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Fading fast Season hasn't started, but Nuggets slipping already
Updated: Friday October 26, 2001 6:07 PM
The Nuggets haven't even played a game yet, but already they're falling faster than the Nasdaq. Once a playoff contender in the wild, wild West, they're now going to be lucky to finish ahead of the Sonics, Warriors and Grizzlies. The loss of Antonio McDyess for three months with a knee injury is just too much for Dan Issel & Co. to overcome. In addition to being Denver's sole All-Star, McDyess is also a good guy who actually listens to the coaches and acts like a professional. For a team that had a well-publicized practice mutiny a year ago, this cannot be overestimated. With malcontent J.R. Rider now added to the mix, it's going to be harder than ever for Issel to keep a steady hold on the reins. During the offseason, Issel yielded some of his GM duties to concentrate solely on coaching. Pretty soon he may wish he had gone the other way and stayed in the front office instead. Anyway, onto the 'bag:
I understand that the Grizzlies have only sold about 7,500 season tickets. What's up with that? I thought Memphis was desperate for big league sports. -- Gordon Twigg, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Do I detect a note of glee there from the Great White North? Yes, it's true that tickets haven't sold as quickly as the Grizzlies would like. According to reports, they were hoping get to 10,000, but were stuck at around 8,000 at the start of the month. At a free scrimmage last week, only about 6,000 fans showed up at the Pyramid to watch Jason Williams & Co. perform. So far, Memphis has yet to show it's crazy about NBA basketball. Then again, maybe it was never about Memphis as a hoops town. Maybe it was just Grizzlies owner Michael Heisley looking to get out of Vancouver as fast as he could and pocketing the $100 million AutoZone founder J.R. Hyde gave him for a 49 percent stake. What are the Knicks going to do with the exception they got for the retired Luc Longley? If they don't use it, do they get to keep it for next year? Does it give them any more trade possibilities? -- William Gim, Queens The Knicks had a $2.9 million exception for Longley, but it expired last week. They're hoping now to get another exception for the retired Larry Johnson, which could be worth more than $4 million and last for one full year. However, NBA doctors must first determine whether Johnson's back injury was career-ending, and there's no guarantee they will do so. If New York does get approved, GM Scott Layden says he will continue to pursue trades or other free agents. The Knicks are still looking to deal point guard Charlie Ward and might be able to package the exception with Ward's $5.5 million salary. Unfortunately, Ward has little trade value at this point, especially at his high salary. I have always been a big fan of Jimmy Jackson, although he has been hampered by injuries. I still believe he can light it up. How come no team has yet to sign him? Is he that much of a liability? -- Robert Kain, Lethbridge, Alberta Like many veteran free agents, Jackson is being squeezed out by the market. He believes he is worth more than the veteran's minimum of $1 million, but so far NBA clubs are content to sit back and wait him out. Jackson has been hampered by knee and foot injuries in recent years, and he's coming off a dismal campaign in Cleveland in which he shot just 37.8 percent from the floor. But he's a proven scorer who once averaged 25.7 points in a season, and he's a willing defender. Considering he's still just 31 years old, it's likely some team eventually will take a chance on him. For now, though, he seems to be waiting to see if an injury opens up a roster spot somewhere. I have been watching Tim Hardaway since his UTEP days. I feel much of his game was based on quickness that he clearly lost after the knee injuries. Now it is clear that he is a defensive liability. Do you think the Mavericks are better off with Hardaway in the lineup over Steve Nash? -- Jeff Holder, San Francisco No, and neither does Mavericks head coach Don Nelson. That's why Hardaway is being projected as a backup, nothing more. The Mavs consider Nash a key cog in their attack, along with Michael Finley and Dirk Nowitzki. The idea is for Hardaway to bring a steady veteran presence off the bench, maybe 10 to 15 minutes a night, and to be ready if they need a big shot at the end of a game. If Tiny Tim can accept being second fiddle, the arrangement should work well. He might not have the same motor he did in his Run TMC days, but he's still the same from the neck up. Can Samaki Walker defend the power foward position for the Lakers? -- Darron Davis, Trinidad & Tobago Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak sure hopes so. The 6-foot-9 Walker was something of a disappointment the past two seasons in San Antonio, where he failed to emerge as a consistent backup to Tim Duncan and David Robinson. Of course, it wasn't easy for him to get minutes there. The Lakers think Walker just needs a chance to shine. He's more athletic than Grant, but not as strong and nowhere near as experienced. The Lakers are taking a gamble, but with Shaq there beside him to protect the basket, Walker should do an adequate job. Is there any chance the NBA might resurrect those one-on-one games played at halftime during TV games in the '70s? I thought they were rather enjoyable; kind of a "no frills approach" to the sport. Uh-oh, I think I just touched on why they'll remain a thing of the past. I'd enjoy reading your comments. -- Tom Sprague, East Sandwich, Mass. How about those old H-O-R-S-E games at halftime of the CBS telecasts? Pistol Pete and Paul Westphal throwing up shots from impossible angles? They put the NHL's Peter Puck to shame. Though there are no plans to resurrect these spectacles at the moment, don't rule it out someday. Pro sports leagues love to play the nostalgia card, and these things have a way of coming back into vogue. Besides, watching Rafer Alston trade crossovers with Steve Francis would be a lot more entertaining than watching Kevin Johnson trade comments with P.J. Carlesimo.
Marty Burns covers pro basketball for CNNSI.com. Click here to send Marty a question or comment.
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