Jamaal Tinsley finally gets his chance

Not too long ago, Jamaal Tinsley wasn't even sure if he'd play in the NBA this season -- or ever, really. Tinsley hoped so, but he'd been out of the league during the 2010-11 season and was laboring in the D-League in early December.

Tinsley earned his way onto the Jazz roster with a non-guaranteed contract (decision day is Feb. 10), but playing time had been sparse for him through the first 20 games of the 2011-12.

That changed in a big way Thursday when Tinsley became the Jazz's starting point guard.

Both of Utah's main playmakers -- starter Devin Harris and backup Earl Watson -- were injured during the Jazz's home loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday.

Harris hoped to play through his strained left hamstring injury, but he was ruled out against the Warriors an hour before tipoff. Watson also couldn't go because of his sprained left ankle.

That left Utah with Tinsley as the starter and rookie shooting guard Alec Burks as the backup.

The Jazz couldn't keep up with the Warriors' dazzling duo of Monta Ellis and Steph Curry in the 119-101 loss at Oracle Arena, but Tinsley made the most of his rare playing time.

Tinsley, whose averages were 0.4 ppg and 0.9 apg, had more[..]ists (13) and points (nine) than he'd had in nine previous appearances. He also played 34 minutes after having played only 45 total before Thursday.

When he was in, the Jazz offense clicked and he made things happen.

"There's some things I can't control, but I can always control being ready, being in shape," Tinsley said. "(I was) just waiting for my number to be called and just going out there and playing hard for 48 minutes."

Jazz coach Tyrone Corbin was "proud" but not surprised by Tinsley's performance.

"For a guy that (hasn't) played a lot of minutes for us, he did a good job, pretty much the entire game of executing and getting us in our stuff," Corbin said. "He made some great passes, created a great tempo for us. ... He did a really good job."

Tinsley finally gets his chance - NBA - CBSSports.com News, Scores, Stats, Fantasy Advice

[smiley]

Thats who the Knicks should have picked up instead of mike !!ing bibby.

Hope he does aight man

mal mal back where he supposed to be

you're just trolling me now :disdain2:

thats been my boy since Iowa State

Me and my bro used to always joke about how lazy and high this nicca used to look He seems to be in shape tho, wish his dumb[..] the best.

Hey that niccas handles we're nice ...

Jamal can hoop... the NBA is a lot of politics man... politics and young cats gunnin for limited spots... sometimes you just get lost in the deck...

They had a squad with him and Marcus Fizer.

Marcus Fizer



don't remind me...

i lived through those Fizer, Eddie Robinson, Jay Williams, Donyell Marshall, Brent Barry, Othella Harrington, Fred Hoiberg years as a Bulls fan post Mike. who else remembers getting Jalen Rose and thinking we might do something?

Thought we were cool with Hinrich, J. Rose, Jamal Crawford, Eddie Robinson, Curry, Chandler, Kendall Gill, Antonio Davis

ahhh man... the !!ty ole days.

Damn I forgot about Eddie Robinson completely, lol. I guess, why would I remember him though?

this dude is a weedhead. my little brother used to hang out with his nephews.

this....

I could of sworn he was a done deal for the knicks

hmmm.

stick to your roots.

Worked with his brother when he was in Indy dude thought he was famous

that was my pg man i used to just watch pacer games hopin he'd do something crazy...MIA for a minute but he's back!!

Pacers fans break it down for me, why was Tinsley never able to fully put it together? He seems to have had the skillset to be a good NBA point guard but just never really put it together completely. Work ethic issues?

lakers lost