NBA BASKETBALL
Around the NBA in the Amico Report
<January 25, 2002>

By Sam Amico

NET RESULTS

Fans of the New Jersey Nets are angry with me. Both of them.

See, I did it again.

I just can't help myself. When it comes to the Nets, I've been conditioned to tease.

And who can blame me? The Nets have just been so laughable for so long. Since moving from the ABA to the NBA and selling Julius Erving, the Nets have yet to develop any type of following. That may have to do with the fact that they don't win very much in the regular season -- and if they do somehow make the playoffs, they stink once they get there.

Heck, the Nets have a worse playoff winning percentage than the Los Angeles Clippers, the Denver Nuggets, even the old Sheboygan Redskins. In fact, the Nets have a worse playoff winning percentage than anybody, ever (9-30, .231).

So it's only natural for me to have a little fun at the Nets' expense, and figure no one will care.

But things have been different this season.

After reading my comments that insisted the Milwaukee Bucks are starting to separate themselves from the rest of the Eastern Conference, reader Brian Ferguson e-mailed. "Hello, anybody home?" Ferguson's e-mail read. "If anyone is separating themselves, it's the Nets."

Then there's Nets public relations man Gary Sussman, who was upset that I left point guard Jason Kidd off my list of Most Enjoyable Players to Watch in the East. "Cancel my free subscription!" Sussman wrote, perhaps only half-jokingly.

Finally, one reader chastised me for saying the Nets shouldn't be threatening to move back to New York, which is exactly what they've done. "But they have the best record in the East and no one is coming to their games. What else do you expect them to do?" And that reader works for the Detroit Pistons!

Basically, I guess it's time for me to wake up. It's time for me to believe that this season's Nets are like Nets teams of the past. It's time for me to say Jason Kidd should be everyone's early favorite for league MVP, and that Byron Scott really knows what he's doing as coach. I might want to add that players such as Keith Van Horn, Kenyon Martin and a healthy Kerry Kittles are reasons to believe these Nets can make (gulp) the Finals.

And it's time for me to say all of this with a straight face. That's because by the end of the season, these Nets may have conditioned us to make fun of someone else. Then I will have more than a couple e-mails to worry about.

GOING DEEP

Jason Kidd is the obvious reason the Nets have been so good, but I think you must also give credit to the bench. Aaron Williams is topping the career year he had last season, and Lucius Harris has proved that he's even better when not starting.

Also, rookie Richard Jefferson is on his way to stardom, and Jason Collins is more valuable than anyone had hoped. The other rookie, Brandon Armstrong, isn't playing much now, but the Nets are optimistic about his future.

WEARY IN WASHINGTON

No energy. That's all I can think as I shake my head and watch Michael Jordan and the Washington Wizards in the second half of most of their games.

Take their home loss to Philadelphia on Jan. 22. Jordan scored 28 points in the first half, but couldn't manage to get off a decent shot in the second and finished with 30. Jordan said that the 76ers' defense threw the Wizards for a loop, and that may be true.

But to me, Jordan still looks out of shape. He spends a lot of time bent over, hands on his knees, clutching his shorts as if he's about to fall flat on his face. After the middle of the third quarter, Jordan seems to have trouble making a move to the basket, rebounding, or even throwing a decent pass. He just runs out of steam -- and the rest of the Wizards just kind of stand around and deflate right along with him.

Of course, it should be a different story for the Wizards once Richard Hamilton returns. Plus, I still believe Jordan will be at peak form at season's end -- and that the Wizards will make a run in the playoffs.

THE NEXT HORNACEK?

It appears that Utah Jazz forward Scott Padgett is finding his rhythm in his third season (and it's always good when jazz and rhythm can come together).

If you remember, Jazz coach Jerry Sloan started Padgett during Padgett's rookie season, as the team hoped he could fill the sweet-shooting shoes vacated by retired Jeff Hornacek. But Padgett bombed, and up until about 15 games into this season, it looked like he would spend most of his career on the bench. Or worse yet, the waiver wire.

But today, Padgett is giving the Jazz a glimpse of what they wanted when they made him a first-round draft pick in 1998. He's finally playing with some confidence and is a big reason Utah has been able to recover from a disappointing start.

SURPRISING HAWK

One of the NBA's most underrated, unappreciated players? How about Atlanta Hawks center Nazr Mohammed?

Mohammed was pretty much a throw-in in the trade that sent Dikembe Mutombo to Philadelphia and Theo Ratliff and Toni Kukoc to the Hawks last season. But Ratliff has been nothing but injured since he arrived in Atlanta, and Kukoc has been injured and inconsistent.

Meanwhile, Mohammed seems to get better with each game, as he's averaging 10.2 points and shooting 48 percent from the floor. Interestingly, like Padgett, Mohammed is a third-year player from Kentucky.

BLAZERS, SONICS AND SUNS, OH MY

Say what you will about the overall charm of the Portland Trail Blazers, but they have been playing much better the past few weeks. It seems like coach Maurice Cheeks has found a regular rotation -- and it doesn't hurt that guys like Bonzi Wells, Rasheed Wallace and Scottie Pippen are all being unselfish. We'll see if it lasts.

Meanwhile, the Seattle SuperSonics are extremely underrated right now. The scary part is, they may not have played their best basketball yet, as players such as Desmond Mason and Rashard Lewis are still learning on the job. No question, the Sonics are still meshing, but they are looking good doing it, thanks in large part to veteran guard Gary Payton.

In other news involving the NBA's best division (Pacific), can anybody figure out the Phoenix Suns? They also seem to be getting used to each other, especially with an entirely new backcourt of Stephon Marbury and Anfernee Hardaway. Marbury seems to still be developing confidence in his teammates -- something he hasn't had since leaving Minnesota -- and Hardaway is still trying to return to his old all-star form, or at least something close.

One thing's for certain: If any of these three teams put it all together, they could make a long run in the playoffs.

GRIZZLY FUTURE

Did anyone else notice that Memphis rookie point Will Solomon scored 23 points in a loss to Orlando? I've been a big Solomon supporter since the day the Grizzlies drafted him in the second round, and still believe he is the Grizzlies' point guard of the future.

In fact, in two or three years, I think Grizzlies fans are really going to like this starting lineup:

C Stromile Swift; F Pau Gasol; F Shane Battier; G Michael Dickerson, G Solomon. That's right, I'm saying Memphis needs to trade Jason Williams.

That's going to infuriate some Grizzlies fans, but they need not worry. I've found that no one really cares what I think.

NBA TV

I'm not sure how much I'll like watching over-the-top ESPN broadcast the over-the-top NBA, but I still like the league's new television contract. How can't you? There will be more than 215 games on cable television (including 90-plus on the new cable channel that will be jointly-owned by AOL Time Warner and the NBA).

ABC will broadcast 15 regular season games and the Finals -- and I'm proud to say I'm young enough to never have watched an NBA game on ABC, as the network last carried pro basketball in 1972. The one thing I don't like about the deal is that TNT will only carry games on Thursday nights. That's not nearly enough Charles Barkley for me.

SHAQ BACKLASH

I received way too many e-mails to print, but I did read everything you had to say about my thoughts on Shaquille O'Neal. Most of you agreed that Shaq deserved more than a three-game suspension for his swing at Chicago's Brad Miller.

Some readers, such as Ken Gaska and Barry Benjamin, took me to task, saying I was too easy on Shaq. No matter what you wrote, though, I just wanted to let all of you know a few things:

A) I'm extremely grateful that you even bother to read; B) It's a real bonus when you take the time to write and let me know your thoughts -- even when you don't agree (which is usually the case); and C) Even when I don't publish or reply to your e-mails, I do read them. Every last one.

YOUR E-MAILS

FROM TIMOTHY KENT
Q: I am a lifelong Cleveland Cavaliers fan, and I recently wrote a letter to the team. It said that if they returned to the wine-and-gold uniforms, I might actually start going to some games again. What do you think?

A: Timothy, why not? If the Cavs are going to play like the teams from their expansion years, they may as well look like 'em.

FROM PETE DANTLEY
Bill Cartwright was once traded for Charles Oakley, and now Cartwright is Oakley's coach with the Chicago Bulls. Has that ever happened before -- a player being coached by a player for whom he was traded? And here's a bonus question: Has it ever happened under the same general manager (in this case, Jerry Krause)?

A: Pete, great question and I have no idea about the answer. Hopefully, Bob Price -- or anyone who knows -- will save me again.

FROM MIKE KOVAK
Q: Who are some of the most under-utilized players in the league? And could we see any of those guys get traded in the near future?

A: Mike, I would say that Golden State Warriors center Marc Jackson is the most under-utilized player in the NBA, and it will be a miracle if he doesn't get traded by the late February deadline. Other players who fit your description: Portland's Ruben Patterson; Golden State's Adonal Foyle; and just about everyone on the New York Knicks.

SAM'S SLAMS

The Los Angeles Lakers have now lost to Denver and Miami at home, and Memphis and Chicago on the road. That is why I think people are crazy when they compare these Lakers to the greatest teams of all-time. ... When I watch the Sacramento Kings and their high-powered offense, I can't help but think of the Trail Blazer teams of the early 1990s that I loved. Just like the current Kings, those Blazers were coached by Rick Adelman, and had Geoff Petrie as their general manager. ... It looks as if Pat Riley has finally coached some life into the Miami Heat. I never thought Riley deserved to be blamed for the team's awful start, but even I am amazed that he didn't give up. ... The Suns have beaten Milwaukee 20 times in their last 22 meetings. ... Will anyone ever sign J.R. Rider again? Rider has been out of work since he was released by Denver after 10 games. I can still remember the press conference during Rider's second year in the league. He angrily asked, "What's growing up have to do with playing basketball?" Think he knows the answer yet?

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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HAVE A GREAT DAY!