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ESPN.com |
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Editor's note: As part of "The Stein Line" every Monday, ESPN.com senior NBA writer Marc Stein gives his take on things in "Slams and Dunks." If Jerry Stackhouse was the primary target of Michael Jordan's loud critique Sunday night, MJ is bang out of order. Jordan wouldn't look as good as he does now, fresher at 40 than he looked at this time last season, if Stack wasn't carrying the load for MJ in the first half of the season. Don't forget, furthermore, that Stackhouse has also played hurt at times this season, just like Mike.
Then again ... If the Clips decide to keep Johnson after owner Donald T. Sterling insults all the big-name coaches with low offers, all of the above factors will be used to justify keeping DJ no matter what L.A.'s record shows in those final 24 games. Besides the fact that he is already working on a Sterlingesque salary, Johnson is also helped by the fact that he's a recognizable name from championship stock. The latter qualification makes Lakers alumnus Michael Cooper another likely candidate for the full-time job, since Cooper -- coming from the WNBA -- wouldn't be able to command dollars in the Jeff Van Gundy/Mike Dunleavy stratosphere.
Here at the Stein Line, we have been unabashed Nene fans since the draft. We're on record, back in June, as saying the Knicks could well come to regret trading the big Brazilian for Antonio McDyess. Nevertheless ... There is and will always be only one Pele. Even Nene would tell you it's sacrilege to suggest he's copying the athlete who was Jordan before there was a Jordan. He merely wants to put Nene on the back of his jersey because Brazilian sports stars often go by one name, which would make his jerseys easier to sell back home. OK? Marc Stein is the senior NBA writer for ESPN.com. To e-mail him, click here. Also, send Stein a question for possible use on ESPNEWS. |
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