I Love NBA | ESPN NBA Insider - 10/13/04

What's the next tandem at the scoring altar? By Terry Brown NBA Insider Wednesday, October 13 Updated: October 13 2:07 PM ET The amazing thing about the pairing of Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal is not that they were able to average a combined 52.96 points per game together, but that they were able to do it for the last five years. In the beginning of their championship run, it was Shaq averaging 29.7 points per game. Near the end of their dynasty, it was Kobe averaging 30 points per game. In between, each became the best player at his respective position, if not the best players in the NBA. Year in and year out, they were the more prolific scoring 1-2 punch in the NBA -- until they almost came to blows themselves. But this is a new year, and there is no more pairing of Shaq and Kobe, or Kobe and Shaq, leaving an open void for the next dynamic duo to step up. Here are the most likely candidates to take their place, along with their combined scoring averages from the previous season. # Houston Rockets Yao Ming Ming Tracy McGrady McGrady Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady: 45.5 points per game. This is the obvious choice, with McGrady's back-to-back scoring titles staring you in the face. McGrady has shown he can score 30 a game for a playoff team, and he can score 30 a game for the worst team in the league. The question, though, is this: If he wants to play on a championship-caliber team, can he give up those 30 points per game and defer to his new 7-foot-6 teammate? # Minnesota Timberwolves Sam Cassell Cassell Kevin Garnett Garnett Sam Cassell and Kevin Garnett: 44 points per game. Both of these players posted career highs to become the third-highest scoring duo last season. The only more productive combos (Shaq and Kobe/McGrady and Juwan Howard) are either divorced or filling completely different roles. But how often do two players on the same team post back-to-back career highs? # Philadelphia 76ers Allen Iverson Iverson Glenn Robinson Robinson Allen Iverson and Glenn Robinson: 43 points per game. We have no proof that any other scorer will ever be able to co-exist with Iverson for more than a season. Though AI and Big Dog paired last year, we still don't have proof: These players missed a combined 74 games. But add their shortened seasons together, and they would have ranked fourth in the NBA. # Sacramento Kings Mike Bibby Bibby Peja Stojakovic Stojakovic Mike Bibby and Peja Stojakovic: 42.6 points per game. The biggest difference last year was that Chris Webber was injured and never fully recovered, allowing Peja to take a lead role and hold onto it throughout the regular season. As a result, he put up legendary numbers for a perimeter player. The biggest difference this year is he doesn't even want to be on this team anymore. # Los Angeles Lakers Kobe Bryant Bryant Lamar Odom Odom Bryant and Lamar Odom: 41.1 points per game. By all indications, Kobe might try to become the highest scoring duo all by himself. And if this tandem is to actually lead the league in scoring, it's understood that Bryant will do the bulk of the scoring (the points crown in tow) with Odom happy to be along for the ride. # Dallas Mavericks Dirk Nowitzki Nowitzki Jason Terry Terry Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Terry: 38.6 points per game. Nowitzki had his worst season as a superstar last year. It may have had something to do with the fact that it was first him and Finley; then him and Finley and Nash; then him and Finley and Nash and Jamison and Walker. Now with Nash, Jamison and Walker gone, and Finley in his fourth year of statistical decline, it's just him and Terry and Dampier and Stackhouse and Howard. On second thought … # Indiana Pacers Jermaine O'Neal O'Neal Ron Artest Artest Jermaine O'Neal and Ron Artest: 38.4 points per game. Despite all of the accolades coming Jermaine's way last year, he actually scored more points per game the previous season while shooting a heck of a lot better. If he's able to recover fully from his injuries and Artest is able to keep his head straight, this team can shoot right up this chart. # Miami Heat Shaquille O'Neal O'Neal Dwayne Wade Wade O'Neal and Dwyane Wade: 37.7 points per game. Shaq was more than five points off his career scoring average last season. He was six points off the previous season's scoring average. He was a whopping 8.2 points off his 2002 total. This year, he's vowed to be better than ever. But the even scarier reality of this duo is that Wade was just a rookie last year when he posted 18 points per game in the playoffs. # San Antonio Spurs Tim Duncan Duncan Tony Parker Parker Tim Duncan and Tony Parker: 37 points per game. Duncan is Duncan. He scored 22.3 per game last year and has 22.8 on his career. Parker, though, is on the verge of a major breakout and has the ability to go for 20 a game. The question is if he and his head coach have the desire for him to do so. # Cleveland Cavaliers LeBron James James Zydrunas Ilgauskas Ilgauskas LeBron James and Zydrunas Ilgauskas: 36.2 points per game. Ilgauskas can score more if James allows him. James can score more if James allows himself. But the surest sign that the Cavaliers are in trouble is if shooting-guard James abandons his all-around game since he is no longer point-guard James. -------------------------------- Wednesday, October 13, 2004 By Marc Stein ESPN Insider COLUMBUS, Ohio – Five observations from Cleveland Cavaliers training camp, based on an Oct. 8-9 visit: THE HOT SPOTS # ESPN.com takes you to 10 "Hot Spots" during NBA training camp: MONDAY: Los Angeles Lakers Stein: Loss of pressure Inside Lakers camp TUESDAY: Charlotte Bobcats Ford: Who are these 'Cats? Inside Bobcats camp WEDNESDAY: Cleveland Cavaliers Stein: Playoffs or bust Inside Cavaliers camp Keeping LeBron happy: Zydrunas Ilgauskas will be a free agent in July. So will Jeff McInnis. Yet there is really only one free agent who dominates the night-and-day thoughts of Cavaliers general manager Jim Paxson. That would be LeBron James, who can't even hit the open market until the summer of 2009 at the earliest. "The real key is, we've got to try to win with him here now and keep getting better," Paxson said. "Not that (James) doesn't feel good about (the direction of the franchise), but we don't want to give him any reason not to." In other words, every personnel move Cleveland management makes is made with the hope of pleasing LBJ. It must be said, then, that James should be at least moderately pleased by Cleveland's recovery after the Carlos Boozer defection, with Drew Gooden, Eric Snow, Lucious Harris and Tractor Traylor among the veterans brought in to lend depth to a club that was woefully thin last season. "It's so sweet," Silas purred, so happy to have some experience on his bench. A lack of depth was the killer for Cleveland last spring, when Silas had no more than four or five dependable players to use as the Cavs wound up missing the playoffs by one game. A Good-en fit? After losing Boozer, and thus needing to scramble for a replacement, Cleveland couldn't have done much better than getting Gooden in a trade with Orlando. But after watching an intrasquad scrimmage, I was left wondering whether Gooden and Ilgauskas can really play together, because Gooden wants touches, which threatens to limit Big Z's effectiveness if he's seeing the ball a lot less. Ilgauskas and Boozer were a better match, because Boozer wasn't a primary target in the low post. He was happy to run the floor and chase rebounds, while Ilgauskas is generally willing to pass the ball only if he knows there's a chance it's coming back. Drew Gooden Forward Cleveland Cavaliers Profile 2003-2004 SEASON STATISTICS GM PPG RPG APG FG% FT% 79 11.6 6.5 1.1 .445 .637 "This is a great opportunity for Drew to kind of show the other teams that, 'Hey, you shouldn't have given up on me,' " Paxson said of Gooden, who already has been discarded by Memphis and Orlando in his brief NBA career. As for Ilgauskas, Paxson is quietly confident Cleveland will be able to hang onto him, which can only help with No. 1 above. "We haven't ruled out talking about (an extension) sometime during the season," Paxson said. "Obviously you wouldn't want to have somebody walk (away) in the end (without compensation). He stuck with us, and (Cavs owner Gordon Gund) stuck with him through the tough (injury) times, and I know he appreciates that. "We had a conversation a couple weeks ago, and he said to me, 'Three years ago I never thought I'd be talking about another new contract.' He just wants to go out and play." Luke Jackson The Cavs hope rookie Luke Jackson can provide reliable scoring from the perimeter. Calling all scorers: This team could have some trouble scoring, James aside. Not only do Gooden and Ilgauskas have to prove they can play as a tag team, but Cleveland also is waiting to see what kind of scoring it gets from a backcourt combo of Jeff McInnis and Eric Snow. Although both can run a team and lend some defense, neither one scores much. There also are the questions of how much the Cavs have really improved their long-range shooting. Which is another way of asking: Can Lucious Harris and rookie Luke Jackson really make a dramatic difference on the perimeter? Dajuan Wagner could be a very productive third guard, judging by his performance in the scrimmage last Friday night. Wagner, mind you, hasn't been reliable in the pros, with his shooting or his health. LeBron and Larry? That's a laugh: It's a pretty safe guess LeBron won't be lobbying the Cavs again to hire Larry Brown as coach. LeBron, you'll recall, reached out to Brown before being drafted by Cleveland in 2002, openly wishing for Brown to take over the Cavs. Asked how his body is feeling after representing his country under Brown in Athens over the summer, James quipped: "I got some time off in the Olympics." Get it? In the Olympics? At least he's laughing about it a little. The Cavs, meanwhile, aren't about to complain that their dream teenager is feeling fresher than anticipated. The Cavs need freshness, because they've asked James to rebound better this season, after he posted averages of 20.9 points, 5.5 boards and 5.9 assists as Rookie of the Year. The Chosen One says ...: The Cavs will win about 40 games. How do I know? The Chosen One told me. "If we can go 41-41, that'd be cool," James said, asked to share what he sees as reasonable expectations for his team. "If we can get more than that, and get 50 wins, that'd be great. But I feel like if we get 40 wins, we can make the playoffs so that'd be fine." Marc Stein is the senior NBA writer for ESPN.com. To e-mail him, click here. Also, click here to send a question for possible use on ESPNEWS. ---------------------------- Wednesday, October 13 Updated 3:32 PM EST Rumor Central Weighty Trent to be waived; Robinson to be 'sidelined' for season? WHO INTERESTED THE SKINNY Gary Trent Gary Trent Bulls ? Oct. 13 - Maybe Gary Trent should start following the Eddy Curry Diet Plan. While the Bulls are raving at the 39-pound weight loss of the once 320-pound Curry, the team reportedly is so upset at Trent's physical condition that it is going to waive the veteran soon. The Oct. 13 Chicago Tribune reports that Trent, a free agent from the Timberwolves who signed a non-guaranteed contract with the Bulls just last week, was asked to leave over the weekend. The team termed Trent's absence was for "personal reasons", but apparently the forward was out-of-shape and rubbed some of the younger Bulls the wrong way. He's listed as standing 6 feet, 8 inches and weighing 250. The Tribune reports agent Andy Miller is trying to find a new taker for Trent, 30, who during his Ohio University days was hailed as the "Shaq of the MAC." WHO INTERESTED THE SKINNY Eddie Robinson Eddie Robinson Bulls ? Oct. 13 - According to the Chicago Tribune, longtime Bulls' disappointment Eddie Robinson is expected to follow Trent out the door. Robinson did not accompany the team to New Hampshire for its 30-point exhibition loss to the Celtics. Apparently, he's been bothered by a sore left big toe. But Robinson, who has never justified the reported $30 million, five-year offer sheet he signed with the Bulls in July, 2001, reportedly has been reluctant to practice. To quote Tribune reporter K.C. Johnson, Robinson has spent "so much time on the stationary bicycle that he should be wearing Lance Armstrong's yellow jersey instead of a Bulls' jersey." There's one catch: The Bulls do not want to swallow the two years, $14 million remaining on Robinson's contract if they do waive him. It's possible he might spend the season in the injured list instead. WHO INTERESTED THE SKINNY Wally Szczerbiak Wally Szczerbiak Wolves Cavs? Sonics? Blazers? Knicks? Bulls? Oct. 13 - The Minneapolis Star Tribune reports Szczerbiak, seeking more playing time in the Timberwolves' deep rotation, is prepared if the Wolves wind up trading him. "I've had a great experience with the Timberwolves," said Szczerbiak, who signed a six-year, $63 million extension in the summer of 2002. "It's been a real fun five years. But I'm prepared, if I get traded, to go kick butt somewhere else. That's how you've got to be in this business." Szczerbiak constantly is named in trade rumors and reportedly has a tenuous relationship with the franchise, Kevin Garnett. One thing is certain: He's tired of being coach Flip Saunders' object of consternation for defensive lapses. "I'm not putting up with it anymore," he told the Star Tribune. "When it gets to the point where it's constantly one guy and not others, I don't think that's right." WHO INTERESTED THE SKINNY Steve Francis Steve Francis Magic Magic Team USA? Oct. 13 - Sadly, the Vancouver Grizzlies are no more. Still, one of the reasons for the franchise's demise – one-time draftee Steve Francis' refusal to play in the perennial loser in the beautiful Canadian city – still might be a factor. According to the Orlando Sentinel, Francis wants to play for Team USA in the 2008 Olympics. "Heck, yeah," said the new Magic guard. "I'll only be 31." But there's a catch. It seems Stu Jackson, the Grizzlies' GM when the team drafted Francis in 1999, still holds a grudge. And Jackson, the NBA's lord of discipline, is also a liaison to USA Basketball. The Sentinel reports Francis has heard rumors that Jackson is against Team USA selecting Stevie Franchise because of the player's snubbing of Vancouver. Francis forced a trade to the Rockets then, and the Grizzlies sank into oblivion before moving to Memphis. WHO INTERESTED THE SKINNY Qyntel Woods Qyntel Woods Blazers Cavs? Heat? Oct. 12 - Clackamas County Sheriff's deputies searched the home of the Trail Blazers forward on Oct. 11, after allegations that he had abandoned a pit bull, reportedly because it would not fight for him. Dog fighting is a felony in Oregon and violator could face penalties including $100,000 in fines and up to five years in jail, the Associated Press reports. On Oct. 12, the Blazers suspended Woods without pay pending the investigation. The Oct. 12 Oregonian reports Woods' latest run-ins with the law – he has previously been cited on marijuana possession charges and for driving with a suspended licenses – has his agent working the rumor mill, trying to find a new home for his client. The Cavs say they are not interested in Woods, even though they acknowledge interest in the talented but troubled prospect. The Heat reportedly might be another destination for Woods (in exchange for the much-travelled Wang ZhiZhi?), but Blazers GM said "Miami has no interest today." __________________