The Spurs and Mavericks in the West and the Heat and Pistons in the East appear headed toward playoff showdowns for the right to meet in the NBA Finals. There is one factor, though, that could affect those seemingly inevitable collisions: Amare Stoudemire’s health.
Stoudemire, the Suns’ big man, has been out all season after having microfracture surgery on his left knee in October. Despite losing Stoudemire, the Suns have the league’s fourth-best record. If he is able to return in March, the Suns would have to be considered championship contenders.
Then again, maybe having a star player return just in time for the playoffs isn’t such a great thing. Just ask the Sacramento Kings.
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“At the time (2004), everyone assumed having Chris [Webber] coming back would make us better,” said Jerry Reynolds, a longtime Kings executive and current broadcaster. “It didn’t. By the playoffs, he was playing pretty well, but not like he’d been. And there was no question the whole team had to adjust to him, and obviously he couldn’t do the same things. The thinking was it made sense to have Chris come back and to become a championship-type team. It didn’t happen.”
Instead, the Kings, who had the league’s best record after 60 games, closed 10-12 and were ousted in the second round of the playoffs. So here come the Suns having a terrific season and Stoudemire apparently close to a return. What to do?
“You’re damned if you do, damned if you don’t,” said Steve Nash, headed to consecutive MVP awards. “On paper, it’s a terrific addition. But having played five months of basketball without him, it’s difficult to assimilate someone as dominant as he is. Sacramento had the same team then. We have eight new guys whom Amare has never even played with. There are a lot of factors going into it. You’ve got one of the most talented players in the world coming back with open arms, yet it’s not a slam dunk.”
The Suns know–though they wouldn’t say it–that it would be hard to win the NBA title without Stoudemire. Yet, as with the Kings, Phoenix’s players would have to limit roles and cut minutes to accommodate Stoudemire. (A new stress fracture injury to Kurt Thomas might ease that problem a bit.) One of the Kings’ biggest issues in 2004 was Webber’s insistence on being a dominant player and producing big numbers to maintain his reputation. Stoudemire, likewise, is unaccustomed to being a supporting player and is equally prideful. Could he accept being a supporting player? Would he?
The Suns say they and Stoudemire agree he shouldn’t return unless he’s completely healthy. But when do you know for sure?
“We’ll talk to Amare and make sure he understands he should not push too hard, that it’s going to be difficult to assimilate into a new group and the big thing is not to think he can come back and be like last year,” Nash said. “It’s a new team, he’s not 100 percent, he’s got to lower expectations and build from there. It’s a pretty tall task to beat those teams with big frontcourts in the playoffs. We need a healthy Amare. But we’ve surprised thus far. Maybe we can keep it going.”
Seattle sludge
How pathetic was Seattle interim coach Bob Hill’s rip of Gregg Popovich before the Spurs beat the Sonics last week?
“I know what he’s like behind closed doors,” Hill said of Popovich, who fired Hill in 1996 and took the Spurs’ head-coaching job himself. “I’ve been in lots and lots of meetings with him. The only way he can justify what he did was to create all this deception that I was some kind of . . . monster. That I was hard to work with. They were all lies. I was absolutely shocked that, as an organization, they would do that after all the success we had. I looked at him and I said, `How can you bring a family to San Antonio, make all the promises to us that you made, and do this, and look yourself in the mirror?'”
Still, Hill made a big production of going to shake Popovich’s hand before the game–a 103-78 rout of the Sonics. Hill, who is not expected to return as Seattle’s coach next season, long has had a reputation for undermining head coaches. As an assistant, he was promoted to replace Hubie Brown in New York, Dick Versace in Indiana and Bob Weiss in Seattle.
Seattle’s slide under Hill raises a question about Rashard Lewis. He says he is upset with the team’s direction as well as Hill’s refusal to use the big, inside players that helped make the team a success last season. He says he’ll opt out of his contract after next season.
Lewis seems the most likely of the big free agents in the class of 2007 to leave. With a weak free-agent class this summer, it would be worth saving and waiting for him.
Razing Arizona
There are many stupid stories in the NBA, which is what helps us maintain our enthusiasm for the league. But one of the dumbest has been the unnecessary war developing in Phoenix, one that seems likely to send the reigning executive of the year, Bryan Colangelo, somewhat reluctantly to Toronto.
Perhaps Colangelo needs to be on his own and out from the shadow of his famous father, Jerry, who is phasing out his running the Suns. But, come on, Toronto? Yes, the Raptors have Chris Bosh. But try getting the same free agents who flocked to Phoenix to come to Toronto. I go to Phoenix in the winter and see many license plates from Canada. I rarely see Arizona license plates when I’m in Toronto.
Bryan Colangelo has sent signals he wants to remain and new owner Robert Sarver did make him a partner with equity in the team when he came in and raised his salary by a third. The Raptors are offering a big raise, but not equity. Colangelo should know this scenario well. Joe Johnson recently took the money, left Phoenix and went to Atlanta. He hasn’t sounded very happy being at the end of the basketball world.
With Nash, Stoudemire and Shawn Marion under contract, the Suns will be good for a long time, and Colangelo has had a lot to do with that. The Raptors are hoping to be a .500 team in a few years, and no one has heard much good about their Balkanized ownership, which changes general managers and coaches regularly.
Yes, the foam-finger waving Sarver has done some goofy things. But he did pay the highest amount ever for an NBA franchise at about $400 million. So he doesn’t seem that frugal. He’s getting beaten up badly in the local media, which happens with all new guys.
A decision is supposed to come by Tuesday.
Illini update
The Nos. 3 and 4 draft picks, Deron Williams and Chris Paul, faced off twice last week and their teams split. Paul’s numbers were somewhat better, and Hornets coach Byron Scott laid it on again about how much better Paul is. “When Utah said they’d take Williams, there was almost shock in the room,” Scott said of draft night. “That shock lasted for probably about 10 seconds, and then everybody said, `Well, we don’t have to wait the five minutes.'” Williams has been curt about the comparisons with Paul, who’s certain to be named rookie of the year. Said the former Illini guard, “If you go by one season, Chris is better than me.”
Double dribbles
At least the Bulls never have these problems. Atlanta suspended Salim Stoudamire for attitude problems and a confrontation with coach Mike Woodson. The Hornets benched and tried to trade J.R. Smith for Brent Barry because of Smith’s general slothful behavior. . . . Talk of financial and arena problems has Seattle, Portland, Sacramento and even Philadelphia all dropping hints about moving if they don’t get public financial help. Where are they all going? Louisville? . . . Doc Rivers’ son, Jeremiah, is a hot high school prospect committed to Georgetown. Dwight Howard’s younger brother, Jahaziel, is considering Georgetown. . . . Talk in Orlando is that Grant Hill will be released. The Orlando Sentinel quoted an unnamed Magic official saying, “I’m not sure Grant would want to be a part of the way this is going to go.”
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Talking Bulls
Kirk Hinrich is not expected to be among the 25 players announced Sunday in New York for the U.S. team to play in the world championships this summer and eventually the Olympics in 2008. There will be a 12-player team, but none will be cut after a July camp in Las Vegas and kept in a pool in case of injuries or defections before 2008. . . . Pistons players were telling friends that Bulls coach Scott Skiles was challenging them to fight him during that Bulls-Pistons ’80s fest Friday. Except for maybe Ben Wallace, I’d take Skiles in those matchups. One of the problems the Bulls have with so many truly nice people is they are nice and get pushed around even though they play physically.
Last shots
Last season, the Cavs won their first game after the All-Star break and then lost six straight to begin their slide to ninth in the East. They’re now working on three straight losses after Sunday’s loss in Detroit. They play the Pistons again Monday and then meet the Bulls twice in four days starting Friday. . . . Shaquille O’Neal will be 34 next Monday, which is usually when he likes to start the season. Shooting 15 of 16 Saturday, he looks like he’s finally getting ready. “It’s about the time I pick it up every year,” O’Neal said. . . . When they were in Detroit last week, four Pacers players went to a local hospital as part of their community service from last season’s brawl. . . . New rapper Tony Parker is calling himself on stage “Tony Pizzle” and “The Machine,” though reviews have not been kind, more “Tony Fizzle.” . . . Steve Francis to a New York heckler asking where he was going next: “To the bank.”
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