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**RMJH4** · 06-13-2023, 05:17 AM

Index

GM Mike Hobbs History.

General Manager Basketball Ireland 1992 - 1997.
Assistant General Manager New York Knicks 1997 - 2000.
General Manager New York Knicks: June 2000 - June 2001.
General Manager Golden State Warriors June 2001.
General Manager Utah Jazz June 2002 -

2002-03 Season.

Kevin O’Connor steps down as GM, stays with team.
Utah Jazz Hire Mike Hobbs as GM.
2002 Utah Jazz Draft Review.
Harpring signs with Jazz.
2002-03 Western Conference Preview
Chapter 12: A New Beginning.
Bob Johnson completes takeover of Charlotte Hornets.
Award Races January 1st 2003.
Chapter 13: Past, Present and Future.
Award Races February 1st 2003.
All Star Game: Eastern Conference 98 - 105 Western Conference.
Chapter 14: Call from Phoenix.
Utah Jazz Bolster Roster with Trade for Penny Hardaway.
Utah Jazz Acquire High-Flying Chris Andersen in Trade for Jake Voskuhl.
Award Races March 1st 2003.
Award Races April 1st 2003.
NBA Mock Draft 2003.
Utah Jazz Secure Pacific Division Crown in 2002-2003 NBA Season.
2002-03 NBA Regular Season Awards.
NBA Playoffs 2002-03
2003 2003 NBA Playoffs Round 1 Results.
2003 NBA Playoffs Round 2 Results.
2003 NBA Playoffs Conference Finals Results.
Milwaukee Bucks win 2003 NBA Title, Ray Allen Finals MVP.
Utah Jazz: 2002-03 Season Review.

2003-04 Season.

NBA Draft Lottery Odds 2003.
Cavs win No. 1 pick; LeBron there for the taking.
NBA Player Retirements 2003.
Updates and Changes 2003-04 Season.
NBA Coaching Changes 2003-04 Season.
Stockton: 'I think it's time to move on'
Jazz Host Star-Studded Pre-Draft Workout.
LeBron James chosen No. 1 in the 2003 NBA draft.
2003 NBA Draft Recap: Jazz Find Hope in Wade.

NBA Standings.

2002-03 Season.

NBA Standings December 1st 2002.
NBA Standings 1st January 2003.
NBA Standings 1st Feb 2003.
NBA Standings 1st March 2003.
NBA Standings 1st April 2003.

2003-04 Season.

**RMJH4** · 06-13-2023, 05:18 AM

Utah Jazz NBA Schedule.

2002-03 Schedule.

Game 1: Utah Jazz 112 - 92 Los Angeles Lakers.
Game 2: Utah Jazz 101 - 93 Denver Nuggets.
Game 3: Utah Jazz 109 - 98 Charlotte Hornets.
Game 4: Utah Jazz 79 - 98 Miami Heat.
Game 5: Houston Rockets 104 - 109 Utah Jazz.
Game 6: Utah Jazz 96 - 101 Seattle Supersonics.
Game 7: Orlando Magic 90 - 121 Utah Jazz.
Game 8: Utah Jazz 96 - 101 Portland Trailblazers.
Game 9: Utah Jazz 106 - 90 Phoenix Suns.
Game 10: Utah Jazz 81 - 76 New York Knicks.
Game 11: Utah Jazz 98 - 110 Toronto Raptors.
Game 12: Utah Jazz 98 - 90 LA Clippers.
Game 13: Philadelphia 76ers 81 - 83 Utah Jazz.
Game 14: Utah Jazz 83 - 92 Chicago Bulls.
Game 15: Utah Jazz 92 - 116 Milwaukee Bucks.
Game 16: San Antonio Spurs 100 - 75 Utah Jazz.
Game 17: Cleveland Cavaliers 85 - 95 Utah Jazz.
Game 18: New Jersey Nets 112 - 110 Utah Jazz.
Game 19: Minnesota Timberwolves 98 - 85 Utah Jazz.
Game 20: Dallas Mavericks 102 - 98 Utah Jazz/
Game 21: Boston Celtics 104 - 108 Utah Jazz.
Game 22: Atlanta Hawks 86 - 115 Utah Jazz
Game 23:Vancouver Grizzlies 79 - 100 Utah Jazz.
Game 24: Utah Jazz 89 - 96 Detroit Pistons.
Game 25: Utah Jazz 86 - 109 Indiana Pacers.
Game 26: Washington Wizards 114 - 96 Utah Jazz.
Game 27: Golden State Warriors 88 - 97 Utah Jazz.
Game 28: Sacramento Kings 85 - 116 Utah Jazz.

2003 Playoffs.
Western Conference RD 1 Game 1: San Antonio Spurs 82 - 83 Utah Jazz.
Western Conference RD 1 Game 2: Utah Jazz 80 - 104 San Antonio Spurs.
Western Conference RD 1 Game 3: San Antonio Spurs 88 - 90 Utah Jazz.
Western Conference Semi Finals Game 1: Utah Jazz 91 - 107 Minnesota Timberwolves.
Western Conference Semi Finals Game 2: Minnesota Timberwolves 86 - 110 Utah Jazz.
Western Conference Semi Finals Game 3: Utah Jazz 82 - 85 Minnesota Timberwolves.

2003-04 Schedule.

**RMJH4** · 06-13-2023, 05:18 AM

Depth Chart and Roster.

Depth Chart and Roster.

2002-03 Season.

Utah Jazz Depth Chart - 2002-03
	STARTER	2ND	3RD	4TH
PG	John Stockton	Carlos Arroyo
SG	Penny Hardaway	DeShawn Stevenson
SF	Matt Harpring	Andrei Kirilenko
PF	Karl Malone	Darius Songaila	Scott Padgett
C	Nenad Krstic	Chris Andersen	Jarron Collins

2003-04 Season.

**RMJH4** · 06-13-2023, 03:10 PM

Kevin O’Connor steps down as GM.

Kevin O’Connor steps down as GM, stays with team.

June 9th, 2002.

SALT LAKE CITY — Utah Jazz general manager Kevin O'Connor will relinquish his duties as GM and move to a top executive position within the franchise, according to several media reports.

The initial report came from ESPN, which also claims, according to NBA league sources, that former New York Knicks GM Mike Hobbs is the top candidate to replace O'Connor and that a deal is being finalized. Also, a report by the New York Times confirmed that Hobbs could be ready to return to the NBA after a one year absence with illness.

Hobbs, 40, played basketball in the National Basketball League in Ireland, graduating in 1992, and had been with the Knicks as Assistant GM for four years and then Acting GM for one. Hobbs helped guide the Knicks to the NBA Finals where they lost 4-2 to the Los Angeles Lakers. In June 2001, Hobbs was hired for the open general manager position for the Golden State Warriors. One week late Hobbs took seriously ill and had to rescind his contract with the Warriors.

Others who are reportedly targeted for the Jazz job are Phoenix Suns assistant GM David Griffin and San Antonio Spurs vice president and assistant GM Troy Weaver, who formerly worked for the Jazz for four years.

The 53-year-old O'Connor became the Jazz general manager in 1999 and is set to remain with the organisation as the President of Basketball Operations.

O'Connor joined the Jazz organization just after the team lost to Chicago in back-to-back NBA Finals.

Efforts by the Deseret News to reach O'Connor and Jazz president Randy Rigby Monday were unsuccessful.

**RMJH4** · 06-13-2023, 03:25 PM

Utah Jazz Hire Mike Hobbs as GM.

SALT LAKE CITY (June 10th, 2002) — The Utah Jazz proudly announce the appointment of Mike Hobbs as the new General Manager, effective immediately. Hobbs, a highly respected figure in the basketball world, brings a wealth of experience and a strong track record of success to the Jazz organization.

Hobbs joins the Jazz after serving as the Assistant General Manager for the New York Knicks for four seasons. During his tenure with the Knicks, he played an instrumental role in their success, including a memorable run to the NBA Finals in 2001. His experience as the General Manager during that time showcased his ability to navigate high-pressure situations and make impactful decisions.

"Mike Hobbs brings a wealth of knowledge and a proven track record of success to our organization," said newly appointed President of Basketball Operations, Kevin O'Connor. "His extensive experience in the league and his dedication to building competitive teams make him the ideal candidate to lead our franchise forward."

Following his tenure with the Knicks, Hobbs was appointed as the General Manager for the Golden State Warriors in June 2001. Unfortunately, due to health complications, he was unable to fulfill his duties and had to rescind his contract. However, after a successful recovery, Hobbs is now fully healthy and ready to take on the challenge of leading the Utah Jazz.

"I am thrilled to join the Utah Jazz organization and work alongside President of Basketball Operations, Kevin O'Connor," said Mike Hobbs. "The Jazz have a rich history and a passionate fan base, and I am committed to building upon the foundation of success that has been established here."

Hobbs will work closely with Kevin O'Connor in their respective roles, bringing a shared vision and a strong basketball acumen to the Jazz front office. Their collaboration is set to propel the team to new heights and continue the tradition of excellence that the Utah Jazz are known for.

The Utah Jazz would like to extend a warm welcome to Mike Hobbs and express their excitement for the future under his leadership. The organization is confident that his expertise and dedication will lead to continued success on and off the court.

**studbucket** · 06-13-2023, 04:08 PM

Re: Utah Jazz Hire Mike Hobbs as GM.

At least Kevin O'Connor has his journalism career to fall back on, just in case the basketball operations things doesn't work.

**RMJH4** · 06-13-2023, 04:16 PM

Re: Utah Jazz Hire Mike Hobbs as GM.

Originally posted by studbucket

At least Kevin O'Connor has his journalism career to fall back on, just in case the basketball operations things doesn't work.

Hahaha! As I was writing it, It just struck me! Always listen to his podcasts! First time I heard his name I thought he was the Jazz guy!

**RMJH4** · 06-15-2023, 07:21 AM

2002 Utah Jazz Draft Review.

Round 1: Nenad Krstic, 7-1, C Yugoslavia (No. 19)
Round 2: Darius Songaila, 6-9, PF Wake Forest (No. 47)

Nenad Kristic was a great pick here. The jury is out as to whether he will be able to come over and play this year or not, but when he does arrive he'll be considered a steal at No. 19. Teams already compare him to a young Vlade Divac. At 7-foot-1 he can rebound, block shots and shoot from the perimeter.

Songaila should be able to step right in and help the Jazz in the post. He isn't the fastest guy, but he's fundamentally sound, can play inside or outside and won't play like a rookie.

Utah Jazz' new European GM Mike Hobbs shows us his international scouting ability with both of these picks.

Grade: A-

**RMJH4** · 06-15-2023, 07:31 AM

Harpring signs with Jazz.

Harpring signs with Jazz

July 18, 2002

Utah Jazz General Manager Mike Hobbs today announced that the NBA team signed four-year veteran swingman Matt Harpring to a contract.

The 6-7, 230-pound Harpring, who can play forward or guard, joins the team after the best pro season of his career, when he averaged 11.8 points and 7.1 rebounds in 81 games for the Philadelphia 76ers.

Terms of the contract were not released, but the Philadelphia Inquirer reported it was worth $18.5 million over four years.

"Matt brings to our team the kind of energy our coaches appreciate in a player," Hobbs said. "He will fit into Jerry's system and will be able to play multiple positions when he is on the floor. He's still a young player, but he's improved every year he's been in the league and this is a clear indication of his desire and attitude. Matt was highly sought after by several teams so we are very pleased he made the decision to play for the Jazz.

Both Kevin (O'Connor) and I have been working hard to put this deal together, even in the midst of a move to Utah! We think it will be a great fit for both Matt and the Jazz."

Harpring, 26, was originally selected by the Orlando Magic in the first round of the 1998 draft, 15th overall, and saw action in 54 games for the Magic over two seasons. He was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers in August 2000 and saw action in 56 games for the Cavs in the 2000-2001 season. He joined the 76ers last summer along with teammate Cedric Henderson for forwards Tyrone Hill and Jumaine Jones.

An NBA All-Rookie First Team selection in 1999-2000, he appeared in all 50 games of the lockout-shortened season, averaging 8.2 points and 4.3 rebounds. As a collegiate player, he was named to the All-ACC team three times (1995-1996 to 1997-1998) while at Georgia Tech.

"Matt is enthusiastic about playing under Coach [Jerry] Sloan and with John Stockton, Karl Malone and the core of young people at Utah," Richard Howell, Harpring's agent, told the paper. "We were looking for a good basketball situation, a place he can make a home in terms of basketball, and a reasonably solid contract. Obviously, this year was a challenging year, but I think the market has held up very well."

Harpring also drew serious interest from Miami and Atlanta, and a contract offer from the Sixers was rescinded at his request because he felt he had been low-balled by the team.

**RMJH4** · 06-15-2023, 07:59 AM

2002-03 Western Conference Preview

Part 2: King me in the West
By Bill Simmons
Page 2 columnist

If you missed Part One, we examined the Eastern Conference on Tuesday. Here's one man's predictions for the West, in reverse order (from worst to first):

14. Denver Nuggets
We've seen franchises rehauled, rebuilt and revamped, but we've never seen a full-fledged evacuation plan ... until now. Blessed with the fact that he was following the immortal Dan Issel -- whose reign in Denver was the NBA equivalent of the Fred Silverman Era at NBC -- new GM Kiki Vandeweghe knew he could take 3-4 years to blow up the franchise and start from scratch. And he did. And he's taking his time. Even when he announced his picks on Draft Night to a group of ticketholders, it almost looked like an infomercial -- he was babbling on and on, never raising his voice, and you almost felt like he was trying to sell one of those machines that shaves back hair. It was a mesmerizing performance.

Kiki Vandeweghe
Kiki has done more home improvement than the Home Depot.
But does Kiki know what he's doing? I'm still reeling that he passed on Caron Butler -- not once, but twice -- to snare foreign forwards Nene Hilario and Nikoloz Tskitsisvlshsvllsslshsllli. First of all, Kiki never passed when he played, so why start now? Second of all, it's not like he was grabbing Dirk Nowitzki and Pau Gasol here -- by all accounts, neither of these guys are nearly as polished coming into the league, and there's a better-than-good chance that one of them might stink, especially when they're getting thrown into the fire. And you can't tell Nuggets fans to remain patient, not when they've witnessed more rebuilding plans over the past 25 years then Mike Brady. Why not take Butler and Amare Stoudamire, two rookies with UPPPPPPside who could have actually played this season without embarrassing themselves?

As for the rest of the team ... yikes. Your go-to guy is none other than Juwan Howard, the preeminent "Guy Who Puts Up Big Stats On Bad Teams" of his generation. They might actually have to run some plays for James Posey. Ryan Bowen is prominently involved. Piston castoff Rodney White might get some time (as fantasy owners monitor his progress with bated breath). And Nuggets fans will be treated to the sight of Marcus Camby in street clothes -- the official sign that the NBA season has started -- as well as Chris Whitney running the pick-and-roll with Mark Blount. Just remember, the record for the fewest wins in a season is nine.

13. Utah
In my Yearbook Quotes column, I included one of Koglan's Laws from "Cocktail": "Everything ends badly, or else it wouldn't end," which Tom Cruise also ended up saying near the end of the movie. For years and years, we've been waiting for the season when this quote would apply to the Stockton-Malone Era, a maddening experience which featured two "Top 50" players playing on the same team, bringing out the best in one another, hanging around forever, and doing all of this in the least appealing style possible. Everyone appreciated them, few people enjoyed them. Hey, it wasn't their fault; they did what they had to do. Only in their waning years, as they kept thriving just by doing the Little Things, did people start saying, "I can't believe I'm saying this, but I might actually miss watching these guys."

And now, we're looking at those 79 combined years of age, and the fact that they're relying on Matt Harpring and Andrei Kirilenko (terrific role players, but non-scorers) for scoring help, and a Utah bench that includes DeShawn Stevenson, Mark Jackson and Raja Bell, and a center rotation of Jarron Collins, Greg Ostertag and rookie Nenad Krstic... it just feels like this is the year when everything comes to a crashing halt. Remember, everything ends badly, or else it wouldn't end.

12. Golden State
Introducing this year's winner of the "I can't wait to see their boxscores!" award. Good Lord. Is this a fantasy team? These guys actually have to play together? By my count, they have two centers (Erick Dampier and Adonal Foyle), three power forwards (Troy Murphy, Antawn Jamison and Danny Fortson), and five shooting guards (Gilbert Arenas, Jason Richardson, Mike Dunleavy, Jiri Welsch, Bobby Sura).

Jamison needs shots, Richardson needs shots, and Dunleavy needs minutes, but he can't get them unless he's playing the "3" spot, and that's where Jamison has to play if they make minutes for Murphy and Fortson, only Jamison doesn't like playing the "4," he likes playing the "3," but they need Murphy on the court because he's their only low-post threat, although he won't get the ball in the right spots, because Arenas and Sura aren't natural point guards, so they might have to go big and play Dunleavy at point, only that puts Jamison back at the "3" when he likes playing the "4," and Richardson would be guarding the other team's point guards, which he doesn't want to do, so you can't do that, so now Arenas and Sura are splitting duties again, only neither of them are true point guards, and we haven't even gotten to Jiri Welsch yet, who plays three positions but won't be playing any of them if Richardson and Jamison are getting 40 minutes a game, because Dunleavy gets the leftovers, unless he's playing the point, in which case you could probably play Welsch at the "3" and move Jamison back to "4," and maybe even play Murphy at center, but then Erick Dampier would be ticked off ...

11. Phoenix Remember in "Boogie Nights," when the Colonel barges into the back bedroom of Jack Horner's party, where one of his girls is covered in coke, passed out, frothing at the mouth and bleeding from the nose. Her sobbing male companion quickly explains, "I think she OD'ed," so the Colonel says without missing a beat, "Oh, you think so, Doctor?" Well, that's how I felt when I read that the Suns are wondering if Stephon Marbury might be better suited for shooting guard. Oh, you think so, Doctor?

If it happens, Penny Hardaway and Joe Johnson would share the ballhandling chores, which makes sense, because the NBA is determined to prove to America's youth that the point guard position doesn't matter, passing is irrelevant, setting up teammates is overrated, and anyone with two arms and two legs can run a basketball team. Just plain infuriating. And you wonder why John Stockton might play until he's 50.

Anyway, the Suns look intriguing on paper ... then you remember that Penny Hardaway can't stay healthy, Tom Gugliotta was finished four years ago, Shawn Marion can't create his own shot, Marbury can't make his teammates better, Bo Outlaw looks like he's on his last legs, Amare Stoudamire is probably a year away (although everyone likes him), and Jake Tsakaladis is Jake Tsakaladis. If Joe Johnson made The Leap, things might be different. Unfortunately, I watched him in Boston for 50 games. Intently. And he doesn't have it. I can spot three things in life -- toupees, fake breasts and NBA players who drift during games. And he's a drifter. Considering that the Suns need him to make The Leap, that doesn't bode too well for their playoff hopes.

10. Clippers
Has any team looked better on paper and more doomed at the same time? They're heading into the season with Michael Olowokandi six months away from skipping town, as well as Andre Miller, Elton Brand and Lamar Odom all hoping for contract extensions. In other words, every man for himself! They might as well stick them all on a sinking ship, then have them fight over two lifeboats. It's just like last year. Just to ensure chaos, they brought back Alvin Gentry, who modeled his coaching style after the opposing coach against Hickory High at the end of "Hoosiers" -- sit on the bench with your hands clasped, keep a befuddled expression on your face at all times, and don't distract your players when they're trying to blow the game.

The only thing that can stop the Clips now is Donald Sterling.
What a shame. Few teams in the league have two proven low-post players (Brand and the KandiMan), a natural point guard who actually cares about setting up teammates (Miller), two scorers off the bench (Quentin Richardson and Corey Maggette), fresh legs off the bench (rookies Chris Wilcox, Marvin Ely and Marko Jaric), and one of the most versatile talents in the league (the mercurial Lamar Odom). Those are eight quality guys. How many of the 29 NBA teams would switch rosters with LA in a heartbeat? 20? 24? What a shame, what a shame, what a shame. This team degenerated so badly last season, even I turned on them, jettisoning them in favor of Seattle as my "Favorite West Coast Team to watch on DirecTV in the wee hours."

So what needs to happen? If I were running the Clippers, I would trade Odom to the Knicks, just because he would get all the pathetic Knicks fans excited and invariably break their hearts. That would be fun. Then I would sign everyone else, but not before offering a Brand-Olowokandi-Ely-two No. 1's package to the Timberwolves for Kevin Garnett. But Donald Sterling won't do any of that -- I bet everyone ends up leaving but Brand. For God's sake, Donald, you're in LA! Everyone has tons of disposable income! People would pay to see a good basketball team! Spend the money! We're begging you! I can't stop using exclamation points!

9. Minnesota
I'm not in the mood.

8. Seattle
Hey, it's the generic section of predictions for the Sonics season, updated from my 2001 preview! Let's go down the checklist; feel free to play along at home:

Gary Payton is an all-star at being unhappy.
"During a losing streak, Gary Payton sounds off and questions his future in Seattle." (CHECK HERE)
"Fifteen million dollar center Jerome James hasn't panned out like the Sonics had hoped. Calvin Booth and Jim McIllvane are unavailable for comment." (CHECK HERE)
"Everyone's still pinching themselves that Vin Baker isn't on the team anymore. Can you believe somebody traded for that guy?" (CHECK HERE)
"An unhappy Kenny Anderson wants to get traded so he can get more playing time, but he also doesn't want to give up any of his $9.3 million contract, but if he complains enough, the team will probably end up waiving him and paying his full salary, because that's how the NBA works." (CHECK HERE)
"The Sonics need Rashard Lewis to step up and become the leader of the team, especially now that he's one of the most overpaid guys in the league." (CHECK HERE)
"Payton's very unhappy that he's not getting his contract extension -- would welcome a trade if possible." (CHECK HERE)
"Won over by the play of The Drobber and the Radman (Predrag Drobjnak and Vlad Radmanovich) in Baker's absence, Sonics fans stop shaving and showering in their honor." (CHECK HERE)
"Sonics quietly make Calvin Booth and his $35 million contract available before trading deadline -- rest of the league laughs uproariously." (CHECK HERE)
"Celtics trade for Calvin Booth." (CHECK HERE)
"Pining for more minutes, a frustrated Desmond Mason spends most of his practice time trying to trip Brent Barry." (CHECK HERE)
"Repeat: Payton is very, very unhappy." (CHECK HERE)

"Somehow the Sonics sneak into the playoffs again." (CHECK HERE)

7. Vancouver
As Pete Carroll would say, "I'm as shocked as you guys!" Once Drew Gooden started slapping 20-10's on everyone in the preseason, it pushed me over the edge. Drew Gooden! Who knew? I'm so excited about the Grizzlies, I'm dusting off the old Hubie Brown impression:

"Okay, you're Jerry West. You have Drew Gooden, who plays hard every night, crashes the boards, and does all the Little Things that helps your team win. You have Shane Battier and Michael Dickerson, who also love ... doing ... the Little Things. Then you have two athletic bodies with upside, Lorenzen Wright and Stromile Swift. You have Wesley Person and Gordon Giricek shooting threes. You have Jason Williams pushing the ball and CREATING scoring opportunities. And you have a premier offensive player in Pau Gasol, who commands double-teams. Now you're getting easy points, you're getting threes, you're wearing out other teams, and you have a GENUINE OFFENSIVE OPTION at the end of games. You're also not as bad as you were defensively last year. And you have a fan base that WANTS to win. Everywhere you look, you see upside, nothing but upside."

6. Portland
I'm brimming with questions. How many years in a row can Bob Whitsitt keep trotting in head cases and watch the team fall short without wondering, "You know, maybe this is the wrong tactic"? Did that whole "Shawn Kemp leaving millions on the table in exchange for his release" thing really happen? Would anything be funnier than the Blazers swapping Derek Anderson for Latrell Sprewell? Is there a place for Latrell to park his yacht in Portland? Could he keep it on a lake? Is Rasheed Wallace honing in on the career record for technicals, or did he already break it? Who holds that record? Why doesn't Bonzi Wells average 22-24 a game? Is there a more overpaid guy in the league than Damon Stoudamire? Who does Dale Davis hang out with on this team? When Qyntel Woods, Zach Randolph and Ruben Patterson head out together after games, do the Portland police automatically send a squad car to follow them?

Wait, I have more: Did Arvydas Sabonis make a comeback just so his wife could break Rod Strickland's DWI record in Oregon? Did his head get bigger when he was away? Is his head bigger than Jay Leno's head, Conan O'Brien's head or Greg Gumbel's head? Does anyone else have a fascination with big heads? When they signed Jeff McInnis, were they thinking, "We need a backup point guard who will talk back to the coach and make Damon Stoudamire even more unhappy ... is Jeff McInnis a free agent?" Where does Antonio Daniels fit into everything? And didn't Mo Cheeks sum it up best when he told Sports Illustrated, "We have a lot of pretty good players ... we don't have, like, great, great players"?

5. Los Angeles
You know the drill. Shaq misses some games. The Lakers struggle. Everyone wonders if the wheels are coming off. Kobe carries them for awhile. Shaq comes back. The Lakers start winning again. Everyone rounds into shape by April. Frankly, it's boring.

But here's the thing ... one of these years, the Lakers will fall asleep just long enough for someone to steal it from them. It's human nature. I'm watching it happen to the Patriots right now -- the same guys who were flying around last season are stumbling around this season. Quite simply, success has a way of softening people. I remember watching Shaq during the Emmitt Smith Roast this summer, giggling at all the jokes Guy Torre made about the Kings, seeming like the most confident, satisfied guy on the planet. At some point, you end up slipping up, just a little, but enough. When you think about it, the Lakers were ready to give it away last spring, only the Kings weren't ready to take it. More on this later.

(One question that's been nagging me all summer: Four years and $18.6 million for Devean George? Excuse me? What does he give you that Rick Fox doesn't already give you? What other team would have given him even $10 million? Wouldn't it have made much more sense to spend that money on Rodney Rogers and Byron Russell? Or Michael Redd? It's amazing, the Lakers haven't made a good front office move since they signed Rick Fox a few years ago -- which only happened because he wanted to move to LA -- and yet they've won three straight titles. I've stopped trying to figure it out.)

4. Houston
I love the NBA. Have I mentioned that? Here you have the Rockets, who were already one of the most fun teams in the league ... and now they have a 7-foot-5 Chinese guy playing center. It's too good to be true. Stevie Francis, Cuttino Mobley, Eddie Griffin, Glen Rice, Mo Taylor, Rudy T., Moochie Norris, Moochie Norris's hair, Kelvin Cato's Burmese snake, and a gigantic Chinese guy who also happens to be the most intriguing new player in the league. I still think he will be a modified bust -- Rik Smits with 20 times more distractions -- but Bob Ryan swears up and down that Yao Ming will eventually become the most important player in the league. And Ryan has forgotten more hoops than I ever learned.

Now I'm torn. When I was stating the case against Yao last June, one of the things I worried about was his personality -- every video clip of him in China looked like a hostage video, like the camera could pan back a couple of feet and you would see a gun being pointed to his head. And yet, by all accounts, Yao seems much happier in America. Just yesterday, I was reading a story in which Yao was startled after hearing a teammate say "What's up?" because the sound of the phrase resembled a Mandarin obscenity. So after they cleared up the confusion, Yao started shouting the phrase to everyone, and it's become a running joke in the locker room. Can you imagine Mobley and Francis saying "Wassup, Yao?", Yao breaking into hysterics, and then everyone attempting a nine-step handshake? These are the things that need to be televised.

Anyway, I'm digging the Rockets, not just because I might have been wrong about Yao, but because Francis and Taylor are healthy, Griffin is ready to make The Leap, and there isn't a better coach on the planet than Rudy T. If anyone can figure out how to make this work, it's him. Better yet, this is fun. I like having a 7-5 Chinese guy on the Rockets who may or may not be the future of the NBA.

3. San Antonio
Reason No. 145 why I'm excited for the 2002-2003 season: San Antonio's backcourt of Tony Parker and Emanuel Ginobili (or as Sonny Crockett would call him, "The Argentinian"). Parker was the only Spur other than Tim Duncan who wasn't scared in the Lakers series last spring; the fact that the Celtics passed him up for Joe Forte keeps me awake at night. And Ginobili ... I mean, did you see this guy in the World Championships? He was like a cross between Brent Barry, Sarunas Marciulionis, Paul Westphal and Matt Vasgersian. I loved him to death. I'm not kidding. Remember when everyone played like that in the '70s, the slashing-penetrating-attacking game? The three-point line made everyone lazy. Maybe the Argentinian will bring that style back in vogue.

And by the way, Tim Duncan's still here. Just thought I'd mention that.

2. Dallas
Everyone's rooting for the Mavs to win it all, and for one reason -- what would Mark Cuban do if it happened? Would his head spin in a complete 360? Would he break down and start sobbing uncontrollably, to the point that everyone felt wildly uncomfortable? Would a grinning, wild-eyed, manical Cuban be able to accept the trophy from David Stern without taking a shot at him? What would happen during the post-game champagne celebration? What kind of money would they spend on a parade? Would the championship flag have diamond letters? The possibilites are endless. This man is completely, utterly insane, but in a positive way -- he runs on the court during melees, he gives Raef LaFrentz a $69 million extension when nobody else would have offered him $30 million, that kind of stuff. I like him. And I like watching his team.

Coincidentally, I watched the Mavs play a preseason game in Boston last week. You know how some teams give you that, "Everyone's on the same page" feeling? That's the Mavs. Steve Nash was attacking the paint, finding open shooters and winning over the Sports Gal, who kept calling him "Pigpen" because of his hair. Raef LaFrentz was perched behind the three-point line, ready to launch threes. Michael Finley was doing Michael Finley things. Dirk Nowitzki almost looked bored -- there wasn't a single guy on the Celtics roster who could guard him. Nick Van Exel sprang off the bench and was firing threes even before his warmups came off. Eduardo Najera and Walt Williams (Walt Williams!!!!) gave them good minutes. And Don Nelson looked so confident and relaxed, he even grew himself a porn mustache over the summer.

Can they win it all? Probably not. As we witnessed last spring, Sacramento does everything that Dallas does, only better. But if a chain of events unfolded in which LA beat Sacramento in Round Two, and then Dallas played the Lakers in the Western Finals, and then they caught fire for a few games ... well, stranger things have happened.

1. Sacramento
You know it killed them all summer. It was right there. If Peja doesn't sprain his ankle, if Horry doesn't make that three in Game 4, if the refs don't fix Game 6, if Peja or Christie makes those shots in Game 7 ... if any of those things happened, maybe we're calling them the defending champs right now. They just weren't ready. Now they're bringing back the same team as last year, with an interesting upgrade -- Keon Clark as insurance for C-Webb's next sprained ankle.

Mike Bibby & Co. will knock the Lakers out for good this season.
(Of course, Keon was available for cheap money because he was arrested during the summer for marijuana possession, my favorite off-season moment. Don't you just love the NBA? Where else would that happen? Can you imagine Keon's agent juggling $20 million offers, then getting a phone call from Keon, who tells him, "Um, this is my one phone call, so don't hang up"?)

Anyway, you know what you're getting here: Bibby, Webber, Divac and a cast of quality role players, as well as Doug Christie's wife as the team's enforcer. It's clearly the best team in the league. And they should clearly win it all.

(Here comes the "but.")

But I sure wouldn't bet money on them, not after last season's debacle, not after everyone but Bibby and Divac was terrified in that series. Even Episode 1 of "American Idol" didn't feature that many deer-in-the-headlights looks.

(Wait a second, here comes the "and yet"!)

And yet, there are some jarring similarities here to Isiah's Pistons teams of the late-'80s. Remember how Detroit could have beaten the (banged-up) defending champs in the '87 Eastern Finals, if not for Vinnie Johnson and Adrian Dantley banging heads in Game 7 (like Peja's sprained ankle), or the Basketball Jesus singlehandedly saving the day in Game 5 (like Horry's back-breaking shot in Game 4)? The next season, those same Pistons regrouped and toppled their bitter rivals in six games. As the old saying goes, whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger.

In other words, I'm picking the Kings.

**RMJH4** · 06-16-2023, 04:35 AM

Chapter 12: A New Beginning.

So here we go again. Its been just over a year ago that I was announced the new GM and President of Basketball Ops of the Golden State Warriors.

Warriors hire Hobbs away from Knicks.

The very next day I was rushed to hospital with severe pains. Turn out it was a cancerous tumor. Lucky for me it was caught early and some of the best hospitals and cancer care are available in California. My family and I have been living their for close to 12 months. The treatments made that necessary.

The Warriors have been very supportive still to this day. They ok'ed my new appointment with the Jazz. It was a messy situation and I really appreciate how they handled everything. I felt easing myself back in with the Jazz under the guidance of Kevin O' Connor was the best way to do it.

It's been interesting to watch how the Warriors have fared with the moves I made in my very brief time there:

I drafted Jason Richardson, Gerald Wallace and Gilbert Arenas.Warriors Draft Review 2001.

Second to that I hired Mike D'Antoni as the new Head Coach. Golden State go offensive With the Hiring of Mike D'Antoni.

And lastly I traded for Charles Oakley to be a veteran presence for the young roster. Warriors, Raptors and Bulls complete trade..

But sometimes with young players it takes time to grow. It was a rebuilding project that I had planned for 2-3 seasons and it seems to be close to where I expected it to be. The Warriors finished as one of the 5 worst records in the league and ended up getting a #3 pick this year which they used on sharpshooter Mike Dunleavy Jr. A player I may just have selected myself but GM Garry St. Jean has done a good job. Gilbert Arenas has emerged as a fantastic talent. Flanked by Richardson and Wallace, the Warriors are a fast paced athletic and exciting team to watch.

Now onto the Knicks. Well how the mighty have fallen. I tried to convince Dolan that keeping me on was the best move for the franchise. I had a feeling replacing me with Isiah Thomas would be turbulent. The Knicks have now decided to start accumulating long term contracts for some bizarre reason. Having made the NBA finals in 2001, there is no way the team should have gone and missed the playoffs the very next year. Here is a quick summary of what has also happened:

Jeff Van Gundy quit after a row with Thomas 19 games in.

Ewing upped and left to join the Orlando Magic for a season before retiring this off season.

Glen Rice was traded to Houston for Shandon Anderson and his 4 year $26 million contract.

Billups was buried on the bench for Charlie Ward and Kevin Edwards. Billups has now signed a multiyear contract with Detroit this offseason.

Michael Redd also upped and left, signing a multiyear deal with the Bucks after being benched for John Wallace most of last season.

Marcus Camby who was instrumental to our finals run, was just traded to the Denver Nuggets along with the Knicks #9 pick for Antonio McDyess this summer.

The only remaining players that I acquired are Bryant Reeves and Othella Harrington. Even Slava Medvedenko left!

And now onto my new team. The Jazz. After careful consulation with Kevin this summer. We have decided to make minimial roster moves. Lets see what the first stretch of the season brings us. We feel confident that Matt Harpring will bring us another offensive threat to take some pressure off Karl. We have added some much needed Euro toughness in Nenad Krstic and Darius Songaila. I really feel these two will make an impact very quickly and become part of the rotation. Raja Bell is another tough guy at the 2 spots who will really help cover some of the quicker guards for Stockton.

I like our depth at the wings now, Bell and Stevenson are good defenders that can also shoot the outside shoot. Harpring is a good scorer who can play the 2,3 or 4 spot in bunches. Then we have young Kirilenko. Outstanding prospect who can play 2, 3, 4 and even some 5 I might speculate! Very good long armed defender, and is finding his shooting stroke. A jack of all trades who can fill in a lot of spots in our lineups.

Now the key here is the center spot for us. Greg is getting on a bit, not as old as Karl and John, but he need Nenad and Jarron to share the load with him at center. This is one major are we need to keep and eye on as the season rolls on. And now we have the 7'5" giant over in Houston to contend with! As if Shaq wasn't enough! All in all a very exciting roster that has been restocked with young talent. Let's see if we can get Karl and John a ring.

**RMJH4** · 06-16-2023, 04:51 AM

Bob Johnson completes takeover of Charlotte Hornets.

The billionaire founder of Black Entertainment Television has been confirmed the new owner of the Hornets franchise in Charlotte, N.C., making him the first African American to hold a majority ownership in a major professional sports franchise.

Robert L. Johnson was approved by the league’s ownership committee over a group led by Boston entrepreneur Steve Belkin and former Boston Celtic star Larry Bird.

A news conference to announce Johnson’s new ownership will be held today.

Johnson finally succeded in buying the Hornets, but owner George Shinn put up a fight until the end. The negotiation took place over the entire 2001-02 season and has only fully been completed this offseason.

Declining attendance and the city’s refusal to build a new arena -- both attributed, in part, to the public’s dissatisfaction with Shinn -- and it almost caused the Hornets to move to New Orleans this summer. But the NBA quickly decided to step in and found a new owner for Charlotte, a city in a basketball-crazy state. The Hornets led the league in attendance eight times after beginning play in 1988.

The team ownership only adds distinction to Johnson’s remarkable success story, and represents another step forward for a league that likes to consider itself progressive in its commitment to racial and gender diversity.

The NBA has managed to find a way to keep the Charlotte Hornets and the Vancouver Grizzlies over the last two seasons. A welcome relief for all those fans in Charlotte and Vancouver. But this will now add some fuel to the rumors of the NBA eventually expanding and adding a 30th team in the near future. Was George Shinn promised an expansion franchise in order to sell? only time will tell. But for now, lets keep that Buzz in Charlotte.

**RMJH4** · 06-16-2023, 05:46 AM

Game 1 Utah Jazz @ Los Angeles Lakers.

Game 1: Utah Jazz 112 - 92 Los Angeles Lakers.

Rookies Krstic and Songaila went to work on Shaq who injured his heel after 10 minutes.

November 3rd, 2002

Jazz Starters
J. Stockton
D. Stevenson
M. Harpring
K. Malone
G. Ostertag

Lakers Starters
D. Fisher
K. Bryant
R. Fox
R. Horry
S. O' Neal

Game Leaders
Pts - 34 - K. Malone (Jazz)
Rebs - 12 - K. Bryant (Lakers)
Asts - 6 - K. Bryant (Lakers)
Stls - 3 - J. Stockton (Jazz)
Blks - 2 - T. Knight (Lakers)

Player of the Game
K. Malone (Jazz)
34 pts, 6 rebs, 4 asts, 2 stls, 1 blk.

**RMJH4** · 06-16-2023, 05:54 AM

Game 2 Utah Jazz @ Denver Nuggets.

Game 2: Utah Jazz 101 - 93 Denver Nuggets.

Stockton makes the tough and 1 over Marcus Camby early on.

November 6th, 2002

Jazz Starters
J. Stockton
R. Bell
M. Harpring
K. Malone
G. Ostertag

Nuggets Starters
J. Harrington
V. Yarbrough
J. Posey
J. Howard
M. Camby

Game Leaders
Pts - 37 - K. Malone (Jazz)
Rebs - 12 - K. Malone (Jazz)
Asts - 7 - J. Stockton (Jazz)
Stls - 3 - A. Kirilenko (Jazz)
Blks - 2 - A. Kirilenko, K. Malone (Jazz)

Player of the Game
K. Malone (Jazz)
37 pts, 12 rebs, 3 asts, 2 stls, 2 blks.

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