2 is the craziest number

[Tammo29@xxxxxxx]

2 is the craziest number

Published May 5, 2003
        
    
    
The brilliant duo of John Stockton and Karl Malone is no more. They are 
separate again, together only in memories. Maybe they can run 2-on-2 in some 
legends-only pickup game.

Malone will continue to play, perhaps outside of Utah. Stockton said that he 
thinks he is done. He walked away from the media with tears in his eyes last 
week.

The last great tandem that originated in the 1980s -- the best era of NBA 
basketball -- has officially disconnected us from the good 'ol days. 
Stockton-to-Malone taught as valuable a lesson as any duo in NBA history. 
They never won a title, but their longevity and teamwork provide a standard 
for today's young stars.

It's simple. Play together. Stay together. Win together.

In the NBA today, there is one great duo -- Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant. 
They have played seven years together now, resolved their problems and won 
the past three NBA titles. You have a very good tandem in Paul Pierce and 
Antoine Walker. There are also some explosive trios with Dirk Nowitzki, Steve 
Nash and Michael Finley in Dallas and Chris Webber, Mike Bibby and Peja 
Stojakovic in Sacramento.

Soon, maybe even next season, you can see Stephon Marbury, Amare Stoudemire 
and Shawn Marion being formidable for Phoenix.

Other than that, you're still waiting for explosive duos to form. Maybe Jason 
Kidd will stay in New Jersey while Richard Jefferson and Kenyon Martin 
further develop. Maybe Grant Hill will get right and join Tracy McGrady, or 
maybe Drew Gooden is that second guy.

In San Antonio, Tim Duncan and David Robinson will split after the season 
because Robinson plans to retire. With an estimated $18 million in cap space, 
the Spurs have the best chance to acquire a dominant player to compete with 
the Shaq-Kobe combination in starpower. They figure to look at Jermaine 
O'Neal and Kidd this summer as primary targets. They might consider Malone 
and Gary Payton.

The way the salary cap is set in the NBA, it's a little more difficult for 
stars to get together, unless you draft them. But we can dream.

And right now, in honor of Stockton and Malone, let's take a look at a few 
duos that would be great together. It doesn't mean they will ever play 
together, but wouldn't it be fun?

DREAM DUO #1 -- Duncan and Jermaine O'Neal

The Buzz: This is very likely. You would have a ridiculous amount of 
versatility on the frontline.

DREAM DUO #2 -- McGrady and Kevin Garnett

The Buzz: T-Mac and KG would be, offensively and defensively, the most 
nightmarish combination east of L.A.

DREAM DUO #3 -- Steve Francis and Elton Brand

The Buzz: How about a flashy point guard and a workhorse power forward 
playing together? Then again, the Rockets already have Yao Ming.

DREAM DUO #4 -- Kidd and Pierce

The Buzz: A great point guard to feed a dominant scorer. Pierce would lead 
the league in scoring every year.

DREAM DUO #5 -- Kobe and T-Mac

The Buzz: An all-out competition for touches and highlights.

Magic dust  (the rich get richer?)


Before exiting for a long summer, forward Jermaine O'Neal spoke with Indiana 
reporters and set up his off-season free agency plans. Interestingly, he 
mentioned Orlando as a team he would consider.

"I look at San Antonio with Tim Duncan. I look at Orlando with Tracy McGrady, 
and I look at Indiana with Reggie Miller," O'Neal was quoted as saying in an 
Associated Press story. "Those are three great players. When you get into a 
situation like that, you've got to look at the supporting cast."

Acquiring O'Neal would be tough for the Magic, but if he's interested, they 
will definitely talk with him. O'Neal, 24, has yet to get his big payday and 
deserves a max contract.

Even if the Magic renounced their rights to free agents Darrell Armstrong and 
Andrew DeClercq, they won't be but about $6 million under the projected $42.5 
million salary cap. Meanwhile, San Antonio has $18 million in cap space. 
O'Neal's first-year salary will likely be in the $12 million range.

Of course, O'Neal stands to make the most money by staying with the Pacers, 
and he is very loyal to that organization for rescuing him from Portland's 
bench.

It will be interesting to see if the Magic want to go about the complicated 
process of dumping salaries or pulling off a sign-and-trade for O'Neal.


PLAYOFF POWER RANKINGS

1. A Lakers-Spurs second round

2. Allen Iverson's reclamation

3. Tim Duncan's poise

4. Shaq and Kobe

5. Hornets' guts

PLAYOFF LOWER RANKINGS

29. Mavs' killer instinct

28. Magic's killer instinct

27. Ron Artest's everything

26. Rasheed Wallace's everything

25. Kevin Garnett's angst

THIS DAY IN MAGIC HISTORY

MAY 5, 1995: 67-year-old Boston Garden sees its last NBA game after Orlando 
beats the Celtics 95-92 and wins a first-round series 3-1.


Jerry Brewer can be reached at jbrewer2@orlandosentinel.com.