| | According to sources with intimate knowledge of the situation, Isiah Thomas,
who now owns the Continental Basketball Association, is looking to expand the league.
|  | | Led by flashy Jason Williams, the Kings are for real. |
Rumor has it that Thomas is eyeing the NBA's Eastern Conference.
OK, that's not true. But it's not too far from the truth in terms of
where, exactly, the teams in the East now compare with the Western Conference.
Surely, there was a marked disparity in the wealth of talent last season,
when the discombobulated, .500 New York Knicks made it all the way to the NBA
Finals after whipping a bunch of also-rans -- then, predictably, got handed
their pompous hides by San Antonio.
Now, after an offseason of activity and movement that seemingly benefited
only the teams this side of Ole Miss, the gap of equality is even greater,
particularly since those teams in the East are only getting older, slower and
more disgruntled. Players are fleeing the East like the Irish fled their
homes during the great potato famine.
Fact is, there are probably four really good players in the East: Allen
Iverson, Stephon Marbury, Alonzo Mourning and maybe Vince Carter -- and
certainly none of the first three will ever be voted for the humanitarian of the
year award.
In the West, you've got Kevin Garnett, Tim Duncan, David Robinson,
Shaquille O'Neal, Kobe Bryant, Jason Kidd, Penny Hardaway, Gary Payton,
Rasheed Wallace, Chris Webber, Jason Williams, Hakeem Olajuwon, Scottie
Pippen, Brian Grant, Tom Gugliotta, Karl Malone, John Stockton, Shareef
Abdur-Rahim and Greg Ostertag. (OK, just seeing if you were paying attention
on that last one.)
But in a league where the superstars essentially make the team, this is an
overwhelming collection of talent, so much so that it is difficult to ever
remember a bigger chasm between the two conferences.
Perhaps even more difficult is predicting which teams will finish in what
order. Kind of like trying to predict the outcome of a race between Man O' War and Secretariat. The East, by the way, is Mr. Ed in that comparison.
Anyway, I predicted Sacramento would make the playoffs last season, so I
might as well keep my prognosticating career alive. This is how the Pacific
Division will turn out:
Portland Trail Blazers: This team is so talented, it does not even notice
the absence of Grant, who was in the running for MVP last season. To steal a
line heard at one of their recent preseason victories, "The Blazers want to
put their scrubs in the game, but they don't have any." Yes, the Blazers are
deeper than John Gotti, and adding Pippen for a bundle of rubbish was a major
coup. Jermaine O'Neal is going to be great, as is Bonzi Wells -- and you've
probably never seen either of them play. The only way this team is not going
to win the division -- and, likely, the championship, is if one of several
head cases -- Pippen, Wallace, Damon Stoudamire, O'Neal -- decides to disrupt
the Rose City because they are not getting enough shots/playing
time/publicity/money/love.
Phoenix Suns: As hard as Hardaway tried to destroy the Orlando Magic, I
predict he will do his best to conform in the valley. He got his money, in
his head he got his respect -- although the rest of the world knows
differently -- and playing next to Kidd, he should get all the shots he
wants. Maybe Scott Skiles can be a guidance counselor. It was Skiles, after
all, who voluntarily stepped aside in Orlando to allow Penny to start his
rookie season. The Suns' starting five of Hardaway, Kidd, Gugliotta, Cliff
Robinson and Luc Longley nearly rivals the Blazers', Longley notwithstanding,
but the Suns are not as deep as the Blazers. Robinson is probably the best
player not to be a perennial All-Star.
Los Angeles Lakers: Phil Schmill. I'll believe Jackson is a great coach
when I see him do it without Michael Jordan to bail him out. I see
trouble in the future with the triangle offense, and I really see trouble
when Kobe gets all the shots that Shaq used to get. How is Kobe going to pick
it up after missing six weeks? And what happened to all the talk about the
Lakers getting a power forward? And has anybody heard from Glen Rice since he
was traded from Charlotte? And tell the Lakers one more thing: Don't allow
Penny Marshall courtside anymore. She hasn't aged well. She's beginning to
look like Squiggy.
Sacramento Kings: I'm a little bit wary about the Kings because I've seen
what happens to Chris Webber when he thinks his team is great and he starts
to get comfortable. Trouble lies ahead. But I'm hoping against hope that this
team does not suffer the sophomore jinx, as it were, and get overconfident
after their successful run last season. Nick Anderson should add a nice
veteran touch, assuming he plays as well as he has recently, although the
loss of Vernon Maxwell could hurt. But it would be nice for Sacramento to
have a winner before the Maloofs move the team.
Seattle SuperSonics: Gary Payton says he is only going to shoot six times
a game. And at one time Elizabeth Taylor thought she was only going to get
married once. Vin Baker says he is going to get in shape and return to his
previous star status. So did Larry Holmes. This team is full of hope, but its
two stars are full of something else. The Sonics certainly are a better
version than they last season, but they failed to keep up with the rest of
the division in improvements made.
Golden State Warriors: I have one piece of advice for P.J. Carlesimo:
Start Antawn Jamison and give him the ball every time. Yes, Terry Cummings
was named captain, but so was the guy who drove the Exxon Valdez. The
Warriors did nothing to improve themselves in the offseason, unless they
think that giving Erick Dampier a bunch of money is an improvement. The guy
has the worst hands in sports. I heard he dropped his first check.
Los Angeles Clippers: Remember in the movie "Titanic," when the captain,
as tradition holds, must go down with the ship. I think Chris Ford should go
into the wheel house, close his eyes and wait for the water to start gushing
in.
Frank Hughes covers the NBA for the Tacoma (Wash.) News-Tribune. He is a regular contributor to ESPN.com.
| |
ALSO SEE
NBA Preview 99
Preview '99: Welcome back to the NBA
Preview '99: NBA from A to Z
ESPN experts' picks for 1999-2000
Atlantic Division: Heat, Knicks to battle
Central Division: Improved Hornets take over
Midwest Division: Only voters can stop Spurs, Duncan
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