Good News, Bad News - Midwest Divison

GOOD NEWS - The Mavericks' strength, of course, is their offense, which sports five players who would be first or second scoring options on most teams in the league. Dirk Nowitzki is the best of this group, but Steve Nash, Michael Finley, Antwan Jamison, and Antoine Walker are all capable of scoring 30 points on a given night. This kind of firepower gives coach Don Nelson the freedom to field unconventional lineups, which he uses liberally to torment opposing defenses with impossible matchups.

BAD NEWS - The Mavericks resemble a team I put together late one night on NBA Live after a bad batch of circus peanuts. I imagine the nimble thumb of Mark Cuban hovering over the X button every time the Mavericks play. Cuban constructs his team like a star-struck fan, acquiring names rather than players and thinking nothing of his team's chemistry or sense of security, both of which are damaged by each impulsive trade.

Denver Nuggets

GOOD NEWS - Like new star Carmelo Anthony, the Nuggets skipped much of their education on the way to the big time. Their four-year rebuilding plan, while nowhere near complete, is way ahead of schedule. Nearly every roster move the Nuggets have made has worked out almost perfectly, giving the Nuggets a versatile, athletic, and well-balanced roster with limitless potential on the court and more money to spend this summer.

BAD NEWS - The ending is known to all, but the battle for the ball must be waged nonetheless. Ultimately, Anthony will do what he wants on the court, but for now, point guard Andre Miller and power forward Nene have each requested more quality time with the rock. Miller needs the ball in his hands frequently to be the playmaker the Nuggets signed him to be, while Nene is the team's only hope of establishing a major post presence. Anthony's well-rounded game steps on the toes of both, and it will be up to Miller, Nene, and the rest of the Nuggets to get in where they fit in.

Houston Rockets

GOOD NEWS - Yao Ming and Kelvin Cato, while not quite Olajuwon and Sampson, are a potent Twin Towers-like duo for the Rockets, especially on the defensive end. Cato is limited to alley-oops and put-backs on offense, but high-scoring Maurice Taylor gives Jeff Van Gundy a vastly different option at power forward, giving Houston the luxury of matching up with opponents, or better, forcing opponents to adjust to them.

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