Belkin out in Atlanta

Commissioner David Stern's affidavit supporting the Atlanta Hawks attempts to remove Steve Belkin as the team's NBA governor should mean that Joe Johnson, key cog in the Phoenix Suns' surprising run last season, will head East to Atlanta.
That means the Phoenix Suns will head south.

Belkin was blocking the proposed trade of Johnson to Atlanta for Boris Diaw, two first-round picks and a $4.9 million trade exception.

The explosive combination of Steve Nash and Amare Stoudemire, plus Shawn Marion, insure the Suns of being good, but without Johnson and Quentin Richardson, who was traded to New York for Kurt Thomas, they've fallen a notch.

Unless they know something about Diaw that few others do, the Suns better get Michael Finley (assuming Dallas waives him). Otherwise, they're back with the Dallas's, Houston's and Denver's of the world. Very good, but not a threat to the global gang in San Antonio.

The logic is simple. The 3-pointer was critical to the Suns' attack last season. Whether they were draining bombs off the break or spotting up while Nash dribbled through the defense before hurling a pass from the paint, it was the trey that made the Suns so dangerous. It was the second wave (the three) that made their fast break so awesome, not the first (the layup or dunk).

No two players hit more threes in Phoenix than Johnson (177) and Richardson (226). Johnson buried nearly 48 percent of his shots from behind the arc. It was all right to let Richardson, who bombed in the playoffs, go as long as you had Johnson. But now, both of your top long-range threats are Audi 5000.

I know Johnson requested the trade, and apparently didn't want to be a fourth-wheel in Phoenix. But $70 million to live and play in the sun (no pun intended) makes fourth-wheel status more than palatable. The Suns could have taken the chance that they could make Johnson a happy camper.

Without Johnson and Richardson, the floor won't be spread like it was last season, which could limit Nash's effectiveness. Diaw's a horrible 3-point shooter, and Jim Jackson will be 35 when the season starts.

It looks like the Suns will be more of a traditional team now. Kurt Thomas can bang and play D, and Diaw has the tools to be a good defender. But the Suns aren't beating San Antonio at its own game. They're only going to be so good defensively with opponents blowing by Nash at the point. And Stoudemire has a lot of work to do on that end too.

I hope the fans in Phoenix enjoyed last season because this one's not going to be as pretty.

As for the Hawks, they are definitely giving up a lot, but how much young, unproven talent do you need? It's time for them to start moving forward, and Johnson helps them do that. He's a legitimately strong player who can go off in transition and in the half-court, as well as lock cats down and play three positions well.

The Hawks' proposed lineup of Johnson at the point, Josh Childress at the two, Smith or Harrington at the three and Marvin Williams at the four is enticing, if mismatched. Considering what the Hawks have put on the floor lately, though, it's a step in the right direction.
posted: August 11, 2005 6:38:44 PM PDT | Feedback



Nets and Abdur Rahim

If the Nets had added Marc Jackson and Shareef Abdur-Rahim to their roster, Jersey fans would have really had something to shout about. But adding Jackson by himself leads me to just one conclusion:
Forget what I said a few weeks ago about a Heat-Nets Eastern Conference final.

The Nets may still be the most exciting team in the East, but they are at best, fourth. Jackson actually gives them a lot of things they needed: toughness, a physical presence, some post play. But they are still too soft to compete with Miami, Detroit and Indiana, which is loading up like gangbusters, having acquired the Lithuanian point guard Sarunas Jasikevicius.

With Ron Artest back in the fold, I'm really feeling the Pacers. I'm thinking Miami-Indiana for conference supremacy now. For those who think I'm hating on the Pistons, they'll fight Indiana for a chance to get beat by the Heat.

It's hard to blame the Nets for passing on Abdur-Rahim. Obviously, I didn't see the pictures of his knee, but a team official told me they didn't believe the knee might become arthritic; they were convinced that it will and to some degree, already has.

They tried to get some protection against his getting injured by offering fewer years and less money, but Abdur-Rahim wasn't budging. Can't blame him either since he's never missed a pro game because of the knee.

Now it looks like Abdur-Rahim could be headed to Sacramento, where he could end up extending his career-long non-playoff appearance streak.

In a tough, deep and improving Western Conference, the Kings appear to be slipping back into the Mitch Richmond era. If Coach Rick Adelman gets them into the playoffs, he should be saluted. Not saying they'll definitely be on the sidelines come late April, but I wouldn't be surprised.
posted: August 11, 2005 1:30:50 PM PDT | Feedback



[Edited by - djsunyc on 08/12/2005 14:23:20]

I'm really not following this thing, how is Stern in a position to overturn a judge?

I hope he gets put back in is place by the court, what is this now, Stern thinks he controls the courtst, too?

His heavyhanded approach to comissioning the NBA has been buggin for me for some time now.

LOL I saw that yesterday and LOL at the way he had to backpedal.

I like Broussard's articles for the most part (especially when he was the Knicks beat writer for the NY Times), but can't stand to hear or read anyone bigging up the damn Nets.

Let 'em Burn!