Around The Rim

The Illinois team that Lon Kruger left last summer won 27 of 35 games and reached this year's Elite Eight; the Hawks team he took over had, at week's end, won only 21 of 71. "I've never heard him reminisce," says Atlanta G.M. Pete Babcock. "For a guy who has won 21 games, he's remarkably upbeat."

... Jason Kidd poured in 31 points against the Celtics, 32 against the Mavericks and 36 against the Wizards in consecutive games over six days. Until last week the Suns point guard never had two 30-point games in a row....

Consider the importance to the Trail Blazers of 7'3" Arvydas Sabonis, who continues to struggle with a variety of injuries: Through Sunday the Blazers were 25-7 when Sabonis played at least 20 minutes and 20-17 when he didn't....

Hoping to inspire Vin Baker to work hard this summer, Sonics coach Nate McMillan has promised him he will start next season....

Over the last five months of the Lakers' title run last season, Shaquille O'Neal missed two games and Kobe Bryant only one. This year O'Neal had already missed eight games through Sunday while struggling with injuries to both feet, and Bryant, who had sat out seven games, has ankle ailments that could bother him the rest of the season....

The Rockets have asked Shandon Anderson to shoot more often, and the unselfish small forward understands why. "These guys come in knowing they don't have to play any defense against me," Anderson says. "I can just see their eyes lighting up."

...The Bulls, who declared three years ago that they would not replicate the postchampionship crashes of the Celtics and the Pistons, were on pace at week's end to win a total of 31 games over the last two seasons. Chicago's winning percentage (.192) would go down as the seventh-worst two-year mark ever.