Add Feedback | Send this Article | Published 1/31/03

Graphic By: Jonelle Thackston

The Kings will finally win their championship this year.
The Kings have the best team in the NBA this year and anything less than a trophy this year, means failure. This is the year destiny finally smiles upon Sacramento after years of flirting with greatness. No other team in the league has better chemistry than the Kings. The core of this team has been together so long that if they fail to win a championship this year, then it will never happen. The Lakers are vulnerable, The Mavericks are not ready for that next level yet, and no one in the East can match up with their depth. If it does not happen now, for the Kings, it will never happen.

The Lakers are in trouble.
They failed to get back to .500 before the end of January like Robert Horry promised and are in danger of missing the playoffs completely. As of this writing, they are fifth in the Pacific Division, tied with another disappointment, Seattle. Losing Shaq for the early part of the season started this tailspin, but the problem is the Lakers lack the intimidation factor they once had. No one is afraid of the Lakers and they are no longer invincible. Sacramento proved this last season in the Western Conference Finals when they came within inches of breaking up the Laker Dynasty. Unless Coach Phil Jackson can motivate the team enough to gain back their killer instinct, this team won't make it far into the postseason, if at all.

Dallas is off to a HOT start, but it will mean nothing in a few months.
Dallas is in the position of Sacramento was in two years ago. A fast-paced, exciting team that scores a lot of points but is not ready for the next level yet. Mavericks owner Mark Cuban is doing everything right to put his team in a position to win and Coach Don Nelson is doing a fine job but right now, Dallas hasn't paid enough dues to win a championship. In the NBA, you pay dues before you can win championships. Jordan's Bulls were frustrated by the Pistons for several years before they finally broke through to become a dynasty. The Lakers had to overcome the Blazers and the then-champion Spurs before they achieved greatness in 2000. Sacramento has suffered long enough while the Mavericks will just have to be patient, keep improving, and wait their turn.

New Jersey is still the team to beat in the East, but it has gotten interesting.
New Jersey has been had to deal with injuries from its pre-season acquisitions of Rodney Rogers and Dikembe Mutombo but still are among the best in the Eastern Conference. The punch line used to be, ³that's not saying much², but this year the East is bit tougher. Indiana is finally living up to its potential and owns the best record in the conference. Coach Isiah Thomas has the Pacers playing an intense, physical style similar to his old ³Bad Boys² Detroit teams. Detroit continues to amaze by getting it done with stifling defense and role players that know their roles. Neither of these two teams though has a player like Jason Kidd, though which is why neither will make it far into the postseason.

Michael Jordan turns 40 in February and he's still one of the best.
Yes, he's lost a step or two or three and yes, he's averaging less than 20 points, but we've got to cut him some slack. Of course he's not going to fly through the lane like he did 15 years ago and sure, his turnaround jumper is sorely lacking the ³jump² part of it but he's still finding ways to help the Wizards win. The Wizards should make the Playoffs which is a great accomplishment for Jordan, Coach Doug Collins, and everyone else involved but anything past the first round is a pipe dream at this point. The Wizards are just a decent team and decent can get you in the Playoffs (especially in the East) but not much more than that.

That's what the league is working with. The second half should prove to be an emotional roller-coaster as the Michael Jordan and David Robinson farewell tours continue and the probable crowning of new champions. A lot of teams and players have a lot left to prove, I'm looking at you Kobe, Shaq, Vince Carter, etc...

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