INDIANAPOLIS -The jinx continues. Tim Duncan, Grant Hill, Tim Hardaway, Jason Kidd and Tom Gugliotta have all suffered serious injuries since being chosen to play for Dream Team IV in Sydney. Then there’s Vin Baker who battled against depression last season. And now we have Kobe Bryant.
No sooner is Shaq’s caddie, er, castle approached regarding his interest in becoming an Olympian should Hill’s ankle surgery prevent him from competing (all but certain), he badly sprains his left ankle shortly into Game 2 of the NBA Finals.
No, it’s nothing that’s going to shelve him indefinitely, or anything like that (Kobe’s foot was properly propped up as the Laker charter took off at 8 a.m. yesterday to Nap City), but it sure makes you wonder if this summer’s USA team has the voodoo it takes to make us forget the cursed ’84 outfit.
Maybe that’s why Air Cast Kobe is somewhat dubious about accepting the invitation. A team source told me he’s laboring over the decision. He didn’t deny it when the subject was broached a few hours Friday before rolling his ankle on Jalen Rose’s sneaker nine minutes into the Lakers’ second straight win over the Pacers.
“First of all, I haven’t been officially asked to play, but there have been some feelers,” he said moments after parking his two-door Mercedes at the Staples Center. “Yes, I am wavering on whether I want to do it. Why? Because the season is going to end so late. I also want to spend a month in Italy as I do every summer.”
Oh, yeah, and then there’s the reality that his fiancee’s feelings must now be taken into account. Possessive or not, she may take exception to sharing her man with Olympic coach Rudy Tomjanovich for six straight weeks, beginning Aug. 24 in Hawaii. Who knows, she may be a strange and want to dominate that time frame herself.
“So, what you’re telling me is, it’s likely you’ll turn down the spot,” I said.
“No,” Kobe said, abruptly reversing field. “As of now, I’m leaning toward playing.”
Rik Smits (five fouls, four points) says he’s leaning toward playing the rest of the series.
Apparently Kobe was going to play after getting his ankle retaped. However, he changed his mind after having an owner-to-owner talk with Magic Johnson.
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THE Blazers are attempting to get as high as they can in the draft by using Jermaine O’Neal as enticement. Celtic boss Rick Pitino is hoping the No. 11 pick and a player (Tony Battie?) will procure him the athletic shot blocker at power forward he needs to complement and protect Antoine Walker.
Rod Thorn interviewed Lenny Wilkens for the Nets’ coaching job, but sources say he has no intention of hiring his long-time friend. The new team president is much more apt to fill the vacancy with Seton Hall’s Tommy Amaker, Kentucky’s Tubby Smith or Eddie Jordan. Thorn has Olympic ties to Amaker and Smith.
Indications are John Nash will be retained as GM. Thorn was very impressed by how prepared Nash (and assistant coaches Jim Lynam, Jordan and Mike O’Koren) is for the draft. If by any chance, Nash were let go, extraneous Pistons executive Rick Sund (Joe Dumars and Brendan Suhr are now above him in the Detroit front office) would be first in line to replace him.
Highly principled co-conspirators David Falk and Arn Tellem are attempting to package their free agents. Say you want Tracy McGrady? Fine, but you’ve also to take Maurice Taylor. At maximum money for both, of course.
Wonder what McGrady thinks about that shady practice. Meanwhile, Kenyon Martin’s agent, Dan Fagan, is trying to scare the Nets, Grizzlies, Clippers and Bulls from selecting his client. Supposedly, the Cincinnati forward only has eyes for Orlando.
Both Hawks and Raptors shot down alleged talk involving Dikembe Mutombo being swapped for Antonio Davis, Charles Oakley and Doug Christie. Toronto did not dispute that Butch Carter would love to lose all three players before next season.
Michael Jordan took a run at Danny Ainge before offering the Wizards job to Miami’s Leonard Hamilton.
Clipper GM Elgin Baylor would like to see Donald Sterling turn the sidelines over to John Thompson. However, the owner seems to favor John Lucas. In the end, swear long-suffering Paper Clip observers, “Cheap will win out” and assistant Dennis Johnson will get promoted. In the end, Sterling will say, “He’s not a bad guy, is he? Well, what do you think?” In the end, Sterling won’t be able to make a decision and that’ll be the decision.
The Hawks have signed Ricky Mahorn and Eric Musselman to assist Lon Kruger. Alvin Gentry and Mike D’Antoni are the leading candidates to become Kruger’s top aide. Should Gentry get beaten out, the Spurs and 76ers want Gentry on the bench.
Don Nelson has reached terms with Del Harris to become his top assistant. Together, they will groom Sidney Moncrief to take over for Nelson after three seasons.
Rick Fox was called for a piling-on Scottie Pippen penalty following the Blazers’ eviction notice from the playoffs. “Phil Jackson basically told us that Scottie was notorious for backing down and disappearing in Chicago if things got a little rough,” said Fox. “Early in the series he was giving us these looks, like, ‘I’m kicking your butt’ and it just ate me up. In Game 7, as soon as I gave him an elbow, his whole demeanor shifted. When the team looked to see what he would do, Scottie had a scared look on his face.”
Austin Croshere performed in Games 1 & 2 like he was shot out of Dyan Cannon.
The Pacers plan to have George McGinnis throw out Billy Keller for Game 3.
Larry Bird’s defensive strategy for Game 3: Carjack-a-Shaq.