NBA Inside Scoop

[Dr. Jack]

NBA Inside Scoop

by Jasper King

What I am hearing?

It seems the Miami Heat have had numerous discussions regarding unloading the underachieving duo of Eddie Jones and Bryan Grant. Several rumors were on the table. One had the Heat sending Jones and Grant to Philadelphia for Keith Van Horn and Derrick Coleman, another had Coleman and Grant being swapped in a one for one deal. Those rumors ended quickly when the Sixers stole Kenny Thomas from the Rockets in a three-way trade which saw Mark Bryant and Art Long going from Philadelphia to Denver, and James Posey going from Denver to Houston. Do you think James Posey got his Christmas wish and maybe Bryant and Long would have preferred charcoal?

You don't hear much trade talk concerning retired athletes, but this is not the case in Toronto where the Raptors have been receiving offers for the retired Hakeem Olajuwon, who is still owed $12 million over the next two seasons. Raptors General Manager Glen Grunwald has confirmed several teams have inquired about the retired center.

We are hearing grumbling from San Antonio where several players have questioned Gregg Popovich's decision to replace Steve Smith at shooting guard with the much younger Stephen Jackson. It seems some believe that Smith brings nothing to the table coming off the bench when he needs so much time to get that body going.

It seems that ISIAh Thomas is bringing that bad boy image of his old Pistons to Indiana where Brad Miller is bragging about his team leading four flagrant fouls and swingman Ron Artest who is right behind him with three. Thomas was quoted as saying, "That Pistons team was very tough minded. I hope this team becomes a tough-minded team."

Pat Riley's recent expensive tirade was nothing more but to light a fire under his teams butt and it seems to have worked. Since Riley's outburst in which Riles claimed that the hatred the referees have it in for him and has spilled over to his team, the Heat have caught fire winning three of four and playing with the kind of intensity Riles has sought. As pathetic as the Heat have played, they are only four games behind the 8th playoff spot.

What is wrong with the Lakers?

This is what everyone is wondering. Let's start with Shaquille O'Neal. Sure he is still scoring his points, but insiders are saying that O'Neal is just not that defensive presence he once was. "He seems flat footed and fat", a scout said. His constant ribbing of other players on the team is not settling well with the Laker fans, but does he have a point? In the Lakers recent road loss at Philadelphia which saw them get their 18th loss of the season and also saw their road record to fall to 2-13, Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal combined for 70 points in the three point loss. The role players have become invisible.

Speaking of Kobe Bryant, boy have things changed. Since Bryant arrived in LA, the one knock was he was to selfish and needed to be more of a team player and shoot less. Now Kobe is being asked to be more aggressive on the offensive side. Phil Jackson stated, Kobe is laying the ball on his teammates, trying to get everyone involved. I think we have to go in the other direction." The Lakers are looking towards their Christmas Day match-up with the Sacramento Kings to turn things around. Will someone please tell the Lakers that Santa is not real.

Jasper King will be providing the Cappers Mall audience, the inside scoop around the NBA on a bi-weekly basis. Comments, questions and suggestions are always welcome.