m33p0
02-19-2008, 01:17 PM
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=Aq1Zib.KUqx3M0I.CelsIYW8vLYF?slug=nbasec ondhalfpreviewinto&prov=tsn&type=lgns
NBA second-half preview: Into the wild West
By Stan McNeal - SportingNews
According to the calendar, the NBA playoffs begin April 19. Don't believe it. For the purposes of staying alive in the race for the championship, the playoffs already are under way -- in the Western Conference, anyway.
As tight as the games have been on the court, the hottest competition has come in front offices. Already formidable teams took bold steps in recent weeks to enhance their hopes of playing into June. First, the Lakers snatched Pau Gasol, the 7-foot pride of Spain, from the Grizzlies. Less than a week later, the Suns countered by landing Shaquille O'Neal in a move that was as risky as it was surprising. Not to be left behind, the Mavericks went to work on a proposed deal for triple double machine Jason Kidd that included five Dallas players and two first-round draft picks.
You can't blame them for trying to get ahead -- a team will do anything it can when the nine clubs fighting for eight playoff spots are separated by a mere 4 games and the 10th-place team -- the Blazers -- is four games above .500.
No wonder Suns coach Mike D'Antoni expects to see a lot of teams beating up on one another the rest of the way. "Last year, New Orleans was hurt, and Golden State and Denver both made big midseason trades that took them time to adjust to. That helped us run off some long winning streaks," says D'Antoni, whose Suns had four streaks of at least five games after January last season. "This year, that's not going to happen. You're not going to see any 60-win teams this season, but you're going to see a bunch with 50-something."
Going into the All-Star break, 12 teams (nine in the West) were on pace for 50 wins -- the most ever. With no plans for the Eastern Conference to give up any of its playoff spots, two worthy teams will be left home in the West.
One consolation for them: At least the rest of the regular season will feel like the playoffs.
How the teams will rank on April 16, the last day of the regular season:
Los Angeles Lakers
5th in the West entering the All-Star break (35-18)
What they have: More momentum than any team in the West. The Lakers received an immediate lift from the Gasol deal (he averaged 20.5 points on 64.5 percent shooting in his first six games with the team) and another big boost from going 7-2 on the longest road trip in franchise history. A favorable schedule (17 of 30 games at home) will help down the stretch.
What they need: Kobe Bryant's right pinkie to stay in one piece. Against the advice of his team, Bryant has decided to play with a torn ligament instead of undergoing surgery that would sideline him for six weeks.
What they'll get: The tallest front line in recent memory when 7-footer Andrew Bynum returns next month and starts alongside Gasol and Lamar Odom. Putting those three with Kobe, coach Phil Jackson and the league's longest bench will help the Lakers to the West's top seed for the first time in eight seasons.
Dallas Mavericks
3rd in the West entering the All-Star break (35-18)
What they have: A now-or-never urgency apparent in the team's pursuit of Kidd. If the deal goes through, expect Kidd to be motivated by his best shot at a ring as well as the chance to earn a contract extension. He'll have no shortage of shooters in 20-point scorers Dirk Nowitz-ki and Josh Howard and the streaky Jason Terry.
What they need: Help on the inside. With the Lakers and Suns adding big men, the Mavericks will be counting on Erick Dampier to hold his own.
What they'll get: Expect the Mavs to channel that sense of urgency into their second straight Southwest Division title.
Utah Jazz
4th in the West entering the All-Star break (34-19)
More NBA coverage:
Second-half preview
Four young stars to watch
Quick guide to the stretch run
The Sporting Blog:
Van Horn wins NBA lotto
Bibby won't fix the Hawks
What they have: The best record in the conference since trading for Kyle Korver at the end of December. Adding the sharpshooter to the league's most physical team resulted in an 18-3 stretch that vaulted the Jazz to the top of the Northwest Division. The Jazz also have the second-best home record in the league, a comforting notion for a team playing 16 of its final 29 games in Utah.
What they need: A cushion going into their final six games, all of which will be against playoff contenders. They could use a win at San Antonio in their regular-season finale. The Jazz have not won there since Carlos Boozer was playing at Juneau-Douglas (Alaska) High School, a stretch of 19 games, including three in last season's conference finals.
What they'll get: Enough 40-point nights from one of the game's best pick-and-roll duos, Boozer and point guard Deron Williams, to allow the Jazz to win back-to-back division crowns.
Phoenix Suns
2nd in the West entering the All-Star break (37-16)
What they have: A lot of wins playing small ball, a style they seemingly turned their backs on when they traded for Shaquille O'Neal. The Suns are looking for a bigger inside presence -- not to mention better chemistry in the locker room -- with O'Neal coming in and high flier Shawn Marion heading out. Just the knowledge that he will be moving from center to power forward has Amare Stoudemire putting up happy numbers; he averaged 29.0 points and 11.8 rebounds in the first five games after the trade.
What they need: A training staff that can work wonders. With one of the shortest benches among the West's elite, the Suns must keep their four 30-something starters in working order for the playoffs.
What they'll get: Relentless attention from the entire basketball world watching to see what happens when a 321-pound Clydesdale tries to play with a team full of thoroughbreds. Of course, the experiment can't be judged fairly until playoff time.
New Orleans Hornets
1st in the West entering the All-Star break (36-15)
What they have: The best start in franchise history, thanks to a healthy lineup that features the league's most productive threesome. Point guard Chris Paul, power forward David West and center Tyson Chandler have 76 double doubles combined.
What they need: Fans. The Hornets rank 29th in attendance. A deeper bench would help, too, which is why the Hornets have been following the reinstatement bid of 6-10 forward Chris "Birdman" Andersen, banned two years ago for violating the league's drug policy. Because Andersen was with the Hornets at the time, they would have the first chance to re-sign him.
What they'll get: Their best record ever, as long as they continue on their 57-win pace.
San Antonio Spurs
6th in the West entering the All-Star break (34-17)
What they have: The best-run franchise in the league, arguably the best coach in the league in Gregg Popovich and the best big man in the league in Tim Duncan, whose numbers have been on the rise since January. They also have leaguewide respect that comes with winning four championships in nine years, including one last season.
What they need: The playoffs to begin. The Spurs usually spend the first few months breaking in their new role players, but this season they brought back virtually their entire team and bolted to a 17-3 start. Once they realized the real season wouldn't begin for five months, they started struggling and Tony Parker and Brent Barry suffered injuries that have kept them out for an extended period.
What they'll get: Healthy and rested for the playoffs. Not having home-court advantage won't matter to these guys.
Denver Nuggets
9th in the West entering the All-Star break (32-20)
What they have: An ageless superstar, Allen Iverson, and an improving superstar, Carmelo Anthony. They are the third- and fourth-leading scorers in the league with averages of 26.5 points (Iverson) and 26.2 points (Anthony). For a team that ranks near the bottom of the league in points allowed, the Nuggets also have a stronger-than-you'd-expect defense. Denver ranks at or near the top of the league in blocks, field goal percentage allowed and steals.
What they need: For everyone to stay cool. From the coach on down, the Nuggets have more than their share of volatile personalities. If they hit a bump in the road, this team could easily head down the wrong path.
What they'll get: Continued good behavior, as long as they forget about trying to trade for Ron Artest.
Houston Rockets
8th in the West entering the All-Star break (32-20)
What they have: The most dominant big man in the conference, Yao Ming, which is becoming more important as teams seek a better balance between small ball and halfcourt offense. Just as important, the Rockets have an improving defense and -- keep holding your breath, Houston -- a healthy Tracy McGrady.
What they need: To quiet the whispers that they would be better if they traded McGrady. Oh, wait. Winning 12 of 13 since he returned from injury already did that.
What they'll get: At least 50 wins, impressive for a team that entered the new year with a losing record.
Golden State Warriors
7th in the West entering the All-Star break (32-20)
What they have: The league's highest-scoring and most entertaining team, led by guards Baron Davis and Monta Ellis. They are as exciting as any twosome in the game.
What they need: To get bigger or to make sure they avoid any more shooting slumps. Based on his first week with the team, Chris Webber does not look like he'll provide the post presence coach Don Nelson has been seeking. That makes it more important for Stephen Jackson and Davis to keep their shooting percentages from declining further. Jackson was shooting 41.1 percent and Davis 42.0 percent at the break.
What they'll get: Left out of the playoffs. Size doesn't take a night off, but shooting does, even the Warriors'.
Portland Trail Blazers
10th in the West entering the All-Star break (28-24)
What they have: Plenty to feel good about. Even after losing No. 1 overall draft pick Greg Oden for the season (microfracture surgery), the Rose Garden is once again the place to be in Portland. Second-year shooting guard Brandon Roy is the team's first All-Star in seven years, and the Blazers are on pace to win 44 games -- 12 more than last season.
What they need: Experience. They are the youngest team in the league, with center Joel Przybilla, 28, as the senior member of their rotation. They also could use the aggressiveness that comes with experience -- the sometimes-passive Blazers rank near the bottom of the league in rebounding and steals.
What they'll get: The satisfaction of knowing they're on the verge of big things.
NBA second-half preview: Into the wild West
By Stan McNeal - SportingNews
According to the calendar, the NBA playoffs begin April 19. Don't believe it. For the purposes of staying alive in the race for the championship, the playoffs already are under way -- in the Western Conference, anyway.
As tight as the games have been on the court, the hottest competition has come in front offices. Already formidable teams took bold steps in recent weeks to enhance their hopes of playing into June. First, the Lakers snatched Pau Gasol, the 7-foot pride of Spain, from the Grizzlies. Less than a week later, the Suns countered by landing Shaquille O'Neal in a move that was as risky as it was surprising. Not to be left behind, the Mavericks went to work on a proposed deal for triple double machine Jason Kidd that included five Dallas players and two first-round draft picks.
You can't blame them for trying to get ahead -- a team will do anything it can when the nine clubs fighting for eight playoff spots are separated by a mere 4 games and the 10th-place team -- the Blazers -- is four games above .500.
No wonder Suns coach Mike D'Antoni expects to see a lot of teams beating up on one another the rest of the way. "Last year, New Orleans was hurt, and Golden State and Denver both made big midseason trades that took them time to adjust to. That helped us run off some long winning streaks," says D'Antoni, whose Suns had four streaks of at least five games after January last season. "This year, that's not going to happen. You're not going to see any 60-win teams this season, but you're going to see a bunch with 50-something."
Going into the All-Star break, 12 teams (nine in the West) were on pace for 50 wins -- the most ever. With no plans for the Eastern Conference to give up any of its playoff spots, two worthy teams will be left home in the West.
One consolation for them: At least the rest of the regular season will feel like the playoffs.
How the teams will rank on April 16, the last day of the regular season:
Los Angeles Lakers
5th in the West entering the All-Star break (35-18)
What they have: More momentum than any team in the West. The Lakers received an immediate lift from the Gasol deal (he averaged 20.5 points on 64.5 percent shooting in his first six games with the team) and another big boost from going 7-2 on the longest road trip in franchise history. A favorable schedule (17 of 30 games at home) will help down the stretch.
What they need: Kobe Bryant's right pinkie to stay in one piece. Against the advice of his team, Bryant has decided to play with a torn ligament instead of undergoing surgery that would sideline him for six weeks.
What they'll get: The tallest front line in recent memory when 7-footer Andrew Bynum returns next month and starts alongside Gasol and Lamar Odom. Putting those three with Kobe, coach Phil Jackson and the league's longest bench will help the Lakers to the West's top seed for the first time in eight seasons.
Dallas Mavericks
3rd in the West entering the All-Star break (35-18)
What they have: A now-or-never urgency apparent in the team's pursuit of Kidd. If the deal goes through, expect Kidd to be motivated by his best shot at a ring as well as the chance to earn a contract extension. He'll have no shortage of shooters in 20-point scorers Dirk Nowitz-ki and Josh Howard and the streaky Jason Terry.
What they need: Help on the inside. With the Lakers and Suns adding big men, the Mavericks will be counting on Erick Dampier to hold his own.
What they'll get: Expect the Mavs to channel that sense of urgency into their second straight Southwest Division title.
Utah Jazz
4th in the West entering the All-Star break (34-19)
More NBA coverage:
Second-half preview
Four young stars to watch
Quick guide to the stretch run
The Sporting Blog:
Van Horn wins NBA lotto
Bibby won't fix the Hawks
What they have: The best record in the conference since trading for Kyle Korver at the end of December. Adding the sharpshooter to the league's most physical team resulted in an 18-3 stretch that vaulted the Jazz to the top of the Northwest Division. The Jazz also have the second-best home record in the league, a comforting notion for a team playing 16 of its final 29 games in Utah.
What they need: A cushion going into their final six games, all of which will be against playoff contenders. They could use a win at San Antonio in their regular-season finale. The Jazz have not won there since Carlos Boozer was playing at Juneau-Douglas (Alaska) High School, a stretch of 19 games, including three in last season's conference finals.
What they'll get: Enough 40-point nights from one of the game's best pick-and-roll duos, Boozer and point guard Deron Williams, to allow the Jazz to win back-to-back division crowns.
Phoenix Suns
2nd in the West entering the All-Star break (37-16)
What they have: A lot of wins playing small ball, a style they seemingly turned their backs on when they traded for Shaquille O'Neal. The Suns are looking for a bigger inside presence -- not to mention better chemistry in the locker room -- with O'Neal coming in and high flier Shawn Marion heading out. Just the knowledge that he will be moving from center to power forward has Amare Stoudemire putting up happy numbers; he averaged 29.0 points and 11.8 rebounds in the first five games after the trade.
What they need: A training staff that can work wonders. With one of the shortest benches among the West's elite, the Suns must keep their four 30-something starters in working order for the playoffs.
What they'll get: Relentless attention from the entire basketball world watching to see what happens when a 321-pound Clydesdale tries to play with a team full of thoroughbreds. Of course, the experiment can't be judged fairly until playoff time.
New Orleans Hornets
1st in the West entering the All-Star break (36-15)
What they have: The best start in franchise history, thanks to a healthy lineup that features the league's most productive threesome. Point guard Chris Paul, power forward David West and center Tyson Chandler have 76 double doubles combined.
What they need: Fans. The Hornets rank 29th in attendance. A deeper bench would help, too, which is why the Hornets have been following the reinstatement bid of 6-10 forward Chris "Birdman" Andersen, banned two years ago for violating the league's drug policy. Because Andersen was with the Hornets at the time, they would have the first chance to re-sign him.
What they'll get: Their best record ever, as long as they continue on their 57-win pace.
San Antonio Spurs
6th in the West entering the All-Star break (34-17)
What they have: The best-run franchise in the league, arguably the best coach in the league in Gregg Popovich and the best big man in the league in Tim Duncan, whose numbers have been on the rise since January. They also have leaguewide respect that comes with winning four championships in nine years, including one last season.
What they need: The playoffs to begin. The Spurs usually spend the first few months breaking in their new role players, but this season they brought back virtually their entire team and bolted to a 17-3 start. Once they realized the real season wouldn't begin for five months, they started struggling and Tony Parker and Brent Barry suffered injuries that have kept them out for an extended period.
What they'll get: Healthy and rested for the playoffs. Not having home-court advantage won't matter to these guys.
Denver Nuggets
9th in the West entering the All-Star break (32-20)
What they have: An ageless superstar, Allen Iverson, and an improving superstar, Carmelo Anthony. They are the third- and fourth-leading scorers in the league with averages of 26.5 points (Iverson) and 26.2 points (Anthony). For a team that ranks near the bottom of the league in points allowed, the Nuggets also have a stronger-than-you'd-expect defense. Denver ranks at or near the top of the league in blocks, field goal percentage allowed and steals.
What they need: For everyone to stay cool. From the coach on down, the Nuggets have more than their share of volatile personalities. If they hit a bump in the road, this team could easily head down the wrong path.
What they'll get: Continued good behavior, as long as they forget about trying to trade for Ron Artest.
Houston Rockets
8th in the West entering the All-Star break (32-20)
What they have: The most dominant big man in the conference, Yao Ming, which is becoming more important as teams seek a better balance between small ball and halfcourt offense. Just as important, the Rockets have an improving defense and -- keep holding your breath, Houston -- a healthy Tracy McGrady.
What they need: To quiet the whispers that they would be better if they traded McGrady. Oh, wait. Winning 12 of 13 since he returned from injury already did that.
What they'll get: At least 50 wins, impressive for a team that entered the new year with a losing record.
Golden State Warriors
7th in the West entering the All-Star break (32-20)
What they have: The league's highest-scoring and most entertaining team, led by guards Baron Davis and Monta Ellis. They are as exciting as any twosome in the game.
What they need: To get bigger or to make sure they avoid any more shooting slumps. Based on his first week with the team, Chris Webber does not look like he'll provide the post presence coach Don Nelson has been seeking. That makes it more important for Stephen Jackson and Davis to keep their shooting percentages from declining further. Jackson was shooting 41.1 percent and Davis 42.0 percent at the break.
What they'll get: Left out of the playoffs. Size doesn't take a night off, but shooting does, even the Warriors'.
Portland Trail Blazers
10th in the West entering the All-Star break (28-24)
What they have: Plenty to feel good about. Even after losing No. 1 overall draft pick Greg Oden for the season (microfracture surgery), the Rose Garden is once again the place to be in Portland. Second-year shooting guard Brandon Roy is the team's first All-Star in seven years, and the Blazers are on pace to win 44 games -- 12 more than last season.
What they need: Experience. They are the youngest team in the league, with center Joel Przybilla, 28, as the senior member of their rotation. They also could use the aggressiveness that comes with experience -- the sometimes-passive Blazers rank near the bottom of the league in rebounding and steals.
What they'll get: The satisfaction of knowing they're on the verge of big things.