The missing link: Mark Madsen

0 Comments | Oakland Tribune, Jun 15, 2004

LARRY BIRD MIGHT not agree, but the absence of one key player is killing the Lakers in the NBA Finals.

No, not Karl Malone. I'm talking about the white guy, Mark Madsen.

When 28 teams passed on the former Stanford standout in the 2000 Draft, it was because his greatest attribute was that he hustled. In other words, he didn't shoot particularly well and wouldn't be big enough to rebound nor quick enough to defend at the NBA level.

But right now, the Lakers don't need someone to shoot, rebound or defend. They need someone to hustle.

They need someone to chase down loose balls that are finding their way into Piston hands. And they need someone to frustrate the Wallace boys as only Madsen can -- and did for L.A. the previous three seasons.

Clearly, Slava Medvedenko is incapable of either task.

Memo to Chris Mullin: The Warriors had a Mark Madsen (and more) this past season -- Brian Cardinal, who is soon to become a free agent. Don't make the same mistake as the Lakers and believe you're going places without him.

DATELINE: Cameron Indoor. Phil Jackson was plenty upset after his team's Game 4 loss Sunday, but don't for a minute believe his anger was the result of some lopsided officiating.

Did you see the stunt the Pistons pulled in the final seconds with the game finally out of reach?

Pulling starters out of a game during a stoppage in play so they can get a round of applause is fine. But the Pistons went a step too far, taking a page out of a collegiate Senior Night by doing it in two waves, producing an extended ovation that thoroughly -- and unnecessarily -- embarrassed the Lakers.

Of course, walking off the court with arms in full championship extension didn't help matters, either.

That lasting impression -- and Steve Javie's presence to even up the calls -- should light a fire under Jackson's crew tonight.

I'm sticking with them. Lakers in seven.

DATELINE: Back in jail. NBA sources are saying the Warriors protected Nick Van Exel when they submitted their expansion draft list to Charlotte last week.

The question is: Why?

There are two possible explanations:

Mullin tried to work out a deal beforehand with the Bobcats, but when told they had no interest in the veteran point guard, he put Van Exel on the protected list so as not to embarrass him.

The Warriors' new head of basketball operations simply did not try hard enough to sell the Bobcats on Van Exel, believing either the lefty can help the team this season or could be traded down the line.

Being that Mullin was the driving force in bringing Van Exel to Oakland in the first place, I've got to believe the latter is the case. That's a mistake.

DATELINE: Dreamland. Charles Barkley, Larry Bird, Clyde Drexler, Patrick Ewing, Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Christian Laettner, Karl Malone, Chris Mullin, Scottie Pippen, David Robinson and John Stockton. The original Dream Team.

Here's my question of the day: If, a dozen years later, these 12 men were sent to Athens as the United States basketball entry, would they bring home the gold again?

You can e-mail Dave Del Grande at

dave@angnewspapers.com .