Makes and Misses: Breakfast of champions
There are thousands of emails in the inbox, which means that there are a lot of you reading my columns – that's a good thing! Thanks so much for your interest and for your feedback. I'm sorry I can't respond to everyone.
And for those of you who enjoy ridiculing me and telling me what an idiot I am – thank you, too. I choose to look at it as "constructive criticism."
My comments are in italics.
THE FINALS
How is it possible that the Detroit Pistons can shut down the San Antonio Spurs' Tony Parker, Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili at the same time?
Paul Gierran
Davao City, Philippines
Paul, it appears that Detroit has done it in Games 3 and 4. Even though Parker scored 21 points in Game 3, he was never a real factor. The Pistons have shut them all down with terrific team defense. They've rotated three people onto Duncan, and they've used their great team speed to clog the lane and stay in front of Parker and Ginobili. They've also gotten much more physical since Game 2, knocking down the Spurs' guards when they do get to the rim. All in all, it has been an incredible defensive performance.
I like your assessments of the series. However, I have not heard any mention by anyone so far about the lack of crisp and quick ball movement by the Pistons while in their half-court set offense! I have observed that most of the time there is stagnation due to excessive dribbling by a guard – Chauncey Billips, Lindsey Hunter or Carlos Arroyo – causing the shot clock to tick down and resulting in a poor or forced shot. Or there is too much one-on-one action with little positive result. Would you agree with this view?
Isa Najjar
New Bedford, Mass.
Isa, I agree. When the Pistons dribble too much, they get in trouble. And the instincts of both Billups and Arroyo is to dribble. But as we've seen in the past two games, when the Pistons force turnovers, they're a different team. They get out on the break and don't get bogged down in the half court, which is where that over dribbling can hurt them.
Will Nazr Mohammed be more effective inside the paint especially beneath the goal if he will just refrain from "fake" shots? Most of the time, he commits errors because of the fakes (lifting his feet, etc.) Also, I can see that the fear/anxiety/doubt on the face of Duncan has disappeared? This is obvious in their previous games where his team lost.
Dr. Conrad Andal
Philippines
Dr. Andal, I think Detroit's front line is so long and quick that both Duncan and Mohammed are wary of having their shots blocked – hence the pump fakes. I think they both need to go right at the Pistons' defense the rest of the series. If they get shots blocked, so be it. But being the aggressor usually leads to good things. As for Duncan's anxiety, he is a very conscientious person who always blames himself for losses. He has a battle on his hands now and he has to come through against a fantastic Detroit front line.
Why is Darko Milicic not playing and progressing. Is this a case of him not really being very good, or the problem of being stuck behind more experienced players on a championship team? I find it really weird that someone drafted that high wouldn't even play more than 35 or so games and for more than 10 minutes regardless of the team.
Gary Schanman
Gary, I think what's happened with Darko is that he's a very young kid who really didn't have much experience in Europe before he arrived here. He wasn't ready for the NBA, and he's playing on a great team with terrific frontcourt players, so he can't crack the lineup. As a result, he is left sitting on the bench, losing confidence and not developing. Darko's case is a perfect example of why the NBA needs a minor league affiliation. If the Pistons could send him down to a farm team, he could play, develop confidence and progress as a player. Right now he's just wasting away.
You are clearly forgetting the most important factor in this series – the team breakfast and the use of pancakes in terms of emotional well-being. Pancakes are the key to life – Detroit knows this, Larry Brown knows this – and that's why you won't see the Spurs taking the trophy home. Detroit in 6!
Evan
Evan, I couldn't agree with you more. It's been the Pistons' consumption of pancakes, not their pressure defense and offensive rebounding, that has led to their resurgence in the series. I think Gregg Popovich must fight back and feed his team waffles at the team breakfast for the Spurs to have any chance.
PHIL'S RETURN ("L.A.'s ful-Phil-ment," June 14, 2005)
Do you think the relationship between Kobe Bryant and Phil Jackson will be OK? Because everybody knows that he has problems with Phil. My opinioin about the Los Angeles Lakers is that they need a big guy. Do you think Shaquille O'Neal might return to L.A.?
Herby Fevilien
Malden, Mass.
Herby, I think Kobe and Phil will get along better. Phil was wrong to publish his book and include so much locker room talk. And Kobe has made his share of mistakes, obviously. I think they need each other, and they'll find a way to make it work. And now that Shaq is out of the picture, Jackson's job will be easier in terms of interpersonal relationships on the team. But you're right. They need a big guy desperately, along with a point guard. Mitch Kupchak has a tough job on his hands this summer.
OK, you made the point of why this is good for the Lakers, but we already know that. Phil Jackson is good for any team! I want to know why you think that Phil's return to L.A. is good for Phil?
Joel Barkey
Joel, I can give you 10 million reasons per season why this is good for Phil. But besides the money, Phil Jackson loves to coach basketball. That's what he does. Sometimes fans think of comebacks like Jackson's or Michael Jordan's in terms of how their legacies will be affected. But these guys just miss what they love most in life, so they return to it.
Steve, a little biased on the Jackson commentary maybe? A parrot could have coached Jackson's teams and won nine rings. Let's see what he does with a less than stellar team.
Jim
Milwaukee, Wis.
Jim, why wouldn't I be biased when it comes to Phil Jackson? I was with him for five years as he coached the Chicago Bulls to three titles. You and all the Jackson-haters all bring the same argument – that anyone could have coached his teams to championships. But those of us who played for him know what an amazing coach he is and how he has an uncanny knack of getting the most out of his players. He won nine titles! Give him his due. As for his return? He's not going to win a championship, but he'll lead the Lakers back to the playoffs – I guarantee it.
ASK STEVE
Why has the NBA officiating become so horrible? I have played basketball for most of my life and I have never seen it so bad. Examples: Officials have allowed palming or carrying the ball and accepted it as normal, which irritates the heck out of me. Also, a lot of fouls are not called. Over the years, bad officiating has tainted the sport of basketball. Years back, I thought it was terrible at times having one court official, but the NBA can't even get it right with three.
Michael Wood
Las Vegas, Nev.
Michael, I think that officiating an NBA game is incredibly difficult, so I'll give these guys a break. But I agree with your assessment of palming the ball. Players continually discontinue their dribbles in basketball these days, and yet it isn't called anymore. I think it's an evolution of the game brought on by Allen Iverson's crossover move. I preferred the legal Tim Hardaway crossover, but you have to give Iverson credit – he changed the game with that move. I'm not a big fan of palming, but I think it's here to stay.
I enjoyed watching you during your playing days. Who, in your opinion, is the greatest short man to have played basketball? Who, today, is the current greatest short man?
Richard L.
Richard, I think the best short man ever was Bob Cousy. He controlled games at the point and won a bushel of championships. But certainly you have to make a case for Calvin Murphy, who was an amazing scorer at just 5-foot-8. Right now, the best "little guy" in the league is Steve Nash.
