BRAMA, Jan 28, 2004, 1:00 am ET
The Ukraine Train Powers Forward
– by Max Pyziur
Hard work and consistency pays off. Tuesday January 27th in a
game hosting the Dallas Mavericks Vitaly Potapenko earned a
starting spot alongside Calvin Booth in Coach Nate McMillan's
current dual center approach. This was seen and admitted to
as being a reward for Vitaly's determination in working against
and shutting down other big inside players such as Houston Rockets'
Yao Ming, the Lakers' Shaquille O'Neal, and most recently the
Clippers' Elton Brand.
Given the Mavericks run-and-gun style and lack of an inside
game it was a dicey approach - even their tallest producer,
Dirk Nowitzki, works more from the outside than under the basket.
Nevertheless, it was exciting to the very last second when Mavericks'
Antoine Walker drained a buzzer-beating baseline jumper to put the
Mavs ahead 118-116. Vitaly, though generally not a high scorer,
"... brought his piece to the table ..." (one of his signature
phrases) making the game's first two points and going 7/8 in field goals
and 2/4 in free throws for 16 points as well as pulling down 5 rebounds,
and making 3 assists and 1 steal on 29 minutes of play.
Tonight (January 28th 10:30pm ET, 7:30PT on KONG 6/16 FOX WEST
and NBA LEAGE PASS) the Seattle Supersonics are hosted by the
Los Angeles Lakers. The matchup should include both Lakers
Slava Medvedenko and Vitaly Potapenko.
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