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Eastern Conference

Sporting News, The, March 22, 1999

Atlanta

Blaylock's game is back on track

Many times this season, point guard Mookie Blaylock has lacked the speed and quickness of years past, and his judgment with the ball on fast breaks has been questionable. He has had little penetration off the dribble and takes too many 3-point shots. Blaylock needs to create for other players first with dribble penetration rather than looking for his own offense. It seemed too many times when the Hawks struggled, Blaylock took matters into his own hands. But something finally has clicked with the feisty floor leader. Lately he has been pushing the ball without holding onto it for extended periods, and he has been getting the ball to shooters in the right positions on the floor. Now Blaylock needs to get small forward LaPhonso Ellis into the offense. At times, Ellis seems lost and out of sync. But the Hawks need Ellis to relieve some of the burden from guard Steve Smith.

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SEE A DIFFERENT GAME: As long as the Hawks don't allow defenses to dictate their offensive pace, they can score. Against Orlando last week, they moved the ball, attacked and scored 114 points. Against Miami, they succumbed to the Heat's plodding pace and put up only 78. Then against Boston, they scored 99 while playing aggressively. Much of it starts and stops with Blaylock. When he forces the action with controlled efficiency, the Hawks are successful. --Curtis Bunn

Boston

Trade for Potapenko adds some bulk

Vitaly Potapenko, acquired last week, automatically becomes the starting center, but at 6-10, he's still really a power forward. He's not a mobile guy, so he won't be on the pressing units. But he's a wide body who can defend inside and add some overall toughness, and that's what the Celtics needed.... Ron Mercer returned to the starting lineup after overcoming ankle and knee injuries and appeared to be back to normal. He has shown himself to be capable of scoring inside and outside, but he also remains a trade option because Paul Pierce could move into his spot. Mercer is able to get 20 on many nights, though.... Antoine Walker is the team's best player and leading scorer, but he also takes too many stupid shots and needs a disproportionate number of shots to get his points. But the offensive woes go beyond Walker. Kenny Anderson has been struggling all season with the offense. He doesn't get up the court quickly enough, his shooting has been terrible and he's in an overall funk.

SEE A DIFFERENT GAME: The Celtics' season has gone from "maybe" to "long shot" in a week. It's still way too early to dismiss this team, but can it survive with a stagnant offense when it doesn't play defense? The one given for this team coming out of camp was that it would score points. It isn't doing that and needs to address that problem or the "long shot" will run into "hopeless." --Peter May

Charlotte

Trade will make team better now, in future

Giving up Glen Rice may seem like a mistake to some, but the club thinks it improved its lineup in the trade that brought Eddie Jones and Elden Campbell from the Lakers. Interim coach Paul Silas says he likes Jones' versatility--he runs the floor, shoots the 3 and plays good defense--and believes Campbell's ability to run the floor is underestimated. Silas says the team will be more up-tempo on offense. Getting Campbell gives the team a genuine center and allows it to move Derrick Coleman back to power forward, his natural position. Next season, the club will have a front line of Coleman, Campbell and Anthony Mason.... Silas, who took over after Dave Cowens resigned, says he'll add a few new wrinkles on defense, including a change in how the club defends in the low post.... Guard Bobby Phills survived a scare last week when he learned he did not have a stress fracture in his left leg. After getting the good news March 10, he played 39 minutes and scored 18 points against the 76ers.

SEE A DIFFERENT GAME: This trade will help Charlotte. Jones may not be the offensive threat Rice is at this stage, but he has potential to be a better all-around player than Rice. Pushed into a starting role, expect Campbell to respond, and watch for Coleman, happy at power forward, to play at a higher level. --John Delong

Chicago

Long-term deals may delay rebuilding process

The Bulls didn't budge before the trading deadline, but were still dealt a blow by the three-way trade sending Stephon Marbury from Minnesota to New Jersey. The Nets gave the point guard a six-year contract extension. He is among many young talented players like Kobe Bryant and Allen Iverson who signed long-term deals with their teams and won't be free agents. The Bulls' rebuilding process might take longer with the market drying up.... Another Net, former Bull Scott Burrell, in Chicago for a game last week, says he wants to be a part of the Bulls' future, but says the front office wants to go a different way.... Forward Jeff Sanders would like to work for a roster spot, but it looks like he won't play again this season. He is on the injured list with a bad foot and could return only for the last two weeks.... Forward Toni Kukoc's recent aggressive play has helped his offense because he's getting more foul shots.

Eastern Conference

Sporting News, The, March 22, 1999

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