SI's Marty Burns tackles three issues from around the league:

1	Is Peja Stojakovic ever going to be healthy this season?

Peja Stojakovic Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images The Kings are starting to wonder the same thing. Stojakovic has been bothered all season by a bad case of plantar fasciitis in his right heel. He recently returned to the lineup after missing nine straight games, but the pain has not gone away. Stojakovic first began experiencing soreness in his foot during last summer’s World Championships. He has described it as feeling like a "stone" in his heel, and has tried everything to heal it: ice, painkillers, orthotics, ultrasound. Last week he even traveled to his native Belgrade to visit a trusted physician that he has worked with for other injuries in the past. Without his usual mobility and lift on his jump shot, Stojakovic has not been the same player this season. Through Tuesday he was averaging just 15.8 points (on 40.0% shooting) and 5.0 rebounds, well below last year’s all-star numbers. In his return Tuesday night against the Rockets, he had just five points on 1-of-7 shooting in 22 minutes. For now both Stojakovic and the Kings are remaining hopeful that the injury will subside on its own. Plantar fasciitis is a common NBA malady, and many players are able to play through it. Stojakovic intends to do the same for now. The biggest fear for Sacramento is that the injury might linger all season. If so, he could be in and out of the lineup for months while the team is trying to fight for home court advantage in the West.

2	What’s wrong with Pau Gasol?

Pau Gasol Garrett Ellwood NBAE/Getty Images If the past few games are any indication, nothing at all. Gasol, the Grizzlies’ 7-foot forward, had 18 points and 10 rebounds in Wednesday night’s win over the Nuggets. Before that he had 24 and 17 in a win over the Suns, and 24 points, six boards and seven assists in another win over the Heat. For now at least he appears to have snapped out the two-week slump that had much of Spain too worried to enjoy a good siesta. Gasol, last season’s Rookie of the Year, admits he was initially frustrated and confused over his role under new coach Hubie Brown. He wasn’t playing as many minutes. He wasn’t getting as many touches in the low post. His defense and rebounding were passive. But Brown simply needed time to evaluate his players. Gasol’s lack of productivity probably had more to do with the coaches finding out which combinations worked best and with the players themselves getting more comfortable in their new offense. When Lorenzen Wright plays center, for example, it seems to create more space and better scoring chances for Gasol. Also, Gasol seems to have more confidence now that he no longer wears a protective brace on his sore left wrist. During his slump he looked tentative when he tried to put the ball on the floor in the post, and he didn’t seem to be able to snatch the ball aggressively on rebounds. Since ditching the brace he looks much more fluid in his moves. As for those whispers that Gasol was growing unhappy in Memphis, they’re premature. His agent, Mark Termini, says Gasol is willing to work through the changes Brown has brought to the team. The Grizzlies, meanwhile, say Gasol is still their franchise player.

3	How come The Glove doesn’t get more love?

Gary Payton Jeff Reinking NBAE/Getty Images Maybe it’s because he’s been so good for so long that we take him for granted. Or maybe it’s because he plays in Seattle, where games begin after much of the East Coast has gone to bed. Or maybe it’s because his game isn’t as well-suited to SportsCenter highlights. Whatever the reason, Sonics guard Gary Payton does seem to get overlooked too often when talk turns to the NBA’s best players. Last year he averaged 22.1 points (on 46.7 percent shooting), 4.8 rebounds and 9.0 assists, while leading surprising Seattle to the playoffs. But it seemed like Shaq, Kobe, Tim Duncan, Tracy McGrady and Jason Kidd got all the publicity and all the attention all season long. This year Payton is again quietly enjoying another outstanding campaign. Through Tuesday he was leading the NBA in assists (9.8) while averaging 21.9 points and 4.6 rebounds. More important, he had Seattle off to another surprising start and a spot near the top of the Pacific Division. It would be silly to argue that Payton doesn’t get credit. After all, he was voted second-team All-NBA last season and first-team All-Defense (for the ninth time). But too often the big hype goes to flashier players rather than guys like him who show up every night (he’s missed just five games in 13 NBA seasons), make a lot of great plays (and the right play almost all the time), and just win on a consistent basis.

 

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