|
 |   |
|
EVENTS Fantasy Central Inside Game Multimedia Central Statitudes Your Turn Message Boards Email Newsletters Golf Guide Cities Work in Sports
CNNSI.com GROUP
COMMERCE |  |
No joy in Jersey? Marbury's unwillingness to share may lead to trouble
Posted: Tuesday November 09, 1999 08:20 AM
All is not pretty in New Jersey these days. Despite the rapid recovery of center Jayson Williams from his broken leg, another problem looms in Stephon Marbury. The Nets' $71 million point guard was averaging 33 points per game heading into Friday night, but he's also averaging nearly 30 shots. As a result, Kendall Gill and Keith Van Horn have been reduced to spectator status in two defeats to open the season. "I've got the green light," Marbury told me recently. "I've been waiting for this for years." If things don't change soon, we'll see how long New Jersey waits before team turmoil tarnishes their season. Early results prove rules' critics rightFrom day one, critics have argued that the new no-touch rule is tailor-made for superstars. They appear to be right on the money, at least as far as Detroit's Grant Hill is concerned. Unmolested, he shot .659 from the field in the preseason, then promptly went out and started the regular season by dropping 41 points on the Miami Heat. Jackson eyeing 'retired' DeleLakers coach Phil Jackson appears to have his eyes on "retired" Pistons center Bison Dele. As a result, the NBA may have their eyes on Jackson. He openly covets Dele, whom he coached three seasons ago in Chicago. Dele is technically the property of the Pistons, and Jackson's courtship could put him in violation of the league's tampering rules. Translation: If Dele ever ends up in L.A., don't be surprised if Lakers owner Jerry Buss has to dole out some extra cash to get the deal done. Mavs' owner gives Nelson ultimatumTeam owner Ross Perot Jr., tired of Dallas' losing ways, has put coach Don Nelson on notice: Produce NOW or face the consequences. "This is a black-and-white business," Perot said recently. "You can kind of tell if you're doing the job or not doing the job." While Nelson called Perot's assessment "fair," he is still assuming that Perot will honor an informal agreement to hand the job to son Donnie Nelson in the event of his dismissal. Perot has made no such guarantees. Stephen A. Smith covers the NBA for the Philadelphia Inquirer and is a regular contributor to CNN/SI.
| ||||||||||||||||||||
