Basketball Newsletter - Feb. 15 2000
Okay everyone, take a breather
The big time slam-dunk, high-scoring spectacle is over, and it's time to separate the pretenders from the contenders. No doubt the west is strong, and one wonders if either the Blazers or the Lakers will make a trade before the February 24th deadline. A trade? Why would they do that? Ain't they the tops of the tops?
Well, L.A. does have a weakness or two... really! Think about a back-up centre, for instance. The Big Man (TM) can't play every minute of every game. And their shooting...? Glen Rice is good, but there are far better perimeter snipers out there.
As for Portland... hmmm. They actually seem to have an extra player at every position. Face it, their B-team could probably beat the pants off of most other teams! So why might they make a trade? To keep Tony Kukoc out of L.A., for one thing. Rumours have it that Phil Jackson wants the Chicago star in a Lakers uniform at the expense of the aforementioned Rice. GM Jerry West isn't so eager to pull that trigger. So the Blazers are offering some young talent -- just what the rebuilding Bulls need -- in forward Jermaine O'Neal, guard Bonzi Wells as well as a first-round draft pick. So who will win the prize...?
Meanwhile in the East...
Let's pretend Tim Hardaway has a healthy knee. Then Miami is the most talented team in the East. Now let's pretend Coach Pat Riley and Hardaway are using the same playbook. Then Miami will likely head to the NBA finals. Of course this is make-believe. The Heat might want to try to unload Hardaway; he'll be seeking even bigger bucks next year, and a point guard would be welcome in Miami. But the question is, who would want this expensive talent with a funky knee?
So who does this leave in the East? The Knicks? Umm, no. Indiana? Possibly. But without Antonio Davis, they seem to be a little less than great. Looks like the year of the West.
CTVSportsnet.com's Paul Jay thinks it's time for Portland to step up and grab it:
"All the momentum is with Portland. They've won nine of their last 10 -- including big victories over L.A. and San Antonio -- and 11 in a row at home. The way they are playing, it looks like this could be their year. They better hope so, because they might not get another chance."
Read the rest at:
[retired link]
Hogtown Happenings - NOT!
Who knew?
We thought the deal was done. Alvin Williams was on his way to Beantown for Danny Fortson. No dice, folks. Turns out the Raptor point guard didn't pass his physical and the deal was rescinded.
A bad knee? That's news to us. Raptors GM Glen Grunwald acknowledged that Williams has had minor knee problems and did have arthroscopic surgery after Toronto acquired him from Portland two years ago. But it hasn't seemed to affect his play. He hasn't missed a game since the surgery for any knee problems, in fact, the guy's been a regular starter since coming to Hogtown.
The Raptors weren't trying to pull a fast one on the Celtics. It's just the modern day miracle of medicine that will keep Williams in a purple shirt... for a while.
In a Big Country
Centre Bryant Reeves seems to have turned things around lately. Big Country has had a tough time being the Big Man on a weak team for 5 years, and this year the strain has really shown. However, coach Lionel Hollins has found a new role for Reeves, one that has bolstered the Grizzlies going in to the All-Star break. He has been working hard on defence, understanding that his offensive style doesn't really fit into the new uptempo Vancouver gameplan. Face it, the guy is huge and not as athletic as most of the kids around him. But his teammates see Big Country accepting the role, putting the team before his personal numbers... that's the kind of on-the-floor attitude that could inspire these basement dwellers to better things.
Who's hot
** The West. And the new Slam Dunk King Vince Carter. 'nuff said.
Who's not
** It's tabula rasa time... yep, we'll clear the slate for now, kick everyone out of the doghouse. But that doesn't mean we're not watching you...!
And another thing ...
Upcoming Madness! Tennessee won 3 in a row last week and displaced Syracuse as a number 1 seed. The Volunteers may just be the best team in the SEC while Syracuse has slipped, losing two in a row before beating UCLA on Sunday. Tennessee has the week off and then finish the season with 5 games against some pantywaists (Kentucky and Arkansas, Vanderbilt, Alabama and Georgia.)
March Madness is around the corner... stay tuned for details of CTVSportsnet's TV coverage AND a CTVSportsnet.com bracket game!