Second-half wind

Some players need to get their act together

Sports Illustrated senior writer Jack McCallum will answer your NBA questions every week during the season. Click here to send him a question.

With the first half of the season coming to an end, which players are most likely to bounce back from poor starts and improve in the second half?
--Tim, Rocky Hill, Conn.

Most likely to bounce back or better bounce back? Two are Latrell Sprewell and Allan Houston; in that sad sack conference, the Knicks could still make the playoffs. Another is Rasheed Wallace. He has shown signs of coming alive and the Blazers need him playing well in order to make the playoffs. Fourth is Keith Van Horn. Lost in the justifiable hubbub of the Nets' improvement is the fact that Van Horn has been up and down. Finally and most significantly, I'd say Shaquille. Not that he hasn't been great when he's been in there, but his toe is bothering him, his mind is wandering and the Lakers have lost at least four games they had no business losing.

I realize this is jumping on another bandwagon, but I had to query you after reading your "Worst All-Star Weekend Event" Award. What is your take on eliminating the slam dunk contest and replacing it with a H-O-R-S-E tournament? It could end up like that M.J.-Larry Bird commercial from a few years back. "Off the scoreboard, nothing but net." It's gotta be better than the slam dunk contest, right?
--Troy McGinty, Denver

Yes, yes, Troy. ANYTHING. I first wrote at least 10 years ago that the dunk contest was over. A game of H-O-R-S-E would be sensational. Fans love trick shots. Whenever I see NBA practices (unfortunately, they're usually closed), there are lots of players working on trick shots. The NBA could open up the tournament, get a fan involved, maybe get an old-timer involved. It would be great fun. They gotta do this.

There's been a lot of debate lately about the NBA potential of Duke's Jason Williams. Do you think he will grow to be an all-star, or maybe even a great player?
--Adam Plunkett, Ann Arbor, Mich.

Oh, man, Adam that is a tough one. Williams is hard to figure out. He's a slasher with speed, but he does have a kind of roly-poly body, not a Dwayne "Pearl" Washington body, but not a sleek one, either. His shot comes and goes, too; this year, for example, he's been having trouble from the foul line. But Williams is so smart, so competitive and so coachable that I think he's a good bet. But keep in mind that the Duke system is so good that players sometimes get overrated there (Bobby Hurley, Christian Laettner, Cherokee Parks; it's not fair to include the injured Grant Hill on that list). You gotta love Jason's game, but I don't think it's automatic that he goes at No. 1.

What's happening with the Bucks? Do you think George Karl will be able to make the trade he wants, or will he get fired? And if Milwaukee can pull off a trade, which one of the "Big Three" is on his way out?
--Yalim Gerger, Jersey City, N.J.

George Karl is not on his way out. Management realizes that he is one of the five best coaches in the game. Milwaukee will not trade Ray Allen; that would be crazy. Sam Cassell is getting on in years, but I think he's a genuine all-star (and could've been in Philly this weekend). The most likely to go would be Big Dog. But with all the words that have been flying between coach Karl and his players this season (and they always fly when George is around), the Bucks still believe -- correctly -- that they could be the best in the East. I think they'll keep it together with the thought that they can make it to the Finals. They almost did last year, right?

Do you think it would be a good idea for Suns' guards Penny Hardaway and Stephon Marbury to switch positions? Marbury is an explosive scorer and Hardaway was an all-star as a point guard.
--Henning Midttun, Asker, Norway

I'll answer that, Henning, if you'll tell me who you like in the biathlon in Salt Lake City. (Sorry to make a predictable joke.) Well, good question: Phoenix's problem is that neither player is a point guard, which the Suns should've known when they got rid of Jason Kidd. But Marbury definitely thinks of himself as a lead guard; it might not be hard for Penny to adjust, but it would be for Marbury.

It irritates me to see people talking about how great Allen Iverson is -- a top three player in the league and all that. He is a career 40% shooter who throws up at least one ill-advised shot for every one he makes The only thing I see A.I. doing on a consistent basis is taking some kind of stupid shot at the worst possible time for his team. Can you explain all the hype?
--Faun Ramey, Athens, Tenn.

Well, Faun, you make your feelings about A.I. quite clear. I see where you're coming from to a certain extent, but I wouldn't come down on Iverson quite that hard. Iverson is about cojones. Balls. Stones. Heart. He throws himself into the lane, makes impossible shots, almost always under pressure, and has lifted the Sixers to contender status. Those things seem to disguise the fact that he takes awful shots, is injury-prone and, for his size, is a limited defender. In my opinion, there are several better all-around players (Kobe, McGrady, Duncan, Shaq, a guy named Jordan, perhaps Paul Pierce), but, at Iverson's size, he is nonpareil.

When did this abbreviated name thing start? It seems a year ago it was "Chris Webber" or "Tracy McGrady." Now I spend half my time trying to figure out why saying T-Dunc, J-Rose, J-Will, T-Mac, etc. is so cool? Why is everyone doing this?
--R. Katz, Washington

Yo, yo, R-Dog, you got me beat on that question. I'll ask commissioner D-Stern this weekend .

I can't believe I'm about to ask this, but do you think the Clippers have finally turned the corner? Could they win a round in the playoffs? Don't you think Elton Brand would be even more dangerous if he had another scorer to help him out?
--Frankie, Los Angeles

It's a legit question that a lot of people have been asking. I did a story on Elton for Sports Illustrated earlier in the year and loved being around that team. I love their youth, their enthusiasm, their demeanor, their coach. But you know what: Too many nights they just can't get it done in the halfcourt, when the game slows down. Of course Brand would be more dangerous with another scorer. But I think owner Donald Sterling should sign these guys, keep them together and see if they can make a strong run in a couple of years. I'm not sure they'll do it this season.

Of the teams that right now qualify for a playoff spot, which do you not see going on to make the postseason? Which teams that aren't in a playoff spot right now do you see making the postseason?
--David, Puerto Rico

My top pick to miss the playoffs, David, would be the Jazz. It hurts me to say that, but they haven't played well on the road and they're showing their age. My second choice would be Indiana, which as of Friday is eighth in the East. I think the Sixers will nudge their way in there and either Indy, Detroit or Orlando will be the casualty. (Jordan simply won't let the Wizards not make it.) Finally, I'd pick Seattle to earn a postseason berth in the second half. I think they're a better team than the Jazz, with whom they're virtually tied, but Utah owns the Sonics head-to-head.

Sports Illustrated senior writer Jack McCallum will answer your NBA questions every week during the season. Click here to send him a question.

 

Related information
Stories
Last week's Mailbag: Jordan creates a Catch-22 for the Wiz Jack McCallum's Insider Archive
Multimedia
Visit Video Plus for the latest audio and video
Search our site	Watch CNN/SI 24 hours a day
	Sports Illustrated and CNN have combined to form a 24 hour sports news and information channel. To receive CNN/SI at your home call your cable operator or DirecTV.