| Thursday, July 26
By Jeffrey Denberg
Special to ESPN.com |
|
|  | | Mutombo was one of few bright spots for the Hawks this season. |
Although it gives him pleasure, Dikembe Mutombo sees the irony in his
situation, moving up to No. 2 in the pecking order of Georgetown centers. He's moving with Alonzo Mourning, right past the founder of their little informal
organization, Patrick Ewing.
Say what you want, Mutombo knows he has earned his place as the East's
No. 2 center in Sunday's NBA All-Star game. "I pay my dues," he says.
The leading rebounder in the NBA (14.6), the No. 3 shot blocker, shooting
the second-best field goal percentage in the league, is working desperately night
after night to hold together the worst defense of any Hawks team in the last
decade.
Two years ago, when all three of them made it, Mutombo was like a kid in
a candy store, rubbing shoulders with Michael Jordan, trading barbs with his
Georgetown pals. Basically, he was there on a pass.
"I bring more to the court than I used to," he said. "I am a better
player than I was last year and the year before. My game has expanded."
Even so, Mutombo has regrets. He is not comfortable watching Ewing leave
center stage.
"He was always the leader, the one who came first, who had such a great
career with the Knicks. When we played them a couple of weeks ago I had a
great game (24 rebounds) and I could see he was not the same. He has been
injured so many times in his career, especially the past few years, it's very
hard for him to be the same player he was."
It was good, then, Mutombo said to see the Knicks' Ewing play so well
on Sunday, scoring 25, even though Mourning was the victim.
"Sometimes," he said, grinning, "I think both of them took advantage of
me a little bit. You know, I'm their friend and I haven't played basketball
all my life, so I didn't go after them the same way they went after me. But
lately, I'm doing better. I'm more focused. I tell Patrick, 'don't call me when
you come to town during the season. Don't ask me to go to dinner with you.
We'll do that in the summer time in Washington.' I think I surprised him, but I
know I can't allow him to play head games with me any longer."
Around the League
Be prepared if NBA traders come away from the All-Star weekend in a
feeding frenzy. The 11-day gap between the game and the trade deadline is too
great for much to happen immediately. But as the deadline on the 24th
approaches, general managers and coaches have been known to deal out their anxieties.
But be surprised if Washington doesn't make at least one major move and
get underachiever Isaac Austin off the payroll. He could end up in Detroit if
Alvin Gentry wins a power struggle with basketball VP Rick Sund.
Gentry is starving for a legitimate center, believes that his team is one
player away from contending in the weak East. Sund does not necessarily
disagree but he is suspicious of Austin's lazy work habits.
Gentry is still furious that Sund allowed Clifford Robinson to get away
two years ago when Sund ended up signing Loy Vaught, whose career is in total
eclipse. He won't take this one sitting down and probably will seek Joe
Dumars, VP/personnel, as his ally.
Cleveland GM Jim Paxson flat out denied a Cleveland Plain Dealer
columnist's contention that center Zydrunas Ilgauskas is suffering from the
early stages of osteoporosis, a condition that almost always affects women and
the elderly.
The injury-bitten Cavs have enough problems with Shawn Kemp, who is
still 25 to 30 pounds overweight and gaining a reputation as the most selfish
player in the NBA. How else would you describe him after Saturday's actions.
With the Cavs' starting backcourt out with injury, Kemp shoved Dikembe
Mutombo, then erupted when referee Leroy Richardson called a foul. Kemp cursed
Richardson and was ejected six minutes into the third quarter, leaving his
team without the firepower it needed to win.
Kemp is averaging 18.7 ppg., but how can a power forward shoot .408
from the field?
The Knicks' interest in Rod Strickland suddenly takes a back seat to the
condition of Marcus Camby. If the young center-forward is done for the season
the Knicks' chances of getting back to the Finals is nil.
How weak is the East? Consider that there are five teams in the
29-team NBA that have winning road records. Miami is the only Eastern team on
the list and 13-11 is far from dominating. Pat Riley's Heat team is walking
such a fine line, don't be surprised if Pat Riley finally agrees to part with
power forward P.J. Brown, something he absolutely refused to do, rejecting
offers out of hand.
Donnie Walsh on the many rumored deals involving his Pacers: "I don't
hear anything that's great for us and I doubt I will. It would have to be an
unusual deal. I wouldn't say flat out we definitely won't do anything, but
we're not looking to."
The Hawks tried shopping Isaiah Rider to Denver and had a shot at Ron
Mercer before Orlando stepped in and made the Nuggets a better offer. The
Hawks are eager to move Rider but won't take back a player whose contract runs
past 2001 unless he's a bona fide starter.
Speaking of the Hawks, Lenny Wilkens is not retiring, won't be canned
and isn't interested in coaching the Clippers or the Warriors. In fact, he's
already talking about training camp next October.
Jerry Reinsdorf says the Bulls will spend the $20 million they have
under the cap. That's all well and good but with Grant Hill likely to stay in
Detroit and Tim Duncan split between San Antonio and a warm Florida winter,
just what are the Two Jerrys going to get for their money?
The 76ers know they have to move Larry Hughes, but in Toronto there is
very little chance Tracy McGrady is going to be shipped south. Teammate Kevin Willis
compares the kid to Magic Johnson. More responsible sources see a bright young
player who brings a complete package to the court.
Jeffrey Denberg, who covers the NBA for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, is a regular contributor to ESPN.com. |  |
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