Incredibly enough, training camp for the 2007-08 season began Tuesday and there are no shortage of questions, both with the league overall and the individual teams.
Even before the regular season begins, there are enough uncertain variables that it’s worth raising our eyebrows at several teams. The summer of discontent is officially over, but what we don’t know is what kind of mood will follow now that autumn is here.
We don’t know how the Tim Donaghy officiating scandal will affect the perception — if not the reality — of how games will be handled this season, but until preseason games begin, there’s no reason to go into any detail.
There are major issues with the future of franchises that are struggling at the gate and considering movement to other locales.
But for now let’s just take a look at the individual teams and the players that will be significant in their successes or failures.
1. Item: Kobe Bryant will report to the Los Angeles Lakers training camp and say all the right things the first day of camp.
What this really means: Bryant doesn’t know what he means. Of course, he wants general manager Mitch Kupchak to make a trade for the likes of Jermaine O’Neal or Shawn Marion, or someone else of that ilk which they don’t have the goods to acquire, so for now, he’ll let it go. And that’s a good thing because in case anybody remembers, the Lakers were pretty good last year before injuries just ripped right through the team and the reality of their lean roster just took its toll. By the time the injured guys came back, their confidence was shot and everything was on Bryant’s shoulders.
Consequently, if they get lucky and avoid the onslaught of injuries they suffered last year, the Lakers will be solid playoff contenders. They’ve brought back veteran point guard Derek Fisher, which will help immensely. And if young players Kwame Brown, Andrew Bynum, Luke Walton and Jordan Farmar continue to take major strides under coach Phil Jackson’s tutelage, they will be a factor in the West. But if they don’t improve and injuries hit again, the ticking will begin again and it will be only a matter of time before the Bryant explosion hits a new zenith — as in “Get me outta here!”
Welcome back, Andrei. How long are you staying? (Douglas C. Pizac / Associated Press)
2. Item: When the Utah Jazz open camp, one of the biggest questions will be what language Andrei Kirilenko uses when he discusses his displeasure about remaining with the Jazz.
What this really means: In many ways, it’s hard to believe Jazz general manager Kevin O’Connor isn’t burning up the phone lines attempting to work out the best deal he can for Kirilenko, and if he isn’t, why not? Kirilenko is great for any fantasy team the way he fills up a boxscore with numbers in virtually every category. That’s all well and good, but he’s a basket case offensively, and his own ineptitude left him in tears. But in recent weeks he’s been complaining that the system doesn’t fit him and he’s willing to walk on the final $63 million of his contract — which nobody really believes.
Perhaps the biggest issue is his lack of work habits to improve which point guard Deron Williams recently went public with. If that’s the case, it’s even more difficult to believe that coach Jerry Sloan has put up with it so long. We suppose when you have a guy with the extendo-man arms and great hands of Kirilenko for defense, a defensive-oriented guy like Sloan can be tolerant, regardless of his intolerant nature. We also know how tough Sloan can be on players being soft, and no doubt Kirilenko has suffered his wrath plenty. It seems inevitable he will be dealt — the only question is where.
3. Item: Over the past few years, the rumors have been ceaseless that Shawn Marion would be traded from the Phoenix Suns, but as camp opens the rumblings of discontent have been coming from Marion this time around.
What this really means: Marion’s contention recently that he wants an extension for $20 million a year or else…is laughable. Just because the Orlando Magic lost their minds over Rashard Lewis with a six-year, $118 million deal doesn’t mean Suns owner Robert Sarver has lost his. Marion is an outstanding player, an All-Star, but he has also been hugely disappointing in the postseason almost without fail every year, and it is well known around the league he is constantly jealous of what everybody else around him gets.
That’s not to say he isn’t a good guy, because he is. Rather, he is a pain in the butt for his coaches and fellow players. It’s not just a contract coincidence that has created talk of a Marion-Kirilenko deal. In fact, we may as well refer to it as a baby swap. Your bottle of whine for my bottle of whine and we’ll see whose tastes better.
4. Item: Everything is exciting on the surface for the defending Eastern Conference champion Cleveland Cavaliers and superstar LeBron James, but as camp opens. key contributors Anderson Varejao and Sasha Pavlovic are light years away from participating due to contract issues.
The Cavs need Anderson Varejao back in camp…now. (Lisa Blumenfeld / Getty Images)
What this really means: The opening of the new practice facility — The Triple C (Cleveland Clinic Courts), the inevitable unveiling of the Eastern Conference Championship banner atop the rafters of “The Q” and all those cute marketing gambits to go along with James will only hold water for so long. There will be a huge hole in camp without those two guys. There is no excuse at this point of the year for owner Dan Gilbert and general manager Danny Ferry to still be undecided on what they want to do with these guys.
They are both very young and talented and played significant roles in the surprise run of the Cavs last season. And on a team of role players around James, they are two of the best because they have fallen in line so well. They also are very different players, with Varejao, 25, not blessed with very good tools, just size and extraordinary energy that ignites everyone around him. Pavlovic, 24, is a different story, with a sweet shooting touch from all over the floor, great hands and improving defensive focus that goes with those hands and his exceedingly long arms. Considering their present skills, age and potential, they can ill afford to play around anymore. Sign them or trade them — this team can not afford the holes.
5. Item: The continuing drama of Rasheed Wallace and Detroit Pistons coach Flip Saunders appears to be resolved, and the loss of 25 pounds by Wallace speaks volumes about his attitude coming into camp…doesn’t it?
What this really means: It would be ridiculous to expect a ‘Sheed-Flip love-in at the start of training camp because that won’t happen. But there is one very strong factor in their favor — the only thing both want is to win and win there. Wallace is popular with his teammates and a great teammate at that, but his silly millimeter-short fuse always has been a problem and always will be. His emotional approach to the game is a big part of who he is despite sometimes nullifying his exceptional talent.
Meanwhile, Saunders is about as straight-forward as any coach can be. He provides latitude for players to mouth off on occasion, but he does draw the line at a certain point. And just from the vantage point that Wallace cared enough to lose the weight to be in better condition and healthier than in many years speaks volumes. Should they get through camp without incident and the Pistons stay healthy, they will again be contenders in the East, if not quite the favorites that they have been in recent years.
What’s hot:
Top stories|Rumors|Video|Photos
6. Item: As if it wasn’t tough enough to maintain a positive spin for the Portland Trail Blazers going into camp with the microfracture knee surgery on top draft choice Greg Oden, last year’s rookie of the year Brandon Roy is hobbled with a heel problem that won’t go away.
What this really means: It’s one thing to just accept Oden’s surgery and move on with hopes that the rest of the team continues to improve and he ultimately will become a healthy specimen capable of all the great things that have been anticipated. As an organization, a fan or a teammate, you have to believe that. But from a team vantage point overall, there are other issues.
Roy missed 20 games last season due to an abnormal growth on his heel, but opted not to have it taken care of. Now it’s bothering him again. We also don’t know about how well LaMarcus Aldridge’s sometimes fragile body will hold up under the expectations in the post without Oden. It would be horribly sad for the Blazers and the fans if physical issues broke down the fiber of the team after management and coaches did such an exceptional job of rebuilding the organization. It’s not hard to believe the good fortune of the No. 1 pick to get Oden was a by-product of the karma they straightened out. But injuries are inevitable, and you would think they would have gone out of their way to make sure that Roy’s problems were eliminated before training cam began.
7. Item: For all their efforts to add top quality depth to the backcourt while Dwyane Wade rehabilitates from off-season knee and shoulder surgery, and help up front for aging Shaquille O’Neal, what have the Miami Heat done to upgrade their roster?
What this really means: To bring in a broken down Penny Hardaway and the gamble on shaky Smush Parker again smacks of coach Pat Riley believing he can revive and/or reach any player of any age. Truly Riles is one of the best ever at accomplishing both. Nonetheless, they are a limited team with O’Neal fading and Wade an injury waiting to happen every time he takes his acrobatic body to the floor. Meanwhile, the fuel gauge in the tanks of veterans Antoine Walker, Jason Williams and Alonzo Mourning has dipped below a quarter. It’s hard to expect anything more than that from O’Neal either, and the wondrous Wade.
The curious nature will come from young Dorell Wright and rookie Daequan Cook, both very athletic young players — Cook being blessed with exceptional shooting range to go along with athleticism. But in reality, the only dependable role player around O’Neal and Wade is Udonis Haslem, who you can virtually count on for 10 points and eight rebounds every night. And that’s where the problems are for this team — there is no other dependability, which is why it is good to remember the 2006 NBA title they earned. It’s the last one they’ll get and it will be curious to see how Riley and O’Neal handle this inevitable fall from grace that began last year.
A slimmer B.D. looks to recapture the magic in Golden State. (Jesse D. Garrabrant / Getty Images)
8. Item: Perhaps Golden State Warriors general manager Chris Mullin’s biggest accomplishment since the draft was coaxing coach Don Nelson back into the fold. On the other hand, all that really matters is the health and weight of point guard Baron Davis.
What this really means: The proclivity for everyone interested in the NBA outside of the Bay Area is to believe the Warriors defeating the Dallas Mavericks in the first round of the playoffs was nothing more than the perfect storm. Sometimes matchups just end up that way and the weight of it all dominates the series. To be sure, Nelson knew precisely how to neuter his former team and superstar Dirk Nowitzki, and there was nothing the Mavericks could do about it. But the prevailing memory from that series remains Davis hobbling around with a big grin on his face following each huge shot he would convert.
The word in Oakland is B-Ditty has lost the love-handles, his knee and back are sound, and he’s all about winning. That’s great news for Warriors fans and should keep the previously dormant turnstiles spinning as they did in the playoffs. History says don’t count on that good health for long. So keep an eye on how Davis handles training camp and the start of the season. It may not last, but it will be fun to watch — from start to finish.
9. Item: With Oden the latest marquee name to undergo microfracture surgery, the most interesting guy returning this season from microfracture surgery is the Denver Nuggets’ Kenyon Martin, the only star quality player to have undergone that surgery on both knees.
What this really means: In many ways, it’s been a very sad career for Kenyon Martin, beginning with the broken leg he suffered in the postseason tournament his senior year in college at Cincinnati, when the Bearcats were favorites to win the NCAA title. He followed that up with a broken leg again his rookie year after he was the No. 1 overall pick with the New Jersey Nets. Granted, he went to the NBA Finals in both 2001 and 2002, and it subsequently earned him a maximum contract sign-and-trade to the Nuggets. Since then, it’s been plenty of angst and problems with coach George Karl.
Now it seems the emotional issues have been overrun by how he will deal with the coming back again from major surgery. The word on the street says Martin has the minimum body fat a human being can have and still be alive, and he’s getting close to being back as the same ferocious jumping jack at the glass he ever was. But it’s way too early to expect that and even how much he’ll participate in training camp is a big question. And that’s why the interest level is high. If Martin is healthy and back, and if they can get an exceptional guard, they are serious contenders to win the West.
10. Item: The focus is back on the Boston Celtics, starring Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen, with Paul Pierce proudly taking a back seat as they get indoctrinated into Celtics lore and an adoring fan base.
What this really means: How long can this last? Garnett won’t be a problem. He’s always been one of the most respectful and deferential superstars you’ll ever see — almost to a fault in Minnesota, which is why some critics questioned his status. But this should be the ultimate stage for Garnett. Allen remains a question mark in that matter. He’s one of the great shooters you will ever see — a perfect pairing opposite the nearly equal perimeter marksmanship of Pierce — but there’s always been some question about the sincerity of Allen’s team orientation. Mostly, it’s been about him, however brilliantly political he came off in public.
Source: feeds.feedburner.com
