NBA BASKETBALL Vinsanity By
RICARDO APARICIO
May 15, 2001
What
a monster the NBA hype machine has created! When Michael Jordan entered
the league in 1984, it didn't even occur to us basketball fans to look
for a new Julius Erving. Now, every rookie or young player who stands 6'4"
to 6'8" with a 37" vertical leap and a decent jump shot is called the Next
MJ. One of the more recent entries into that column has been made into
an object of scrutiny lately - fellow Tar Heel product Vince Carter.
Although
other Next MJ's had come before Carter, it was Carter who attracted the
media spotlight like no one else. Vince, like MJ, left Carolina after his
junior year. Vince, like Mike, saw his productivity increase noticeably
when free of the zone defenses found in college. Vince, like 23, had bruising
Charles Oakley around to do all the dirty work. And like His Airness, Vince
has shocked the world with dunks that had never been imagined before.
If
Vince Carter pays attention to the hype machine, he's probably wondering
why he's fallen out of favor recently. Certainly, one of the reasons is
Michael himself: Jordan opined last season that Kobe Bryant was superior
to Carter. The results of last year's playoffs must have confirmed that
view in the minds of many basketball fans. Bryant's Lakers won the NBA
title, but Carter's Raptors were swept noiselessly from the playoffs by
a team, the Knicks, that they had won the regular season series from. While
Bryant had his moments of Airness during the Lakers' title run (in particular
game four of the Finals), Carter was only half-amazing, struggling to find
his game against a tough Knick defense. If Bryant's defining playoff moment
was that game four masterpiece, Carter's came in game one at Madison Square
Garden. With the last possession, Toronto had a chance to steal one on
the road. Carter had the ball in his hands. He penetrated, drew the defense
to him, and kicked the ball out to a wide open Dee Brown who missed a game
winning three pointer. Carter was singled out for criticism for not taking
that shot.
This
season has only reduced Carter's status further. While Carter labored with
an average roster and an unreliable knee, Bryant's Lakers won another division
title. The emergence of Carter's cousin Tracey McGrady have some believing
that the topic of discussion should be Kobe or McGrady? and not Kobe or
Vince?. The 2001 playoffs have begun in the same manner as the 2000 playoffs.
For those with anti-Vinsanity leanings, the events of the last two seasons
have been enough to convince them that Carter is merely a good player,
not an elite player.
Of
course, a physically gifted, crowd pleasing player like Carter has his
supporters. Their best argument for Vince is Shaquille O'Neal: What would
Carter do in L.A., playing alongside Shaq? Or to put it another way: What
would Bryant do in Toronto, playing alongside Antonio Davis? The pro-Vince
crowd would, in reference to his playoff shortcomings, point out that the
New York Knicks can stop any team that features only one genuine offensive
threat, like Toronto.
Carter
has always downplayed the MJ comparisons, the Kobe-or-Vince discussions,
the postseason difficulties. Humbly, Carter reminds anyone who will listen
that the fortunes of his team lie with the whole team, not just him. This
wasn't what teammate Charles Oakley wanted to hear. Oakley said publicly
before game four with the Knicks that Carter had to bear more responsibility.
Without actually saying so, Oakley said Carter had to play a bit more selfishly.
His remarks had the desired effect as Carter finished with 32 points on
10 of 22 shooting. The Raptors won and forced a game five showdown in New
York.
The
NBA Hype Machine will continue as it always does, anointing new saviors
and discarding old ones. If Vince Carter wants to silence his critics,
he will play the game of his life and lead Toronto to victory in game five.
The Machine won't have any choice but to fire up the Kobe or Vince? questions
again.
NBA BASKETBALL
