Get Ready for NBA Stretch Drive!

Well, that’s one way to describe the hype surrounding the recent NBA trade deadline, which expired late last week with barely a whimper. None of the truly “big” names swapped jerseys, as the scuttlebutt regarding the likes of Jason Kidd (left), Vince Carter, Mike Bibby and a few others turned out to be nothing more than idle chatter. Indeed, the only ones who ended up excited about any late moves were the “fantasy” owners of Juan Dixon (to Toronto) and Fred Jones (to Portland), who were traded for one another last week.

Not that lack of activity should come as much of a surprise. “Trade deadlines” are notorious for failing to deliver as advertised, although we admit to being a little surprised by the lack of movement a week ago. Sources around the league are telling us that many GMs with even a whiff of the lottery are more reluctant than they’ve been in years to trade away their number one picks, with a bountiful crop of draftees (considered one of the deepest in years even if super college frosh stars Kevin Durant & Greg Oden don’t decide to make the quick jump) on the horizon. Contract dynamics also played a part in sidetracking other deals. And a few others (such as the possible L.A. Laker acquisition of Kidd, perhaps for young center Andrew Bynum) just never came to fruition.

Anyway, with the last chance for contending teams to substantially alter their makeup having passed, how does the handicap look for the rest of the pro hoop campaign? As we enter March and gear up for the home stretch of the regular season, let’s take a quick hop around the NBA and assess the contenders and their title chances. NBA championship odds ( ) courtesy of Skybook. EASTERN CONFERENCE...Okay, now who is the favorite to reach the Finals? We doubt it’s the defending conference champ Miami Heat (10/1) , especially after Dwyane Wade’s (right) February 21 shoulder injury will likely keep him out the rest of the regular season. A best case scenario for Wade (which includes rehab and no surgery) has him out for a minimum of six weeks, by which time the Heat (which played much of the first 2½ months of the season minus Shaquille O’Neal) could be out of playoff contention. If Wade instead opts for surgery (as many expect he will), he’s done until next fall. And at this stage of his career, we doubt that Shaq can pick up the slack, although he has appeared a bit more lively and nimble in the last week. If not Miami, then whom? The Detroit Pistons (9/1) are still learning to live without Ben Wallace’s presence in the paint, and are several games off of their blistering pace of last season. Yet they still lead the pack for homecourt playoff edge in the East and were able to bolster themselves before the trade deadline by signing Chris Webber in January. And Webber has shown that there’s still life in his oft-injured knees, adding some extra refinement to Detroit’s halfcourt offense. Although hardly the youngest team in the East, if “C-Web” stays healthy, the Pistons appear to be the team to beat.

Detroit's not a clear-cut favorite, however. Despite not pulling the trigger on a potential blockbuster deal before the deadline, the Chicago Bulls (12/1) might have a shot at stealing the East, with young stars Ben Gordon (left) and Luol Deng remaining in the Windy City after a proposed deal for Memphis’ Pau Gasol fell through. Both Gordon and Deng were reportedly thrilled to stay put, and the Bulls have appeared to be a re-energized team after the break, although we’ll see if they can turn around a decidedly subpar road performance that has hindered them since opening week. We still believe the Bulls have a better shot of reaching the Finals than the Cleveland Cavaliers (13/1) , whose GM, Danny Ferry, was reportedly in feverish pursuit of a PG (supposedly Bibby or Kidd) to provide a bit more help for LeBron James. But having swung and missed at getting another big-time offensive component, the Cavs’ title bid is likely to stall again in the first or second round.

Is there any other Eastern side worth a look? Perhaps Gilbert Arenas and the explosive Washington Wizards (22/1) , although they’ll probably need a healthy F Antawn Jamison (who’s missed nearly a month with a sprained knee) to seriously threaten in the postseason. Potential internal concerns revolve around the Etan Thomas-Brendan Haywood situation (the big guys don’t care for one another, having resorted to fisticuffs on multiple occasions in practice). In truth, we’re more intrigued by the price on the emerging Toronto Raptors (33/1), although we suspect the squad is at least a year away from serious contention. But young C Chris Bosh is emerging as a force, T.J. Ford has upgraded the PG position, and Euro imports Andrea Bargnani & Jorge Garbajosa are beginning to make their presence felt as the Raptors pull clear from the pack in the Atlantic. We’re less intrigued about the New Jersey Nets (45/1), who have labored with injury problems and the distractions surrounding Kidd (trade talks and the potential for lots of dirty laundry to be aired in the New York press during the pending divorce proceedings vs. wife Joumana. New Jersey is fighting to simply make the playoffs this season, and a serious run at the title appears out of the question. WESTERN CONFERENCE...The winners at the trade deadline appear to have been the defending conference kingpin Dallas Mavericks (5/2) . That’s mainly because none of the other top contenders in the West succeeded in adding the reinforcements being sought to challenge the Mavs. The Phoenix Suns (3/1) certainly aren’t ready to throw in the towel, but the Suns were one of the serious suitors for Kidd, who could have proved a real added bonus for the Phoenix backcourt not only in tandem with Steve Nash (right) but also as cover for the two-time defending MVP should Nash have a recurrence of the shoulder problem that kept him out of action before the All-Star break. Considering how the team went into a mini-tailspin after Nash went down (lost 3 in a row), it’s obvious how much impact he’ll have on the race. Dallas remains extremely versatile, deep, “long,” and can field perhaps the best lineup of pure shooters in the league. Moreover, the Mavs are committed on the defensive end more than ever, which has been a major reason behind the current 19-game home win streak (thru February 25). And at 46-9 thru February 25, Dallas leads Phoenix in the race for best overall record by a full 4 games. Yet many aficionados suggest the West is in fact a 3-team race between Dallas, Phoenix, and the San Antonio Spurs (9/2), who were seconds away from winning the West vs. Dallas a year ago and who retain the nucleus of recent title-winning sides. Of course, Tim Duncan staying healthy (which he’s mostly done this season) will be key for the Spurs, but also keep an eye on “Big Game” Robert Horry, the unsung star of San Antonio’s last championship two years ago and showing signs he might be ready for one last hurrah in his title-studded career.

Still, there appears to be little wagering value in the “big three” and their reduced prices to win the crown. The best price “bargains” in the West are likely the Northwest Division-leading Utah Jazz (20/1) , still quoted at some rather long odds but having welcomed back key frontliner Carlos Boozer from a hairline leg fracture last week, and the Houston Rockets (15/1), who have actually fared quite well in Yao Ming’s (left) absence and will likely have the big center available again in mid-March. And though Kobe Bryant and the Lakers (30/1) and the Allen Iverson-Carmelo Anthony Denver Nuggets (18/1) have the potential to be a something of a nuisance in the playoffs, neither really owns the depth to make a serious title run. Bottom line? Although there are tasty prices available on a couple of Eastern teams, the only team from that half we really envision having a shot at the title is Detroit. And its championship odds aren’t unappealing at all, especially considering that the Pistons figure to have fewer serious roadblocks to reach the Finals in the East than do the Western contenders. In the West, there really isn’t much value in prices on the Mavs, Suns, or Spurs, although they are the consensus top three picks. If you’re looking to take a flyer, however, perhaps seek the best prices on the Rockets, who immediately become a legitimate title threat if Yao Ming returns and begins to resemble his old self by mid-April. We’ll guarantee that the Rockets’ odds drop precipitously when Yao returns, so shop now. And, as always, stay tuned.

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