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Dark days

Phills' death brings league to sudden halt

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Posted: Friday January 14, 2000 02:23 AM

	• Storylines • Hot Hands & Cold Feet • Don't Miss/Don't Bother • Foul Play • Off the Bench

By Jennifer A. Cooper, CNNSI.com

A moment of silence preceded every NBA game on Wednesday. In fact, the idea of a game seemed secondary following the death of Bobby Phills, and the Charlotte Hornets are only now beginning to cope with the loss of their co-captain.

But while the league postponed two games in deference to his grieving teammates, Phills' wife issued a statement urging the Hornets to get back on the court, because that's what she says her husband would have wanted. Eventually they will. But it won't be the same.

Tragic turn
Bobby Phills' death was a shock. And the saddest part is that the life of a man who by all accounts was a very special individual was ended in such an unnecessary accident.
Streaking Lakers
What else can you say? If they keep this up, they're going to win an awful lot of games.
Return of MJ?
It's been reported that Michael Jordan is in talks to become part-owner and president of basketball operations for the Washington Wizards. While the best thing Michael could do for the team would be to suit up, it definitely couldn't hurt to change management.
HOT: Vancouver Grizzlies Lionel Hollins has to be close on Phil Jackson's heels for coach of the year. The Grizzlies are 4-2 in the past six games, a record highlighted by road wins in Miami and Toronto. They're also averaging 101.6 points per game, 12th in the league -- this is compared with their season average of 93.7, which is 25th.
COLD: Antoine Walker The Celtics forward has had a rough few games. In Boston's past five contests (in which the team went 2-3), Walker averaged 16 points (down from his season average of 20). But that's not the rough part. The rough part would be his hitting on only 32 of 96 shots (33 percent). He also turned the ball over seven times in Boston's loss to Vancouver on Jan. 10.
HOT: Toni Kukoc Since his return from the injured list, the Chicago forward has made his presence known, but not where you might think. Offensively, the Bulls are scoring only two more points per game over their past five (86.8, up from 84.7). But check out the suddenly stingy Bulls on the defensive end: In those same five games, they are surrendering a league-low 86.2 points per game, down from their season average of 95.2.
COLD: Brevin Knight The Cavs' starting point guard has gone ice-cold lately. He shot a painfully low 29 percent and averaged eight points in Cleveland's past six games.
HOT: Dan Majerle The Heat's elder statesman was on fire in his past three games. Majerle averaged 23 points on 72-percent shooting, including 17 of 25 from 3-point range.
COLD: Vince Carter A New Year's hangover? Toronto's popular guard went into something of a slump to begin 2000. In the last five games of 1999, Carter averaged 31 points per game on 49 percent shooting, and the Raptors went 4-1. In the first five games of January, he averaged 20 points on 40-percent shooting as his team went 1-4.
Don't Miss	Don't Bother
• Friday, January 14   • L.A. Lakers at Indiana   • The Pacers are tough at home (14-2), and the Lakers are tough anywhere (31-5). The Pacers should at least make them earn that next addition to the streak.	• Tuesday, January 18   • Portland at Houston   • This one probably looked really good to the schedule makers in October. But aside from Rockets fans getting to boo Scottie again, the game probably won't offer much.
Things that make you go 'Hmmm'
How did Vancouver go 4-1 on a road trip that included victorious stops in Miami, New Jersey, Toronto and Boston? Look no further than the foul line, where the Grizzlies shot 146 attempts, compared with 75 for their opponents. They made 121 of those free throws (.829 percentage), including a perfect 21 of 21 in New Jersey and 40 of 46 in Toronto.
Sound off!
Paul Lang, Kinston, N.C.: "I know it's early, and I know it's only one road trip. But when a Grizzlies fan sees a 4-1 road trip, that has to be cause for dancing on Robson Street! It may only be one road trip, but you Grizzlies fans have every reason to dance the night away. Phillip Waite, Kingston, Jamaica: "Why isn't Larry Johnson on the All-Star ballot?" Grandmama is actually wondering the same thing. Apparently, the only people who know for sure are David Aldridge of ESPN, Greg Boeck of USA Today, Ernie Johnson of Turner Sports, Peter May of the Boston Globe and the Professional Basketball Writers Association, and Peter Vecsey of the New York Post, NBC and Turner Sports. They made up the selection committee. Ravi, Mississauga, Ontario: "I have to say that the announcement of the U.S. Olympic basketball team is interesting. How do they expect to win the gold if they don't put the best possible team on the court?" Players who've been before don't go; players who don't want to go don't go; and players USA Basketball doesn't like don't go. That severely limits the selection. Your name: Your e-mail address: Your hometown: Enter your question or comment here:

 

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