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Problems in La-La Land Lakers are facing a crisis on and off the courtPosted: Friday December 13, 2002 2:17 PMSports Illustrated senior writer Jack McCallum will answer your NBA questions every week during the season. Click here to send him a question.
--Rey Sandico, Vacaville, Calif. Rey, my column was actually written before the Golden State game. The short, short, short answer to all your questions is: I don't know yet. I gave some of the reasons for the Lakers' problems in the piece -- Shaq's absence, the other injuries, the zone defenses that they're facing. But, obviously, something else is going on. Shaq took a calculated gamble when he started slamming his teammates, and he does not want to get a solid vet like Brian Shaw on his bad side. I think the Lakers are frustrated; they began the season thinking they would start slow and rebound when Shaq came back. That hasn't happened and the club is angry, upset and confused right now. The Christmas Day game against Sacramento will be huge for L.A. Incidentally, I don't think Phil Jackson has forgotten how to coach. But getting a handle on this team is testing even the Zen master. Do you think there are any positives that can be taken by the Mavs (or fears taken by the Lakers) from their game on Dec. 6? For example, for three quarters, both teams got a taste of what it is like when the Mavs are "on." Obviously, the fourth quarter was the most important and L.A. came back, but do you think the Lakers are now aware that Dallas can play with them?
If anything, I believe the Lakers feel even more strongly that Dallas will never beat them. I really do. The Lakers have more serious problems these days (see above) than the Mavs, though. Regarding your piece about team chemistry: Do you think the Rockets are another team that could suffer from a lack of chemistry in the near future? Houston seems to have a group of players who think they're good enough to be starters or even go-to guys -- like Glenn Rice, Kelvin Cato and Maurice Taylor -- but are really not that good. And with the addition of young and talented players like Eddie Griffin and Yao Ming, do you think the Rockets' bubble will burst in a year or two?
It's funny, Gil, but I was thinking just the opposite. I never liked the Rockets' chemistry much; Steve Francis and Cuttino Mobley are real good guys, but I wondered about their ability to share the ball. Cato has always been a problem and Rice is a jump shooter who must deal with deteriorating abilities. However, (and I preface this by admitting that I have not yet visited Houston), it looks as if the arrival of Yao has given this team new life. Stevie Franchise likes him, Yao likes Stevie, Rudy T. has not lost control of the team, Griffin is a comer. And I think the Rockets have a chance to be the NBA's most improved team. I enjoyed your nicknames for Kobe Bryant. After watching Yao Ming's big game against the San Antonio Spurs on Dec. 3, I think he should be nicknamed "How Yao Like Me Now?"
Damn, that's a long nickname. I like Francis' name for Ming -- "Dynasty." Obvious, but nice.
I was wondering what your feelings are about the Utah Jazz? I was under the impression that this was going to be the first year in a long time that they would miss the playoffs. However, Matt Harpring is having a great year, Stockton and Malone are consistent, and even Greg Ostertag is playing much better. Are you surprised Utah is playing this well?
Another short answer, Paul. Yes. Very surprised. The Jazz are extraordinary in that they seem to be the only team in the NBA that wins almost every single game that they should win and also steal a couple that they shouldn't. The way they're playing, this season could be one of the best ever for Malone and Stockton -- not in terms of statistics, but from the standpoint of maximizing what they can do, given their age and the talent around them. However, I still think the Jazz are a borderline playoff team. What's going on with the Bucks? For all of the defensive drills they supposedly practiced in training camp, they haven't shown much improvement. A number of friends told me that Tim Thomas was just as good as Glenn Robinson, but Thomas has done nothing, while Big Dog is looking to set career highs in free-throw percentage, scoring, rebounding, and assists. What do you make of this?
There just seems to be no fire in this team. Ray Allen is a terrific player and an even better person, but he appears deficient in the leadership area. I think the Bucks got rid of Big Dog because he and George Karl could no longer co-exist; any thought that Thomas is as good an offensive player as Robinson, remains a ridiculous notion. The Bucks are in some trouble and may, in fact, end up battling Robinson's team -- the Hawks -- for the final Eastern Conference playoff spot. Lenny Wilkens is a great coach, but do you think his job is in jeopardy? Granted, the Raptors' horrible start is due largely to rotten luck with injuries, but there has to be a bit of grumbling in the front office (and the locker room) about some of Wilkens' decisions -- particularly in sitting starters during key stretches. And if he gets the axe, any thoughts on a replacement? Jeff Van Gundy, perhaps?
Still a fan in Vancouver, eh, Adrian? (Shouldn't you be concerned with the Grizzlies?) Lenny is enormously well respected around the NBA, as is, say, Pat Riley. The situations they find themselves in -- and Pat's is a lot more dire than Lenny's -- would obviously cause coaches of lesser reputations to be put on the firing line. But Lenny will be in trouble, in my opinion, only if the Raptors don't make the playoffs. As for Van Gundy, I know for a fact that he won't come back unless it's with a team that is a playoff lock or one with which he will have almost total power; I don't see the Raptors being a fit for him.
Is Penny Hardaway alive? Where is he? Does he still play for the Suns? What happened to him? Have you ever seen a superstar fall so far so fast? Well, hasn't Vince Carter undergone that kind of slide? But Hardaway's fall is somewhat extraordinary. Remember Little Penny, in my opinion one of the most irritating marketing campaigns ever? Hardaway has been beset by injuries, by being on the wrong team (did anyone outside of Phoenix really believe that he and Stephon Marbury were a good match?) and by a lack of physical strength that hurt his game in some aspects (posting up, defending strong players, etc.). What's happened to Austin Croshere? I recently watched an old Finals game between the Pacers and the Lakers, and he seems too talented to be benched by Isiah Thomas. Is Croshere on the trading block?
Well, Hector, Austin has had some injury problems. And even a deep, deep team like Indiana has a limit on the number of players it uses on a regular basis, and the Pacers are doing pretty well right now, wouldn't you agree? Jerry West might be the best evaluator of talent, but is there a better deal-maker than Donnie Walsh? He was able to steal Jermaine O'Neal for a fading Dale Davis, and, contrary to the opinions of some of my favorite Sports Illustrated columnists, has come out on the better end of the Jalen Rose trade. Based on Walsh's recent history, if you are another GM in the league, do you even take Donnie's calls?
Hmm, am I one of those SI columnists? I might be; Indy is much better than I thought it would be. But one thing never changed: I have always liked and respected Donnie Walsh and think he does a great job. He's a behind-the-scenes, old-school master. Sports Illustrated senior writer Jack McCallum will answer your NBA questions every week during the season. Click here to send him a question.
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