The glass jaw of the Western Conference, the Mavericks are back to sashay through another postseason. Despite another year as basketball's version of an empty net, Dallas management has exhibited little interest in upgrading the team's defense, while few players have demonstrated a desire to improve their own efforts. Regardless, the Mavericks feature enough versatility and athleticism offensively to outscore nearly anyone in the West.
Los Angeles Lakers
"I don't think we can ever forgive him." In a year in which Kobe Bryant committed at least one other notable misdeed, it was, of all things, Kobe's refusal to shoot the ball that inspired this caterwaul. In this case, the victim of Kobe's duplicity was a wounded and anonymous teammate, still stinging from a lopsided loss to rival Sacramento. That the locker room of a professional sports team has become the setting for such O.C.-style drama might be disconcerting if this were any team but the Lakers - tension is as essential to the Staples locker room as Gatorade, ankle braces, and flat-screen TV's with built-in DVD players.
Memphis Grizzlies
A common criticism of today's NBA holds that it is comprised of great individuals, rather than great teams, and that the league's post-up and clear-out style of play values the superstar over a team of solid contributors. But if the failures of Tracy McGrady, Vince Carter, and Allen Iverson to drag their teams into the playoffs belies this notion, the success of the Grizzlies all but impugns it. Memphis has flourished with a platoon at each position and without anyone who might reasonably be mistaken for a franchise player. It remains uncertain, however, if such a socialist system can thrive in the laissez-faire postseason.
Minnesota Timberwolves
Once upon a time, a team led by a dominant MVP candidate at power forward and a brash, high-scoring point guard secured the top seed in the Western Conference. Despite a 60-win season, this squad failed to convince many experts and were denied the respect granted lower-seeded but more accomplished franchises. Nonetheless, this team entered their first round series with the Denver Nuggets heavily favored. The team: the 1994 Seattle Supersonics, who became victims of the biggest upset in NBA playoff history when Denver won game 5 in Seattle to end the Sonics' season early. This story of paradise lost presents a sobering cautionary tale for the Wolves, though Kevin Garnett hardly needs any motivation to finally leave the first round behind him.
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