By Sam Amico / The Amico Report

YOUR THOUGHTS ON MJ

Let me know what you think about Michael Jordan's time spent with the Wizards at amicoreport@hotmail.com. Include your full name, and I'll publish your response.

FINAL QUICK HITS

-- Former Hornets coach Paul Silas will definitely resurface, although one general manager told me it might not be as soon as you think. "Paul is very laid-back, and I think he needs to coach a veteran team," the GM said. "He's way too calm to be involved with a young team like Cleveland or the Clippers. The problem is, there aren't any openings involving veteran teams, so he might have to sit out a season."

-- I don't exactly support that type of thinking. I mean, why CAN'T a laid-back guy coach a young team? And what this GM didn't say was that Silas is very underrated when it comes to his knowledge of the game and ability to relate to players. It's all a big reason why Silas is already the leading candidate in Toronto.

-- I have no information to support this statement, but I'd be shocked to see Doug Collins return as coach of the Wizards. Collins seemed to burn himself out while trying to juggle Jordan's ego and the sensitivity of younger players like Kwame Brown. If Collins and the Wizards do split, look for Cleveland to offer him a big contract and half of Tower City to coach the Cavaliers.

-- Jason Kidd led the NBA with 8.9 assists per game this season. Is it just me, or does it seem like it takes less to lead the NBA in assists every season? I mean, not long ago, the top two or three guys in the NBA averaged double figures in assists. So, what's going on?

-- The Orlando Magic need one thing: Patience. The Magic have to be thrilled with the way rookies Drew Gooden and Gordon Giricek played after coming over in Orlando's trade with Memphis. Also, it probably wouldn't hurt for management to land a point guard and center this offseason.

-- Your USBL scoring leaders: Albert Mouring, Oklahoma (28.7 ppg); Quincy Wadley, Pennsylvania (27.0); Ime Uduka, Adirondack (20.6); Kareem Reid, Pennsylvania (19.6); James Penny, Oklahoma (19.3). Other names you may know playing in the United States Basketball League: Olden Polynice, Vonteego Cummings, and Rodrick Rhodes.

READER FEEDBACK

From Brian McCormick

Q: Minnesota forward Kevin Garnett is the most over-hyped player in the NBA. I was rooting for him all along, rooting for the Timberwolves against the Lakers, and rooting for KG as MVP. But I don't see it. Until he starts taking the ball to the rack, he won't win. Granted, he's unstoppable with the fadeaway jumper, but again, until he attacks the basket and gets to the line, his teams will remain mediocre and never contend.

A: Dear Brian, you make a solid point, in that Garnett didn't go to the basket very much in the series against the Lakers. Then again, not many people do attack the basket against Shaq. Either way, it wouldn't hurt for Garnett to spend a week in the gym with Wolves GM Kevin McHale, who is among the top five most effective post players ever. But players today don't work on their games like they used to, and until the NBA gets through this transition phase of overall average talent, it won't take much for a player to be considered an all-star. That's no knock on Garnett, who would be an all-star in any era, as he plays with tons of passion and pride. Still, he could get better.

From Gary Bernstein

Q: Any idea if and where Jeff Van Gundy will land next:? I thought he did a great job when he coached the New York Knicks, and it seems like he still has a hunger to coach.

A: Dear Gary, I know Van Gundy wants to get back into coaching, and I know that the Cavaliers would love to have him. He reportedly is more interested in the New Orleans and Toronto jobs, and don't be surprised to see him land in one of those places. Also, Gundy is said to be intrigued with Atlanta's roster, and could be swayed into a coaching/GM job there, depending on what happens with the Hawks' ownership change this summer.

From Travis Walker

Q: I'm a lifelong Indiana fan, and team president Donnie Walsh is one of the best front office men in the league -- but letting former Pacers assistant and current Pistons coach Rick Carlisle leave was a gigantic mistake. Had Carlisle been signed instead of Isiah Thomas, Indiana would dominate the East.

A: Dear Travis, my condolences. Actually, Isiah and the Pacers could split during the summer, leaving the door open for Jeff Van Gundy, Paul Silas, or perhaps Lenny Wilkens.

IMPROVING THE NBA

Before we get into this week's suggestions, I should mention that my man Sharman Willis took some heat for his proposal in the previous newsletter to eliminate offensive goaltending.

Reader Doug McCooeye wrote, "Was Sharman kidding? If you take away offensive goaltending, you'd have to take away defensive goaltending, and that would be ridiculous. If the offensive guy was allowed to get rebounds right off the rim but the defensive guy wasn't, defenders would have next to no chance for rebounds."

Alex Lee chimed in with, "Wilt Chamberlain used to just grab his teammate's shot out of the air and dunk it. How fun do you think it would be if all the Lakers did was shoot the ball high enough for Shaq to grab it and dunk it? I know it's not that easy, but we're talking at least five or six cheap baskets a game. Offensive goaltending: Important rule."

Finally, Landon Powell wrote, "It's pretty obvious Sharman Willis hasn't watched any vintage footage of Wilt Chamberlain. If he did, it would become pretty clear why there's an offensive goaltending rule and why you can't just play the rims when your wings are out there raining jumpers. If people think certain players have an advantage now, the discrepancy would be appalling without the offensive goaltending rule."

At any rate, this week's idea on how to improve the league comes from George Kubach. Take it away, George:

"Referees need to call the intentional foul, specifically at the end of the game. The losing team always fouls intentionally, and everyone knows it. So give the offense two shots and the ball, and the games will end quicker."

Not a bad idea, George. But whoever said anything about wanting the games to end "quicker"?

If you have a thought on how to improve the NBA, e-mail me at amicoreport@hotmail.com. The shorter, the better. If anyone is gonna mindlessly ramble on about stuff no one cares about, it'll be me.

FINAL THOUGHT (I PROMISE)

Just wanted to take a minute to say thanks so much for reading and sending me your thoughts on the NBA. I write about pro basketball for no reason other than I absolutely love it, and few things in life make me happier than sharing my enthusiasm for the game -- and hearing about yours. So keep those e-mails comin'.

SIGN UP FOR THE AMICO REPORT

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HAVE A GREAT DAY!


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