Sean Deveney's Mailbag

I miss mail. So here's a malibag of sorts.
SportingNews.com
September 22, 2006


You know what I miss? Mailbags. There was a time when I'd write something, my e-mail address was at the bottom of the article, and people would fire their thoughts into my in-box. I'd have a lot of good back-and-forth with NBA fans, but now, with the advent of blogging, my in-box gets pretty lonely. I mostly just get e-mails from African generals who promise me millions if I help pay for them to leave their countries, and e-mails featuring products that promise to increase the size of various body parts.


I figure, in the interest of rekindling the back-and-forth I once enjoyed with you, the readers, I could transform my mailbag into a blogbag, which sounds like some accessory used by the Roto-rooter man. So, here it is. My first-ever blogbag. (I'll do my best to clean up your spelling, but I am not making any promises!)

We'll start back with the article I wrote about Team USA's third-place finish at the World Championship.

UNLV2005 wrote:

It's ridiculous to say no matter who we brought wouldn't have made a difference. Outside shooting and free throws? Kobe, Chauncey and Michael Redd (even Gilbert Arenas, Redick, or Morrison) would have made a huge difference. Defensively, Chauncey would have handled the pick and roll much better and Kobe is one of the great one-on-one defenders in the world. Stagnant offense? Chauncey is the second best pure point guard in the world.

Tballx wrote:

I totally disagree with the assessment of having Shaq, Kobe, Duncan, and Garnett there would not have made a difference. It most certainly would have. That is like saying the 1980 San Francisco 49ers would have still won the Super Bowl even if Joe Montana was not there. That is a load of crap! Do you really believe that Shaq's presence does not make a difference on how the inside game is played? Do you really think Kobe would have struggled with making an open jumper?

I say:

These are the same, tired excuses we have been using for Team USA for years: so-and-so did not play, but if he did, we would have dominated. Wake up. Every country has players who are unavailable. Peja Stojakovic did not play for Serbia-Montegro this year. Hedo Turkoglu and Mehmet Okur did not play for Turkey. This kind of excuse-making is part of the problem with Team USA. Fans in this country have a hard time accepting that international teams are as good as us in these tournaments, no matter the players we take. Accept it. It's not going to change.

Matt Rehm wrote:

Where is TSN's evisceration of Coach K they way they flayed Larry Brown two years ago? The title of Deveney's blog should be, "Larry, we owe you an apology," but he doesn't have the stones to write it.

Meat Kid wrote:

How about Coach K's ridiculous changes to the starting lineup? Team USA had no players taller than 6-8 in the starting lineup. Why move Brand to center, from his natural position of power forward? Why go with Carmelo and Joe Johnson as the forwards against a big, physical team like Greece? Greece outmuscled us in the paint, when it should've been the other way around.

I say:

People love picking on Coach K, which is just what happens in sports when someone is a consistent winner. Personally, I don't cover college basketball and I have no opinion of Coach K either way. But I do know this: This team was much, much better coached than the Olympic team in 2004 and to suggest otherwise only shows that you weren't paying attention. The 2004 team had no discipline. They lost to very weak teams (like Puerto Rico, who gave the U.S. a 19-point loss). This team got the bronze, like the team in 2004, but if you watched both tournaments, you know this was a much, much better team.

As for Krzyzewski's lineup, did you see the lineup the Greeks put out there? Their biggest player was 6-9. Coach K was trying to have athletic big men on the floor to limit the pick-and-roll. It did not work. But what if you put Brad Miller out there? The pick-and-roll defense would have been worse. Much worse. The U.S. was not outmuscled in the paint -- they outrebounded Greece, 32-27.

Laker Kev wrote:

The Greeks were running pick and rolls while we were picking our noses.

I say:

Best line of the whole World Championship.

Now, on the list of breakout players for 2006-07 . . .

LakerKev wrote:

1.Marvin Williams (ATL) -- He looked good in the summer league and with Al Harrington gone he should get some more quality playing time.
2. Shawn Livingston (LAC) -- He was on my breakout list last year and I'm keeping him for this year, too. Great court vision for a young kid. If he can stay healthy he might take Cassell's starting spot.
3. Darko Milicic (ORL) -- Yes, the much-maligned Darko, who I've bashed in the past, is due for a breakout. He's got skills and now he'll get the time he didn't get in Detroit to showcase them.
4. Randy Foye (MIN) -- My early pick for rook of the year. The T-wolves are gonna love this guy. He reminds me a little bit of Joe Dumars
5. Kevin Martin (SAC) -- I think he's ready to start, which is why the Kings weren't in a hurry to give Bonzi Wells a contract. He's not spectacular, but I like his game. Smart player who can score and find the open man. Shot 48 percent from the field, good for a guard. Gives effort on defense too.

I say:

Good list. They love Kevin Martin in Sacto. And I agree about Foye, I thought he should have been a top-3 pick. The one thing I am not sure of is Livingston, who is still going to be behind Sam Cassell and whose injury history worries me.

RuffnReadyOzStyle wrote:

I'd like to add Jackie Butler. I think he'll begin the season on the bench, but take over the starter's role by midseason. He may only average 8-5-1 for the year, but I would consider that a breakout year for a guy on no-one's radar. He is the Spurs' center of the future.

I say:

Putting Butler with Gregg Popovich is either going to be a stroke of genius or a complete and utter bust. He's got talent, but his basketball IQ, desire and work ethic have been question marks. All three will be tested in San Antonio. If he passes, then, yes, he'll be the center of the future. The other question is Fabricio Oberto, who makes a heck of a beef jerky. But he did not play much last year. He's going to get a chance this time around.

Spree23 agreed that there would be a breakout Warriors, but not Monta Ellis, as I predict. He wrote:

Micheal Dunleavy. Sean thinks it's Monta Ellis, but I don't think he would make much this year unless Baron Davis goes down with an injury. Now, for Mike, I know he's been criticized most among the team. But I think this is the year for him.

I say:

I have it on good authority that new Warriors coach Don Nelson plans to start Monta Ellis at shooting guard, with Baron Davis. Jason Richardson would play small forward in that lineup. Gotta love Nellie -- he is going to find a way to get his best players on the floor, and Ellis is one of his best players. If you put grease on greased lightning, that's how quick Ellis is. Dunleavy? This will be the fourth year that he's been ready for a breakout season. The guy is 26 now. He is not going to suddenly get better.

As for the Bonzi Wells saga, Dynastyraiders wrote:

Wells should just take a one- or two-year deal for the mid-level exception with a contender. He's too good to be coming off the bench. A place like Memphis would be perfect for him, because with Pau Gasol out, they will be looking for an interior scorer.

I say:

Uh, Dynasty? Do you recall what happened last time Grizzlies coach Mike Fratello and Wells were paired up? Not pretty. And part of the problem, too, is that most contenders don't have their mid-level exception left.

Bellerophon30 wrote:

By all means, if you care about the Nuggets, keep Bonzi away from Carmelo at all costs. Bonzi is kind of screwed, and it seems like Houston is his only option if he wants anything over the veteran minimum, not counting Charlotte, and who knows what Donald Sterling East will want to do. Maybe he should try Dallas. If anyone can get through to him, it's Avery Johnson.

I say:

Three issues here, Beller. One, I don't think the Nuggets would have to worry about Bonzi's effect on Anthony. No doubt, Anthony has made some bad decisions in his short NBA career, but he is not the type to be influenced by the attitudes of his teammates, and he's grown up a lot in the last three years.

Two, I think Charlotte would be foolish to sign Wells, for anything more than a one-year (or maybe two-year) deal. You can label them Donald Sterling East, but remember, this is an expansion team that came into the league with a limited salary cap for their first three years. They could not spend money if they wanted to. Now, they're in a very good position to have a ton of cap room next summer (they'll try for Vince Carter). You don't want to blow your cap space on Bonzi.

Three, Dallas already used its midlevel exception on Devean George and Greg Buckner. This is part of Bonzi's problem. He made it clear he wanted more than the midlevel, so teams that would have been interested in him, like the Mavericks, Timberwolves, Heat, etc., had already spent their money. Now, he can't even get a midlevel contract.