Amare_32
01-28-2007, 12:20 AM
D'Antoni's dilemma
Starting Nowitzki, not one of his own, would be wise for Suns coach
Dan Bickley
The Arizona Republic
Jan. 27, 2007 12:11 AM
The NBA All-Star Game is one big party. It's a festival of freaks, celebrities, wannabe gangsters and opportunistic groupies.
It's not to be taken seriously.
Problem is, you know how sensitive professional athletes can be when it comes to things like status, ego and All-Star berths, and that brings us to the dangerous dilemma facing Mike D'Antoni. advertisement
The Suns have a better record than every team in the Western Conference except the Mavericks. But the Dallas staff ran the All-Star team last year and therefore is ineligible this season. So the Suns' head coach will be in charge of some weighty decisions.
For instance:
The starters, as voted on by fans across the globe, are Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett, Tim Duncan, Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming. Except Yao is injured, meaning D'Antoni needs to anoint a replacement center.
Does he reward Amar? Stoudemire? Does he juggle the lineup and insert Steve Nash, reigning two-time MVP and the guy who has turned the Suns into an international phenomenon? Or does he give Dirk Nowitzki, the biggest star in the Mavericks' cluster, his first starting nod in an All-Star Game?
This one should be easy.
Although Stoudemire's inspired play in 2006-07 has helped the Suns morph into something of a dream team, he does not deserve the nod over Nowitzki. And although Nash was hosed in the fan balloting (the heavy Asian vote that elevated Yao clearly benefited McGrady, Yao's teammate on the Rockets), I'll bet the Suns' point guard wouldn't mind deferring to Nowitzki, one of his closest personal friends.
So, D'Antoni should happily reward Nowitzki, if only to keep the upper hand in a budding rivalry.
That way, he doesn't play favorites with any of his own players.
That way, he doesn't snub the best player from Dallas, thereby adding motivation to the Suns' toughest opponent and their biggest hurdle on the road to a championship.
That way, he can slip Shawn Marion into the reserve mix without much outcry. Then, he can bring all three Suns off the bench at once, and what a statement that would be.
After all, with the All-Star Game to be played in Las Vegas, where Marion spent a season with UNLV, the last person you want to snub is the thin-skinned Matrix.
That would leave a mark.
________
Park Royal 2 Condominium (http://pattayaluxurycondos.com)
Starting Nowitzki, not one of his own, would be wise for Suns coach
Dan Bickley
The Arizona Republic
Jan. 27, 2007 12:11 AM
The NBA All-Star Game is one big party. It's a festival of freaks, celebrities, wannabe gangsters and opportunistic groupies.
It's not to be taken seriously.
Problem is, you know how sensitive professional athletes can be when it comes to things like status, ego and All-Star berths, and that brings us to the dangerous dilemma facing Mike D'Antoni. advertisement
The Suns have a better record than every team in the Western Conference except the Mavericks. But the Dallas staff ran the All-Star team last year and therefore is ineligible this season. So the Suns' head coach will be in charge of some weighty decisions.
For instance:
The starters, as voted on by fans across the globe, are Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett, Tim Duncan, Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming. Except Yao is injured, meaning D'Antoni needs to anoint a replacement center.
Does he reward Amar? Stoudemire? Does he juggle the lineup and insert Steve Nash, reigning two-time MVP and the guy who has turned the Suns into an international phenomenon? Or does he give Dirk Nowitzki, the biggest star in the Mavericks' cluster, his first starting nod in an All-Star Game?
This one should be easy.
Although Stoudemire's inspired play in 2006-07 has helped the Suns morph into something of a dream team, he does not deserve the nod over Nowitzki. And although Nash was hosed in the fan balloting (the heavy Asian vote that elevated Yao clearly benefited McGrady, Yao's teammate on the Rockets), I'll bet the Suns' point guard wouldn't mind deferring to Nowitzki, one of his closest personal friends.
So, D'Antoni should happily reward Nowitzki, if only to keep the upper hand in a budding rivalry.
That way, he doesn't play favorites with any of his own players.
That way, he doesn't snub the best player from Dallas, thereby adding motivation to the Suns' toughest opponent and their biggest hurdle on the road to a championship.
That way, he can slip Shawn Marion into the reserve mix without much outcry. Then, he can bring all three Suns off the bench at once, and what a statement that would be.
After all, with the All-Star Game to be played in Las Vegas, where Marion spent a season with UNLV, the last person you want to snub is the thin-skinned Matrix.
That would leave a mark.
________
Park Royal 2 Condominium (http://pattayaluxurycondos.com)