ducks
10-15-2004, 02:01 PM
Camp Stories: Southeast
by Steve Kerr, Yahoo! Sports
October 11, 2004
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When the NBA opted for realignment last spring, a brand new Southeast Division was created, and it appeared that the five competing teams were so weak that the champion might be crowned through attrition.
I envisioned Eddie Jordan firing up his Washington Wizards in training camp by shouting, "C'mon guys, all we have to do is stink a little less than the other teams, and this division is ours!" But then, the big story of the offseason – literally and figuratively – occurred, and Shaquille O'Neal hung up his Lakers jersey and donned the black and red of the Miami Heat.
The move gave the Southeast at least one competitive team, and given Shaq's dominance, the Heat have a shot at being a serious championship contender. Of course, Miami was forced to give up a good chunk of its core in the trade, and Pat Riley spent the rest of his offseason trying to find help for his big superstar. The question for Miami as they prepare for its season opener in New Jersey on Nov. 3 is whether Shaq's supporting cast is good enough to get the team to the finals?
The Heat insisted on keeping Dwyane Wade in the Laker trade, and they feel he is going to be a star. He can play either guard spot, and with Lamar Odom gone Wade will be asked to handle the ball and create plays more often than last season. Eddie Jones will be Exhibit A in the "how superstars make their teammates better" category. Poor Jones has had to create almost every shot he has taken since he left O'Neal and Los Angeles five years ago. He is about to find himself wide open, and his 42 percent shooting in 2003-04 should improve dramatically.
While the guard spots are set, however, the forward spots are wide open. Udonis Haslem and Malik Allen are competing for the starting 4 position and a host of players are trying to fill in at the 3. The small forward is a key factor in Miami's defensive schemes, as some of the NBA's most gifted players occupy that spot. Riley would love to find a Bruce Bowen type of nasty defender, but so far nobody has stood out in camp. Rasual Butler has the inside track for the job, but he is less defensive-minded than Stan Van Gundy and Riley would like. The job is still open.
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The key for Miami is establishing the defensive intensity for which it has been known over the years. It will take a rededicated effort from Shaq to play the aggressive, attacking style the Heat like. And while it will take some time for Miami to mesh, this team should dominate the division.
KERR'S THREE POINTS
1. The spotlight for the Orlando Magic will be on their newly acquired backcourt, Steve Francis and Cuttino Mobley, and the potential return of Grant Hill. But it is the two new veteran interior big men – Tony Battie and Kelvin Cato – who could make the most difference for the Magic. Orlando was the worst defensive club in the NBA last season, and if Battie and Cato shore up the inside, the Magic might return to the postseason.
2. The key rookie in the division is Emeka Okafor. Bernie Bickerstaff is building the expansion Charlotte Bobcats around Okafor, who is an outstanding shot blocker but still somewhat of an unknown offensively. If Okafor can establish a potent low-post game, the Bobcats can start to add pieces around him and develop a winning team pretty quickly. If not, the building plan gets more complicated.
3. The coach to watch in the Southeast is Eddie Jordan. He enters his second season with the Wizards, who should be more comfortable operating the Princeton offense Jordan installed last season. Jordan will love the 20 points per game that Antawn Jamison will give him, but the coach still has an uphill battle. Washington has a young, immature team in need of defense and leadership. This is a team that has been searching for an identity for a long time, and it's Jordan's job to help the Wizards find it.
Steve Kerr is Yahoo! Sports' NBA analyst. Send him a question or comment for potential use in a future column or webcast.
by Steve Kerr, Yahoo! Sports
October 11, 2004
Headshot
Logo
When the NBA opted for realignment last spring, a brand new Southeast Division was created, and it appeared that the five competing teams were so weak that the champion might be crowned through attrition.
I envisioned Eddie Jordan firing up his Washington Wizards in training camp by shouting, "C'mon guys, all we have to do is stink a little less than the other teams, and this division is ours!" But then, the big story of the offseason – literally and figuratively – occurred, and Shaquille O'Neal hung up his Lakers jersey and donned the black and red of the Miami Heat.
The move gave the Southeast at least one competitive team, and given Shaq's dominance, the Heat have a shot at being a serious championship contender. Of course, Miami was forced to give up a good chunk of its core in the trade, and Pat Riley spent the rest of his offseason trying to find help for his big superstar. The question for Miami as they prepare for its season opener in New Jersey on Nov. 3 is whether Shaq's supporting cast is good enough to get the team to the finals?
The Heat insisted on keeping Dwyane Wade in the Laker trade, and they feel he is going to be a star. He can play either guard spot, and with Lamar Odom gone Wade will be asked to handle the ball and create plays more often than last season. Eddie Jones will be Exhibit A in the "how superstars make their teammates better" category. Poor Jones has had to create almost every shot he has taken since he left O'Neal and Los Angeles five years ago. He is about to find himself wide open, and his 42 percent shooting in 2003-04 should improve dramatically.
While the guard spots are set, however, the forward spots are wide open. Udonis Haslem and Malik Allen are competing for the starting 4 position and a host of players are trying to fill in at the 3. The small forward is a key factor in Miami's defensive schemes, as some of the NBA's most gifted players occupy that spot. Riley would love to find a Bruce Bowen type of nasty defender, but so far nobody has stood out in camp. Rasual Butler has the inside track for the job, but he is less defensive-minded than Stan Van Gundy and Riley would like. The job is still open.
ADVERTISEMENT
The key for Miami is establishing the defensive intensity for which it has been known over the years. It will take a rededicated effort from Shaq to play the aggressive, attacking style the Heat like. And while it will take some time for Miami to mesh, this team should dominate the division.
KERR'S THREE POINTS
1. The spotlight for the Orlando Magic will be on their newly acquired backcourt, Steve Francis and Cuttino Mobley, and the potential return of Grant Hill. But it is the two new veteran interior big men – Tony Battie and Kelvin Cato – who could make the most difference for the Magic. Orlando was the worst defensive club in the NBA last season, and if Battie and Cato shore up the inside, the Magic might return to the postseason.
2. The key rookie in the division is Emeka Okafor. Bernie Bickerstaff is building the expansion Charlotte Bobcats around Okafor, who is an outstanding shot blocker but still somewhat of an unknown offensively. If Okafor can establish a potent low-post game, the Bobcats can start to add pieces around him and develop a winning team pretty quickly. If not, the building plan gets more complicated.
3. The coach to watch in the Southeast is Eddie Jordan. He enters his second season with the Wizards, who should be more comfortable operating the Princeton offense Jordan installed last season. Jordan will love the 20 points per game that Antawn Jamison will give him, but the coach still has an uphill battle. Washington has a young, immature team in need of defense and leadership. This is a team that has been searching for an identity for a long time, and it's Jordan's job to help the Wizards find it.
Steve Kerr is Yahoo! Sports' NBA analyst. Send him a question or comment for potential use in a future column or webcast.