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Jan. 27, 2000 By Mike Kahn SportsLine Executive Editor |
As if their position in the standings isn't enough evidence, you'd better believe the Portland Trail Blazers are never far from the binoculars of the Los Angeles Lakers and vice versa.
Insider notes: Nets show impact of bad coaching
Now at the midway point of the NBA season, the Lakers entered Thursday's
games with a 1½-game lead over the Blazers in the Pacific Division and
nobody else in the NBA is within three games of the only teams playing
better than .750 ball.
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"The Lakers have had a great start and that 16-game winning streak," Blazers president Bob Whitsitt said. "They've got the best coach money can buy."
It was an interesting perspective about the Lakers hiring Phil Jackson at $6 million a pop from the team president who has the best team money can buy. Remember, Whitsitt was the architect of the deal that sent six players to the Rockets for Scottie Pippen, the former Bull who Jackson coveted but could not get because Lakers owner Jerry Buss didn't want to commit the long-term cash.
So now we march on, skidding into the Feb. 13 NBA All-Star Game, wondering if the defending champion Spurs are just too old and slow to even muster much of a fight with the Lakers and Blazers in the West. And speaking of old and slow, the Utah Jazz are still hanging around with the same rugged defense and John Stockton-Karl Malone pick-and-rolls that have carried them for a generation.
Oh yeah, there is an Eastern Conference playing basketball again this season. But the best record in the East -- currently held by the Miami Heat -- would be no better than tied for fourth in the West, which held onto a 117-96 advantage in games. Nine of the 14 teams in the West have winning records against the East and it doesn't seem likely to shrink any time soon. Still, the defending champion New York Knicks, the Indiana Pacers, and probably the Charlotte Hornets have the depth to douse the Heat in the run for the title in the East.
Who has dominated so far?
Well, that's the whole idea with a midseason review. We'll go over who would win all of the postseason awards if it were a truncated season (only slightly shorter than last year's). That's not to say these will be the same or different than the preseason picks.
After all, it's a sports columnist's prerogative to change his/her mind at any time, and never admit to being, uh, you know the word. So here is SportsLine's midseason look at the NBA, filled with the yawns of a league that has lost the captivation of its fans on the heels of last season.
Rule changes were implemented to increase scoring with less hands-on defense and minor alterations of the clock that would also provide more possessions, and that part has helped. While the aesthetic appearance of the game isn't much different, scoring per team has risen from 91.6 to 97.7 so far, and field-goal percentage has moved up to .447 from .437. But as football roars to a close, there is continued cause for alarm in attendance.
Part of it is due to fallout from last season's lockout, the other is because the NBA has the highest ticket prices in the pro sports marketplace. Of the 29 NBA teams, 18 have lost attendance from last season, the New York Knicks have stayed the same, and of the 10 teams showing a gain in attendance, only the Portland Trail Blazers, Toronto Raptors, Sacramento Kings and Minnesota Timberwolves aren't playing in brand new buildings.
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| Shaquille O'Neal is the most dominating player in the league this season.(AP) |
The Vancouver Grizzlies, whose attendance is down 3,500 per game compared to last season and who were just purchased by Chicago billionaire Michael Heisley, would have been on their way to St. Louis if the league hadn't fought off Bill Laurie's bid to leave Canada and the devaluing dollar.
Still, the globalization of the game continues and licensing remains in the billions. The NBA will eventually control its entire Internet business and reap huge dividends from that, as well as the multibillion dollar television deal with Turner and NBC. Salaries now have a lid thanks to the seven-year collective bargaining agreement that began last season, and everything is full speed ahead financially, except for the individual team owners and also the fans who can't afford to go anymore.
That said, let's look at the best of the first half of the 1999-2000 NBA season.
Most Valuable Player
Shaquille O'Neal, Los Angeles Lakers.
The Lakers have been the most dominant team and Shaq the most dominant player. With Phil Jackson now coaching, the Lakers are playing defense around Shaq, who is rebounding and blocking shots better than ever before. Also having strong first halves are Allen Iverson (Philadelphia), Grant Hill (Detroit), Gary Payton (Seattle), Karl Malone (Utah), Kevin Garnett (Minnesota), Alonzo Mourning (Miami) and Tim Duncan (San Antonio).
Least valuable
Juwan Howard, Washington Wizards.
Still has that $105 million contract with mediocre play.
Coach of the Year
Larry Brown, Philadelphia 76ers.
It's hard to fathom the Sixers are three games within the top spot in the Eastern Conference with a team of Iverson and, well, other stuff. All the while, Brown keeps swirling rumors of trading everybody, and the Sixers still hang in there playing for the prototypical mad scientist. Also in the running are Phil Jackson (Lakers), Jerry Sloan (Utah), Paul Westphal (Seattle), Alvin Gentry (Detroit) and Doc Rivers (Orlando).
Worst coach
Don Casey, New Jersey Nets.
... or is it Jimmy Lynam? ... Eddie Jordan? Actually, it's tough to tell who is coaching that team. Perhaps Stephon Marbury?
Executive of the Year
Bob Whitsitt, Portland Trail Blazers.
He added Scottie Pippen, Detlef Schrempf and Steve Smith while thinning the roster of problem children. They're a lot older, but certainly wiser. Now we'll see if Mike Dunleavy can coach this roster to a title. Also deserving consideration are Geoff Petrie (Sacramento), Wally Walker (Seattle), Sloan (considering there is nobody else to make personnel decisions) and John Gabriel (Orlando).
Worst executive
Garry St. Jean, Golden State Warriors.
Great guy, overmatched with owner who doesn't have a clue. They are loaded with old guys who can't play anymore. Then again, Pete Babcock blew up a playoff team in Atlanta and those guys might as well be playing at the "Y," as well as they're matched. Then there's always Elgin Baylor of the Clippers, but that's too easy, and we'd mention what a fine job Jerry Krause is doing with the Bulls considering they are closing in on double-figure wins, but he thinks the Internet is just for dumbbells anyway.
Rookie of the Year
Steve Francis, Houston Rockets.
Despite the complete upheaval of the team through trades and injuries, he led them to a recent six-game winning streak. Certainly a superstar in the making if he stays on track, but the Clippers' Lamar Odom is right there, too, and most people seem to like him better. Nobody is close to these two.
Worst rookie
Leon Smith, Dallas Mavericks.
The widely known folly of Don Nelson acquiring him from San Antonio, this high schooler from Chicago is one lost soul. Now they're trying to figure out how to escape his guaranteed, three-year, $1.4 million contract. We can only hope he gets some help, fast.
Most Improved Player
Jerry Stackhouse, Detroit Pistons.
Stack has gone from being a washout that nobody would touch into an exceptional complement to Grant Hill. After a rough personal year with family last season, he's gained focus and his talent is blossoming like those believed it would when he left North Carolina early. Also deserving consideration are Ruben Patterson (Seattle) and Austin Croshere (Indiana).
Most rapidly deteriorating
Hakeem Olajuwon, Houston Rockets.
Even before he had hernia surgery, the Dream had become a Nightmare. Now, he's hanging on as just another backup big man, coming off the bench recently behind "Pig" Miller.
Defensive Player of the Year
Kevin Garnett, Minnesota Timberwolves.
His arms and legs are measured in longitude and latitude, and he has the grace of Nureyev. He is the consensus player with whom every general manager would begin building a team. Also worth noting are Dikembe Mutombo (Atlanta), Alonzo Mourning (Miami), Gary Payton (Seattle) and Eddie Jones (Charlotte).
Worst defensive player
Isaiah Rider, Atlanta Hawks.
It's bad enough that he throws a fit every week or so about wanting the ball, or having a car problem to keep him out of practice, or playing for a loser. But on a team coached by Lenny Wilkens, defense is only a rumor to Rider. In fact, why would the 62-year-old Wilkens, who has the most coaching victories in NBA history, want to stay? The answer to that riddle is, the organization made these moves because they want him to leave.
Best sixth man
Tracy McGrady, Toronto Raptors.
He is the second coming of Penny Hardaway, playing a swing position with ball-handling skills, shooting ability and great athleticism. And he's still only 20. Also, Marcus Camby (New York) and Rodney Rogers (Phoenix) are making a big impact nearly every night.
Worst sixth man
Billy Owens, Philadelphia 76ers.
Throughout his career, Owens has been labeled as a versatile performer capable of doing a little bit of everything. Mostly, he does a lot of nothing.
All-NBA First Team
- F Tim Duncan, San Antonio
- F Kevin Garnett, Minnesota
- C Shaquille O'Neal, Los Angeles Lakers
- G Gary Payton, Seattle
- G Allen Iverson, Philadelphia
Second Team
- F Karl Malone, Utah
- F Grant Hill, Detroit
- C Alonzo Mourning, Miami
- G Jason Kidd, Phoenix
- G Eddie Jones, Charlotte