Ryan Pippins

Pippins' numbers don't overwhelm you. First of all, he played in only 21 games. However, he averaged 20.5 minutes in those games, although he started none of them. He shot 45% from the field, which was the best of any of our guards. And he shot 39.3% from the arc. Inexplicably, however, he only shot 38% from the line. (Maybe he and Lottie caught the same disease.)

But what Ryan brought that was most valuable was something that doesn't show up in the stats. On a team that seemed to be trying to be NBA Jr., Pippins was a mature and steadying influence, something we did not seem to have much of last season. We need him back next season, and we need him healthy.