RUN OF BULLS HASN'T SLOWED : EVEN WITH RODMAN SIDESHOW, CHICAGO ONE GAME OFF RECORD PACE.Byline: Marc Stein Marc Stein is a sports reporter. He began writing for ESPN.com in 2000 and signed on full-time in 2002 to serve as the site's senior National Basketball Association writer. A midseason report that's never half-hearted: Team of the Half: Chicago. With or without their circus-clown power forward, the Bulls are charging hard toward their fifth ring of the decade. A 42-6 record at the All-Star break was just one game worse than last season's standard after 48 games, and we all know how that run turned out. Player of the Half: Grant Hill. For all Michael Jordan's brilliance, no one tops Hill. No one in the NBA NBA abbr. 1. National Basketball Association 2. National Boxing Association NBA (US) n abbr (= National Basketball Association) → Basketball-Dachverband (= has to do more, more often, than the Pistons' spark plug spark plug: see ignition. spark plug Device that fits into the cylinder head of an internal-combustion engine and carries two electrodes separated by an air gap, across which current from a high-tension ignition system discharges, creating a spark , whose team wouldn't even make the playoffs without him but instead sports the league's third-best winning percentage (.739). Coach of the Half: 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. . No category has more candidates. Atlanta's Lenny Wilkens Leonard Randolph "Lenny" Wilkens (born October 28 1937, in Brooklyn, New York, U.S.) is an American former National Basketball Association player and coach, as well as the NBA's career leader in coaching win-loss totals. , Charlotte's Dave Cowens David William Cowens (born October 25 1948, in Newport, Kentucky[1]) is a retired American professional basketball player and NBA Head Coach. At 6'9", he played the center position. He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1990. , Detroit's Doug Collins For the Canadian journalist see Doug Collins (journalist) Paul Douglas Collins (born July 28, 1951 in Christopher, Illinois), better known as Doug Collins , Minnesota's Flip Saunders and the Lakers' Del Harris are all worthy contenders. But to be 36-12 with Juwan Howard Juwan Antonio Howard (born February 7, 1973 in Chicago, Illinois) is an American professional basketball player in the NBA for the Minnesota Timberwolves. He is a former All-Star and All-NBA power forward and was a member of the University of Michigan Wolverines' "Fab Five" (along still in Washington 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, plagued by back trouble, Riley has to rate No. 1. Rookie of the Half: Allen Iverson <noinclude></noinclude> Allen Ezail Iverson (born June 7, 1975, in Hampton, Virginia[1]), nicknamed A.I. and The Answer, is an American professional basketball player for the Denver Nuggets of the National Basketball Association. . Eighth in scoring, 13th in assists, fifth in steals . . . Iverson has had the biggest statistical impact of any first-year player. For excitement, his only rival is the Lakers' Kobe Bryant Kobe Bean Bryant (born July 23 1978) is an American All-Star shooting guard in the National Basketball Association (NBA) who plays for the Los Angeles Lakers. , who, according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. his coach, should get a first-half grade of U - ``For unbelievable,'' Harris said - for becoming a rotation regular at the age of 18 after skipping college and then missing most of training camp with injuries. Rookie Bust of the Half: Iverson. The Sixers' turnover-prone quarterback crosses over into both categories because of all the controversy caused by his unique dribbling style, his pants length and sock height, his repeated run-ins with the Bulls, his supposed disrespect for anyone over 21 and his team's hideous record. Sixth Man of the Half: Dominique Wilkins. Dallas' Chris Gatling Chris Raymond "The Energizer" Gatling (born September 3, 1967 in Elizabeth, New Jersey) is an American professional basketball player, having played in the NBA from 1991 to 2002. He played for the US national team in the 1990 FIBA World Championship, winning the bronze medal. has the fatter stats and bigger contract, but `Nique has been - no lie - the better team guy. Forced to play power forward because of all the health problems in San Antonio San Antonio (săn ăntō`nēō, əntōn`), city (1990 pop. 935,933), seat of Bexar co., S central Tex., at the source of the San Antonio River; inc. 1837. , Wilkins has overcome age and injury and a season in Europe to become San Antonio's only scoring threat with David Robinson sidelined. While Gatling had to be suspended for a game because of recent whining about minutes, Wilkins has accepted his role without complaint after years of being criticized for selfishness. Defensive Player of the Half: Dikembe Mutombo. The Lakers' Eddie Jones has managed to swipe the steals lead from Seattle's Gary Payton and plays outstanding one-on-one defense - who else in the league can say they've harassed Jordan into two straight off nights? - but Mutombo hasn't stopped being a mountain since moving from Denver to Atlanta. Offensive Player of the Half: Dennis Rodman. If kicking a cameraman didn't confirm it, the slit skirt and sequined se·quin n. 1. A small shiny ornamental disk, often sewn on cloth; a spangle. 2. A gold coin of the Venetian Republic. Also called zecchino. tr.v. top Rodman wore on Thursday's Tonight Show with Jay Leno clinched it. Executive of the Half: Jerry West. After a summer of stress that nearly drove him out of the business, Mr. Clutch has pulled back some, letting eventual successor Mitch Kupchak handle most of the public-speaking obligations. But we don't need to see West to see what he has done, from the addition of three outstanding rookies (Travis Knight, Derek Fisher and Bryant) to the signing of Shaquille O'Neal to the dumping of Cedric Ceballos for someone who makes the Lakers even better (Robert Horry). Bargain of the Half: Travis Knight. As a rookie, Knight makes even less than the usual NBA minimum salary of $247,500. After being taken by Chicago with the last pick of the first round and then renounced - costing him a guaranteed $1.6 to $1.9 million over the next three years - Knight signed as free agent with the Lakers for $220,000. He's now L.A.'s first big man off the bench . . . and a certain hot commodity next summer since the Lakers can't offer him more than a 20-percent salary increase for '97-98. Ripoff of the Half: Sean Rooks. Signed for $13.4 million over seven years in July to back up O'Neal and Elden Campbell, Rooks Rooks can refer to: People:
Trade of the Half: Rony Seikaly for Felton Spencer. Orlando could have crumbled after O'Neal bolted for the West Coast. Instead, Magic vice president John Gabriel recovered as deftly as possible, signing Derek Strong and the other Wilkins, Gerald, to minimum-salary contracts and dealing Spencer to Golden State for Seikaly. He's not Shaq, but Seikaly ain't bad. Snaring him, under the circumstances, was a coup. Surprise of the Half: Minnesota. In a conference that features just five teams playing .500 ball, the next-best outfit has been a revelation. Just two games below the break-even point break-even point - In the process of implementing a new computer language, the point at which the language is sufficiently effective that one can implement the language in itself. going into the break, the Timberwolves have two All-Stars (Tom Gugliotta and Kevin Garnett) and the fourth-best home record in the West. Not bad for a franchise that never had an All-Star before and has never won 30 games. Honorable mention goes to the Clippers, who look headed for the postseason for the first time in four years in spite of the disappearance of Brian Williams, the injury absence of Stanley Roberts and tough love from coach Bill Fitch. Disappointment of the Half: Washington. Indiana is underachieving, but at least Larry Brown still has a job. The Bullets, specifically Michigan men Chris Webber and Howard, cost Jim Lynam his post by loafing through last week's embarrassing losses to the Lakers and Utah. This was supposed to be the year that Washington, with Rod Strickland and Tracy Murray added to the Fab Fivers, won 50 games and ended its playoff drought. Lynam didn't even make it to the 50-game pole. Rivalry of the Half: Boston vs. Philadelphia. They used to be the two most feared beasts in the East. Now the Celtics and Sixers are laughingstocks battling for the top spot in the lottery and the right to draft Tim Duncan. Comeback of the Half: Jayson Williams. On Tuesday, the Nets' funnyman fun·ny·man n. A humorous person, especially a professional comedian. said he'd have to undergo surgery on his right thumb and miss the rest of the season. On Thursday, obviously feeling a lot better, he had 21 points and 20 rebounds against the Pacers. Pass of the Half: Mark Jackson and Yinka Dare, tied. Jackson for passing John Stockton as the league's top assist man this season, Dare for racking up three assists by All-Star Weekend after two years without one. Stat of the Half: 0-30. That's the Vancouver Grizzlies' record when they give up 95 points or more. Smack of the Half: 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 . The Lakers' ever-cocky point guard declared the Pacific Division race over before February . . . with more than 30 games to go. ``Definitely,'' Van Exel said. ``I just know it. If I'm wrong? I doubt it. If I'm wrong, what? I'll buy everybody on Seattle . . . whatever. For less than $100.'' TECHNICAL FOUL David Stern, NBA commissioner: With two openings created on the East All-Stars by injuries to Patrick Ewing and Alonzo Mourning, Stern twice bypassed Charlotte's Anthony Mason in favor of Washington's Chris Webber (whose recent lackluster play helped get coach Jim Lynam fired) and Detroit's Joe Dumars (a class act but not an All-Star anymore). ``I guess it's just (spit) on Anthony Mason time,'' the Hornets bruiser bruis·er n. Informal A large, heavyset man. bruiser Noun Informal a strong tough person, esp. a boxer or a bully Noun 1. said. PLAYER WATCH Harold Miner, unemployed: On All-Star Weekend, thoughts inevitably turn to Miner, the former USC An abbreviation for U.S. Code. standout and two-time winner of the league's annual dunk contest. Released by Toronto before the start of the season, Miner continues to live in L.A. and rehabilitate a sore knee while awaiting another job opportunity. ``I see basketball for what it is,'' said Miner, a prime example of the perception that most dunk champions can't do much else. ``It's a game. You enjoy it while you can. I don't dwell on what people think or things like that.'' SAY WHAT? ``The second half of this season belongs to the 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 Knicks. All I'm thinking about is getting to the championship.'' - New York's Patrick Ewing deluding himself into thinking the Knicks have any sort of shot at beating Chicago in the playoffs. TOP 10 & NO. 29 1. Chicago: You-know-who back Tuesday 2. Lakers: Shaq's health the big story 3. Miami: Voshon Lenard is hottest 4. Detroit: Just won't go away 5. Utah: Suddenly No. 2 in West 6. Seattle: Karl calls it ``Fat Cat Syndrome'' 7. New York: Ewing's dreaming 8. Houston: Health concerns proving valid 9. Atlanta: Henry James is Hawks' Lenard 10. Charlotte: Can Mason get meaner? 29. Vancouver: Who to fire next? L.A. AT PLAY LAKERS Wednesday: at Minnesota, 5 p.m. Thursday: at Denver, 6 p.m. Shaq back to work? CLIPPERS Tuesday: vs. Boston, 7:30 p.m. Thursday: at Sacramento, 7:30 p.m. Friday: at Phoenix, 7 p.m. All three foes sub-.500. CAPTION(S): Box Box: TECHNICAL FOUL (see text) |
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