NBA WESTERN CONFERENCE.(Brief Article)

WHO'S HOT

It has been a season of fits and starts for Spurs PF Tim Duncan, but his latest hot streak appears to be a permanent return to the form he exhibited before offseason knee surgery. After scoring a season-low 8 points on December 30, Duncan averaged 23.2 points, 11.8 rebounds and 2,8 blocks with 52.5 percent shooting in his next 13 games. Entering the weekend, the Spurs won five straight.

WHO'S NOT

SF Lamar Odom might not be progressing as quickly as the Clippers hoped. His statistics are almost identical to the ones he posted as a rookie, and his recent slump coincided with the team's nine-game losing streak. During the skid, Odom averaged only 15 points on 36.5 percent shooting and committed 3.2 turnovers a game. On a team that needs a leader, he hasn't been one.

SEE A DIFFERENT GAME

If lakers C Shaquille O'Neal doesn't suit up for the All-Star Game, finding a Western Conference center to replace him might be tough. Spurs C David Robinson already is in, so the next step down is a doozy. With the Sonics' Patrick Ewing and the Rockets' Hakeem Olajuwon playing more like antiques than All-Stars, rookie Marc Jackson of the Warriors would be the sensible last-minute call-up.

 
TSN's Power Poll 
 
Rk.   Team            W-L     Comment 
 
 1.   Philadelphia    35-12   76ers started out 22-2 vs. 
                              East, are 3-3 since. 
 
 2.   Sacramento      31-12   Reducing Williams' role has 
                              paid off for the Kings. 
 
 3.   Portland        34-15   Blazers' former retiree is 
                              better than most teams' sixth 
                              men. 
 
 4.   Utah            31-15   Marshall cutting into Malone's 
                              share of the offense. 
 
 5.   San Antonio     29-15   Spurs playing their best ball 
                              of the season. 
 
 6.   L.A. Lakers     29-16   Kobe finding out winning is 
                              difficult without Shaq. 
 
 7.   Minnesota       31-18   Suddenly, home-court advantage 
                              in first round is within reach. 
 
 8.   Dallas          30-18   Mavs' stars could teach takers 
                              something about selflessness. 
 
 9.   Milwaukee       28-17   Win over Nuggets prevented what 
                              could have become a tailspin. 
 
10.   New York        27-17   Getting Harrington a coup for 
                              Knicks. 
 
11.   ...