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Carter doesn't deserve All-Star criticism Posted: Tuesday February 04, 2003 3:21 PM
Say this much for Vince Carter. At least he’s making the lead-up to the All-Star Game interesting. First, he gets voted to the Eastern Conference starting lineup despite having played in only 10 games. Then he declines to heed calls to give up his starting spot to Michael Jordan. Not surprisingly, Carter was the subject of many letters to this week’s mailbag. A reader named Wil from New York says Air Canada should not give up his spot because, "Vince is who I voted for and want to see in the All-Star Game." But Derrick Frazier of Orlando points out that if Carter is so concerned about pleasing the fans, "Why has he not participated in the Slam Dunk Contest for the past few years?" Both sides have a point, but Carter doesn’t deserve to get ripped over this stuff. He didn’t make the voting rules. If the fans want to see him start, and he wants to start, then he should do it. As for giving up his spot to his fellow Tar Heel MJ, it would be a nice gesture but he doesn’t owe it to anybody. If his heart isn’t it, just like the Slam Dunk Contest, he shouldn’t do it. The last thing we need in pro sports these days are more phonies. Now onto the ‘bag:
What do you think of Allen Iverson offering to give up his starting spot to MJ? I heard he made a private call to Michael. We wouldn’t even have known about it if Michael did not tell us. I think it was very classy of AI. No doubt, Ryan. While it might be unfair to criticize Vince, it is entirely appropriate to praise Iverson for his gesture. The fact that he didn’t make it public indicates it was sincere. It’s even more remarkable considering Iverson is a Georgetown guy who wears Reeboks and isn’t represented by David Falk. In other words, there weren’t those outside interests looking to bring him and MJ together.
What is your take on the Mavericks? Do you think that all the hype is for nothing and that they will lose early in the playoffs? They struggle against the other top division teams and could quite possibly meet the Lakers in the first round? There’s a long way to go, but right now the Mavs rate behind the Kings and even the Lakers as title contenders. Dallas has been the best team so far this season, but the playoffs are a different animal. It remains to be seen whether Dirk & Co. will be able to stop the Kings or Lakers in the half court when the game slows down. Over a seven-game series, those teams will have a chance to come up with an attack against the Mavs’ zone. Dallas has made great strides on defense this season, but until they show it in the playoffs, there is reason to doubt.
How much can the Nets offer Jason Kidd? The exact amount won’t be known until next summer, when the league determines the salary cap for next season. But as a nine-year veteran, Kidd would be eligible for a starting salary of 30 percent of the salary cap (or around $12 million) with annual raises of 12.5 percent ($1.5 million). Using these estimates, Kidd would be eligible to get about $116 million over seven years from the Nets. The most he could get from another team would be about $90 million over six years.
I read your article on Gary Payton and the places where he might end up, and I just can't believe that Minnesota wouldn't try something to get themselves over the hump. With Kevin Garnett and Payton running out there, they'd elevate the team to a playoff contender, I think. Any chance of it happening? As fun as it might be to see the Glove and KG operating a little two-man game in the Target, Robert, it’s about as likely as the local temperature hitting 90 degrees any day soon. Since the Timberwolves are over the salary cap, the most they could offer a free agent is the midlevel exception, starting at $4.5 million per season. Payton could probably get more than that from several teams. The T’wolves could explore a trade, but they don’t appear to have anything (other than KG, perhaps) that Seattle might want for a player of Payton’s value.
Wouldn’t the Celtics become a title contender with a guard like Payton? What are their chances of getting him in a trade? The Celtics are in the same boat as the T’wolves. No cap room. No assets, other than Paul Pierce and Antoine Walker, that could entice Seattle into making a deal. Barring some kind of crazy three-way deal, the Glove won’t be wearing a Boston uniform any day soon.
I've been watching NBA games on TV since the early 1950s. To me there has never been a greater player than Elgin Baylor, the guy who "invented" going up into the air and creating from there. Yet Dr. J., for one, seems to be get more recognition now than Baylor. Why doesn't Baylor get more recognition? I agree with you, William, that Baylor too often gets overlooked. Though I never got a chance to watch him play in person, I have seen enough footage to know that he deserves to be mentioned with the all-time greats. He was the Air Jordan of his day, an acrobatic physical specimen who also knew how to play the all-around game. Over his 14-year career, he averaged 27.4 points, 13.5 rebounds and 4.3 assists. Like MJ, he was a Rookie of the Year and a 10-time all-NBA first-teamer. He once scored 71 points in a game, and he still holds the all-time NBA record for most points in a Finals game (61). One reason he might get overlooked is because he’s so low-key and quiet. Even in his current job as Clippers GM, Baylor seldom talks to the media or puts himself in front of the TV cameras. He just seems to prefer being out of the spotlight.
Who do the Sixers need to make them serious NBA Finals contenders? In 2000 they went to the Finals. Now, two years later, they are 25-22 and would be lucky to make the playoffs. They need a more intense defensive presence. The Sixers’ interior defense is porous, John. They rank second-to-last in blocked shots and are allowing foes to shoot at a 44.8 percent clip, better than only the Cavs, Grizzlies, Magic and Raptors. Maybe they could use a guy like Theo Ratliff. Oops, almost forgot … Larry Brown got rid of him for Dikembe Mutombo.
The Hawks have no representative in the 2003 All-Star Game. Is this the first time that it happened to the host team? Lately, Ryan, it has not at all been unusual for the host city to get shut out of the All-Star Game. In seven of 12 All-Star Games since 1990 (there was no contest in ’99), the host franchise has not had a representative play in the game. It happened in 2001 (Washington D.C.), 2000 (Golden State), 1998 (New York), 1994 (Minneapolis), 1992 (Orlando), 1991 (Charlotte) and 1990 (Miami). If you’re talking about the All-Star Weekend events as well, it’s a bit more unusual but not unprecedented. In 2000, Golden State had no member represented in the main All-Star Weekend activities, though Antawn Jamison was slated to compete in the Slam Dunk Contest before withdrawing because of an injury.
In recent weeks I've seen two uncommon triple doubles, by Jermaine O’Neal and Ben Wallace, in points, rebounds and blocks. It made me wonder whether a quadruple double has ever been dropped. My best guess would be Wilt Chamberlain. Care to shed some light? According to the NBA, there have been four quadruple-doubles since 1973, when the league began counting blocked shots and steals. The last player to do it was David Robinson, who had 34 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists and 10 blocks against Detroit on Feb. 17, 1994. As for Wilt, we don’t know because he retired in ’73. But it’s entirely possible he accomplished it, since he led the league in assists one season. Marty Burns covers pro basketball for CNNSI.com. Click here to send Marty a question or comment.
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