Has Alex played his last game?

[Matt Dillon]

I never thought I'd say this, but I'm much more concerned about Willis than Poythress. That's not to say that I think Willis' injury is season-ending, just that he's a much more integral part of the team.

If we had to do without one, I'd definitely want Willis over Poythress.

I agree, DVZ.

[Joneslab]

I think Willis prove the age-old adage that threes are essential. You've got a guy who can hit two, three of them a game and give you five or six rebounds, that's huge. Just the threat that guy poses is more important than a player who doesn't venture outside at all but who may average similar points.

Same reason guards are the lifeblood of the game. The three-point shot is absolutely crucial. Just Willis's presence out there spreads the floor, opens the middle, and gives players--especially Murray, who needs some assistance on drives--the help he needs to have open gaps.

Another thing with Willis is that we can pretty much count on him. For the past three weeks or so he's given us a similar game each time. Poythress is impossible to count on because his productivity swings so wildly. I heard a coach say once of Patrick Patterson that the reason he was so effective is that you knew what you were going to get from him. He'd go out there and replicate his effort most every night. Poythress almost never does that; it's a one-game-to-the-next thing with him. Willis has been strangely similar in output since he entered the lineup.