2008 Woodie Awards
The NBA: Kobe Bryant's league
David Mellars
Issue date: 3/28/07 Section: Sports
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Kobe Bryant has propelled the Lakers to five straight victories in a row, scoring an average of 53.6 points per game and giving the Lakers momentum as the playoffs quickly approach. Dallas and San Antonio have locked up playoff births and Phoenix has clinched the Pacific Division. In the Eastern Conference, Detroit has won 7 of their last 10 to stay atop of the Conference while Lebron and the Cavs remeain 2.5 games behind.
The Mavericks remain the best team in basketball, winning six in a row since their double overtime loss to the Suns eleven days ago. Dirk Nowitzki and Josh Howard have led the streaking Mavs, who have rematch with the Suns on April Fools day. The Spurs are nipping at the Mavs heels, winning 16 of their last 18 games. Tony Parker has paced the Spurs, who have gotten solid efforts from Manu Ginobili and Tim Duncan. Meanwhile, the Rockets are charging towards the playoffs, winning 8 of 11 games and having Yao Ming at full strength. Yao and Tracy McGrady have led the Rockets, who enter a tough upcoming stretch against the Lakers and the Jazz.
In the East, Detroit is playing like the defending Conference champions, having clinched a playoff birth last week. Tough losses to the Mavs and Spurs only slowed the Pistons, who have won 7 of 10. Detroit will face its toughest test as they play Chicago twice, Cleveland and Denver. The Cavs also had two tough loses, to Dallas and Denver, but defeated the struggling Jazz and Rockets en route to winning 7 of their last 10. The Bulls also have had a good month, winning 8 of 11 as they sit fifth in the Eastern Conference. Ben Gordon and Kirk Hinrich have paced the Bulls, who are certainly a scary team to face in the playoffs.
Wednesday features the Clippers against the Rockets at 10 pm on ESPN and Thursday features a double header when Detroit plays Chicago at 8 pm and Phoenix plays a streaking Golden State team at 10:30. Both games can be seen on TNT. Friday features Dallas taking on the Knicks, a game that should not be watched for the content but rather for color commentator Walt Frazier.
The Mavericks remain the best team in basketball, winning six in a row since their double overtime loss to the Suns eleven days ago. Dirk Nowitzki and Josh Howard have led the streaking Mavs, who have rematch with the Suns on April Fools day. The Spurs are nipping at the Mavs heels, winning 16 of their last 18 games. Tony Parker has paced the Spurs, who have gotten solid efforts from Manu Ginobili and Tim Duncan. Meanwhile, the Rockets are charging towards the playoffs, winning 8 of 11 games and having Yao Ming at full strength. Yao and Tracy McGrady have led the Rockets, who enter a tough upcoming stretch against the Lakers and the Jazz.
In the East, Detroit is playing like the defending Conference champions, having clinched a playoff birth last week. Tough losses to the Mavs and Spurs only slowed the Pistons, who have won 7 of 10. Detroit will face its toughest test as they play Chicago twice, Cleveland and Denver. The Cavs also had two tough loses, to Dallas and Denver, but defeated the struggling Jazz and Rockets en route to winning 7 of their last 10. The Bulls also have had a good month, winning 8 of 11 as they sit fifth in the Eastern Conference. Ben Gordon and Kirk Hinrich have paced the Bulls, who are certainly a scary team to face in the playoffs.
Wednesday features the Clippers against the Rockets at 10 pm on ESPN and Thursday features a double header when Detroit plays Chicago at 8 pm and Phoenix plays a streaking Golden State team at 10:30. Both games can be seen on TNT. Friday features Dallas taking on the Knicks, a game that should not be watched for the content but rather for color commentator Walt Frazier.
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