The "Big Four" in the West are faltering down the stretch moving into the playoffs.
Minnesota is 5 and 5 in their last ten games with losses to SA, Portland 2x, Boston and Houston. At times both their offense and their defense has looked confused. They did manage to beat SA and LA as part of that 5-5 record but since the return of Wally, haven't seemed to "gel" on the court together as a team -- either offensively or defensively.
SA is 6 and 4 in their last ten games with losses to Minn, GS, SacTown and Memphis. This team has proven that if TD isn't healthy and at the top of his game, they simply can't win. Nest has proved that he is a pale imitation for DRob -- and don't look at stats for substantiation otherwise because the facts show on the floor. Nesterovic gets a lot of easy rebounds and/or shots because of the fact that teams are leaving him to double on TD -- Nest will never get the respect on the floor that DRob did -- teams never left DRob to double -- they often tried to double both TD and DRob. SA had better hope that this recurring injury to TD doesn't show up at all during the playoffs. Without TD, the Spurs aren't going far -- with him? They have a legit shot at the title with the tough D but their offense is WAY too predictable with TD (and IMO that's why they won't win another title).
SacTown is 6 and 4 in their last 10 games with losses to Milwaukee, Washington, NJ and Portland. They did manage to beat Dallas soundly and managed to pull out a win against Indy (by 2 without Ron Artest). If SacTown stayed with it's motion offense, I think they would be the team to beat -- but I only see that happening if CWebb gets hurt again. Miller is a better defensive player than CWebb and BMill is willing to take a team role in the offense -- something CWebb has never been willing to do -- oh sure, he will pass the ball, but it's got to be HIM either passing or shooting the ball. Makes the offense a lot more predictable, doesn't it? IF SacTown could find a way to bring CWebb off the bench and alternate between the motion offense and the CWebb offense (we all know that CWebb isn't going to move without the ball), this team could be very tough to beat. This, IMO, is why I never put Adelmann down as a great coach -- either he is too stubborn to admit he made a mistake or he simply can't change midstream -- either of those have caused his team loss in the past and will again in the future.
LA is 8 and 2 in their last 10 games with losses to Minnesota and Utah, However, they really haven't played quality teams in these games (the majority of their tough games were in the early part of the season) and they still haven't managed to beat any team by more than 10 points. LA has had some GREAT ball during this time but it is usually shortlived and then they allow their opponent back into the game (something that I was hoping GP and Malone would help with). I don't worry about the Lakers offense but in order for this team to make a serious run for the title, their defense needs to improve drastically. They were playing better ball at the beginning of the season and they need to get back and then to improve their defense.
Dallas? No way. This team just doesn't have any answer in the paint. I'm still not sure why the Mavs didn't make a play for Theo Ratliff -- the Mavs could have offered some solid talent for a big man who likes to guard the paint (and has zero offensive abilities). IF this team ever got serious, it could throw some a legit trade at Detroit -- Jamison, Najera, Josh Howard and/Walker (although I doubt that anyone really wants Walker -- even Bradley although I don't think Detroit would want him either). If Dallas could land a big man in the post -- like Wallace, who could crash the boards and guard the paint, this team would be a favorite to win it all. I think Nellie and Cuban would have to admit they made mistakes in assembling this team and they aren't as brilliant as they both think they are -- and for that reason alone, they would rather be bounced out of the first round than try to pull of a trade that would win them the title.
IMO, this leaves the door WIDE open for ONE team in the EC -- Indy, to challenge the West for the title. Should Indy be as good as the top four? No, not in my opinion -- but at this point, with the top four faltering, they are.
