Amico Report

From L.A. to Houston and beyond

The computer virus is gone, the newsletter is back, and the NBA is one month into the 2005-06 season. Yes, life is good again. At least it is for fans like us, as fascinating storylines from around the league are already taking shape.

Let's take a look:

• It amazes me that everyone seems so surprised by the Lakers' lack of success. After all, this is a team that failed to make the playoffs last year, and other than re-hiring Phil Jackson, did little in the off-season to improve itself.
• I don't think it's too early to say that trading Caron Butler and Chucky Atkins to Washington was a mistake. It's true that the Lakers needed another big man, but you'd think they could have received more than Kwame Brown in return for two valuable starters. Brown remains an outstanding natural athlete who possesses no real basketball skills. He also has yet to shed his label of laziness. The Lakers were hoping Brown would become a Horace Grant-type by playing aggressive around the basket. So far, that hasn't been the case --as Brown is shooting just 40 percent from the floor and averaging an unimpressive 6.2 rebounds per game.
• Meanwhile, Kobe Bryant has been as phenomenal as ever. He is still a clutch shooter who can score at will, and one of the league's most underrated passers and defenders. But not even Michael Jordan could do it alone --and while Kobe is great, he's no Michael. So expect there to be a lot of nights where Bryant scores 40, and the Lakers lose.
• I love 18-year old Lakers rookie center Andrew Bynum, who has already displayed loads of potential. Heck, the kid even shot a sky-hook the other day --not a big surprise, considering sky-hook master Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is Bynum's personal coach. Still, Bynum has a lot to learn and won't be ready to contribute for at least another season. In other words, trading Shaquille O'Neal two summers ago is looking more and more like the worst move in Lakers history. They went from being a regular championship contender to a team that will consistently struggle to make the playoffs.
• Having written all of that, look for the Lakers to be a better team in the second half of the season. By then, guys like Lamar Odom and Chris Mihm should have a firmer grasp of Jackson's famed --albeit confusing --Triangle offense.
• As for real surprises, look no further than the Houston Rockets. This is a team that I once called "this year's Phoenix Suns." By that, I meant that the Rockets had the overall talent and depth to surpass expectations and challenge San Antonio for the Southwest Division title. Instead, the Rockets have become possibly the worst passing team in the league. Most of the Rockets seem to just stand around on offense, hoping someone else will pass, cut, or set a screen so they won't have to. And unless Tracy McGrady is playing, it usually doesn't happen.
• The Rockets have also tried pounding the ball into Yao Ming, but that doesn't do any good when he gets triple-teamed, kicks the ball out, and guys like Derek Anderson, David Wesley, and Juwan Howard continuously miss open jumpers. Despite all the Rockets' potential on offense, they are shooting an embarrassing 41 percent from the floor and averaging just 86 points per game --next to last in the league.
• Reader Jeff Webster (Victoria, Texas) wrote, "Don't you think the Rockets should consider signing veteran free-agent swingman Latrell Sprewell to add some spark to the offense?" Dear Jeff, no. Houston already has an abundance of guards, and I don't really see how Sprewell would make much of a difference. Yes, Sprewell formed a strong bond with Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy during their time together in New York, but things might be different after Van Gundy tells Sprewell he's coming off the bench. The Rockets should instead just continue to use surprising rookie Luther Head to provide instant offense in the backcourt. So far, Head has done the job.

Better Basketball Tips

OK, let's take a quick break for a new edition to the Amico Report, the first in a series of playing tips from Better Basketball.

Playing One-on-One and Making it Real!

When most people play one-on-one basketball, they structure their game in such a way that they're not preparing for real games. Real games are fast-paced, and there's almost always help defense in the lane. You can't take five dribbles to get to the basket --help defenders are going to be all over you on your second dribble. And if you do beat your man, you're going to encounter a shot-blocker or charge-taker. The bottom line is that to score in a real game, you have to go straight to the goal, quickly and decisively.

So how can you make one-on-one realistic? How can you make one-on-one fast-paced and aggressive? How can you use one-on-one to prepare for real games?

Here are five tips:

1. Start every possession from triple-threat on the perimeter with a check. But limit yourself to only one-third of the court (see our website for a picture). In a real game, you can't veer around your defender because you'll run into his helping teammate. You have to go through the defender, right off his shoulder. In addition, limit yourself to one dribble. I've actually charted this, and in real games about 90 percent of baskets that are scored in the halfcourt come off one dribble or no dribbles!

Now, click over to our website, at BetterBasketball.com, and we'll talk about four more ways you can make one-on-one more realistic.

More First-Month Thoughts

• Larry Brown may have run out of miracles. New York isn't playing close to the type of defense Brown demands, surrendering a whopping 94 points per game. Plus, it's obvious he has yet to reach key players such as Stephon Marbury, Jamal Crawford, or even Eddy Curry. On the bright side, the Knicks have received surprising play from rookies Channing Frye and Nate Robinson. That‘s especially true of Frye, who is second on the team in scoring (13.7 ppg) and rebounding (5.9 rpg).
• Meanwhile, it's nice to see Brown's former team is taking advantage of all that offensive firepower under Flip Saunders. I'm talking about the Detroit Pistons, who have four players averaging double figures in scoring. They are: Richard Hamilton (20.5 ppg), Chauncey Billups (17.3), Tayshaun Prince (16.1), and Rasheed Wallace (14.1). As a team, the Pistons are scoring 99.3 points per game. Heck, even Ben Wallace is averaging 9.2! Better yet, the Pistons haven't really missed a beat on defense, as Saunders has added a suffocating zone to their regular array of tough man-to-man schemes.
• If the Los Angeles Clippers played under any other name, no one would be saying they are doomed for a collapse. Truth is, these guys are good. Elton Brand is having a career year, and Sam Cassell and Cuttino Mobley have formed an even better backcourt than originally thought. And let's not forget Corey Maggette, a guy I've been calling the league's most underrated player for three years. Also, coach Mike Dunleavy deserves tons of credit for getting all of his talent to mesh so quickly. Look for the Clippers to win 50-55 games and one round in the playoffs.
• You would think a team that features a starting five of Mike Bibby, Peja Stojakovic, Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Bonzi Wells and Brad Miller would be playing better than .500 basketball. But when it comes to the Sacramento Kings, one question remains: Where's the bench?
• I know, I know. I picked Milwaukee to win something like 12 games. But, hey, when you're wrong as much as I am, it doesn't even phase you to admit it. At any rate, I never expected fun-filled point guard T.J. Ford to recover from a serious neck injury so fast --as Ford is making a strong case for All-Star consideration in just his second season. Also, rookie Andrew Bogut has already become one of the league's best-passing big men. There's also newcomer Bobby Simmons and old standby Michael Redd. Each is off to his best in a long line of impressive seasons. Still, I have a hard time believing the Bucks will stay this competitive for long, especially since they compete in by far the league‘s toughest division.
• Reader Mike Pearson (Berea, Ohio) wrote, "Where do you see Cleveland finishing in the playoff seedings, and how far do you think they'll go in the postseason?" Dear Mike, that's a good question. I think the Cavaliers will stay on their current pace as one of the top four teams in the Eastern Conference, but I wouldn't expect too much from LeBron James and friends come playoff time. That's not meant to trash the Cavs, or even doubt their overall ability. After all, you can't help but love the team that owner Dan Gilbert, and new general manager Danny Ferry and coach Mike Brown have put together. But remember, Cleveland has not been to the playoffs in the James era --and Detroit, Indiana, Miami, and even Chicago have. So I would be shocked if the Cavaliers won more than one series. And as Boston great Kevin McHale once said, "All that matters is that you play well in May." Still, this will be the most fun Cavalier fans have had since the 1991-92 team won 57 games.
• Denver is another team without much of a bench --but I absolutely love how the Nuggets are sharing the ball and hustling. It's true that they have hovered around .500 for the past couple of weeks, but these Nuggets have typically peaked at the end of the season. Credit belongs to George Karl, who seems to have inspired Carmelo Anthony, Andre Miller, and especially Marcus Camby, who had been written off as washed up and injury-prone. Now, he's one of the league's top five centers. The Nuggets won't beat the Spurs in a seven-game series, but I bet they will get past the first round of the playoffs --and then some.

Rookie Watch

A list of my favorite rookies after the season's first month:

• Chris Paul, PG, New Orleans/Oklahoma City. He leads the Hornets in practically every category --from scoring (16.8 ppg) to assists (6.6 apg) to steals (2.0 spg) to minutes played (36.5). Mostly, Paul is simply a winner who, along with improved third-year forward David West, is the biggest reason Hornets fans have reason to smile. He gets my early vote for rookie of the year.
• Andrew Bogut, C, Milwaukee. Bogut is big, athletic, like a gazelle when it comes to running the floor, and as I wrote earlier, already among the league's best passers in the . And for those of who question his defense, he also blocked a game-saving shot in the Bucks' win over the Mavericks Nov. 29. This kid is gonna be an All-Star someday, and it shouldn't take long.
• Ike Diogu, F, Golden State. At this writing, Diogu has played in just four games. But already, he has shown flashes of what's to come, averaging 11.0 points on 57 percent shooting from the floor. He still needs to become a better rebounder, but the Warriors love Diogu's tireless work ethic and excellent attitude, so you can bet he'll put in the time to improve. I also like Warriors rookie forward Chris Taft, a one-time projected lottery pick who dropped to the second round after questions about his attitude. But for Taft, it's been so far, so pretty good.
• Salim Stoudamire, G, Atlanta. Stoudamire reminds me a little of Phoenix's Eddie House in that he is an undersized shooting guard who can come off the bench and fill it up --and do it quickly. Stoudamire was a second-round draft pick, but has contributed more than the Hawks' other rookie, Marvin Williams --the No. 2 pick overall.
• Sean May, PF, Charlotte. May is a proven winner who is already averaging 9.2 points and 5.3 rebounds per game, and is on his way to becoming an underrated do-it-all type, much like the Hornets' P.J. Brown or Suns' Kurt Thomas. Wonder if teams like the Lakers, Trail Blazers and Clippers regret not drafting him when they had the chance?
• Luther Head, G, Houston. After one month, Head looks like the steal of the draft. He is fourth on the Rockets in scoring (10.0 ppg) --and when Tracy McGrady is out, is the one Rockets guard who will do more than just stand around on offense while calling for the ball and waving his arms like he's chasing down a cab. Instead, Head has been making things happen by driving to the basket and not forcing anything. You gotta love big-time college players.
• Deron Williams, PG, Utah. Williams may not be the next John Stockton, but he very well could become an improved version of Denver's Andre Miller. Like Miller, Williams usually looks to pass first, but has the ability to score when needed (13.6 ppg). Bottom line: This young man has already proven he knows how to run a team.
• A few more rookies I have enjoyed watching: Raymond Felton, PG, Charlotte; Jarrett Jack, G, Portland; Danny Granger, SF, Indiana; Daniel Ewing, PG, L.A. Clippers; Rashad McCants, SG, Minnesota; and Charlie Villanueva, PF, and Joey Graham, SF/SG, Toronto.

Final Thoughts

• How on earth does a guy like Memphis forward Shane Battier get left off the All-Star ballot? Granted, Battier may not make the team while playing in a conference that features forwards such as Tim Duncan, Dirk Nowitzki, Kevin Garnett, and numerous others. But Battier? Not even on the ballot? Ridiculous. Especially when you consider the league should be going out of its way to promote guys like Battier --who is exactly what every professional athlete should aspire to be. He is classy, intelligent, and someone who goes all-out on every possession. Not only does Battier understand how to win, but he goes about doing it the right way.
• Reader DeRyan Rowe (Chicago) had this to say about Shawn Kemp's comeback attempt: "Kemp was a whale of a player in 1996; then he became just a whale." Ouch. Actually, I'm all for comebacks, especially the one being attempted by Kemp --who put on one of the top three or four Finals performances ever when his Seattle SuperSonics lost to Chicago in ‘96. And remember, no less than Michael Jordan was playing for the Bulls. Anyway, Kemp was a six-time All-Star who is now 35. He reportedly has been invited to try out for the Nuggets, Bulls, and Wizards. For more on Kemp's comeback, read Greg Bishop's excellent piece in the Seattle Times: Kemp eyeing a return to the NBA.
• Well, that's all for this week. Thanks for your patience as my computer recovered from a virus. Not only did it shut me down for a few days, it completely wiped out every e-mail address from the subscription list. The process of retrieving them took two weeks. But everything seems to be OK now. Also, don't forget to keep your NBA-related thoughts coming. While I can't possibly reply to every e-mail, I do read them all. So until next time … have a great day, and thanks for reading.

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To contact me or inquire about a subscription to the Amico Report, send an e-mail to amicoreport@hotmail.com. Please include your full name and hometown, as I love to see where the e-mails are coming from.

About the Amico Report

The Amico Report is a pro basketball newsletter from Sam Amico, and has more than 25,000 readers each week from all over the world. Sam has written about pro basketball for various magazines and Web sites since 1991.

Previous Editions

• Nate the Trailblazer Great - July 13, 2005
• Mock My Draft » - June 28, 2005
• Talkin' NBA Age Limit » - June 20, 2005