Eastern Conference

Sporting News, The, March 4, 2002

Atlantic Division

BOSTON CELTICS: The deal that brought SG Tony Delk and SF Rodney Rogers to the Celtics for SG Joe Johnson, PG Milt Palacio, PG Randy Brown and a 2002 first-round draft pick is good for Boston. Johnson and Palacio weren't playing much, and Brown is out for the year. As a jump shooter, Delk brings instant offense. Rogers offers a big body and plays with a style similar to Antoine Walker's. Delk and Rogers should come off the bench and make big impacts, adding depth and helping the reserves carry through on the Celtics' overall strategy to spread out the offense. --Shira Springer

MIAMI HEAT: Considering the spate of recent flat performances, there is question as to whether coach Pat Riley can continue to motivate his players through this morass. His team often has come out flat, with his reserves capable of doing only so much to keep games competitive.... PF Brian Grant is strong on the boards and is doing a decent job defensively against opposing big men. But unless Grant hits his midrange jump shot consistently, the Heat lacks the offense to remain competitive. A more well-rounded offensive game must be the next step for Grant. --Ira Winderman

NEW JERSEY NETS: The Nets survived their first hiccup of the season, bouncing back from three consecutive losses with five straight wins. Despite their unprecedented success, coach Byron Scott has not allowed the team to lose its focus.... SG Kerry Kittles runs like the wind and, on PG Jason Kidd's team, that means plenty of layups and fastbreak baskets. Kittles is shooting 47.4 percent from the field this season. He was a 42.3 percent career shooter before this season.... Kidd needed only 52 games to set the Nets' all-time mark for triple-doubles (six).... PF Keith Van Horn doesn't look all that impressive. But, somehow, he's good for 16 points and eight rebounds nearly every night. If he would go to the rim stronger and finish, his scoring numbers would go up. --Don Burke

NEW YORK KNICKS: With C Marcus Camby (hip) out, coach Don Chaney has been forced to play F/C Kurt Thomas against the opponent's best big man. That often means Thomas is guarding a power forward while PFs Clarence Weatherspoon and Othella Harrington are playing against much bigger centers. The mismatches are most notable against the Nets, who are much taller at almost every position. That and the fact the Knicks don't get back on defense even after made baskets, explains why the Nets have routed the team in all three of their meetings this season.... Weatherspoon is trying to play through a sprained ankle, but when he isn't at full strength, he isn't effective defensively, he gets a lot of shots blocked and his rebounding is spotty. --Greg Logan

ORLANDO MAGIC: The team is scoring well because the ball movement is so good that everyone on the floor is getting open shots and making them. Much of the improvement is the result of quicker decision-making by SG Tracy McGrady. He isn't holding the ball as long, and when he slashes to the basket, he's just as likely to look for a teammate as spot up and take the shot himself.... SF Mike Miller's up-and-down season continues. His shooting is hot and cold, and his defense is, at best, lukewarm. He must become more consistent. --Bill Fay

PHILADELPHIA 76ERS: Injuries to SG Allen Iverson (toe) and G/F Aaron McKie (ankle) and a suspension of PF Derrick Coleman forced coach Larry Brown to use different lineups in each of three games last week. C Dikembe Mutombo and PG Eric Snow were the only two playing their usual positions in every game. Still, if not for an untimely cold spell against the Pacers, the 76ers would have won all three games. Rookie PG Speedy Claxton, F/C Jabari Smith and rookie C Samuel Dalembert performed admirably off the bench during that stretch. --Jon Marks

WASHINGTON WIZARDS: PG Chris Whitney continues to show the grit and leadership the team needs. His inability to penetrate and pass off effectively is his only weakness. At a time when the Wizards are struggling to score, that trait would be a big asset.... SG Richard Hamilton has been taking way too many shots without looking for other options. That is grating on his teammates and on the coaching staff. Coach Doug Collins had enough in a loss to the Nets and played Hamilton only two minutes in a tightly played fourth quarter.... The team did not make a deal, but SF Michael Jordan assisted in trade talks. He could not deal directly with other teams, but he was in constant conversation with G.M. Wes Unseld and assistant G.M. Rod Higgins. --Steve Wyche

Central Division

ATLANTA HAWKS: C Theo Ratliff, whose return from hip surgery was supposed to be imminent, is out for the rest of the season. The team insists it has found a specialist who can get Ratliff, who played in only three games, healthy by next season. Meanwhile, C Nazr Mohammed, 24, will continue to man the middle with little relief. PFs Hanno Mottola and Cal Bowdler are not viable options as backups, which means Mohammed, who is better-suited for a backup role, plays too many minutes. --Curtis Bunn