Anrei Kirilenko is my new favourite player…his stat lien from Saturday night’s 110-93 win aver Portland? 24 points, 9 boards, 5 assists, 1 steal and 7 blocks…however, the best part of the game was the Starting lineup in which the 6’9” Kirikenko started at shooting guard….yeah, read that again…the PG was 6’3” Deron Williams, the SG was the aforementioned 6’9” Kirilenko, the 6’7” Matt Harpring was at SF, the 6’11” Okur was at the PF spot and the 6’9” Carlos Boozer was the centre…and they say Jerry Sloan is too old school…looks like a new jack lineup to me…
Draft news: Florida Gators stars Joakim Noah, Al Horford and Corey Brewer have publicly stated that they will return for another season…while Texas C LaMarcus Aldridge has apparently advised the Longhorns coaching staff he will enter the NBA draft…
Joel Przybilla said his future with the Blazers might be in jeopardy because of the way some teammates have given up on the season, reports The Oregonian. According to the newspaper, he will look elsewhere this summer unless changes are made.
"I'm not the type to complain or point fingers, but it's getting old," Przybilla told the newspaper. "I can take losing if guys are going out and playing hard and giving it their all in practice, but guys aren't doing that ... they are joking about it or whatever, thinking it's no big deal. And that's tough to take."
Someone asked me, how much is Shaq declining while still getting paid $20 million a year? Well, the bellweather year for Shaq was 1999-00 when he was the MVP. During that season as a 27-year-old centre for the Lakers over 79 games he averaged:
MPG FG% FT% Off Def Tot APG SPG BPG TO A/TO PF PPG
40.0 .574 .524 4.3 9.4 13.6 3.8 0.5 3.0 2.8 1.3 3.2 29.7
This year, as a 33-year-old centre for the Heat over 56 games his averages are:
MPG FG% FT% Off Def Tot APG SPG BPG TO A/TO PF PPG
30.8 .599 .467 2.9 6.3 9.2 1.8 0.4 1.8 2.9 0.6 3.9 20.3
The difference:
· Shaq can no longer stay healthy for a whole season…in 1999-00 Shaq played 79 games, whereas this year, after 56 games, he can play a maximum of 61 with only 5 games left in the season…
· Shaq can not longer play 40 min a night…to much wear and tear has seen his Minutes per game average decline 25%…The decline in minutes means a decline in stats…Shaq has always been an efficient player and less minutes means less points, rebounds, etc…case in point, 25% less minutes means 32% less offensive rebounds, 33% less defensive rebounds, 32% less total rebounds, 53% less assists, 40% less blocks and 32% less points…
· Shaq is making a higher percentage by taking better shots…his FG% is up 25 points while his shots attempts (956-1665 in 99-00 to 463-773 this year) are down…this also indicates that he is a complimentary player now and no longer the focal point of the offence…
· Shaq is bricking more free throws…less than 50% is ridiculous for the most fouled (called and not called) player in league history…
So given the trend so far what kind of averages will we expect from Shaq in 2009-2010 when he is 37? Well, given the average annual change in minutes and the corresponding % change in stats (not including some un-calculable stats) from age 27-33 here it is:
MPG Off Def Tot APG SPG BPG PPG
25.5 2.2 4.9 7.1 1.4 0.3 1.4 15.8
Kind of underwhelming for $20 million a year eh? That means that Shaq becomes Zydrunas Ilgasukas, who this year is averaging:
MPG Off Def Tot APG SPG BPG PPG
29.7 3.1 4.4 7.6 1.2 0.5 1.7 15.8
Scary eh?
1) Apparently Ben Wallace refused to re-enter a game recently…here’s the update from Krista Latham of the Detroit Free Press:
Big Ben doesn't regret protest - Teammates, coach don't want Wallace apology
Twenty-two times on Sunday, a shot missed, the ball careened off the rim and into the air, and Ben Wallace reached up and pulled in the rebound.
With each powerful move, he seemed to send a message, a reminder that the Pistons captain does not quit. It was no coincidence that Wallace's season-high 22 rebounds in the Pistons' dominant 98-73 victory over the fading Indiana Pacers came two days after he displayed his anger over his team's pathetic play in Orlando by refusing to re-enter the game in the fourth quarter. It wasn't an attempt to make up for past wrongs. Wallace said he doesn't believe in regrets. He learns from life and moves on. Sunday's performance was Wallace moving on. "Every time I step out onto the floor, there's no question why I'm out there," Wallace said. "I play to win. I don't want to settle for being a good team. I want to reach greatness. None of this was ever given to me. I had to work for everything that I've got. I continue to work, and I continue to come out and try to improve on my game, night in and night out." Routinely troublesome players would have been fined or even suspended for Wallace's behavior on Friday. With his team in a close game against the Magic, Wallace swore at his coach, waved off his attempts to put him back in the lineup and didn't join his teammates in the final huddle. But the Wallace matter resolved itself Sunday without any usual signs of closure. No apology to his teammates -- and his teammates didn't want one. No fine, no suspension, no benching. "Listen, there's a lot of things that happen at practice that people know nothing about," Saunders said. "We're like a family. And in a family, there are things that sometimes you don't agree upon. What you do is you air it out and you deal with it, and that's what we've done." Saunders knows Wallace's actions came only from his desire to see his team play together. And he understands what Wallace has meant over the last five seasons to the Pistons. "You can't look and see what he's done here in five years for this organization and for me as a coach," Saunders said, "... and overlook that because something happens." The two talked after the Magic game, and Saunders said there's a multitude of things that likely built up frustrations in Wallace. But the biggest source of Wallace's angst is his usual complaint: he deeply believes that if he is not an active part of the offense, the team's chances of winning plummet. It's not about scoring or personal stats. He just sees a team with five offensive threats on the floor as a better option than one with only four. "That championship year we had, everybody played," Wallace said. "It wasn't trying to win with one or two guys. We used everybody that we had, including our bench. We've got to use everybody. That's the only way you can win in this league." The team responded to Wallace's show of frustration with its dominating win over the Pacers, and they did so with lots of ball movement and offensive involvement from all over the floor. Wallace took only five shots, but the team also attempted to hit him with several alley-oop plays early. And the Pistons had 27 assists on 42 baskets. Six players scored in double-digits. After the game, Wallace said he thought the team accomplished some things, that it found its way back on track. And he said he wouldn't take back anything that had happened. "No regrets," Wallace said. "I never live with regrets. You just put the past behind you and live with it. And I think if you have regrets, you really don't learn lessons. It's a life lesson, you learn from the past. You just keep on moving, so that's what I do."
2) Liz Robbins of the New York Daily News reports on the return of the “Reign Man”:
Kemp Loses the Weight and Regains the Desire
Shawn Kemp sat in a Seattle jail cell for four hours last April. His weight had ballooned to 330 pounds and he knew he would have to explain to the Little League team he was coaching why he had been arrested. "When a person gets to the age of 35 and you go to jail, it either makes you or breaks you," Kemp said last week in a telephone interview. "It made me identify what I wanted. It's how you want to be remembered. Are you going to fight for it or just lay down?" Kemp, a five-time All-Star, retired from the N.B.A. in 2003, saddled by weight issues and three drug-related suspensions. Last April, he pleaded guilty to attempted possession of marijuana. He said the marijuana found in his car belonged to the friend he was with, and the court agreed. Kemp was sentenced to five days of house arrest and a year's probation, and he vowed to change his life.
"It probably didn't happen soon enough," he said. Since then, Kemp has shed pounds and decided to make a comeback to the N.B.A. "It was important not just to lose weight but to come back and play at a high level," he said. His agent, Tony Dutt, said that a few teams had contacted him, and that Dallas had tried to set up a workout. As of week's end, it appeared unlikely that the Mavericks would get an injury exception to add a player for the postseason. The first question teams ask, Dutt said, is how much Kemp weighs. "I've been called so many names and been written off by so many people who just say, 'Whatever happened to this guy?' " Kemp said. "I tell my buddies, 'Never say never.' " Kemp is no longer the Reign Man, but the anonymous running man, logging as many as seven miles a day. With his wife, Marvena, and their three sons in Seattle, Kemp has spent weekdays in Houston for the last year, climbing the stadium stairs at Rice University and playing pickup games. He wears a 40-pound vest during workouts. Kemp, 36, said he jump-started his weight loss by going on a monthlong diet consisting of oatmeal three times a day.
"I was waiting on phone calls and nobody really called," he said. "I'm so afraid of getting heavy, losing a step, so I kept running." At 6 feet 10 inches and now 267 pounds, Kemp said his athleticism had returned. Whether he can return to game shape and regain his rhythm after missing three seasons is another issue. He regrets not having had the same discipline when he signed a $100 million contract with Cleveland, a year after his N.B.A. finals appearance with Seattle. Kemp knows there will be other doubts, but he maintains that he changed his habits to concentrate on his comeback. "I've done drugs in the past, I've tested positive in the league," he said, acknowledging that he would have to enter an aftercare program to return to the N.B.A., as he did when he played for Orlando. He became infamous when a Sports Illustrated article disclosed that he had seven children with six women. "I've got some kids out there; it's no secret," he said. "I've never been late on payments. I've handled it as best as I possibly can. There's no lawsuits. I try to stay on top of it." Kemp said he would be willing to play in a summer league to prove to teams that he had changed. He recalled being doubted as the 17th overall pick in the 1989 draft. "I came into the league fighting, and it looks like I'm going to go out fighting," he said.
3) The AP reports that Temple has hired a new Men’s bball coach:
Temple hires Penn's Dunphy
Fran Dunphy, who turned Penn into an NCAA tournament regular, will take over at Temple to replace Hall of Fame coach John Chaney, a school official told The Associated Press on Sunday. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because an official announcement had not been made. The school had a news conference scheduled for 3 p.m. Monday. Dunphy, who has deep basketball ties to Philadelphia, won 10 Ivy League championships and led the Quakers to nine NCAA tournaments, including a first-round loss to Texas this season. He went 310-163 record in 17 seasons at Penn and won three coveted Big 5 city series titles. Now he will try to win one with scholarship players. The 57-year-old Dunphy takes over for the 74-year-old Chaney, who retired last month after guiding Temple to 17 NCAA tournament appearances in 24 seasons. Dunphy inherits a program that went 17-15 this season and has dipped this decade, playing in five straight NITs. The Owls have only had four other coaches since 1942 and two are in the Hall of Fame. Dunphy's connection to Philadelphia basketball stretches back more than 35 years. He started at La Salle where he was a co-captain and helped the Explorers to a 23-1 record in 1969 under coach Tom Gola. Dunphy considered returning to La Salle two years ago after the program was rocked by a rape scandal before deciding to stay at Penn. Penn is one of only two schools that won its conference's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament nine times since the 1992-93 season, the most in college basketball. Kentucky in the SEC is the other. The Quakers advanced to the second round in the tournament once under Dunphy, when 11th-seeded Penn beat sixth-seeded Nebraska in 1994. Named coach in 1989 after one season as an assistant under Tom Schneider, Dunphy had losing seasons his first two years at Penn before leading it to a 16-10 mark in 1991-92. That started a run of Ivy League dominance that included the last two conference titles, four of the last five, six of the last eight and 10 of the last 14. Dunphy will become the first person to coach two Big 5 teams.
3) Ian Thomsen of SI.com with recommendations for the teams not going to the playoffs this year:
The forgotten ones - Plenty of work awaits clubs without playoff invites
The "real" season opens later this month for the 16 teams entering the playoffs, but what about the franchises who will begin summer vacation April 20? Here's a rundown of the offseason issues facing the league's worst teams, starting from the bottom.
New York Knicks - Their hope is to acquire assets and then package them in a trade for a galvanizing superstar, but that plan may have been overturned by this fiasco of a season. Who would want to come to New York under the current circumstances? It's hard to say what the Knicks should do in the Kafkaesque environment of Madison Square Garden. How do you begin to fix the most auspicious roster of underachievers in NBA history? The obvious answer is that they could use more Malik Roses and David Lees and fewer Stephon Marburys and Jamal Crawfords. Yet coach Larry Brown himself signed off on midseason trades for Jalen Rose and Steve Francis, neither of whom fit in while costing owner James Dolan $132 million in additional salaries and luxury tax. If it's true that Brown wants guys who play the right way and a selfless point guard like Eric Snow, then why did he invest in a couple of shoot-first wing players? Before any discussion of player personnel takes place, though, Brown and team president Isiah Thomas need to spend a long weekend together deciding on a strategy for next year. Since the Knicks developed no style or identity this season, they can start from scratch. How do they want to play? Who do they want to build around? What can they acquire for the players they want to unload? Dolan should demand a strategy statement on his desk by May 1 and then hold both Thomas and Brown accountable for implementing it. The Knicks have no hope of salvation unless both of their leaders commit to a shared vision.
Charlotte Bobcats- They have gobs of salary-cap space but aren't in any hurry to spend it on this summer's weak free-agent class. The Bobcats (unlike the Knicks) have established an identity as a hard-working team and will benefit from the return of big men Emeka Okafor and Sean May from the injuries that effectively nullified their season. GM and coach Bernie Bickerstaff must decide whether he'll be returning as coach or hiring someone (Sam Mitchell?) to serve as his successor; in either case he must show up at training camp next October with at least one new shooter on the roster.
Portland Trail Blazers - They may or may not be sold, and they can't afford to spend now that owner Paul Allen is suddenly crying poor. The word around the league is that Allen's advisers -- including his sister -- are telling him to dump the team but that he still loves the league and isn't quite ready to walk away. Yet his strategy, which is apparently designed to break his lease with the Rose Garden by pushing the Blazers toward bankruptcy court, will prevent him from ambitiously improving the team for next season. Look for free-agent center Joel Przybilla to leave (probably for a team in the Midwest, if his preference can be met).
Atlanta Hawks - They squandered far too much in the trade for Joe Johnson, and they should have drafted Chris Paul. But those aren't the only reasons the Hawks are in such an unpredictable mess. Former owner Steve Belkin -- who was right to oppose the Johnson trade -- may win his court case to wrest back control of the team. Al Harrington will walk as a free agent, leaving them ever more in need of size and experience to go with their gaping hole at point guard. But until their ownership is resolved, they'll remain in limbo.
Toronto Raptors - New team president Bryan Colangelo is used to having Jason Kidd, Marbury and Steve Nash running his team, so it would be shocking if Colangelo lowered his standards by paying big money to re-sign journeyman point guard Mike James. Depending on where the draft lottery takes the Raptors, expect them to zero in on Florida center Joakim Noah or the Italian 7-foot shooter Andrea Barnagni as a couple of big men who can fit in with Chris Bosh. The Raptors are going to pursue international players who will thrive in cosmopolitan Toronto, as opposed to American players who complain about having to pass through Canadian customs.
Golden State Warriors - One way or another the Warriors must address the future of coach Mike Montgomery -- whether to commit to him or replace him. This is an unbalanced team that relies too much on Baron Davis, especially for interior offense, so expect one or more trades to provide the Warriors with more scoring in the paint. Despite the denials of management, I continue to hear that this team is available to be purchased if the price is right.
Orlando Magic - They'll continue to develop Dwight Howard, Darko Milicic and Jameer Nelson while waiting for Grant Hill's contract to expire in the summer of 2007, when they'll have room to sign a max free agent from a class that potentially includes LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony, Gilbert Arenas and Kevin Garnett. Ownership must decide whether to promote assistant GM Otis Smith, who undid the mess created by predecessor John Weisbrod and gave Howard a promising front-court partner in Milicic, averaging 2.3 blocks in 21.3 minutes through his first 22 games in Orlando.
Boston Celtics - Now that 28-year-old Paul Pierce has emerged as one of the league's best all-around players, the Celtics need to build a winner around him immediately. Instead of using their lottery pick to get even younger, they should package it in a trade for a veteran point guard to help Pierce into the playoffs next season.
Minnesota Timberwolves - They keep hoping to get lucky. If it's true that they're interested in bringing back Marbury, such a blockbuster trade would leave the Timberwolves thinner than ever across the board. Judging from the recent statements of owner Glen Taylor, they'll move Garnett only if he demands a trade. In that event you can move Phoenix to the top of the list: The Suns could send either Amaré Stoudemire or Shawn Marion to Minnesota while offering Garnett a chance to win instantly.
Seattle Sonics - Another team in limbo amid negotiations to sell the team, the Sonics won't make major moves unless they abruptly change course by dumping the salaries of stars Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis. Otherwise they'll be content to fill out their depth chart by trying to re-sign forward Chris Wilcox and importing Mickael Gelabale from Real Madrid as a wing defender in the mode of fellow Frenchman Mickael Pietrus. It's not unreasonable to hope that an ambitious offseason conditioning program and a training camp run by coach Bob Hill will boost the Sonics back to their standing of last season, when they were one of the league's most promising teams.
Houston Rockets - They can shift back into contention if Tracy McGrady and Bob Sura recover from injuries to join Yao Ming, who proved to be more aggressive in the second half of the season after returning from a foot injury. Adding to the uncertainty is the imminent retirement of GM Carroll Dawson, who will be replaced after next season by recently hired assistant GM Daryl Morey. The abundance of variables makes it impossible to predict the future moves of this team.
Philadelphia 76ers - Whether or not they make the playoffs, the 76ers must acknowledge that their expensive roster is a failure and begin the painful work of dismantling it. Speculation on Allen Iverson's future will be the story of the summer.
Chicago Bulls - Reaching the playoffs two seasons in a row would help accelerate the growth of the young Bulls, who will benefit from the postseason experience while waiting for reinforcements. With tons of cap space and the rights to the Knicks' draft pick, which could be No. 1 overall, they should be looking at trades or signings of everyone from Garnett to Jermaine O'Neal to Harrington.
Utah Jazz - It would be surprising if the Jazz don't trade Carlos Boozer, who has put on some impressive performances since his return in February. Coach Jerry Sloan must make his annual decision on whether or not to come back; if he does, he can build on the improvement of center Mehmet Okur and rookie point guard Deron Williams to go with mainstay Andrei Kirilenko. On the whole, this is a promising young team.
Oklahoma City/New Orleans Hornets - Backup point guard Speedy Claxton will leave in search of a potential starting assignment elsewhere. Eventually they must come up with athletic big men to replace P.J. Brown, who will be entering the final year of his contract, and Chris Andersen, banned for flunking a drug test. But don't expect any big moves: The uncertainty over their long-term home and the blind support of the fans in Oklahoma City will probably encourage owner George Shinn to operate on the cheap.
4) Thomsen also has an interesting ! and A of sorts with Celtics coach Doc Rivers:
In his own words: Doc Rivers - Though Boston's coach has had a successful season -- helping transform Pierce into one of the league's top players and keeping the young Celtics competitive despite their inexperience -- Rivers' future with the team has been in doubt. He admits he has had a hard time being separated from his family, who have remained in Florida for the last two years to enable Rivers' daughter to complete her high school education. In this conversation with SI.com, Rivers addresses a number of topics, including speculation that he may ultimately be forced to leave the Celtics.
On coaching the Celtics' young players: "For me, the patience part has been a true test. There are times when I've gone nuts, and my assistant coaches have to remind me, 'These guys are improving, and you can't expect them to be what you want them to be at times.' But you see them do something at practice and you figure they'll do it at the next game, and when it doesn't happen it's frustrating. But then when they do it two games later, it's exhilarating."
On the Celtics' record in close games: "The toughest thing with young players, besides teaching them how to play, is teaching them the importance of the first quarter and the third quarter and having a sense of urgency during every play. We're 9-9 in games [decided by] three points or less. That's not all bad -- that's about average in the league."
On rumors that he may leave the Celtics after this season: "Family comes first, always, and it's tough being away from family. We've got one more year of this with my daughter, who's going to be a senior next year, and after that my family is going to move up here. "If the day came that my wife said, 'I can't take it any longer,' then I'd have to give it up. Walking away from this job would be very tough to do. You see how close we are with Wally [Szczerbiak] and Paul [Pierce], adding another veteran, adding a free agent -- that's not anything you want to walk away from. Right now I can tell you I'm not even thinking about doing that."
On whether it would hurt his long-term coaching career to walk away from this job: "I don't know if it would hurt my career. People know as far as coaching that it was a very good year [for the Celtics] in a lot of ways. I think people would understand where I'm coming from, and there have been people who walked away and who have come back. At end of the day, if I really thought I needed to walk away, I would do it anyway."
On 32-year-old Daryl Morey, the former Celtics VP of operations and information who was recently hired by the Rockets to succeed Carroll Dawson as GM: "He's very much like Billy Beane with all of the numbers [analysis]. He does a heck of a job. He helped us a lot with different numbers that I wouldn't have thought of. He helped [Celtics executive director of basketball operations] Danny [Ainge] even more as far as breakdowns with the salary cap, and statistical breakdowns that help you fit in salary numbers.''
On the differences between players of today vs. players of his generation: "The players today are superior athletically; I don't think it's even close. It comes close to the point of saying that they're also superior in skill. The older players were better as far as knowing how to play and how to win, and I believe the main reason is because they came to the league older and more mature. The other thing has to do with the rite of passage. The young players assume they have it, that sense of entitlement; there's things an older player would never have thought of saying or doing that a younger player today has no problem doing or saying -- that's changed, and not for the better. "The old 'I'll earn it' philosophy rather than 'I'm owed it' has changed a little bit. We all helped it: We talked up the young guys -- we coaches and media and fans -- and we draft more on potential than we draft on what's been accomplished. We even sign free agents based on potential, which was never done in the past. We've made it difficult for ourselves. "But I do believe that maturity will catch up at some point, at least I hope it will. I would think it would have to as these young guys get older."
On the lessons of his relationship with Tracy McGrady in Orlando that he applied to his relationship with Paul Pierce in Boston: "I realized that I had to commit to the way I wanted it and the way I thought was best for him to play, even if it would start out rocky. It was different with Paul because he was already established; Tracy hadn't even established how he was going to be great, and then Grant [Hill] went down and we had to force it on him. Paul had already [been on] All-Star teams and playoff teams, but my thought was I wanted him to be greater and the team to be greater. "Last year everybody kept talking about how rocky our relationship was, but Paul was trying to do what I wanted him do. It just wasn't paying off and he was frustrated, but he was trying. “ The thing that most impresses me with Paul -- and I don't take any credit for it -- is what he's done off the floor and in the locker room. He's made a conscious decision to be a leader, and part of it is because he's happy and he's enjoying himself."
On why he looks so miserable during games: "Danny says the same thing. I tell him, 'Danny, I'm loving this. Go look at a picture of me when I was playing, you'll see my face was a scowl then, too.' That's just who I am, and it's tougher with the young guys. It's like they're your kids -- you want to will them to see the things you see and do things right because you want them to win. You don't want them to have failures, and it definitely takes something out of you when they have them."
On his pick for the NBA Finals: "I've been picking San Antonio. I didn't think there was anybody who could beat them and I still don't, though Dallas can give them a run. The sleeper in the West is the Clippers. I wouldn't want to play them, because they have a couple of veterans and Elton Brand should be considered for the MVP. In the East, I do believe three teams can beat Detroit: Miami with Shaq can beat anybody; New Jersey, because they have those three guys; and the dark horse, [the team] that I don't think anyone wants to play, is Cleveland. Remember that Larry Hughes has been hurt all year, and if he gets healthy it could be interesting."
On his choice for MVP: "There are a couple of arguments: LeBron James for what he's done individually, Kobe for what he's done individually, Dirk [Nowitzki]. But I think Steve Nash has put that team on his back the whole season, and it's clear the difference between when he plays and when he doesn't play."
On Tracy McGrady's back injuries: "Tracy probably remembers this, but four years ago at practice he took his shirt off and I could see the curve in his back. This was right at the beginning of his back problems and I said, 'Listen, you're going to have back problems the rest of your life.' You could see the curve in his back; it's not hard to see, especially if you've had [a back injury] yourself. But I think he'll be able to be very good still. I had the one year when for six or seven months I couldn't play because of my back, but other than that I played a healthy career. The medicines and treatments are better than they were then, and I still think he'll be able to be very, very good."
On teams to watch for in the future (not including the Celtics): "Toronto, if they stay together, with [Charlie] Villanueva and [Chris] Bosh and the other kid, [Joey] Graham, they are a dangerous team. Any team with LeBron James is a team you're going to have to deal with for a long, long time. Chicago, it looks like they're going to make the playoffs and they're one player away from being there."
5) Mike Kahn of FOXSports.com looks at the teams going to the playoffs:
Playoff-bound teams' key issues
The NBA playoffs begin in two weeks, and just about every team slated for the postseason has an issue or two to clean up before the real season begins. Some of it is just about getting players healthy, however trite that may be. But when there are injuries to deal with it affects chemistry and that is an intractable problem if everybody isn't on the same page when the postseason begins.
So let's take a look at some of the key issues for some of the playoff-bound teams:
Look, it's the Clippers! - Yes, those really are the Los Angeles Clippers creeping up the Pacific Division standings at the first place Phoenix Suns with the best season the franchise has seen in more than 30 years and they were then playing in Buffalo. But it was apparent months ago that this team was not a novelty act. Power forward Elton Brand has been a solid MVP candidate all season, but it was the addition of warrior point guard Sam Cassell that changed the veneer of this club. They've never won a best-of-seven playoff series in their history, so it's imperative that coach Mike Dunleavy, Cassell and Brand turn up the heat the final over the final eight games to get an inkling of the way they'll have to play. They are not lacking talent, but only Cassell, Cuttino Mobley and Vladimir Radmanovic have playoff experience, and the latter two haven't tasted much success in that department. The term "quality possessions" will have to be explained by Dunleavy over and over again.
Steady as she goes - The two-time defending Eastern Conference champion Detroit Pistons have a three-game lead in the loss column to be the top seed throughout the playoffs and aren't likely to relinquish it. Should they win five of their last eight games it should keep them ahead of the San Antonio Spurs for the overall No. 1 seed and set a new franchise record with 65 wins. Their starting five — Chauncey Billups, Rip Hamilton, Tayshaun Prince, Ben Wallace and Rasheed Wallace — is the most accomplished in the NBA, but also plays the most minutes. The concern for players breaking down is always there heading into the playoffs, and you have to wonder if coach Flip Saunders will start cutting back on their minutes the final couple of weeks to rejuvenate them a little bit. Billups, Hamilton and Prince are all still young, but the two Wallaces could use enhanced breathers to essentially ratchet up the minutes and sharpness of Antonio McDyess, a key contributor.
Spurs' injury woes - Lost in the Spurs' battle to stay on the Pistons' heels all season has been that Tim Duncan has fought plantar fasciitis all season; Manu Ginobili has had various foot and ankle problems, and now Tony Parker is struggling with a sprained ankle. The Spurs have not been healthy from Day 1, and that should bode well as they get into the playoffs because they are actually getting better at this late date. This is where their depth and experience come into play. The additions of Michael Finley and Nick Van Exel spread the wealth of weapons deep into their bench, and wily coach Gregg Popovich has gradually added offense and versatility to this team that has already been the top defensive team in the league (with the Pistons) over the past half-dozen years or so. All that's necessary right now is for Pop to spread the minutes out to keep everybody sharp, and they shouldn't have any issues retaining the top seed in the West ahead of Dallas. San Antonio will be ready to peak in the postseason.
Turning up the Heat - Heat coach Pat Riley has gotten Shaquille O'Neal to trim down to 322 pounds over the past month or so from just less than 350. Now we'll see if the loss of weight can keep the feet, ankles and knees of the center nonpareil more stable heading into the playoffs. However, this team belongs to the spectacular Dwyane Wade at this point. But they need Shaq to be focused to dominate the boards and block shots. That doesn't necessarily fit into his repertoire if they don't feed him the ball — which they will. But he has to get into the game defensively.
Meanwhile, Riley must find some other offensive options if they are to challenge the Pistons — and maybe even the New Jersey Nets — once the playoffs begin. The defined roles just haven't panned out as well as they did last season, perhaps because he's brought in higher quality veterans who are not used to identifying their own roles. We'll see if all that talk from Antoine Walker and Gary Payton about team is more than lip service because the Heat needs those two vets badly, and the team needs to finish out the final eight games winning at least six of them to have some momentum.
Does 'Big D' stand for defense? - Not quite, but coach Avery Johnson does have the Dallas Mavericks playing the best defense since Mark Cuban bought the team and turned around the fortunes of the franchise. True, Dirk Nowitzki is the superstar, but they need to find other players to be dependable in their performance. Injuries have really hurt them the past month — Keith Van Horn, for example, is out for the season. But Josh Howard is back from hamstring problems and that is huge. The Mavericks have their role players at center and other positions fairly well carved out, but these final eight games will be about Jason Terry and Jerry Stackhouse as the consistent alternative scoring options to Nowitzki and contributing defensively when they're on the floor. Other than Howard and injured players Marquis Daniels and Adrian Griffin, the Mavs have still been lacking tough perimeter defense and that's what they need to get over the hump to challenge the Spurs.
Net result - The hottest team down the stretch has been the New Jersey Nets, winners of 13 in a row heading into Thursday night's home date vs. Charlotte. With Jason Kidd running the show for Vince Carter and Richard Jefferson, they have become one of the top teams in either conference the past month. But for them to seriously challenge the Heat in the second round of the playoffs — they did beat the Heat three out of four times during the regular season — Nenad Krstic must become more than just a nice scorer. True, Krstic is a young 7-footer, loaded with scoring skills, but with the Heat's power game and rebounding, Krstic must establish himself as a post factor — not just a player slipping outside for jumpers that Shaq will not contest. Krstic needs to work on rebounding and shot-blocking down the stretch if the Nets are to get to another level this season. They can obviously score and evidently coach Lawrence Frank has gotten through to the three big guns to play tougher perimeter defense. Center Jason Collins is too limited and Cliff Robinson too long in the tooth to make a difference — which essentially leaves it up to Krstic to add interior toughness to his game if they hope to be serious contenders in the East.
Suns are setting - Despite another spectacular season from Steve Nash and Shawn Marion, the Suns will have a very difficult time running anybody out of the of the playoffs. The return of Amare Stoudemire from knee surgery was aborted after three games and Kurt Thomas isn't expected back from a fractured foot until May. Perhaps that's good because they lost their mojo upon the return of Stoudemire. Now they have no doubt who they are — a full-speed team, flying up and down the floor every possession from here on out. Can they get by with Boris Diaw and Tim Thomas as their centers? It doesn't matter now. They've lost two in a row and six of 10 and have to get back to what was working all season. As long as Nash doesn't run out of gas, they'll be dangerous, but they can ill afford any flame out from Marion, who disappeared against the Spurs in the conference finals last season courtesy of Bruce Bowen. Marion has been spectacular since the All-Star break and has to keep cranking it up the final two weeks so youngsters Diaw and Leandro Barbosa are able to grasp what they're in for once the playoffs begin.
The King and his court - LeBron James has silenced his critics by leading the Cleveland Cavaliers to the playoffs for the first time since 1998 — when he was in junior high. Now their goal is to get to the second round for the first time since 1993, but it won't be easy. They haven't had the group coach Mike Brown wants on the floor together for more than a few minutes, and that could be an issue. Larry Hughes returned this week after missing three months with a mangled middle finger and center Zydrunas Ilgauskas has been bothered by a sprained ankle. Nonetheless, James has virtually assured the Cavs of home court in the first round. And it isn't really necessary for Ilgauskas to be in the game for Brown to get a good long look at James, Hughes and new arrival Flip Murray on the court together during the final two weeks of the regular season. That trio, plus Ilgauskas and Drew Gooden, should be their crunch-time lineup. With Eric Snow, Donyell Marshall and Anderson Varejao completing the rotation, they're not quite ready to challenge in the East. But they're getting closer.
Will the real Nuggets please stand up? - If anyone can figure out who these Denver Nuggets are, please notify coach George Karl. There is no questioning the special play of third-year forward Carmelo Anthony, who has gotten better and better all season. But the rest of the team is a complete mystery considering the shaky health Marcus Camby has rediscovered, and the inconsistency of Kenyon Martin coming off knee surgery. The backcourt has been erratic, at best, and it's tough to know what to make of the bench. Essentially, Anthony has carried this team to its first division title since 1988, albeit against weak (divisional) competition. But if they are to avoid losing in the first round to the Memphis Grizzlies (a team that has never won a playoff game), some other players had better step up now. Martin, Camby and Andre Miller are all capable of special play and had great expectations coming into this season. If they can gain some momentum, maybe the Nuggets will actually become a contender in the playoffs.
And in the end - It will all shake out between the Chicago Bulls and Philadelphia 76ers for the East's final playoff spot. The decision to deal Eddy Curry because of his heart issue at the start of the season killed the Bulls' offensive chemistry because they had no post game to work from like last season, when they nearly advanced to the second round. But coach Scott Skiles still has them playing rugged defense, and they've hung around long enough for a chance to slip into the postseason through the back door courtesy of the Sixers. As for these woebegone Sixers — who have lost 12 of 16 games — there is something fruitless about them on the floor. With Allen Iverson and Chris Webber and young talents such as the versatile Andre Iguodala, shot-blocker/rebounder Samuel Dalembert, and pure shooter Kyle Corver, there is simply no way Philly should have to struggle to make the playoffs. Maurice Cheeks is the team's fourth coach in three seasons, but he'd better figure out a way to salvage this season in the final two weeks or we're looking at a fifth coach, a new team president and a roster that could get blown up.
Draft news: Florida Gators stars Joakim Noah, Al Horford and Corey Brewer have publicly stated that they will return for another season…while Texas C LaMarcus Aldridge has apparently advised the Longhorns coaching staff he will enter the NBA draft…
Joel Przybilla said his future with the Blazers might be in jeopardy because of the way some teammates have given up on the season, reports The Oregonian. According to the newspaper, he will look elsewhere this summer unless changes are made.
"I'm not the type to complain or point fingers, but it's getting old," Przybilla told the newspaper. "I can take losing if guys are going out and playing hard and giving it their all in practice, but guys aren't doing that ... they are joking about it or whatever, thinking it's no big deal. And that's tough to take."
Someone asked me, how much is Shaq declining while still getting paid $20 million a year? Well, the bellweather year for Shaq was 1999-00 when he was the MVP. During that season as a 27-year-old centre for the Lakers over 79 games he averaged:
MPG FG% FT% Off Def Tot APG SPG BPG TO A/TO PF PPG
40.0 .574 .524 4.3 9.4 13.6 3.8 0.5 3.0 2.8 1.3 3.2 29.7
This year, as a 33-year-old centre for the Heat over 56 games his averages are:
MPG FG% FT% Off Def Tot APG SPG BPG TO A/TO PF PPG
30.8 .599 .467 2.9 6.3 9.2 1.8 0.4 1.8 2.9 0.6 3.9 20.3
The difference:
· Shaq can no longer stay healthy for a whole season…in 1999-00 Shaq played 79 games, whereas this year, after 56 games, he can play a maximum of 61 with only 5 games left in the season…
· Shaq can not longer play 40 min a night…to much wear and tear has seen his Minutes per game average decline 25%…The decline in minutes means a decline in stats…Shaq has always been an efficient player and less minutes means less points, rebounds, etc…case in point, 25% less minutes means 32% less offensive rebounds, 33% less defensive rebounds, 32% less total rebounds, 53% less assists, 40% less blocks and 32% less points…
· Shaq is making a higher percentage by taking better shots…his FG% is up 25 points while his shots attempts (956-1665 in 99-00 to 463-773 this year) are down…this also indicates that he is a complimentary player now and no longer the focal point of the offence…
· Shaq is bricking more free throws…less than 50% is ridiculous for the most fouled (called and not called) player in league history…
So given the trend so far what kind of averages will we expect from Shaq in 2009-2010 when he is 37? Well, given the average annual change in minutes and the corresponding % change in stats (not including some un-calculable stats) from age 27-33 here it is:
MPG Off Def Tot APG SPG BPG PPG
25.5 2.2 4.9 7.1 1.4 0.3 1.4 15.8
Kind of underwhelming for $20 million a year eh? That means that Shaq becomes Zydrunas Ilgasukas, who this year is averaging:
MPG Off Def Tot APG SPG BPG PPG
29.7 3.1 4.4 7.6 1.2 0.5 1.7 15.8
Scary eh?
1) Apparently Ben Wallace refused to re-enter a game recently…here’s the update from Krista Latham of the Detroit Free Press:
Big Ben doesn't regret protest - Teammates, coach don't want Wallace apology
Twenty-two times on Sunday, a shot missed, the ball careened off the rim and into the air, and Ben Wallace reached up and pulled in the rebound.
With each powerful move, he seemed to send a message, a reminder that the Pistons captain does not quit. It was no coincidence that Wallace's season-high 22 rebounds in the Pistons' dominant 98-73 victory over the fading Indiana Pacers came two days after he displayed his anger over his team's pathetic play in Orlando by refusing to re-enter the game in the fourth quarter. It wasn't an attempt to make up for past wrongs. Wallace said he doesn't believe in regrets. He learns from life and moves on. Sunday's performance was Wallace moving on. "Every time I step out onto the floor, there's no question why I'm out there," Wallace said. "I play to win. I don't want to settle for being a good team. I want to reach greatness. None of this was ever given to me. I had to work for everything that I've got. I continue to work, and I continue to come out and try to improve on my game, night in and night out." Routinely troublesome players would have been fined or even suspended for Wallace's behavior on Friday. With his team in a close game against the Magic, Wallace swore at his coach, waved off his attempts to put him back in the lineup and didn't join his teammates in the final huddle. But the Wallace matter resolved itself Sunday without any usual signs of closure. No apology to his teammates -- and his teammates didn't want one. No fine, no suspension, no benching. "Listen, there's a lot of things that happen at practice that people know nothing about," Saunders said. "We're like a family. And in a family, there are things that sometimes you don't agree upon. What you do is you air it out and you deal with it, and that's what we've done." Saunders knows Wallace's actions came only from his desire to see his team play together. And he understands what Wallace has meant over the last five seasons to the Pistons. "You can't look and see what he's done here in five years for this organization and for me as a coach," Saunders said, "... and overlook that because something happens." The two talked after the Magic game, and Saunders said there's a multitude of things that likely built up frustrations in Wallace. But the biggest source of Wallace's angst is his usual complaint: he deeply believes that if he is not an active part of the offense, the team's chances of winning plummet. It's not about scoring or personal stats. He just sees a team with five offensive threats on the floor as a better option than one with only four. "That championship year we had, everybody played," Wallace said. "It wasn't trying to win with one or two guys. We used everybody that we had, including our bench. We've got to use everybody. That's the only way you can win in this league." The team responded to Wallace's show of frustration with its dominating win over the Pacers, and they did so with lots of ball movement and offensive involvement from all over the floor. Wallace took only five shots, but the team also attempted to hit him with several alley-oop plays early. And the Pistons had 27 assists on 42 baskets. Six players scored in double-digits. After the game, Wallace said he thought the team accomplished some things, that it found its way back on track. And he said he wouldn't take back anything that had happened. "No regrets," Wallace said. "I never live with regrets. You just put the past behind you and live with it. And I think if you have regrets, you really don't learn lessons. It's a life lesson, you learn from the past. You just keep on moving, so that's what I do."
2) Liz Robbins of the New York Daily News reports on the return of the “Reign Man”:
Kemp Loses the Weight and Regains the Desire
Shawn Kemp sat in a Seattle jail cell for four hours last April. His weight had ballooned to 330 pounds and he knew he would have to explain to the Little League team he was coaching why he had been arrested. "When a person gets to the age of 35 and you go to jail, it either makes you or breaks you," Kemp said last week in a telephone interview. "It made me identify what I wanted. It's how you want to be remembered. Are you going to fight for it or just lay down?" Kemp, a five-time All-Star, retired from the N.B.A. in 2003, saddled by weight issues and three drug-related suspensions. Last April, he pleaded guilty to attempted possession of marijuana. He said the marijuana found in his car belonged to the friend he was with, and the court agreed. Kemp was sentenced to five days of house arrest and a year's probation, and he vowed to change his life.
"It probably didn't happen soon enough," he said. Since then, Kemp has shed pounds and decided to make a comeback to the N.B.A. "It was important not just to lose weight but to come back and play at a high level," he said. His agent, Tony Dutt, said that a few teams had contacted him, and that Dallas had tried to set up a workout. As of week's end, it appeared unlikely that the Mavericks would get an injury exception to add a player for the postseason. The first question teams ask, Dutt said, is how much Kemp weighs. "I've been called so many names and been written off by so many people who just say, 'Whatever happened to this guy?' " Kemp said. "I tell my buddies, 'Never say never.' " Kemp is no longer the Reign Man, but the anonymous running man, logging as many as seven miles a day. With his wife, Marvena, and their three sons in Seattle, Kemp has spent weekdays in Houston for the last year, climbing the stadium stairs at Rice University and playing pickup games. He wears a 40-pound vest during workouts. Kemp, 36, said he jump-started his weight loss by going on a monthlong diet consisting of oatmeal three times a day.
"I was waiting on phone calls and nobody really called," he said. "I'm so afraid of getting heavy, losing a step, so I kept running." At 6 feet 10 inches and now 267 pounds, Kemp said his athleticism had returned. Whether he can return to game shape and regain his rhythm after missing three seasons is another issue. He regrets not having had the same discipline when he signed a $100 million contract with Cleveland, a year after his N.B.A. finals appearance with Seattle. Kemp knows there will be other doubts, but he maintains that he changed his habits to concentrate on his comeback. "I've done drugs in the past, I've tested positive in the league," he said, acknowledging that he would have to enter an aftercare program to return to the N.B.A., as he did when he played for Orlando. He became infamous when a Sports Illustrated article disclosed that he had seven children with six women. "I've got some kids out there; it's no secret," he said. "I've never been late on payments. I've handled it as best as I possibly can. There's no lawsuits. I try to stay on top of it." Kemp said he would be willing to play in a summer league to prove to teams that he had changed. He recalled being doubted as the 17th overall pick in the 1989 draft. "I came into the league fighting, and it looks like I'm going to go out fighting," he said.
3) The AP reports that Temple has hired a new Men’s bball coach:
Temple hires Penn's Dunphy
Fran Dunphy, who turned Penn into an NCAA tournament regular, will take over at Temple to replace Hall of Fame coach John Chaney, a school official told The Associated Press on Sunday. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because an official announcement had not been made. The school had a news conference scheduled for 3 p.m. Monday. Dunphy, who has deep basketball ties to Philadelphia, won 10 Ivy League championships and led the Quakers to nine NCAA tournaments, including a first-round loss to Texas this season. He went 310-163 record in 17 seasons at Penn and won three coveted Big 5 city series titles. Now he will try to win one with scholarship players. The 57-year-old Dunphy takes over for the 74-year-old Chaney, who retired last month after guiding Temple to 17 NCAA tournament appearances in 24 seasons. Dunphy inherits a program that went 17-15 this season and has dipped this decade, playing in five straight NITs. The Owls have only had four other coaches since 1942 and two are in the Hall of Fame. Dunphy's connection to Philadelphia basketball stretches back more than 35 years. He started at La Salle where he was a co-captain and helped the Explorers to a 23-1 record in 1969 under coach Tom Gola. Dunphy considered returning to La Salle two years ago after the program was rocked by a rape scandal before deciding to stay at Penn. Penn is one of only two schools that won its conference's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament nine times since the 1992-93 season, the most in college basketball. Kentucky in the SEC is the other. The Quakers advanced to the second round in the tournament once under Dunphy, when 11th-seeded Penn beat sixth-seeded Nebraska in 1994. Named coach in 1989 after one season as an assistant under Tom Schneider, Dunphy had losing seasons his first two years at Penn before leading it to a 16-10 mark in 1991-92. That started a run of Ivy League dominance that included the last two conference titles, four of the last five, six of the last eight and 10 of the last 14. Dunphy will become the first person to coach two Big 5 teams.
3) Ian Thomsen of SI.com with recommendations for the teams not going to the playoffs this year:
The forgotten ones - Plenty of work awaits clubs without playoff invites
The "real" season opens later this month for the 16 teams entering the playoffs, but what about the franchises who will begin summer vacation April 20? Here's a rundown of the offseason issues facing the league's worst teams, starting from the bottom.
New York Knicks - Their hope is to acquire assets and then package them in a trade for a galvanizing superstar, but that plan may have been overturned by this fiasco of a season. Who would want to come to New York under the current circumstances? It's hard to say what the Knicks should do in the Kafkaesque environment of Madison Square Garden. How do you begin to fix the most auspicious roster of underachievers in NBA history? The obvious answer is that they could use more Malik Roses and David Lees and fewer Stephon Marburys and Jamal Crawfords. Yet coach Larry Brown himself signed off on midseason trades for Jalen Rose and Steve Francis, neither of whom fit in while costing owner James Dolan $132 million in additional salaries and luxury tax. If it's true that Brown wants guys who play the right way and a selfless point guard like Eric Snow, then why did he invest in a couple of shoot-first wing players? Before any discussion of player personnel takes place, though, Brown and team president Isiah Thomas need to spend a long weekend together deciding on a strategy for next year. Since the Knicks developed no style or identity this season, they can start from scratch. How do they want to play? Who do they want to build around? What can they acquire for the players they want to unload? Dolan should demand a strategy statement on his desk by May 1 and then hold both Thomas and Brown accountable for implementing it. The Knicks have no hope of salvation unless both of their leaders commit to a shared vision.
Charlotte Bobcats- They have gobs of salary-cap space but aren't in any hurry to spend it on this summer's weak free-agent class. The Bobcats (unlike the Knicks) have established an identity as a hard-working team and will benefit from the return of big men Emeka Okafor and Sean May from the injuries that effectively nullified their season. GM and coach Bernie Bickerstaff must decide whether he'll be returning as coach or hiring someone (Sam Mitchell?) to serve as his successor; in either case he must show up at training camp next October with at least one new shooter on the roster.
Portland Trail Blazers - They may or may not be sold, and they can't afford to spend now that owner Paul Allen is suddenly crying poor. The word around the league is that Allen's advisers -- including his sister -- are telling him to dump the team but that he still loves the league and isn't quite ready to walk away. Yet his strategy, which is apparently designed to break his lease with the Rose Garden by pushing the Blazers toward bankruptcy court, will prevent him from ambitiously improving the team for next season. Look for free-agent center Joel Przybilla to leave (probably for a team in the Midwest, if his preference can be met).
Atlanta Hawks - They squandered far too much in the trade for Joe Johnson, and they should have drafted Chris Paul. But those aren't the only reasons the Hawks are in such an unpredictable mess. Former owner Steve Belkin -- who was right to oppose the Johnson trade -- may win his court case to wrest back control of the team. Al Harrington will walk as a free agent, leaving them ever more in need of size and experience to go with their gaping hole at point guard. But until their ownership is resolved, they'll remain in limbo.
Toronto Raptors - New team president Bryan Colangelo is used to having Jason Kidd, Marbury and Steve Nash running his team, so it would be shocking if Colangelo lowered his standards by paying big money to re-sign journeyman point guard Mike James. Depending on where the draft lottery takes the Raptors, expect them to zero in on Florida center Joakim Noah or the Italian 7-foot shooter Andrea Barnagni as a couple of big men who can fit in with Chris Bosh. The Raptors are going to pursue international players who will thrive in cosmopolitan Toronto, as opposed to American players who complain about having to pass through Canadian customs.
Golden State Warriors - One way or another the Warriors must address the future of coach Mike Montgomery -- whether to commit to him or replace him. This is an unbalanced team that relies too much on Baron Davis, especially for interior offense, so expect one or more trades to provide the Warriors with more scoring in the paint. Despite the denials of management, I continue to hear that this team is available to be purchased if the price is right.
Orlando Magic - They'll continue to develop Dwight Howard, Darko Milicic and Jameer Nelson while waiting for Grant Hill's contract to expire in the summer of 2007, when they'll have room to sign a max free agent from a class that potentially includes LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony, Gilbert Arenas and Kevin Garnett. Ownership must decide whether to promote assistant GM Otis Smith, who undid the mess created by predecessor John Weisbrod and gave Howard a promising front-court partner in Milicic, averaging 2.3 blocks in 21.3 minutes through his first 22 games in Orlando.
Boston Celtics - Now that 28-year-old Paul Pierce has emerged as one of the league's best all-around players, the Celtics need to build a winner around him immediately. Instead of using their lottery pick to get even younger, they should package it in a trade for a veteran point guard to help Pierce into the playoffs next season.
Minnesota Timberwolves - They keep hoping to get lucky. If it's true that they're interested in bringing back Marbury, such a blockbuster trade would leave the Timberwolves thinner than ever across the board. Judging from the recent statements of owner Glen Taylor, they'll move Garnett only if he demands a trade. In that event you can move Phoenix to the top of the list: The Suns could send either Amaré Stoudemire or Shawn Marion to Minnesota while offering Garnett a chance to win instantly.
Seattle Sonics - Another team in limbo amid negotiations to sell the team, the Sonics won't make major moves unless they abruptly change course by dumping the salaries of stars Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis. Otherwise they'll be content to fill out their depth chart by trying to re-sign forward Chris Wilcox and importing Mickael Gelabale from Real Madrid as a wing defender in the mode of fellow Frenchman Mickael Pietrus. It's not unreasonable to hope that an ambitious offseason conditioning program and a training camp run by coach Bob Hill will boost the Sonics back to their standing of last season, when they were one of the league's most promising teams.
Houston Rockets - They can shift back into contention if Tracy McGrady and Bob Sura recover from injuries to join Yao Ming, who proved to be more aggressive in the second half of the season after returning from a foot injury. Adding to the uncertainty is the imminent retirement of GM Carroll Dawson, who will be replaced after next season by recently hired assistant GM Daryl Morey. The abundance of variables makes it impossible to predict the future moves of this team.
Philadelphia 76ers - Whether or not they make the playoffs, the 76ers must acknowledge that their expensive roster is a failure and begin the painful work of dismantling it. Speculation on Allen Iverson's future will be the story of the summer.
Chicago Bulls - Reaching the playoffs two seasons in a row would help accelerate the growth of the young Bulls, who will benefit from the postseason experience while waiting for reinforcements. With tons of cap space and the rights to the Knicks' draft pick, which could be No. 1 overall, they should be looking at trades or signings of everyone from Garnett to Jermaine O'Neal to Harrington.
Utah Jazz - It would be surprising if the Jazz don't trade Carlos Boozer, who has put on some impressive performances since his return in February. Coach Jerry Sloan must make his annual decision on whether or not to come back; if he does, he can build on the improvement of center Mehmet Okur and rookie point guard Deron Williams to go with mainstay Andrei Kirilenko. On the whole, this is a promising young team.
Oklahoma City/New Orleans Hornets - Backup point guard Speedy Claxton will leave in search of a potential starting assignment elsewhere. Eventually they must come up with athletic big men to replace P.J. Brown, who will be entering the final year of his contract, and Chris Andersen, banned for flunking a drug test. But don't expect any big moves: The uncertainty over their long-term home and the blind support of the fans in Oklahoma City will probably encourage owner George Shinn to operate on the cheap.
4) Thomsen also has an interesting ! and A of sorts with Celtics coach Doc Rivers:
In his own words: Doc Rivers - Though Boston's coach has had a successful season -- helping transform Pierce into one of the league's top players and keeping the young Celtics competitive despite their inexperience -- Rivers' future with the team has been in doubt. He admits he has had a hard time being separated from his family, who have remained in Florida for the last two years to enable Rivers' daughter to complete her high school education. In this conversation with SI.com, Rivers addresses a number of topics, including speculation that he may ultimately be forced to leave the Celtics.
On coaching the Celtics' young players: "For me, the patience part has been a true test. There are times when I've gone nuts, and my assistant coaches have to remind me, 'These guys are improving, and you can't expect them to be what you want them to be at times.' But you see them do something at practice and you figure they'll do it at the next game, and when it doesn't happen it's frustrating. But then when they do it two games later, it's exhilarating."
On the Celtics' record in close games: "The toughest thing with young players, besides teaching them how to play, is teaching them the importance of the first quarter and the third quarter and having a sense of urgency during every play. We're 9-9 in games [decided by] three points or less. That's not all bad -- that's about average in the league."
On rumors that he may leave the Celtics after this season: "Family comes first, always, and it's tough being away from family. We've got one more year of this with my daughter, who's going to be a senior next year, and after that my family is going to move up here. "If the day came that my wife said, 'I can't take it any longer,' then I'd have to give it up. Walking away from this job would be very tough to do. You see how close we are with Wally [Szczerbiak] and Paul [Pierce], adding another veteran, adding a free agent -- that's not anything you want to walk away from. Right now I can tell you I'm not even thinking about doing that."
On whether it would hurt his long-term coaching career to walk away from this job: "I don't know if it would hurt my career. People know as far as coaching that it was a very good year [for the Celtics] in a lot of ways. I think people would understand where I'm coming from, and there have been people who walked away and who have come back. At end of the day, if I really thought I needed to walk away, I would do it anyway."
On 32-year-old Daryl Morey, the former Celtics VP of operations and information who was recently hired by the Rockets to succeed Carroll Dawson as GM: "He's very much like Billy Beane with all of the numbers [analysis]. He does a heck of a job. He helped us a lot with different numbers that I wouldn't have thought of. He helped [Celtics executive director of basketball operations] Danny [Ainge] even more as far as breakdowns with the salary cap, and statistical breakdowns that help you fit in salary numbers.''
On the differences between players of today vs. players of his generation: "The players today are superior athletically; I don't think it's even close. It comes close to the point of saying that they're also superior in skill. The older players were better as far as knowing how to play and how to win, and I believe the main reason is because they came to the league older and more mature. The other thing has to do with the rite of passage. The young players assume they have it, that sense of entitlement; there's things an older player would never have thought of saying or doing that a younger player today has no problem doing or saying -- that's changed, and not for the better. "The old 'I'll earn it' philosophy rather than 'I'm owed it' has changed a little bit. We all helped it: We talked up the young guys -- we coaches and media and fans -- and we draft more on potential than we draft on what's been accomplished. We even sign free agents based on potential, which was never done in the past. We've made it difficult for ourselves. "But I do believe that maturity will catch up at some point, at least I hope it will. I would think it would have to as these young guys get older."
On the lessons of his relationship with Tracy McGrady in Orlando that he applied to his relationship with Paul Pierce in Boston: "I realized that I had to commit to the way I wanted it and the way I thought was best for him to play, even if it would start out rocky. It was different with Paul because he was already established; Tracy hadn't even established how he was going to be great, and then Grant [Hill] went down and we had to force it on him. Paul had already [been on] All-Star teams and playoff teams, but my thought was I wanted him to be greater and the team to be greater. "Last year everybody kept talking about how rocky our relationship was, but Paul was trying to do what I wanted him do. It just wasn't paying off and he was frustrated, but he was trying. “ The thing that most impresses me with Paul -- and I don't take any credit for it -- is what he's done off the floor and in the locker room. He's made a conscious decision to be a leader, and part of it is because he's happy and he's enjoying himself."
On why he looks so miserable during games: "Danny says the same thing. I tell him, 'Danny, I'm loving this. Go look at a picture of me when I was playing, you'll see my face was a scowl then, too.' That's just who I am, and it's tougher with the young guys. It's like they're your kids -- you want to will them to see the things you see and do things right because you want them to win. You don't want them to have failures, and it definitely takes something out of you when they have them."
On his pick for the NBA Finals: "I've been picking San Antonio. I didn't think there was anybody who could beat them and I still don't, though Dallas can give them a run. The sleeper in the West is the Clippers. I wouldn't want to play them, because they have a couple of veterans and Elton Brand should be considered for the MVP. In the East, I do believe three teams can beat Detroit: Miami with Shaq can beat anybody; New Jersey, because they have those three guys; and the dark horse, [the team] that I don't think anyone wants to play, is Cleveland. Remember that Larry Hughes has been hurt all year, and if he gets healthy it could be interesting."
On his choice for MVP: "There are a couple of arguments: LeBron James for what he's done individually, Kobe for what he's done individually, Dirk [Nowitzki]. But I think Steve Nash has put that team on his back the whole season, and it's clear the difference between when he plays and when he doesn't play."
On Tracy McGrady's back injuries: "Tracy probably remembers this, but four years ago at practice he took his shirt off and I could see the curve in his back. This was right at the beginning of his back problems and I said, 'Listen, you're going to have back problems the rest of your life.' You could see the curve in his back; it's not hard to see, especially if you've had [a back injury] yourself. But I think he'll be able to be very good still. I had the one year when for six or seven months I couldn't play because of my back, but other than that I played a healthy career. The medicines and treatments are better than they were then, and I still think he'll be able to be very, very good."
On teams to watch for in the future (not including the Celtics): "Toronto, if they stay together, with [Charlie] Villanueva and [Chris] Bosh and the other kid, [Joey] Graham, they are a dangerous team. Any team with LeBron James is a team you're going to have to deal with for a long, long time. Chicago, it looks like they're going to make the playoffs and they're one player away from being there."
5) Mike Kahn of FOXSports.com looks at the teams going to the playoffs:
Playoff-bound teams' key issues
The NBA playoffs begin in two weeks, and just about every team slated for the postseason has an issue or two to clean up before the real season begins. Some of it is just about getting players healthy, however trite that may be. But when there are injuries to deal with it affects chemistry and that is an intractable problem if everybody isn't on the same page when the postseason begins.
So let's take a look at some of the key issues for some of the playoff-bound teams:
Look, it's the Clippers! - Yes, those really are the Los Angeles Clippers creeping up the Pacific Division standings at the first place Phoenix Suns with the best season the franchise has seen in more than 30 years and they were then playing in Buffalo. But it was apparent months ago that this team was not a novelty act. Power forward Elton Brand has been a solid MVP candidate all season, but it was the addition of warrior point guard Sam Cassell that changed the veneer of this club. They've never won a best-of-seven playoff series in their history, so it's imperative that coach Mike Dunleavy, Cassell and Brand turn up the heat the final over the final eight games to get an inkling of the way they'll have to play. They are not lacking talent, but only Cassell, Cuttino Mobley and Vladimir Radmanovic have playoff experience, and the latter two haven't tasted much success in that department. The term "quality possessions" will have to be explained by Dunleavy over and over again.
Steady as she goes - The two-time defending Eastern Conference champion Detroit Pistons have a three-game lead in the loss column to be the top seed throughout the playoffs and aren't likely to relinquish it. Should they win five of their last eight games it should keep them ahead of the San Antonio Spurs for the overall No. 1 seed and set a new franchise record with 65 wins. Their starting five — Chauncey Billups, Rip Hamilton, Tayshaun Prince, Ben Wallace and Rasheed Wallace — is the most accomplished in the NBA, but also plays the most minutes. The concern for players breaking down is always there heading into the playoffs, and you have to wonder if coach Flip Saunders will start cutting back on their minutes the final couple of weeks to rejuvenate them a little bit. Billups, Hamilton and Prince are all still young, but the two Wallaces could use enhanced breathers to essentially ratchet up the minutes and sharpness of Antonio McDyess, a key contributor.
Spurs' injury woes - Lost in the Spurs' battle to stay on the Pistons' heels all season has been that Tim Duncan has fought plantar fasciitis all season; Manu Ginobili has had various foot and ankle problems, and now Tony Parker is struggling with a sprained ankle. The Spurs have not been healthy from Day 1, and that should bode well as they get into the playoffs because they are actually getting better at this late date. This is where their depth and experience come into play. The additions of Michael Finley and Nick Van Exel spread the wealth of weapons deep into their bench, and wily coach Gregg Popovich has gradually added offense and versatility to this team that has already been the top defensive team in the league (with the Pistons) over the past half-dozen years or so. All that's necessary right now is for Pop to spread the minutes out to keep everybody sharp, and they shouldn't have any issues retaining the top seed in the West ahead of Dallas. San Antonio will be ready to peak in the postseason.
Turning up the Heat - Heat coach Pat Riley has gotten Shaquille O'Neal to trim down to 322 pounds over the past month or so from just less than 350. Now we'll see if the loss of weight can keep the feet, ankles and knees of the center nonpareil more stable heading into the playoffs. However, this team belongs to the spectacular Dwyane Wade at this point. But they need Shaq to be focused to dominate the boards and block shots. That doesn't necessarily fit into his repertoire if they don't feed him the ball — which they will. But he has to get into the game defensively.
Meanwhile, Riley must find some other offensive options if they are to challenge the Pistons — and maybe even the New Jersey Nets — once the playoffs begin. The defined roles just haven't panned out as well as they did last season, perhaps because he's brought in higher quality veterans who are not used to identifying their own roles. We'll see if all that talk from Antoine Walker and Gary Payton about team is more than lip service because the Heat needs those two vets badly, and the team needs to finish out the final eight games winning at least six of them to have some momentum.
Does 'Big D' stand for defense? - Not quite, but coach Avery Johnson does have the Dallas Mavericks playing the best defense since Mark Cuban bought the team and turned around the fortunes of the franchise. True, Dirk Nowitzki is the superstar, but they need to find other players to be dependable in their performance. Injuries have really hurt them the past month — Keith Van Horn, for example, is out for the season. But Josh Howard is back from hamstring problems and that is huge. The Mavericks have their role players at center and other positions fairly well carved out, but these final eight games will be about Jason Terry and Jerry Stackhouse as the consistent alternative scoring options to Nowitzki and contributing defensively when they're on the floor. Other than Howard and injured players Marquis Daniels and Adrian Griffin, the Mavs have still been lacking tough perimeter defense and that's what they need to get over the hump to challenge the Spurs.
Net result - The hottest team down the stretch has been the New Jersey Nets, winners of 13 in a row heading into Thursday night's home date vs. Charlotte. With Jason Kidd running the show for Vince Carter and Richard Jefferson, they have become one of the top teams in either conference the past month. But for them to seriously challenge the Heat in the second round of the playoffs — they did beat the Heat three out of four times during the regular season — Nenad Krstic must become more than just a nice scorer. True, Krstic is a young 7-footer, loaded with scoring skills, but with the Heat's power game and rebounding, Krstic must establish himself as a post factor — not just a player slipping outside for jumpers that Shaq will not contest. Krstic needs to work on rebounding and shot-blocking down the stretch if the Nets are to get to another level this season. They can obviously score and evidently coach Lawrence Frank has gotten through to the three big guns to play tougher perimeter defense. Center Jason Collins is too limited and Cliff Robinson too long in the tooth to make a difference — which essentially leaves it up to Krstic to add interior toughness to his game if they hope to be serious contenders in the East.
Suns are setting - Despite another spectacular season from Steve Nash and Shawn Marion, the Suns will have a very difficult time running anybody out of the of the playoffs. The return of Amare Stoudemire from knee surgery was aborted after three games and Kurt Thomas isn't expected back from a fractured foot until May. Perhaps that's good because they lost their mojo upon the return of Stoudemire. Now they have no doubt who they are — a full-speed team, flying up and down the floor every possession from here on out. Can they get by with Boris Diaw and Tim Thomas as their centers? It doesn't matter now. They've lost two in a row and six of 10 and have to get back to what was working all season. As long as Nash doesn't run out of gas, they'll be dangerous, but they can ill afford any flame out from Marion, who disappeared against the Spurs in the conference finals last season courtesy of Bruce Bowen. Marion has been spectacular since the All-Star break and has to keep cranking it up the final two weeks so youngsters Diaw and Leandro Barbosa are able to grasp what they're in for once the playoffs begin.
The King and his court - LeBron James has silenced his critics by leading the Cleveland Cavaliers to the playoffs for the first time since 1998 — when he was in junior high. Now their goal is to get to the second round for the first time since 1993, but it won't be easy. They haven't had the group coach Mike Brown wants on the floor together for more than a few minutes, and that could be an issue. Larry Hughes returned this week after missing three months with a mangled middle finger and center Zydrunas Ilgauskas has been bothered by a sprained ankle. Nonetheless, James has virtually assured the Cavs of home court in the first round. And it isn't really necessary for Ilgauskas to be in the game for Brown to get a good long look at James, Hughes and new arrival Flip Murray on the court together during the final two weeks of the regular season. That trio, plus Ilgauskas and Drew Gooden, should be their crunch-time lineup. With Eric Snow, Donyell Marshall and Anderson Varejao completing the rotation, they're not quite ready to challenge in the East. But they're getting closer.
Will the real Nuggets please stand up? - If anyone can figure out who these Denver Nuggets are, please notify coach George Karl. There is no questioning the special play of third-year forward Carmelo Anthony, who has gotten better and better all season. But the rest of the team is a complete mystery considering the shaky health Marcus Camby has rediscovered, and the inconsistency of Kenyon Martin coming off knee surgery. The backcourt has been erratic, at best, and it's tough to know what to make of the bench. Essentially, Anthony has carried this team to its first division title since 1988, albeit against weak (divisional) competition. But if they are to avoid losing in the first round to the Memphis Grizzlies (a team that has never won a playoff game), some other players had better step up now. Martin, Camby and Andre Miller are all capable of special play and had great expectations coming into this season. If they can gain some momentum, maybe the Nuggets will actually become a contender in the playoffs.
And in the end - It will all shake out between the Chicago Bulls and Philadelphia 76ers for the East's final playoff spot. The decision to deal Eddy Curry because of his heart issue at the start of the season killed the Bulls' offensive chemistry because they had no post game to work from like last season, when they nearly advanced to the second round. But coach Scott Skiles still has them playing rugged defense, and they've hung around long enough for a chance to slip into the postseason through the back door courtesy of the Sixers. As for these woebegone Sixers — who have lost 12 of 16 games — there is something fruitless about them on the floor. With Allen Iverson and Chris Webber and young talents such as the versatile Andre Iguodala, shot-blocker/rebounder Samuel Dalembert, and pure shooter Kyle Corver, there is simply no way Philly should have to struggle to make the playoffs. Maurice Cheeks is the team's fourth coach in three seasons, but he'd better figure out a way to salvage this season in the final two weeks or we're looking at a fifth coach, a new team president and a roster that could get blown up.
posted by Cornback at
11:18 a.m.
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