Western Conference

Sporting News, The, April 2, 2001

Dallas

TOUGH CHOICE: There was concern after PG Stave Nash (groin) logged only 13 minutes against the Timberwolves last week. Nash already is dealing with a sore left hamstring. Coach Don Nelson limited Nash's minutes against the Timberwolves as a precautionary measure; Nelson knows the Mavericks will go nowhere in the playoffs without a healthy and rested Nash. But the players say they need Nash on the floor if they are to solidify their playoff positioning.... He's not on a level with Rasheed Wallace, but C Shawn Bradley continues to collect technicals faster than the team would like. Bradley is third in the league.... Is SG Michael Finley wearing down? He shot poorly in two games last week. The team must cut back on his minutes to get him ready for the playoffs.

SEE A DIFFERENT GAME: The Mavericks would not have made the eight-player deal with the Wizards for Juwan Howard unless reserve C Calvin Booth was included. Booth first had to recover from elbow surgery before he was activated. He was impressive in his debut with eight points, five rebounds and two blocked shots in 16 minutes. Booth also did an effective defensive job on Minnesota PF Kevin Garnett. Nelson is known for his "small-ball" lineups, but he says he'll use a "tall-ball" frontcourt of Booth, Bradley and Dirk Nowitzki against certain matchups. --Ken Sins

Denver

VOTE OF CONFIDENCE: Last week, the team learned it might have the same coach next season regardless of what happens this season. And it's looking like the Nuggets might have a tough time finishing at .500--their stated goal. Owner Stan Kroenke is leaning toward keeping coach and president Dan Issel around for another season--at least as coach. Kroenke, who called Issel "an icon," might bring in someone else to be general manager.... Issel waived SF Mark Strickland last Thursday after Strickland was late back from two days off because of a cancelled flight. Strickland was used sparingly this season, and Issel says his release had nothing to do with the missed practice. Strickland's only complaint was that Issel didn't release him before March 1. Because of that, Strickland can sign elsewhere but is not eligible to be on a playoff roster.

SEE A DIFFERENT GAME: With PC Nick Van Exel on the floor at the end of a tight game, the Nuggets believe they can win. Van Exel regularly takes and makes big shots. When he was ejected Friday, the team fell apart. PF Antonio McDyess picked up a technical. C Raef LaFrentz did, too. The club seemed lost. As valuable as McDyess is and as competitive as Van Exel is, the team needs someone else willing to take and able to make big shots. For the third year, the Nuggets' offseason mission is to find that third scorer. --Michael BeDan

Golden State

MISSING MILLS: The team misses injured SF Chris Mills, who would be a fourth-quarter mainstay had an ankle injury not sidelined him IlL-for all but 15 games. Mills does not break down defenses or create much for teammates, but he is not afraid to take a big shot and has a track record of delivering in Chinch time. Without Mills, the Warriors are left with PG Mookie Blaylock and a lot of questions. Blaylock tends to go one of two ways in fourth quarters: He carries the load capably or falters trying because of fatigue. Ideally, SF Antawn Jamison or SG Larry Hughes would emerge as the primary scorer late in games. Jamison has assumed the role at times, but he still has too many performances like the one last week against the Wizards: 0-for-3 from the field, zero points in 12 fourth-quarter minutes. Hughes' shooting struggles have made him a risky option. At least he can manufacture something going toward the basket as the shot clock winds down.

SEE A DIFFERENT DAME: Coach Dave Cowens showed confidence in PC Vonteego Cummings by diagramming the final offensive play for him against the Wizards, but putting the ball in his hands has been a losing proposition. That Cummings, a 34 percent shooter, has taken potential game-tying shots in the closing seconds of two recent games, says much about the team's fourth-quarter troubles. --Brad Weinstein

Houston

SAVING THE DAY: Just when it seemed as if the season was slipping away, along comes a 7-foot lifeline. C Hakeem Olajuwon, whose season was thought to be over, has been cleared to play. A venogram performed last Friday showed that all the veins in Olajuwon's left leg are open with no evidence of a dot. The news couldn't have come at a better time than after losing to the Kings and Clippers and falling further behind the Timberwolves and the Suns for the eighth playoff spot in the West. Against the Kings, PG Steve Francis got tossed for yet another post-dunk snake dance. Against the Clippers, PF Kelvin Cato had 11 points and seven rebounds but was abused on the other end. The Rockets aren't playing like a playoff team. The club hopes Olajuwon can change that.

SEE A DIFFERENT GAME: Time to suggest a lineup change. SF Shandon Anderson is struggling, so why not experiment with a big lineup that would put PF Carlos Rogers up front with Cato or Olajuwon and PF Maurice Taylor? The Rockets could force teams to match up for a change. Anderson simply isn't getting it done offensively, and in this lineup, Taylor would be the small forward on offense. Rogers could be the small forward on defense because the Rockets will be playing big teams down the stretch anyway. It might provide a much-needed spark. --Michael Murphy