Questions, Questions

It's nearing playoffs and with something like seven regular season games remaining, its still a mad scramble for the final two playoff spots in the eastern and western conferences. But some key questions could make or break the final quarter of the season.

WHICH TEAM CAN CHANGE THE BALANCE OF POWER IN THE WEST ?

The Spurs' chokehold on the conference is hugely dependent on Tim Duncan's health. He has been slowed the whole year by plantar fasciitis of the right foot and if he will be limping into the conference finals, the Suns or the Mavericks can end San Antonio's reign.

The Clippers and the Nuggets are dark horses and have decent chances of topping their divisions, which could enable them to avoid the Spurs or the Mavs in the first and second round. Forget the Lakers. They will be in the playoffs but they won't be advancing as high as the second round.

KOBE AS MVP ?

This season has been a magnificent performance by Kobe Bryant, but since 1984, teams averaging 62 wins produce the season's MVP. Moses Malone was the last MVP on a team with fewer than 50 victories where his Houston Rockets won 46 games. Kobe faces a formidable cast of MVP contenders in LeBron James, Shaquille O'Neal, Dwyane Wade, Vince Carter and yes, Steve Nash.

CAN MIAMI TURN ON THE HEAT ?

Hey, Miami is not exactly the potent team it used to be. Chemistry problems have taken over the team re-tooled by Pat Riley the president that not even Pat Riley the coach can find a solution to the mess. The Heat should find a formula that could match the Pistons or else they could be wallowing earlier than expected at South Beach. Their success stories against elite teams are also wanting. For crying out loud, Shaq was clamped by the Sun's Kurt Thomas and the Nets' Jason Collins over a 9-day span.

WILL IT BE ISIAH THOMAS OR LARRY BROWN ?

Larry Brown has to collect from the Knicks a reported $10 million a year until the 2009-2010 season. This would make the Knicks as the rarest franchise that Brown is not in a hurry to depart. A possible scenario would be,that in the next two years, Brown would lobby for the removal of Isiah Thomas in favor of a low-profile General Manager of Brown's choosing. This would eventually enable Brown to become the Knicks president.

ARE THESE PLAYERS WORTH THE MILLIONS THEY RECEIVE ?

Allan Houston, Knicks. $19.1 million. Retired this season, he remains on the team's bloated cap.

Chris Webber, 76ers. $19.1 million. Hampered by knee problems, he has cohabitation problems with Allen Iverson.

Michael Finley, Spurs. $18.6 million. Waived by the Mavs who paid most of his salary, he only averages below 10 points a game.

Kevin Garnett, Timberwolves. $18 million. Has only won two playoff series in his 11-year pro career.

Stephon Marbury, Knicks. $16.5 million. He has yet to win a playoff series.

Allen Iverson, 76ers. $16.5 million. Since the 2001 finals appearance, the 76ers have gone downhill.

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