The Fans Speak Out

Basketball Digest, Summer, 2000

MJ in D.C.

Yes, Michael Jordan will succeed in Washington D.C., but it will take some time. Once he establishes his rules, hires his coaches, and gets the talent Washington fans deserve and strive for, the Wizards will have another championship team again a la the Bullets of yesteryear. Just give His Airness a couple of years and the Wizards will resemble the Bulls--only the Wizards won't have to travel too far after winning it all and being invited to the White House.

Kerry Rawlerson Via e-mail

Scream team

What's up with the Dream Team? What are they thinking? I could assemble a greater team than that crap. How about Allen Iverson, Kobe Bryant, Shaq, and Chris Webber? Heck, Eddie Jones would do a better job than Allan Houston. Half of the Dream Team did not even make it to the All-Star Game.

Dennis G. and Kavita G. Via e-mail

We agree that this year's version of the Dream Team leaves a lot to be desired. For a look at our alternative Dream Team.

Back in the '90s

After reading your picks for the all-'90s team [February], I couldn't believe that you put Reggie Miller on the second team above Clyde Drexler. Drexler has been overshadowed in his career by Magic Johnson in the '80s and Michael Jordan in the '90s, for good reason. But Reggie Miller?

Miller is a good player, but he is basically just a shooter and an average defender. He brings nothing else to the team. Miller has never even seen the NBA Finals. Even when Jordan wasn't in the league, Miller couldn't take his team to the Finals. The Pacers had a chance in 1995, and they lost to an inexperienced Orlando Magic team. He couldn't even take his team to the Finals in 1999, and they played the sixth-, seventh-, and eighth-seeded teams in the conference (Philadelphia, Milwaukee, and New York).

Drexler was one of the best all-around players to play the game. His career numbers of over 22,000 points, 6,600 rebounds, 6,000 assists, and 2,000 steals prove that. He took Portland to the NBA Finals twice, and help lead Houston to the title in 1995 from the sixth seed. In the Finals, going against Shaquille O'Neal and Horace Grant, he averaged 10 rebounds.

Miller may have had some amazing games against New York, but he has never been able to take his team anywhere. I cannot understand how a one-dimensional player who has never seen the Finals could be ranked higher than one of one of the best all-around players ever who made it to the Finals three times. It is ludicrous for anyone to think that Miller is a better player that Drexler.

James Washington Milwaukee

Brooklyn's finest

I am so tired of the NBA, sports writers, and sportscasters (especially Peter Vescey) dogging Stephon Marbury. The guy has serious game. He attacks the basket as hard as any point guard in the league. The media deem him selfish, but he can pass. Still, who on the Nets is a more consistent scorer than Marbury? Most magazines rank Jason "I just got a jump shot for Christmas" Kidd ahead of Marbury. Also, Marbury should have been picked for the All-Star team. He has improved every year and is the total package--so recognize, don't criticize.

Prince Wallace New Britain, Conn.

Batty about Battier

When the May BASKETBALL DIGEST arrived, I hurriedly thumbed through the magazine to the section on your NCAA All-American team--and then spent the next five hours waiting in a hospital emergency room to treat the large gash on my chin. It required eight stitches. How did I manage to cut my chin open? May jaw dropped straight to the ground when I saw that Duke's Mr. Everything, Shane Battier, only rated an "honorable mention" from your magazine.

Battier is the most complete player in the country and will be a wonderful pro. I guess BASKETBALL DIGEST--like too many hoops fans in this country--values dunking over defense, and showing off over playing hard. Being distracted by high-flying tactics is the only reason I can think of that Battier was so unjustly given the proverbial short end of the stick. For shame.

Frankie Camrandoer New York

Knight moves

Answer a question for me: Why does Indiana coach Bob Knight still have a job? If his team was doing well, I could see people casting a blind eye on all his insane antics, but the fact is the Hoosiers have been perennial tournament busts for most of the last six seasons.

Just look at the record:

2000: Indiana, a six seed, loses to 11 seed Pepperdine in the first round.

1999: Indiana, a six seed, loses to three seed St. John's in the second round.

1998: Indiana, a seven seed, loses to two seed UConn in the second round.

1997: Indiana, an eight seed, loses to nine seed Colorado in the first round.

1996: Indiana, a six seed, loses to 11 seed Boston College in the first round.

1995: Indiana, a nine seed, loses to eight seed Missouri in the first round.

I can't imagine that any other coach could survive such a string of disastrous seasons, but somehow the insufferable Knight perseveres. I'll give the man his due for his past successes, but it's time for this dinosaur to resign and let someone like Isiah Thomas or Steve Alford come in and restore the program.