Healthiest team will likely win East
Published March 25, 2002

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Tim Povtak

In a season when there are no certainties in the Eastern Conference, the best players aren't going to reach the NBA Finals.

The healthiest will.

Toronto's Vince Carter, who had been struggling for weeks with a sore knee, was shut down for the season and faces surgery today.

Philadelphia's Allen Iverson broke his hand last week, and he isn't expected back for a month.

Orlando's Tracy McGrady scared the life right out of an entire organization Friday with his frightening fall, leaving him overnight in the hospital with back spasms.

Together last week, the three proved just how delicate the balance of power really is in the East. Without Carter healthy, the Raptors have been woeful. Without Iverson, the Sixers are nothing. Without McGrady, the Magic are dreadful.

Health -- and not stars -- will decide who wins the East.

If Jason Kidd had a bad ankle sprain, the Nets would do a free fall. If Ben Wallace wasn't there to rebound and block shots, the Detroit Piston would become the Atlanta Hawks.

"Whoever gets hot -- and stays healthy -- will come out of the East," said Magic point guard Darrell Armstrong. "It's so up for grabs, and we think we have as good a chance as anyone. I think this just shows you how important it is to stay healthy."

The Charlotte Hornets were without Jamal Mashburn early this season, and they weren't very good. With him and everyone else back, they are as good as anyone in the East, now riding a six-game winning streak.

The Magic are fortunate that McGrady could be back as early as Tuesday against Chicago. Once he left Friday, the Magic hardly challenged the Hornets. They never even made the Milwaukee Bucks sweat Sunday. Without him this season, they are 1-4.

"Everything is so balance in the East this season," said Hornets veteran P.J. Brown. It's like parity in college basketball. The eight teams that go into the playoffs from the East -- if they are healthy -- will all believe they can reach the NBA Finals. In the nine years I've been in the league, I've never seen it like this."

McGrady's stock on the rise

Tracy McGrady isn't going to win the NBA's Most Valuable Player Award this season -- Jason Kidd built too much of an early lead, and Shaquille O'Neal qualifies to win it every year -- but he certainly has put himself into strong contention for the future.

Voters normally go for the stars that have been knocking on the door for years. Just look at the last six winners.

Allen Iverson, who won the award last season, had to win two scoring titles and turn 26 before he became a MVP. O'Neal was 28 when he won, after two scoring titles and a month before his first NBA title.

Karl Malone and Michael Jordan alternated winning the prior four seasons. Jordan already had established himself as the greatest player in history, and Malone was an All-Star 10 times before he won.

McGrady, 22, has put himself into a favorite's role for next season with a dazzling second half. If he wins it then, at the ripe age of 23, he would become the youngest winner since Bob McAdoo became MVP in 1975 at 23.

McGrady, before he was hurt Friday, had been the best player in the league since the All-Star break, carrying the Magic to a 12-6 record after he stole the show with the All-Star Game, raising his confidence another level.

Since the break, he has averaged 29.2 points, 7.9 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 2.3 steals and 1.1 blocks. No one else in the league has won games in so many different ways.

Iverson has scored more. Duncan and O'Neal have rebounded better. Kidd has dished more assists. But no one has done it like McGrady in every statistical category.

Carter tired of criticism

Vince Carter says he will have a short memory next season, and he's going hunting for his critics.

As the Raptors struggled the last several weeks, falling out of playoff contention, Carter has been attacked for his lack of leadership and his inability to upright a sinking ship.

Most of the criticism, from players, fans and media, came from those who didn't know how badly he was slowed by the cartilage damage in his knee.

"In the summer, when I'm home, I can just sit there and think about all the rough times, all this, all that, all the players who tried to come at me when I was hurt,'' he said. "All that stuff. I'm gonna remember so there's going to be some hell to pay next year.''

The Raptors, remember, were supposed to be contenders this season after re-signing Carter and everyone else they wanted last summer. But the season became a disaster. Carter took much of the blame.

"They're all going to eat those words. I'm going to do what I have to do to get to the situation where I want to be, and once I'm healthy and ready to go, I'm gonna start attacking people,'' he said. "I refuse to make excuses. Like I said a long time ago, if I choose to go out there and play, I have to go out there and perform regardless of my situation. I wasn't looking for some sympathy. If I was hurt and playing well, no one would have said anything."

Popularity almost 'Shaq-like'

Interesting scene at the Meet the Magic night for season ticket holders at the RDV Sportplex last week. The doors opened, and there was a flood of fans all racing to the table where Tracy McGrady was sitting. The difference from last season -- his first with the Magic -- to this season has been huge for McGrady in the eyes of the fans. "It's become Shaq-like,'' said Chris D'Orso, Magic director of marketing. "It's exciting to see, but I just hope it doesn't overwhelm him.''

Officials watching Martin closely

Rod Thorn, general manager of the Nets, said officials have been picking on his power forward/thug Kenyon Martin ever since he tried to take off McGrady's head under the basket.

Martin has five flagrant fouls this season, and he will receive a two-game suspension now for any more.

"He's looked at very closely. Since the (Tracy) McGrady foul, he's been looked at extraordinarily close," said Thorn.

And that's a good thing for the rest of the NBA.

Hardaway complaining . . . again

Penny Hardaway of Phoenix had an outstanding game against the Magic, his former teammates, earlier this month, but then things quickly turned sour again. He and Coach Frank Johnson are not seeing eye-to-eye very often.

"I'm getting sick and tired of reading little comments (from Johnson) that I don't know anything about after every game,'' he said. "If I don't have the pop, tell me, 'Hey, give me a little more energy.' I don't know what it is I'm not doing when I'm out there. I'd love to know.''