NBA 33 over 30 - Part 2
In the NBA 33 over 30 series, I’ll be looking at 33 players in the NBA over the age of 30 who are still lighting it up in the league. Here’s a look at the players in this pool of 33 who are 32 years old.
DOB – 6 July, 1980
The 11-year pro is averaging 13.4 points with 8 rebounds, 1.3 blocks and 3.6 assists per game. Although he is sidelined for about five weeks right now with a torn plantar fascia, and was playing 33.4 minutes per game, lower than his career 35.9 average, Pau Gasol is still one of the most versatile big men in the NBA. His recent struggles have also fuelled the debate of whether he is getting too old. While he was averaging the second highest assist total of his season with 3.8, he was never dominating as much this season as he used to in the past, prompting his benching in favour of Earl Clark. I don’t think Gasol’s play resulted in his benching as much as D’Antoni’s system did. It’s not designed for a big man who likes to play deep. Hopefully the Lakers can turn it around in time this season and we can get to see Gasol in the postseason.
DOB – 20 March, 1980
Jamal Crawford pretty much has the Sixth Man of the Year award locked in this year. He’s the league leading scorer off the bench and has been propelling the Clippers’ offense at will. There is no other scorer I enjoy watching as much. Crawford routinely pulls rabbits out of his hat and makes something out of nothing. The way he shakes and bakes around the key and pulls up for that beautiful rainbow jumper reminds me of Allen Iverson. He is averaging 16.8 points while coming off the bench and playing 29.5 minutes. This year, Crawford felt snubbed as he didn’t make it to the all star game, and that should fuel his game after the all star break. And that’s a scary thought for the rest of the league.
DOB – 19 February, 1980
The sharpshooter is still heating it up for the Miami Heat. Not as much of recent though. The 2006 NBA Sixth Man of the Year, the man who set the NBA Finals record for the most three pointers off the bench, is now averaging 3.6 points and 2.3 rebounds, but he’s only playing 13.9 minutes per game. The arrival of Ray Allen has negated the importance of Miller. He still earns $5.8 million this year, fourth most on the Miami Heat. And put in the right rotation, he is still capable of lighting it up. There’s a chance that the Heat move him before the trade deadline, and if so he will get a chance to light it up again if he gets on a team where he can play more minutes.
DOB – 13 March, 1980
Butler is an incredible threat at the perimeter. He’s a very accurate three point shooter and is never shy about letting it loose from the outside. Nicknamed Tough Juice, Butler lends a gritty, tough as nails mentality to the Clippers. It wasn’t too long ago that he was playing for the other LA team, the Lakers. And since then his game hasn’t really slipped much at all. He is a capable defender too and is an integral cog in the Clippers’ roster. Butler is averaging 10.1 points with 2.9 rebounds in 24.4 minutes of action. He’s playing ten minutes lesser than his career average, on one hand that is limiting his production and on the other hand it lets him stave off age even more.