 26 three-pointers, Jackson added only 4.5 rebounds in 38 minutes and averaged 13.3 points a game. His defense was putrid as well -- Vince Carter had his way with Jackson on both ends of the court.

Smush Parker,

We understand that Parker was training-camp fodder, put in charge of leading the Lakers into the second round only because no other point guard candidate seemed to work, but even a CBA lifer could have played better than this. Smush played 259 minutes in the six-game series but managed only 11 assists. He averaged just three rebounds in 37 minutes a game, alongside nine points per contest, while shooting 33 percent from the floor and missing 22 of 26 three-point attempts.

Bobby Simmons

Clearly, Simmons was forced to go through 2005-06 without a defined role in the Bucks' offense, but that's no excuse for his inability to contribute in other areas during Milwaukee's playoff run. He played nearly 32 minutes per contest but averaged only 3.6 rebounds. Shooting 33 percent from the floor, Simmons didn't get to the line once in the five-game series and averaged only 6.6 points per game.

First Round Playoff Chumps