Flip the Power Switch

I'm going to go out on a very long limb and predict the winner of the Eastern Conference finals for the upcoming NBA season. It isn't much of a stretch. Let's assume for the moment that we will watch Detroit and Miami battle for the opportunity to represent the East in the NBA Finals.

I apologize to Indiana Pacer fans, in advance. It is not my intention to slight the Pacers. There is no question that Indiana is definitely a strong candidate to make a run to the Eastern Conference finals.

However, this article wouldn't make much sense if I wrote about an Indiana/Detroit series, now would it?

So, for the sake of argument, let's say it is Detroit and Miami. Exactly what difference would O'Neal make for the Heat? All the Pistons have to do is use the same strategy they used against the Lakers. Let Ben Wallace and Rasheed Wallace annoy O'Neal and everyone else keep Kobe Bryant subdued.

In this particular scenario, let's replace Kobe Bryant with Heat star Dwayne Wade. There is no need for Detroit to change defensive philosophies now.

Detroit guard Chauncey Billups has the daunting task of defending Wade, but Richard Hamilton and Tayshawn Prince will likely assist. Life will become quite miserable for Wade. Aside from Eddie Jones, Miami doesn't have much more to work with.

Hence, Detroit returns to the Finals.

I wish the Western Conference were that easy to predict.

The time has come for Flip Saunders and the Minnesota Timberwolves to strike while the iron is hot. It isn't going to get any easier than this.

Last season, the Timberwolves boasted the best record in the West, but he didn't stop there. Saunders and "Los Lobos" forced the Lakers to six games in the Western Conference finals.

Although the Lakers moved on, we can only speculate that the outcome may have been different if T-Wolves guards Sam Cassell and Troy Hudson had been healthy enough to play.

I remind you that Minnesota accomplished all of this with Shaquille O'Neal in a Los Angeles Lakers uniform.

Question: now that Shaq has moved from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic, what could possibly stand in Minnesota's way?

Answer: the San Antonio Spurs.

The Spurs are perennial contenders for an NBA championship, with or without O'Neal in Hollywood. The Spurs, in desperate need of accurate beyond-the-arc shooting, acquired sharpshooter Brent Barry in exchange for Hedo Turkoglu. Barry was ranked second in three-point percentage last season.

The general consensus is that the trade makes San Antonio the favorite to represent the West in the NBA Finals for the upcoming season.

Question: Is Barry enough to get the Spurs over the hump?

Answer: No.

Simply because Minnesota made the best move of the offseason ... none.

If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

The Timberwolves have little to gain by signing anyone this season, but much to lose if they did not resign the players from last year's roster. So far, Latrell Sprewell decided not to opt out of his contract. The T-Wolves have also matched the offer given to Trenton Hassell, from the Portland Trailblazers. Hassell, because he was a restricted free agent, stays in Minnesota.

All that remains on Minnesota's to-do list is to resign guard Troy Hudson and all will be well.

Minnesota will have some healthy competition. The Utah Jazz, Sacramento Kings, Houston Rockets, and the Denver Nuggets all have made offseason moves that could spoil the Timberwolves' bid for a return to the Western Conference finals.

But, when a team makes a move to add something, they always end up losing something in return. Minnesota has added nothing, but neither have they lost anything. The rest of the West must now develop chemistry and new game plans to accommodate the varying skills, talents, and personalities on their rosters.

All the T-Wolves have to do is play.