Sidney Moncrief knows his NBA. So just as DallasBasketball.com invited Mark Aguirre to take us on a team-by-team tour of the East (see left column), we ask analytical basketball lifer Moncrief to do the same for the NBA West.
?There are the Lakers, of course,?? says Moncrief, a Mavs assistant, ?but after that, the contenders go on and on and on.??
1. LOS ANGELES LAKERS Coach: Phil Jackson (612-208). '00-01 record: 56-26 (first). World champions. Factoid: For all of their title-winning ways, this franchise has never won three championships in a row.
Moncrief on Los Angeles ?Simply put, we?re looking at maybe the two best players in the game, playing together on the same team. There is every reason to assume that LA is the team to beat again.??
SAN ANTONIO Coach: Gregg Popovich (221-139). '00-01 record: 58-24 (first). Lost to Los Angeles Lakers in Western Conference finals. Factoid: Tim Duncan led the NBA last season with 66 double-doubles. He averaged 22.2 points and 12.2 rebounds.
Moncrief on San Antonio ?They have a great system, and they have very reliable players, very reliable superstars. Tim Duncan all by himself represents the makings of a good team.??