By Steve Kerr, Yahoo! Sports
October 11, 2006
Looks to me like people out there are starting to get fired up for the NBA season.
With training camps in full swing and the exhibition season upon us, the letters have been pouring in from fans all over the world. From Amare Stoudemire and Darko Milicic to Steve Nash and Isiah Thomas, everyone has a favorite topic.
I've tried to touch on the major themes of this month's emails. (My comments appear in italics.) So here you go, hoop fans.
Three weeks until the season starts!
TRAINING CAMP ("Telling NBA camp stories," Oct. 5, 2006)
This article, once again, proves why you should never be allowed into the NBA again. Are you seriously talking about Darko Milicic as being one of the "dominant" players in the league? In all honesty, please quit your job as an analyst and writer for Yahoo! Sports for the sake of all legitimate sports fans across the globe.
Joe
Davis, Calif.
Joe, I just looked back at my article regarding Darko and failed to find the word "dominant" anywhere. Then I reread it and still couldn't find the word. In fact, my whole piece was based on the possibility of Milicic developing. Joe, I'm guessing you suffered miserably on the reading comprehension section of the SATs. And no, I'm not quitting my job.
I get frustrated when people criticize Darko Milicic. I was an advocate of him before he was on the Orlando Magic (my favorite team). He is a big man with an overall game – a weaker copy of Dirk Nowitzki. Don't call him a draft bust just because he didn't get playing time on a deep Detroit Pistons frontcourt. Heck, he's not even the worst pick. That "honor" goes to Michael Olowokandi, a player given many chances who failed to produce. Give Darko a chance before criticizing.
Joel
Gainesville, Fla.
Joel, I just looked back at my comments regarding Darko and failed to find the phrase "draft bust." Then I reread it and still couldn't find the phrase. What is the matter with you people? Read what I write. Soak it in. Evaluate it. Do whatever you want with it. But stop putting words into my mouth!
I agree with you about Milicic. The world championships showed he has a bright future. He is a big-time team player, but in order for good things to happen to him in the NBA, he must be one of the first three options offensively, with more freedom.
Darko Sedej
Arlington, Va.
Darko, If my name were Darko, I'd be rooting for Milicic, too. But you – unlike Joe and Joel – make a good point. Milicic needs to be one of the focal points of the offense, and I think in Orlando he will be. Jameer Nelson will run the show, and the ball will go through Dwight Howard and Milicic on most possessions. This is a huge year for Darko. I think we're going to find out if he's going to be an emerging star or simply a journeyman for the rest of his career.
Isiah Thomas isn't going to make much of a difference with the New York Knicks. Remember: Isiah is, at best, a mediocre coach.
Bob Jaumann
Indianapolis
Bob, let me guess – you weren't thrilled with the job Isiah did with the Indiana Pacers? Look, you may be right. Isiah might not be the best coach around. But I believe he has a chance to make the Knicks better, if only because they have no place to go but up. Last season, the team was so dysfunctional under Larry Brown that the players have to be looking forward to a new coach, whomever it might be. My guess is that the Knicks will improve by 10 games or so. Whether or not you credit Isiah for that, should it happen, is up to you.
My perception of Don Nelson is he is very creative but has never really had the dominant big man at center on his teams. Is some of that because of Nelson's personality? It’s hard to forget the Chris Webber fiasco or Manute Bol hoisting threes in his first stint with the Golden State Warriors. That said, is the success or failure of how Nelson and Mullin handle their young bigs, such as Ike Diogu and Patrick O'Bryant, the key to the Warriors' improvement beyond this season?
John Fabbro
San Jose, Calif.
John, I don't agree that Nelson has "never had a dominant big man." Nellie doesn't like big men because they don't fit into his style of play. He loves to play small ball – that's his thing. Nelson likes to spread the floor with shooters, run like crazy and create mismatches for defenses. If you put a big man down on the block in Nellie's offense, the floor closes down and there's not enough room to roam for the perimeter guys. Remember, not only did Nellie have trouble with Webber in Golden State, but he couldn't fit Patrick Ewing into his offense in New York. That's why I think this current Warriors team is a good fit for Nelson. Troy Murphy is the perfect center for Nellie's offense. Murphy will spread the floor and shoot from the perimeter, allowing Baron Davis and a slew of wingmen to roam the floor and do what they want. As for O'Bryant, I don't think he'll see the floor much this year. Diogu is more intriguing because he can step away from the hoop and shoot the ball a bit, but I'm not sure he'll be a huge factor, either.
STEVE NASH ("Another one for Nash?," Oct. 7, 2006)
As much as I love seeing a point guard get the award, how can a two-time MVP only receive praise for his play on one end of the court? Steve Nash's praise is akin to that of Jason Kidd and John Stockton. And those two did far more on the other end by using their awareness of passing lanes as a defensive weapon.
Jon Schultz
Duluth, Minn.
John, I understand your point – Steve Nash is not a great defensive player. But neither were Magic Johnson or Larry Bird, two players who won a combined six MVP awards. Nash is a smart defender who plays solid position defense, particularly away from the ball, but he doesn't have the physical attributes that would make him a great defender. On top of that, he is asked to do so much offensively for the Phoenix Suns that he expends a ton of energy handling the ball. Still, it's tough to argue that Nash didn't deserve the MVP the past two years based on his defense. His play was spectacular, and his team won a lot of games because of him. Ultimately the game is about winning, which is why Bird and Magic won MVPs, and it's why Nash won a couple, too.
If Steve Nash doesn’t win the MVP award this season, who will?
Jan M.
Philippines
Jan, I would put LeBron James as the favorite to win the MVP award. In fact, I would have voted for him last season. I just think he's getting better and better, and his impact on the game is remarkable. He is a brilliant passer, a big-time scorer, a point guard in a power forward's body and a great team player. If not LeBron, then I think Dwyane Wade, Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan, Nash and Dirk Nowitzki are the other favorites.
I have always admired players like Steve Nash, John Stockton, Allen Iverson and Steve Kerr being able to play the game of basketball among taller players and still be an effective force to be reckoned with. It’s a testament to their superior basketball skills.
Michael
San Pedro, Calif.
Michael, congratulations. You're the first person to ever put my name in the same sentence as Nash, Iverson and Stockton. Did you write that with a straight face?
AMARE STOUDEMIRE ("Suns' 'big' question," Oct. 3, 2006)
When you brought up Amare's game and compared it to Tim Duncan's, why didn't you consider whether or not Amare could learn the footwork and post-up skills to become Duncan-like? Amare is so young, as you said, and Mike D'Antoni appears to be a good teacher. Couldn't Amare be an effective athletic power forward/center (as in the past) AND become a solid post-up player (like Duncan)?
Dr. Donovan Chau
Arlington, Va.
Dr. Chau, great point. But I think that one of the most difficult things to do at the pro level is to learn how to be an effective post player if you're not one already. Duncan had four years of tutelage at Wake Forest, and he honed his skills and developed wonderful footwork. It's easier to do when you're playing against weaker competition. Stoudemire has no college experience and is still raw and learning. His post game should improve, but it's difficult to learn and grow on the fly against the great athletes of the NBA.
You mention that Amare has little "life" experience and may lack the patience and perseverance it takes to fully recover. You may or may not be aware of Amare's life before the NBA. If you read a biography of him, I think you will find he has had more "real life" experience than most players 10 years his senior. His ability to survive on the streets without his father, while looking after his younger brother, is a remarkable achievement. Not to mention the perseverance to stay in school, rather than be lured to the seemingly easy money of the streets like his older brother. … Even if he never returns to his dominating ways physically, he is a role model in my eyes, and I think he deserves more recognition for what he has gone through to get here.
Anthony McLagan
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Anthony, you're absolutely right that Amare has overcome an awful lot to make it to where he is today. But the kind of "life experience" that I'm talking about in regards to dealing with his injury is different. Playing four years of college ball, for example, would have exposed him to coaching, discipline, independence, team building – all the things that 18-year-olds need to learn. College is also a time when basketball players learn about their bodies and how to play through pain. It's the time to learn the distinction between injury and discomfort. Stoudemire's childhood story is an amazing one, but it didn't necessarily equip him to deal with what he's going to go through with his comeback.
MISC. MAIL
Steve, do you think Flip Saunders can really handle a defensive team like Detroit? Yes, he is known for his offense, but his defensive style of basketball is still questionable. Way back to his Minnesota Timberwolves days, he had Kevin Garnett, who is a very good defensive player, and he had a very deep team to back him up. The Wolves were expected to reach the Finals, if I am not mistaken, but they always ended up losing early in the playoffs. No disrespect to Flip – he is indeed a very good coach – but I just don't think he belongs in Detroit. I’m just afraid Detroit will end up like Minnesota.
Marvin Raymond Yan
Manila, Philippines
Marvin, I think Flip Saunders is a very good coach, and you're right – he is very much offensive-minded. With Ben Wallace gone, I believe the Pistons are going to go through a philosophical change and play a more free, up-tempo style. Will that be enough to keep them at the top of the East? We'll see. As for his Minnesota days, you're right – the Wolves never were great playoff performers under Flip. But they were also the lower seeds in every single series they lost. Sure, they probably could have pulled off an upset somewhere along the way, but I just want to make it clear that they were never expected to reach the Finals.
Who is/are the new Dennis Rodman(s) in the league? The guys that don't really concentrate on offense but do the other things that help a team win – rebounding, passing, defense, "enforcement." (I was that guy in college).
Bob Venceil
Dallas
Bob, I'm not sure you can compare anyone these days to Dennis Rodman. The best comparison is probably Ben Wallace, the way he anticipates and chases rebounds with great speed and strength. Reggie Evans has some of the same qualities. Zaza Pachulia, too. But Rodman was the best I've ever seen at simply owning the glass.
Do you think the East will be more defensive-minded now, and the West less so? It seems with both the San Antonio Spurs and Los Angeles Lakers relying less on very physical centers that a lot more scoring will be going on in the Western Conference.
Thomas Hall
San Antonio
Thomas, I think the entire league is trending toward smaller lineups and more scoring. One reason is that there just aren't that many good big men anymore, but also the recent rules changes have encouraged a more perimeter-oriented game. The closely called hand check means it's very difficult to cover someone like Dwyane Wade, for example. That's why Wade, LeBron James, Kobe Bryant and others had games where they shot 20-plus free throws last season. You just can't put a hand on perimeter players anymore. The allowance of zones, too, means that teams can play smaller guys and get away with it. Dallas forced the Spurs to change their style in the playoffs last season by going small, and the scores of the games were much higher than the Spurs were used to. This season, San Antonio is planning on playing Tim Duncan more at the five and going small around him because the Spurs are trying to adjust to the league's trend. Regardless, I think it has made for a more entertaining style of play.
Please name your all-time starting five. Here is mine:
F Larry Bird
F Karl Malone
C Bill Russell
G Michael Jordan
G Magic Johnson
Bench: Oscar Robertson, Jerry West, Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, John Stockton, Kevin McHale, Elgin Baylor.
Wayne Foss
Lancaster, Calif.
Wayne, I like your style. I'll go with the same starting five. My bench would consist of Kareem, Oscar, West, Baylor, Shaquille O'Neal, Stockton and Tim Duncan.
How can I better my defense and shooting skills? I try to play every day and I feel that I am not where I should be.
Tanashia Davis
Nashville, N.C.
Tanashia, the old cliche rings true – practice makes perfect. But you have to know how to practice. I see a lot of young players who spend an hour in the gym without getting anything done. They just shoot around and chase the ball everywhere. If I were you, I'd find someone you respect – either a coach or another player – and ask them to help you develop a workout routine. I like to mix in a number of shooting drills with some one-on-one games, assuming you're working out with someone. Shoot most of your practice shots from in close – 10 to 15 feet – in order to maintain solid fundamentals. A lot of players go straight to the three-point line and fire away, and their form breaks down. Keep it simple – balance, eyes, elbow and follow through. Repetition with good fundamentals is the key to being a good shooter. Good luck and keep working!
Steve Kerr is Yahoo! Sports' NBA analyst. Send Steve a question or comment for potential use in a future column or webcast. Updated on Wednesday, Oct 11, 2006 8:00 pm, EDT Email to a Friend | View Popular
|
