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Too many options Could the Mavs be hurt by an abundance of scorers?Posted: Friday April 12, 2002 12:53 PM
Sports Illustrated senior writer Jack McCallum will answer your NBA questions every week during the season. Click here to send him a question Do you think the Mavericks have too many good players for their own good?
Wouldn't a guy like Michael Finley be much better off on a team where he is
definitively the No. 1 option and is not sharing shots with the likes of Dirk
Nowitzki and Nick Van Exel?
I think what you're saying, Steve, is that a team can have too many good offensive players. I've always agreed with that. Earlier in the season I warned that the Kings wouldn't necessarily be better when Chris Webber came back from his ankle injury. I couldn't have been more wrong. But I think the jury is still out on whether the Mavs have too many shooters. The key for an offensive-minded team that had made a big deal, as Dallas did, is whether a player or two can change his game and give up some shots. I'm not sure the Mavs can do that. But if they can -- say Van Exel becomes a true playmaker when called upon or Dirk gives up the ball when he's doubled -- they have, I believe, the second best chance to unseat the Lakers. The best chance? See below ... Has anyone noticed that the Kings have won eight in a row on the road through
Thursday? Not bad for a team that can't defend or win away from Arco. I know the
quality of Sacramento's opponents has not been great, but the Kings have won 12
road games against teams that are either in the playoffs or in contention
(including Utah twice). Is it just my imagination or are the Kings a lot better
than people
expected?
Well, Tom, see above. The Kings are better than I thought and they're playing real good defensive, too. It still comes down to whether they can outscore the rest of the Lakers if Shaq and Kobe get their points. But right now, Sacramento has to be considered the team with the best shot to beat the Lakers, particularly since, as I write this on Friday, homecourt throughout the playoffs is almost guaranteed for the Kings. What's the story with Marc Jackson in Minnesota? It looks as if he isn't
getting any more minutes than he used to get in Golden State. Everybody thought
he was a steal for the Wolves. Did the steal turn into a bust that
quickly?
Jackson came late to the dance, remember. Real late. The Wolves do a lot of things defensively. They're very fluid on offense, too, with some quirks, such as a guy who's big enough to be a center (Kevin Garnett) on the perimeter and Wally Sczerbiak being somewhat of a cross between a 2 and a 3. So, you're right -- Jackson has had his problems. But I don't think they're unsolvable ones. He'll find a comfortable spot in the rotation eventually. Do you think the Raptors would have a chance against the Nets in the first
round were they to meet? I know it sounds crazy, but besides Jason Kidd, New
Jersey does not have the talent the Raptors do, even without Vince Carter. If
Toronto plays like they have been, what can
happen?
Of course Toronto has a chance. They've surprised everyone from Joisy to Los Angeles with the way they've played without Vince. But if I were a betting man, I'd take the Nets in that matchup. Since Ben Wallace is leading the NBA in blocks and rebounds this season, do
you think it's likely he will beat out Dikembe Mutombo for Defensive Player of
the
Year?
Don't even say likely, Gabe. Book it. I'll go over all my awards picks in an upcoming NBA column, but I voted for King 'Do for Defensive Player of the Year. Who would you rather have as your point guard, Steve Francis or Baron Davis,
and
why?
Interesting question. I could wimp out and tell you it depends on the makeup of the rest of the team, i.e. if I needed points from that position I'd go with Francis and if I needed playmaking I'd go with Baron. But I'm not going to do that. Francis has had injury problems, migraine problems and DUI problems. For that reason he's a question mark. But I still think he can be the best point guard in the West or even the entire NBA. There is no substitute for talent, and, although I love Baron, I'd take Steve. The Washington Wizards' record shows that they are an awful team. Why am I
the only person who will come out and say that Michael Jordan built this
dreadful squad? Taking Kwame Brown first in the draft was one of the biggest
blunders in sports history! Do you agree that Jordan the GM has done a poor
job?
More than a year has to pass before a draft pick can be declared an immortal blunder, and the Wizards were very bad for at least a decade before Michael took over. Having said that, though, Jordan isn't anyone's choice for Executive of the Year. Could you please tell me why Phil Jackson has insisted on starting Lindsey
Hunter at point guard when it's quite evident that he's been struggling? My man
Derek Fisher could do a much better job, and he proved it last season during the
playoffs. Is this some kind of strategy from the Zen Master or just a
mistake?
Jackson originally wanted Fisher's spark off the bench, but Phil came to his senses and Derek is now starting again. Hunter's minutes will contine to go down as the postseason approaches. You'll even see Brian Shaw get some playing time ahead of Lindsey once the playoffs start. Sports Illustrated senior writer Jack McCallum will answer your NBA questions every week during the season. Click here to send him a question. |
