NBA BASKETBALL
Around the NBA in the Amico Report
<January 16, 2002>

By Sam Amico

ON SHAQ'S ATTACK

I knew it was going to happen.

I knew one of these days, Shaquille O'Neal was just going to unload on somebody. I knew Shaq would grow tired of all the flagrant fouls, and I knew he was going to say, "Enough already!" I knew Shaq would then clench two gigantic fists, scowl, take a step toward the guilty party, and then ... SWING. And I had a feeling the result could be something that would taint his career.

But who, I thought, could blame him? No one else endures the type of beating O'Neal takes all game, every game. Shaq gets the ball in the low post, and opposing big men immediately smack his forearms, elbow his gut, slap his face. Sometimes it gets called, sometimes O'Neal just takes the abuse and dunks.

Hardly ever does the punishment fit the crime.

That's why I wasn't surprised when O'Neal went after Chicago center Brad Miller. Something had to give. You don't senselessly pound a man night after night -- even a man as huge as Shaq -- and expect nothing to happen.

I've always admired O'Neal for the way he has handled the Hack-a-Shaq philosophy. Up until that game against the Bulls, O'Neal would get clubbed, miss the shot, then calmly turn and walk to the free-throw line, no expression on his face. Then Shaq would usually brick the foul shots (he's a career 43 percent free-throw shooter), before having to go through the whole thing again.

I always thought, "Ya know, if I were Shaq's size, I might just toss those guys around a little. Maybe make them realize that there's a price to pay -- a nasty one at that -- for not even trying to make a play on the ball." But not O'Neal. Instead, the powerful center always had handled it with grace. It impressed me and surprised me.

Having said all of that ... I think Shaq should have received more than a three-game suspension for his swing at Miller. No, it didn't connect, and no, the melee wasn't nearly as ugly as one involving O'Neal could have been (and Shaq deserves credit for that, too).

But three games? I don't get it. New York's Marcus Camby got five games last season for throwing a punch at San Antonio's Danny Ferry, and Camby isn't even scary.

Plus, I am old enough to remember the fight that nearly turned Rudy Tomjanovich's brain into scrambled eggs. The year was 1977 and Tomjanovich was a forward for the team he now coaches, the Houston Rockets. There was scuffle involving the Lakers' Kermit Washington, and Tomjanovich was merely trying to play the role as peacemaker. As he sprinted toward the fight, Washington took a swing at someone else, missing badly. His fist and Tomjanovich's face collided.

The impact was so great it shattered Rudy T's nose and was said to have knocked his brain loose, whatever that means. All I know is I can remember exactly where I was when it happened. I also remember how, as a child, I thought Tomjanovich was a superhero when he finally returned. Not because he made an improbable recovery, but because he spent the rest of his career wearing a protective mask. To me, Tomjanovich was like Batman the basketball player.

Things would have been much worse for Miller, especially when you consider Shaq's punch grazed Miller's left ear -- barely missing the soft spot on the side of his head. It's too frightening to even think what if.

Superstars receive special treatment from the league all the time. I'm not saying there's anything wrong with that -- but they should also receive special punishment. In other words, when a punch is thrown by O'Neal, the possibilities are much more dangerous than when one is thrown by, say, 5-foot-5 L.A. Clippers guard Earl Boykins. That is why Shaq should have been suspended for 10 games.

But mostly, this whole thing should serve as a wake-up call to the league. Hack-a-Shaq has got to stop, or someone is going to get hurt. And my guess is, it won't be the man who's getting hacked.

KOBE BASHING

While on the topic of Laker superstars, here are excerpts from e-mails I've received about Kobe Bryant during the past few months ...

"Bulls fans got to see first-hand the difference between a young Michael Jordan and a young Kobe Bryant. While Jordan always made the big shots at the end of games, Kobe missed two that could have won it for the Lakers, and he made two turnovers in the final minutes. In fact, Bryant missed his final nine shots in a close game in which his team needed him most (it was without Shaq). Bottom line: Kobe's no MJ. So when will he stop trying to be him?" - Russ Swartz.

"Kobe is just a Michael Jordan-wannabe. I'm not saying Kobe isn't good -- in fact, he's probably the best shooting guard in the NBA today. But he's not nearly the player Jordan once was, nor will he ever be. Of course, the most annoying thing about Kobe is the fact that he actually tries to ACT like Jordan." - Ted Nester.

"Number of NBA titles won by Kobe Bryant with Shaquille O'Neal as his starting center: two. Number of titles won by Michael Jordan with a bunch of big stiffs, including Bill Wennington and Luc Longley, as his starting center: six. Who's better?" - Aaron Sanders.

"When it comes to Kobe, I'm not overly impressed. I've seen this act before, only it was a lot better the first time around." - David Marks.

The first thing that struck me about these e-mails is that all four writers claimed to live in or near Los Angeles. The second thing that stood out? Each compared Kobe Bryant to Michael Jordan, something that, to my knowledge, Kobe has never done.

Leave Kobe alone guys. I'm not going to argue that it's extremely evident Bryant has modeled his game -- and personality -- after Jordan, right down to the way he constantly squints during interviews. But there are worse guys to idolize. And don't we all have a role model? And is it so bad that Kobe tries to act like Jordan, a man who is a real pro at handling the press and the limelight, not to mention the greatest player of all time?

The thing I like most about Bryant? He wants to win a championship more than anything in the world -- another attitude he stole from the man whom he imitates. And is that so bad? Trust me, the NBA needs more guys like Kobe.

STERN MESSAGE

This thought-provoking e-mail comes from reader Matt Segal:

"I want to thank you (for your feelings about NBA players and their off-the-court behavior). All too often people somehow defend inquisitions into pro athletes' lives. It's like they think because we are fans, we have a right to know things about their personal lives.

"I don't care about some things. If Lamar Odom wants to smoke some herb in his down time I don't think the league or the public needs to know about that. It might hurt his career and game a bit, but isn't that really his business?

"I don't really like David Stern. I think the league would be better if it was a little lower-profile. Sure there might be a bit less money for everyone, but most people could get by.

"I think it is time to oust David Stern and get someone who cares about basketball first -- or at least third or fourth. Anyway, thanks for standing up for the right thing."

(Matt, thanks for the comments. I should add that as long as smoking pot is against the law, I don't think Lamar Odom, or anyone else, should do it. My contention, as you stated, is that none of that stuff is any of our business. - S.A.)

MORE ON STERN

This has not been David Stern's week. A letter to the editor in the Jan. 14 edition of USA Today was titled, "Consider punishment for boss of NBA."

The letter basically ripped Stern for fining Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban every time Cuban criticizes the officiating. "In my opinion, the NBA is about money, television ratings, power and privlege," the letter read. "All of that turned me away from the game for a few years. Now Cuban, a man who puts the fans first for his Mavericks, is bringing me back -- and he can't even speak his mind."

On that same page, someone wrote a letter regarding Michael Jordan's divorce. It said, "I believe Jordan's current dilemma is due to the fact that outside of basketball ... he can't seem to find fulfillment in his life." The author? Philip Jackson of San Francisco. That's right, Phil Jackson. Hmmm.

BLAST OFF

They're two disappointing teams, but Philadelphia and Houston put on a wonderful show Jan. 15 in Philly. The game went into overtime and Allen Iverson scored 58 points in a win that may help the 76ers finally return to last season's form.

Iverson took 42 shots in that game, meaning he probably needed to ice down his elbow the rest of the week. Of course, he made 21 of those shots -- and to all those people who say Iverson shoots too much, is there anyone else on the team you truly trust with the ball? Not if you're a Sixers fan.

As for the Rockets, they probably aren't going anywhere until Steve Francis gets healthy, Maurice Taylor returns from an injury and five-game suspension, and other young players like Eddie Griffen, Kenny Thomas, and Terence Morris have some time to gel. That may not be until next season, although part of me thinks the Rockets are going to be contending for a playoff spot by season's end.

CAVALIER IDEA

Prior to the season, Akron Beacon Journal columnist Terry Pluto wrote that the Cavaliers' should retire Lenny Wilkens' No. 19 when Wilkens brings his Toronto Raptors to Cleveland (Feb. 12). "Bring back Mark Price, Brad Daugherty, Larry Nance, John Williams and anyone else from those outstanding teams of the late 1980s and early 1990s," Pluto wrote.

Since that article appeared, there has been a petition signed by Cavs fans that says the same thing. Well, Pluto and the fans are right -- the Cavs need to get on the ball.

First of all, Wilkens deserves it and he deserves it now. Secondly, things aren't going very well for him in Toronto. He's come under heavy fire from Toronto fans and media, as the Raptors haven't quite lived up to expectations.

Wilkens, the winningest coach in NBA history, even had to defend himself recently. "It's not the plays that are the problem," he said. "It's that the players aren't making them."

At any rate, retiring Wilkens' number would be a great thing for everyone -- especially the Cavs, who have been hurting at the gate since about the same time he left as coach in 1993.

CLIPPER FEEDBACK

This from reader Brian Spaeth:

"I agree with your thoughts on the Clippers. One thing I've always wondered is why they don't move out of Los Angeles. They must make money there (owner Donald Sterling's only goal), but why not go to a city where they would have their own identity? Even if the Clips become a very solid team, it's hard to believe they could ever step out of the Lakers' shadow. I mean, they even play in the same division. At least baseball's Mets and Yankees are in different leagues. Obviously, Sterling is an LA guy, but one would think the league would want to spread it out a little."

(Brian, well said. But no way is Sterling moving the team. L.A. is like the only city in the world to him. - S.A.)

SAM'S SLAMS

After a 14-5 start, the Detroit Pistons had lost 13 of 16 through Jan. 15. Perhaps not so surprisingly, the Pistons' collapse began about two days after they were featured in this very space. ... I just realized this the other day, but we could see a Lakers-Celtics finals. If not this season, then maybe next. Wouldn't that be something? ... I'm obligated to give some credit to Atlanta's DerMarr Johnson. I spent much of the offseason calling Johnson the worst pick of the 2000 draft. But today, he is averaging 6.6 points and filling in nicely for injured forward Toni Kukoc. ... You know you can really talk when you get ejected for "taunting from the bench," as Indiana's Reggie Miller did recently. ... The Milwaukee Bucks are starting to separate themselves from the rest of the Eastern Conference. Imagine how good they'd be if they could only rebound. ... How's this for a rookie line: Rockets forward Eddie Griffen was 10-of-11 from the floor for 25 points in a win over Denver on Jan. 12. ... Eddie Robinson has returned to the Bulls' lineup, which means the team is desperately trying to move Marcus Fizer or Ron Artest -- or both. ... The next book about Michael Jordan will probably be written by Washington Post reporter Michael Leahy, who has been following Jordan since the day he announced his comeback. Leahy, who normally covers politics for the newspaper, has done a spectacular job reporting and has already written four long features for an on-going series. Check it out at www.washingtonpost.com.

CONTACT ME

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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