By MARC BERMAN
CHARLESTON â At first look at Eddy Curry on Mondayâs Media Day, he looked thinner. You could see it first in his chiseled face.
But I did not realize how much weight he had actually lost. Curry told us after the morning practice here that heâs 20 pounds thinner from last camp â and estimates to be in the 275-pound range.
I canât tell you how many fan emails asking me in the offseason about Eddyâs conditioning. There was a fear that because of the late July robbery, he would lose focus and not train as hard. In fact, he left Chicago for New York and did not work with the legendary Michael Jordan trainer, Tim Grover, for the first time.
âIâll be able to play a lot longer at a higher level,ââ Curry said.
Expect the biggest difference to come on defense. Because he was heavy, Curry probably felt he couldnât put out with the same energy on both ends and stay on the court, so he saved his intensity for the offensive side. If he ever becomes a stouter defender and 9-to-10-rebound-a-game guy, he will be the best center in the East, with Shaq on the way down and Dwight Howard more limited offensively.
Isiah said Curry has finally âmaturedââ and knows his body better. Or maybe heâs just eating less. Good for Eddy.
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Rookie shooting guard Demetris Nichols looks like a keeper. He nailed a couple of open jumpers in the few minutes of scrimmages we saw and even blocked a driving shot. Heâs a 6-8 shooting guard and thereâs not many out there with that size who can play the position on both ends. I would cut Fred Jones or Jerome James before Iâd ever think of cutting Nichols. James, of course, sat out practiceâ¦Isiah Thomas got testy today when he was grilled about Stephon Marburyâs summer escapades that included saying heâll head to Italy when his contract is up. Thomas also said heâs never seen the infamous Bruce Beck interview. Right, and Isiah never uttered a cross word to Anucha.
