-Steve Kerr
Makes and Mistakes:
First of all, I'd like to thank all of you who took the time to write to me to express your views, or to comment on my columns. I appreciate the feedback – good and bad – and I wish I could respond to each and every one of you.
Please continue to send comments. Your thoughts help spawn new ideas and subject matter for future columns. And please include your full name, city and state for maximizing your chances of getting published.
Now let's get started.
Many of you were very interested in my piece regarding the revolutionizing of the power forward position ("Em-powered" December 3, 2004). I was inundated with names of former and current players whom I failed to mention in the article. I even received an email from someone claiming to be Chris Webber asking why he wasn't on the list. Chris, if that was indeed you, sorry! I should have mentioned you.
Tom Chambers was another popular suggestion, and I wholeheartedly agree with those of you who brought him up. Paul McGhee and David Vollmers both reminded me that my former teammate Toni Kukoc should have been mentioned in the article, and I'm embarrassed that he wasn't. Kukoc was and is an extremely versatile 6-foot-11-inch power forward who compares with anyone I mentioned in the article.
Regarding Dirk Nowitzki, I received a lot of feedback on my comment that Larry Bird couldn't match up with him based on speed. I should clarify my opinion, because obviously I didn't express it well: Bird was a much better player than Nowitski. He was a better passer, a better rebounder, a ruthless competitor and a champion. My contention in the article was that Nowitzki is faster, especially with the ball in his hands – but not a better player.
Sheila of South Lake Tahoe, Calif. asked about the possibility of steroid use in the NBA. She wondered if these versatile power forwards – whom I referred to as "freaks of nature" – might be using some of the same stuff baseball players have been caught with.
Sheila, I can assure you that steroid use is not an issue in the NBA. It's not too hard to see the advantages steroids give players in baseball and football. But in basketball, the weight gain and strength improvement would not translate into better play. I played in the league for 15 years, and I'm aware that there are some substance abuse issues – but steroid use is not one of them.
Many of you took great pleasure in pointing out that some of my preseason selections have been proven to be way off base. Tim in San Francisco and Tim Shaw of Irvine, Calif. asked me if I were ready to eat my words regarding a 10th-place prediction in the West for their beloved Sacramento Kings ("NBA Preview: Pacific" October 26, 2004).
Tim and Tim, I'll eat my words. The Kings are still a very good basketball team.
Ram Venkat asked about my prediction that the Sonics "might not win 20 games this year." Ram, it seems to me that I was right. The Sonics aren't going to win 20, they're going to win 60!
Another Sonics fan, George Orriss, wasn't quite as polite, telling me to go "smoke some more crack." I think I'll pass.
The Sonics have been the surprise team of the NBA this year, and I clearly missed on my prediction. I made the mistake of basing my thoughts on what I saw of them in the preseason when they were awful. But they're a hell of a team now and have a good chance to go a long way this year.
A lot of readers were interested in the Houston Rockets' difficulties so far this season. ("Rockets' launch delayed" November 6, 2004). With such high expectations, this team has been a major disappointment.
Barry in Woodbridge, Va. and Ping Hui of Houston, Texas asked what I thought was wrong with the team, and my answer is simple: Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady need more help. The Rockets still don't have a true point guard – even after the trades last week that brought in David Wesley and Jon Barry. And I still don't see the power forward this team really needs.
It is ironic that Eddie Griffin – the former Rocket who was let go due to personal issues – is thriving in Minnesota. He would have given Houston that big, athletic body that Jeff Van Gundy needs. The Rockets are undermanned even with their two stars. Neither Yao nor T-Mac has the type of personality or game to carry a team, and until the Rockets can find a point guard and power forward they will continue to struggle.
Speaking of Griffin, Steve Dahlonega of Georgia asked if the Wolves wouldn't be better off starting him ahead of Mark Madsen or Michael Olowokandi. I asked Flip Saunders that same question last week, and he said he didn't want to put too much pressure on Griffin by placing him in the starting lineup.
Remember, this is a young man who is trying to put his life back together after many personal problems, and he is playing well off the bench right now for a good, veteran team. I think Flip is right in allowing Griffin to play a more moderate role at this point in his life and career.
Some of you asked about the Chicago Bulls, and why I haven't written about them. Rene Trossman from Czechoslovakia even went so far as to suggest that I have "lingering resentment towards the Bulls" because they traded me years ago.
Rene, get a grip. The Bulls gave me the best five years of my career. I love GM John Paxson and coach Scott Skiles, two former teammates of mine. I openly root for this team to win, knowing how passionate the great fans of Chicago are about their sports teams ... The reason I included them in my "Low Five" rankings early in the season is because they deserved to be there. They were horrible. But they've gotten better and, rest assured, I will write about them as the season goes on. (Also notice that they have fallen out of my latest "Low Five" December 28, 2004.)
Finally, most of the feedback I received was positive regarding my column on a potential age limit and farm system in the NBA ("A push for change" December 7, 2004). Many of you agreed that the league would be better off with players who were more prepared – on and off the court – for life in the NBA.
But Wille Johnson of Zebulon, Ga., raised a key issue when he wrote, "I'd be willing to bet that everyone who agrees with an NBA age limit is above the poverty line." Willie, you're probably right. Most of us look at this issue in terms of how it affects the league. But how it affects people financially is the most compelling argument against an age limit. If an 18-year-old basketball player is good enough to make the NBA and make millions of dollars to support his family, who are we to deny him that right? That's why I believe that if the NBA does adopt an age limit, it will have to do so through a farm system where underage players can perform in a minor league while still drawing an NBA salary. Difficult, but not impossible, to implement.
Makes and Mistakes:
First of all, I'd like to thank all of you who took the time to write to me to express your views, or to comment on my columns. I appreciate the feedback – good and bad – and I wish I could respond to each and every one of you.
Please continue to send comments. Your thoughts help spawn new ideas and subject matter for future columns. And please include your full name, city and state for maximizing your chances of getting published.
Now let's get started.
Many of you were very interested in my piece regarding the revolutionizing of the power forward position ("Em-powered" December 3, 2004). I was inundated with names of former and current players whom I failed to mention in the article. I even received an email from someone claiming to be Chris Webber asking why he wasn't on the list. Chris, if that was indeed you, sorry! I should have mentioned you.
Tom Chambers was another popular suggestion, and I wholeheartedly agree with those of you who brought him up. Paul McGhee and David Vollmers both reminded me that my former teammate Toni Kukoc should have been mentioned in the article, and I'm embarrassed that he wasn't. Kukoc was and is an extremely versatile 6-foot-11-inch power forward who compares with anyone I mentioned in the article.
Regarding Dirk Nowitzki, I received a lot of feedback on my comment that Larry Bird couldn't match up with him based on speed. I should clarify my opinion, because obviously I didn't express it well: Bird was a much better player than Nowitski. He was a better passer, a better rebounder, a ruthless competitor and a champion. My contention in the article was that Nowitzki is faster, especially with the ball in his hands – but not a better player.
Sheila of South Lake Tahoe, Calif. asked about the possibility of steroid use in the NBA. She wondered if these versatile power forwards – whom I referred to as "freaks of nature" – might be using some of the same stuff baseball players have been caught with.
Sheila, I can assure you that steroid use is not an issue in the NBA. It's not too hard to see the advantages steroids give players in baseball and football. But in basketball, the weight gain and strength improvement would not translate into better play. I played in the league for 15 years, and I'm aware that there are some substance abuse issues – but steroid use is not one of them.
Many of you took great pleasure in pointing out that some of my preseason selections have been proven to be way off base. Tim in San Francisco and Tim Shaw of Irvine, Calif. asked me if I were ready to eat my words regarding a 10th-place prediction in the West for their beloved Sacramento Kings ("NBA Preview: Pacific" October 26, 2004).
Tim and Tim, I'll eat my words. The Kings are still a very good basketball team.
Ram Venkat asked about my prediction that the Sonics "might not win 20 games this year." Ram, it seems to me that I was right. The Sonics aren't going to win 20, they're going to win 60!
Another Sonics fan, George Orriss, wasn't quite as polite, telling me to go "smoke some more crack." I think I'll pass.
The Sonics have been the surprise team of the NBA this year, and I clearly missed on my prediction. I made the mistake of basing my thoughts on what I saw of them in the preseason when they were awful. But they're a hell of a team now and have a good chance to go a long way this year.
A lot of readers were interested in the Houston Rockets' difficulties so far this season. ("Rockets' launch delayed" November 6, 2004). With such high expectations, this team has been a major disappointment.
Barry in Woodbridge, Va. and Ping Hui of Houston, Texas asked what I thought was wrong with the team, and my answer is simple: Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady need more help. The Rockets still don't have a true point guard – even after the trades last week that brought in David Wesley and Jon Barry. And I still don't see the power forward this team really needs.
It is ironic that Eddie Griffin – the former Rocket who was let go due to personal issues – is thriving in Minnesota. He would have given Houston that big, athletic body that Jeff Van Gundy needs. The Rockets are undermanned even with their two stars. Neither Yao nor T-Mac has the type of personality or game to carry a team, and until the Rockets can find a point guard and power forward they will continue to struggle.
Speaking of Griffin, Steve Dahlonega of Georgia asked if the Wolves wouldn't be better off starting him ahead of Mark Madsen or Michael Olowokandi. I asked Flip Saunders that same question last week, and he said he didn't want to put too much pressure on Griffin by placing him in the starting lineup.
Remember, this is a young man who is trying to put his life back together after many personal problems, and he is playing well off the bench right now for a good, veteran team. I think Flip is right in allowing Griffin to play a more moderate role at this point in his life and career.
Some of you asked about the Chicago Bulls, and why I haven't written about them. Rene Trossman from Czechoslovakia even went so far as to suggest that I have "lingering resentment towards the Bulls" because they traded me years ago.
Rene, get a grip. The Bulls gave me the best five years of my career. I love GM John Paxson and coach Scott Skiles, two former teammates of mine. I openly root for this team to win, knowing how passionate the great fans of Chicago are about their sports teams ... The reason I included them in my "Low Five" rankings early in the season is because they deserved to be there. They were horrible. But they've gotten better and, rest assured, I will write about them as the season goes on. (Also notice that they have fallen out of my latest "Low Five" December 28, 2004.)
Finally, most of the feedback I received was positive regarding my column on a potential age limit and farm system in the NBA ("A push for change" December 7, 2004). Many of you agreed that the league would be better off with players who were more prepared – on and off the court – for life in the NBA.
But Wille Johnson of Zebulon, Ga., raised a key issue when he wrote, "I'd be willing to bet that everyone who agrees with an NBA age limit is above the poverty line." Willie, you're probably right. Most of us look at this issue in terms of how it affects the league. But how it affects people financially is the most compelling argument against an age limit. If an 18-year-old basketball player is good enough to make the NBA and make millions of dollars to support his family, who are we to deny him that right? That's why I believe that if the NBA does adopt an age limit, it will have to do so through a farm system where underage players can perform in a minor league while still drawing an NBA salary. Difficult, but not impossible, to implement.
