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Defensive effort The 'bag man's All-Star picks come under firePosted: Friday January 24, 2003 1:31 PM
Sports Illustrated senior writer Jack McCallum will answer your NBA questions every week during the season. Click here to send him a question I'm wondering about the conspiracy of silence surrounding Antawn Jamison's play in the West. Certainly he's prone to getting lost among the glut of forwards out there, but averaging nearly 25 points and seven boards a game should get you some notice, shouldn't it? His defensive lapses are offset, in my mind, by his consistent offensive play; he's certainly proving to be a better commodity than the oft-injured Vince Carter. Why, then, is my man not getting any love -- or All-Star consideration?
You're not Ravi Shankar, the mystical sitar-playing confidante of the Beatles, are you? You conjured up the C word, Shank, meaning you think journalists are deliberately snubbing Jamison. Trust me -- we're far too disorganized to do anything conspiratorially. Yes, 'Tawn is getting overlooked, as tends to happen to inconsistent players on bad teams in the Pacific time zone. Perhaps the Warriors' win over the Lakers on Wednesday night, and Jamison's inspired clutch play, will change that. I promise to take an extra look at him. And if I see him, I'll tell him that he's your man.
How could you possibly pick Dirk Nowitzki over Chris Webber to start on your All-Star team? Webber averages more points, rebounds and assists per game, has a better shooting percentage, and plays strong defense. Nowitzki disappears in big games, and while Webber historically hasn't wanted the last shot, that appears to have changed this year. Plus, the Kings forward has had absolute monster performances in the games that everyone circles on their calendar. How can I chose Nowitzki? Because I think he's better than Webber. Nowitzki's predilection for disappearing in big games is based on what? C-Webb has an established history of it. And while you're correct that the Dirkster isn't exactly a defensive demon, I wouldn't put Webber in that class, either. Look, Richard, they're both going to get a chance to prove their true worth in May (or maybe June). Having said that, I do think your Kings are a better team than the Mavs, no matter what the records say. Why would you put players in the All-Star Game just because they've had great careers? It's inherently unfair. I thought the All-Star Game was for those having a great season. If a player has one year in which he performs well enough to be an All-Star, do you think he should be omitted so a veteran past his prime can be added?
Now, wait a minute. You're from Canada, where Vince Carter was voted in, and you're going off on me? I agree that, yes, the All-Star Game is basically for players doing well under current conditions. But I am willing to make the occasional exception and, to me, Michael Jordan (he might be worthy anyway) and David Robinson deserve the honor this year.
I think you did a good job with your All-Star picks. However, in the East, where there are hardly any good centers, how could you leave out Zydrunas Ilgauskas, who, in my opinion, should be considered for Most Improved Player? I know you chose Ricky Davis, and you don't want two players from the league's worst team making the All-Star squad, but I feel Ilgauskas is more deserving.
Honestly, Ben, I thought long and hard about Z, for the exact reasons you mention. But I've always been a believer that positions shouldn't matter all that much in the All-Star Game. What, they're going to run plays off of the high post for a pivotman? For that reason, I went with Davis, and, like you say, I just couldn't have picked two guys from the Cavs. Here's a new idea: Instead of the arbitrary East-West rosters, why not make the All-Star Game the world's best pick-up game? Let the fans choose their 24 All-Stars. Make the top-two vote-getters team captains and have them choose the squads. Have honorary coaches (for substitutions) or have a set substitution pattern for the game. Imagine the subplots! Will Kobe pick Iverson? Will Yao pick Shaq? Will anyone pick Vince Carter? After all, basketball is a schoolyard game. Let's bring the All-Star Game back to the schoolyard concept.
Apparently, this mailbag should be titled Get Vince Carter. Well, I've taken my shots at him, too. Hmm, in a few days I'm supposed to ruminate (on this very Web site) about ways to improve All-Star Weekend. I'm going to save your letter. If I steal the idea, or something resembling it, I promise to give you credit. A lot is said about Kobe Bryant taking too many shots and not sharing the ball. Yet, he's shooting 45 percent, is in the top 10 in assists, outrebounds the next best rebounding guard by a solid 1.5 boards, and is in the top five in steals. It seems to me that his only statistical weakness is turnovers. As a player, though, he's practically flawless. Am I crazy, or are people knocking him simply out of dislike? I mean, the guy is almost averaging a triple-double!
The main insider complaints about Kobe are: he isolates himself from his teammates and isn't a good enough leader; he criticizes the other Lakers too much; and he is prone to operate outside the triangle offense. I don't think his shot selection or shot quantity are that big of a deal, not to me, anyway. Anybody with half a brain knows Kobe is one of the three best all-around players in the league. Personally, I think he's the best, with Tracy McGrady second. But when you're on the championship team, and you're in the spotlight, you're going to get some criticism, particularly when your team is losing. And, sure, when you're on top, and when you have a bit of a 'tude, as Kobe does, people will look to bring you down. But the guy is a great, great player who will get better. I believe you did an excellent job with your picks for 'best player on each team'. But, and this is a big but, Kirilenko for the Jazz? Come on, you clearly were looking to finish your column in a hurry when you made this pick. John Stockton, Karl Malone and Matt Harpring are definitely more important to the Jazz than Kirilenko. All three are starters who consistently put up the key numbers for their positions. Kirilenko gets blocks, but he never leads the team in points, rebounds or assists. My pick for Utah's MVP -- Matt Harpring.
How can you accuse me of being in a hurry when I took the time to spell out K-I-R-I-L-E-N-K-O? I knew this "best player" thing would cause some confusion. What did I mean? Well, I meant: Who would the coaches say is the one player they would not get rid of. I said the Utah Jazz was extremely tough to analyze because of the advanced ages of Stockton and Malone. Of course, Kirilenko isn't as good as either of those future Hall of Famers, but I had to take age into consideration in this particular case. But Harpring's play of late makes your point. In fact, in pondering my Utah choices for the All-Star team, I mentioned Harpring, not Kirilenko. That still isn't the same as "best player," nor is "team MVP" the same as "best player." If I get the chance, I'm going to ask Jerry Sloan that "best player" question. I'd be interested to see what he says, if he'll answer me at all. I would love to get your take on the Cleveland situation. Do you see the Cavs actually making an effort under new coach Keith Smart? It just seems as if trading Andre Miller and drafting Dajuan Wagner were big mistakes. It would have made more sense to keep Miller and draft a big forward (Amare Stoudemire?) to play with Ilgauskas. I don't see how management could fire John Lucas for being a little soft. Didn't they know he was that way before the season started?
My take? Jeez, Justin, you've thought this out better than I have. The interesting thing about the Miller-Darius Miles deal, is that it hasn't worked out for either club. Miller hasn't exactly shown much life out on the Left Coast. I disagree with you about Dajuan -- dude, you gotta give him a little time. Of course Stoudemire would've been a better pick; the whole league knows that now. And Luke was fired for the reason that most coaches get fired -- they are the scapegoats in the NBA. Always have been, always will be. Why does everybody keep expecting the Suns to 'hit the wall'? This team is a great mix of veterans and rookies, and I think Frank Johnson has done an excellent job rotating players. Do you think Phoenix will hit the wall or win 50-plus games, as the team is on pace to do?
I don't think people see the Suns "hitting the wall" so much as "coming back to earth," unless the specific reference is to Stoudemire because rookies are always prone to "hitting the wall." Do I think the Suns have played over their heads? Yes, I do. It's hard for teams to make quantum leaps because the length of an NBA season, and the war of attrition that is the playoffs, invariably exposes quick starters. But I am beginning to believe a little bit in the Suns -- and, behind Dallas, Sacramento and San Antonio, they'll be battling for that fourth playoff spot. That would be a heady jump. Jack, what is your take on the Celtics' recent tailspin? I see a team that has two tired stars in Paul Pierce and Antoine Walker -- both play mega minutes and are targeted by defenses every night. No one else seems to be getting the job done. Tony Delk can hit a shot here and there, but as the season goes on I miss Kenny Anderson and Rodney Rogers more and more. Boston's lack of depth is really becoming a factor and someone else needs to step up, otherwise this team is in trouble.
Your take is my take. Last season I wondered how Anderson, a true point guard, would perform with Walker yo-yo-ing with the ball on the outside so much, and Walker and Pierce taking so many shots. But Anderson played that position flawlessly, penetrating when he could, hitting big shots when asked to. The Celtics miss him and they miss Rogers -- and the below 40 percent shooting percentages of A.W. and P.P. show that those two may not be able to carry this team far into the postseason. 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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