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[spursfan101]

Today, Insider breaks down the playoff hunt in the West. Barring some sort of major collapse or injury by a team, chances are things will be wrapped up here in the next few weeks.

1. Sacramento KingsProjected Record: 60-22
Current Record: 40-14 (No. 1)
Vlade Divac is averaging more assists per game than most point guards in the league (an amazing 10.2 over his last five games). Brad Miller is right behind him. Peja Stojakvoic has been hearing M-V-P chants in the distance. Mike Bibby has a new swagger in his step this year. And did we mention in six games Chris Webber is coming back from season-long injury exile? The Kings are clicking right now, and while their window appears to be closing, this team looks poised to go all the way this year.

2. Minnesota TimberwolvesProjected Record: 59-23
Current Record: 40-16 (No. 2)
When the smoke clears, Kevin Garnett, if he can keep it up, will be the league's MVP. Not only has he turned in yet another of the most complete performances the NBA has ever seen, he's been a leader this season, setting a tone for veterans like Sam Cassell and Latrell Sprewell that has brought the best out of both. Now that Wally Szczerbiak and Michael Olowokandi are finally back, Flip Saunders has 26 games to try to meld them into the mix. It may produce a few rough spots along the way, but the ultimate prize is June, and for the first time in his career Garnett seems to have a supporting cast that can get him out of the first round.

3. Los Angeles [span style=\'color:yellow\']Lakers[/span]Projected Record: 53-29
Current Record:35-19 (No. 4)
We we're premature in handing them the NBA championship before the season even started, and we're just as premature to write them off after things haven't gone as planned. The reality is that when the Lakers are healthy, there isn't a more formidable starting five in the NBA. But balance that with the other reality -- so much turmoil and so little time actually playing together -- and a big question remains: Will a true team emerge, or are the Lakers just a nice collection of great players each trying to get his own?

4. San Antonio Spurs
Projected Record: 52-30
Current Record: 37-19 (No. 3)
It seems like the Spurs are a step behind this year. They miss Stephen Jackson. They miss David Robinson. Rasho Nesterovic, Robert Horry and Hedo Turkoglu have been solid replacements, but the magic isn't there this year. The Spurs will be dangerous contenders as long as Tim Duncan is breathing, but their shot at a repeat doesn't look great right now.

5. Dallas MavericksProjected Record: 51-31
Current Record: 35-20 (No. 5)
Too much of a good thing? That seems to be what plagues the Mavs. We said at the start of the season that if they found a way to jell, they could end up with the best record in the league. So far they've found ways to co-exist ... but the cohesion still isn't there. There's something about this team that just isn't right, and if Don Nelson doesn't figure it out soon, he'll be the fall guy. I've got a hint for him. Tell Antoine Walker and Antawn Jamison to give Dirk Nowitzki the ball. When he's on fire, no one can stop the Mavs. When he's standing in the corner watching Walker chuck up 3s, the whole team really goes to waste.

6. Memphis GrizzliesProjected Record: 48-34
Current Record: 34-22 (No. 6)
Jerry West has outdone himself here. If the Grizzlies keep up this pace, shouldn't we just rename the executive of the year award after him? West quietly and subtly has turned the Grizzlies from the most hapless franchise in the league into a solid basketball team in a little more than a year. They play hard (at home and, more importantly, on the road), have a cool style and have numerous assets to pawn off this summer in search of a true superstar. No one wants to play this team in the first round of the playoffs. I can't think of a higher compliment to West than that.

7. Denver Nuggets
Projected Record: 46-36
Current Record: 32-26 (No.
Speaking of great front-office work, Kiki Vandeweghe's Nuggets are right up there with West's Grizzlies. The Nuggets were the worst team in the league last year and are now fighting for a No. 6 seed in the West. Unbelievable. They've done it with great play from rookie Carmelo Anthony and solid contributions from role players like Andre Miller, Voshon Lenard, Marcus Camby and Nene Hilario. The future is bright in Denver, and for the first time in a long time, that includes a visit to the playoffs.

8. Houston RocketsProjected Record: 46-36
Current Record: 32-23 (No. 7)
Jeff Van Gundy took the keys out of Steve Francis' hand and put them in Yao's. The results were shaky early on, but lately Van Gundy looks pretty wise. Yao is starting to explode. In February he's averaging 20.8 ppg and 8.1 rpg on 58 percent shooting from the field. Francis has really had to tone down his game to make it happen, but the results of late have been pretty impressive. I still think the Rockets are actually the weakest team of the lot, but with a big, seven-game lead over the Blazers, they should be able to fight Portland off for the final playoff spot. It would take a 19-8 run by the Blazers to get by the Rockets, if Houston wins 46 games.  

[spursfan101]

Man, he bummed me out...   Spurs are going to wrap up the remaining 26 games with only 15 wins, and 11 losses...    :lol:  :lol:  :lol: STILL no props...luv it! :lol:  

[Lurker]

First off let's just say that Portland is closing fast on the Nuggets....so it appears Mr. Ford's crystal ball is slightly warped.

Then for a counter point regarding the Spurs read what Mr. Sean Deveney writes:
It's beginning to look a lot like last season for the Spurs
 
Sean Deveney /
Posted: 12 minutes ago
 The similarities are eerie: Massive roster turnover, player confusion, questions at the center spot and a ho-hum start. These were realities for the Spurs early last season, and those realities returned this year. The Spurs brought in a bunch of new players in 2002-03, struggled learning the defensive schemes of coach Gregg Popovich, watched David Robinson hobble through his final season and were just decent -- 28-15 -- by late January.



This year's start was nearly the same. There was another roster overhaul, and most of the new Spurs were lost on defense in the early weeks. New center Rasho Nesterovic, Robinson's replacement, was particularly confused, and because the Spurs rely on their big men to close down drives to the basket, Nesterovic's confusion was a considerable problem. At the end of January, the Spurs were 31-18 -- again decent, but not great.


Last year, the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo changed a decent season into a terrific one. And this year, it seems to be changing things again.


"We've been up and down all season," MVP Tim Duncan says. "Now, we're starting to get a feel for each other. It's happening at the right time."


Thanks to the rodeo, San Antonio went on a grueling nine-game road trip in late January and early February last season. The Spurs were 8-1 on the trip, bonding as a team off the floor and jelling on it. They lost just six regular-season games after the trip and went on to win the championship.


"That was when we came together," former Spur Steve Kerr says. "We were more confident and more sure once we went through that together."


The rodeo-induced trek began later this season and again was interrupted by the All-Star break, but the Spurs started it with five straight victories. They -- especially Duncan -- seem confident again, efficient on offense and stifling on defense. "The way things are going are much like last year," guard Emanuel Ginobili says.


"They still pick teams apart," a Western Conference scout says. "Whatever you do offensively, they can stop it. There's no team quicker or more sure on rotations and just knowing where everyone is supposed to be. That wins playoff series."


San Antonio, however, has problems to address. Popovich is tightening his rotation, and that has frozen out forward Malik Rose in favor of Robert Horry. Rose has had problems with Popovich and nearly was traded last week. But a productive, happy Rose is important when the postseason comes because he and Horry are the only capable backup big men.


The team also must get more consistency out of its feisty international backcourt players, point guard Tony Parker and Ginobili. Parker has been playing better lately but overall has not shown the improvement expected of a third-year player -- his defense is better but his ballhandling isn't, and his shooting has gotten worse. Ginobili also has not improved as expected. He has been too reckless at times for Popovich, who moved Ginobili to the bench behind Hedo Turkoglu.


Then again, Parker and Ginobili were inconsistent, and Rose struggled last year, too. The Spurs still won the championship.


Eerie.

 
 

[Guest_Randy]

Then again, Parker and Ginobili were inconsistent, and Rose struggled last year, too. The Spurs still won the championship.

Yeah, and why did they win the championship?  Because Stephon Jackson and Speedy Claxton WEREN'T inconsistent -- they played incredible ball on both sides of the court.  That certainly isn't going to happen.  Oh, wait, Charlie Ward is going to come in and do what Speedy did last year, right?   :lol:  

[spursfan101]

....hmmm...Why not?  Charlie is a wiley vet. <_<