Jerry West took a front-office position with the Memphis Grizzlies over the summer, and in his first offseason managed to add two quality players -- Drew Gooden and Gordan Giricek -- to his team's rotation. It may not seem like a big deal, but that's two more than Mitch Kupchak has been able to find since taking over the reins of the Lakers from West three years ago.
While the players West brought to Los Angeles -- Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O'Neal, Robert Horry, Rick Fox, Derek Fisher, Devean George and Brian Shaw -- went about winning three straight titles, Kupchak's additions have provided precious little help.
That wasn't a problem as long as Shaq was around to carry the mail for the Lakers, but his absence has exposed all manner of holes in the rest of the roster. The team is now 2-5 despite the fact that Kobe Bryant is averaging nearly a triple-double.
After West's super seven, the best player Kupchak has brought in has been Samaki Walker, who lost his starting job to Horry last year and gradually disappeared as the playoffs wound on. This year he's shooting 38 percent and doing nothing particularly special to make up for it. Yet he's still Kupchak's star pupil.
For example, this year's two big additions were Kareem Rush and Tracy Murray. Both were supposed to provide a boost with their outside shooting, but thus far the duo has shot 11-for-30 with nine turnovers. That includes a 3-for-14 mark at their alleged specialty, 3-point shooting. Rush has yet to get to the foul line, while Murray has just three attempts to show for his efforts.
Making matters worse is that some of the players West brought in are showing wear. Horry is shooting 32 percent and has nearly as many turnovers as field goals. Fisher is supposed to be running the offense, but is averaging just three assists a game and shooting 31 percent for the year. Fox appeared to slip last year and missed the first six games with a suspension. In fact, if not for an unexpected bout of torrid shooting from the geriatric Shaw (51 percent, 9-of-20 on 3-pointers), the Lakers could be in even more dire straits.
The return of O'Neal in another week or so should take some of the heat off Kupchak. Shaq's nightly 30 and 12 make up for a lot of poor efforts and should get them back on the right side of .500. But the bigger question remains: Has Kupchak let the rest of the roster rot so badly that even Shaq and Kobe can't do enough to save them?
End of the Dream
Hakeem Olajuwon announced his retirement Saturday during halftime of the Rockets' game against the Warriors. Back trouble had derailed his efforts to play another year for the Raptors, and the folks in Houston, where he spent his first 17 years as a pro as well as his collegiate career, gave him a fitting sendoff that included retiring his No. 34.
'Real life': coming soon
Shaquille O'Neal will be back in a week or so, and announced that while he is sidelined, "What you see is not real life." The game's most dominant player, he is recovering from offseason toe surgery, and as mentioned above, the Lakers are struggling mightily in his absence. Right now the smart money is on his returning Friday against Golden State, but that could be pushed back.
Air Canada grounded
The Raptors' Vince Carter will miss longer than originally expected with his painful jumper's knee condition. Although listed as "day-to-day," he is expected to miss four weeks while he recovers from the same ailment that limited him so much last year. In the meantime, Carter is trying to maximize the damage he does to fantasy owners by staying on the active roster instead of going on the injured list. Not that I'm bitter or anything.
SWISH: Steve Francis
The Rockets' point guard is off to an awesome start. In two games this week, he averaged 32 points, 7.0 assists and 6.5 rebounds, and did it while shooting close to 60 percent from the field. His season average of 30.4 points per game is the main reason the Rockets are 3-2 despite the total lack of a contribution from top draft choice Yao Ming.
BRICK: L.A. Lakers
The Lakers scored their lowest point total in their 42 years in Los Angeles in Tuesday's 89-70 loss to the Cavs, one of the worst teams in the league. The Lakers shot 32 percent from the field, committed 17 turnovers and went 4-for-20 on 3-pointers.
SWISH: Jason Kidd
Normally content to set up others, Kidd went on an uncharacterisic scoring binge, rolling up an average of 28 points a game in three contests, shooting over 90 percent from the line, and tossing a triple-double Saturday against the Bulls. Best of all, he did it while committing just five turnovers all week.
BRICK: Richard Jefferson
Jefferson came out of the chute like gangbusters, but in the past week, it's been more like gangreen. After averaging nearly 18 points a game in the Nets' first four contests, he scored just 18 points -- total -- in the next three. For the week he shot 30 percent from the field and 60 percent from the free-throw line.
SWISH: Gary Payton
The Sonics are 5-2 despite playing five of their first seven games on the road, and Payton is the reason. In addition to doling out a career-high 18 assists in the Sonics' win over Houston, Payton also scored at least 20 points in each game this week and averaged 11.5 assists -- despite the fact that all four games were on the road.
BRICK: The Warriors' Bench
If they even have one. During Saturday's 111-104 loss to the Rockets, here's how Golden State's scoring broke down: Starters--104 points. Bench--0 points. Special honors go to the Warriors' top draft choice, Mike Dunleavy, who is shooting 11 percent from the field and has more turnovers than baskets.
San Antonio Spurs at New Jersey Nets, Wednesday, 7 p.m. EST So, you think you can hang with the big boys in the West now, huh? This will be the first major test for the Mutombo-era Nets. Tim Duncan and the Spurs are ripe for the picking after sleepwalking through a home loss to the Trail Blazers Saturday, but the Nets didn't look sharp in road losses to the Bucks and Bulls.
Golden State Warriors at Los Angeles Lakers, Friday, 10:30 p.m. EST The Warriors are a rare visitor to the Marquee Matchups, but Saturday's game could mark the return of the Big Aristotle himself, Shaquille O'Neal. That alone makes it worth mentioning in this space. Of course, if Shaq doesn't return, this could be the game that moves L.A. into last place in the Pacific Division, which would be newsworthy in its own right.
Orlando Magic at Sacramento Kings, Sunday, 9 p.m. EST The teams' meeting a week ago was probably the most entertaining game of the season thus far, and this will be their last meeting of the season unless both advance to the NBA Finals. If you missed it, Orlando beat Sacramento 125-121 in a game that featured a 67-point first quarter, ten players in double figures, and a 41-point game from Tracy McGrady. Encore, please.
Can it be? Is it possible? Good heavens, is that ... a ... a mullet?!? Steve Nash has always run with the let-it-be look, but the short front and longer-every-day back are getting perilously close to the M-word. I believe his would be the league's first since Kelly Tripucka's (though scholars are divided on whether Latrell Sprewell's 'do qualifies), and shows why Nash continues to earn the nickname "Hair Canada."
Finally, a rookie made a real impact on Saturday. A week after the Glance kvetched about the lack of impact rookies, Jay Williams busted out against the league's top point guard with a spectacular triple-double that led the Bulls over the Nets. The second pick in this year's draft, Williams scored 26 points, grabbed 14 boards and handed out 13 assists. Perhaps most impressive, he stared down Jason Kidd with the shot clock running down and drilled a 3-pointer late in the game to ice the win.
Two weeks into the season and we have our first clear front-runner for LBJ: the Grizzlies. Memphis "won" (lost) a key showdown with Denver Saturday night to remain winless on the season; additionally, by handing a win to the Nuggets, it puts the Grizzlies even farther ahead of the pack. Of course, they're still dependent on a good bounce from the ping-pong balls, but right now their odds are better than anyone else's.
Are you like me? Do you have guys like Vince Carter and Raef LaFrentz taking up space on your roster while you await their return from injury? Fear not. Off The Glass is here to explain how to cobble together a lineup that minimizes the strain of these calamities.
This is the part where we ask you, the reader, to stop waving that towel on the sidelines, pull off the warmups, get on the floor and take some shots. Each week we'll ask a question and post the best responses a week later.
Last week the Glance asked who has made the most impressive comeback from injury this year. Orlando's Grant Hill was the overwhelming choice among our audience after coming back from two years of ankle problems, but Houston's Steve Francis and a few other players were also popular choices:
Grant Hill has just about returned to his All-Star form. He is blowing by his opponents easily and making his teammates better. Arthur Flowers, Milwaukee, Wis.
Grant Hill. Is there any question? (But Big Aristotle returns in a week...) Jason, Berkeley, Calif.
G-R-A-N-T H-I-L-L. No one even comes close for comparison. Karthik, Orlando, Fla.
Grant Hill by far, even though he'll probably get injured again anyway. Palmer White, Holland, Mich.
Most Impressive Comeback is Hill. No, not Grant; it's Tyrone of Cleveland. He's averaging nearly a double-double. "Impressive" and "Cleveland" in the same statement. Odd! Eric Melton, Wytheville, Va.
This is the year of the Franchise, Stevie Franchise to be exact. Francis has already exhibited All-Star perfomances out of the gate. Watch out for the Rockets to be the dark horse in the West. Gino Abraham, Houston
Stevie Franchise, welcome back from that year-long brain cramp you suffered. You're a stud again. Steve, London, Ont.
I really, really, really, really, want to say Vince Carter ... but I can't. The frustration sets in! Peter Kippenhuck, Glencoe, Ont.
The fact that Tom Gugliotta can walk after all those surgeries gives him the nod. Barry Gladstein, Tenafly, N.J.
I give you one letter, a big Z. Ilgauskus has been great! Unless he breaks his foot again, there is no way the Cavs get LeBron James! Owen Kenny, Perth, Australia
The ex-Mav Jamal Mashburn. Get ready to see him shine in front of his new crowd. He makes New Orleans a serious contender in the East. Alex Corbasson, Paris
To sum up all 18 zillion e-mails: nobody. Robert D., Sacramento, Calif.
I believe "Baby Al" Harrington of the Pacers has made the most strides and will represent this year as Sixth Man of the Year. Go Pacers! Bart McCue, Marion, Ind.
This week's topic: Which team has been the biggest disappointment so far?
John Hollinger covers the NBA for CNNSI.com. "Week at a Glance" appears each Monday during the season.
Can it be? Is it possible? Good heavens, is that ... a ... a mullet?!? Steve Nash has always run with the let-it-be look, but the short front and longer-every-day back are getting perilously close to the M-word. I believe his would be the league's first since Kelly Tripucka's (though scholars are divided on whether Latrell Sprewell's 'do qualifies), and shows why Nash continues to earn the nickname "Hair Canada."
Finally, a rookie made a real impact on Saturday. A week after the Glance kvetched about the lack of impact rookies, Jay Williams busted out against the league's top point guard with a spectacular triple-double that led the Bulls over the Nets. The second pick in this year's draft, Williams scored 26 points, grabbed 14 boards and handed out 13 assists. Perhaps most impressive, he stared down Jason Kidd with the shot clock running down and drilled a 3-pointer late in the game to ice the win.
