HoopsHype.com Columns

Random thoughts from the first round
by Eddie Johnson / May 4, 2005

- You have to consider Dwyane Wade the best player on the Miami Heat now – especially after averaging 26 points, nine assists and six rebounds in the first round. He became only the seventh player ever to produce those numbers in a playoff series.

- Shaquille O'Neal is not healthy and all you need to look at is his 47% field goal percentage after shooting 60% during the regular season.

- Phoenix is still running! Mike Fratello, the king of tempo, was supposed to slow the Suns down. But all they did was speed up. They smoked the Grizzlies for 113.8 ppg – 50% FG, 45% from behind the arc.

- With his fine play, Joe Johnson is lining himself up for some serious dough in the offseason.

- Houston and Dallas should play in their road uniforms at home games.

- Can someone tell Yao Ming that although he is the tallest player in the league at 7-6, he still must jump when the Mavericks attack the basket? Especially when his arms are shorter than Earl Boykins'!

- I thought Jeff Van Gundy knew he could only scream and holler at tall guys? He better let fellow short guy David Stern alone with his conspiracy theories or he might be out of a lot more than $100,000. He may be back at TNT next year.

- I understand Ray Allen stepping up his game to a new level, but what's up
with Jerome James averaging 18 points, 10 rebounds and almost three blocks per game? Oh yeah, I forgot, it's his free agent year! Great timing. Now someone will sign him for six years and they will have to look forward to the last year of that deal.

- I have come to the conclusion that Danny Fortson is Krazy and Reggie Evans studied this past summer in Hollywood. Evans makes Vlade Divac and Derek Fisher look like novices with his continuous flopping.

- Reggie Miller, it's OK if you change your mind and decide to come back for another year. At least you are proving it to us with your great play since you announced your impending retirement.

- The Kings are probably wondering why it is so difficult to get good looks at the basket and why the backdoor cuts don't work anymore. Well, your best passers – Vlade Divac and Chris Webber – are in L.A. and Philly. Predrag Stojakovic and Mike Bibby found life tough without those two.

- The Chicago Bulls will have to give in and sign a healthy Eddy Curry next year. It's obvious they have no inside game without him.

- How can Ben Gordon be considered the best player off the bench in the NBA and not win the Rookie of the year? Go figure that one out.

- Kwame Brown of the Wizards was suspended for the season because he played doctor, diagnosed himself with a stomach virus and didn't show up for practice and Game 4. That's the problem with some of these young guys. They want to start another career before they figure out their first one. That's another argument for the age limit.

- Detroit beat Philly, but if they play that way against Indy they could be in for some trouble. They have turned the switch on and off all season long. The Pacers will be focused and determined to pull the upset.

- Allen Iverson has become my hero. I have never seen a player that takes more punishment and comes back for more like he does. He is the toughest player – regardless of position – I have ever seen. Kobe Bryant should spend some time with Iverson this summer and learn how to reinvent himself like Allen has.

- Kyle Korver of the 76ers was quoted on ESPN as saying, "I would rather take a three-point shot than a 16-footer." He shot less than 28% from the field and a ridiculous 27% from three. He should go home and reevaluate his philosophy about ignoring the mid-range game or he will find himself out of the league instead of on the bench like he was once coach Jim O'Brien realized he was a liability.

- Mike Fratello played the best defense of any Phoenix Sun player when he benched smoking-hot Jason Williams in the third quarter of Game 2 and did not put him back in until 2:25 was left in the game. His response? "Well, when he left, we were down two and when he came back we were still down two." Gee, Memphis could have been up eight had you you left him in.

- You have textbook coaches and you have coaches that have a feel for the game. Warning: If you are an offensive player, you better lean toward coaches that have feelings.

- Bonzi Wells officially didn't help himself with his antics during the playoffs. I guess once a Blazer, always a Blazer – unless you are lucky and get with some veterans that will not take your mess. Hey Bonzi, maybe the Pistons will look you up? Look what they did for Rasheed.

- I could not believe my eyes and ears when I saw Michael Finley answering questions regarding Dirk Nowitzki's struggles after the first two games of the Rocket series. Let's not forget that Finley is the highest-paid Maverick and has struggled more than Dirk. I wonder what Dirk thinks when he gets the criticism and Finley escapes.

- I cringe every time Andre Miller goes up for a shot. Someone has told him that he is a go-to player, but the only go-to player on the Denver Nugget roster right now is Earl Boykins. He is quietly becoming one of the most exciting players to watch in the NBA. Can you imagine him in a Suns uniform backing up Nash? That would be illegal.

- Kenyon Martin needs to spend the summer with Pete Newell and Kiki Vandeweghe and improve his footwork. It's a shame he can't use that quickness and jumping ability to his full advantage.

- Manu Ginobili is good, but please hold off on the greatness stuff until he can put together at least four or five good games in a row. That's what great players do.

- With that tender ankle, Tim Duncan is a tweak away from destroying all hopes of a Spurs title.

- Robert Horry should take the regular season off and just show up for the playoffs.

Eddie Johnson is a regular contributor to HoopsHype.com

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