WESTERN CONFERENCE.(National Basketball Association - team/player updates)

Dallas

A CONTENDER: PF Juwan Howard bolsters the team up front. His arrival from the Wizards gives the Mavericks a chance to end their playoff drought. He is a legitimate low-post scorer and gives the team a rebounding lift. Defense isn't Howard's strong suit, however, and interior defense remains a team weakness. That's why the Mavericks refused to include shot-blocking C Shawn Bradley in the deal. Christian Laettner's departure makes Bradley the starting center again. In the past, a reserve role has better suited Bradley's temperament.... With the bench shortened to 10 players by the trade, rookie PF Eduardo Najera was activated off the injured list and had 9 points and 12 rebounds in last week's win over the Celtics. Najera's gritty play appears to inspire his teammates.

SEE A DIFFERENT GAME: The team already has an established Big Three on offense with SG Michael Finley, SF Dirk Nowitzki and PG Steve Nash, so Howard's role must be defined. Howard has an accurate midrange jumper and can power his way inside. But there's only one ball, and Finley, Nowitzki and Nash each likes it in his hands. The danger of the trade is the possibility of upsetting team chemistry. The 15 players on the active roster and injured reserve all got along well. Bringing in new faces always is risky. Howard's assimilation will be eased by his long-time friendship with Finley, the team's leader. --Ken Sins

Denver

FALLING APART: The team is only 4 1/2 games out of the playoff picture, but the season has gone down the tubes in a hurry. A home loss to the Wizards was enough send the Nuggets into a tailspin. Back-to-back road losses, including a 29-point flameout in Seattle, only reiterated the fact the Nuggets are a team in trouble. They have proved time and time again that they can't win on the road. And, in games such as the embarrassing loss to the Sonics, the Nuggets appear to be quitters. After losing to Seattle, the Nuggets had a day off then held a team meeting. The three team captains--PG Nick Van Exel, PF Antonio McDyess and SF George McCloud--spoke with coach Dan Issel. The Nuggets came out of the meeting proclaiming themselves alive for the playoff hunt. A six-game road trip in late March will be the ultimate test of their pulse. The team entered last weekend 7-21 on the road.

SEE A DIFFERENT GAME: Issel almost lost his team during a mutiny in December. He received a vote of confidence and toned down his sideline tirades, and the team briefly rallied. But it appears that the players have given up now. If he wants to save the season--and perhaps his job--now is the time to pull out all the stops. Issel has agreed to simplify the defensive schemes and let the Nuggets just play basketball. If it works, Issel will get credit. If it doesn't, he surely will get the blame and maybe the boot. --Michael BeDan

Golden State