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Hornets need DC to cook Sixers
Posted: Monday May 01, 2000 02:32 PM
PHILADELPHIA -- Before Game 3 of the Sixers-Hornets playoff series last Friday, a fan seated near the visitors bench in Philadelphia's First Union Center held up a sign that read: Derrick Coleman #44 Hot Dog Neck.
Upon spotting the cardboard sign during warmups, Hornets reserves Chucky Brown and Eldridge Recasner couldn't help but crack up. "Hot Dog Neck?," Brown said with a chuckle. "Oh man, that's cold!"
Fortunately for the Hornets, the 6-foot-10 Coleman has a thick skin to go with his broad nape. The former No. 1 overall draft pick -- who played three mostly disappointing seasons for the Sixers -- brushed off the hecklers and the booing from the 20,000-plus Philly faithful to score 11 points and grab 17 rebounds in a losing cause. "I can handle [the booing]," Coleman said. "In fact, I kind of like it."
Perhaps no NBA player -- not Vince Carter (too young), not Patrick Ewing (too old), not David Robinson (too late) -- has more to prove during this year's first round than Coleman. After 10 NBA seasons he has yet to lead his team to a playoff series victory. In the second year of a five-year $40 million contract he's still seen by many as the poster child for the underachieving overpaid superstar.
That's why Monday night's Game 4 in Philadelphia is so important to DC -- and the Hornets. Down 2-1 in the best-of-five series Charlotte needs its star power forward to do more than show a brave face. He must take control if the Hornets want to send it back to Charlotte for a pivotal fifth game.
DC has already shown he can go high voltage. In Game 2 he shredded the Sixers for 29 points on 10-of-15 shooting, including four straight buckets in overtime, while adding six rebounds and seven assists. Afterward he bounded through the locker room, congratulating each of his teammates.
In Game 3, however, Coleman too often stood around on the perimeter and looked for his teammates to make plays. When he did venture inside, he allowed Theo Ratliff or Tyrone Hill to front him and cut off entry passes into the post. Instead of fighting for better post position and taking open jumpers, Coleman allowed the Sixers to effectively take him out of the offensive flow.
After Game 3, Coleman credited the Sixers' defensive strategy, noting that it forced him to pass the ball to open teammates.
But it's clear that Coleman can no longer wait for Elden Campbell (two points, four turnovers in Game 1) to wake up from his coma or small forward Anthony Mason (one point on 0-for-7 shooting in Game 3) to get over his inconsistency. Nor can he expect much from shooting guard Eddie Jones, who seems to have lost his shooting touch (16-of-48) while chasing Allen Iverson all over the court.
If Coleman wants to keep his team's season alive and make his NBA career memorable for more than just Whoop-de-dam-do -- or if he just wants to shut up the Philly fanatics -- he must go on the attack Monday night.
In a hostile arena.
With his team's playoff hopes on the line.
In other words, old Hot Dog Neck has to play head-and-shoulders above.
Sports Illustrated staff writer Marty Burns covers pro basketball for CNNSI.com.
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