MAVS THE HOTTEST GUNS IN THE WEST

 

(Image taken from NBA.com)

On an 11-game winning streak, including a five game road trip completed with wins in Golden State(102-93) and Seattle(104-97) before coming back home to hammer the oppossition some more, the Dallas Mavericks, led recently by Juan Howard have surged not only into the lead of the South West Division but are also leading the Western Conference as a whole with a 37-10 record. That's banked coach Avery Johnson's place coaching the Western Allstar team in Houston. More on the Allstars later.

The Mavs recent surge is arguably no fault of the San Antonio Spurs who match their fellow Texans' record and are on a six game winning streak of their own including recent wins in Utah(79-70) Portland(86-82) and Golden State(89-86). Memphis are trailing in third in the Southwest Division, then the Hornets, then the Rockets.

The Suns are still leading the Pacific Division with a 31-17 record despite losing their most recent game at home to the TWolves. The Lakers have hit a slide though a three game losing streak knocking them off the Clippers place in second. The Warriors and Kings bring up the rear there.

In the Northwest it's still the Nuggets leading the way with a 26-24 record with the Jazz, TWolves, Sonics and Blazers in their wake.

Of course the Pistons are still running the show in the League as a whole on a 39-7 record. Cleavland, Indiana, Milwakee and Chicago trailing in that order in the Central Division.

In the Southeast division, the Heat are stiill leading with a 30-19 record with the Wizards in second, then the Magic, then the Bobcats then the Hawks.

And finally to round off the tour, the Nets still lead the Atlantic division with the Sixers in second followed by the Celtics, Raptors and Knicks.

Anyway, with the Allstar Game heading closer, Pistons coach Flip Saunders coaching the East side and Mavs coach Avery Johnson coaching the West(it wasn't long ago that Johnson was playing for the Spurs) two starting fives have been announced. First a reminder of my picks for the game:

My East picks generally went smoothly, the exception being Luol Deng(having said that no one really did stand out to partner LeBron James as starting forward). The guy who wound up with the job is Jermaine O'Neal, One of the main men on the post Reggie Miller Pacers lineeup.

My other mistake was Tim Duncan's partner in the forward lineup for the West. Given the Rockets' hopeless form this season I had him out of the running but Tracy McGrady got the nod from the majority of the fans.

Now there's just the bench players to be picked and it's up to the coaches to pick them!

So till then!

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