The NBA's wild, wild West is living up to that billing so far in the 2007-08 season. Top teams like the Spurs, Mavs and Suns have been unable to pull away, while surprise teams such as the Lakers, Trail Blazers, Warriors and Hornets have soared up the standings. As a result, the conference is tighter than ever imagined. A total of 7˝ games separated the top 10 teams through Sunday, and there was only a one-game spread between the top four.
Given the open nature of the race right now, this week's slate should be interesting. It features games such as the Lakers at Spurs (Wednesday), the Blazers at Hornets (Wednesday), the Lakers at Mavs (Friday) and the Hornets at Spurs (Saturday). Buckle up, NBA fans.
This week's high riser: Bobcats (No. 19 from 24) and Knicks (No. 22 from 27)
This week's big drop: Spurs (No. 11 from 6) Pacers (No. 24 from 19)
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With their eyes on the Super Bowl-bound Patriots, some New Englanders might not have noticed that their NBA team lost three of four during a recent stretch. For the record, it was just a blip. Kevin Garnett & Co. bounced back with home wins against the Blazers and Sixers. |
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Last Monday's loss at Sacramento snapped their seven-game winning streak, but they too got right back on track with Saturday's win over the Sonics. They even dusted off Trenton Hassell (six points, four rebounds, three assists in 19 minutes) as Avery Johnson continues tweaking his rotation. |
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Are Shawn Marion and Amaré Stoudemire on the trade block? They're not, according to managing partner Robert Sarver, who told the Arizona Repbulic on Saturday that the Suns will not make a major move before the Feb. 21 trade deadline. Meanwhile, Sunday's win over the Nets was their third straight and sixth in eight games. |
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Ever since a 29-point home loss to the Lakers on Jan. 9, they have been crushing foes. Saturday's 112-84 rout of the Bobcats made it four straight and 12 of 14 overall, as they continue to impress at both ends. "That [defeat to L.A.] woke us up, and now other teams are paying for it," center Tyson Chandler said. |
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They won at Milwaukee on Saturday to finish 3-1 on their road trip, improve to 14-10 away from Oracle Arena and make it five wins in their last six games overall. They already have two more road victories than they did all last season, and their 25-17 record was their best at this point of the season since 1993-94. |
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Once again they seem to be having trouble staying motivated. Saturday's loss in Chicago was their third in four games, following upset losses to the Knicks and Kings. Maybe two meetings this week with the Magic (Monday and Friday) will get their full attention again. |
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Kwame Brown was booed unmercifully by the home crowd in last Thursday's loss to the Suns that snapped their seven-game winning streak. Don't L.A. fans realize that with Andrew Bynum (knee) out for two months and a difficult schedule ahead, the Lakers are going to need a confident Brown? |
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They might have been a bit tired in Saturday's loss at Orlando that left them 2-3 on their road trip and cost them a share of first place in the Northwest Division. But they should be reenergized for Wednesday's showdown in New Orleans with the equally surprising Hornets. |
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OK, so it won't make up for last year's Finals sweep, but they had to feel good about last Thursday's win over the Spurs at San Antonio. Better yet, it was their seventh triumph in eight games as LeBron James (32.6 points, 9.8 rebounds, 9.5 assists, 2.4 steals over that span) is heating up again. |
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In his first game since Dec. 23, Tracy McGrady had nine points on 4-of-12 shooting to help them defeat the Spurs on Saturday and snap a two-game losing skid. With T-Mac back from his knee problems and two games against the Sonics this week, they should be able to build on the momentum. |
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