Two nights ago I was watching the surprisingly entertaining Washington drink another can of whoop ass at the hands of the Orlando Magic when something became abundantly apparent: Shaun Livingston can still play the game of basketball. He finished the Wizards’ 7th loss with 18 and 8 in 31 minutes of action, but that didn’t matter all that much to me. I was way too impressed with what I saw and the possibilities in store should the Wiz elect to keep the 24 year-old once hailed as Magic’s second-coming. The obvious question has been whether he can ever regain the game he had before the horrific knee injury. Obviously he’ll never be as explosive, but what I saw the other night was a player who at 6’7″ has learned how to use his size to his advantage. He posed problems for practically everyone who guarded him. He shot over Redick and Nelson and managed to make some nifty moves to the bucket. Even more impressive was his shooting. He went 8-11 from the field, hitting everything from contested fifteen footers to open elbow jimmies to baseline chippies. He also handled the ball and made great decisions (did I mention the 8 assists?). Given the questions surrounding the Wizards heading into the summer, I couldn’t help sending my buddy G a text message:
Me: Shld wiz keep shaun livingston?
G: Good question. I think so. He has great court vision and bbal I.Q. Problem is he lost his explosion.
Me: But he’s got great size.
G: I forgot to mention that he can see over the defense. He has magic johnson like vision.
Me: And I think he’s just gettin his confidence back.
G: I would like to see him at the 1 and Gil at the 2.
Let’s put aside the notion (an increasingly popular and logical one) that Gilbert is coming back to Washington next season. What would a Gilbert/Livingston back court look like? Two guys with blown out knees operating the back court could be a real problem against quick guards, but damn, Shaun L. could be a Mark Jackson type point guard. After watching Reggie Miller v. The New York Knicks on ESPN last night, I was reminded how special Mark Jackson was. Action never had any lift or quick. He survived on a push shot, that big caboose and some nifty old man trickery. I gotta believe at 24 Shaun L. has the potential to be an impact player in this league. It’d be one thing if he blew out his knee mid career or if his career was based on his explosiveness, but it wasn’t. I also have to believe this young man has developed an incredible inner strength and resiliency over the last two years. How many players would have taken the rookie contract and walked? How many would suffer the setbacks he’s endured? How many would go through the excruciating hours of rehab only to be cut loose by team after team? Imagine the kind of inspirational leadership he can bring to a team? I was never a Shaun L. fan before the injury but after watch him battle back from the brink and finally get a chance to play extended minutes on Saturday I’m a believer. Give this kid a shot!
Eh, his time is passed. He will only get slower and older as each day goes by.
By the way, get that cancer Agent Zero out of Washington, and send him to Siberia. I hear they are starting a league out there.
Ouch…That is brutal!