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Thursday, April 19, 2001
Fred's Points: Zo, Iverson and the Nets
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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| Mourning |
1. Alonzo Mourning is back but there are many who think his return is a bad idea because he is risking his health. Do you think his comeback is too dangerous, and even with him how far can the Heat go this season?
I like to think of myself as old school and so, I think, does Alonzo. Old school players have the attitude that if you can walk, you can play. When your team is out there struggling but still trying to accomplish something during the season the last thing you want to do is sit on the sidelines if you believe you can help them.
Zo has been practicing at full contact. In his mind he can help his teammates and his teammates see him practicing as well and are thinking the same thing. Zo knows that and probably felt some pressure. But he wouldn't come back if he didn't feel safe. I'm happy for him.
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| Grant |
There are three areas that the Heat have not excelled at this year. Defensive field goal percentage, in which they are usually a top three team, they are in seventh. They rank 19th in defensive rebounding. And in shot-blocking they are 14th in the league. All of those areas are strengths for Mourning. When you improve in those areas you start to see more W's.
Of course, Zo can also post up and make jumpshots. He'll be a tremendous help. And he gives Pat Riley a ton of flexibility coming off the bench. He can sub for Brian Grant or Anthony Mason. If they get the No. 3 seed, they don't play Philly until the Eastern Conference Finals. When Eddie Jones gets back, look out for the Heat.
2. In other news, the Grizzlies finally found a place to move, but when they did the Hornets wanted to go to Memphis as well. Do you think the Grizzlies' potential move to Memphis is a good idea, and what are the Hornets thinking?
It sounds like Elvis is alive and well in Memphis because everyone seems to want to make the pilgrimage to Graceland. This will be much ado about nothing. I think something will happen that will allow the Hornets to remain in Charlotte.
For the Grizzlies, it becomes simplistic. If you're losing money in a certain situation then you extricate yourself from that situation.
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| Iverson |
3. Philadelphia finally won a game after stubbing its toe against teams like the Clippers and Suns and not even scoring 80 points in the process. But even with Allen Iverson, is this team too reliant on its star?
There is certainly a road map out there on directions to defend Allen Iverson come playoff time. You'll find most teams will double-team him and send him left. That's not to say Allen won't score the same number of points, but he'll have to do it with seven or eight more shots in a game.
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| Lynch |
There are also certain guys that other teams will definitely double team off when they cover Allen. For example, you can double team off George Lynch and make him the designated shooter. Just decide that he's going to take 20-25 shots per game. Period. Take the ball out of Allen's hands. Lynch is a possible target as is Eric Snow. Those guys are not comfortable shooting the ball that much and may even feel guilty about taking shots away from Allen. It's a role that they're not accustomed to.
The point is, someone else on the Sixers will have to step up. Yes, they are too reliant on Allen right now. But anyone can get hot in the playoffs. If teams lay off someone like Lynch, it may be smart basketball, or he could burn them.
4. One after another, members of the New Jersey Nets keep falling, from Jayson Williams to Kerry Kittles to, recently, Kenyon Martin and Stephon Marbury. Have you ever seen a team have this much bad luck with injuries in one year?
I don't want to be accused of spreading rumors but they're always talking about something bad in the air of the Meadowlands. Something is going on there that just makes you wonder.
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| Kittles |
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| Marbury |
Over the years they've had horrendous injuries in New Jersey. Jayson Williams had a fantastic career cut short, Stephon Marbury has missed significant time in past years, never mind the injury that's afflicting him now. Kenyon Martin was doing everything for the Nets this year.
This organization has been snakebitten. Can they get out from under it? I don't know. If it doesn't get better fast, it's going to be like the curse of the Bambino in Boston. Somewhere along the line you'd like to see the Nets have a year when everybody makes it through unscathed and everybody plays at their optimum. Maybe that will be next year.
5. Duke, Maryland, Arizona and Michigan State: Who do you like this weekend in Minneapolis? And who are you watching for future pro stardom?
The same names keep coming up when you talk about their future potential as pros. Shane Battier and Jason Williams jump out as good players, but it's dangerous to say who's going to make it and who isn't. Sometimes you hype players and they never attain the level that people thought they would when they have to play a different game. There are superior college players whose game isn't suited for the NBA.
As far as the games themselves, I think the eventual national champion is going to come out of the ACC battle between Maryland and Duke in the semifinal. Maryland could be 3-0 in their games this year instead of 1-2. They are very capable of beating Duke. But the Blue Devils are very strong. I like the east in the Final Four.
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