Western Conference

Sporting News, The, Feb 18, 2002

Midwest Division

DALLAS MAVERICKS: Coach Don Nelson used zone defenses sparingly early, but as the season reached the halfway mark, Nelson installed a variety of zones--including a matchup, a 1-3-1 and a 1-1-3--and used them extensively last week in a home loss to the Lakers. The zones hindered the Mavericks, Lakers coach Phil Jackson says, because it forced them to play more of a halfcourt pace, which favors the Lakers. But Nelson points out that the zone helped hold the Lakers to 39.8 percent shooting. He says once his team becomes more accustomed to playing a zone, he'll use it even more, especially against teams with effective big men such as the Lakers. --Ken Sins

DENVER NUGGETS: In an effort to facilitate a trade, PG Nick Van Exel apparently is interested in opting out the final two years of his contract that ends during the 2005-06 season. That would cost him $26.5 million. How true that is remains to be seen. Saying it and signing the paper knowing that many millions probably will not come close to being replaced are different things. G.M. Kiki Vandeweghe and Van Exel's agent, Tony Dutt, were talking to numerous teams during All-Star weekend, but Dutt says the possibility of a trade before the February 21 deadline is 50/50. --Marc J. Spears

HOUSTON ROCKETS: Thirty-one of the team's 49 games before the break were decided by six points or fewer, and it was 10-21 in those games. Running good plays and executing them is the key to winning close games. Considering the team's best player--Steve Francis--is a point guard, it should be faring much better. Throw out the games Francis has missed, and the team still is under .500 in close games. Why? When opponents tighten their defense, the team is forced into 24-second violations and bad shots. If Francis, who has been in and out of the line-up with migraines, gets healthy, it will allow coach Rudy Tomjanovich to settle on a consistent group at the end of games. That could lead to better execution. --Adam Wexler

MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES: The Rookie of the Year award is PF Pau Gasol's to lose. Before the season started, skeptics envisioned Gasol--the third overall pick--as a role player who wouldn't be tough enough or strong enough to contribute in a big way for two or three years. It's true Gasol (7-0, 227) doesn't always go directly to the basket with as much force as he should. On defense, he gets blocks but doesn't get every rebound he could or maintain position in the post. Still, because of his length and touch, Gasol can get his hook shot off against anyone. The team traded up to get Gasol because it saw a future NBA star. Halfway through his first season, Gasol already has a nice shine. --Don Wade

MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES: Flip Saunders is a players' coach who would rather come up with minor excuses for slumps than criticize players for a lack of effort, but he changed the pace last week after the team lost four of five. Saunders ordered a rare full-scale game-day practice, during which he drilled his players on effort and defense, and the team responded with a win over the Blazers. The club made noise early in the season by getting a head start on the use of zone defenses, but signs of trouble popped up before the break. Other coaches were beginning to figure out the zones. Saunders realizes that effort, more than strategy, will pay off in the second half. --John Millea

SAN ANTONIO SPURS: PG Tony Parker has looked weary, particularly when his hamstring bothered him during a three-game stretch against the Clippers, Heat and Magic. He missed 17 of 20 shots and struggled to stay in front of PGs Rod Strickland (Heat) and Darrell Armstrong (Magic) on defense. He has started to play better after arriving early at games to get a massage.... SG Charles Smith has become the team's best perimeter defender with Bruce Bowen (finger) sidelined.... Backup F/C Malik Rose may be the team's most steady performer after PF Tim Duncan. No one outworks Rose, who has added a much-improved jumper to his solid inside game. --Johnny Ludden

UTAH JAZZ: The relationship between C Greg Ostertag and coach Jerry Sloan is beyond repair. Ostertag and Sloan had their latest confrontation last week. After Sloan pulled Ostertag, who picked up three fouls in four minutes in the third quarter, the two exchanged words. As Ostertag returned to the bench, he bumped Sloan, who then pushed Ostertag and ordered him to the locker room. Sloan later blasted Ostertag for his poor play all season and said he would be suspended. Ostertag, on occasion, can be a decent center. A change of scenery might do wonders for him. --Loren Jorgensen

Pacific Division

GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS: The players are in a waiting mode. They lost five straight games before the All-Star break and 15 of their past 17, and many seem to expect a trade before the February 21 deadline. "I don't think it's happening with this group," SG Bob Sura says. Though it is no secret G.M. Garry St. Jean is trying to trade C Marc Jackson, he clearly must be trying to deal other players.... After an encouraging start, Larry Hughes is regressing at point guard. Hughes, a natural shooting guard, is having trouble finding open teammates and executing on the break. --Matt Steinmetz