Stackhouse better with Jordan

By Steve Goldstein Sports Central Columnist

Jerry Stackhouse helped lead the Detroit Pistons to a shockingly successful 2001-2002 regular season. Coach Rick Carlisle received a lot of credit, as did defensive dominator Ben Wallace and veteran forward Cliff Robinson. But it was really Stackhouse -- by far the most talented Piston -- who lowered his on-court selfishness by at least one notch and made Detroit a much better team.

So just a few months after losing early in the playoffs, Detroit has jettisoned Stackhouse to Washington and wants Richard Hamilton to replace him. If Stackhouse can learn from Michael Jordan, then the Wizards will clearly have gotten the better of the deal.

No one has ever questioned Stackhouse's talent. He's not a great shooter, but he is an almost unstoppable scorer. His athletic ability enables him to get off shots in unexpected and often effective ways. Coach Larry Brown, who seems to tire of players by the minute, has tried to re-acquire Stackhouse on countless occasions, even though Brown traded him once because of incompatibility with Allen Iverson.

Stackhouse is a player that no coach or teammate has ever been satisfied with because his talent is so tantalizing that it seems he should be almost as good as Jordan. What he hasn't had is the ability to make his teammates better by leadership or focused effort.

If practicing with and against Jordan on a daily basis doesn't make Stackhouse as good as he can be, then nothing ever will. Jordan is one of Stackhouse's idols, and he's also the greatest player in the history of the NBA. But Jordan doesn't get that title simply because of talent -- he's also the most competitive player ever to step on a court. He wants to win and, prior to his second retirement, could often will his teams to victory.

The way the NBA was a decade ago, Jerry Stackhouse would undoubtedly be inspired to great heights with Jordan's assistance. But Stackhouse makes an unfathomable pile of money simply for playing well. He's forged a solid NBA career, and he knows it. Stackhouse will be a huge addition for the Wizards, but he won't lead them to an Eastern Conference championship. He's just not that motivated.

If Jordan had gotten a hold of Stackhouse as young, less-jaded player, Stackhouse might be talked about the way Kobe Bryant is. Instead, the Wizards can at least hope Stackhouse will match the current abilities of his almost 40-year-old teammate.

Article courtesy of Sports Central.