For the Fans

Update on former Illini in the NBA 2/4/09

Posted by: Tom Young

Wednesday, February 4, 2009 7:07 AM

It’s been a while since I looked at how the former Illini are fairing at the NBA level. Time to catch up a little bit.

Brian Cook (Orlando Magic) – With the way the Magic are using Cook, I wouldn’t be surprised if he didn’t make it to the end of the season with them. He has only seen 18 games this year for an average of 6.7 minutes a game. His numbers are down compared to his career numbers, but what else do you expect from a guy who isn’t getting on the floor too much? Like I said last time, he probably would get more playing time on another team, but the Magic are just too stacked, and he will continue to see sporadic play.

Luther Head (Houston Rockets) – Luther is for the most part in the same situation as Brian Cook. He hasn’t been able to get on the court too much, and his numbers have taken a hit because of that. That was until January 10^th. Since then, Head has missed time with a sore right foot, and hasn’t been in a game since. It looks like he is due to be back at any time now, but with McGrady and Artest back, playing time will be scarce.

Deron Williams (Utah Jazz) – Once again, Williams is having an outstanding season, averaging a double-double (17.1 ppg, 10.1 apg). Right now, he is battling a thigh injury, but it doesn’t look like anything that should keep him out for too long. Once again, Deron got snubbed from the All-Star team. As long as Chris Paul, Steve Nash and Tony Parker are in the Western Conference, Williams will never get a shot at the All-Star game. Even if his numbers are better, fans will not vote for him over the other three. This is why I’m not a fan of fan voting, regardless of sport. Instead of voting on how the player is performing in the season, they vote for the popular guy. Face it; until Deron Williams does a few Nike commercials, or marries a desperate housewife, fans will always have him as the number 4-point guard in the Western Conference. Forget the fact that he’s second in the league in assist per game. Forget the fact that his assist to turnover ratio is noticeably better than both Nash and Parker. Williams is once again an All-Star that wasn’t voted in.