Presenting the season's biggest underachievers

Sporting News, The, April 2, 2001 by Dave D'Alessandro

This column is dedicated to Isaiah Rider, who never let us down. And to Derrick Coleman, who is a veritable Gibraltar--the dimensions are comparable, anyway--in a sea of uncertainty.

And finally to Vin Baker, as constant as the North Star.

These guys are not going to be mentioned below, because they are not underachievers. They merely are what they are, and it is time we all stopped expecting anything more from them.

What follows is TSN's first-annual NBA All-Crash Team, a compendium of disappointing players who possess what Isaiah and his like do not: ambition to be more than a self-absorbed malcontent.

Western Conference

SF Rodney Rogers, Suns. A year ago, he was a landslide winner of the Sixth Man Award, averaging 13.8 points and 5.5 boards and shooting 48.6 percent (43.9 percent from downtown, fourth best in the league). This year, his numbers are 11.8, 4.3 and 43.4 (30.3 from deep). Let this be a lesson to all you kids: Lay off the Krispy Kremes. He hit bottom against the Mavericks last week, when Scott Skiles played him four minutes. The coach explained: "Rodney has been lethargic for so long now, and frankly I'm tired of watching it." At least Skiles doesn't have to pay for the privilege.

PF Shawn Kemp, Trail Blazers. Because it just doesn't seem like a team without him. Put another way: Patrick Ewing's numbers look Ruthian compared with Kemp's.

C Michael Olowokandi, L.A. Clippers. Just one more year, and he graduates to J.R.-DC-Vin status.

SG Larry Hughes, Warriors. And you wonder why Antawn Jamison won't pass the ball. Hughes averages 16 shots (the same as All-Star counterparts Allan Houston and Ray Allen), but he hits only 38 percent. He shot 40 percent last season, 41 percent as a rookie.

PG Mike Bibby, Grizzlies. His numbers are up across the board, but he doesn't get along with the team's real star, and he hasn't shown much leadership. Indeed, the front office is as inept as it gets, but why would it have shopped a guy with his numbers so vigorously when he's making only $3 million?

Sub Maurice Taylor, Rockets. He had his first playoff game last week, so to speak. It was against the Clippers, the team he left because be was fed up with losing. The L.A. crowd booed him every time he touched the ball, he shot 4-for-13 from the floor and the Rockets lost. If the Rockets miss the postseason by one or two games, they'll remember that 1-3 mark against L.A. They'll also remember their starting power forward is their fourth-leading rebounder.

Sub Tariq Abdul-Wahad, Nuggets. What will $43 million buy you? Roughly 4 points and one assist per game in the first season. If they had gotten anything from this position, the Nuggets would have been a playoff team.

Coach Phil Jackson, L.A. Lakers. In one interview last week, he said Kobe Bryant was an egotistical brat who values style over substance and vanity over victory, and accused him of sabotaging his own team in high school. Rumor has it Phil then applied for the Texas Tech job.

Eastern Conference

SF Keith Van Horn, Nets. You want to cut him some slack, since he missed the first two months with a broken leg. But when the Nets needed someone to pick up the slack, he ran for cover. Seems a lot softer now, afraid of contact, even though the refs used to treat him like royalty.

PF Austin Croshere, Pacers. He really seemed on his way last season, but no player in the league was affected more this year by a coaching change. Isiah Thomas' decision to bring him off the bench two months into the season messed with his head, and that cannot be changed. The good thing is the Pacers will get good return for him in a trade, because he's big, strong, and he's a range shooter.

C John Amaechi, Magic. It's because of this guy that Doc Rivers must start Andrew DeClercq. 'Nuff said. A sterling example of a big man who is infatuated with his jump shot, and at 39.4 percent, there isn't much to love.

SG Jim Jackson, Cavaliers. You'd have thought he would be pumped about returning home after playing for six teams in four years. But on a young team crying out for a leader, for a dependable scorer and for an anchor, he just didn't show. His worst season as a pro.

PG Tim Hardaway, Heat. He has asked for this, really. It was two months ago that he said he no longer would tolerate any discussion about his physical deterioration (as obvious as it is), saying it wasn't an issue. But it is excruciating to watch this aging and deluded superstar, whose entire self-esteem is wrapped up in the occasional dagger 3. His teammates have grumbled about his shot selection for months. In one recent game, he had more than 35 touches yet managed to take his dribble into the paint twice. The legs just don't work anymore.

Sub Robert Traylor, Cavaliers. They gave him the starting power forward job on a silver platter. He ate it.

Sub Joe Smith, Pistons. What exactly was the fuss about this guy, again?

Coach Lenny Wilkens, Raptors. Has anyone gotten less out of more talent in this conference? He has the best scorer, a terrific collection of long bodies up front and a rotation that goes 10 deep. So why do they always lose the close ones?