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Updated: October 1, 3:48 PM ET Keep an eye on these 10 in preseason By Dr. Jack Ramsay Special to ESPN.com |
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The following are the 10 players to watch throughout training camp and the NBA's preseason schedule.
Shaquille O'Neal has developed into one of the game's all-time great centers and the Lakers obviously need him in the lineup if they hope to add a fourth consecutive title to their impressive run. Shaq appears to be successfully rehabilitating from surgery on his arthritic right big toe that bothered him so often last season. He's presently walking without discomfort and has maintained a reasonable level of conditioning. He soon needs to test that toe with gradually increased levels of activity. If that goes according to plan, he should be back in action by the first of December. These questions persist: Can the Lakers hold the fort until Shaq's return? And how will his toe react to the 35 to 40 minutes of running and jumping that's required in NBA competition?
Michael Jordan returns for another season after surgery on his right knee and careful rehabilitation for tendonitis on his left knee. He helped to revive a dormant Washington franchise last season by scoring just under 23 points a game while playing in 60 games when he said his knees "were killing" him. Jordan turns 40 in February. Will we see the Michael of old or an "old" Michael? Will he accept reduced playing time after averaging 35 minutes per game last year? Will he start or come off the bench? Jordan took the Wizards from 19 wins in 2001 to 37 victories last season. With help from newcomers Jerry Stackhouse, Bryon Russell and Larry Hughes, can MJ get the Wizards to the playoffs?
Grant Hill has managed to play in only 18 games (four in 2000-01 and 14 last season) since coming to Orlando, and additional surgery on his injured ankle was necessary last spring. The Magic need the real Grant Hill to step up if they are going to make a serious run at the Eastern Conference title. Hill is the ultimate team player with career marks of about 21 points, eight rebounds and five rebounds a game. Will his ankle stand up to the wear and tear of a full NBA season? How will coach Doc Rivers blend Hill's game with that of high-rising star Tracy McGrady?
Antonio McDyess, another player returning from knee surgery, comes to New York hoping to put up the same numbers -- 20.8 points and 12.1 rebounds -- as he did in his last full season at Denver (2000-01).The Knicks fell on hard times last season (30-52 and last in the Atlantic Division), and their fans are anxious for them to get back into the playoff mix. Coach Don Chaney lacks an established true center, which means that 'Tonio will likely join Kurt Thomas in taking care of the big-man responsibilities. McDyess has a full array of offensive skills. He runs the floor, shoots well from 17 feet, drives to the hoop and has a back-to-the-basket post-up game. For the Knicks to get back into playoff contention, Chaney will need maximum contributions from all of his personnel but from McDyess more than any other.
The Blazers, badly in need of a center, brought back Arvydas Sabonis after a year's retirement to fill that void -- especially against Shaquille O'Neal. Saba, at 7-foot-3 and 300 pounds, has the size to do that, but at 38 years of age with a history of knee injuries, it's questionable whether he has the quickness to match Shaq's agility. In his last season with Portland, Sabonis played in only 61 games and averaged about 20 minutes, 10 points and seven rebounds. Sabonis is a good passer and a career 50 percent shooter from the field with 3-point range. He'll team with Dale Davis as the Blazers' men in the middle.
Vin Baker had four seasons (from 1995 through 1998) when he averaged just under 20 points and 10 rebounds a game for Milwaukee and Seattle. Since then, his career has been in decline and questions have been raised about his conditioning and intensity levels. Last season, he scored 14 points and pulled down six rebounds a game for the Sonics. In recent years, Baker became the media's and fans' target for what ailed the Sonics. Baker has a fresh start in Boston. He's nearer his Connecticut home environment and has the opportunity to provide coach Jim O'Brien a much-needed, low-post scoring presence.
The Spurs self-destructed in the last two playoffs against the Lakers when no one, other than Tim Duncan, could knock down a pressure shot. The 6-6 Emanuel Ginobili, a slashing two-guard type, comes to the Spurs fresh from a scintillating performance for his native Argentina in the World Championships. Although he lacks consistent long-range shooting, Manu is especially effective driving to the hoop for scores or dishing assists to teammates. Coach Gregg Popovich plans to bring Ginobili off the bench behind Steve Smith at the beginning, but he will eventually team Ginobili in the backcourt with another foreign player, Tony Parker, who had a fine rookie season in 2001-02.
The time for the much-hyped arrival of China's Yao Ming has come, although Chinese officials and the Rockets still must finalize his contract and might not do so until after the Asian Games in mid-October. The first pick in the 2002 draft will be no physical matchup for Shaq, but he's 7-5, handles the ball, shoots well from the perimeter, will pull his share of rebounds, block some shots and has a good feel for the game. There are a ball bag full of things that Ming must overcome -- starting with the English language, the American life-style and the difference between the international and NBA games -- but he might be the X factor that gets the Rockets to the playoffs this season. Yao should improve his game each year thereafter. His rookie season will be interesting to observe.
The Bulls are quietly gathering enough talent to become a playoff contender after the break up their six-time championship run of the 1990s. Point guard Jay Williams, the second pick in the June draft, may be the final piece to that puzzle. Williams should fit in well with swingman Jalen Rose, the young, frontline studs in Tyson Chandler and Eddy Curry and newly acquired forward Donyell Marshall. Williams demonstrated strong leadership qualities while leading Duke to the NCAA championship in 2001. He is a team-first playmaker and a determined driver who makes good decisions with the ball. He'll have to prove that he can make the perimeter shot, but overall, he has a great upside.
The Kings came within a Vlade Divac whisker of knocking off the Lakers in last season's Western Conference finals. Keon Clark might well be the factor that enables them to pull off that feat this year. At 6-11, Clark increases the Kings' rebounding and shot-blocking potential and fits nicely into coach Rick Adelman's uptempo offensive game. He runs the floor like a gazelle and slides between defenders for lay-ups and putback scores. If Clark keeps himself in top physical condition, this could be a breakout year for him and the Kings. Dr. Jack Ramsay, a Hall of Fame coach who won an NBA title with Portland in 1977, is an NBA analyst for ESPN. |
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