|
Chat Reel: Fred Hickman
CNN/Sports Illustrated anchor does some Shaq talking
Posted: Thursday June 15, 2000 07:37 AM
| |
Fred Hickman gives his prediction on the outcome of the NBA Finals -- sort of. CNNSI.com |
CNNSI Host: Welcome to today's NBA Finals chat with CNN/Sports Illustrated's Fred Hickman. Hi, Fred, thanks for joining us.
Fred Hickman: Thank you.
From Guest: Now that the Pacers have proven they can win one against the Lakers, what does that do as they head into the second game of a three-game homestand? Can they win two more at home?
Fred Hickman: No team has ever done it under this format.
But I think it's possible this year. It depends on two things: Kobe's ankle and how Phil Jackson adjusts to the Pacers' double-team scheme on Shaq.
From Guest: What does having Kobe out do to the Lakers -- and the Pacers? What is his status right now?
Fred Hickman: His status is he is expected to play. The ankle was much better yesterday. He should be OK on defense, but being a slasher offensively, we'll just have to see how he's able to move east to west. With Kobe out, the Lakers lose the dimension of having their best one-on-one player to operate in the triangle offense when the offense breaks down. His absence didn't help the Pacers much in Game 2. I think the Lakers came with veterans and the Pacers went to sleep. They corrected that mistake in Game 3 and I don't think they'll make the same mistake again tonight.
From Guest: What can the Pacers do to stop Shaq? It seems hack-a-Shaq is a crapshoot now-a-days.
Fred Hickman: Hack-a-Shaq does not work. Never has, never will. The key to stopping Shaq is to A) pressure the Lakers' guards and give them less time to work the ball in paint. B) Some kind of way, keep him off the offensive glass. Shaq IS going to get his, but you just don't want him to kill you if you can help it.
From Craig: Why haven't the Pacers looked to exploit the match-up of A.C. Green on Dale Davis, much like the Blazers did with Rasheed Wallace?
Fred Hickman: The Pacers aren't, as a team, nearly as strong physically. I think Bird has tried to use Davis to try to help in a lot of other areas and haven't totally relied on his offense. You might look to see a little of that tonight.
From Guest: Hey Fred, nice afro in the 20th anniversary special? What were you thinking? Any plans to bring it back?
Fred Hickman: **laughs** Twenty years ago that was extremely cool. I'd like to see what you looked like 20 years ago!
From Faez: How do you feel about Mark Jackson's play? He is certainly better in the Finals then he was in the Eastern Conference Final.
Fred Hickman: A series is all about match-ups. And I thought all along he matches up against the Lakers' backcourt better than he did against the Knicks. The Knicks, with Spreewell and Houston and Charlie Ward, were a more creative, freelance-style backcourt, whereas the Lakers are pretty well scripted. I like Mark and I am happy to see him doing well.
From Keith Chattin in Atlanta: You're the only one who didn't vote for Shaq for MVP. With his dominance of the postseason, have your thoughts changed?
Fred Hickman: No. There's a difference between most valuable and best. Period.
From Chris Bellamy in Baltimore: First, I would like to commend you on having the guts to vote for someone other than Shaq for MVP. I thought that your reasoning was sound and I wish that more people would have their own unique points of view as long as they are backed by sound evidence. Having said that, when using the philosophy that you used to select your MVP (importance to team success) wouldn't Kevin Garnett be more important to his team than Allen Iverson because Garnett does everything for his team while Iverson mostly handles the scoring? It is also harder to compete in the Western Conference. In my opinion, without Garnett, the T-Wolves would have been worse off than the Sixers without Iverson. What was your reasoning for picking Iverson over Garnett?
Fred Hickman: The same reasons you have for picking Garnett. I also think that Tim Duncan and Gary Payton warranted the same consideration. We can disagree on the player who deserves the MVP, but your reasoning is quite sound.
From Faez: What's up with Reggie in the 4th quarter? That's the period where he usually takes center stage.
Fred Hickman: I'm not sure. I almost think Reggie is pressing a little bit. If you remember Jordan in the glory days, he always had the ability to get his role-players involved late in the game. That's smart because it took pressure off of him HAVING to score down the stretch. That made him all the more dangerous. I expect Reggie will begin relaxing tonight after the long layoff and some good home cooking.
From Guest: Do you think Phil Jackson is a great coach? Do you think he could turn around a team like the Clippers?
Fred Hickman: Nobody can turn around the Clippers. Their problem is organization from the top down. Not even Phil and his Zen. Write back when they're sold.
From Craig: Can you tell us what you know about the Glen Rice - Phil Jackson situation?
Fred Hickman: Phil is the coach, Glen is not the star - coach wins. I don't think it's going to bother the Lakers this series, but it will, of course, be an issue in the off-season. Remember: Scottie Pippen was always a little ticked with the Bulls, but winning cured everything then and can do the same in Los Angeles.
From Leonardo Fernandes in Cincinnati: Glen Rice or Rick Fox, who is considered the better defensive player aganist Rose? Does it really matter, because neither can stop Rose.
Fred Hickman: It doesn't matter. I think Fox is a little more of a handful, but I think Jalen can take either guy whenever he wants to.
From Thomas Przystal in Sudbury, Ontario: In the previous rounds of the NBA playoffs, the Lakers started of strong and looked like they would move on easily, but were taken to the deciding game twice. Do you believe their luck will run out should this series go seven, seeing that Indiana is a very good finishing team and will not debacle like Portland did in the fourth, handing the Lakers the victory?
Fred Hickman: I don't think luck has an awful lot to do with it. The Lakers are a one-dimensional offensive team. And more versatile teams have been able to make adjustments. I think Portland let them off the hook and I think that if the Pacers can somehow win these next two in Indiana, they're in awfully good shape. Winning one of two will help. But the Pacers have to take advantage of having the toughest home building in basketball.
From Craig: Why is home-court such a huge advantage in the NBA?
Fred Hickman: It's not always. But in certain cases like Indiana it is. It is very loud and tailor-made for Reggie Miller's lines of sight. Utah is an extremely tough building, as was the old, old Chicago Stadium. But home court advantage overall isn't what it used to be.
From Guest: I know this is off basketball, but I wondered what you thought of Ray Lewis not getting suspended from the NFL? Other players get kicked out for bar fights. And your boy Iverson lost a year for choking? What gives?
Fred Hickman: First of all, it wasn't Iverson, it was Spreewell who lost a year for choking. As for Ray Lewis, I think he should have been suspended for some time simply because he did plead guilty to a crime, albeit a misdemeanor.
CNNSI Host: Before we get going, any predictions for the rest of the series?
Fred Hickman: For the series, it's over in six - the team that wins tonight wins the whole thing.
CNNSI Host: How about a predicition for the U.S. Open?
Fred Hickman: I just played Pebble Beach two weeks ago and you can tell the USGA has put its mark on the course. Fairways are narrowed, the rough is six inches deep and very thick. The greens are hard and fast. I like Tiger Woods, or anyone who is keeping the ball in regulation and hitting it long. I think par for the tournament with the new layout might be a winning score.
CNNSI Host: That's all the time we have for today. Thanks for again for joining us, Fred.
Fred Hickman: You're welcome. Hit 'em straight and long.
|
Copyright © 2001
CNN/Sports Illustrated
An AOL Time Warner Company.
All Rights Reserved.
|
Terms under which this service is provided to you.
Read our privacy guidelines.
|
| 
