NBA Playoffs
Mike Wise
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, May 21, 2004; Noon ET
The Minnesota Timberwolves will play the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference finals, with Game 1 scheduled for Friday night in Minneapolis.
Join Post staff writer Michael Wise online Friday, May 21 at Noon ET to discuss the NBA playoffs.
Submit your questions and comments before or during the discussion.
The transcript follows.
Editor's Note: washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control
over Live Online discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions.
Mike Wise: Just joined in, sorry for the delay. I'm a little chat rusty, so be patient and I'll try and get to everyone's questions.
Thanks, Mike
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Gaithersburg, Md.:
Mike,
With the Wizards having an excellent shot at one of the top three picks in the draft, do you think that they will actually go for another top High School prospect? Won't this stick us in another "let's wait till next year" phase? Thanks!
Mike Wise: Part of me thinks the Wizards don't have a choice because much of the talent is underaged. The other part is certain they will not take a man-child again. The reason? Eddie Jordan does not need another kid on that roster. He needs a mid-20s veteran post presence to lead by example, at the least. I believe Ernie Grunfeld may package a first-round pick to achieve that goal. But that's just me.
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Lorton, Va.:
Michael,
Do both series go 7 games?
I've got the wolves in 7 and pistons in 6.
Mike Wise: Neither series goes seven games. I honestly cannot see the Lakers going more than 6 with the TWolves'. No disrespect to Minnesota, because Garnett and Spree and the gang have had a wonderful season. But you know that saying, "Just happy to be there." That's Minnesota right now. They celebrated that second-round win like they just won the title. I can see them getting one game at home and losing in five. As for Detroit-Indiana, that's a better series and a possible seven-game scrap. But in the end, the Pacers just have more scorers and the best player in the series. No, not Reggie anymore. Jermaine O'Neal.
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Washington, D.C.:
Oh, argh, I am so frustrated at how few games are broadcast on network TV. Those of us who don't have cable are left out in the cold! Just a comment.
Mike Wise: Just a comment about so few games on network TV? Get cable. : ). No, I understand. My good friend Charles has not given into the cable world -- and he seems to be doing fine without it. It's just the way of the world now, unfortunately. I also think it says a lot about the popularity of the NBA as compared to the NFL. I mean -- you can see up to three NFL games a weekend on network TV, excluding Monday night. It's truly become America's pastime.
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Arlington, Va.:
I like how Washington's roster is comprised, hopefully, Charlotte will take Jerry Stackhouse of their hands. If Kwame can continue to develop and Hayes can be a more consistent shooter, I think Washington can become a playoff contender in '05. Do you think Luol Deng would be a good fit for the Wizards?
Mike Wise: Luol Deng is a fine college player. Maybe he will be a decent NBA player. But I've seen too many Dookies end up as good role players in the league and nothing else. Christian Laettner, to me, is one of the greatest college players ever. He's a decent role player in the NBA, that's it. I like some of Washington's players, especially Jarvis Hayes and Gilbert Arenas and, believe it or not, Kwame Brown, long term. But I can't see Charlotte nibbling at Stackhouse. He's just got too big of a contract and too much baggage right now.
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Alexandria, Va.:
I'm a fan of Kevin Garnett and became an even BIGGER fan of his over the past few days for owning up to his "war" comments and not retaliating against Peeler in game 6. Top it off, he had a monster game 7. To quote Tony, "This guy gets it."
Unfortunately, I just don't see how he and his Twolves can overcome Shaq, Kobe and company.
Mike Wise: I was offline for a minute, but about KG: I love him. Like Jordan in his early years, he had to struggle to get over the first-round hump. Now that he's there, the possibilities are limitless. But you're right about the Lakers: that's just too tough of a team for he and his teammates to overcome right now.
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Silver Spring, Md.:
Lakers in Five?! KG gave the crowd what they deserved(after sticking by him for the past seven years) after he had one of the top ten game 7 performances of all time. They will be hungry, and angry after all the smack that has been talked the past two days, come tipoff tonight. To say they will bow out in five is plain disrespectfull.
Mike Wise: You know what, Silver Spring, you're right. That is disrespectful to say the Lakers will win in five -- disrespectful to Shaq, Kobe and Phil. Lakers in Four! : ).
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Washington, D.C.:
Mike -
I really think the Pistons have the best chance of beating the Lakers, do you agree?
Yes, I realize I'm assuming LA rolls over the Wolves.
Mike Wise: The problem with Detroit is, even with its big bodies, it simply does not have the offensive firepower to match LA. So while I like that series better than, say, LA-Nets, I don't think the Pistons go more than five games with the Lakers. I do like the Pacers going 7, however. Homecourt has been huge this season. Going into last week, second-round teams were 41-3 at home. The Conseco Fieldhouse was nutty in 2000 and helped Indiana win two games in that series with the Lakers. I can see that happening again, especially since the Pacers have homecourt.
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Ollie - Upper Marlboro, Md.:
Hello Mike! What is the NBA's opinions on Kwame Brown, Jerry Stackhouse and Brendon Haywood? Do you think the Wizards could make a trade for Antonie Walker by giving Dallas Stackhouse and a young "big"? Also, who do you think the Wizards's are looking at in the draft. Thanks!
Mike Wise: Real quick Wizards question: I say don't give up on Kwame quite yet; big men develop slowly sometimes and no use trading away another player ready to blossom (see Detroit's roster). As for Stack, I like his game when he is healthy. But I think he is more of a No. 2 player on a good playoff team, not you're No. 1 guy. Brendan Haywood? Getting better all the time, but I would definitely consider moving him if the right deal came about. Antoine Walker is pretty moody, and I don't think the Wizards want to take any chances with leadership in the locker room right now. As for the draft, I was just take the best available player and package him in a deal with Stack. Unless it's Okafor; then keep him by all means.
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Arlington, Va.:
Mike -- Do you know why Dwayne Wade was not in the game in the closing seconds of the Indiana-Miami game? Thanks.
Mike Wise: You got me on the Dwayne Wade one. I was coming back from LA after going to Lakers practice and was flying when that game was going on. Anybody out there know why the most underrated rookie in America was not in the game in the closing seconds?
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Washington, D.C.:
Mike -
I agree with you, Minnesota is going to have a tough time with LA. Do you think Garnett can dominate Malone? I think that is their only chance, and it isn't that far-fetched. The league MVP beating a 40-year old former All-Star.
Mike Wise: The problem with matchups are, no one really dominates anyone because no one goes head to head anymore. I mean, Malone played great against Duncan. But every time Duncan used a drop-step move to get past Malone, Shaq was waiting. So I just think the amount of big bodies will wear KG down. He looked pretty tired after Game 7.
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Washington, D.C.:
I was watching PTI last night when they showed the clip of Doug Christie (I think) shuffling his feet before taking a shot, and both Tony and Mike said that the refs were correct in not calling travelling. This is why I no longer watch the NBA. The complete disregard for the basic rules of play is absurd.
Mike Wise: Wait, first. You were watching PTI? Who watches that show? : ). I know, I know. I'm tired of the ability for the officials to look the other way. Quick story: I telephoned John Wooden for another story recently and I asked him why he didn't like the NBA. Quote: "I cannot deal with the notion of every player being allowed to palm the ball. I once asked an NBA official why he didn't call this more often."
I asked Wooden what the official said:
"The official told me he liked his job."
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Arlington, Va:
Larry Brown's comments about Larry Frank were harsh during the series. I have a different perspective of Larry Brown now - he's not classy. Did Larry Brown shake Larry Frank's hand after the series was over?
Mike Wise: I didn't see whether or not they shook hands, but clearly there was a lot of gamesmanship going on during the series. Brown feels Frank helped undermine Byron Scott and essentially sees all these good, young coaches being replaced by video coordinators. I think there was small-time behavior on both sides, but that's how contentious NBA playoff games become. You give in to the worst side of yourself -- I've seen it happen to friends during really pathetic pick-up games. OK, it was me.
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Columbia, Md.:
Mike,
Let's say you are the GM with the first pick in the draft. Who do you take?
Thank you.
Mike Wise: The first pick in the draft? Emeka Okafor, no-brainer. I like the talent of some of the high school phenoms, but how can you ask a season-ticket holder to wait three years when their team needs help now? I'm with Wilbon on this subject.
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Seattle, Wash. (by way of DC and Fresno):
Mike, congrats on the move to the Post. I've been watching your career grow ever since we both wrote sports for the Fresno State Daily Collegian.
Do you think anyone can take more than two games off your beloved Lakers the rest of the way?
Who'd win a seven-game series between the '87 club and the '04 edition?
Mike Wise: Stewing in Seattle, I'm flattered. But my (italics) beloved (italics end) Lakers? Oooooh, that hurts. In truth, I was pulling for the Kings. Of course, pulling for the Kings these days is like pulling for the Knicks in the 1990s or pulling for the Red Sox or the Cubs. But I just wanted to see them get to the next level one more time before the window shuts completely. Back to your point: Yes, the Lakers could go down and lose at least two games in one of their two remaining series? Will they? No. The Spurs woke them from their slumber and now the rest of the league must pay. Plus, I think they all realize -- given Kobe's troubles and Phil's expected departure -- that this could be the last run. As for your last question, I would have to take the 1987 Lakers in seven games. Magic Johnson, in his prime, would not let his team lose -- except to Bird.
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Silver Spring, Md.:
Here is an analysis of the LA-Minn matchup I have not seen yet, it goes like this. Last year LA won in six. This year the Wolves added Spree/Cassel/Madsen/Olowakandi. The Lakers lost Madsen and gained Payton and Malone. Wouldn't the simple additiona nd subtraction make this series more in favor of the Twolves than last year. Add in the home court and their renewed mental toughness and I would pick the Wolves in 7. Your thoughts?
Lee
Mike Wise: Lee, good analysis. Great, in fact. But I like LA simply because of Payton and Malone. They defend those Wolves better than the old Lakers did. And as much as I like watching Sammy and Spree, they're slipping.
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Trading T-Mac:
best rumor heard this week:
orlando trades T-Mac to whatever team wins draft lottery?
what do you think?
Mike Wise: What is this, talk radio? Tracy McGrady is not going anywhere until the Orlando Magic gets everything they want in return. So, wouldn't it make sense to swap Peja Stojakovic and, say, Bobby Jackson, for McGrady, if you were the Magic?
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Washington, D.C.:
Mike -
In the Wolves/Lakes series, who is responsible for defending Kobe? Sprewell ?
Mike Wise: Pamela Mackey and Hal Haddon are responsible for defending Kobe. Seriously, they may guard each other at different times. I definitely see Flip Saunders using Spree to contain Kobe, especially the way he took care of Mike Bibby at times in the last series.
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Alexandria, Va.:
Almost everyone who the Wizards have turned loose (Webber, Howard and as of late Wallace and Hamilton who I loved) has a chance for the playoffs.
The Wizards got of rid of Hamilton who for the most part is consistent along with Wallace and a few others for Stackhouse who hasn't even produced.
I know hindsight is 20/20 but I'm a girl and I can do better job than their owner?
Also any comment on Jason Kidd? 33 minutes no points. What do you think happened?
GO LAKERS!
Mike Wise: Gender has nothing to do with good ownership, believe me. Just look at Donald Sterling with the Clippers. A cicada could do a better job of putting a team together. The Wizards have had their share of misfortune and their share of bad luck. I will say this, however: go down the standings and you will find tons of teams whose history would be different if they had not thrown away one player for another. Take the Warriors, who gave up Robert Parish for almost nothing. Or the Trail Blazers, taking Sam Bowie and passing on Michael Jordan. That's just the nature of sports. Only the Lakers seem to get it right most of the time and that was because Jerry West understood the mind and body of the modern player like no other.
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Washington, D.C.:
Mike,
As the NBA Draft Lottery approaches, can you give Wizards' fans an insight on the best big men available? Assuming the Wizards are not lucky enough to get Okafor.
I've read that many foreign big men (over 7') are entering this year's draft.
Thank you.
Mike Wise: I'm not the draftnik I used to be when I covered the NBA exclusively in New York. So I'll refrain from throwing names of foreign players out there who may or may not be good in three years. But I will say this: the dearth of American-born centers is incredible these days. Every big man wants to be a guard and get a shoe commercial; hence, the days of Kareem, Walton and Chamberlain are gone. Why are the Lakers going to win again? Because they have the most dominant big man in the game, period.
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Washington, D.C.:
How about the Wizards draft? Assuming they don't get #1 and draft Okafor, what do you think they should do?
Mike Wise: If the Wizards do not get Okafor, I think they need to take Stackhouse, Juan Dixon and Lonny Baxter (Apologies to ACC fans), and package those guys with their pick. I think they could secure a prominent big man if they are willing to give up some young talent.
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Washington, DC:
Why is everyone giving Minnesota no chance? I think the media is pulling the Laker bandwagon more than ever this year. The Wolves are deeper... have better shooters... and have three possible people to throw at Shaq and Kobe on defense. Honestly I see Minnesota winning as a reach but I wish the media would stop feeding the Lakers to the public as their favorites when they were said to be dead in the water after game 2 to an average Spurs team.
Mike Wise: You make a great point. Last week, the Spurs were our favorite team to win the championship. This week, We all love LA. I will say this, though: being at Game 2 in San Antonio, you could see the Lakers getting angry, starting to play better defense and realizing how good they needed to be to not get knocked out.
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Sacramento, CA:
Michael Wilbon wrote that Chris Webber didn't get the help from his teammates like Garnett got from his, mainly Cassell. The fact is that the Kings were the best team in the league (record-wise) before Webber came back from his injury. The contention in Sacramento is that the Kings lost because of Webber, not despite him. He disrupted the team chemistry and, it appeared, the Kings play suffered with him in the lineup. What is your view on this? Are the Kings a better team with or without Webber?
Mike Wise: I've been around that team a lot the last five years. And while I do think Webber's return affected their on-court chemistry, there is no way I will ever say that the Kings are better off without Webber. Playoff basketball is half-court basketball and Webber is still a wonderful half-court player when he has his legs. He can still put passes on players' fingertips and make an open jump shot. Kings fans need to blame Peja and Bibby for that loss -- and Adelman for letting Game 2 slip away. Chris Webber has a lot of warts, but no more than any flawed player still waiting to win a title.
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Cleveland, Ohio:
I can't see any way that the Lakers won't win another championship. They seem to be playing their basketball at the right time. As for the Pacers and Pistons giving the West a run for the money - not even close. These two teams are only slighly better than the medicore teams they were last year. Lakers in 4 or 5 games in the championship. What do you think?
Mike Wise: Cleveland, you and I are on the same wavelength. Although I could see the Pacers extending the Lakers to six or even seven. Conseco is that loud. Meanwhile, say hi to LeBron for me. With all these old guys retiring, I need to start sucking up to him. : ).
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Mike Wise: Thanks for the questions. All of them were good, even the guy who said we are disrespecting Minnesota. And by the way, if nobody was disrespected, would anybody even want to play? I think we should start getting credit for pumping up players and teams to compete harder and pull off these upsets. All monies should be sent to a fund for journalism research, in care of me.
In all sincerity, thanks for being a part of my first Post chat. I had fun. Have a good weekend,
Mike
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