Eastern conference

Sporting News, The, Jan 14, 2002

Atlantic Division

CELTICS: Celtics fans had been hearing about rookie SF Kedrick Brown's exceptional play in practice. He was becoming the stuff of legend, though he hardly played. Now fans are getting a glimpse of Brown and like what they see. He seems to effortlessly block shots or save balls from going out of bounds. Expect to see more of Brown, especially when he starts to get comfortable on offense.... With PF Antoine Walker and SF Paul Pierce getting most of the offensive touches and shots, teammates could be disgruntled. That isn't happening because coach Jim O'Brien doesn't see the other players as extras; he gives them specific duties. The rotation stays constant, and players know what they can do to earn more minutes. --Shira Springer

MIAMI HEAT: C Alonzo Mourning is playing some of his most effective basketball of the season. His scoring is back, as is his defensive intensity. In a five-game stretch, he averaged 17 points, 9.6 rebounds and 3.8 blocks. He also shot 61 percent while playing 34.4 minutes.... PG Rod Strickland and SG Eddie Jones also are contributing more. Strickland is taking the ball into the lane, creating opportunities for himself and his teammates. Jones is stepping outside coach Pat Riley's system, but his gambling on defense has led to some desperately needed easy points. --Ira Winderman

NEW JERSEY NETS: The team must find a way to keep SF Kenyon Martin's head on straight. He was ejected from a game against the Magic after a flagrant foul on SG Tracy McGrady. This after he was ejected from a game December 21 and was suspended after clotheslining PF Karl Malone on December 22. Martin still is not rebounding, and his defense is not that good.... Unhappy with the play of his second unit, coach Byron Scott changed his substitution pattern, giving PG Jason Kidd rest earlier and for longer periods. Things quickly fall apart when Kidd sits, and this new twist may have cost the Nets a game against the Magic, which went on a 12-2 second-half run while Kidd was out. --Don Burke

NEW YORK KNICKS: A 108-101 victory over the Mavericks should have taught the team how it must play to reach the playoffs for the 15th consecutive season. In the first half, they tried to run with the league's highest-scoring team and wound up trailing 64-63. The Knicks can't maintain that pace, and they won by holding the Mavericks to 25.5 percent shooting in the second half and overtime. Man-to-man defense has been the team's trademark, but C Marcus Camby switched out to guard the perimeter shooters and trusted his teammates to cover his man near the basket. Camby blocked four outside shots and rushed several more. --Greg Logan

ORLANDO MAGIC: SG Tracy McGrady knows there is a target on his back. He gets double-teamed even 25 feet from the basket, and he usually does a good job restraining himself when the action goes beyond physical. But after Nets SF Kenyon Martin sent him sprawling with a flagrant foul to the head, McGrady went after Martin. McGrady must keep his poise or opponents will send in a reserve and tell him to grapple with McGrady, trying to goad him into an ejection.... C Patrick Ewing is starting again. He didn't do much against the Nets, scoring six points with four rebounds and a block. But the team is getting nothing from Cs Andrew DeClercq and rookie Steven Hunter, so it wants to see if starting Ewing will inspire him. --Bill Fay

PHILADEPHIA 76ERS: One of the most encouraging indicators that the team is back to playing the way coach Larry Brown prefers is the dramatic increase in free throws over nine games before last weekend. After getting to the line 20 times or less in six consecutive games, the Sixers averaged 28.1 free throws during the nine games, nearly 11 more than their opponents. For a team that has a hard time scoring, that can make a world of difference. The free throws also indicate the Sixers again are taking the ball to the basket and are getting rewarded for it. --Jon Marks

WASHINGTON WIZARDS: SF Michael Jordan scored 29 points against the Bulls last week after scoring 51 against the Hornets and 45 against the Nets. He is carrying the Wizards while SG Richard Hamilton (groin) is out. Why couldn't he do the same earlier in the season, when Hamilton was struggling? Jordan says he thinks he finally is up to par physically. Recovering from the broken ribs he suffered in a pickup game last summer took much longer than he expected, but he says his body finally has taken shape. He has resumed weightlifting after taking three weeks off to lessen the strain on his tendinitis-stricken right knee and says his legs also are near full strength. --Steve Wyche

Central Division

ATLANTA HAWKS: All-Star C Theo Ratliff should return from hip surgery no later than January 15. That's good news because without Ratliff, the interior defense has been inferior. The team tried Nazr Mohammed in Ratliff's spot, and new starter Hanno Mottola fails to help inside, although he's a solid outside shooter.... Second-year man DerMarr Johnson bided his time on the bench and has worked into a starting spot at small forward. The Hawks like his energy and athleticism at the start of games. --Curtis Bunn