NBA Western Conference 2001 Midseason Analysis

Midewest Division

1. San Antonio Spurs
Despite a slow start that can be blamed on injuries and Tim Duncan's slow recovery from offseason surgery, the Spurs are right where I expected them to be -- on top. Free agent acquisition Derek Anderson has added a nice slashing dimension from the two spot to go along with the inside dominance of twin towers Duncan and David Robinson.
Surprise: Antonio Daniels' solid play has helped the Spurs survive the injury to starting point guard Avery Johnson. Daniels has shot the ball consistently well from the perimeter and has been a steady ballhandler.
Disappointments: Tim Duncan got off to a slow start and has only recently started to round into dominating form. His Shaqesque struggles from the free throw line have been particularly troublesome. Avery Johnson's injury-related absence has left the team without its floor general for much of the season.
Prognosis: With Duncan in form once again and with Johnson back from injury, the Spurs are the team to beat in the NBA. Offseason acquistions Anderson and Danny Ferry have bolstered the perimeter attack and All-Star center David Robinson has shown very few signs of slowing down. To top it off, the Spurs have the championship experience to fall back on as they take on the challengers down the stretch.

2. Utah Jazz
This is the team that just won't go away. The prehistoric duo of John Stockton and Karl Malone continues to roll on, playing pick and roll basketball, flopping to draw fouls and all the other things that they did well in their prime.
Surprise: Forward Donyell Marshall has been reborn as a member of the Jazz. He is in the best shape of his career and has regained much of the explosiveness he once showed as a star at Connecticut.
Disappointment: Center Greg Ostertag's game continues to be plagued by lethargy and apathy. His offensive contributions are neglible at best and his defense has been pathetically soft.
Prognosis: Malone and Stockton have enough in the tank to make at least one last run at the title. The addition of Marshall and Danny Manning has added frontcourt depth that had been missing in the past, but the retirement of shooting guard Jeff Hornacek has left them very thin in the backcourt. As long as the Jazz are forced to play guards such as John Starks and John Crotty, they will fall short in the end.

3. Dallas Mavericks
Owner Mark Cuban's enthusiasm and big money bags have enfused a once moribund franchise with much vitality. Even head coach Don Nelson's absence due to prostrate cancer (hurts just to type it) has failed to derail a breakthrough season for the young Mavericks. The young trio of Michael Finley, Dirk Nowitzki and Steve Nash has been an explosive offensive force that few teams can match up with.
Surprises: Finally free of foot problems, point guard Steve Nash has become one of the NBA's most improved players. He has shot the ball exceptionally well and appears to be on the brink of joining the NBA's elite. Dirk Nowitzki has gone from being a good young player to being an all-star caliber performer. Most people knew that Nowitzki had the talent, but few expected the breakout to happen so quickly.
Disappointments: Rookie guard Courtney Alexander was expected to be an immediate impact player as a scorer. However, Alexander has been a total nonfactor all year. Fellow rookie, forward Etan Thomas, has been on injured reserve the entire season.
Prognosis: The Mavs are one bruising power forward or center away from true contention. Right now, they are far too soft in the interior to take on teams like the Spurs and Blazers. The addition of a player like Dale Davis would go a long way towards shoring up this weakness.

4. Minnesota Timberwolves
After the NBA took them behind the woodshed during the preseason over the Joe Smith incident, most people expected the T-Wolves franchise to fade into oblivion. However, Kevin Garnett has too much pride to let that happen and Flip Saunders has an uncanny ability to get marginal players to play over the heads.
Surprises: Guard Chauncey Billups was picked up off of the scrap heap, but his contributions from both guard spots have been very valuable. Forward LaPhonzo Ellis has added athleticism to the frontcourt and has been a more than adequate replacement for the departed Joe Smith.
Disappointments: Rasha Nesterovic has shown very improvement this season and has failed to build upon the promise of last season. Backup point guard William Avery continues to prove again and again that his decision to leave Duke after his sophomore season was a huge mistake.
Prognosis: The Wolves are tenacious and tough, but they simply do not have the talent to challenge for a championship. Garnett will again carry this team to the brink and they may win 50 games, but there is no way they can do much more.

5. Denver Nuggets
After a near player mutiny earlier this season over Dan Issel's treatment of center Raef LaFrentz, the Nuggets have settled down and are now playing good ball. Althought they still can't win on the road, the Nuggest are in contention for a spot in the playoffs.
Surprise: Center Kevin Willis, acquired during the season in exchange for Keon Clark, has added toughness and rebounding to a relatively soft team.
Disappointments: Raef LaFrentz has not responded well to Dan Issel's heavy-handed treatment and has improved very little from last season. Shooting guard Tariq Abdul-Wahad has been a total nonfactor.
Prognosis: Forward Antonio McDyess and point guard Nick Van Exel have played very well this season, but until this team can start winning on the road, it will not make the playoffs.

6. Houston Rockets
When the Rockets stumbled out of the starting blocks, a fading Hakeem Olajuwon demanded to be traded to the Miami Heat. Just when the season started looking like a lost cause, a suddenly apologetic Olajuwon started playing like the Dream of old. Now, the Rockets are once again positioned to make a run at the playoffs.
Surprise: Shooting guard Cuttino Mobley has come on like gangbusters in his third season. His emergence as a scoring force has made the Rockets backcourt one of the most explosive in the league.
Disapointment: Free agent signee Maurice Taylor has played better in recent weeks, but overall he has not been a major force inside. Once the physically gifted Taylor starts to rebound like an explosive 6-9 power forward should, he will become the player that he thinks he already is.
Prognosis: Point guard Stevie Francis is one of the brightest young stars in the game and if he can continue to receive help from Olajuwon and Taylor, the Rockets will leapfrog a couple of teams and make the playoffs.

7. Vancouver Grizzlies
The Grizzlies are a team in absolute turmoil right now. It is a foregone conclusion that this team will soon be leaving Vancouver and head coach Sidney Lowe may get the boot before then. Stars Shareef Abdur-Rahim and Mike Bibby have openly feuded and team chemistry has suffered as a result of this.
Surprise: Journeyman Grant Long has added hustle and toughness to a team that is sorely lacking in both.
Disappointment: First round pick Stromile Swift has played sparingly this year, despite his obvious physical talent.
Prognosis: There is no reason for a team with talented players such as Abdur-Rahim, Bibby and shooting guard Michael Dickerson to be mired in the basement of the Midwest Division. Expect this team to get broken up before it relocates to a new city.


Pacific Division

1. Portland Trailblazers
The Blazers have finally reached their stride after an ugly start. Remember this team was one terrible fourth quarter away from being in the NBA Finals last year and it looks poised to make another run this season. The injury to Scottie Pippen does much to thin out Portland's once formidable depth, but the Blazers can still throw a rotation of Rasheed Wallace, Bonzi Wells, Steve Smith, Shawn Kemp, Arvydas Sabonis, Damon Stoudamire, Detlef Schrempf and Dale Davis out there.
Surprise: Bonzi Wells has taken a step up and is now starting ahead of Steve Smith at shooting guard. Wells may not be the shooter that Smith is, but he can overwhelm opposing guards with his post up game.
Disappointments: Big money offseason acquisitions Shawn Kemp and Dale Davis have not fit in particularly well as backup big men. Kemp does not resemble the force he was as a young player in Seattle.
Prognosis: This team will need a healthy Pippen to get past the Lakers, Jazz and Spurs. Although they have the bodies to throw at dominant big men like Shaq and Duncan, without Pippen, the Blazers do not have great defensive quickness. With Rasheed Wallace firmly entrenched as the Blazer's number one option, the Blazers will be the favorite to win it all. However, there is something about the composition of this team that makes me wary.

2. Sacramento Kings
The Kings have been the league's most exciting team for a couple of years now, but now they play enough defense to be taken seriously as championship contenders. MVP candidate Chris Webber has shown an ability to make his teammates better, but constant speculation on his free agent plans after the season have become a major distraction.
Surprises: Peja Stojakovic has emerged as an all-star caliber perimeter force. Not only an outstanding perimeter shooter, Stojakovic can also put the ball on the floor. Cut-rate free agent signee Bobby Jackson has been a valuable backcourt reserve.
Disappointment: Jason Williams has been more under control this season, but he has really struggled with his jump shot. It is time for White Chocolate to become an elite point guard and not just the most entertaining player in the game.
Prognosis: Chris Webber's uncertain status places a cloud of doubt over the Kings franchise, but if they can make a run at the title this year, it will definitely increase the chance of Webber resigning with the Kings. Excellent shooting and ball movement make the Kings extremely difficult to defend and their ability to cause turnovers wreaks havoc on opposing offenses used to walking the ball up the court. If the Kings can continue to improve defensively, there is a chance that they will make a championship run this year. However, if they crap out in the first round, the franchise may lose Webber and all future hope for a championship in one swift, crushing blow.

3. Los Angeles Lakers
The Lakers have been a dysfunctional mess this year thanks to the rivarly between superstars Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal. Bryant's emergence as perhaps the best player in the game has caused friction with O'Neal, who last year was considered the best player in the game. Still, based on talent alone, the Lakers have remained in contention for home field advantage in the playoffs.
Surprise: Guard Mike Penberthy has emerged out of nowhere to provide good shooting off the bench.
Disappointments: Isaiah Rider has been a problem child and has not been a satisfactory replacement for the departed Glen Rice. The Kobe/Shaq feud has been distracting enough to detract from Bryant's emergence as a great player.
Prognosis: Kobe and Shaq want to win enough to be able to put aside their rivarly this year. However, if Rider cannot develop into a consistent third option on offense, the Lakers will have no chance at repeating as champs.

4. Phoenix Suns
2000-2001 has been a lost season for the Suns franchise. Both Penny Hardaway and Jason Kidd have had legal problems stemming from domestic disputes and now Hardaway is out for the season due to injury.
Surprise: Small forward Shawn Marion has developed into a star performer in his sophomore season. Although his jump shot is still suspect, Marion is the best rebounding small forward in the league.
Disappointments: Penny Hardaway's once promising career is now in limbo due to serious injury problems. Power forward Tom Gugliotta is not the same player he was before the ACL injury and seizure.
Prognosis: As good as Jason Kidd is, the Suns franchise is currently headed in the wrong direction. Kidd, Marion and a healthy Hardaway would constitute a strong nucleus, but Hardaway's injury problems have necessitated the breaking up of this team during the offseason. The Suns will make the playoffs as they usually do, but they have no shot at making a run for a championship.

5. Seattle Supersonics
Early in the season, Paul Westphal lost a power struggle with Gary Payton and was replaced as head coach by Nate McMillan. Under McMillan, the Sonics have played much better, but they are still just battling for the final playoff spot.
Surprise: Everyone knew that Rashard Lewis was a potential superstar at small forward. However, his outstanding three point shooting has surpassed even the loftiest of expectations.
Disappointment: Vin Baker's best years are behind him now, as he cannot seem to get into the type of condition necessary to rejoin the NBA's elite. Patrick Ewing is no longer a dominant player and the best thing about him is that his contract will expire at the end of this season.
Prognosis: Gary Payton's status among the best players of the game has been seriously jeopardized by his coach-killing antics and an inability to get along with his teammates. He's good enough to keep the Sonics over .500, but this team doesn't have the look of a team ready to challenge for a championship.

6. Los Angeles Clippers
The Clip Ship is much better than it was last season and the addition of rookies Darius Miles, Quentin Richardson and Keyon Dooling, and second-year player Corey Maggette has made them an exciting bunch to watch. Plus, in forward Lamar Odom the Clippers have a potential franchise player. The biggest question is whether owner Donald Sterling will be willing to open up the checkbook when the young stars become eligible for free agency.
Surprises: Darius Miles has made a far greater impact than was expected. His astonishing reach and athleticism make him a huge factor on the boards and on defense. Once he bulks up a little and gains consistency on his jump shot, Miles will become a dominating player. Point guard Jeff McInnis has played fairly well this season after playing in the CBA last year.
Disappointment: Michael Olowokandi has shown very little improvement this year and has not come close to justifying being selected the number one pick of the 1998 draft.
Prognosis: A playoff run is probably out of the question this year, but if they can get to at least the 32 win mark this season, a solid foundation will have been built.

7. Golden State Warriors
The Warriors franchise have never recovered from the departure of Chris Webber in 1994. Since that year, they have not come close to being a factor in the West. This year has been no different, as the undermanned Warriors have been mired in the basement of the Pacific once again.
Surprises: 1997 second round pick Marc Jackson has come from nowhere to become a solid NBA center. Right now, he is definitely the favorite to win the NBA Rookie of the Year award. Antawn Jamison has silenced his critics by becoming a scoring and rebounding machine.
Disappointments: Guard Larry Hughes has the talent to become a standout, but so far this year, he has shot the ball very poorly. Basically, he is the same player as he was last year. Power forward Danny Fortson's monster start was derailed by injury after only six games. Big money center Erick Dampier's season has also been a total washout.
Prognosis: The Warriors are a young team with very promising talent in the frontcourt. Unfortunately, the backcourt is not up to par. The stripping of point guard Mookie Blaylock's team captaincy only emphasizes the lack of leadership on this team. Another year, another draft lottery for the Warriors.