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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| Kukoc |
1. Philadelphia has lost twice since acquiring Dikembe Mutombo, once when Allen Iverson scored 47 points and nobody else reached 10. Is there any chance that the loss of sometime scorer Toni Kukoc can hurt the Sixers?
Toni Kukoc did some good things in Philadelphia, it wasn't all negative for him. I've always maintained that in some seven-game series, he would be the deciding factor in one of them. But you don't know which game that was going to be, and it's tough to wait on that.
Kukoc gets the other big men on his team baskets. He doesn't get the little guys points but he drives and gets guys like Todd McCulloch, Tyrone Hill and Matt Geiger baskets by feeding them with putbacks.
But Dikembe Mutombo's presence adds so much, especially when Theo Ratliff would have been out for a month. He makes everyone else better defenders. And he, himself can play more one-on-one and not have to double-team -- until they face Shaq, that is, but by that time they're in the finals anyway.
Kukoc's absence may affect their shooting, but other players are simply going to have to step up. Rodney Buford, Geiger and Eric Snow have to shoot better. They have to step up as a team shooting the basketball and not look to Allen Iverson to bail them out every time.
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| Rose |
2. The Celtics and Pacers are clearly the leading contenders for the eighth and final playoff berth in the East. Any thoughts on which of these teams might earn the final spot, and would either team have a shot at upsetting Philly?
Both teams could sneak up on Philadelphia in a short series but the Pacers probably have a better shot at knocking them off. Indiana is more experienced and they have four guys who could put up 30 points in a ballgame. Reggie Miller, Jalen Rose, Austin Croshere and Travis Best can all be counted on to put points on the board.
With the three athletic big men -- Al Harrington, Jermaine O'Neal and Jonathan Bender -- they're in the top five in defensive field goal percentage. They can defend.
I think their experience will make the difference. The Pacers will be the eighth team and they have a decent shot, with so many players who can score, to upset the Sixers -- the probable first seed.
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| Payton |
3. The Sonics are in a combustible situation. Gary Payton wanted to be traded but wasn't, Patrick Ewing isn't likely to be invited back this summer and Vin Baker is not performing well at all. If you were running this team, what moves would you make for next season?
As the GM of the Sonics, I would have done everything possible to move Gary Payton this season. His value is higher at this time of year as opposed to after the playoffs. At that point, teams feel less pressure to make deals and more content to wait to see how their draft turns out.
If they had been able to move him earlier in the year they would have given their young players some time to develop and might have gotten some more good young talent in return. As it stands, the Sonics are in a bit of a downward spiral while just about every other team in the West will be as good or on the rise. The only team in the conference that might be worse next year is the Jazz, and we've been predicting that for years. Even the Rockets and the Warriors have reason to be optimistic. While the future does not look bright in Seattle.
The Sonics should move Vin Baker and Payton as soon as possible, get what you can for them, draft well and start to regrow your franchise.
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| Howard |
4. Juwan Howard is now a Maverick and it looks like a move that could really help the team. But can the Mavs scare anyone if they make the playoffs?
I believe the Mavericks can scare teams in the playoffs and will. They added a pretty good forward in Howard. And now he's going to be even better because he finally won't be responsible for carrying a team. He can finally be a role player.
When Howard is the third best player on your team, you're happy. He can rebound, shoot the jumpshot well enough to get you 15 and 8. Dallas will be very happy to have another player who can shoot. It's what they always wanted from Christian Laettner, and he was never able to do that. Howard can.
Certain nights he might be able to play one-on-one, certain nights he might post up, but one way or the other he can get to the hoop.
If I am a coach going into a five-game city with the Dallas Mavericks, I would be very scared. They draw and pitch well, Dirk Nowitzki will kill you from behind the arc and they have five guys who can light you up for 30. Now, that's scary.
5. Kenyon Martin isn't having a particularly good season. Golden State's Marc Jackson was doing well, but now is hurt. Any chance that Orlando's Mike Miller can be a darkhorse rookie of the year candidate, especially since his team is likely playoff-bound?
Mike Miller has a very good chance of being chosen rookie of the year but it's going to depend on how badly Marc Jackson is injured. If Jackson is able to shrug off his groin injury he should. If he comes back quickly he will almost certainly win the award.
If Jackson's injury nags him and keeps him out or negatively affects his play when he returns, Miller could slide in the back door. If he keeps piling up the points the way he is and Orlando makes the playoffs, that could be the edge he needs. But Jackson is in the drivers' seat.
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