NBA Teams With Stretch Run Questions
Eric Freeman - SportingNews.com
Feb 19, 2010
With the passing of yesterday's trade deadline, we're now firmly in the stretch run of the NBA season, a period when the true contenders separate themselves from the pack and playoff hopefuls battle it out for the final spots in their conference. Rumors and rumblings take a back seat to meaningful games and all-important draft position.
The Lakers and Cavs have established themselves as the favorites, but several other teams have paths to chart heading into these last few months. Let's take a look at what's at stake for several teams.
Miami's Wade Problem
For several months, Dwyane Wade has made it abundantly clear that his re-signing with the Heat is contingent on Pat Riley and Co. proving that they're making strides towards building a championship contender. The Heat made several offers for Amare Stoudemire and other stars but were rebuffed when they failed to include young scorer Michael Beasley in most deals. They're making an effort, but there's nothing to show for it yet.
Effort isn't a result, though, and we're at the point where Wade needs to know success is in the near future if he comes back to Miami. Middling playoff position isn't going to cut it. As such, the Heat need to make a serious push in the spring to prove they're a worthy destination for Wade and prospective free agents alike. Miami has a ton of cap space -- more than $30 million, to be exact -- and stands to be a major player this summer. But none of the top free agents are going to sign there if Wade doesn't stay, and Wade likely won't stay if the Heat don't prove they have a solid core in place right now.
Houston's New Hierarchy
The 2009-10 Rockets have been notable for a distinct lack of stars -- this was a team of role players who have raised their games to put the team in playoff contention, not a star or two with a group of rebounders and defenders filling the gaps. With Kevin Marin, though, Houston now has a top-dog scorer, someone to build the offense around.
It remains to be seen how the rest of the roster will adjust. All these players have experience in more traditional systems -- including that of the Rockets with Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady -- and can change their games as needed. But the role player jamboree in Houston has been something of a rallying cry for the franchise this year, a chance to prove that non-stars can be just as effective playing as a team. Daryl Morey undoubtedly made the Rockets better on paper yesterday; I just wonder how long it will take for the new hierarchy to take hold.
First to the Wall
John Wall is the best point guard prospect to hit the draft since Jason Kidd. (I said "prospect," guys, not player.) In most years, all losing teams would tank in hopes of lucking out in the draft, but the Nets have staked such a huge lead with their 5-49 start that it may not even be worth it. The Wolves, the next worse team, are a full 7.5 games behind (in front of?) New Jersey for the worst record in the league, and they already have 47 point guards in their employ.
Tanking this season will essentially be a race for the second-best odds in the draft, which stand at 19.9 percent to first-place's 25 percent. Will teams be content to sacrifice the rest of the season for the consolation prize of Ohio State's Evan Turner or raw Georgia Tech big man Derrick Favors? Either way, tanking will suddenly become a much harder sell for any franchise.
Can the Magic Get Right?
Orlando was the only one of the top three teams in the East not to make a move at the deadline. This makes sense when you look at their roster -- they're loaded with talent and have the most objectively good players of any team in the NBA. For whatever reason, the Magic haven't been able to put it all together, and these last few months of the season are their chance to get things right before things start to get really serious.
The Cavs and Lakers are deserving favorites, no doubt. But a cohesive Orlando squad is arguably just as dangerous, with no clear holes in a rotation full of capable, experienced players. More than any deadline deal, the Magic sorting out their system is the one thing that can change the NBA landscape in these final few months. The rest of the league will be watching them closely.
----
Sound Off...What do you think? Join the discussion
Copyright 2012 by SportingNews.com
