Stretch run promises the good, bad and weird

Sporting News, The, March 20, 2000 by Dave D'Alessandro

I have reached the drip-drip-drip phase of the season, with a few miles to go before I get to the games that actually matter, but the clouds of uncertainty are lifting.

The West, as I figured all along, is best. The East, as I expected, is glutted with teams that can't stay out of their own way.

So now we're in the homestretch, and I see it all with crystalline clarity. Either that, or I would like to announce that I am taking this special time to humiliate myself in public.

Here's a look at crunch time:

One honest man: On the occasion of watching his team beat Charlotte (making the Hornets 0-6 against the Spurs, Lakers and Blazers, by the way), Tim Duncan couldn't help but conclude that the Hornets are typical of most Eastern teams. Which is to say, they're overmatched: "I don't see it happening," Duncan said when asked if he saw an East team with a chance to win the title. "The West is incredibly strong, one through eight. I'm sure there are some good teams in the East, but I just don't see it happening. This may come back to haunt me, but I don't see how."

This just in: Cameras are removed from halftime sessions after an NBC technician inadvertently reveals on the air that the odor in the Milwaukee locker room resembles "a rosy mist."

Role players to watch: Antonio Daniels and Sean Elliott. The Spurs have been dismissed as a bystander in the coronation of either the Lakers or Blazers, mostly because their depth has become a question. If Elliott can approach the two-way efficiency he showed last year, and if Daniels is consistent enough to provide the element of backcourt speed that's always been lacking, the Spurs will be there in the end.

This just in: Kobe Bryant announces the publication of his novel Kobe of the King's Guard, described by his literary agent as "an important first novel by a new and original voice, set against the sweeping panorama of the Napoleonic Wars." Kobe explains that "it's time for the fans to realize that I'm not just this young handsome guy who can dunk." That evening, Scottie Pippen scores 37 points as Portland takes a 1-0 lead in a best-of-seven series against the Lakers.

Playoff matchup you'll want to see: Trail Blazers-Lakers, natch. Unless Shaq turns Arvydas Sabonis into his personal speed bump again, it should be a seven-gamer.

This just in: Michael Jordan accepts an invitation to speak at Bob Jones University, explaining that "Bigots buy sneakers, too."

Home sweet home, phooey: Indiana looks like a lock for the top seed in the East. Through last Saturday, Indiana had won 25 straight at home. I am supposed to translate this to mean that Indiana is a lock. My interpretation: balderdash. The best team wins regardless of venue, period. Home court didn't bail the Pacers out last year, and it won't this year.

The big scare: Are the Raptors ready for a giant step? Jeff Van Gundy says so: "I've said all along they can come out of the East," he says. The reason, he says, is not necessarily Vince Carter, or even their cadre of tough guys working the paint. The reason, he says, is "their size in the backcourt. As you go along in coaching, you realize how effective size in the backcourt is." Simplify it: If Doug Christie continues to play at a high level as the point guard-and last I looked, the Raps are 15-6 with him there-they'll be a handful. Good enough to win the East? Not quite. They're still not as efficient in the halfcourt as they need to be.

This just in: The Knicks, informed that the Georgia state flag incorporates the Confederate flag, vow to boycott hookers from the Atlanta Gold Club.

It's in the timing: All year, Flip Saunders has talked about a reduced workload for Kevin Garnett, but he has averaged 3 9.7 minutes a game since the All-Star break.

Playoff matchup you won't want to see: 76ers vs. Knicks-unless you like ugly games played in the 70s, that is.

This just in: Speaking before an overflow audience at a convention of right-wing, radio talk show hosts, Paul Westphal accuses John Rocker of stealing their material without proper attribution.

Player to watch, West: Rasheed Wallace, as you know, ain't hooked up right. He is capable of dominant performances but is also prone to emotional excesses. He also happens to be the Blazers most indispensable player, and the only one who can guard the likes of Duncan, Garnett and Shaquille O'Neal if need be.

Trend to watch: Throughout the year, the sleeping serpent has been injuries, and they'll have an influence on how this all shakes out. The Spurs are a mess, with the usually indestructible Malik Rose (ankle), Terry Porter (knee) and Tim Duncan (abdominal strain) starting to miss games. Indiana is concerned about Dale Davis (hamstring, groin) breaking down. The Blazers, who are about the only team that can sustain the bump/bruise epidemic of late season, have problems with Brian Grant (plantar fasciitis), Damon Stoudamire (left knee) and Detlef Schrempf (neck). The Knicks won't go anywhere until Marcus Camby (knee) heals. And Phoenix, of course, took a major hit with Tom Gugliotta (knee) last week. Bottom line: April will be survival of the fittest.