Lakers, Spurs will assume position of front-runners

Sporting News, The, Dec 11, 2000 by Dave D'Alessandro

In theory, this space should offer emotional and intellectual refuge from the pontifications emanating from the romper room act we generously describe as the presidential recount.

This, after all, is a page devoted to the generally pleasant diversion of professional basketball, an activity seemingly far removed from the low comedy associated with candidates of all political stripes.

But reality intervenes. Like the ongoing tomfoolery in Florida, there are few certainties in our demented little corner of the universe one month into the season. All we have are hunches and partisan assumptions, with the occasional fact thrown in as a changeup. For example:

Fact: The East stinks. Live with it. It will all be worth it in April, when no fewer than a half-dozen teams will be jostling for the second and third seeds, and another half-dozen will be scrambling for the privilege of getting squashed by Philly in the first round.

Assumption: Dikembe Mutombo will stay put-until the best trade comes along next summer, anyway. David Falk came to that private agreement with Atlanta management bemuse the super agent (so he says) realized he has no leverage to force a deal now. Besides, there's nothing the Hawks want more than to have Deke re-inflate his market value for when the time comes that they really have to trade him. When that time comes, the Knicks will be primary suitors because, as a rival G.M. puts it, Falk has promised them "most-favored-nation trading status. That's what happens when you climb in bed with him like they did" in the Glen Rice-Patrick Ewing swap.

Fact: It's Rick Pitino's final year in Boston. No big whup. As recent Celtics refugee Rick Brunson explains, "the players felt as though he was quitting on them." But then, they quit on him a long time ago judging by their refusal to put two decent defensive games together.

Assumption: Among the players whose teams will try to ship them out by the trade deadline: Matt Geiger, Brevin Knight, Jerome Williams, Nick Anderson, Tariq Abdul-Wahad, Vin Baker, Derrick Coleman and the entire Wizards roster, with the exception of Jahidi White.

Fact: Grant Hill won't be ready even when he says he's ready. There is a growing sense within the Orlando organization that he should shut it down until the first of the year, with the hope the team can stay close to .500 until then. The problem is, with mounting losses, the pressure is on Hill to return a few weeks earlier.

Assumption: The league will promote a new initiative to push discounted tickets on youth groups and families because all those empty seats are more than just an eyesore: They are establishing the notion in the public's mind that the NBA is a minor league, which it hasn't been since the advent of the Magic-Bird Era.

Fact: Nate McMillan may not make the Sonics super, but consecutive routs over the Blazers and Lakers plainly indicate they'll be competitive as long as he's calling the shots and putting Baker in his place-on the bench.

Assumption: Isaiah Rider won't last the season in L.A. So far, he has blamed his problems on a hotel clerk who forgot to give him a wake-up call, the referees, traffic, coach Phil Jackson, and the media, some of whom he has threatened with bodily harm. And scouts say more often than not, he is the proverbial square peg in the triangle offense.

Fact: Baron Davis, Shawn Marion and Predrag Stojakovic will be front-runners for most improved honors all year, though Derek Anderson and Rashard Lewis should make a good run at it in the end.

Assumption: The Eastern Conference All-Star center choices will come down to Theo Ratliff, Antonio Davis and Marcus Camby, which may be a good reason to postpone the game for a year or two.

Fact: Shawn Kemp's admitted frustration with playing time will continue because Rasheed Wallace is Portland's best player by far and Dale Davis is a more willing rebounder and defender. Reign Man will have to get used to 15 minutes a night or cause a stink that could bring coach Mike Dunleavy under more scrutiny than he deserves.

Assumption: The Suns will come back to the pack. Nine of their first 14 games were at home, and they had road losses at Vancouver, Golden State and Houston, and barely got by at Denver and L.A. (the Clips, natch). Sure, they're good, and Scott Skiles is a better coach than anyone had imagined. They're just not worthy of first place until they play a more competitive schedule.

Fact: Jerry Sloan just gets smarter with age. The new guys have blended seamlessly with the old (even superannuated Danny Manning is hitting double figures every so often), and the old guys haven't been overtaxed by the workload.

Assumption: The Heat will turn it around and make a run at the East finals because it still defends as well as any team in the league when it absolutely has to. But if the medical judgment is that Alonzo Mourning will never play again-his medication is successful in only 35 percent of such cases-Pat Riley will carefully deliberate whether he wants to return as Miami coach next year.