So much for the acumen of those great NBA scouts. What do they know if they can't find a Matt Maloney?
Maloney wasn't drafted out of Penn two years ago and didn't get a vote for rookie of the year this season.On Sunday, he may have shot the Seattle SuperSonics out of the playoffs and the Houston Rockets into the Western Conference finals. After Houston's 110-106 overtime victory, the Rockets are up 3-1 in their semifinal series with the Sonics.
"We have so much confidence in him that when he releases that ball, we just turn around and go back to the other end," teammate Kevin Willis said after Maloney's 26-point effort that included eight 3-pointers.
"It's really a great story," said Rudy Tomjanovich, who saw something in Maloney's game that no one else did.
Maloney saved his best for last.
Houston failed to win in regulation because Charles Barkley missed two free throws with 11 seconds left, then Hersey Hawkins' 3-pointer with 2.4 seconds left tied it.
The Rockets trailed 106-105 in the final minute of overtime. It was time for Maloney's final 3-point dagger.
With the game on the line, the ball went into the post to Hakeem Olajuwon, but he was double-teamed. Out went a pass to Maloney on the perimeter. He used a pump fake to get Hawkins off his feet and sank his shot.
"It's a great feeling, but it's not that unbelievable," said the Rockets' most unbelievable player. "Just because I wasn't highly touted in the media doesn't mean I'm not a good player."
After averaging 9.4 points and shooting 40 percent from 3-point range during the regular season, Maloney is killing the Sonics. He's averaging 16.8 points and shooting 50 percent (18-for-36) from behind the arc. For the playoffs, he's shooting 53 percent (30-for-57) from long range.
"He's having a special series," Seattle coach George Karl said.
"This is something I've really worked hard on," Maloney said of his shooting. "I've especially worked on my 3s."
Maloney, 25, played at Grand Rapids in the CBA last season and was signed by the Rockets on Oct. 1 to be Brent Price's backup at point guard. Price broke his left arm in an exhibition game Oct. 24.
Price came back, but was lost for the season Feb. 25 with a right knee injury.
Tomjanovich doesn't want all the credit for discovering Maloney. He said all the players endorsed Maloney after Price's first injury.
"They all said they liked this kid and he could handle the job," Tomjanovich said. "Every time I tell that story, I get goosebumps."
With Maloney tying his playoff high, including 8-for-13 3-point shooting, the Rockets put themselves in position to wrap up the series at home Tuesday night.
"We're looking forward to closing them out at home," Clyde Drexler said.
"We need to go home and take care of business," Barkley added.
History says the Houston-Seattle series probably is over. Only five clubs have come back from 3-1 deficits; the Rockets were the last team to do that, against Phoenix two years ago.
"We've been there before and come back," Olajuwon said. "So we know it's not over yet."
"We just have to come out and play like the series is tied up and win the game Tuesday," said Gary Payton, who led Seattle on Sunday with 27 points and 11 assists.
"Game 5 is simple," Karl said. "It's pride, it's heart. If we play with tremendous intensity, we'll have an opportunity to win."