Defense: Going into these Olympic games, there were a few basic concerns for Team USA on the defensive end. How would an undersized US team defend the post with only one and a half centers (Dwight Howard and Chris Bosh) and how would they effectively defend the perimeter against hot shooting European or Latin American teams? In the gold medal game against Spain, Team USA’s defense was horrific. While this team had gotten progressively better defensively throughout the Olympics, Team USA allowed Spain to shoot over 60% from the floor in the first half. Marc Gasol was having his way on the inside. Spain repeatedly ran alley-oop, pick and rolls which the U.S. was unable to stop. Juan Carlos Navarro scored at will with running jump shots, breaking down whoever was covering him. And future NBAer Rudy Fernandez, 7-13 from the floor, looked like he could have started for the Americans. In the final game, rather than rely on their defense, which to date had been their staple, Team USA counted on their offense to bail them out.
Kobe Bryant: Kobe Bryant, arguably the greatest player in the league, was saddled with foul trouble, picking up two fouls in the first quarter against Spain. In the second half with the game on the line, Kobe, rather than driving the lane, more often than not relied on his perimeter jump shot. While Kobe’s box score might not necessarily reflect a poorly played game, there were several times late in the game when Kobe settled for ill-advised jump shots. Long ones. While he ultimately proved to be the hero by hitting key baskets late, those could easily have gone the other way.
Size/Rebounding: Late in the game, Coach K opted to play Chris Bosh over a relatively ineffective Dwight Howard. Late in the second half, Marc Gasol shoved the considerably lighter Bosh to the ground like a rag doll without a foul being called. Team Spain easily out-rebounded the Americans 37-31 and was much more effective on the interior. Going in to the games, the U.S. knew size would be a problem. Dwight Howard, who looked like the second coming of Patrick Ewing in this year’s playoffs, was held scoreless in the first half against Spain.
Jump Shooting: As noted earlier, Kobe Bryant often took some ill-advised jump shots. LeBron James did as well. Despite a shorter three-point line, Team USA was relatively ineffective from the perimeter in the Olympic Games. When the US drove to the basket, a la Dwyane Wade in the gold medal game, then kicked it out, they shot a much higher percentage. Team USA had 28 three-point attempts in the final game. Had they made any fewer than 13 of those, Spain would have been breathing down their necks more than they already were. The three-pointers were much more effective off dribble penetration, not off isolation play.
Isolation: Team USA relied upon their athleticism to best their opponent. While the Spaniards ran a more motion-oriented offense, setting pick and rolls, resulting in easy baskets, the Americans would go possession after possession after possession without even setting a screen. Their final game was in many ways emblematic of what’s wrong with the NBA. Too many isolation, take-your-man-off-the-dribble plays, too little passing and too few pick and rolls. The Americans’ one-on-one game nearly cost them the gold.
Spain: Team Spain was good. Very good. And although Bill Walton pointed out that of the seven NBA players on Team Spain, not one would not have made the US roster, Team Spain was still loaded with talent. They played as good as could be expected, almost good enough to beat Team USA. Rudy Fernandez will add a nice element to an up-and-coming Portland Trailblazer team and 17-year old Ricky Rubio will eventually be an welcome addition to whatever NBA team drafts him when he becomes eligible. Team Spain’s coaching staff had a great game plan against the Americans. With Jose Calderon out due to injury, their backups repeatedly broke down Team USA’s perimeter defense. They narrowed the American lead to only two points in the fourth quarter.
Why Team USA won…..
Dwyane Wade: One blogger (mistakenly) listed Wade as one of the top five most overrated players in the league. This is the same Dwyane Wade who only years ago won Finals MVP in leading the Miami Heat to a title. Coming off the bench, Wade kept Team USA in the lead when Bryant and James were on the bench in foul trouble. Wade drove the lane allowing that to set up his perimeter game. He is arguably the third best player on this team. While Bryant received much of the glory with his late-game performance, it was Wade who led the team in scoring with twenty-seven points. When it mattered most, Wade kept the Americans in the game, scoring on his first seven attempts. Saddled with injuries for much of the 2007-8 season, Wade proved he’s back to form and one of the toughest covers in the league. Miami will gladly welcome him back this year as he proved he’s one of the best players in the game.
Coaching: While Coach K and staff may not have been overly effective in encouraging his players to run the pick-and-roll, they did preach team unity. Coach K openly ranked the honor of coaching USA basketball over his three national titles with Duke. As Wade pointed out, the coaching staff reminded them that the name on the back of the jersey was not as important as the three letters on the front. He convinced Team USA to put their egos aside, not an easy thing to do among NBA athletes. His rotations and substitutions were consistently appropriate. While Chuck Daly led the original Dream Team to a gold medal without ever calling a timeout, in 2008, international talent has clearly caught up to the modern American game. Coach K was unquestionably the right man for the job.
Unity: Seeing Kobe, LeBron, Carmelo, Wade and Dwight Howard giggle gleefully after the victory told fans everything they needed to know about the makeup of this team. They put aside NBA team rivalries, understanding that they were on the court as one nation, eager to prove that the NBA’s brand of basketball was the best on the planet. Seeing them all step up to the gold medal podium, arms intertwined, is a credit to both them and the coaching staff. They kept their eyes on the prize and represented their country with class, pride and dignity.
Composure: Team USA knew Spain (and Argentina) would stoop at nothing to get inside their heads. Spain was extremely physical. Marc Gasol was a terror on the interior. The game got chirpy to say the least. While Spain did their best to disrupt the American’s game plan, Team USA maintained their composure and it paid off in gold.
Depth: In what world would Dwyane Wade and Deron Williams come off the bench? Not even on the interplanetary team would Chris Paul not start at point guard. While international teams went to their bench to inferior talent, Team USA simply reloaded. It showed when Wade came in and scored at will while James and Bryant were forced to sit against Spain. When Carlos Boozer and Michael Redd get limited minutes, rest assured that was a deep team.
Kobe Bryant: While Kobe may have settled for ill-advised jump shots late in the game, he ultimately showed why he is the fiercest competitor in the NBA. Kobe’s late game heroics were largely responsible for US gold. Throughout the games, Kobe defended the opposing teams most skilled guard. His four-point play against Spain simultaneously fouled out Rudy Fernandez while sealing the gold medal. He scored 20 points and added six assists in the final game.
Determination: Dubbed the ‘Redeem Team,’ these twelve Americans were not going to be denied. They wanted to put USA basketball back on the map as the best in the world. After a loss to Spain, the NBA would have lost a great bit of luster. Team USA would not let that happen. So Kudos to all those who committed to USA Basketball for the past several years for reminding all us basketball jones that we proudly boast the best players on the planet.
I’m no school teacher, but I’d like to offer up some post-season grades to each NBA team that made the playoffs. Let is serve as a prequel to Nique’s exit interview questions, that is if we ever get a chance to see them.
Eastern Conference:
Atlanta Hawks: B
Let’s be real. Nobody has expected the Hawks to fare well ever since Dominique Wilkins retired. They’ve consistently been the cellar dwellers of the league. Yet it finally looks like Atlanta finally has a product they can be proud of. After taking the Boston Celtics to a seventh game, Atlanta fans should expect nothing less than playoff appearances for the next several years. They have a respectable young nucleus of players in Josh Smith, Joe Johnson and Al Horford. It will be interesting to see if they keep Mike Bibby and for how long. The next step for Atlanta will be actually winning a playoff series, but it appears they’re on the right track.
Washington Wizards: C-
The Wizards are still a team without an identity. Yes, they made the post-season, but is that enough? They’ve also done so the past few years and it seems they’re now regressing. The Wiz feature one of the league’s more dynamic players in Gilbert Arenas, but next year could be a critical one for both him and the franchise. Can he stay healthy? And if so, can he coexist with his teammates? I have a gut feeling things are going to get worse for Arenas before they get better. In this day and age, with the emergence of Deron Williams and Chris Paul, an NBA point guard cannot think shoot first and pass second and that’s not Arenas’ modus operandi. Caron Butler had a great season when on the floor, but I’m not convinced the tandem of Brendan Haywood and Antawn Jamison are the bigs that can carry a team to the next level. I predict Arenas will eventually play his way off this team and ultimately end up on a real contender. The question is who and will they want to take a gamble on The Hibachi.
Philadelphia 76ers: B-
There are contenders and there are pretenders. Nobody outside of the Philadelphia locker room gave this team much of a chance to win anything, yet this confident group of individuals gave the Detroit Pistons a run for their money. Similar to Atlanta, this team has a young nucleus of talent to build around. But they still have question marks. I’m not sure what it will take this team to get to the next level, but I think they’re still several pieces away. Andre Iguodala is a fine young player, but can he consistently be the go to guy for this franchise.
Toronto Raptors: D
In my opinion, the Raptors are at a crossroads. They have talent to build around in Chris Bosh, but the top teams in the East have set the bar high. The Celtics Big Three will be around for a few more years at least, LeBron isn’t going anywhere any time soon, the Magic have Dwight Howard and the Heat could eventually become a force with Dwyane Wade, Shawn Marion and either Derrick Rose or Michael Beasley. This means, in order to keep up with the joneses, Toronto will have to add some pieces. And it’s unlikely they’re going to be major players in the free agent market. This team looked flat against an Orlando team they should have competed with. Toronto has been surprisingly good over the past two seasons, but do their fans and ownership care enough to become a serious contender. I’m not so sure. Unfortunately, Sam Mitchell will ultimately take the fall for a team that nobody would be able to win with.
Cleveland Cavaliers: C
The clock ticks loudly in Cleveland. This poor city cannot sleep for rumors that King James will eventually leave this franchise for greener pastures. Until then, they’ll have to keep him happy by surrounding him with talent. While anything less than an NBA title would have been a disappointment for the Cavs, those goals were unrealistic. They were the third or fourth best team in the East, and will probably be so again next season. Both Detroit and Boston are clearly better than the Cavs. Despite LBJ’s performance in Game 7, this team was not getting by Boston. In the fire sale that was this NBA season, the Cavs added Ben Wallace (useless), Joe Smith (functioning), Delonte West (decent, but not a starter) and Wally Szczerbiak (white). The experiment of starting two centers, Z and Wallace, failed miserably. And at times, it looked like Mike Brown didn’t know who to play. Should he put in Joe Smith for offense or Anderson Varejao for rebounding? What Ben Wallace gives you defensively (which isn’t all that much these days), he takes away in offensive presence. I mean the guy was four feet away from the basket and still didn’t shoot it. I give credit to the franchise for making an effort, but those players were not what this team needed. Next time, use some logic when making acquisitions. Whatever they do in the off-season, they better do it quickly and wisely for that ticking clock is only going to get louder. Every season the Cavs come up short will make playing in Madison Square Garden all that more palatable for King James.
Orlando Magic: C+
And yet we have another Eastern Conference team at a crossroads. Perhaps Orlando should play Cleveland in a seven-game series for the Eastern Conference’s bronze medal, because neither of these two teams was going to get any closer than that. The Magic will ultimately have to find themselves a point guard to play alongside Dwight Howard. Carlos Boozer has Deron Williams. Tyson Chandler has Chris Paul. Even Bosh has TJ Ford. The jury is still out (or is it) on whether Jameer Nelson is their point guard of the future. Additionally, Rashard Lewis and Hedo Turkoglu are offensive minded, non-rebounding machines. Howard needs help on the blocks and he’s not getting it. While this team has gotten better in recent years, in order to compete with the Clevelands, Detroits, and Bostons of the world, the Magic still have to add pieces to their puzzle.
Detroit Pistons: C (if they lose to Boston); A (if they beat Boston)
Another season… another Eastern Conference Finals appearance for Detroit. That wasn’t good enough for Atlanta Braves fan (fourteen division titles, one World Series championship) and it’s likely not good enough for Pistons fans either. It’s unclear whether Flip Saunders is capable of winning a title with this team and unfortunately for him, he’ll always be living in the shadow of Larry Brown, who may have only won his title by running into a dysfunctional Lakers team at the time. However, this Pistons team did not lose BECAUSE of Saunders. You can’t point to any specific coaching blunders that justify him losing his job. If anything, they’ll lose (again) in the Eastern Conference Finals because of an unhealthy Chauncey Billups, but it’s more likely that Boston is just the better team. Joe Dumars will have some questions to answer in the off-season. Does he keep this team intact and what’s needed to get this team back to where they need to be?
Boston Celtics: A- (if they beat Detroit); D (if they lose to Detroit)
Danny Ainge’s bold off-season moves paid off in more than just a GM of the Year award. Along with Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen have the Celtics one win away from the NBA Finals. The pieces of this franchise fit nicely together. Ainge didn’t just look at whoever was out there and land players that didn’t match, a la Cleveland. Boston’s bench is capable and complementary to their core unit. And Rondo has proven he’s more than capable of leading this team. The only question that remains is whether they’ll be able to beat the purple and gold. While anything less than a title will be disappointment for those in the Boston locker room, a Finals appearance should still be considered a successful season.
It happens every year. I felt its onset again this week. Its advance is inevitable. I’m speaking, of course, of my post-NBA season depression. Perhaps I should consult Brooke Shields on how to cope.
Yes, I know we’re smack dab in the middle of the NBA playoffs. The action is (finally) starting to get good, and I should just enjoy it while it lasts. But I still feel it coming on. Nothing on television to watch until football season. Ugh!!! That’s right, I said it. Baseball’s unwatchable.
Now, back to the NBA. I was just one among many who was eagerly awaiting this year’s post-season. With the parity and talent in the league and the intense competition, particularly in the West, these playoffs promised to be among the best ever.
So far it has failed to live up to the expectations. Teams once thought to be on a par with one another have distanced themselves from the pack, often in impressive fashion, sometimes inconsistently. While the Lakers look like the team to beat, the Celtics have yet to win on the road, dropping three in Atlanta and one in Cleveland… by 24!!!
Very few games have been memorable, if even competitive. The majority have been blowouts (65% of the games so far have been decided by ten points or more!!!). After the double overtime Game One of the Phoenix-San Antonio series, I thought for certain we were in for one heck of a ride. As is turns out, that has been the only overtime game so far (until today... finally). Game Three of the Spurs-Hornets was an instant classic with Parker battling against Paul. Other than that, the playoffs have been relatively lackluster, particularly after the hype and anticipation surrounding them.
Let’s recap the inactivity to date, shall we? In the first round, the Lakers seamlessly dispatched Denver, a talented, yet defenseless team in four straight games. Few of those games were competitive, if even worth watching. The smallest margin of victory was by six points in the final Game Four. The Lakers won every other game by fourteen or more.
New Orleans dismissed Dallas, leading to the immediate firing of their head coach. Three of their four wins came by double digits. While Houston made every effort to give Utah a series, most fans knew that without Yao Ming, the Rockets would have a tough time advancing. Once again, Tracy McGrady finds himself watching the playoffs from home in mid-May. And a Suns-Spurs series that so many fans looked forward to saw the Suns set in five. Their coach now works in Madison Square Garden.
In the East, Orlando handled Toronto who made Dwight Howard look like Wilt Chamberlain. While the Wizards and 76ers both took their opponents to six games, the series favorites were never in serious jeopardy of being upset. Same with Boston. Although Atlanta took advantage of Boston’s inability to win on the road and took the Celtics to seven games (the only Game 7 we’ve had so far), Boston won that yawner by 34 points.
Similarly, the second round has been anti-climactic. Only three games in this second round have been decided by single digits. While Utah has played well at home, are Lakers fans really concerned about dropping this series? Detroit has again created mismatches against the Magic and beat them without employing the services of their starting point guard. The Celtics have more talent than Cleveland and have made LeBron look human… in Boston. The only real watchable series is San Antonio-New Orleans and even those first three games have all been decided by ten or more points. In fact, 37 of the 57 games played to date have been decided by double digits. So much for TNT knowing drama!
Don’t get me wrong, I’ll be watching regardless. I got a basketball jones and I have to feed the mo nkey. But I would like to see some more competitive basketball (Note: As I write this, the Lakers have made a ten-point, fourth quarter lead disappear in the final minutes… finally!) Maybe they’re weeding out the pretenders and saving the best for last. Celtics-Lakers? Could be. As long as the Celtics don’t lost a game at home, they’ll be hoisting the O’Brien trophy. Even that doesn’t quite seem as predetermined as it was a few months ago.
Regardless, I sure could use a few more Game Sevens thrown in there to postpone the summertime and get my heart racing a little bit. I guess I shouldn’t look a gift horse in the mouth. Even though the games have been anti-climactic, it’s still better than the alternative.
After watching the Orlando Magic’s first two playoff games against the Toronto Raptors, one thing has become obvious: Dwight Howard is playing like a man amongst boys. In his first two post-season appearances, Howard has tallied near unprecedented numbers: 25 points, 22 boards and five highlight-reel blocks in Game One, followed up with an equally impressive 29 and 20 in Game Two. For the series, he’s made 20 of his 30 shot attempts. His consecutive 20/20 playoff performances equal those of recent, all-time greats: Barkley, O’Neal, Duncan and Garnett.
Most knowledgeable basketball fans will agree that the five greatest centers of all-time, in no particular order, are Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Hakeem Olajuwon and Shaquille O’Neal. It’s difficult for any other center to crack that top five. Numerous Hall Of Fame centers hover around that second tier of career big men: Moses and Mikan, Reed and Robinson. And how can we forget Patrick Ewing. Patrick is currently on the Orlando Magic payroll, coaching young Dwight, much like Abdul-Jabbar serves as a mentor for Laker Andrew Bynum.
Most will also agree that Patrick Ewing probably cracks the top ten centers of all-time. However, Howard’s recent performance begs the question. When it’s all said and done, will Dwight Howard have a better overall career than Patrick Ewing?
It’s a fair comparison. Both big men were drafted number one overall, Ewing in 1985 and Howard in 2004. Both were expected to bring their franchise back to prosperity. And both were the focal point of their team’s offense.
Despite never winning a title with the Knicks, Patrick Ewing was dominant. His Knickerbockers simply had the unpleasant misfortune of running into Michael Jordan year after year. Patrick was voted one of the NBA’s 50 Greatest Players of All-Time. He averaged 21 points and 10 rebounds a game for his career. Patrick was good. Real good.
That being said, I don’t EVER remember Ewing taking over a game or being as dominant as Dwight has been over the past several nights. While two games may be a bit quick to judge, Howard has elevated his post-season play to frightening proportions. If he continues at this pace, Orlando will be a very difficult out for any team without a passable center.
Comparing their first four years, Patrick outscored Howard while Dwight hauled in more rebounds. Howard’s numbers may be inflated as he never had a power forward like Charles Oakley and Anthony Mason to absorb much of his rebounding load. That doesn’t change the fact that Dwight is getting those rebounds rather handily. Additionally, Patrick’s build was nowhere near that of the freakish Howard. Howard outweighs Ewing’s playing weight by 25 lbs., 265 to 240. It’s safe to assume that’s mostly muscle mass. The rim can so attest. Patrick had better range and could step out and hit the occasional 17-footer, particularly late in his career. It’s too early to see if Howard can develop that type of game (Shaquille never did). For now, he’s strictly power.
To say with any certainty that Dwight Howard will be a better overall player than Patrick after only four years in the league is pure speculation. Howard, drafted out of high school, entered the league at a younger age than Patrick Ewing, who won a national championship at Georgetown, so assuming longevity, his career numbers may be better. Patrick played for 17 years. Howard will be fortunate to play that long. As he ages, he’ll have to adjust his game as Patrick did. Winning the first championship in Orlando Magic history would likely vault Howard into consideration as one of the league’s greatest centers, for as sports fans, we’re fickle, often judging players by the number of rings on their fingers rather than their overall contribution to the game.
The debate makes for good fun. The fact that we're even having this discussion means Dwight Howard is doing something pretty special right now. At this pace and with successful managerial decisions, Howard may have a long fruitful career in Orlando. It will be up to management to keep him surrounded with talent and not lose him as they have their superstars in the past like Shaquille O’Neal or Tracy McGrady. Howard may or may not become the player that Patrick Ewing was. One thing is for certain, however. He’ll be a joy to watch tearing down the rim in the meantime.
The following article will be published in the May issue ofCampus Talk, a magazine local to Tampa, Orlando, Gainesville and Tallahassee. If you're a local, pick one up and increase their circulation. They also have lots of pictures of pretty girls for extra motivation. Please excuse the brevity, fellow basketball joneses... had to keep it to 750 words or less.
Lakers. Celtics. These franchises dominated the NBA in 1980s. This year’s Finals might see the return of that storied rivalry.
If you like drama, this post-season will not disappoint. Celtics-Pistons. LeBron James. Shaq versus Kobe. The emergence of Chris Paul. The rock steady San Antonio Spurs. The fact the league features no clear cut champion or MVP illustrates how competitive the game has become. Furthermore, a flurry of unprecedented roster reshuffling should make this post-season the most thrilling in recent history.
While Boston has ruled the East, Western teams have jockeyed for playoff position in a league now characterized by its parity. Whoever hoists the O’Brien Trophy at season’s end is anyone’s guess.
Boston Celtics: The off-season addition of Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett instantly propelled Boston into title contenders. Boston should boast home court advantage throughout the playoffs and although the Fleet Center doesn’t have the mystique of the old Boston Garden, beating the Celtics four times in seven games will prove difficult in any venue.
Detroit Pistons: Detroit has been a pillar of consistency, returning Billups, Hamilton, Prince and Wallace. If any team threatens Boston in the East, it will likely be Detroit, who have a chip on their shoulder after losing to Cleveland last year.
Orlando Magic: While many have already crowned Boston and Detroit, the three-headed frontcourt of Lewis, Howard and Turkoglu could present mismatches for other Eastern opponents.
Cleveland Cavaliers: LeBron James single-handedly deflated Detroit last year in a playoff performance for the ages. The Cavs added Ben Wallace, Joe Smith and Wally Szczerbiak to give him some support.
Atlanta, Washington, Toronto, and Philadelphia round out the remaining Eastern conference playoff teams, but should not pose much of a threat. The Western Conference, however, is rife with teams that can ALL be the last team standing.
New Orleans Hornets: Having played most of last season in Oklahoma City due to Hurricane Katrina, few expected greatness from the Hornets, however, MVP candidate Chris Paul has been nothing less than sensational. New Orleans has flirted with the West’s best record all season.
Los Angeles Lakers: L.A. pulled off a coup, obtaining Pau Gasol from the Memphis Grizzlies. Andrew Bynum’s return to the lineup, along with Gasol, Lamar Odom and Kobe Bryant pose one of the most formidable rosters in the league.
Phoenix Suns: The Gasol acquisition sent a shockwave through the NBA as teams league-wide made moves to compete. Enter the Big Aristotle. GM Steve Kerr brought Shaquille O’Neal to Phoenix to add some size to their lineup. At 36, Shaq is no longer the player he once was, but his presence frees up Amare Stoudamire to wreak havoc in the lane. An eventual match-up pitting O’Neal and former teammate Kobe Bryant is enough to make even the fringe fan salivate.
San Antonio Spurs: Winners of three of the last five championships, the San Antonio Spurs quietly prod along with their unassuming and disciplined play. Foreign born Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili continue to prove that basketball is more than ever a global game.
Utah Jazz: Deron Williams and Carlos Boozer led Utah to the Western Conference Finals last year. There’s no reason to think they can’t repeat that same success. Although it would be ironic for Jerry Sloan to finally win a title with this team when he couldn’t with Stockton and Malone.
Dallas Mavericks: The runners-up two years ago have had a spell of bad luck. They were defeated by 8th seed Golden State last year and Dirk Nowitzki is sidelined with a ankle and knee sprain. Although Mavs owner Mark Cuban added Jason Kidd, only time will tell whether that duo can lead Dallas to their first title.
Denver Nuggets: Despite being the worst defensive team in the league, nobody wants to face Allen Iverson, Kenyon Martin, Carmelo Anthony and Marcus Camby. If coach George Karl can reign in this talent, Denver could do some damage.
Houston Rockets: The Rockets were dealt a blow when they lost Yao Ming for the season, however, in his absence, they still won 22 consecutive games. Role players like Shane Battier, Luis Scola and Rafer Alston have assisted Tracy McGrady in the recent Rocket success, but Houston will be hard-pressed to compete for a title without their big man.
May and June promise to showcase the most competitive basketball in recent memory. And although the NFL still rules the nation, the NBA’s post-season will unquestionably feature some spectacular moments to add to the league’s rich history.
Back in the day, when I used to reside in the City of the Rat, I had a friend that ran a local radio station. Let’s call him Brotha E. Now as a result of his high-standing in the community, and the fact that his radio station aired Orlando Magic games, Brotha E would often score free tickets into the pre-Dwight Howard O-Rena. These were the T-Mac days, always entertaining since you never knew when Kid Auburndale was going to go off for 40. Plus it was always enjoyable to see if Grant Hill’s ankle boot and crutches matched his $3,000 Armani suit.
As we were generally granted media passes along with our tickets, Brotha E, the Don Calvino and I would strut in through the back hallways of the arena and walk around like we owned the place, sneaking from bar to bar to ensure we were properly liquid-aided throughout the evening’s festivities. The Magic were competitive back then, but as we now know since T-Mac has still never led his team out of the first round of the playoffs, how competitive could they be.
We must have gone to about twenty home games that year, watching most of them in the lower bowl and wagering with other Magic fans as Bo Outlaw (career 52% free throw shooter) would ceremoniously brick both attempts from the stripe.
Well, one night late in the season, the Magic were looking to make a playoff push and needed a veteran presence on the perimeter, so they decided to sign Dee Brown to a 10-day contract. This was obviously before his San Antonio Silver Stars and ESPN analyst days. That night, Dee came off the bench and gave the Magic the boost they needed to win the game, hitting some late, clutch three-pointers.
All of Orlando was in good spirits, as were the Treacherous Three as we were eight whiskeys in, but who’s counting. Since we still had our media passes, we decided to check out the post-game press conference. Doc Rivers was still coaching the Magic at the time.
Considering the Magic had just won the ballgame, the press room was surprisingly morose. Rivers, giddy from the victory, sat in front of the cameras and reporters waiting for someone to ask a relevant question, yet the press failed to oblige. The press room was morgue-like as if the Magic had just been defeated. That was until Brotha E, standing at the back of the room, Jack and Coke in hand and press pass dangling unevenly around his neck, shouted out “Coach! Dee Brown! Quality minutes!”
A smile instantly came to Doc’s face as if this was exactly the question he’d been anticipating. He proceeded to spend the next ten minutes elaborating on what an acquisition Dee had been, what big shots he hit and how he was just what they needed. After all, Dee did help win the game. Perhaps the press hadn’t been paying attention. The Don, already nervous about sneaking into the press conference, looked on in amazement as Brotha E, as if sprinkling fairy dust with a single statement, had brought the Magic coach to life. Brotha E has that effect on people. It was much like those Coors Light commercials where the guys standing in the back of the room ask coaches questions that they give canned answers to. If only we had thought of that first. Oh wait, we did.
Museums exhibit priceless works of art. The world boasts countless objects of near perfection. Last night, fans were witness to one more: the Team USA’s first quarter against the Mexican national team.
Already boasting a 4-0 record in this year’s FIBA Americas Tournament, Team USA has been slowly reestablishing its international dominance…. and doing so with style and force.
For those unfamiliar with FIBA tournament rules, teams play four ten minute quarters (as opposed to twelve in the NBA) with fewer stoppages in play than the average NBA game as well. Monday night, Team USA scored 45 points in ten minutes.
Briefly watching the sparse SportsCenter highlights does not do this team justice, for there’s no way to effectively capture the vertical dunk-fest that has become Team USA’s dominance of this year’s FIBA tournament. So here’s an attempt to recap a near perfect first quarter, showcasing the world’s greatest basketball players playing an unbeatable level.
Starting for Jason Kidd, Chauncey Billups set the tone early scoring five points in the game’s first thirty seconds, first by launching a three-pointer and then, by converting a fastbreak lay-up off a LeBron James steal.
Off a missed Mexican lay-up, Amare Stoudemire kicked the rebound out to Billups on the wing. Billups took one dribble, fed the ball up-court to LeBron, who drove, drew a double team and one-handed it out to Kobe on the left wing. Kobe spotted Carmelo Anthony (who’s been making a living in the paint this tournament) under the basket for the bucket and the foul. All five players touched the ball in a possession that took only eight seconds, longer than it took to read that paragraph.
At the 6:41 mark, Carmelo nailed a three-pointer, giving him eight of Team USA’s fifteen points.
After turning the ball over the previous possession, Kobe Bryant rattled home a shot from about five feet behind the three-point line.
At the 5:20 mark, Jason Kidd entered the game. Cue the highlight reel.
LeBron pulled down a strong, one-handed rebound from above the rim, found Kidd running up the floor, who then got it back to LeBron on the right wing. LeBron then took THREE Mexican players to the hole and drew the foul. That possession took another brief, eight seconds. In response to LeBron’s dunk, Bill Walton muttered “We’re used to that very much. The Mexican players… I’m not sure that they’ve EVER seen anything quite like LeBron James."
In the first five minutes of the quarter, Team USA missed one shot attempt.
Quadruple-teamed in the lane, LeBron spotted an open Mike Miller, who, rather than opting for the three, immediately whipped the ball to an open Amare Stoudamire for a signature two-handed dunk.
Mike Miller drove the lane, attracting double-team coverage, but found a cutting Jason Kidd, who threw a two-handed touch pass to Carmelo behind the arc. Carmelo drained it.
Dwight Howard, after being fouled, missed his second free throw attempt, which was then rebounded by Carmelo Anthony, who out-hustled three Mexican big men for the ball.
Then, perhaps the most obscene play of the half… Carmelo grabbed a rebound from an errant Mexican three-point attempt and kicked the outlet pass to Jason Kidd running up the right side of the floor. Kidd took one dribble and from BEHIND THE HALF-COURT LINE, threw a strike to Dwight Howard who snuck behind two Mexican defenders, then seemingly jumped over them for the alley-oop.
After consecutive dunks by Carmelo and Dwight Howard, Bill Walton appropriately proclaimed “this is getting out of hand quickly.”
Michael Redd launched a three-pointer… and hit. So far, Team USA has only missed two shots in the quarter.
On a commercial break that could not come soon enough for Team Mexico, Better Basketball offers a video, giving viewers the opportunity to “learn shooting from perhaps the best shooter in basketball history.” I’m excited about the possibilities until I learn they’re talking about J.J. Reddick.
Deron Williams played the two-man game to perfection with ‘Melo in the post, who then proceeded to dunk over the man covering him.
After another dunk, Carmelo finished the quarter with sixteen points on 6-6 shooting.
Fittingly, as the clock wound down, Deron Williams threw another alley-oop to Dwight Howard, who flushed it emphatically at the buzzer.
Team USA finished the quarter up 45-23. Ten minutes, forty-five points. To my recollection, Dream Team Jr. missed a total of four shots.
Critics will say not to get excited, that Team USA has only played Venezuela, the Virgin Islands, Brazil and Mexico, and that Argentina still remains on the docket. But after years of recent disappointment and underachieving, the Americans are playing as expected. Coach Krzyzewski is effectively managing his players’ minutes, while simultaneously keeping their eyes on the prize. Kobe Bryant is shutting down opponents. The American players have all checked their egos at the door and are feeding off each other’s talent.
Yes, the United States is turning the ball over, but that’s to be expected with their up-tempo style of play. At this pace, Team USA is looking invincible and is one more blowout victory closer to their ultimate goal: an Olympic gold medal.
The following point/counter-point article will hopefully become a running series between me and fellow Fox Sports contributor, Bluegrass Lady. Much like those infamous duos who came before us, i.e., Jane Curtain & Dan Aykroyd, Barbara Walters & Harry Reasoner, and the Captain and Tenille, we will look to debate, discuss and provide alternative perspectives in the world of sports.
Hate is a strong word.
I like to think I don’t hate anything. Sure, as an adolescent sports fan, you grow up hating your rival with a passion. As a young Red Sox enthusiast, the first athlete I remember hating was Reggie Jackson. The guy would just destroy Boston. But as I matured (on paper) and grew older, I dropped the hatred bag and learned to appreciate the competitive nature of sports. Perhaps it’s because I’ve had the good fortune of seeing all my favorite teams finally win championships: the Boston Red Sox, the Florida Gators, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Sure I still wince when I see Bobby Bowden and Phil Fulmer, but I wouldn’t say I hate them.
That brings us to Grant Hill.
I remember watching Grant at Duke, a supreme talent. Despite Christian Laettner’s success, we all know those Duke teams revolved around Grant Hill. Back when the Gators were still a fledgling basketball program, Florida had the (mis)fortune of facing Duke in the 1994 Final Four. While the Gators led Duke at halftime in that contest, the Blue Devils came back to torch UF in the second half. Grant Hill abused defenders that night pouring in twenty-five points, most of them coming late in the game when it mattered most. Duke would go on to lose to Arkansas in the championship game that year, but it was obvious that Grant was the best player on the floor. His talent was to be admired and appreciated, despite the fact that he just single-handedly destroyed any Gator hopes for a first national championship.
Fans expected Grant to be a superstar in the NBA and rightfully so. Drafted third overall by Detroit, he didn’t disappoint early on. In six full seasons, the key word being full, Hill averaged well over twenty points per game, including 20 points in his rookie campaign and 26 in his final season with the Pistons. He was a model of consistency and class on and off the court. Son of NFL legend Calvin Hill, Grant seemed destined for greatness, the poster child for the post-Jordan NBA. When the Orlando Magic inked him to a multi-year deal, the future looked bright in sunny, Central Florida. With Hill, they landed a superstar athlete and the veteran leadership they needed to make them contenders once again in the Eastern Conference.
That was before ankle-gate.
In 2000, Orlando signed Hill to a multi-year $93 million contract. Hill, who was once viewed as the future face of the franchise, soon had his career shortened by a total of FIVE ankle surgeries and an additional surgery to repair a hernia.
In his first two seasons in Orlando, Hill played a total of 18 games. In fact, for the duration of his tenure with the Magic, Hill only played a total of 200 games. That translates to over $450,000 per game actually played!!! That’s Roger Clemens kind of money.
Ironically, Hill’s contract crippled the Magic franchise as much the ankle surgeries did in Hill. Capped out and unable to land an exemption from the league, Orlando was unable to sign any big name players for the duration of the contract.
This year, Hill’s deal finally expired, allowing Orlando to once again become players in the free agent market. Grant Hill, however, now healthy, has decided to sign a short term, four million dollar contract with Phoenix, a figure Orlando would certainly have matched to keep him in pinstripes. A shell of his former self, in 65 games last season, he averaged fourteen points and four rebounds per game. Compare that to his third full season in the NBA where he nearly averaged a triple-double (21, 9 and 7). He still contributed on the floor, however, and with the signing of Rashard Lewis, Hill would have been surrounded by more talent than in recent years.
No one ever questioned Hill’s determination to get healthy and back on the court. Fans knew he wanted to play, but was unable to due to the slow healing process of his reconstructed ankle. With Hill’s departure, the city that once welcomed him with open arms is now disappointed and angered by the fact that Hill, now healthy, has jumped ship to play for a contender.
We’ve learned that loyalty means very little in sports these days. Long gone are the Cal Ripkens, Carl Yastrzemskis or Ernie Banks who play their entire careers with one franchise. Sure we still have Brett Favre, but last time I checked, Favre has been quite vocal recently about looking to play elsewhere if his team didn’t surround him with talent. These days, the player is boss. He (and his agent) determine his net worth and what uniform he wears, not the other way around.
The Grant Hill scenario, however, is different. Never before has a franchise nearly mortgaged itself to sign a top-tier athlete, only to lose him for the entire length of that contract, to then have him sign with another team when healthy. The Magic backed Hill. The frustrated, and somewhat naïve, fans supported him, with the hopes that eventually Hill’s heel would heal. After cashing that last big check, Hill now leaves Orlando for Phoenix’s up-tempo style which may or may not suit his conditioning and get him a title.
Shaquille O’Neal left Orlando and was booed with regularity when he returned to the O-Rena. Even T-Mac heard some jeers when he returned. But you can bet your bottom dollar when Grant returns to Orlando next season, he’ll hear it loud and clear from the fans that had his back… and his ankle for so many years.
Grant Hill was always perceived as a class character. It turns out he’s just like every other professional athlete. Like I said earlier, I don’t hate the guy.
Early rumors indicate that Seattle Supersonic forward Rashard Lewis will sign a five-year, $80 million contract with the Orlando Magic. The deal might cost the Magic more than that if they end up working a sign-and-trade deal with Seattle.
This off-season, the Orlando Magic were finally able to become a major player in the NBA free agent market as the Grant Hill contract that held the franchise hostage for so long has finally expired. Recent word is that Grant Hill wants to play for Phoenix (who doesn’t?) who would probably offer Hill close to the league minimum if they have any interest at all. Although Hill was second on the Magic in scoring last year, many Magic fans would probably be just as glad to see Hill, his expired contract and his reconstructed ankles hit the road.
Early reactions in Orlando about the Lewis signing are mixed. While Dwight Howard lobbied extensively for the Magic to sign Lewis, is Lewis the answer to their problems? In recent years, Lewis has been an effective scorer in Seattle, playing alongside Ray Allen. Lewis has increased his scoring average every year for the past four years, averaging a career high 22.4 ppg last year. But the lineup of Howard, Lewis, Hedo Turkoglu, Jameer Nelson and Tony Battie hardly strikes fear into the hearts of Orlando's Eastern Conference foes. By landing Lewis, it is also unlikely the Magic are able to resign Darko Milicic.
While Orlando made the playoffs last year, they finished the season two games under .500 (40-42) and got swept out of the playoffs by a Detroit team that ended up falling short of the Eastern Conference Finals. While still clearly anemic compared to the talent out West, the Junior Varsity will have several up-and-coming teams that should vie for the post-season. The Bulls, Pistons, Nets, Heat and Cavaliers should all be considered playoff shoe-ins, leaving the remaining teams to fight for only three playoff spots. Charlotte, Atlanta and Boston all improved their rosters dramatically on draft day. The Knicks may make a push with Zach Randolph. The Toronto Raptors proved their mettle last season. And Washington with Gilbert Arenas cannot be discounted. In other words, the signing of Lewis does not guarantee Orlando a playoff spot.
There will still be plenty of free agent signings this off-season, with the whereabouts of superstars Kobe Bryant and Kevin Garnett still unknown. The Magic may still have some more signings up their sleeves. But this is a far cry from the Orlando Magic that in one off-season attempted to sign Grant Hill, Tracy McGrady and Tim Duncan in one fell swoop. For a team that was desperately in need of a perimeter scorer last year, the Magic did well to sign Lewis. But Orlando is still a far cry away from being a serious contender in the Eastern Conference.
