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You know their names. Faithful box-score readers, dish people and cyber geeks everywhere may even know more about them. Who are they? They are, for lack of a better term, some of the unsung players in the NBA whose night-in, night-out contributions may go overlooked by all but the people who matter most -- their coaches and teammates.
|  | | Boston's Tony Battie has been a valuable rebounder this season. |
Every good team has at least one. OK, let's rephrase that. Every potential playoff team has at least one. (In case you haven't noticed, there are, maybe, five good teams.) Maybe even the Bulls have one or two. Then again, maybe they have a whole team of them, which speaks to their situation.
We will take a look at some of these fine lads, limiting ourselves to playoff teams and teams which think they can make the playoffs. You will soon see that these fellows come in all ages, backgrounds and share one quality: a certain gratitude or lack of entitlement which comes from bouncing around and finally figuring out how to fit in. We will present the gents in alphabetical order, so as not to be accused of favoritism.
Tony Battie, Boston: Jerry West hasn't made too many bonehead trades in his day, but taking Travis Knight, even-up, for the long, athletic Battie ranks right up there. (Can you see him next to Shaq?) Battie has been criticized for being soft and passive and, like Marcus Camby, he is not a center but has to play one. Battie represents the best shot-blocking (some might say only shot-blocking) presence on the outside-inside Celtics and doesn't get a lot of touches. He's a big beneficiary of the new rules as teams can now pre-rotate and double before the ball gets there.
Greg Buckner, Dallas: We could link him together with Eduardo Najera, as the Mavs get a lot out of both players. With Don Nelson going center-less, Buckner has gotten the call to start at small forward. And, at 6-4, he's small for a small forward. But he can defend and he also shoots the ball well (52 percent from the field.) He's been a starter for most of the games during Dallas' recent winning streak. Najera, meanwhile, is energy and enthusiasm coming off the bench, something every team needs. These two guys are seeing meaningful minutes lately, which further enhances their reputations because Dallas has moved into the top five teams in the league.
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Keon Clark, Toronto: Here's another guy who's where he is thanks to a real smart move by the dispatched Dan Issel. He's found a home in Raptorland, so much so that he was Toronto Hydro Power Player of the Month for December. Why? When Hakeem Olajuwon and Antonio Davis went down, he stepped in and averaged 14.2 points and 10.8 rebounds as a starter. Those numbers are better than either Olajuwon's or Davis'. Another long, athletic player, he is also a difference-maker off the bench.
Matt Harpring, Philadelphia: Actually, on the Sixers, almost everyone not named Allen Iverson can be deemed to be unsung. Harpring has been around, spending time in Orlando and Cleveland, where he primarily was a bench player when he wasn't hurt. He's been the starting small forward all season for the Sixers and gives them something they didn't have last season: a legitimate outside scoring threat when Iverson isn't shooting. He's also a pretty good rebounder for his position.
Al Harrington, Indiana: The Pacers are touting him for Sixth Man consideration. He's averaging more than 30 minutes a game and is one reason why Jalen Rose's minutes are down. He averages 13.5 points a game (double his career average) and is shooting 48 percent from the field. It has taken him awhile to get comfy; this is his fourth season. But he'll be 22 next month. Now, if he can only get Jonathan Bender to join him.
Popeye Jones, Washington: Talk about a guy who has been around. The Wizards are his fifth team and, finally injury-free, the pols and lobbyists now see what he can do. When Christian Laettner went down, Jones moved into the starting lineup and the Wizards started to win. He is an old-fashioned, get-after-it rebounder and is particularly tough on the offensive glass. He leads the Wiz in rebounding. You also won't hear him moan about shots or minutes.
Richard Jefferson, New Jersey: The only rookie on our list, he has been a real find. He can get after it defensively and he also provides some oomph off the bench for the Nets, whose reserves look more like an NBDL franchise. Jefferson started last Saturday against Charlotte when the Nets were without Kenyon Martin and Keith Van Horn. He had 16 points as Jersey won in Charlotte.
Andrei Kirilenko, Utah: This guy is not going to be unsung much longer. It's hard to see how Jerry Sloan can keep him out of the game based on his play to date. He is a real energy guy as well as a box-score filler. He has three-point range and the size needed to play inside. In short, he's not your stereotypical Eastern European import. Think Toni Kukoc with athleticism and that's what you've got.
Lee Nailon, Charlotte: They aren't quite saying 'Jamal Who?' in Charlotte, but the struggling Hornets might be a lot worse off had not this guy stepped forward. He's started in place of the injured Jamal Mashburn and has averaged 11.8 points while shooting 48 percent from the field. The Hornets need Mash, but Nailon and the soon-to-be-returning George Lynch could give them enough at the position to make the playoffs. Wouldn't the crazy fans of Charlotte like that?
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Scot Pollard, Sacramento: Does anyone enjoy the game more than this guy? His college teammate, Paul Pierce, called him a "goofball" but then added that everything Pollard does is appreciated by his teammates. He filled in more than capably for Chris Webber and also backs up Vlade Divac. In short, he's a regular on the league's most entertaining team. Think Atlanta, who waived him in February of 1999, would like another shot at him?
Michael Redd, Milwaukee: The Bucks have battled injuries in their backcourt and Redd, who played a grand total of 35 minutes all last season, has been invaluable. He has started seven games, mostly due to Ray Allen's tendinitis injury, and the Bucks managed four wins. (Sam Cassell and Glenn Robinson also were out for some of those games as well.) What George Karl now has is a reliable third guard once everyone gets healthy.
Charles Smith, San Antonio: The Spurs have a number of candidates, but we like this guy. He was in Italy last year and in the CBA the year before. The year before that was even worse -- he was with the Clippers. Originally drafted by Miami and then traded to LA, the 6-4 Smith, who has a seven-foot wingspan, has found a home in San Antonio. Over the month of December, he averaged 9 points in only 18.5 minutes a game. He's also the third-leading shot blocker on the team behind Tim Duncan and David Robinson.
Samaki Walker, LA Lakers: He's started every game for the two-time defending world champs, sharing that distinction with Kobe Bryant and Rick Fox. He's LA's second-best rebounder and shot-blocker and also has found time to average 7 points a game in less than 25 minutes-per. It never worked out for him in Dallas or San Antonio, but he may get the last laugh in June.
Peter May, who covers the NBA for the Boston Globe, is a regular contributor to ESPN.com.
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