Indiana`s Rookie Tinsley Outshines `Emperor`

"You`re a great player, but I`m sorry. This is my show."

NBA Rookie Jamaal Tinsley (23, Indiana Pacers) recorded a triple double encountering face-to-face `returned emperor` Michael Jordan (38, Washington Wizards).

Tinsley, who made a NBA debut after graduating the Iowa University this year, marked 19 points, 11 rebounds and 23 assists to lead the team`s 110-103 victory against the Washington Wizards at Canseco Fieldhouse, Indiana, yesterday.

As the tightened defense has restricted the movement space of the skilled players since the elimination of `illegal defense` from the rule book, there were only two triple doublers this season. The first triple double was accomplished by three-year guard of Cleveland Andre Miller.

With this loss, the Washington fell to 8 straight losses, and Jordan could not help feeling sore while he was watching the fabulous performance of a rookie player who is 15 years younger than him. Since his young teammates did not adjust well to the NBA court, Jordan had to struggle alone. Moreover, although he earned the team`s best 21 points, Jordan also showed the poor shooting percentage, making only 8 for 26.

On the other hand, Tinsley set a franchise record with 23 assists. The NBA record is 30 assists set by Scott Thrills (Orlando) against the Denver Nuggets on Dec. 31st, 1990. In the Korean pro-basketball league, Gang Dong-Hee recorded 17 assists in game with the SBS in last February.

The triple double of Tinsley was not only for himself. Indiana finished the first half 46-50. But the situation has been changed in the third quarter. As relatively short player Tinsley (1m91) dismantled the opponent`s court guarded by big guys over 2m tall with 10 points and 8 assists in the third quarter, the flow of game was turned over.

Meanwhile, the Eastern conference leader Milwaukee Bucks extended their winning streak to four games with a 78-75 victory over the Toronto Raptors.

Chang Jeon jeon@donga.com