IT'S NO BULL, OTHERS HAVE SHOT AT TITLE.Byline: Gary Washburn Daily News Staff Writer The questions remain. Will anyone beat out the Bulls in the East? And who will come of out of the wild West? The NBA Playoffs The NBA Playoffs is a four-round best-of-seven elimination tournament between sixteen teams in the Eastern Conference and Western Conferences (called Divisions, pre-1970) of the National Basketball Association, ultimately determining the league champion. begin this week and will decide which team will reign supreme. It will be one of the most competitive postseasons in recent years as the NBA NBA abbr. 1. National Basketball Association 2. National Boxing Association NBA (US) n abbr (= National Basketball Association) → Basketball-Dachverband (= continues its trend toward parity. Chicago is the overwhelming favorite in the East, but its footing is not as rock solid as last season. The Bulls were unable to reach their 72-win total from last season and have split the season series with Miami. Dennis Rodman's absence makes the Bulls vulnerable in the paint. That will put more pressure on Michael Jordan This article is about the former basketball player. For other uses, see Michael Jordan (disambiguation). Michael Jeffrey Jordan (born February 17 1963) is a retired American professional basketball player. and Scottie Pippen Scottie Maurice Pippen (born September 25, 1965 in Hamburg, Arkansas) is a retired American professional basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association (NBA). to shine even brighter. Pat Riley For the American guitarist, see . Patrick James "Pat" Riley (born March 20, 1945) is an American National Basketball Association head coach and team president of the Miami Heat. has Miami vying for the title a year earlier than expected. The Heat has come together with a rejuvenated re·ju·ve·nate tr.v. re·ju·ve·nat·ed, re·ju·ve·nat·ing, re·ju·ve·nates 1. To restore to youthful vigor or appearance; make young again. 2. Tim Hardaway Timothy Duane (Tim) Hardaway (born September 1 1966 in Chicago, Illinois) is a retired American basketball point guard who played in the National Basketball Association (NBA) and who in his prime was one of the league's best at his position. Six feet (1. and improving Alonzo Mourning Alonzo Harding Mourning, Jr. (born February 8 1970, in Chesapeake, Virginia) is an American professional basketball player currently with the NBA's Miami Heat. He is also known simply as "Zo". Playing at center, he is tall, and weighs 261 lb (0 kg). . The Heat won the Atlantic Division Atlantic Division is:
The next four teams are battling for seeds and the Knicks are in the group. Once again, New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of enters the playoffs as a potential conference title contender or first-round upset victim. Patrick Ewing Patrick Aloysius Ewing (born August 5, 1962) is a retired American professional basketball player. He played most of his career with the National Basketball Association's New York Knicks as their starting center and played briefly with the Seattle SuperSonics and Orlando Magic. is doing everything in his power to keep New York alive until a matchup with Chicago. He'll need help. Detroit, Charlotte and Atlanta are the dark horses. None of the three has had much recent playoff success. But all three have played well enough during the regular season to be threats. The West is almost even. Any of the top four seeds have a shot at reaching the finals, with Utah being the favorite and owning homecourt advantage Noun 1. homecourt advantage - the advantage of playing on your home court in front of fans who are rooting for you advantage, vantage - the quality of having a superior or more favorable position; "the experience gave him the advantage over me" . Utah is hungry for a finals appearance and some respect. Seattle wants to prove its conference title was no fluke. The Lakers want a return to Showtime and the pressure's on with Shaquille O'Neal Shaquille Rashaun O'Neal (pronounced "shak-KEEL") (born March 6, 1972 in Newark, New Jersey), frequently referred to simply as Shaq, is an American professional basketball player, generally regarded as one of the most dominant in the National Basketball Association (NBA). in the lineup. Houston wants one more for Charles Barkley This article is about the basketball player. For the politican, see Charles E. Barkley Charles Wade Barkley (born February 20 1963) is a retired American professional basketball player. . ``It's going to be a war,'' Barkley said. ``It's no secret. You've got to play your (tail) off. Whatever team does that will come out.'' The West's second-level teams includes dangerous Portland, resurgent re·sur·gent adj. 1. Experiencing or tending to bring about renewal or revival. 2. Sweeping or surging back again. Adj. 1. Phoenix, the surprising Clippers and improving Minnesota. Portland and Phoenix are most likely to pull off a first-round upset. CHICAGO BULLS The Chicago Bulls are a professional basketball team based in Chicago, Illinois. They play in the National Basketball Association. The team was founded in 1966, and has won six NBA Championships since. Eastern Conference champion Who's hot: The entire team. Michael Jordan (29.8 ppg) and Scottie Pippen (20.2) have had their typical seasons while the co-stars have contributed greatly. Chicago manages to roll over opponents because everyone knows their roles. The team dealt with Dennis Rodman's absence by collecting a better winning percentage than when he was in the lineup. Pippen, despite being a forward, leads the Bulls in assists. The addition of Brian Williams This article is about the American journalist. For other uses, see Brian Williams (disambiguation). Brian Douglas Williams (born May 5, 1959) is an anchor and managing editor of NBC Nightly News, the flagship evening news program of the NBC television network. makes them even better. Who's not: Rodman will not play in the first round and could miss the second round with a sprained knee. He's the backbone to the defense. Why they can go far: The Bulls have two Hall of Famers and are tough to defend because Jordan attracts so much attention. The others are skilled enough to make plays when asked, and Jordan is usually going to get at least 30. What can stop them: The lack of a center. Williams is out of shape and Luc Longley Lucien James "Luc" Longley (born January 19 1969 in Melbourne, Victoria) is a retired Australian professional basketball player, who was the first Australian to play in the NBA. He attended college at the University of New Mexico. is Luc Longley. A team with a powerful center, i.e., the Lakers, will give Chicago real trouble. MIAMI HEAT The Miami Heat (known as the HEAT [in all capital letters] on official team publications) are a professional basketball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. They play in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Eastern Conference No. 2 Who's hot: Guard Tim Hardaway and center Alonzo Mourning. Hardaway has been magnificent in his first full season in Miami. His ability to score draws defenses away from Mourning, who is best at getting the ball in favorable positions. Coach Pat Riley has told his players they're not respected around the league. The Heat has been on a mission. Who's not: New addition Jamal Mashburn Jamal Mashburn (born November 29, 1972 in New York City) is a retired American professional basketball player. A small forward, Mashburn was a prolific scorer in his 12 seasons in the league, with a career scoring average of 19.1 points per game. , who is hitting just 39 percent of his shots. He was acquired to give Hardaway a break. But he's been average at best. Why they can go far: The Heat is talented. Mourning is a bull inside, Hardaway can create for himself and teammates, and Dan Majerle Daniel Lewis Majerle (surname pronounced MAR-lee; b. September 9, 1965, Traverse City, Michigan) is an American former professional basketball player. Known by his fans as "Thunder Dan" or "Dan the Man" he played 14 years in the National Basketball Association, and Voshon Lenard Voshon Kelan Lenard (born May 14 1973 in Detroit, Michigan) is an American professional basketball player. He is currently a free agent. He is listed as 6' 4" and 215 lbs. College career Lenard played college basketball at the University of Minnesota, where he was a star. can shoot from the perimeter. What can stop it: Like many other competitors to the Bulls, the Heat has its lapses. Consecutive losses to Minnesota and New Jersey last week are discouraging. After winning the Atlantic Division, Miami has gone in the tank. NEW YORK KNICKS Eastern Conference No. 3 Who's hot: Center Patrick Ewing (22.3 ppg) continues to rank among the NBA's elite centers. Ewing has stepped up on every occasion and has logged 12 years in New York with just one trip to the Finals. Teammate John Starks John Starks may refer to:
Who's not: Guard Allan Houston Allan Wade Houston (born April 20 1971, in Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.) is a retired American professional basketball shooting guard, formerly the NBA's Detroit Pistons and New York Knicks. and forward Larry Johnson are just becoming factors. Houston is shooting 42 percent (lousy for a shooting guard The Shooting guard (SG), also known as the two or off guard,[1] is one of five traditional positions on a basketball team. Players of the position are often shorter, leaner, and quicker than forwards. ) and is not used to New York pressure. Johnson (13 ppg) can't guard small forwards and disappears from games. Why they can go far: The Knicks are the second-most talented team in the East and probably the deepest. If Houston and Johnson can produce and Ewing remains in prime form, New York will be trouble. The Knicks need consistency from point guard Chris Childs Chris Childs may refer to:
What can stop them: Being the Knicks. They have a history of choking and there's many new guys who haven't had playoff pressure, mainly Childs and Houston. ATLANTA HAWKS Eastern Conference No. 4 Who's hot: Guard Mookie Blaylock For the band previously named Mookie Blaylock, see . Daron Oshay "Mookie" Blaylock (born March 20, 1967 in Garland, Texas) is a retired American professional basketball player in the NBA. A 6 ft 1 in (1. , forward Christian Laettner Christian Donald Laettner (born August 17, 1969 in Angola, New York) is an American entrepreneur and former professional basketball player who played 13 seasons in the NBA on six different teams. He started for the 1991 and 1992 NCAA champion Duke University Blue Devils. and center Dikembe Mutombo Who's not: Former Clipper Ken Norman Kenneth Darnel Norman (born September 5 1964, in Chicago, Illinois) is an American former professional basketball player who was selected 19th overall by the Los Angeles Clippers of the 1987 NBA Draft. , who's logged just 17 games this season. He's spent the year in Lenny Wilkins' doghouse and only a large contract keeps him in Atlanta. Why they can go far: The Hawks are outstanding at home (35-5) and have various weapons. Any team with a defensive intimidator like Mutombo can cause problems. What can stop them: The road. The Hawks are just .500 away from the Omni and road wins are necessary to go far. Can Atlanta win at New York or Chicago more than once? DETROIT PISTONS The Detroit Pistons are a team in the National Basketball Association based in the Detroit metropolitan area. The team's home arena is The Palace of Auburn Hills. Franchise history From Fort Wayne to Detroit Eastern Conference No. 5 or 6 Who's hot: Forward Grant Hill and guard Joe Dumars Joe Dumars (born May 24, 1963 in Shreveport, Louisiana) is a former basketball player in the NBA, and currently the Detroit Pistons' President of Basketball Operations. At 6'3" (190 cm) he could play either shooting guard or point guard on offense and was a highly effective . Hill has led Detroit's resurgence, averaging 21 points per game and holding down opposing small forwards. Dumars (14.8) has rescinded his retirement announcement after a sparkling season. Lindsay Hunter and Otis Thorpe Otis Henry Thorpe (born August 5 1962 in Boynton Beach, Florida) is an American former professional basketball player in the NBA. A graduate of Lake Worth Community High School, Thorpe was drafted by the Kansas City Kings as the ninth overall pick in the first round of the are good complements and the Pistons play very tough defense. Who's not: Forward Grant Long has been a major disappointment, averaging just 3.5 rebounds per game after complaining about a contract extension. It hurts especially because the Pistons lack a legitimate center. Why they can go far: It will be difficult because Detroit has very little playoff experience. Hill will need to put the team on his back. Dumars and Hunter need to provide scoring and backcourt defense. What can stop them: Hill can't do it alone and Detroit is not strong against teams with big centers. It has no one to guard Ewing or Mutombo, making things tough for the frontcourt. CHARLOTTE HORNETS Charlotte Hornets may refer to one of several sports teams in the history of Charlotte, North Carolina:
Eastern Conference No. 5 or 6 Who's hot: All-star forward Glen Rice Glen Anthony Rice (born May 28 1967, in Flint where he played for Flint Northwestern High School, Michigan) is a retired American NBA basketball player. Rice was a three-time NBA All-Star small forward well known for his pinpoint shooting accuracy, ranking 4th in NBA history with , forward Anthony Mason
Sir Anthony Frank Mason and center Vlade Divac Vlade Divac (Serbian Cyrillic: Владе Дивац, pronounced [ˈvlaːdɛ ˈdiːvaʦ] have had fine seasons. Rice is third in the league in scoring (26 ppg), Mason has played some point guard and pulled down boards (11) while Divac has escaped the expectations of L.A. Who's not: Point guard Muggsy Bogues is on his last legs after years of knee problems. The Hornets have no other legitimate point guard. Why they can go far: A physical, tough defensive team, which is what playoff basketball is much about. Coach Dave Cowens has instilled confidence and unselfishness. No one expected Charlotte to win 50 games or compete in the East. It has done both with Divac at center. What can stop them: Charlotte has experienced lapses and not having a court leader can hurt. If Rice is off, where does the scoring come from? Mason and Divac can only do so much. ORLANDO MAGIC Eastern Conference No. 7 Who's hot: Guard Anfernee Hardaway and center Rony Seikaly have led an inconsistent squad. Hardaway (21 ppg) is finally healthy and helped lock up the seventh spot last week. Seikaly has provided scoring at center after the loss of Shaquille O'Neal, making the inside game look respectable. Who's not: Dennis Scott and Nick Anderson continue their mediocrity, both missing at least 15 games to injury. The question is can Orlando win anything with these two in the starting lineup? Why they can go far: Orlando matches up well with Miami, because 6-7 Anfernee Hardaway against 6-1 Tim Hardaway is an advantage for the Magic. Seikaly can compete with Alonzo Mourning, and Horace Grant is among the best power forwards in the game. What can stop them: Any inconsistency means defeat. Miami is talented. New York, Atlanta and Detroit are not far behind. The Magic doesn't have the depth to last. WASHINGTON BULLETS Eastern Conference No. 8 or eliminated Who's hot: Center Chris Webber (20 ppg) and forward Juwan Howard (19 ppg) have made the Fab Five the Fab Two, carrying a team with little consistent production. Point guard Rod Strickland took a while, but he's adapted to the system and become the offensive leader. Who's not: Center Gheorghe Muresan is out with a bad hip and his return is unknown. Tracy Murray has never been the spark plug expected, shooting just 42 percent from the field. Why they can go far: It would take a first-round win over the Bulls. So that answers the question. They can't. What can stop them: The Bullets are too shaky in the shooting-guard and small-forward positions. Webber and Howard can't do it all and Calbert Cheaney hasn't proved he can be a go-to guy. CLEVELAND CAVALIERS Eastern Conference No. 8 or eliminated Who's hot: All-star guard Terrell Brandon has been solid all season, providing scoring for a team that doesn't shoot well. Coach Mike Fratello has instilled a system that has been successful with the limited personnel and no center. Who's not: The remaining 11 players combined for 67 points per game. That's not going to win any championship. Why they can go far: Cleveland has a difficult-to-figure-out style and plays outstanding defense. The playoffs become more of a halfcourt game and Cleveland is best at walking the ball down the court. Brandon can dictate the offense and penetrate or hand off for easy baskets. What can stop them: A team with an up-tempo style and more weapons will cause problems. Brandon can score, but he can't guard centers inside and Tyrone Hill is the only post player the Cavs have. UTAH JAZZ Western Conference champion Who's hot: MVP (Multimedia Video Processor) A high-speed DSP chip from Texas Instruments, introduced in 1994. Officially introduced as the TMS320C80, it combines RISC technology with the functionality of four DSPs on one chip. candidate Karl Malone has been on a rampage. He's second in scoring to Michael Jordan (27.6) and seventh in rebounding (10.1). Utah has won a team-record 62 games and rolled over any opponent in the West. John Stockton and Jeff Hornacek have been outstanding support. Stockton is an underrated scorer; Hornacek hits key shots. Forward Bryon Russell and Greg Ostertag fit into the system. Who's not: Forward Chris Morris has worn out his welcome in friendly Salt Lake City. He is the only disappointment on a team of overachievers. Why they can go far: Utah is efficient, with a two-man offense many teams can't figure out. Stockton and Malone are so familiar with each others, passes are usually perfect. Hornacek and Russell are good outside shooters while Ostertag fills space and blocks shots. The combination of two Hall of Famers along with others who execute is dangerous. What can stop them: Being Utah, the pressure will be on. The Jazz has a history of falling short and this year it's the team to beat. Who knows how the Jazz will react to being favorite or running into a hot Lakers team down the road? LOS ANGELES LAKERS Western Conference No. 2, 3 or 4 Who's hot: Center Shaquille O'Neal (25 ppg) is back in full force along with All-Star guard Eddie Jones, point guard Nick Van Exel Nickey (Nick) Maxwell Van Exel (born November 27 1971 in Kenosha, Wisconsin) is a retired American professional basketball player in the NBA. Van Exel, a 6'1" left-handed point guard, was most well known for his flashy style of play and his ability to hit critical shots during and forward Elden Campbell. Campbell excelled in Shaq's absence and now has the confidence he lacked for years. The bench has learned to mesh since Shaq's injury, giving the Lakers depth. Who's not: Recently acquired George McCloud is on the injured list with a strained back and likely won't make the playoff roster. He's shot just 35 percent with the Lakers and is angry about his playing time. L.A. gave up a No. 1 pick for McCloud. Why they can go far: Any team with O'Neal has a chance. And his injury might have given others the opportunity to show they can produce in big situations. Campbell and Jones are capable of big games while Van Exel has harnessed his game to become a distributor. What can stop them: Depending too much on Shaq could be fatal. He scored 39 points last Sunday, but the Lakers beat Utah by just two. He scored 44 and the Lakers beat lowly Sacramento by nine. Without a team effort, it's back to hack-a-Shaq. HOUSTON ROCKETS Western Conference No. 2, 3 or 4 Who's hot: Charles Barkley, Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler are finally healthy. Houston is 31-7 with those three in the starting lineup. Barkley said he'll be 100 percent by the playoffs and Drexler and Olajuwon have two championships between them. Mario Elie is one of the top 3-point shooters in the league. Who's not: Guards Emanual Davis and Brent Price and forward Sam Mack are all out for the season. The backcourt is depleted de·plete tr.v. de·plet·ed, de·plet·ing, de·pletes To decrease the fullness of; use up or empty out. [Latin d and young. Randy Livingston and Matt Maloney are rookie point guards. Why they can go far: Experience. Houston is a veteran team that knows how to turn it on in the playoffs. The desire Olajuwon or Drexler lack, Barkley will infuse in·fuse v. 1. To steep or soak without boiling in order to extract soluble elements or active principles. 2. To introduce a solution into the body through a vein for therapeutic purposes. because he's hungry for a championship. The Rockets shoot well (47 percent, fifth in the NBA) and it will pay off in the late going of games. Olajuwon is tough on defenses in the fourth quarter. He causes the double-team, allowing Maloney, Drexler and Elie to shoot threes. What can stop them: Houston is old and will tire down the stretch. Clippers coach Bill Fitch thinks they might wilt because of tired legs. Can Houston depend on Maloney, a rookie from Penn, to compete with the likes of Stockton and Payton? SEATTLE SUPERSONICS Western Conference No. 2, 3 or 4 Who's hot: Gary Payton is second in the league in steals (2.43) and leads the Sonics in scoring (21.7). He has carried Seattle down the stretch. Hersey Hawkins is among the league's top 3-point shooters and most underrated weapons. Sam Perkins is one of best shooting big men in the league, along with Detlef Schempf. Who's not: Shawn Kemp is coping with personal problems and reports of alcoholism. Kemp's had a terrible season; his scoring average is the lowest in three seasons and the organization wonders if he'll ever return to form. Jim McIlvaine, their $35-million center, turned in an disappointing season, scoring four points per game with 2.04 blocks, 11th in the league. His season high is 12 points. Why they can go far: If Kemp and Payton get on the same page, Seattle can become the team that won the Western Conference last season. There's enough talent and experience to overcome most obstacles, but Seattle needs Kemp. What can stop them: Themselves. Seattle is a perennially choking team, except for last season. George Karl has fought this tag, but the Sonics haven't played consistently the entire season. PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS The Portland Trail Blazers are a professional basketball team based in Portland, Oregon. They play in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The franchise, based in Portland throughout its existence, entered the league in 1970 and has won the NBA Championship once, in 1977. Western Conference No. 5 Who's hot: Point guard Kenny Anderson is having a career season and the Blazers have become the team nobody wants to play in the first round. Rasheed Wallace has undergone a resurgence. He's averaging 15 points per game as the power forward. Even J.R. Rider, despite his problems, has turned in a fine season. Who's not: Forward Clifford Robinson has quarreled with coach P.J. Carlesimo and demanded a trade after the season. Anderson's addition, along with Rider, took shots away from the Portland veteran. It's difficult to get outside shots for Robinson when Anderson is taking them instead or dumping the ball inside. Why they can go far: Portland has all the ingredients for a big run. Arvydas Sabonis is a big center, Anderson's a quality guard along with powerful Gary Trent and defensive ace Stacey Augmon. An 11-game winning streak during February and March proved they are capable of challenging for the title. What can stop them: The Blazers are long on attitudes and several players could stray from the cause. Which one will it be? Inconsistency is a team characteristic. PHOENIX SUNS Western Conference No. 6 or 7 Who's hot: Point guard Kevin Johnson has set a career high for 3-pointers and flourished since the Jason Kidd's arrival. Johnson leads the team in scoring (20.1) while Kidd does the dirty work. Rex Chapman has thrived in his gunner role and Phoenix has turned into an exciting team. Who's not: Former Laker Cedric Ceballos has lost his starting spot to Chapman and is reduced to a backup role. Ceballos still doesn't play any defense and at least a couple of stops are necessary in Danny Ainge's free-wheeling system. Why they can go far: Phoenix is tough to defend with its four-guard offense. And teams not accustomed to running can wear down in the fourth quarter. The Suns also shoot well from 3-point range (37 percent). What can stop them: Exemplified by their loss to the Lakers, the Suns don't match up well against teams with big centers. Houston, the Lakers and Utah are more physical inside, where the Suns don't like to mix it up. MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES Western Conference No. 7 Who's hot: Point guard Stephon Marbury has proved to be a top candidate for Rookie of the Year Rookie of the Year may refer to:
Who's not: Cherokee Parks and Stoyko Vrankovic are bad excuses for centers. Neither has been productive. Why they can go far: Marbury is good enough to help win some playoff games and the Timberwolves will be tough at home. Without a true center, Minnesota hits the boards and both Garnett and Gugliotta are effective away from the basket. What can stop them: The Timberwolves are young and new to the playoffs. If they become overwhelmed by their inexperience, a team with title hopes will roll over them. Minnesota is 10 games under .500 on the road. LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS Western Conference No. 8 Who's hot: Forward Rodney Rogers has averaged 17 points in the last 21 games, four above his season average. Loy Vaught (14.8 ppg. 9.9 rpg) has turned in another fine season. Darrick Martin, (11.3 ppg) is a Most Improved Player In some sports, a Most Improved Player award is given to players who have improved the most over the year.
Who's not: Center Stanley Roberts is again injured and flunkies Kevin Duckworth and Dwayne Schintzius are along with him. Point guard Pooh Richardson is stuck at the end of the bench. He's averaged one point in April and is the third point guard. The Clippers have allowed an average of 124 points in losses to Lakers and Rockets. Why they can go far: The Clippers might be able to win a game from Utah, but with no center and without a standout scorer, that's about it. L.A. is tough when it plays good defense and Martin dictates the tempo by scoring early. The Clippers will go as far as Barry and Martin take them. What can stop them: The Clippers lack beef inside and Vaught will have a tough time concentrating on his offensive game while guarding Malone on the other end. The Clippers are streaky streak·y adj. streak·i·er, streak·i·est 1. Marked with, characterized by, or occurring in streaks. 2. Variable or uneven in character or quality. ; one or two bad quarters would sink them against Utah. CAPTION(S): Photo Photo: Jeff Hornacek has been outstanding support for John Stockton and Karl Malone. Associated Press |
|
||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion