duncan228
11-21-2008, 02:20 PM
Southwest teams struggling to remain elite (http://news.yahoo.com/s/sn/20081121/sp_sn/southwestteamsstrugglingtoremainelite)
By Sean Deveney
Of all the early disappointments in the NBA, none has been bigger than the injury-plagued Houston Rockets. Wait, maybe the injury-plagued San Antonio Spurs. No, no, it's the New Orleans Hornets. Dallas Mavericks, anyone?
Perhaps it's best to say, the Southwest Division -- expected to be, by far, the NBA's strongest, especially after those four teams posted 50-win seasons a year ago -- has suddenly fallen on hard times. Rather than producing a team that could knock off the Lakers, the Southwest is a mush of teams hovering near .500. "It seems like everyone in our division is dealing with something," Rockets general manager Daryl Morey told Sporting News.
No one is shedding tears for the Southwest. This has been one of the most blessed divisions in the NBA. Houston lucked into the No. 1 overall pick in 2002, when Yao Ming was entering the league. Ex-Celtics boss Rick Pitino, of course, knows just how lucky the Spurs got in 1997 to win the Tim Duncan lottery. The Hornets were delightfully befuddled when, somehow, Chris Paul fell to them at No. 4 in 2005. And who can forget the 1998 draft-day trade (for Robert Traylor) that brought Dirk Nowitzki to the Mavericks?
Now, thanks to age, injury, schedule and various states of transition, the Southwest is down. But it's only November. "When March comes around, all these teams will be back," Morey said. "I am not sure we'll all win 50 games again, but we'll all be in the playoff hunt."
For the time being, it is useful to ask the question: How did these powerhouses wind up shuffling in mediocrity -- and how will they break out of it?
ROCKETS
It's been a bizarre week for the Rockets. On Wednesday morning, they were not sure that any of their stars -- Tracy McGrady, Ron Artest and Yao Ming -- would play against Dallas (Yao was the only one to be out). McGrady had pain in his knee and, after playing Monday, said he might have to "shut it down." Artest and Yao have ankle issues. Making matters worse is a sadistic schedule that has the Rockets playing 10 of 14 games on the road. Good health and some home dates could be all the team needs to get rolling.
MAVERICKS
Dallas' struggles are the most mysterious of the four. It could be that the chemistry isn't there. It could be that Nowitzki and Jason Kidd are a little tired after their Olympic summers (though their numbers don't reflect fatigue). Or it could simply be that the team is still figuring out coach Rick Carlisle. "I think it has taken a little longer to adjust to Rick Carlisle than expected," Morey said. "But they'll figure out what he wants to do."
SPURS
Tony Parker is out. Manu Ginobili is out. There's your problem. Tim Duncan is carrying the team, averaging 22.8 points, the most he's averaged since 2002-03. Take away any team's No. 2 and 3 options and they'll struggle. If anything, the Spurs deserve credit for playing well without Parker and Ginobili. Roger Mason has proven his worth, and rookie George Hill has gotten experience. When Parker and Ginobili get back from their ankle injuries (it should be early December for each), the Spurs will be that much deeper.
HORNETS
One Western Conference scout thinks he knows what is wrong with the Hornets, especially when it comes to their struggling offense: "They're getting manhandled. Especially Chris Paul." Defenses are being especially physical with Paul, and the Hornets are lacking in other playmakers. Also problematic has been the poor shooting of Peja Stojakovic and the utter lack of depth behind power forward David West and center Tyson Chandler.
By Sean Deveney
Of all the early disappointments in the NBA, none has been bigger than the injury-plagued Houston Rockets. Wait, maybe the injury-plagued San Antonio Spurs. No, no, it's the New Orleans Hornets. Dallas Mavericks, anyone?
Perhaps it's best to say, the Southwest Division -- expected to be, by far, the NBA's strongest, especially after those four teams posted 50-win seasons a year ago -- has suddenly fallen on hard times. Rather than producing a team that could knock off the Lakers, the Southwest is a mush of teams hovering near .500. "It seems like everyone in our division is dealing with something," Rockets general manager Daryl Morey told Sporting News.
No one is shedding tears for the Southwest. This has been one of the most blessed divisions in the NBA. Houston lucked into the No. 1 overall pick in 2002, when Yao Ming was entering the league. Ex-Celtics boss Rick Pitino, of course, knows just how lucky the Spurs got in 1997 to win the Tim Duncan lottery. The Hornets were delightfully befuddled when, somehow, Chris Paul fell to them at No. 4 in 2005. And who can forget the 1998 draft-day trade (for Robert Traylor) that brought Dirk Nowitzki to the Mavericks?
Now, thanks to age, injury, schedule and various states of transition, the Southwest is down. But it's only November. "When March comes around, all these teams will be back," Morey said. "I am not sure we'll all win 50 games again, but we'll all be in the playoff hunt."
For the time being, it is useful to ask the question: How did these powerhouses wind up shuffling in mediocrity -- and how will they break out of it?
ROCKETS
It's been a bizarre week for the Rockets. On Wednesday morning, they were not sure that any of their stars -- Tracy McGrady, Ron Artest and Yao Ming -- would play against Dallas (Yao was the only one to be out). McGrady had pain in his knee and, after playing Monday, said he might have to "shut it down." Artest and Yao have ankle issues. Making matters worse is a sadistic schedule that has the Rockets playing 10 of 14 games on the road. Good health and some home dates could be all the team needs to get rolling.
MAVERICKS
Dallas' struggles are the most mysterious of the four. It could be that the chemistry isn't there. It could be that Nowitzki and Jason Kidd are a little tired after their Olympic summers (though their numbers don't reflect fatigue). Or it could simply be that the team is still figuring out coach Rick Carlisle. "I think it has taken a little longer to adjust to Rick Carlisle than expected," Morey said. "But they'll figure out what he wants to do."
SPURS
Tony Parker is out. Manu Ginobili is out. There's your problem. Tim Duncan is carrying the team, averaging 22.8 points, the most he's averaged since 2002-03. Take away any team's No. 2 and 3 options and they'll struggle. If anything, the Spurs deserve credit for playing well without Parker and Ginobili. Roger Mason has proven his worth, and rookie George Hill has gotten experience. When Parker and Ginobili get back from their ankle injuries (it should be early December for each), the Spurs will be that much deeper.
HORNETS
One Western Conference scout thinks he knows what is wrong with the Hornets, especially when it comes to their struggling offense: "They're getting manhandled. Especially Chris Paul." Defenses are being especially physical with Paul, and the Hornets are lacking in other playmakers. Also problematic has been the poor shooting of Peja Stojakovic and the utter lack of depth behind power forward David West and center Tyson Chandler.