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Playoff prediction Sixers have edge heading into postseason play
Posted: Thursday March 30, 2000 02:15 AM
I know it's early, but I really feel that Philadelphia will win the East. The Sixers are playing the best basketball of anyone in that conference, and I've got a gut feeling about them. They play hard, and they have an awful lot of tough personalities who will play really well in the playoffs. They got a big break by having to start Toni Kukoc in place of George Lynch, who went on the injured list March 24 with a sprained MCL in his right knee. That's going to help them tremendously. Kukoc is the guy they needed, and he's got to give them 16, 17 minutes a night. Allen Iverson's always going to compete, and they've got shot-blockers. I like that team. Head coach Larry Brown also has done a fantastic job, which is why Philadelphia rewarded him with a long-term deal. As for his relationship with his star, I think there's a little love-hate relationship between he and Iverson. Iverson is never going to be easy to coach, but the two of them always seem to make up. I play some golf with Brown every summer, and he's an incredible competitor. Iverson plays hard all the time, even in practice, and Brown likes that in Iverson.
Emotions running high in SeattleIf you said the Sonics had a fight among themselves and you asked me to pick the two players, it would be Vernon Maxwell and Gary Payton. They're very competitive; they're very aggressive; they like to talk trash. Payton and Maxwell are two very volatile players. They're two players who won't back down from anybody. Also, the team has been losing. There's no doubt that Payton is the leader of that team, and he'll get in people's faces. I don't think Maxwell likes anybody getting in his face, but they're both extremely competitive and they'll overcome it. They've been there before; they know how to handle these situations. The injury to Horace Grant could be the biggest minus of the fight. One thing about that team is they've overachieved most of the year, and Payton is such an important part of that team. But if he has any kind of off night, they have a real difficult time. Their bench is extremely weak, so if Grant isn't 100 percent, that would be really detrimental. Coach's breakdownOrlando came up with a huge defensive performance last Sunday, holding Miami to an NBA-record low 19 points in the second half. Miami depends so much on the 3-point shot now that when the Heat are not making the 3-pointer they will struggle. But I never thought I'd see them struggle to that degree.You've got to give Orlando credit. They shut down the 3, and Miami really had a hard time trying to contain the Magic's point guards. Chucky Atkins and Darrell Armstrong had tremendous games. When you break down the defense of Miami and you're able to get inside, you will get an awful lot of foul shots. It also opens up the perimeter shooting. So the big key was the breakdown of Miami's point guard, Tim Hardaway. Hardaway's going to struggle defensively because of his knee injury; he's not 100 percent. Kevin Loughery is a former NBA player and head coach. He appears each Sunday on CNN/Sports Illustrated's "This Week in the NBA."
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