Karl's arrival might trigger a Bucks
turnaround
SEPTEMBER 6, 1998
by DAVE D'ALESSANDRO The Sporting News
You had to like what you saw in George Karl last
week -- none of the droopy sensitivity, arrogance,
bitterness or emotional armor that we have grown used to --
just a proud and objjective fellow who wants very badly to
coach again.
He took his share of the blame for the implosion in Seattle,
didn't take any easy shots at Wally Walker, Barry Ackerley
or Jim McIlvaine, didn't look back in anger other than to
say that he hadn't received the respect (meaning, in terms
of salary) afforded a coach with his record.
"I'm not here to have a power game," he said upon his
arrival in Milwaukee, referring not to the team's style but
his place in the Bucks' hierarchy. "I'm here to be part of
the structure."
Maybe he means it this time. Just keep in mind he still has
all the strengths and weaknesses of a talented coach -- the
same ambitions, the same burning for constant reassurance
and acceptance. He has been, more often than not, his own
worst enemy. His long tenure in Seattle notwithstanding, it
is hard to forget how it ended for him in Cleveland, Golden
State and with the Sonics. If you're keeping score at home,
the mitigating factors in those respective departures were
impatience, volatility and self-indulgence.
Now comes the latest challenge, if you want to call it that.
The Bucks have a hands-on owner in Senator Herb Kohl, whose
managerial record in Milwaukee is not as sound as his voting
record in Washington. Kohl's last meaningful dialogue with
the only other strong personality to occupy his team's
coaching position, Don Nelson, concluded with Nellie
declaring, "I am the Milwaukee Bucks."
Which, he probably was -- at least until Kohl started
shortening his purse string. But that statement made the
owner-coach relationship irreparable aafter years of
success, and shortly thereafter Nellie followed former Bucks
owner Jim Fitzgerald to Golden State, leaving Kohl's team to
languor through a succession of coaching failures.
Del Harris, Frank Hamblen, Mike Dunleavy and Chris Ford have
come and gone, and Milwaukee has not reached the playoffs
since 1991, making for a fairly grim decade in what could be
a hot basketball market. Along the way, Kohl's commitment to
winning has been questioned. Then he threw a ton of money at
Tyrone Hill last year, and his $20 million commitment to
Karl indicates that he is willing to pay to be competitive.
And the Bucks should be just that. This was a .500 team
through early March, one that probably should have reached
the postseason if not for Terrell Brandon's curiously long
recovery from a sprained ankle.
Brandon himself applauded Karl's arrival, stating that the
Bucks instantly gained no small measure of credibility. But
this is something of a misguided sentiment, as a healthy,
focused point guard is still more important than the coach
who gives him the ball and the stage on which to use it.
Karl can do that, as he did with Gary Payton. But Brandon
must show that he's as eager to turn the franchise around as
the men he works for.
The backcourt of Brandon and Ray Allen may be one of the
best in the league if it stays intact long enough for
objective analysis. Glenn Robinson is a one-dimensional
player, but it's a vital dimension. Hill is a gamer,
arguably one of the best rebounders and defenders at his
position. Ervin Johnson was the NBA's fourth-leading
rebounder during the 1996-97 season (11.1 per game) and is
much improved since his part-time role under Karl in
Seattle. Michael Curry is one of the league's most capable
reserves. The team lacks a consistent post presence and
frontcourt depth, which Robert Traylor may provide.
But Karl's arrival is a signal that the Bucks are committed
to keeping Allen and Brandon, who are eligible for free
agency next summer, and Kohl didn't try to refute that. "Ray
wants to stay in Milwaukee," the Senator said, "but he wants
to win. George Karl will contribute to Ray Allen wanting to
stay in Milwaukee. I hope the same thing will happen with
Terrell."
For that to happen, the Bucks must make significant strides
-- now -- if they are to keep the nucleus together and
maintain the coach's mental health. If the bodies hold up,
they'll get there sooner than later behind a coach who can
take them places. For a team that has won exactly one
playoff game in this decade, it's a good start.
Ike Austin gave the word at a golf tournament in Utah: The
Jazz uniform doesn't fit. He is going for a big contract
when free-agent season commences and doesn't see how Utah
can fit him in without the cap room.
"I have to look at the money," he said. "It wouldn't be fair
to my family if I didn't." And then he predicted that his
$50 million would come from Phoenix, Boston, Orlando,
Chicago, Charlotte or the Clippers. . . .
We caught up last week with Charles Smith (the former Knick
and Spur), one of the good guys with one of the worst pairs
of knees, and he would like to clear up one misconception.
"I never said I was retired -- others may have said it, but
you never heard it come out of my mouth," he said. So look
for him this November in a trainingg camp near you. . . .
That lockout-imposed vacation came at a propitious time for
Jerry West, who admittedly was on the verge of burnout. He
returned from what he called an "introspective" summer in
Europe and West Virginia and concluded that he liked to work
after all -- and of course it didn't hurt that Lakers owner
Jerry Buss enticed him with a reported $14 million contract
extension. Buss did what he had to do: Losing West would
have seriously jeopardized the Lakers' long-range plans, and
even Kobe Bryant -- who along with Shaquille O'Neal can
become a free agent next summer -- recognized this.
Bryant called Buss before the lockout and reiterated that he
probably would leave the Lakers if West did. . . .
The Nuggets don't figure to name their coach until next
week, and Mike D'Antoni remains the front-runner. Dan Issel,
who now is convinced he cannot do both the G.M. and coaching
jobs, says he has interviewed other candidates, but Scott
Skiles isn't one of them. . . .
The Knicks figure to bring in 6-4 Israeli point guard Oded
Katash with a two-year guarantee when the lockout ends.
Dave D'Alessandro covers the NBA for the Newark (N.J.)
Star-Ledger. E-mail him at daved@sportingnews.com.