InsideHoops on the NBA

9/21/2000

This is a great time to be a Dallas Maverick. Besides the fact that they're a team on the rise, due in part to an enthusiastic owner who genuinely seems to Love This Game (or his part of it, anyway), the Mavericks locker room is a thing of beauty. And we don't mean for female reporters. We're talking state of the art technology. Every player's locker now has a flat-screen monitor, CD/DVD player, the best headphones around, a VCR and digital receiver. And, when that stuff isn't enough, a Sony Playstation. 

Mark Cuban may have initially been known as a rich guy who was bored and wanted to try something new, but the bottom line is that the guy is treating his players right, tossing his money in their direction, and putting his heart into his team. If only he owned the Clippers, too...

Random note - if you want to buy 30 seconds of Olympic broadcast commercial time, it'll cost you $615,000.  That's more money than Shaq or Garnett make in 30 seconds. I think. Maybe not. But it's still a lot of money.

Glen Rice will luck out. He'll make nice money this year, and, provided he plays like he did before joining the Lakers, should get a major deal for at least a few years after this summer.

It's always fun to hear what players have to say about their former teams after they've officially joined a new squad. Some are polite and claim to have no gripes about anything, while others do us all a favor and say how they really feel. Mark Jackson recently made pointed out that the only way anyone can claim that the Pacers are better without him is if they win the NBA championship this year, "... which isn't gonna happen."

Jackson also said that Dale Davis has been the true heart and soul of the Pacers team for years now. Mark stated that lots of guys can get 10 points and 10 rebounds like Davis usually does, but Dale's imporance to the team cannot be measured by statistics alone.

In other words, the Pacers screwed up.

If anyone should know what makes the Pacers tick, their point guard should, right? Lets wait and see.

The Knicks biggest move this summer was keeping their own free agent, Kurt Thomas. Their second biggest move was keeping David Wingate happy. Because an unhappy Wingate would hurt the team. Those "terrific locker-room influences" are very, very imporant, you know.

The Lakers won't be getting Horace Grant, and failed to get Christian Laettner. Team management can't be happy that the best power forward they may be able to get is.... A.C. Green. Also, Ron Harper is old, and Derrick Fisher will be missing several months due to a stress fracture in his right foot. While Shaq and Kobe are the team superstars, don't count on them repeating as NBA champs without a proper supporting cast. Adding J.R. Rider could help a lot. He's 6'5" and around 230, and very few swingman-sized guys can guard him. Rider brings a lifetime average of 18PPG, with 44% shooting from the field (not bad) and 35% from 3-point range (very good). He'll have to fit into the triangle offense, and his adjustments may take some time (as do everyone's when learning that system). Assuming he can - and he's got the raw talent to fit into anything - all that remains to be seen is if he can behave like a professional. If any coach can do it, Phil Jackson can.

Rider could drag the team down with him, on and off the court. He could also act like a professional, work hard, do his job, and cause major trouble for other teams. Having Rider on the court, pouring in baskets while Kobe and/or Shaq sit down for a rest would be a major luxury.

However, the Lakers still really need a power forward.

----- 9/21/2000------

By NoHandles
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