SPORTS

Outside Oberlin:

Our NBA picks for the Western Conference

by Eben Askins

This week, we explore the NBA West where so many teams that you used to laugh at are threatening the old NBA hierarchy. Tune in next week to see which teams are best equipped to win in the more up-tempo East.

Pacific Division

Where else to begin but the stacked Portland Trailblazers? After charging to the one seed in the West a year ago, GM Bob Whitsitt pulled the trigger on two mega-deals that all but assured the Blazers a rematch with the Spurs in the Conference Finals. First, Trader Bob somehow managed to lure scorer Steve Smith from the Hawks in exchange for troubled Isaiah Rider and pick-a-team-I've-played-for-them utility guard Jim Jackson. But this was peanuts compared to the nine player deal that landed point-forward Scottie Pippen. All they had to give up was Brian Shaw, Walt Williams, Stacey Augmon (who they then signed after he was released) and a trio of mediocre benchwarmers. The team now boasts an eight-man rotation of Pippen, Smith, Damon Stoudamire, Brian Grant, Arvydas Sabonis, Rasheed Wallace, Greg Anthony and the newly signed Detlef Schrempf. Jermaine O' Neal, Stacey Augmon and Ed Gray round out a solid bench. The strength of the team is flexibility. Three starters (Pippen, Wallace and Smith) can all play multiple positions, and Grant has played the five before. Sorry, San Antonio, this is the team to beat in the West.

Ah yes, the Los Angeles Lakers, everyone's annual pick to make it to the Finals. "No, this is the year" the analysts cry, "Kobe has come into his own" or "O'Neal is working on his free throw shooting." Whatever. This year is no different, and the insiders will undoubtedly claim that new Head Coach Phil Jackson will finally lead the Lakers to the promised land. But with Kobe out for the first two weeks with a broken hand, Jackson will have to make due with free-agent signee Ron Harper (from the threepeat days in the Windy City) and flirt with Rick Fox at the two-guard. Power forward remains the big question. With Spice Boy Dennis Rodman still a free agent (the Lakers were 14-13 when he was not in the lineup last year), L.A. will go with a combination of newly acquired A.C. Green, Travis Knight and Robert Horry - hardly the Three Musketeers. The bench is also thin, with Fox, the young Tyronn Lue backing up Derek Fisher and the power forwards rounding out the rotation. Second year scorer Sam Jacobson might get some quality minutes and show his outside touch while Kobe is down. This team definitely lacks the defensive fortitude that Jackson was so used to in Chicago, so he brought in his former Bulls defensive coach Jim Cleamons to help out. Glen Rice is also in the last year of his contract, so listen for the trade winds come January. If the triangle works and Kobe and Shaq can find even ground - and, more importantly, even shot distribution - this team has a serious chance of doing some damage in the playoffs. It seems like we say this every year, but there is still something missing from this team. They will have trouble with San Antonio and Portland come playoff time, but if they pull off a deal for Rice, who knows what could happen?

What more could one ask for than what the Phoenix Suns already have? A young coach, three All-Star starters (including the game's most dynamic backcourt) and some of the best three-point shooters in the NBA. Still, they could use something along the lines of rebounding and defensive intensity. They just can't seem to motivate themselves physically to win games. No wonder All-World power forward Antonio McDyess wanted to back to the Nuggets - and how many players can actually make that claim? When GM Bryan Colangelo traded the team's future (Danny Manning, Pat Garrity and two first round picks) for Penny Hardaway, the obvious intention was to build a contender now. With future Hall of Famer Jason Kidd teamed with the explosive Hardaway and Tom Gugliotta hitting fadeaways on the baseline, this team looks real good on paper. Small forward Cliff Robinson rounds out the starting lineup. But don't let me forget that large Australian fellow with the big contract clogging up the middle. I hate to say this folks, but the onus really falls on Luc Longley to produce. Why? Simply put, the team needs to give him minutes so can rebound and block shots. But if he just gets into foul trouble and relapses into the butterfingered babaloo he was last year, this team has no chance. If Longley rides the pine, who will provide the rebounding? Temperamental tubby Oliver Miller? Geriatric scrub Mark West? The Suns did help themselves with offensive scoring of the bench when they traded for Rodney Rogers, and Rex Chapman hit .372 from three-point land, good for second in the league. Unfortunately, this team needs rebounding and interior defense and that means a hard-nosed performance from Longley - or celebrity golf tournaments in June.

The Sacramento Kings are just plain fun to watch. Their fast-faced, up-tempo, in-your-face-offense produced the league's only triple-digit scoring average last year. It also appears that they have found the final piece of the puzzle. Puzzled? You should be, because it is no mistake that NBC chose nine nationally televised games for the Kings this year. There's style with point guard Jason Williams, a.k.a. White Chocolate; an inside presence in the moody but talented Chris Webber (who averaged 20 points and 13 boards last season); and the token foreign center in Vlade Divac. Small forward Corliss Williamson is also developing a solid inside game. All they needed was a two-guard scorer who could provide veteran leadership for the young group. So say goodbye to Tariq Abdul-Wahad and a first-round pick and say hello to Nick Anderson. Anderson now finds himself on a team where he is the vocal leader, a role he should flourish in. He also brings defensive tenacity and one of the best inside/outside games in the league. Question marks remain about Williamson, though. There was talk about signing him to a six-year, $36 million contract a few years back, but he was signed to a one-year deal for $3.5 instead. The brass would also like to lock up Webber before his contract expires after the year. Predrag Stojakovic, Jon Barry, Tony Delk and Ty Corbin round out a decent bench. Defense should once again be a top priority, as the Kings were the only team NBA to average 100 points allowed. It's too bad that this fun team is in the toughest division in the game. Sure, they'll make the playoffs, and maybe they'll snag a prestigious four-seed, but are they ready to match up against the big boys? Not yet, but maybe soon.

How the once mighty have fallen. With a revamped roster filled with gold-knuckled veterans, the Seattle Supersonics return to their trapping, aggressive defense and up-tempo, fast break offense. Gone are Detlef Schrempf, Don Maclean, Hersey Hawkins, Dale Ellis, Billy Owens and Olden Polynice. Signed are inside bangers Horace Grant and Greg Foster and deft outside shooters in Vernon Maxwell and Brent Barry. Barry will fill the two-guard void with help from Mad Max off the bench, but this team does not have a true center. Seven-footer Vladimir Stepania is a spot-up shooter. That means Grant and Vin Baker will split the four-five hole and hyped second year forward Ruben Patterson will start at small forward. Patterson, who has self-proclaimed himself the "Kobe-Buster," will need to tighten his vocal cords while Gary "The Glove" Payton still runs the lockerroom. At 6'5", Patterson is a little small for the three-spot, but as his teammates are so fond of saying, "He's got game." Sadly, game is just what Baker lacked last year, with a dreadful 45 percent shooting from the charity stripe. So Vin spent the entire off-season in the weight room, hoping to work off those calories that made his tailor's life a little more interesting last year. With Maxwell, Shammond Williams, Foster and Jelani McCoy, the bench blends youth and veteran savvy. Look for the Jan. 29 showdown with ex-coach George Karl's Bucks to be a neat one. But this team is still a few steps from being a contender, a major problem for a veteran team.

What is there to say about the Golden State Warriors? After jettisoning the sticky situation known as Sprewell, the Warriors formed a nice mix of veterans and youngsters looking to break out and a few new faces. Considering that Muggsy Bogues led this team in field goal percentage last year - and he's not tossing 25 shots up a game - the team needed to get a scorer. Well, they did, but unfortunately, he plays the wrong position. After dishing Duane Ferrell, Bimbo Coles and a first-rounder to Atlanta for Mookie Blaylock, the Warriors are now stuck with a chucker who plays the point. They are in desperate need of a true two-guard, and John Starks (bless his kind soul while on the Knicks) is not a NBA-caliber starter. To make matters worse, this is another team without a true center as Adonal Foyle (6'10") is their tallest player and hardly a starter. Thus, Jason Caffey, Terry Cummings and the budding star Antawn Jamison will have to manage a fragile frontcourt. Rookie Vonteego Cummings, Chris Mills and Donyell Marshall complete the bench. This team is just not exciting, folks. They don't shoot the ball well, have no post threat whatsoever, start a streaky shooter at the two and give lead-footed ageless wonder Cummings quality time. Don't waste your time on this team.

As bad as the Warriors are, the Los Angeles Clippers are much, much worse. "What? Look at their starting lineup?" the critics cry. Wrong, folks. Though Michael Olowokandi, Maurice Taylor and rookie sensation Lamar Odom make a nice frontline, and this year's guards (Eric Murdock and Derek Anderson) are much better than last year's (Eric Piatkowski and Sherman Douglas), one must look past this young team. Taylor, who is going to be a star in another team's uniform, is on the last year of his contract, and he has publicly stated that he will play the year and become a free agent. The 'O' brothers are young and need time to develop. Other than Tyrone Nesby off the bench, this team has nada. Anthony Avent, Keith Closs, Troy Hudson, Brian Skinner? I truly feel sorry for Head Coach Chris Ford, for his only relief (other than the box of Rolaids he consumes before crying himself to sleep every night) is the play of Odom. This guy will be fun to watch, hands down. He can play almost any position, and he can handle, drive, post, hit the three, rebound and run the floor. I don't know too much about his defensive prowess, but we'll give him time. At least the Clips don't have to play in the solitary confinement of the L.A. Sports Arena anymore, though the new Staples Center is more for the Lakers anyhow.


Midwest Division

In some ways, I pity the Utah Jazz, like the way you pity the Buffalo Bills and the Cleveland Indians. The team just keeps getting older and more conservative. Instant-offense sixth man Shandon Anderson complained about the predictability of the pick-and-roll and has since jumped ship. Olden Polynice (34) joins fellow senior citizens Karl Malone (36), John Stockton (37) and Jeff Hornacek (36). Luckily, Hornacek has taken the hint and will retire at the end of the year. Greg Foster is also out the door and the void left by Anderson means there is no true post scoring presence off the bench. Bryon Russell and Adam Keefe will split time at the three, with Russell also seeing time at two-guard. Russell is the key; he must pick up the slack left by Anderson and shoot a consistent percentage from the field (this was a major problem over the last couple of years). Pete Chilcutt will get some time for three-point purposes, and former All-Americans Jacque Vaughn and Scott Padgett will have the opportunity to show that they are players this organization can build around in the near future.

Don't the Houston Rockets understand? Everything Charles Barkley touches turns to stone. First, Sir Charles questioned Pippen's dedication last year, then he had a spat with the All-Star during preseason. So Pippen packed his bags and demanded a trade, while Chuck (finally) decided to call it quits after this year. The preseason blowup led to the deal with Portland, but the only real players Houston got were three-point sharpshooter Walt Williams and shotblocker Kelvin Cato. Williams should start at the three, which brings us to Steve Francis. Possibly the most dynamic player in the draft, with the God-given ability to help immediately. But Francis must step in and play point on a veteran team. Barkley and Hakeem Olajuwon plan to step out to the perimeter to let Francis create while recently acquired Shandon Anderson posts and slashes. With Francis in the starting lineup, second-year guard Cuttino Mobley will feel less pressure and give the bench a much needed outside threat. Keep an eye on the progress of rookie Kenny Thomas. But don't think that Sir Charles is going to win that elusive title ring this season. Although this team will make the playoffs with a low seed, they will not go far.

The San Antonio Spurs are another aging team, but they have the NBA's poster child for the next millenium. Finals MVP Tim Duncan won't be going anywhere for awhile, and this year's team is stocked with role players for another title run. They will have to do it without Sean Elliott, who underwent a liver transplant in the offseason and probably will have to retire following the rehab. To make do, the Spurs will go with a combination of Jaren Jackson, Chucky Brown and Malik Rose at small forward. Newly signed veteran Terry Porter will get quality minutes at the point and off-guard, while high-flying Samaki Walker will provide rebounds and interior defense. Steve Kerr still lingers at the three-point stripe, and Jerome Kersey is still around when you need him. There are plenty of vets here, and there is no reason to doubt they will give Portland more than a little competition come June.

When Joe Smith and Terrell Brandon resigned with the Minnesota Timberwolves in the offseason, GM Kevin McHale was struck with an uncommon feel: a sense of commitment from his top line players. After hearing that superstars Tom Gugliotta and Stephon Marbury wanted to stay in the Twin Cities only to witness the youngsters jump ship, McHale had every right to be skeptical. With crafty drafting, the Wolves landed a great backcourt combination of slasher William Avery and the silky shooting of Wally Szczerbiak. The signing of 7-footer Radoslav Nesterovic adds bulk in the middle. Third-year guard Bobby Jackson will start next to Brandon with Tom Hammonds, Sam Mitchell and Anthony Peeler bringing veteran leadership off the bench. With the two rookies this might be the deepest team in the NBA, save for the Blazers.

Head Coach Dan Issel has to like his chances with the Denver Nuggets' pressing, up-tempo style game with thoroughbreds like Antonio McDyess, Nick Van Exel and newly acquired Ron Mercer. Chauncey Billups, Bryant Stith and George McCloud add even more outside touch to a team that will see many more points on the board. But in the Mercer trade, Denver lost Danny Fortson and Eric Washington - two wide bodies. Second-year big man

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Copyright © 1999, The Oberlin Review.
Volume 128, Number 8, November 5, 1999

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