Tito Jackson’s
Chris Quinn- Quinn, the backup point guard, is having a solid season, but it is pretty accurate to describe him as Tito. Averaging 7.1 points and 2.5 assists this season, Quinn’s best statistics are his 93.8% free throw percentage and 46.9% three point shooting. Quinn might be worth picking up in a deep twelve team league, mostly because of his high percentages. But valuing Quinn for his high percentages is a lot like valuing Tito for the three backup lines he sings in “ABC.”
Daequan Cook- Cook is averaging 8.9 points this year, but the statistic is somewhat misleading. Shooting just 35.8% from to floor and 35% from three, Cook’s average is more a result of his high volume of shots than his proficiency at making them. Cook’s 33% shooting percentage can only be described as “Bad.”
“Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough”
It is way too early to label these two rookies, especially with the numbers they are putting up in just 20 games.
Michael Beasley- Beasley is averaging 14.5 points and 5.3 rebounds this season, second and third on the team, respectively. Tito would have been thrilled to perform this well. Beasley has not disappointed since being the #2 pick in the draft, and if he is somehow available in your league, you should pick him up now because he will only improve as the season goes on.
Mario Chalmers- Chalmers is averaging 9 points, 4.5 assists, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.1 steals per game. Those are pretty impressive stats across the board for a rookie point guard. Barkley definitely mis-categorized Chalmers as Tito because, like Beasley, Chalmers is already performing at a higher level than Tito and will only get better this season and next.
“You Are Not Alone”
Udonis Haslem- No matter if the Heat are good or bad, Haslem has been there for Wade since their rookie year, a model of consistency. At the same time, Haslem could moonwalk into an alley-oop dunk and still go unnoticed. Haslem is averaging 12.3 points and 9 rebounds this season. The points are a career high, and the rebounds are just short of Haslem’s previous high of 9.1. Haslem is also shooting 53.9% from the floor and over 80% from the free throw line.
“Remember the Time”
Shawn Marion- Do you remember when Marion was a top 10 pick in most fantasy drafts, averaging 19 points, 10 rebounds, 2 steals, and at least 1 block per game for most of his career? Those days appear to be gone for The Matrix, but Marion is still averaging an effective 12.5 points, 9.2 rebounds, 1.6 steals, and 1.4 blocks. Marion is still one of the more energetic power forwards in the NBA even if his skills have diminished in the last few seasons, and that makes him a valuable counterpart for Wade. To expect him to be an all-star again is unreasonable, but to put him on Tito’s level seems to be quite an exaggeration as well. A better comparison may be to see Marion as a nose-less Michael Jackson that only puts out greatest hits albums.
As for Wade, Michael is a pretty accurate comparison. Let’s just hope his hair doesn’t catch on fire in the pre-game pyrotechnics when the Heat play at home tonight (December 8th) against Charlotte.
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