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Wednesday, December 20, 2000
Kemp blames absence on effects of diet
Associated Press
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DALLAS -- Shawn Kemp, after being fined by the Portland
Trail Blazers for missing a practice, blamed his absence on
weariness triggered by his new diet.
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Kemp slept through the workout Tuesday morning, then joined his
teammates in Dallas after catching an afternoon flight. He suited
up for the game Wednesday night, but did not play in a 106-101 loss
to the Mavericks.
"He's under the microscope," said coach Mike Dunleavy, who
said Kemp was not suspended.
Kemp said his bosses and his teammates accepted his explanation
and were understanding. He added that he didn't argue with the
fine.
"I have to accept it because I don't want these guys to think I
want to be treated any different," he said.
Kemp said he was dressed and ready to leave his apartment around
8:30 a.m. Tuesday for a practice that started at 10. He sat down
for a minute and the next thing he knew it was 12:15 p.m.
He said the exhaustion had been building and team officials knew
it.
"I've lost so much weight the last few weeks, the energy level
drops down a little bit," he said. "I can be sitting there and
all of a sudden just kind of phase out if you're not careful."
Despite being lethargic and lighter in the wallet, Kemp is
proclaiming his new war on weight a success.
He won't specify what he's doing to lose weight. As for how much
he's lost, he'd only say "a lot."
"It's the best physically I've felt in over two years. No doubt
about it," he said. "I may have to take some more vitamins,
things like that, to replace some things in my body."
Dunleavy said Kemp has made progress.
"I think he's been working hard of late," Dunleavy said.
"We've seen some progress in his conditioning and he's losing some
weight. He hasn't really had any real setbacks. I think it's paying
off for him."
Portland acquired Kemp from Cleveland last summer in a
three-team deal that sent Brian Grant from Portland to Miami. He's
been a disappointment for the Blazers, averaging 7.6 points, 4.0
rebounds and 17.9 minutes, his lowest productivity since his rookie
season with Seattle in 1989-90.
Kemp's weight continues to affect his mobility; he is tentative
on offense, rarely taking the ball to the basket, and on defense
he's constantly in foul trouble.
He said part of the problem is adjusting back to the style of
play in the Western Conference after three seasons in the East.
"It's such a fast-paced game. If you want to be a part of it,
you've got to be able to get up and down the floor," said Kemp,
who is making $11.7 million this season. "It's not always an easy
adjustment. But once you do it, you feel better about yourself,
like you gave yourself the very best chance.
"That's what I'm trying to do -- give myself the very best
chance to help us at the end of the season. I'm headed in the right
direction, no doubt about it."
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