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By Sam Amico / The Amico Report

IF YOU RAN THE NBA

Before I get started, I'm going to ask for your help in writing next week's newsletter. What I need you to do is simple:

Send me one good thought about what you would do if you ran the NBA. It can be anything from getting rid of the three-point line to adding more rounds to the draft to changing the color of the ball to red, white, and blue ... and so on and so on.

You can send more than one thought; it's entirely up to you. Just keep your ideas short and to the point, as I will print the 10 best responses. Send them to me at amicoreport@hotmail.com, and put "If I ran the NBA," in the subject line. Finally, please include your hometown in the body of the e-mail.

Now, on to the Raptors ...

CANADIAN HOOPS

Two summers ago, I wrote that the Toronto Raptors did the right thing by signing Vince Carter to a contract extension. It was long and for lots of money, the maximum deal.

Now, it's time for Carter to prove me right.

And know what? Well, you probably already know the answer. You're probably saying, "Let me guess, Amico. You think Carter will indeed prove you right."

I do. Sort of, anyway.

That's mostly because Carter says he's become extra motivated after hearing about his being a "manufactured superstar." Actually some were more than whispers, as a few of Carter's former and current teammates have gone on record to call him overrated.

Sometimes, it's hard to blame them. Ever since he signed the deal that was supposed to catapult the organization to its first championship series, Carter has been injured, inconsistent, and not close to the basketball player who we once knew and loved.

That's right, two years ago, the Raptors were everyone's favorite to win the Eastern Conference. I think I even picked them (which, as is usually the case with my predictions, began the Raptors' decline). But picking the Raptors to fare well before the start of the 2001-02 season only made sense. They were young, energetic, and coming off a conference semifinal series in which they lost to Philadelphia in seven games. And if you remember, that was the year Allen Iverson and the 76ers made it all the way to the Finals.

So the Raptors had high expectations.

Then Carter got hurt. Then his teammates acted as if they were stranded on top of a mountain with nothing to eat and no one to lead them home. Once they figured out how to play without their superstar, it was too late. Toronto barely made the playoffs, and was quickly dispatched in the first round.

Last season, things were even worse. Again, Carter was injured. In fact, EVERYONE was injured, as the Raptors set a league record for most man-games lost due to injury or illness (519). They had bottomed out with a record of 24-58, including a meager nine wins on the road. They stopped moving the ball, lost five in a row at home, and got rid of coach Lenny Wilkens. Suddenly, the team that all the experts picked to reach the Finals was in the draft lottery.

That's the bad news.

Here's the good -- all of that stuff is in the past, and the Raptors are getting another chance. And I like those chances.

I especially like how the Raptors didn't create a big fuss this summer by hiring a celebrated coach or signing any big-name free-agents. They just quietly got better.

First, they selected Kevin O'Neill over more popular choices such as Rick Carlisle or Doug Collins to lead the team. O'Neill was an assistant with the overachieving Detroit Pistons, and his style reminds me very much of Golden State's Eric Musselman. By that, I mean O'Neill can be tough without overdoing it. He has also gained a reputation for not caring if the players like him -- yet they still do. At the very least, the players will respect O'Neill, as he clearly understands what it takes to win and doesn't act wishy-washy when making a point.

Secondly, Toronto's front office did a great job of building around old stand-bys like Carter, Antonio Davis, Alvin Williams, and Morris Peterson. The Raptors needed to get bigger and find some help in the low post for Davis, and that's exactly what they did by drafting Chris Bosh (No. 4 overall) and signing free agent Jerome Moiso. Bosh comes from Georgia Tech, Moiso from the New Orleans Hornets. Both are 6-foot-10 with long arms and very athletic around the basket. They won't score much, but they will alter some shots and rebound -- areas in which the Raptors desperately needed to improve.

As for Williams, well, I think he's one of the league's most underrated players. He's tall for a point guard (6-5), and while he doesn't have a killer crossover, he takes care of the ball and knows how to run the offense.

And then there's Carter. For most of the past two seasons, the Raptors desperately missed Carter's ability to drive, plant, stop and shoot or dunk with authority. When he did play, it was normally with some type of nagging pain, forcing him to settle for 20-footers rather than slashing to the basket and getting fouled or finding a teammate for a wide-open shot. It also forced his teammates to stand around and watch, waiting for something to happen. Usually, nothing did.

This year, things should be different. This year, hopefully we'll get to see the real Raptors -- meaning a healthy lineup that is able to take full advantage of its resources. There's a new coach, and a new feeling of optimism.

Does all of this mean I'm picking Toronto to win the Central Division and reach the Finals? Not yet. But they're as close as they have been in two summers -- and that's really saying something.

CAVALIERS ON RADAR, AND TV, SCREEN

The NBA released its schedule, and the Cleveland Cavaliers will be on national television 13 times. If you're a Cavs fan, you're pinching yourself and asking, "Can it be? Are the Cavaliers really going to be on national TV? On Christmas Day, no less?"

Welcome to the world of LeBron James. But while watching James develop into a possible All-Star will be lots of fun, I'm not so sure this team is worthy of being on national TV 13 times.

It's a situation that reminds me of what happened when Michael Jordan returned to the league with Washington two years ago. The Wizards were a less-than-average team with no real playoff hopes ... and were shoved in everyone's face. The only difference is the Wizards' star (Jordan) was past his prime, while the Cavs' (James) isn't close to his.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not complaining. I mean, watching a not-ready-for-prime-time player sure beats the heck out of any of those annoying reality shows. And yes, I'll watch every minute of every last one of those Cavaliers games, just as I did the Wizards. But that doesn't make it a good idea.

MORE ON LeBRON

This e-mail comes from reader Thomas Fast, and I think he made some great points about LeBron and the Cavs:

"If LeBron becomes an immediate superstar, I will lose all faith in the spontaneous nature of the NBA. I will be left to conclude that the NBA is nothing more than a sophisticated version of the World Wrestling Federation. Besides, if seasoned professionals let LeBron take them to school, I have been wasting my time watching them."

Thomas added, "This is not to say LeBron will not be a success, but it will take time. Even drafting Michael Jordan did not immediately turn things around for the Bulls."

I agree. Again, the James story is an intriguing one, and one worth following. I think he can even average 15 points per game in his rookie season -- which is pretty much what he needs to do to convince most people he was worth all the hoopla.

But no matter how good LeBron is, the Cavaliers are headed back to the lottery. There's nothing wrong with that, as this is truly a team of the future. Sometimes, though, I think fans forget that James will have to be a prince before he becomes a king. And that the Cavaliers won't be good for at least another two-to-three years.

McHALE'S NAVY

You have to absolutely love the team Minnesota has assembled this off-season, and most people do. But there are also plenty of skeptics who say the Timberwolves have too many scorers in Kevin Garnett, Latrell Sprewell, Sam Cassell, and Wally Szczerbiak. To tell the truth, I don't care if all those guys shoot 100 times a game -- the Wolves are gonna be a blast.

For those of you who couldn't care less about MY opinion and are still reading, here is an interesting thought from Minnesota general manager Kevin McHale, told to Peter May of the Boston Globe:

"There's not as much talent here as we had in Boston in 1986, when we had me, Larry (Bird), DJ (Dennis Johnson), Danny (Ainge), Scotty Wedman and Bill Walton. We all liked to shoot the ball, too. Especially Danny. But we put team goals ahead of individual goals, and it worked. It seemed to work in L.A., too, with all those guys.

"The problem now is the league is so watered down that if you have more than two shooters on a team, everyone is nervous."

SCOUT SPEAKS ON SPURS

Since I'm lifting quotes from other publications, here's an interesting one about San Antonio from the "Scout's Take" segment in this week's Sports Illustrated:

"They're better than the team that won the championship six weeks ago. (Rasho) Nesterovic isn't the shotblocker David Robinson was, but he runs the floor better and gives them more of a scoring presence. That -- along with the perimeter shooting of (Hedo) Turkoglu and (Ron) Mercer -- will make things easier for Tim Duncan.

"The Kings got tougher by acquiring Brad Miller, and the Lakers are obviously improved, but I still give the Spurs the edge over Los Angeles, because they have better chemistry and more depth."

READER FEEDBACK

From Rob Bell (Louisville, Ky.)

Q: I received my formal NBA education through the video game forum, and most of today's major titles include All-Star teams that date back to the 1950s. They include former greats like Jordan and Barkley -- but I noticed that not one includes Hall-of-Fame center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Why has this all-time great been blacklisted?

A: Dear Rob, I haven't played a video game since "Asteroids" was a hit in the 1980s. But I published your e-mail in case anyone knows the answer.

From William Kong (Hong Kong)

Q: I noticed that San Antonio's Tim Duncan and Indiana's Jermaine O'Neal signed contract extensions for the maximum. Both are seven-year deals -- but Duncan is getting $122 million, while O'Neal is getting $126 million. How can O'Neal earn more if they both have a maximum contract?

A: Dear William, my wife handles all of our finances, so you're asking the wrong guy. Again, I'm printing an e-mail in search of a good answer.

From Hamed Isaza (Chicago)

Q: Why hasn't Omar Cook found a place in the NBA? As far as raw talent goes, this kid is off the charts. He's one of the best passers I've ever seen, and his first step is surpassed by only that of Allen Iverson. Am I missing something here?

A: Dear Hamad, I've been asking the same question for years (which is probably why some readers have occasionally accused me of being Omar's agent). But as you also mentioned, Cook doesn't necessarily have the greatest jump shot, but it's no worse than many of today's NBA guards. Apparently, a lot of general managers question Cook's work ethic, saying he's too selfish, blah, blah, blah. But I have a great deal of admiration for his game, and agree with you wholeheartedly. Omar Cook deserves a look.

From Stacy Ryan (Sioux City, Iowa)

Q: What do you think about my Portland Trail Blazers' hiring of John Nash as GM?

A: Dear Stacy, I like this hire, as Nash is an old-school basketball executive who is already promising changes. "I think it's fair to say that the roster will probably not come back the same as last year," Nash told the Oregonian. "(Owner) Paul Allen has made it clear. He wants a team that he and the city of Portland can be proud of. We're not going to tolerate the behavior that has been here previously." Nash is even planning to travel with the team during the first month of the season. At any rate, I like the Blazers, and think they still have the potential to sneak up on their more renowned Western Conference opponents. A big key is keeping Rasheed Wallace, and especially, Bonzi Wells. Wallace wouldn't play defense if it meant guarding his front door from a burglar, but he can score with the best. Wells, meanwhile, offers a great combination of intelligence and athleticism, and one of these days, he'll be selected to the All-Star team.

NEWSLETTER NOTES

-- You can sign up for the Amico Report by sending your e-mail address to me at amicoreport@hotmail.com. Questions and comments can also be sent to that address, although you must use your full name for the question to be printed in the newsletter. Also, please include your hometown when e-mailing, for no other reason than to kill my curiosity.

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HAVE A GREAT DAY!