NBA Western Conference

During Thursday night's 114-104 Spurs victory over Phoenix, a startling reality became apparent—even Steve Nash plays better defense than Amare Stoudemire.

In the second half, Nash was caught defending Tony Parker one-on-one in the paint.  Nash bodied up his Spurs counterpart, successfully keeping his body between Parker and the basket despite the Frenchman's plethora of pivot moves.

Parker was finally forced to take an extremely difficult fading floater. The basket went in, but that's not the point—Nash played solid defense, and it was only Parker's ability that overcame the effort.

Stoudemire, on the other hand—the same Amare Stoudemire who has expressed a desire to be "the man"—played with the defensive intensity and intelligence of a high school JV post player.

Early in the fourth quarter, Phoenix was caught scrambling on defense thanks to the Spurs' ball movement. As the ball was swung around the three-point line, Stoudemire was the last perimeter player available to rotate. When the ball was snapped to Roger Mason, who is shooting 45.7 percent from 3-point range this season, Stoudemire committed to a half-hearted attempt to close out the shooter. Mason nailed the shot which was ruled a two-pointer.

Stoudemire was non-existent on several occasions as Parker and Manu Ginobili repeatedly sliced and diced the Suns' defense. It got to the point where outside-shooting forward Matt Bonner felt confident enough to drive on the All-Star starter.

Rebounding is the capstone to good defense for a post player. You force your man to miss a bad shot and grab the rebound—mission accomplished (for that possession, anyway). Stoudemire gave up at least four offensive rebounds in the game's final stages.

If Stoudemire were as passionate about his defensive game as his offensive production, plays like that would not happen.

Instead of improving his defensive technique with the same enthusiasm as his jump shot, he's content to put his arms straight up and pray he doesn't get a foul called. That's how he actually makes an effort to play defense.

When he expressed his desire to be "the man," Stoudemire mentioned specific players in the league, including Dwight Howard, LeBron James, and Dwyane Wade. 

Hey, Amare, those names should be a hint as to why you're not "the man" you crave to be.

Those three players are almost certain locks to be named All-Defensive First or Second Team selections this season. Let's compare each of their stats with Stoudemire's: Wade is averaging more blocks-per-game (1.3 to 1.1), James is grabbing more defensive rebounds per game (6.1 to 6.0) and Howard is destroying Stoudemire in every conceivable defensive category.

Take the hint from the stats, or even from the historical example of Michael Jordan. Early in his career he realized that offensive numbers weren't going to be enough for his own credentials or the team's. It was because of that realization and the actual application of it that Jordan became Defensive Player of the Year and led the league in scoring in the same season.

You want to be the man? Man up, and play some "D."

Other Notes:

• Grant Hill was running and finishing like it was 1997. Hill finished with 20 points and 10 rebounds in 36 minutes of playing time, making viewers appreciate both his talent and his will to keep playing despite seven years of injured misery during his prime.
• The Spurs had 16 assists as a team. Steve Nash had 18 assists by himself.
• If Manu Ginobili doesn't shoot (and make) 18 free throws, the Spurs only win the charity stripe battle by one.
• The Cavs and Magic have a striking similarity—their offense consists of one superstar and a bunch of shooters.  Orlando won the contest Thursday night 98-88. That probably didn't help refute the logic of Orlando sending three all-stars to Phoenix, while the Cavs will be represented by James alone.
• Mike Brown really is like LeBron's dad. Whenever he thinks LeBron was fouled and the whistle isn't blown, Brown just loses it.  Maybe it's because he knows his job would be toast of James were to ever suffer a long-term injury.
• Orlando's "under the radar" theme is exemplified by Hedo Turkoglu.  Despite the fact that many think he's the man that makes it work for Orlando, he was not extended an invitation for All-Star Weekend.  Turkoglu responded with 19 points and 11 rebounds.  Touché.

With the All-Star break approaching, LayupDrill gives you an in depth NBA Midseason Breakdown of the three best teams in the Western Conference, showing which team has the tougher remaining schedule and who will continue to shine and make it to the top at the end of the season.

Los Angeles Lakers (33-8)—First place in the Western Conference

The L.A. Lakers have made a statement this season as they seek to make it to the NBA Finals once again, but this time to win a Championship. With Kobe Bryant making another run at winning the MVP award, the Lakers are virtually unstoppable in the Western Conference.

A few key reasons for their play:

• While Bryant is averaging the least amount of minutes per game he has averaged since his sophomore season, he has stepped up his shooting percentage and is currently shooting a career high 47.3 FG percentage and 86 FT percentage.
• Pau Gasol has improved his rebounding game since being called “soft” on the court and is a huge part of the Lakers' success.
• Andrew Bynum is learning and progressing every game and is becoming more dominant down low. Also of note is how he dropped a career-high 42 points and 15 rebounds on the Clippers on 1/21.

Remaining Schedule

The Lakers play the San Antonio Spurs (2), Denver Nuggets (2), Houston Rockets (2), Atlanta Hawks (2), Boston Celtics (1), Cleveland Cavaliers (1), New Orleans Hornets (1), and the Detroit Pistons (1). 12 total games against the top five best teams in each conference.

Reasons for an increase in success

Bryant and the Lakers will continue to improve their league-leading record in the second half.

• Jordan Farmar will be returning from injury shortly and will certainly help Derek Fisher in the front court.
• The Lakers bench (Lamar Odom, Sasha Vujacic, Trevor Ariza) has the ability to come into games and take full control, enabling the Lakers starters to get more rest.
• Trevor Ariza is playing the best basketball of his career.
• The Lakers starting five will improve their magnificent play throughout the remainder of the season.

Season Predictions

64-18 and first seed in the Western Conference.

San Antonio Spurs (28-13)—Second place in the Western Conference

After a slow start to the season, the Spurs are back to their true form and look better than ever. With a 28-13 record and winning eight of their last 10 games, the Spurs look to make it far into the playoffs once again.

A few key reasons for their play:

• Tony Parker is playing his best basketball since coming into the NBA. He is averaging career highs in PPG (20.4), APG (6.7), and FT percentage (80.7).
• Tim Duncan is the best power-forward to have ever played the game of basketball and just his presence on the court is more than enough to help a team win games.

Remaining Schedule

The Spurs play the New Orleans Hornets (3), Los Angeles Lakers (2), Boston Celtics (2), Cleveland Cavaliers (2), Houston Rockets (2), Denver Nuggets (1), Detroit Pistons (1), and the Atlanta Hawks (1). Fourteen total games against the top-five best teams in each conference.

Reasons for an increase in success

• Manu Ginobili is bound to pick up his production as the season progresses and will be a key reason for the future success the Spurs can look forward to.
  
• Roger Mason has made a big impact on the roster and will continue to drain threes from left and right.
• Rookie George Hill will start to receive more playing time and is expected to produce during that time.

Season Predictions

58-24 and second seed in the West.

New Orleans Hornets (26-13)—Third place in the Western Conference

The Hornets have been able to keep their record from collapsing so far this season. With an overall 26-13 record, they look to improve their play as the season goes on.

A key reason for their play:

• Chris Paul is what we call greatness, averaging career-high numbers in PPG (21.2), RPG (5.5), SPG (2.7, best in the NBA), 49.9 FG percentage, and an 86.7 FT percentage, while still managing to dish out a league high 11 APG. How much better can this guy get?

Remaining Schedule

The Hornets play the San Antonio Spurs (3), Denver Nuggets (2), Houston Rockets (2), Boston Celtics (1), Orlando Magic (1), Los Angeles Lakers (1), Detroit Pistons (1), and the Atlanta Hawks (1). 12 total games against the top five best teams in each conference.

Reasons for an increase in losses

• Tyson Chandler’s averages are down from last season, averaging just 8.8 PPG, 8.3 RPG, 1.4 BPG, and a 56.3 FG percentage. He has not played basketball to his full potential this year and is currently out for a week due to an ankle sprain.
• The Hornets bench is not producing enough.

Season Predictions

44-38 and fifth seed in the West

Denver Nuggets (28-15)—Fourth place in the Western Conference

The Denver Nuggets are a new team this season with the acquisition of point-guard Chauncey Billups and the emergence of Nene. They have stepped up their playing immensely and look like playoff contenders going into the All-Star break this season.

A few key reasons for their play:

• Billups is one of the best point guards in the game today and is clearly showing it on the Nuggets court, putting up career-high numbers in PPG in his 11th NBA season, with 18.9 per game.
• Big man Nene is averaging career numbers in PPG (14.8), RPG (8.1), BPG (1.4), 60.1 FG percentage, and a 73.8 FT percentage in 33.2 MPG.

Remaining Schedule

The Nuggets play the Los Angeles Lakers (2), New Orleans Hornets (2), San Antonio Spurs (1), Orlando Magic (1), Boston Celtics (1), Atlanta Hawks (1), Detroit Pistons (1), and the Houston Rockets (1). 10 total games against the top five teams in each conference.

Reasons for an increase in success

• Carmelo Anthony could be back on the court as soon as next week; his play will greatly improve the Nuggets' record.
• J.R. Smith has started to improve his overall game with the absence of Carmelo, averaging 14.6 PPG, 6 RPG, 4.4 APG, 1.8 SPG, and nine 3PTM during his last five games.
• Kenyon Martin is playing outstanding basketball for the Nuggets and is a major key to their success.

Season Predictions

50-32 and third seed in the West

Remember at the beginning of the season when the Utah Jazz streaked to a 5-0 start and looked as if the problems that had plagued them in last year's campaign where eliminated?

Since then, the Jazz have been, well, mediocre at best. What bothers me the most is that Utah has had flashes of brilliance against good teams, but somehow falls apart against the Thunder? I don't get it.

Here are the top five issues I see that need to be rectified for Utah to have a legit shot in the playoffs, if they can make it.

1. Injuries

Since opening day, the Jazz have not had their starting line-up in a single game at full strength. So I don't see a reason how this can not be the number one problem that has hurt the Jazz.

First, it was Deron Williams with a high ankle sprain in the preseason that kept him sidelined for a good three weeks into the regular season. Not only that, but it has taken him a long time to get back to full speed.

Carlos Boozer has been out, it seems like forever now, with a knee injury and could be back after the All-Star break.

Matt Harpring, Mehmet Okur, Paul Milsap, Brevin Knight, C.J. Miles, and Andrei Kirilenko have all spent time on the bench with injuries this season.

If Utah can get completely healthy they could be a tough team to deal with come playoff time. Luckily for the Jazz their depth on the bench has kept them in contention for a playoff spot.

2. Trouble on the Road

What is it with the Jazz on the road?

At home they are one of, if not the, toughest team to beat, with a record of 16-4. On the road, however, they are a sub .500 team with a dismal 8-13 record.

This has been a problem for a long time now, and it is something that needs to be fixed. I don't quite understand how this is, because Utah is a team that is known for toughness and discipline.

But somehow, on the road all that seems to disappear and the Jazz seem to play down to the level of the competition that they are playing instead of playing Utah Jazz basketball.

3. Lack of killer instinct

When was the last time you saw the Jazz just obliterate a lesser team? I honestly can't remember.

I know it happens every once in awhile, but that will happen in the NBA occasionally.

With the Jazz, however, it should happen more often, yet doesn't. Utah doesn't seem to have that killer instinct to finish off opponents and get them out of the game. Even when they are up big, they seem to let teams back in the game and make it harder than it should be.

I would usually say that is just a lack of coaching, but I doubt it is that with Jerry Sloan on the bench running things. Someone on the floor needs to take charge and keep the pedal to the metal until the final horn blows.

4. Consistency

It's rare to see the Jazz play a full game at top form. There always seems to be a point in the game when the Jazz just let up or don't run their offense and either let teams back in the game or shoot themselves out of one.

Bringing the ball down, shooting one jump shot, and that's it as far as offense goes, (you know what I'm talking about Jazz fans) it is something that needs fixing. Teams in the West will open a big lead if you give them a window like that.

5. Carlos Boozer

I guess you could spin this a lot of different ways, but whatever way you look at it, Carlos Boozer has been a problem for the Jazz ever since his injury.

There has been a very large positive with the emergence of Paul Milsap, but with that they lost a big boost off the bench. Also, his contract opt-out drama is not a healthy thing to have around a team.

There has been a large amount of trade talk, but I don't see it happening because who wants a guy coming off an injury that is going to play 20 games for you then opt out? It just doesn't make sense.

What I think will have to happen is, when he finally comes back, he well put up the same kind of numbers he was in the opening month of the season, help the Jazz in the playoffs, then do his thing in the offseason.

The Jazz are a very good team—many people know this but there are just a few things keeping them from playing like one.

If they can get just one or two of these things fixed, then the Jazz will have a legit shot at playing well into the playoffs.

Do you think Jazz fans can we do it? Only time will tell.

In the midst of what has now turned into a four-game losing skid, one ugly truth has become more apparent than ever.

Despite Jason Terry arguably playing the best ball of his career, Jason Kidd exceeding all of his critics' expectations, and Dirk Nowitzki continuing to play like...well, like Dirk Nowitzki; these Dallas Mavericks are not good enough to contend for an NBA title.

In fact, they are barely good enough to contend for a playoff spot.

With just under half of the '08-'09 season completed, the Mavs have a mediocre 22-17 record. They are sitting at fourth place in the Southwest Conference and ninth place overall in the Western Conference, just one spot out of playoff contention.

Ordinarily, it would be premature, and even pessimistic, to suggest that it is time to blowup a team that is still very much in the thick of things. However, the Dallas Mavericks are not your ordinary team.

Just three years ago, the Dallas Mavericks finally emerged as one of the NBA's elite teams by knocking off the San Antonio Spurs and Phoenix Suns en-route to the franchise's first ever NBA Finals appearance.

Despite giving up a 2-0 series lead and ultimately falling to the Miami Heat in heart-breaking fashion, the Mavericks gave their fans reason to hope for the future.

Two years ago, the Mavericks picked themselves up off the mat and took the NBA by storm. In a season that saw the Mavs win 67 games, good for the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference and the overall best record in the NBA, it looked as if nobody could stop the Mavericks in their fight for redemption.

As luck would have it, however, the only team to own a regular season winning record over the Mavs that year, the Golden State Warriors, was the same team to draw the eighth seed in the West. They became the first ever No. 8 seed to knock off a No. 1 seed in a seven-game series, and the Mavericks once again ended their season in heartbreak.

One year ago, after a disappointing first half of the season, the Mavericks made what may go down as one of the most infamous trades in NBA history. In return for Kidd, Malik Allen, and Antoine Wright, the Mavericks sent Devin Harris, DeSagana Diop, Trenton Hassell, Maurice Ager, Keith Van Horn via sign-and-trade, two first-round draft picks and $3 million in cash to the New Jersey Nets.

It was a trade that could only be considered a success if the Mavericks won, and won now. One year later, despite Kidd's superb play, the trade is a disaster.

The Mavericks are floundering. Harris is almost assured his first all-star selection and looks to be one of the great up-and-coming point guards in the league. Perhaps most disconcerting is that, with a lack of draft picks and few attractive tradable parts, the Mavericks have almost no way of building around their current nucleus.

This leaves the Mavs with only two real viable options:

The first and easiest option is to stand pat. The Mavs can stick with their current roster in hopes that something suddenly changes within the organization.

More than likely, the Mavs will continue to be a good, but not great, team. They will win some big games, lose some big games, and will likely squeak their way into the playoffs, where they will win one series at most.

The second option is harder. It is by far the more painful road. However, it is also the road that is not only best for the team, but best for everyone involved.

It is time for the Dallas Mavericks to trade Dirk Nowitzki before its too late.

For any Mavs' fan, this is the last thing that they would want to do, but it is the only thing that makes sense. He is the only name on the Mavericks' roster that has enough trade value to help this team reach long-term success.

Terry is a great player, but he is a role player. Kidd is getting up in years, and although he has performed better with the Mavericks than anyone could have ever hoped, there will always be the question about how much longer he can keep it up. Josh Howard has done just about everything he can in the past year to hurt his trade value.

What the Mavs need is good, young players to start building on the next era of Dallas Mavericks basketball. The only player on this current roster that will be able to help the Mavs get what they need is Nowitzki.

Perhaps more importantly than all of that, however, is the future success of Nowitzki. One of the hardest workers in the league, a great teammate and a leader by example, and one of the most revolutionary players ever to step foot on the hardwood, it is hard to argue that anyone deserves to become an NBA Champion more than Nowitzki does.

It has become apparent that he will not win a championship with Dallas. This team's window has shut and has probably been shut for some time now.

It is time for the Mavericks to consider trading Nowitzki to a contender, and let him have a chance at winning a title. It is time to bring in some younger players and try to build this team back up to championship quality.

Although a tough and painful choice to make, a Nowitzki trade could very well be what is in the best interest of the team, the best interest of Nowitzki, and in due time, the Dallas Mavericks' fans as well.

It is time to let Dirk go.

The NBA playoffs begin Apr. 18, 2009 and as of today, only seven teams in the Western Conference can tell you with certainty whether they’ll be preparing for the first round of the postseason or the first round of the NBA Draft.

Only one of the seven, the Los Angeles Lakers, can get their marketing department started on designing playoff tickets.

The other six—the Grizzlies, Clippers, Warriors, Kings, Timberwolves, and Thunder can get their marketing department started on next summer’s campaign to convince season-ticket holders to keep spending their hard-earned money on a losing team amidst these harsh economic times.

In between the Lakers and the bottom six are eight teams vying for seven remaining playoff spots.

Call it Musical Chairs: NBA Edition.

Of those eight teams, the New Orleans Hornets, currently second in the conference, and the Utah Jazz, currently ninth, are separated by only two-and-a-half games in the standings.

Each of the eight teams is only a bad road trip away from dropping out of the playoff picture.

Before you try taking a stab at which of the eight you think won’t be included, ask yourself which of the eight you’d be willing to bet money on, or which of the eight would you be the most afraid of betting against?

There are a number of facts to consider. For example, four of the eight—Phoenix, Portland, Denver, and New Orleans have had four of the NBA’s eleven toughest schedules so far this season (based on the winning percentage of their opponents).

The other four—San Antonio, Houston, Dallas, and Utah have had four of the NBA’s 10 easiest schedules based on the same criteria.

The two teams currently atop the eight, New Orleans and San Antonio, are the only teams from the group to have played more home than away games.

All that being said, here’s a look at the eight teams and what their chances look like going forward in the New Year.


San Antonio Spurs

The Spurs are currently 20-11 but this year Pop’s bunch has looked more vulnerable than ever.

The combination of preseason and early season injuries to Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker, the loss of mainstays Brent Barry and Robert Horry, and the decline in play of veterans Bruce Bowen and Kurt Thomas raises questions about whether or not the Spurs have the depth to withstand another long-term injury to one of its big three.

The surprisingly efficient play of newcomers Roger Mason and rookie George Hill has added new energy to a team that looked to be aging rather quickly after last season’s playoff loss to the Lakers.

Injuries and age notwithstanding, recent playoff history and a tendency to play their best basketball in the spring suggests that the Spurs seem to be the safest bet from the eight to get an invite to the playoff party.


Houston Rockets

Unlike the Spurs, the Rockets' offseason acquisition of Ron Artest made them the team best-equipped to make the playoffs in spite of an injury to one of it’s big three. But there’s no guarantee there either.
Rockets fans can take solace in knowing that their team currently has the largest discrepancy between home and road games amongst the eight teams fighting for the seven spots. 18 of the Rockets' first 33 games this season have been road games.

The fact that last season’s historic 22-game winning streak started at the end of January gives me reason to believe that their best basketball will come in the season’s second half.

All of that makes Houston the third safest bet to make the playoffs out west and the second from the group of eight.


New Orleans Hornets

The third team in the Southwest Division fighting for one of the seven remaining playoff spots is last season’s division winners, the New Orleans Hornets. The Hornets are currently 19-9, one game better than they were through 28 games last season.

But a closer examination of the Hornets record this season shows that they are only 7-6 against teams that made the playoffs last season—a pace that probably won’t cut it should it continue.

It’s hard to imagine the Hornets going from division champ to lottery-bound in just one season, given their impressive early season record. The fact that it would be more of a surprise if the Hornets didn’t make the playoffs than it would if they did is enough of a reason to make them the fourth-safest bet to book hotel rooms for late April.


Denver Nuggets

It’s hard to believe that of the remaining five teams—the Nuggets, Jazz, Blazers, Suns, and Mavericks—one of them will be represented at the Draft Lottery.

It didn’t seem all that far-fetched at the beginning of the season but all of that changed on Nov. 3 when the Nuggets traded Allen Iverson to the Pistons for Chauncey Billups.

The Nuggets, 1-3 before Billups joined the team, have won 20 of the 29 games with Billups on the active roster—a winning percentage of .690.

The Nuggets have always been a dominant home team and this season is no exception. The Nuggets are 11-4 at home this season but the four losses have come against the Lakers, Hornets, Spurs, and Cavaliers—nothing to be embarrassed about.

It should also be noted that the Nuggets are the only team to beat the defending champion Boston Celtics in Boston this season.

The Nuggets chances of winning the Northwest Division title might come down to their ability to beat the better teams at home. But as long as they are able to beat everybody else they should have no problem making the playoffs, thus making them the fifth-safest after the Lakers, Spurs, Rockets, and Hornets to make the Western Conference playoffs.


Dallas Mavericks

It wasn’t that long ago that the Dallas Mavericks were 2-7. Everyone had written them off and they appeared as if they were headed for their sixth consecutive loss. The Mavs were losing 112-105 to the Knicks with 2:28 left in regulation and that’s when Dirk Nowitzki took over.

Nowitzki keyed the comeback that sent the game into overtime and then scored seven more points in the extra frame to lead the Mavs to the season-saving 124-114 victory.

The Mavs have won 16 of the 21 games they’ve played since that day in New York to improve their record to a very respectable 19-12.

Even though Nowitzki deserves a lot of recognition for the Mavs turnaround, reserve Jason Terry has carved out his own chunk of the credit. Terry, the leading candidate for Sixth Man of the Year, is averaging over 21 points per game off the bench.

The Mavs have the requisite playoff experience to help them down the stretch but whether or not they make the playoffs will depend on if they more closely resemble the team that stared out 2-7 or the one that has only lost five of their last 22 games.
The Mavs turnaround has come without the services of veteran Jerry Stackhouse who has asked the team for a trade. Stackhouse’s contract expires at the end of next season so he could net the Mavericks the additional piece to help down the stretch.

Owner Mark Cuban has never been afraid to spend, especially if adding another player is the difference between making the playoffs and watching them on TV.

I have to believe that the Mavs bad start had more to do with their adjustment to new head coach Rick Carlisle and less to do with personnel. Therefore I give the Mavs the best shot of these last four teams to qualify for the postseason.


Phoenix Suns

It’s hard to imagine that a team that with four potential future Hall of Famers could miss the playoffs but that’s precisely the case with this season’s Suns.

It didn’t look as if the Suns would have anything to worry about heading into the season but all of that changed when the Nuggets acquired Billups and the Mavs turned their season around.

Suddenly, the Suns were no longer a lock to make the playoffs, so General Manager Steve Kerr acted quickly when he acquired Jason Richardson from the Charlotte Bobcats for Raja Bell, Boris Diaw, and Sean Singletary.

Kerr received a lot of criticism for last season’s trade of Shawn Marion for Shaquille O’Neal because the Suns were in first-place at the time of the trade. What Kerr knew that many of those critics didn’t was that the Suns had a very favorable first-half schedule.

This season, the Suns have had one of the league’s most difficult schedules, so their 18-12 record is encouraging. Still, no team is under more pressure to make the playoffs.

Whether or not the Suns make the playoffs could come down to how they perform against some of their tougher road opponents in the last two months of the season—including stops in Orlando, Miami, Houston, San Antonio, Portland, Utah, Dallas, and New Orleans.

Would I have the guts to bet against the Suns making the playoffs?

I have a hard time believing that a team with O’Neal, Richardson, Steve Nash, Amare Stoudemire, and Grant Hill isn’t good enough to crack the top eight in the conference.

If I’m wrong and the Suns do miss the postseason, then it could cost Kerr and new head coach Terry Porter their jobs.

Portland Trailblazers

It’s conceivable that the third-place team in the Northwest Division could find themselves only one-game back of the division title at the end of the season and still miss the playoffs.

Nobody is surprised that the Portland Trailblazers are in the playoff hunt, considering they added Greg Oden and Rudy Fernandez to an already talented group. But nobody could have expected the Denver Nuggets to still be in the mix after losing their two best defenders, Marcus Camby and Eduardo Najera.

As a result, the Blazers' playoff prospects have gone from likely to questionable. With so few playoff-experienced players on their roster it’s almost certain that general manager Kevin Pritchard will make a trade to add a veteran and no team is in a better position to deal for a missing piece.

The combination of Raef LaFrentz’s huge expiring contract and a plethora of expendable talent like Channing Frye, Ike Diogu, Martell Webster, and Travis Outlaw give Portland the best chance of acquiring an impact player the likes of Michael Redd, Kirk Hinrich, Antawn Jamison, Andre Miller, or Devin Harris.


Utah Jazz

The Utah Jazz, winners of the last two Northwest Division titles, knew going into this season that they would be in a dogfight to win a third consecutive title.

With the exception of the San Antonio Spurs, the injury bug has hit no team in the conference as hard as the Jazz. Guard C.J. Miles is the only member of the team to have played in all 33 games this season.

Now comes the news that Carlos Boozer will undergo arthroscopic knee surgery next week and isn’t expected to return until after the All-Star break. Even if Boozer can return by March the Jazz will still have an uphill battle to make the playoffs with 14 of their last 23 games on the road—including stops at Orlando, Phoenix, Portland, Denver, New Orleans, Dallas, San Antonio and the Lakers.

Due to all the injuries, the Jazz have already lost as many games this year at home as they did all of last season.

Despite all of the injuries it’s a small miracle they are 19-14. Part of that is due to the always brilliant coaching of Jerry Sloan and part of it is due to having the NBA’s sixth easiest schedule this season (based on opponent’s winning percentage).

It’s conceivable that the Jazz could still makes the playoffs in spite of all their injuries. If they manage to sneak and all of their key players are healthy in time for the start of the playoffs the Jazz would easily be the Western Conference team none of the top four seeds want to play in the first round.

But with so many injuries, a mediocre road record, and the most difficult part of their schedule still in front of them it’s looking more and more as if it’s going to be the Jazz who will be (pardon the pun) singing the blues come playoff time.

Opponents think they know what they'll see when they play the Utah Jazz.

They anticipate Utah's Pick and Roll v.2.0 with featuring Deron Williams and Carlos Boozer.  They prepare to be executed to death.  They know their effort will have to exceed their talent in order to win.

It's new ingredient that's catching teams off guard, just as the Blazers were Thursday night in their 97-88 defeat at Salt Lake City: athleticism.

That's right, the team once defined by the precise, tough, but unspectacular play of John Stockton and Karl Malone now features a flair in stark contrast to the franchise's grounded reputation.

A youthful committee of Paul Millsap, C.J. Miles and Ronnie Brewer has become a collective X-factor as teams continue to focus on the Jazz's core of Williams, Boozer, Mehmet Okur and Andrei Kirilenko.  Against Portland, the three aforementioned youngsters combined for 36 points and 19 rebounds.

It's not just the production.  It's how they're getting it done.

Millsap is an extremely valuable asset for Utah, given his penchant for rebounding and his overall hustle. When given minutes (which he's getting with Boozer out with an injury), he's also shown his ability to score consistently in the post. 

Millsap outrebounded Portland's entire starting frontline Greg Oden, LaMarcus Aldridge and Nicolas Batum, 12 boards to their 10.  On the season, he's averaging 13.5ppg and 8.3 rpg in under 30 minutes a game.

If Boozer does indeed jump ship this summer when free agency season begins, the Jazz have the best possible scenario: a cheap, hungry and ready player to replace him.  In the event Boozer elects to remain in Utah, Millsap can be either a exceptional piece of the bench or an great trading chip.

Miles and Brewer combine to become the ideal wing compliments to Deron Williams, especially on the fast break.  The two have already mastered moving without the ball in coach Jerry Sloan's system, and have reaped the benefits, being on the receiving end of alley-oop passes or getting dunks off back-door cuts.

All of the above only gets better knowing that none of the young threesome have mor than three seasons under their respective belts.

In the 1998-99 season, the Utah's role players featured the likes of Jeff Hornaceck, Greg Ostertag, Shandon Anderson and Adam Keefe.

Ten years later, their tune is jazzed up thanks to some energetic new pieces.

Other Notes:

• While Steve Blake has overachieved for Portland this season as their starting point guard (11.1ppg and 4.1apg), you have to wonder if he's the man the Blazers want at the point long-term.  Don't be surprised if Portland packages some of their young, under-used talent to upgrade that position within the next year.
• Small forward has been another point of inconsistency for the Blazers.  Thursday night, starter Batum and Travis Outlaw combined for zero points on 0-for-6 shooting in 26 combined minutes of play.
• Boston romped over the Wizards Thursday night to the tune of 122-88.  The contrast of the Celtics' perfectly balanced roster to Washington's hodge-podge assembly was pathetically obvious.
• Assuming there's going to be at least one true point guard on the team, who's going to be the East's point man for the All-Star game?  It's a four-man race between Boston's Rajon Rondo, Toronto's Jose Calderon, Chicago's Derrick Rose and New Jersey's Devin Harris. Those are slim pickings compared to the West (Tony Parker, Chris Paul, Deron Williams, Steve Nash, Jason Kidd, Baron Davis, and Chauncey Billups).
• Guards DeShawn Stevenson, Mike James and Nick Young combined to shoot 0-for-14 on the night.  Think Gilbert Arenas could do better than that right now despite his still-injured status?
• Just like the Suns/Lakers game on Wednesday night, the Mavs/Bobcats matchup Thursday evening featured a team depleted by the Richardson/Diaw/Bell trade.  And just like that previous game, the undermanned team gave their opponents all they could handle.  Dirk Nowitzki had to bail out Dallas, nailing a three with 30 seconds left, putting the Mavs up four and the game out of reach.
• Emeka Okafor had a surprisingly dominant outing, scoring 27 points and getting 14 rebounds.  That kind of production is what Charlotte thought they'd be getting routinely after Orlando passed on him in favor of Dwight Howard....

Wednesday night showcased just what talent, athleticism, and a pocketful of first round draft picks can do. It also showed what a decade worth of natural deterioration presents.

Between the Cavs-Sixers, Suns-Lakers, and the Nuggets-Wolves, all of those factors were on display and at maximum strength.

Here is precisely what I’m referring to:


Iguodola & LeBron

Andre Iguodola, the ninth overall pick in the 2004 NBA Draft waltzed into the Wachovia Center well below his points per game and steals per game average but those couldn’t even be contrasted to his dismal field goal, and three-point percentage compared to a year ago. However, Iggy changed that.

He not only played comparable defense on LeBron, but he also “rickshaw-ed” the 76ers to a competitive contest.

Iguodola slithered in-and-out of the lane, and did a brilliant job working off the ball to create better opportunities for himself and the Sixers.

As a result, A.I. had 12 points alone in the first quarter on 6-7 shooting including a layup, and a dunk that you can credit to his profound route-running. Iggy finished with 21 points at the half, and 27 points, nine rebounds, and five assists for the game.

LeBron James bullied the flock of defenders assigned to him (Miller, Brand, and Green) and wheeled around traps to find open looks for teammates. The Cavs’ best player scored 10 points on 4-5 shooting in the first, and James continued to trudge into Philly defenders forcing over a fourth (6-20) of Philadelphia’s team fouls. After affecting the game on offense, ‘Bron turned his sights to defense.

James had two blocks—both on point guard Lou Williams— to help Cleveland to its 10th straight victory.

LBJ finished with 29 points, five assists, and two blocks in 39 minutes of action.

It was LeBron’s third game of the season with at least 20 points, seven assists, and two blocks.

Combined, the duo went for 56 points, 10 assists, and 13 rebounds for an unconventional triple-double.


Carmelo Anthony

Topping LeBron's scoring output in a single quarter deserves special recognition; relevant or not. Fortunately, it was 24-year-old, molten superstar Carmelo Anthony. Though A.I.'s and James' contributions were lovely, they almost bowed to Melo's.

However, Anthony almost singe-handedly abolished that mark (45-11-4), and tied George Gervin for the most points in a quarter with 33, while beating the Timberwolves.

Melo’s 45 points (in only 39 minutes) was the highest since he poured in 49 on the Washington Wizards in a win, also at the Pepsi Center.

Aside from the offensive explosion, he added 11 rebounds, four steals, four three-pointers, and nine free throws.


The Veterans: Elton Brand, Kobe Bryant, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, and Steve Nash

Combined the four veterans went 19-51, and only attempted seven free throws—Brand 4-12, Zydrunas 3-11, Bryant 6-16, and Nash 2-12.

Though Kobe and Ilgauskas proved to be the victors of the bunch, both missed open shots, and launched the ball indifferently to the game tempo.

Last night marked the first time all three players (Melo, Lebron, and Andre) registered at 20 points and four rebounds on the same night, and the first time LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, and Iggy each scored 20 points while Kobe, Elton, Nash, and Zydrunas on the same evening.