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I recently had a conversation with Marc Spears who covers the NBA for the Denver Post, in which we discussed the stories currently making noise in the NBA and your Golden State Warriors.
WW.NET: Do you think there were more referees involved with Tim Donaghy?
M.S: From everything I'm hearing there are no current referees involved in the gambling investigation. If things weren't bad already, more referees involved would be an even bigger nightmare for the NBA.
WW.NET: Are there any changes the NBA can make to avoid another game-fixing scandal in the future?
M.S: Any referee that would consider gambling now would have to be the bravest man in the world. No way you can win under added major scrutiny to an already overly scrutinized job.
WW.NET: Team USA looks much better this summer. However, I still think they don't have enough big men. Do you envision Shaq, Kevin Garnett or Tim Duncan joining the team for Beijing?
M.S: No, think their days of playing for USA are done.
WW.NET: Kobe has quieted down lately from his trade request, does he really want to be traded or was it all a ploy to get management to bring in better players?
M.S: Kobe Bryant is a frustrated superstar who admittingly handled his situation the wrong way. But the squeeky wheel gets the oil and Bryant also has a lot of power as the franchise's only meal ticket. The Lakers have done a good job adding Derek Fisher, drafting Javaris Crittenton and re-signing Luke Walton and Derek Fisher. But they still need to add another B-list type player to the roster so the likes of Bryant, Lamar Odom and Andrew Bynum make the Lakers a Western Conference contender again.
WW.NET: Garnett is another superstar who has been in the trade rumors. I feel Golden State is the most logical destination if Phoenix doesn't offer Amare Stoudemire. What would it take to bring Garnett to the Warriors?
M.S: Kevin Garnett is obviously a superstar that can take Golden State to the next level. But with his extremely hefty salary, the Warriors would have to give up a lot of the talent that got them to the playoffs to make the move. Is K.G. worth giving up all your young talent for? I think the Warriors should just add peices to a young talented team and let it grow.
WW.NET: Is a starting five of Davis/Belinelli/Jackson/Garnett/Biedrins is enough to put the Warriors in the top 4 out west?
M.S: Yeah, but I don't see Garnett coming there so it's a wild dream to consider.
WW.NET: What were your thoughts on the moves made by Chris Mullin this offseason? i.e. the Jason Richardson trade and drafting Marco Belinelli?
M.S: I really like Chris Mullin a lot and have been impressed with his aggressiveness. I think J-Rich ended up being expendable for the Warriors with the addition of Belinelli and the rise of Monta Ellis. But don't sleep on the Charlotte Bobcats. Unlike my good friend Steven A. Smith, I do believe Richardson is a much-needed consistent 20-plus point scorer for the Bobcats that will get them into the playoffs next season. If the Bobcats are healthy they are going to surprise some people next season. You heard it here first.
WW.NET: Carmelo Anthony had some interesting thoughts in your interview with him. Do you share his optimism on the Nuggets this season?
M.S: I believe that if the Nuggets don't trade anyone from their payroll and Kenyon Martin is healthy they will win the Northwest Division and be a scary team to play. Look at the roster pound-for-pound. If healthy with no drama, the Nuggets can beat anyone on any given night. But will they stay healthy, have no drama and show maturity? That will be the difference from being a title contending team and a disappointing team.
WW.NET: What is the status of Kenyon Martin? If he returns to full health, will the Nuggets trade him?
M.S: Everyone keeps saying that Kenyon is on schedule to be ready for training camp. The good thing for Kenyon is there is no major pressure on him to be the savior since the Nuggets are loaded at the forward spot. Even if he comes in camp healthy, expect the Nuggets to bring him along slowly. But if the 2004 NBA all-star is healthy coming off the bench, watch out.
WW.NET: Why doesn't the NBA re-seed the playoffs 1-16? This way, can we avoid the NBA Finals taking place in the Western Conference Finals?
M.S: I like it the way it is. I like tradition. If anything, maybe they should just have the Western Conference and the Eastern Conference with no divisions. That would make the most sense of any change to me. The division stuff seems like a waste.
WW.NET: The Orlando Magic gave Rashard Lewis an almost $120 million dollar contract. WHY? Is he worth a max contract?
M.S: Still trying to figure out why the Magic did that. Lewis is talented, but $120 million talented? That money is usually commanded by perennial NBA all-stars, not someone who just made it once. But agent Tony Dutt is great at his job and more power to Lewis for hitting the lottery.
WW.NET: Baron Davis is asking for an extension from the Warriors. Would it be wise to give in or hold off to make sure his health is intact for a full season?
M.S: I can understand why the Warriors would want to be patient and I understand why Davis would want to be rewarded. That is a very tough decision for management to make on the guy that led the team to its first playoffs in 13 years. In the end I see Davis being rewarded. He will forever be a Bay Area legend for getting the Warriors back to the postseason.
WW.NET: Do you miss living in the Bay Area? Do you still follow any local sports teams such as the Warriors, 49ers or Giants?
M.S: I miss it badly. I grew up in the East Side of San Jose, was an all-league and region basketball player at Andrew Hill High School, own an AA degree from Foothill College and a BA from San Jose State and also recently did the commencement speech at Foothill. I grew up a big A's, Raiders and Warriors fan. Still hate the 49ers and kind of root for the Giants because they come to Colorado while the A's can only once every four years. I fondly remember going to A's games and getting that free lunch during Safeway Saturday's and sitting in the left field bleachers to watch Rickey Henderson.
I used to watch every Warriors game as a kid and I mostly loved watching Sleepy Floyd and Larry Smith play. Probably the biggest Warriors games I saw in person as a kid was seeing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's final game in Oakland (the Warriors gave him a yacht), seeing Michael Jordan play during my senior year in high school and family friend Avery Johnson giving me tickets to see the Spurs when I was a freshman in college and giving me a motivational speech after the game. I used to watch every single Warriors game and lived and died with them. But once I began covering the NBA as a writer in 1999 for The Denver Post everything changed. I had to become unbiased and it still feels the same although some friends believe I still quietly root for Golden State. It did feel good to see the Warriors back in the playoffs and I take credit for being the first media member to predict that the Warriors would make it (check out www.denverpost.com/spears).
I am still a very huge A's and Raiders fan. I sigh every time I see that the A's lost and smile when they win. Being a Raiders fan in Denver is definitely not easy. I got a little Italian restaurant near my house that I go watch Raiders games at when I'm in town. I'm actually drinking coffee out of a Raiders coffee mug as I type this. I believe the Bay Area is the best place to live in the United States. Where else can you go to three major cities that are within an hour from each other, go to the beach, go the mountains, see people of all ethnicities and find whatever you want to do easily? No where but the Bay Area or "Yay" as I often call it. Hopefully the Yay will always love me back, too.
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Special Thanks to Marc Spears for taking time out of his busy schedule to talk with us and to forum member FlashFire for his help.
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