Eastern Conference

Sporting News, The, Dec 23, 2002

CHICAGO BULLS C Eddy Curry and PF Tyson Chandler have regressed significantly. The two fueled high hopes with a strong finish last season, and the Bulls won four of their last six games. Instead of building on that, Curry and Chandler have lost confidence and playing time. Chandler is on the verge of failing out of the rotation.... PF Donyell Marshall has been extremely solid, averaging 15.8 points and 9.6 rebounds. After some questionable free-agent signings in recent years--PF Charles Oakley and SF Eddie Robinson, to name two the Bulls are relieved to finally get one right.

CLEVELAND CAVALIERS The team didn't know how unselfish and diversely skilled SF Darius Miles was when they acquired him last summer. But they also didn't know he had a burn knee, and there is great concern it might be more severe than just tendinitis. ... C Zydrunas Ilgauskas is averaging 32.1 minutes after missing the better part of four seasons because of foot injuries. Doctors have limited Ilgauskas to 35 or fewer minutes, and that prevented him from playing in the second overtime of a win against the Bucks last week. That upset Ilgauskas and other Cars, but he has played enough to average 17.3 points and rank sixth in the NBA in offensive rebounds.

DETROIT PISTONS Tentativeness and early foul trouble cost C Zeljko Rebraca his starting job and cost the team a low-post option. Rebraca's struggles and PG Chauncey Billups' ankle injury stalled an already anemic offense that just now is starting to gain continuity in its starting unit.... PG Chucky Atkins is shooting just 34.3 percent. Always streaky, Atkins is a career 42.1 percent shooter but seemed ready for a breakout season after shooting better than 60 percent in the exhibition season. He's hitting just 31.2 percent of his 3-pointers, down from 41.1 percent last season.

INDIANA PACERS SF Ron Artest, whom the Bulls considered too erratic and unpredictable, has been one of file best, most aggressive defenders in the league, although Iris fundamentals sometimes are lacking. Artest also is averaging 15.4 points despite heavily taped fingers on both hands, and he has shown a knack for craning up with big plays at the end of close games.... Depth is the Pacers' greatest virtue. All 12 players on the active roster can contribute. In fact, rookie SG Fred Jones, though on the injured list lately, shows promise. So make it 13. Just as important, none of the Pacers has uttered a word of complaint about playing time.

MILWAUKEE BUCKS The signing of backup PG Kevin Ollie didn't inspire many toasts, but Ollie is a great asset. He provides toughness, maturity and experience, as well as consistency and intelligence. Ollie has led the NBA in assist to turnover ratio most of the season and is averaging 6.5 points.... The Bucks traded SF Glenn Robinson largely because they wanted to improve defensively. That hasn't happened. They are allowing 98.4 points per game, which is the main reason they're struggling. The Bucks like to run and attempt lots of shots, so they're not going to hold teams below 90 points very often.