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Thursday, February 15, 2001
Fred's Points: Kidd, Kobe, All-Stars and more
ESPN.com
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What's the first thing you notice when you see ESPN's Fred Carter on NBA 2Night or SportsCenter? Of course, he points at you. It's his way of saying hello. So we've asked NBA expert Fred to greet us and make some points for ESPN.com each week. Enjoy.
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| Kidd |
1. Jason Kidd decided that his personal problems were more important than suiting up on a road trip for the Suns. For today's athletes, this is very unusual. What are your thoughts on Kidd's decision to leave the team?
I applaud Jason in that regard, looking to repair his marriage, his family, his life. After all, we all find out as we get older that if we are not fortified at home, our work outside of our home is not going to be as productive as it could.
His decision to take care of personal matters must have been a difficult one, but it's the right one. I'm also pleased to see that the Suns have supported that decision even though it's a double-edged sword for them. Having a healthy employee is important to them, but they know his absence is going to cost them basketball games.
This is a statement Jason is making to his bride. He's letting her know how important his family is to him, that basketball is not the most important thing in his life. I'm proud of him for the decision he made.
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| Lewis |
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| Kobe |
2. The Lakers are now 0-3 this season against the Sonics. Also, Kobe Bryant is averaging only 19 points on 31 percent shooting in those games. Is there any way to explain this?
I was just in Dallas talking to Michael Finley, Steve Nash and Dirk Nowitzki and asked them what team gave them problems. There always seems to be a team that has your number. In their case it was Houston, who they had yet to beat this year.
In the Lakers' case you would look at the two teams. The Lakers are bigger, Shaq should be able to dominate the middle against the Sonics. But it's usually not that simple. Seattle has athletes Kobe's size who can guard him. Rashard Lewis is quick and athletic enough to do the job. But it just seems that some teams just beat others. If it were playoff time I would hope the Lakers could hammer it down and do the job.
But the Lakers have more problems than just the Seattle Sonics. Everybody is beating the Lakers because their defense is horrendous. The focus is on the turf war between Shaq and Kobe but the fact is they can't stop anybody. Being the 18th or 19th rated defense in the league is not going to get it done.
3. The Knicks' 33-game streak of allowing less than 100 points ended on Tuesday against the Bucks. Was the Knicks' streak really an accomplishment considering that only one NBA team is even averaging 100 points and the Knicks play such a slow-down style?
Shakespeare wrote Much Ado about Nothing, and that's how I feel about this streak.
They talk about New York's defense, which without a doubt is good, but the tempo at which they play has as much to do with that streak as a stingy defense. So often you will see the shot clock on Knicks' possessions under five seconds before they take a shot. Style of play is keeping their scores down.
When you're good defensively and you slow the game down, two things happen: teams don't get as many shots and you don't have to defend as many plays. So you have the ability to defend longer because you're not defending as much as a running team would have to.
So coaches, players and officials in the league aren't really concerned about the streak as much as the media is.
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| Nowitzki |
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| Webber |
4. A number of talented West forwards are going to be mighty unhappy when the All-Star starters and reserves are announced. With as many as 10 deserving forwards for four or five spots, who would you pick for the big game among Chris Webber, Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett, Karl Malone, Rasheed Wallace, Dirk Nowitzki, Predrag Stojakovic, Antawn Jamison, Shareef Abdur-Rahim and Antonio McDyess?
Whoever does end up being picked for the West All-Star team is going to be arrested for assault and battery after the game. What they're going to do to the East will not be fair. They'll all be taken away with balls and chains.
Webber and McDyess are carrying their teams and are locks. I would also put Nowitzki on the team. The Mavericks are also doing an outstanding job and he is a big part of it.
Karl Malone has really been in a slump; he's having an up and down year. Kevin Garnett is also not playing up to his usual standards. Tim Duncan is clearly playing below the level he has for the past few years. I'm not one to just give the nod to a guy because of his name. You have to go to guys who deserve it.
Jamison, Stojakovic, Abdur-Rahim and Wallace are all having good years, but maybe not All-Star years. Michael Finley is also having a good year despite the fact he was asked to cut back on his scoring so Steve Nash and Nowitzki could grow within the lineup. He would also get a mention, although maybe not a roster spot.
5. Who's gonna win the Super Bowl and how?
This is going to be a ho-hum defensive struggle. The quarterback that makes mistakes is going to lose the ballgame. I like the Ravens defense but the Giants have a better quarterback in Kerry Collins. I'll take the Giants and the under.
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Fred's Points, Nov. 9
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