No reservations

'Zo, Nash should be named to All-Star team

The All-Star reserves will be announced Tuesday, and two guys who are on the bubble but really deserve to make the team are Miami's Alonzo Mourning and Dallas' Steve Nash.

'Zo is starting to play much better, and he should get a lot of credit for persevering and working hard. Because of his kidney condition, he's has to sacrifice a lot to be where he is right now.

One thing in Mourning's favor is the East's need for another big man. You have Philadelphia's Dikembe Mutombo, who'll be starting at center, and Indiana's Jermaine O¹Neal, and not really anybody else, so he might have a shot.

In the West, Nash is having a stellar season on an elite team. Dirk Nowitzki is definitely an All-Star, but Nash may actually be the Mavs' most valuable player. He's been overshadowed by Nowitzki, but the point guard position is so important to a team's success.

The problem for Nash is that there are so many talented points in the West. Houston's Steve Francis will be the starter, Seattle's Gary Payton will be there, and Utah's John Stockton may be a sentimental selection.

"Give and Go" What's on your mind? Send Kevin Loughery a question for This Week in the NBA's "Give and Go" segment, and watch every Sunday at 10 p.m. ET to see if it gets answered on the air.

Heat playing follow the leader

Mourning's team is following his lead, as the Heat have begun the long climb back up the Atlantic Division standings. After starting the season 5-23, the Heat have won 10 of their past 13 games, including Saturday's convincing 90-77 victory against the East-leading Nets.

Miami has an awful lot of talent, and it was just a matter of time before Pat Riley's team started winning again. When you make changes, it takes a while for everyone to learn to play together, even veterans.

Eddie Jones has averaged more than 20 points a game during Miami's hot streak, and he's legitimate, but the play of Rod Strickland has been key, because Anthony Carter and Eddie House are not natural point guards.

But the most important factor for the Heat is that they're in the East. If they can just hang in there, they have a chance; they're only six games out of a playoff spot with about 40 games left.

Blazers still looking for fairy-tale ending

Another team attempting a dramatic second-half comeback is Portland. Rookie head coach Mo Cheeks has cut down the Blazers' rotation to seven or eight players, and that's made a big difference. Earlier this season, he was playing everybody on the roster, and that just doesn't work.

But that problem is typical with a new head coach -- he has to see his players play before he can make certain decisions. You can only find out so much about veterans in exhibition games, because they don't pay close attention in preseason, and that team is full of veterans. But Cheeks has a feel for them now, and it shows.

Another problem the Blazers seem to have solved is who will handle the ball. Damon Stoudamire has been playing some at two-guard with Scottie Pippen playing the point, and they're having some success with that lately.

Having won nine of their past 11, and three in a row, the Blazers have improved to 22-20. If they can keep that up, they'll be back in the hunt in no time.

Kevin Loughery is a former NBA player and head coach. He appears each Sunday on CNN/SI's This Week in the NBA.

 

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