NBA BASKETBALL
The Amico Report
<November 30, 2001>

By Sam Amico

MILWAUKEE'S BEST

You still have to like the Milwaukee Bucks.

That's all I could think after watching the Bucks blow a big lead in a recent loss to the Los Angeles Lakers -- and what I still thought after they were pounded a night later in Phoenix.

How could I think this, you ask?

First, the Bucks are the only team I've ever seen that's been able to contain Shaquille O'Neal. The Bucks did it with a suffocating zone defense, keeping the ball out of O'Neal's hands and forcing the Lakers from running their famed triangle offense.

Yes, Kobe Bryant went hog-wild, nailing jumper after jumper. But the fact that Bryant was shooting jumpers played right into the Bucks' hands. After all, isn't that the purpose of a zone? The Bucks lost this particular game because they ran out of gas on offense -- and, yes, because Bryant was his usual remarkable self.

But Milwaukee coach George Karl removed Shaq from the equation and took his chances. You have to like those chances on most nights.

Secondly, this goes beyond a game against the NBA's best team. You should also like the Bucks because of their unlimited firepower on offense. We all know about Ray Allen, his outstanding work ethic and marvelous shooting touch. We all know about Sam Cassell's superb mid-range jumper and competitive fire, and Glenn Robinson's consistency. Brawny forward Anthony Mason isn't too bad either.

But I like the Bucks even more because of young players such as Michael Redd and Rafer Alston. Each comes off the bench in the backcourt, and each is improving with every game. By the time the playoffs get here ... well, Redd and Alston could make a real difference. They're athletic, smart, and learning from some of the league's best.

Or how about Tim Thomas? Here's a guy who's 6-foot-10, who can hit three-pointers with ease, and who has a knack for grabbing offensive rebounds and dunking them in one rapid motion. He also seems to improve as the season progresses.

Finally, there's Karl. Unlike the Lakers' Phil Jackson, Karl doesn't refuse to coach a team just because it doesn't possess the NBA's two best players. Instead, Karl takes the hand he's dealt and turns it into something special - mostly by telling his guys to shoot a lot. And what basketball player is going to argue with that, or complain about having to get down and dirty on defense after hearing it?

So don't let their trip out West deceive you. There are still plenty of reasons to like the Bucks -- many of which might become evident in this season's Finals. Even Shaquille O'Neal may attest to that.

WIZARD RECOVERY

As soon as I was ready to agree with Michael Jordan's assessment of his new team ("We stink"), as soon as I was ready to admit that I was dead wrong about Jordan and the Washington Wizards, and as soon as I was ready to write that I'll never make another prediction ... the Wizards go and win in Philadelphia.

So, yes, I'm a believer for another week. Jordan will be great, the Wizards will make the playoffs, and we'll all be surprised after they win a first-round series. (Why do I get the feeling that about 500 people just angrily typed "Please cancel my subscription?") Seriously, though. Hubert Davis, Richard Hamilton and rookie center Brendan Haywood appear primed to become the supporting cast You Know Who needs.

As for that particular game, I sure didn't care for all the comments accusing Allen Iverson of trying to play "one-on-one" with Jordan, or how Iverson doesn't care about winning, blah, blah, blah. Hey, we've already seen the difference between the Sixers without Iverson (they're awful) and with him (they're great).

Truth is, the Wizards just outplayed Philly, and Iverson didn't have any more to do with the loss than anyone else. The man plays one-on-one a lot, folks. It usually works.

If you think I'm being especially preachy this week, just wait until my next thought. ...

NO ACTION, JACKSON

Veteran NBA shooting guard Jimmy Jackson is currently a man without a team. So why did he turn down an offer from the Memphis Grizzlies? Well, supposedly because the Grizzlies offered him a one-year deal worth $1 million, which Jackson believes is beneath him -- or, at least, his agent feels that way.

It 's starting to appear as if this once-talented individual has never really wanted to play all that badly, that maybe he just doesn't love the game (remember how he sat out three-fourths of his rookie season because of a contract squabble in Dallas?) Look, Jackson has a right to sign or not sign with anyone he wants. But there's no denying that his career has been plagued by some terribly odd decisions.

OFFICIAL INFORMATION

You know you're old when you see Leon Wood officiate an NBA game and suddenly remember seeing him play in the league.

That's how I felt as I watched Wood call the Sixers-Wizards game. Wood was one of my all-time favorite college players out of Cal State Fullerton (after transferring from Arizona). He did way less than expected in the pros, as Wood was too small to play shooting guard and too slow to run the point.

Still, he did average better than six points in six NBA seasons, playing for six different teams -- including two stints with New Jersey.

Anyway, Woods is now a ref, and I have something players can use whenever they get upset with one of his calls: His real first name is Osie. No lie. He is Osie Leon Wood III.

KNICK KNOCK

Ever wonder why the New York Knicks don't seem to have any good young players? I did, so I looked up their last three first-round picks.

They are: John Thomas, Frederic Weis, and Donnell Harvey. Only Harvey is still even in the league -- although like the other two, he never played for the Knicks.

Meanwhile, Miami's last three first-round picks? Kurt Thomas, Charles Smith,
and Tim James (who I thought was actually a decent pick).

Not good.

MORE ON IVERSON

Some comments on Allen Iverson from reader Brian Spaeth:

"What a talent this guy is. Unfortunately, I can't see him going down as one of the all-time greats, and here is why: From everything I've read, despite all of Iverson's heart, it seems like he's thriving on natural talent alone. There is a reason that guys like Michael Jordan and Karl Malone have been able to play into their late 30s -- they take great care of themselves (off-season training, weights, etc). If Iverson doesn't get with it, when his pure talent and youthful recuperative abilities start to fade (age 30?), so will his game. Especially with the beatings he takes.

"A good example: Shawn Kemp. Although he obviously has other issues, this is a guy who once got by on youth and natural talent. Look at him now -- 32 and washed up. After the 1996 Finals, Kemp was being hailed as a top five player. I fear Iverson may be headed for a short career, and that would be a shame. Of course, I could be wrong."

(Brian, you make some valid points. Although I'm older than 30 and I like to
think my "youthful recuperative abilities:" have yet to fade. Then again, my
shins do hurt every time I step on the court. Anyway, a lot of NBA experts
share your opinion -- not necessarily about Iverson, but that most small
guards are doomed to struggle once they reach 32 or 33).

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

FROM GREETS COEN
Q: I liked your newsletter that featured the Golden State Warriors. You
mentioned that Jason Richardson and Troy Murphy are rookie of the year
candidates, but I think that race is absolutely unpredictable. I thought
Shane Battier (Memphis) would run away with the award, but now you must
consider some others like: Boston's Joe Johnson, Indiana's Jamal Tinsley,
Memphis' Pau Gasol, Philadelphia's Speedy Claxton, Utah's Andrei Kirilenko,
San Antonio's Tony Parker, and New Jersey's Richard Jefferson. And, of
course, Battier. Others such as Trenton Hassel (Chicago), and Loren Woods
(Minnesota) could become candidates later in the season. Why do you think
all of those players were underrated by the press?

A: Greets, your question comes from Holland, and it's a good one. A big
reason many of these players were underrated by the press is because the
press listens to general managers. That's not meant to trash GMs or scouts,
but it's hard for a reporter to write that a guy is going to be great when
he's drafted with the 27th pick (as Tinsley was). So most reporters are only
as smart as their sources.

It is funny how none of the players you mentioned came straight to the NBA
out of high school. Newcomers like Eddy Curry and Tyson Chandler (Chicago), DeSagana Diop (Cleveland) and even Kwame Brown (Washington, No. 1 overall pick), all went in the top 10. Yet none have even an outside shot at being named rookie of the year. Other interesting and accurate omissions: Eddie Griffen of Houston and Randy White of Detroit.

Plain and simple, I have no idea what GMs are thinking. If I'm in a position in which I could be canned at any minute (most general managers are), then I'm taking a guy who I think will help the team immediately. Why take a chance on a kid who might -- maybe -- help in three years? Especially when I may not last long enough to see it.

FROM MIKE TURNER
Q: Have you ever seen a stranger NBA career than that of Antonio Harvey? In eight NBA seasons he's played a total of 1,800 minutes. But even stranger, going back to the 1996 season he's played all of 267 minutes. (He has gotten to see a lot of NBA games however.)

A: Mike, even weirder than all of that -- Harvey has played 1,800 minutes, and I don't know anybody who's seen a single one of them.

FROM NOLAN AKO CHEN
Q: What do you think about Mike Penberthy and Joe Crispin being waived by the Los Angeles Lakers? I think the team made a bad decision by letting them go. Penberthy was wonderful last season, and seemed to still be improving. Crispin had Laker fans like me feeling excited with his aggressiveness and three-point shooting. I thought he was the perfect fit for the triangle offense. Do you think there's a chance either will end up with another team? I think both could help point-guard weak teams like the Chicago Bulls and Utah Jazz.

A: Nolan, you're question also arrives from outside of the United States (Taiwan), and I'm a little surprised that a Lakers fan would be worried about anything -- especially role players like Penberthy and Crispin.

But sure, Penberthy seems like he could be at least as good as John Crotty. And you're not the only one who thinks highly of Crispin, an undrafted rookie out of Penn State. No less than Phil Jackson told the L.A. Daily News that he liked Crispin's defense and ballhandling skills, and that he thinks Crispin "has a future in this league."

More likely, Crispin and Penberthy will become NBDL lifers, with Crispin being called up to the NBA every now and then.

VONTEEGO WATCH

This is the regular segment of the newsletter in which I update the status of Philadelphia 76ers backup guard Vonteego Cummings.

Cummings is averaging three points and one assist, and has done little more than guard the water cooler since Allen Iverson returned from an injury. Still, our friend Vonteego is, well, active when he actually gets into a game.

This week's Vonteego fact: He was a social sciences major at the University of Pittsburgh, and lists economics as his favorite subject.

SAM'S SLAMS

Reports out of Cleveland say center Zydrunas Ilgauskas is practicing with the team and ready to play. Of course, given his history of foot problem after foot problem, it's understandable why the Cavs may be deciding to bring him along very slowly. ... Congratulations to Scott Skiles, who recently gained his 100th win as coach of the Phoenix Suns. Skiles is one of basketball's all-time underrated tough guys, and his big win came against Milwaukee, the same team that drafted Skiles out of Michigan State in 1986.
... Keep an eye on Indiana Pacers forward Al Harrington. He seems to be ready to become everything the Pacers hoped he would when they drafted him three years ago. The best thing about it? Al's a nice young man with a lot of enthusiasm. ... I recently saw where Miles Simon led the Wizards in scoring. Not THOSE Wizards -- the Dakota Wizards, those of the new CBA. This leads to my next thought: I recognize a lot more names on CBA rosters than on NBDL rosters. Then again, no CBA team has fluorescent green uniforms. ... Karl Malone to Dallas? Raef LaFrentz to Utah? Not gonna happen, I don't care what Malone says.

CONTACT AMICO

E-mail questions and comments to me at amicoreport@hotmail.com. I will try to answer all questions in the newsletter, but you must include your full
name.

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HAVE A GREAT DAY!