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New blood Derek Anderson, Donyell Marshall spark their new teams
Updated: Monday March 26, 2001 9:33 AM
Sports Illustrated senior writer Phil Taylor will answer your NBA questions every week during the season. Click here to send him a question. Can someone please explain to me exactly what Lakers coach Phil Jackson was trying to accomplish in making some of his recent statements about Kobe Bryant ? I can't figure out what Jackson was thinking when he told Chicago Sun-Times columnist Rick Telander that he had heard Bryant used to sabotage his high school games, intentionally keeping them close so he could have a chance to take over the game and be the hero at the end. Bryant, annoyed, said that rumor was ridiculous. Jackson basically painted Bryant as a selfish player, and even if that's accurate, why would he bring it up now, when Kobe and Shaquille O'Neal finally seem to be starting to smooth over their differences? People tend to think that Big Chief Triangle always has some mystical plan in mind that those of us who haven't achieved enlightenment can't see. But I tend to think that Phil just let his tongue get out ahead of his brain on this one because there's no way that the things he said about Kobe can help the Lakers. Anyway, I found a good batch of questions when I delved into the 'bag this week. Here are some of them:
Derek Anderson seems to be the key for the Spurs. He has given them someone
who can score, drive or defend. Do you think that he's what they need to put
them over the top to win the
championship?
If I had to make a title prediction right now, the Spurs would be my pick. They seem to be rounding into form, and Anderson is a big part of that. He's said that he finally figured out that he needed to be more aggressive in creating his own shots, and he's been able to do that within the flow of the San Antonio's offense. I like the Spurs' chances because they can shut people down defensively when they have to, they have a clear go-to guy in Tim Duncan, and they don't have any of the internal problems the Lakers and Blazers have. If Duncan can find and keep his free-throw shooting stroke, the Spurs seem to have all the pieces in place.
I've noticed a passing of the torch lately on the Jazz between Karl Malone
and Donyell Marshall. It's good to see Malone not have to be the primary scorer
and not have to have John Stockton or Bryon Russell pick up the slack either.
Have you noticed this transition and what do you think of it? Also, how would
you rank Marshall's
improvement?
Over the last few years, one of the best kept secrets in the league has been that Donyell Marshall is a solid NBA player. He gave the Warriors some very good performances during his last two seasons in Golden State, but he had already earned the label of being a bust with his struggles early in his career, and no one paid enough attention to the Warriors to notice that he didn't deserve that tag anymore. At 6-foot-9 he has long arms that make him a very effective rebounder, and he has a nice outside game as well. Marshall's scoring and rebounding numbers are actually down slightly from last season with Golden State, but people are noticing him more because he's contributing to a winner with the Jazz. You're right that he was a nice pickup for Utah, the kind of player who can ease the transition when Malone starts to slow down, if he ever does.
Considering what Kenyon Martin went through in the beginning of the season,
and the team he is playing for, what do you think about his play? Do you think
that people have only seen the tip of the iceberg? (And where's his Sports
Illustrated cover
story?)
Believe it or not, I had just finished writing the answer to your question when
I heard the news that Martin had broken his right leg again, the same injury
that ended his college career almost exactly a year ago. That's a real shame for
Martin and it's typical Nets' luck. Here's what I had written: If the season had
started at the All-Star break, Martin would probably be the leading contender
for Rookie of the Year. He's had a good second half, and he's starting to look
like the player the Nets thought they were getting when they made him the top
overall pick in the draft. The thing that worried them early on was that he
wasn't that active on defense, which is the one area of his game that everyone
thought was a sure thing. But lately that's all changed. He had a triple double
recently and he's putting up double-figures in points and rebounds on a regular
basis. I wouldn't look for Martin on the cover of SI anytime soon, but if he
ever starts to lead the Nets into contention, it could happen. I've already got
the headline:
Phil, I have a debate going on with one of my friends and it is getting quite
heated, so I thought the best way to settle it would be to see what you thought.
Who, in your opinion, was better -- Charles Barkley or Scottie Pippen? Please
help us end the
fighting!
I can see why that would be a long-running argument because you can make a strong case either way. Sir Charles was never in Pippen's class as a defender, but Scottie wasn't the great rebounder that Barkley was. With the exception of 1993-94, the one season Michael Jordan didn't play, Pippen never had to put a team on his back and carry it the way Barkley did for much of his career, especially the Suns team that lost in the 1993 Finals, his MVP year. Can you tell that I'm stalling because I can't make up my mind? OK, if I had to make a choice, I'd take Pippen in his prime over Barkley in his. Pippen could beat you in more ways. He could take you off the dribble, hit the jump shot (he's the best of his era at shooting the bank shot) or post you up. He could defend point guards or power forwards. He could score and he could distribute the ball. I know he had the luxury of playing with Jordan for all of those years, and despite his six rings I don't think he always played with the same passion that Barkley did, but if I'd been a general manager with a chance to trade for either of them at the top of their game, I think I would have gone for Pippen. Even with my choice, I'm pretty sure you guys will still be arguing over this one for a long time.
What are the Suns planning for the future? Aren't they sick of being one of
those teams that never gets passed the first round in the playoffs? When are
they going to make the big
move?
The big move's name is Dikembe Mutombo, and the Suns would love to make it this summer when the Sixers' 7-foot-2 center becomes a free agent. If they need to work a sign-and-trade deal to get him, word is that they're willing to package anyone except Jason Kidd to make it happen. With the prospect of having to go through Shaq and Duncan for the next decade if they want to win the conference, the Suns realize that things are only going to get worse for them in the West if they don't upgrade at center.
Do you think Tim Floyd is getting off easy in people's evaluations of him as
a coach? It's easy to say "Well, he doesn't have any players," but the
guy has the lowest winning percentage in NBA history, with basically no pressure
on him from his bosses or fans. An NBA team could probably win 8-10 games a year
without a coach at all. And even though his team plays hard, you could attribute
that to the fact that 90 percent of his roster is just grateful to be in the NBA
-- kind of like forcing the freshman team to play the varsity's schedule. What
are your
thoughts?
Floyd may not be getting much blame for how bad the Bulls have been, but I wouldn't say he's getting off easy. Have you seen the guy lately? He looks as if he's aged about 10 years since he took over that team. Floyd has been overlooked because so many people -- myself included -- have focused in on Jerry Krause as the real source of the Bulls' problems. Look at the material Krause has given Floyd to work with. Chicago has only one player who's in the top dozen players in the league at his position -- Elton Brand. And don't underestimate the fact that his team plays hard. It's not always easy to get a bad team to do that, and since you're from San Francisco, you've probably watched the Warriors enough to know that. You can say that guys like Ron Artest, Marcus Fizer (an inexplicable draft pick) and Jamal Crawford should have improved more than they have under Floyd, but I don't think James Naismith himself could have done much more with the Bulls these last three years than Floyd has. I'm not saying he's a good coach or a bad one. I'm saying with that team, there's just no way to tell.
Phil, I'd like to be the first person who lives in the Caribbean to get into
the 'bag. See if you can pull a few strings. Anyway, I'm curious as to why Jeff
Van Gundy hasn't given a serious look at Glen Rice at the power forward
position? The Knicks definitely need an upgrade at that position since Larry
Johnson is one of the least productive players in the league for the minutes he
gets. He just isn't the same player he used to be. And Rice is one of the most
productive players in the league for the amount of playing time he gets.
Besides, there are no Kevin Garnetts, Tim Duncans, Rasheed Wallaces or Chris
Webbers in the East for him to match up with every
night.
Since my parents are from Nassau, I had to let you bring a little Caribbean flavor into the 'bag. Have to disagree with you, though. Right now, the Knicks can't do much with Rice except rest him and hope the foot problems that have been bugging him all season ease in time for the playoffs. But even when he's healthy, I don't think the Knicks can afford to use him at power forward. Rice is a decent rebounder for a small forward, but he'd get banged around by the Anthony Masons, P.J. Browns and Tyrone Hills of the East. The Knicks aren't a good rebounding team to begin with, so I don't think it makes sense to go with Rice. New York should start looking at permanently moving Kurt Thomas into the starting spot at power forward. It's his natural position and he's been an underrated contributor for that team. They can use Rice there in spots, depending on the matchups, but they can't get away with it long-term.
How can Allen Iverson rehab his image on a national level? He has finally
begun to understand that winning championships are more important than
individual success, but he is continually roasted by the media outside of
Philadelphia. Will he ever be considered a model citizen, or are the problems of
his past too great to
overcome?
You really think he's still getting roasted? I don't. Iverson has received a lot of credit nationally this year for growing up and leading the Sixers to their status as one of the best teams in the league. His jersey is one of the top sellers among NBA merchandise, and most of the writers I talk to say that they're probably going to vote for him for MVP. If the season ended today, I would, too. Will he ever be considered a model citizen? Probably not. But this season is proof that if he keeps his name out of the headlines off the court, he'll get the credit he deserves as a player. Click here to send Phil Taylor a question or comment. |
