Western Conference

Sporting News, The, March 15, 1999 by Ken Sins, Vicki Michaelis, David Steele, Michael Murphy, Lonnie White, Mark Heisler, John Millea, Bob Young, Kerry Eggers, James Raja, Kevin O'Keefe, Ronald Tillery, Loren Jorgensen, Howard Tsumura

Dallas

Bradley teases with defensive show

Once again, Shawn Bradley teases the club with a display of his potential as an impact player. Bradley had nine blocked shots, 10 points and seven rebounds in a win over the Clippers. The 7-6 center has been a major underachiever throughout his five years in the league, and expectations are now low. G.M./coach Don Nelson scaled down Bradley's role at the start of the season, telling Bradley to forget about offense and concentrate on being a defensive and rebounding presence. So far, Bradley has been one of the team's most consistent players, ranking second in the league with almost four blocks a game.

SEE A DIFFERENT GAME: The club was convinced before the season that it had one of the league's emerging backcourts in Michael Finley and Steve Nash. The pair said they'd developed chemistry when they were teammates in Phoenix. However, Finley and Nash have been major disappointments, and the chemistry between them hasn't shown. Finley is settling for long-range jump shots rather than slashing to the hoop, and he often is taken out of the offense with double-teams. Nash has struggled with his shot, and his decision-making has been inconsistent. Each opened the season with fat new contracts, and both seem to be pressing, trying to justify their money rather than working together and playing to their strengths. --Ken Sins

Denver

Williams revives his slashing self

At long last, the team is seeing in forward Eric Williams signs of his previous basketball life. Williams scored a season-high 15 points off the bench last week at Indiana and matched a season high with five rebounds. Williams' jump shot still wasn't falling, but he was slashing like in the old days, drawing contact and getting to the foul line. He made 10-of-12 free throws against the Pacers. The resurrection came just in time. With Bryant Stith still sidelined by injury, the team had been starting Eric Washington at small forward and, other than some play on defense, he had been contributing nothing. Williams is best when the play is physical. He acts more on instinct, and when big bodies are banging inside, that instinct is to drive into the fray. He has an uncanny ability to get something positive out of such forays.

SEE A DIFFERENT GAME: One of the biggest reasons for the team's fourth-quarter folds in consecutive games was sitting at the end of the bench. The team was missing Chauncey Billups, who was out all last week with a sprained left ankle. Billups not only allows the Nuggets to rest Nick Van Exel, who can be a stretch-run savior when he has the energy, but he also gives them important offensive options in the clutch. Opponents are sure to concentrate on Antonio McDyess or Van Exel in a tight game. Billups, though, can be just as dangerous by popping a 3 or driving for a layup or a dish. --Vicki Michaelis

Golden State

Bogues' return causes major lineup changes

Point guard Muggsy Bogues, who missed time became of chicken pox, has returned, prompting coach P.J. Carlesimo to put him back into the rotation. Bimbo Coles, who was brilliant at times as the backup in Bogues' absence, again will be shuffled deeper down the bench. Tony Delk, meanwhile, has improved enough in his role as a shooting point guard that he deserves to remain a starter. Yet Bogues needs to play, too. The solution is to trade Coles. Whether his value has grown appreciably because of his emergence remains to be seen. But the Warriors are justifiably worried about going into the final eight weeks without depth at point guard; that depth bailed them out when Bogues became ill.... The team also might consider trading Donyell Marshall, who has been productive off the bench at small and power forward. Teams have inquired about Marshall, and his departure would free up playing time for Antawn Jamison and Adonal Foyle.

SEE A DIFFERENT GAME: The Warriors are trying to be patient with Erick Dampier, whose poor numbers and lack of improvement are cause concern. But they continue to encourage him and let him know he still is their center of the furore. When properly inspired, Dampier proves them right. --David Steele

Houston

Mobley provides spark in return as a starter

Rookie guard Cuttino Mobley is back in the starting lineup. The Rockets, who have been straggling with their offensive rhythm, found it in the second half of their 96-77 rout of the Clippers last Thursday. Yeah, it was the Clippers, but the Rockets were losing at halftime. Tired of the lethargic defensive effort in the first half, coach Rudy Tomjanovich inserted Mobley into lineup at the start of the second half, and the result was magic. With Mobley, Michael Dickerson and Scottie Pippen providing quick, long-armed defense, the Rockets outscored the Clippers by 21 points in the third quarter and coasted to the win. So Mobley is back in the lineup, and Brent Price is back to coming off the bench. One can only imagine where Matt Maloney stands in this situation.

SEE A DIFFERENT GAME: Mobley will remain in the starting lineup. Period. The merry-go-round at point guard appears to be wearing on the other players, so the fewer changes, the better. Part of the reason the Rockets have been juggling their point guards is because of matchups, but at some point you have to start making teams match up with you. The good teams in the league force the matchup problems. The weaker teams react to those mismatches. Which will the Rockets be? --Michael Murphy