NBA News, Notes, and Observations: March 27, 2008

It's time for Round Three of my News, Notes & Observations.

1) The best is yet to come... 

The season has 19 days left and a plethora of exciting games left, starting with tonight's game between the Mavs and Nuggets in Denver. The Mavs currently lead the Nuggets by two games in the playoff race.

Since the teams have split their first two games this season, the Mavs can go a long way towards securing a playoff spot with a victory tonight. A win would not only give the Mavs a three-game lead over the Nuggets, but by winning the season series, they would clinch the tie-breaker, making their lead a virtual four games.

If both the Mavs lose and the Warriors beat the Blazers tonight, then the Mavs and Warriors would be tied in the loss column for the 7th and 8th seed.

2) The Suns are playing much better but...

The Suns have won 7 out of their last 10 games and are now 10-8 since Shaq's arrival. Even though the team has had impressive home victories against the Celtics, Spurs, Warriors and Rockets they have yet to beat a team contending for a playoff spot on the road with Shaq. They are 0-4 against New Orleans, Denver, Detroit and Boston. Their only road victories have come against Portland, Memphis and Seattle.

The Suns play their next two games Friday and Saturday in Philadelphia and New Jersey, respectively. A win against the Sixers would be a good start since they still have road games left against Denver, San Antonio and Houston.

If they can't win more than one of the four against Denver, San Antonio, Houston and Philadelphia then I'm not convinced the Suns will get out of the first-round without home-court advantage.

3) I warned you, Laker fans... 

Back in January I wrote an article about three non-playoff teams that would play a part in the playoff race: Sacramento, Atlanta and Charlotte. Well, the Lakers lost at home to the Kings on March 9th and lost to the Bobcats at home last night.

The schedule-makers did them a huge favor by giving them such a home-heavy schedule to end the season. They seem to be doing their best to mess it up. You can use injuries as an excuse for losing to the Warriors at home but you can't do it to justify losses to the Kings and Bobcats.

4) Tanking season is in full swing...

First it was Dwyane Wade. Now it looks like Shawn Marion is pretending that back spasms are keeping him out of action. Even Brandon Roy appears to be done for the year. Chris Wilcox is missing games with a pinkie sprain.

Have these teams learned nothing from the Celtics and Wolves? The Basketball Gods are not very fond of tanking. The Clippers are the only team that appears to be shooting for karma points. Elton Brand is hoping to play in the team's last five games.

5) The Grizzlies are targeting Larry Brown...

The New York Daily News reported that the Grizzlies could be targeting Larry Brown to replace first-year coach, Marc Iavoroni. Of all the potential coaching jobs that could be open this summer, does Brown really think Memphis is the most appealing?

If we're led to believe that Brown doesn't want the last line of his legacy to be about his awful season in New York then why would he choose to go to a Western Conference team? Wouldn't the Bulls, Hawks or even Bucks be better jobs?

For those Nuggets fans hoping that Brown succeeds George Karl, don't count on it. Brown and Karl both have Carolina blood and there's no way Brown takes that job if the Nuggets win 50 games and he feels Karl shouldn't have been fired.

Besides, wouldn't the Grizzlies be better off hiring Monta Ellis' mom to coach the team? If he's their prime target in free agency this summer shouldn't they go with someone that increases the likelihood that Ellis would sign with them?

6) Shaq throws another previous employer under the bus...

Despite declaring Kobe Bryant to be his choice for this year's MVP, Shaq is now 3-for-3 in bashing his former employers.

First he blamed his departure from the Magic on an Orlando Sentinel fan survey in which the majority of those who voted felt that he wasn't worth the money he was being offered.

Next he blamed Kobe Bryant for his departure from the Lakers despite the fact that he demanded the trade.

Now, in yesterday's Boston Globe, he blames his former teammates and the Heat's trainers for his sub-par season in Miami.

At what point will the media blame Shaq for his departure from all three teams and admit that he tanked it and faked the extent of his injury so that he would be dealt to a contender?

The Lakers and Heat both did him a favor in sending him to contending teams and the best he could do to repay them is bad-mouth them on his way out of town.

In today's Boston Globe he declares that Amare Stoudemire is more deserving of the MVP than Kevin Garnett because "Garnett doesn't play defense."

He also told the Orlando Sentinel that he plans on being the Magic's GM when his playing days are over and that he'll hire Grant Hill to be the team president.

I wish I had a tissue for all the Magic fans who just threw up in their respective mouths. 

7) Those of you hoping for a Lakers vs. Warriors first-round match-up...

As exciting as the two Lakers/Warriors games were this week, fans should proceed with cautious optimism if they're praying for a seven-game series.

The absence of Laker bigs forced them to play small-ball against the Warriors. The return of either Pau Gasol or Andrew Bynum would allow the Lakers to return to a more traditional lineup and style of play.

Unlike Avery Johnson, Phil Jackson isn't stupid enough to allow the opposing team to dictate the tempo. In their first meeting this season, Bynum had 20 points and 11 rebounds in a ten-point Laker victory.

In the second game, Bynum had 17 points and 16 rebounds despite the Warriors winning the game by two.

Andris Biedrins wasn't able to stay out of foul trouble in the two games against Ronny Turiaf. What makes anyone think he could do it against either Bynum or Gasol?

The Warriors best low-post defender in those two early-season games was DJ Mbenga, who is now a member of the Lakers.

The Warriors are also 3-15 against the Lakers over their last 18 meetings against them. Needless to say, the Lakers would prefer to play the Warriors than any of the other seven teams currently in the playoff race, except for the Mavericks.

8) Chris Bosh calling out his teammates shouldn't be ignored...

When Chris Bosh called his teammates soft after their loss to the Nuggets on Sunday he unintentionally fired the first warning shot toward his impending free agency in 2010.

He clearly wasn't happy with how the team was playing and his teammates responded by helping him beat the Pistons in Toronto last night. The question now becomes whether last night's game was a permanent change or just an aberration.

The Raptors were the third-seed in the Eastern Conference last season and currently sit in the seventh spot. They are one game back of the fifth-seed and a first-round playoff match-up with LeBron & Company.

Regardless of their seeding, I don't see the Raptors making it past the first-round of the playoffs against either the Pistons, Magic or Cavs. 

There's no denying the they have had injury issues all season long. But with teams like Philadelphia and Atlanta seemingly on the up-and-up and teams like Miami and Washington expecting the return of healthy superstars, the Raptors are in danger of being in a position where Bosh could explore other options in two years.

The team has to do it's best in free agency over the next couple of off-seasons to make them attractive enough for him to commit his prime years to playing in Toronto.

9) Mutombo an example to all...

The NBA recognized Dikembe Mutombo on Wednesday for his humanitarian efforts and contributions to the game of basketball.

Richard Justice wrote a glowing piece in today's Houston Chronicle about Mutombo's achievements, including raising $29 million to build a hospital in his native Congo, $15 million of which he donated himself.

If the rest of the NBA's players would use their fame and fortune to draw attention to injustices and worthwhile causes they would off-set every ounce of negativity thrown their way.

Dikembe Mutombo made the world a better place. How many athletes can say the same thing?

10) If the playoffs started today...

The Western Conference would look like this:

1) Hornets vs. 8) Warriors

2) Rockets vs. 7) Mavericks

3) Lakers vs. 6) Suns

4) Jazz vs. 5) Spurs

The Eastern Conference would look like this:

1) Celtics vs. 8) Hawks

2) Pistons vs. 7) Raptors

3) Magic vs. 6) Sixers

4) Cavs vs. 5) Wizards