Just in case you need a break from debating whether Damaso Marte should start any inning ending in “th,” the NBA is back. Teams open the preseason on Monday with meetings and media days, during which players practice their cliches and make fun of Jerry Krause. Sorry, that was then.
The 2005-06 edition of Bulls media day may have the most intrigue in the NBA with the uncertainty over Eddy Curry’s contract and whether he’ll take a DNA test. There were reports Curry is willing to compromise and take an SAT test. But seriously, folks, my guess is the Bulls eventually trade Curry to the New York Knicks to avoid the ugly distractions sure to ensue. And the Curry-Jamal Crawford tandem finally could determine how good Larry Brown is.
It’s a pretty happy league elsewhere. The Spurs added Michael Finley so the talk is dynasty there. South Beach will never be the same as Miami, with Shaquille O’Neal and Dwyane Wade, added Antoine Walker, Jason Williams and Gary Payton. How did the Heat miss signing Dennis Rodman? There are 10 new coaches, one new city for the flood-ravaged Hornets, one contrite Ron Artest and one relieved Terry Stotts.
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Stotts is the new coach of the Milwaukee Bucks, and they may have the feel-good story of the season with the expected return of point guard T.J. Ford, who missed last season after what was believed to be career-ending spinal surgery. Former Bull Jay Williams, attempting to come back from his motorcycle accident, is taking his time after a few workouts and hopes to get a look with a team later this season. But Ford’s comeback story may be just as remarkable.
Ranked among the top 10 in the NBA in assists after the All-Star break in his rookie season, 2003-04, Ford aggravated a congenital condition. It resulted in spinal-fusion surgery. Most among the Bucks never expected him to play again. But Ford has been working out and playing in full-court, five-on-five scrimmages the last three months in Houston with an improved jump shot. His return could make the Bucks, who were 30-52 last season, one of the big surprises this season and make the Central Division the league’s toughest with five teams capable of being over. 500.
“He’s been cleared to play with no restrictions,” Stotts said. “When he played in his rookie year (55 games), he was third in the league behind Jason Kidd and Steve Nash in assists per minute. All accounts about him are positive, so we’re adding T.J., [free agent] Bobby Simmons, [No. 1 pick] Andrew [Bogut] and re-signing Michael [Redd]. It gives us depth at every position, passing–Andrew is a great passer–guys like Desmond Mason, Joe Smith. . . . We’re excited about the possibilities.”
The style police
It’s bye-bye hip-hop and hello 1950s for NBA players. There is a new league-mandated dress code right out of “Leave it to Beaver.” No more jeans when sitting on the bench out of uniform. Instead, jackets and ties are required.
There is an increase in mandated player appearances during the season to 12 from 10. (Does any community really have to see Latrell Sprewell more?) There will be designated autograph sessions at arenas for fans before games and participation in team merchandise giveaways on game nights.
These moves show the NBA’s growing concern about the disconnect between its fans and highly paid players, who increasingly grow indifferent to the community with contract disputes, trade demands, admissions of not trying hard and early-morning nightclub activities that have led to several violent incidents lately. The fear is a decline in attendance and sponsorships that Commissioner David Stern apparently is trying to head off.
Farm system
This season also will mark the beginning of what is expected to become the NBA’s minor league, the NBA Developmental League. Hey, what about sending Eddy Curry down? Nah, players have to be in their first or second season. Teams will be able to send down two roster players at their NBA salaries. The goal is to have 15 minor-league teams. The number is now eight with the Bulls sharing Tulsa with the Bucks, Pacers and Hornets. Former DePaul coach Joey Meyer is coaching Tulsa and is getting noticed by the NBA, where he soon could land on a coaching staff. Other developmental coaches include former NBA players Sam Vincent, Jeff Malone, Dennis Johnson and Michael Cooper. Meyer coached the old NBDL Asheville team to the last two championships and this summer was in the running for an assistant’s job with the Timberwolves. “I’m a coaching lifer,” Meyer said. “I’ve learned a lot about the NBA game, which is different than college, and hopefully this will help create some relationships with teams.” He said he’ll visit training camps to work with the coaches to see what they’d like from their players who spend time in the developmental league.
Hollywood story
Like the guys said in the “Godfather” movies, maybe it is just business. Kobe Bryant, speaking to reporters for the first time last week since April, offered this of his Lakers reunion with Phil Jackson: “It’s really all business. I really don’t want to turn this season, every [media] session into a me-and-Phil conversation because it takes away from what we’re trying to accomplish. Phil and I, we’re just extremely driven. We’re both very focused on [the season] and nothing more.”
Later that week, Jackson met with reporters and said of Bryant: “We’re going to have a relationship. We’ll get done what we need this year. The only thing I will feel on eggshells [about Bryant] is questioning from you guys, the media.” Jackson said he intends to cut off those inquiries soon.
Instead, Jackson’s biggest issue could be Kwame Brown, who pointed out in a Washington Post interview last week his L.A. house is much bigger than his Washington house and his suspension in last season’s playoffs stemmed from problems with Gilbert Arenas, represented by agent Dan Fegan. Brown claimed Fegan ordered Arenas to stop passing him the ball because Brown wouldn’t sign with Fegan. Arenas called that nonsense.
All things ex-Bulls
In the “Where are they Now” section, Ron Harper will be a full-time assistant with the Pistons. Scottie Pippen will show up at Lakers’ camp in Honolulu this week to work with Lamar Odom, who is to be Pippen to Bryant’s Jordan for Jackson’s Lakers this season. The Lakers also may take a look at former Bull Corie Blount. Meantime, Scott Williams will be a broadcaster for the Cavs.
He’s very busy
Artest, or “TruWarier” if you go by his Web site, is back and told the Indianapolis Star he just completed a new album, has plans to produce a new album for his all-girl singing group, Allure, and plans to begin filming a movie next summer of a fictionalized account of his life growing up in New York. What fiction can be more interesting than his real life?
Double dribbles
If you think Chicagoans are paranoid about their sports teams, how about Cleveland? An item last week in Cleveland noted LeBron James, who can be a free agent in two years, was at a Yankees game in New York wearing Yankees apparel. . . . Strange summer for Grant Hill, who turns 33 this week. It was his first since 1999 without physical rehab. . . . Is it over for Glenn “Big Dog” Robinson, who played off the bench for the Spurs as a late-season pickup and hasn’t had any bites? . . . The big surprise of the recent European championships was the victory by Greece with no NBA players. The surprise player was Boris Diaw, the throw-in on the Joe Johnson deal from Atlanta to Phoenix. Diaw, a 6-8 guard, starred for France and made the all-tournament team. . . . Houston has lost starting point guard Bob Sura for much of the season after knee surgery. . . . Congratulations to Bulls assistant John Bach, who was inducted last month into the New York City Hall of Fame. Bach was on two city championship high school teams, played in the NIT with Fordham when the NIT was the premier college tournament and was one of the nation’s youngest head coaches at Fordham when he was 25. Said Bach, entering his 53rd year of coaching: “It’s nice to smell the roses while you can.”
The quote
New Trail Blazers coach Nate McMillan in a radio interview about top rookie pick, high school player Martell Webster, asking for tapes of Kobe Bryant, Tracy McGrady and Reggie Miller: “How about some tapes of guys who play defense?”
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