Tough row to hoe

Even if they beat L.A., don't expect the Spurs in the Finals

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

Just how serious are Shaq's injuries? He doesn't seem to be dominating like we know he can. Will this continue to affect the Lakers?
--Tony, Las Vegas

You're in Vegas, Tony, which leads me to believe you may make a wager. If so, don't rely on the following info. But I think the collective weight of Shaq's injuries -- the toe, the finger -- combined with some of the frustrations of this season have taken a toll on the big man. And as I've said all along, the Lakers' road to the championship -- if they get to the Finals -- will be much harder than it was the last two seasons. It already has been.

With San Antonio taking a game in L.A., it's not inconceivable to think the Spurs could pull off the series. If they do, who would you pick in a Spurs-Kings matchup? Who would you pick in a Spurs-Mavs matchup? And why?
--Johnny, Waco, Texas

It's funny, but we haven't thought much about that, have we? If the Spurs somehow beat the Lakers, it would probably mean David Robinson returned from his back injury and contributed something and/or Tim Duncan went absolutely nuts with 40-point, 20-rebound games. I think beating the Lakers would take so much out of those two guys that either the Kings or Mavs -- even if those clubs played a seven-game series -- would prevail in the Western Conference Finals. But make sure you're treating this as a hypothetical.

It really seems as if Philly is lacking the toughness and chemistry that propelled the team to the Finals last year. How can the Sixers improve themselves? Should they go after free agents during the offseason? Or should they trade a player or two and get someone who can take some heat off Allen Iverson? If so, who do you think they'll trade?
--Eric, Philadelphia

A very smart basketball man told me, Eric, that the Sixers would miss Tyrone Hill and George Lynch this season. At the time, I laughed at him. In retrospect, however, I think he was right. When you have a player like Iverson, you need guys around him who totally buy into the idea that he's 90 percent of the team. The Sixers didn't have that this season. I think Philly may have made too many moves last season -- unloading Hill and Lynch, trading Robert Traylor, etc. Larry Brown and A.I. have to work out their thing. Iverson has to understand that Aaron McKie must become a viable second option. Dikembe Mutombo has to be re-motivated. I think Philly has enough on its roster, barring injuries, to once again win the East.

What do you think about Tony Parker's game in the playoffs? Maybe he wasn't the best rookie during the regular season, but he has been leading a title-contending team, which the other rookies (Pau Gasol, Shane Battier, Jamaal Tinsley) didn't have to do. Now, with his great play in the first round, shouldn't Parker be considered one of the NBA's future stars?
--Jeremie Abiteboul, Paris

It used to be that we'd have to talk about existential philosophy with someone from Paris named Jeremie. Now it's hoops. Some global game, huh? Again, as with the MVP race, a vote for Gasol or Battier (I voted for Gasol) was not a vote against Tony Parker. I didn't hear one word of criticism about him the entire season. He is absolutely a star of the future, as is Gasol. The fact that Parker is in the second round of the playoffs, though, works both ways. Yes, he has made San Antonio better, but the Spurs have made him better, too, which, say, Memphis did not do with Gasol. But I love Parker's game and his attitude.

Don't you think the Nets came off looking like a bunch of babies the way they whined about Jason Kidd not getting the MVP award? Also, Byron Scott was out of line saying he deserved to win Coach of the Year. Rick Carlisle earned that award. Don't you agree?
--Mike, Baltimore

As regards to the former, Mike, the Nets are acting predictably, but not necessarily admirably. After years of frustration, they feel their breakout season should axiomatically culminate in Jason winning the MVP award. I don't agree -- I voted for Duncan -- and neither do many of my peers. A vote for T-Dunc was not a vote against Kidd, for heaven's sake; the Nets' point guard had a marvelous season. But anyone who thinks Kidd was robbed is kidding himself. As for Byron? I don't know where his me-me-me act is going. He did a real good job. Still, I voted for Carlisle who, in my opinion, did just as much with far less talent.

If you were to name an "All-Clutch" team, would Reggie Miller be the captain? Who are your top five all-time clutch performers?
--Jeff Hudelson, El Centro, Calif.

Show a little sense of history, Jeff. Reggie was fantastic this season and has been great in years past, especially in the playoffs. But here are the names of a few other clutch performers: Bill Russell, Jerry West, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan. I like Reggie more as a sixth man, not a captain.

Based on the attitude you displayed last week, it sounds as if you didn't appreciate Game 5 of the Nets-Pacers series. If this is the case, you are nuts. That game is going straight to ESPN Classic, and you wanted less? When a game is that exciting, can't you deal with all the timeouts and enjoy what's going on?
--Ben, New York

Damn, Ben, throttle back a little bit. I made a throwaway comment on the length of the game, but I did appreciate it. And I'm glad to see there are some true Nets fans in New York. Hope you're not just jumping on the bandwagon.

There's talk about increasing the NBA's first-round playoff series to a best-of-seven format. I have a different plan. I would move to strike the entire round. I think the NBA should have only three series, not four. The competition would be better, more would be riding on the regular season, and you'd have to win more than 41 games to be a "playoff team." If the league is as fan-friendly as it claims to be, why won't it consider this? (And don't say the reason is money.)
--Corey Newman, South Bend, Ind.

Money?!? Get out of the clouds, Corey. The NBA is not going to cut back on playoff games. I agree with you, though: Let's keep the first round a best-of-five.

Sports Illustrated senior writer Jack McCallum will answer your NBA questions every week during the season. Click here

 

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