Here are 10 big -- and weighty -- issues to ponder as the NBA gets ready to go back to work in the second half:
1. Shaq's Big Toe
For the Lakers, who otherwise appear unbeatable any time they turn on the jets, the scary thing is how often Shaq has rested the toe since undergoing surgery before the season. He took five games off, became uncomfortable again and had to miss another stretch of games including the All-Star extravaganza. Remember he missed three more when he was suspended and still has not obtained relief. Phil Jackson pooh-poohing the problem a few weeks ago, joking about "herbal diet" and a "voodoo" cures: "We have to keep perspective of the overall season and what we're going to be like in March, which is a grinding month for us." Still, the Lakers turn it on when they need to. The Mavs, Kings and Timberwolves, the threats to a third straight trip to the Finals, have been utterly dominated by Shaq & Co.
2. George's Big Mouth
There is a suspicion among some that George Karl is his own worst enemy. And while that opinion is not entire shared in this corner, the Bucks are chafing under their coach's incessant carping. George is a little nutty. He knows it. We know it. Little more than a week ago he threatened to blow it all up after a loss to the Sixers, saying management needed to make a trade or fire him. Players are getting tired of this dog and pony show. Even Ray Allen's mom is upset. "My phone was ringing off the hook (after Karl's diatribe)," Allen said. "My mom was unhappy. I'm her son and she's hearing my coach rip me and my teammates in the paper. Coming from the coach, it's disheartening because it's from in your house. I don't understand why. What is the purpose of saying that? What is he trying to do? Does he want to be fired?" Maybe Ernie Grunfeld can calm George. Maybe valium.
3. Allen's Big Ego
Something has happened to Allen Iverson. He's calmer, more responsible. He still shoots more than your average mortal who goes snipe hunting with a shotgun, but not as much as he used to. Allen and Larry Brown appear to have hit a happy medium. They are about winning and they are not so much about control, which is a very good thing. The Sixers are finally in reasonably good health and the schedule is very favorable: 20 home games, 13 on the road the rest of the season. Iverson is going to win another scoring title and this is very good for a Philadelphia team that otherwise has trouble scoring. So long as he keeps his teammates happy and his coach smiling, the Sixers have a real chance to do playoff damage. And that's where Iverson's true interests appear to be.
4. Kings' Big Road Woes
Let's face it. If they can't win on the road they can't win the title. History is they surrender to the first stiff breeze that blows against them. A decisive loss to the Wizards before the All-Star break confirms that. On the surface, the Kings are still rolling along. But the Nets smacked them around to throw cold water on a run of 17 wins in 18 games and the Wizards emphasized the point three nights later. The Kings know they have to prove they can win away from Arco. At this stage, that's imperative. Heed the message of Nets rookie Richard Jefferson: "They're not the best team in the league." Said Chris Webber: "We can't win a championship right now. All we can do is try to keep getting better, deal with the daily challenges and play ball the way we can play."
5. Capt. Kidd's Big Heart
Chris Webber put Jason Kidd's value in perspective: "I thought, besides Shaq, Jason was the most untraceable player in the NBA. I know he got in trouble last year, but we still know he's a good guy and when he came here he was going to make a big difference. Guys fight to run plays with Jason. It's like, 'He's got the ball. Move out of my way.'" Byron Scott says: "He's not concerned with ego, or else his ego is getting assists or rebounds. Plus, he's just a good guy. I just knew what type of impact he could have on the organization. He's one of the most rare people in the league. If you look at everywhere he's been, statistically, every team has gotten better. Obviously, this is not a fluke, what he's done." Given that Kidd is the antithesis of Stephon Marbury, for whom he was traded, this has become an incredibly one-sided deal in favor of New Jersey.
6. Nellie's Big Brain
This is a terrific team and Don Nelson remains the most innovative coach the game has known since Arnold Auerbach was a pup. They were 35-14 at the break, four games better than the previous best pace in franchise history. "With the skill of this team and the injuries that we've had," Nellie says, "I've never had a better start." Thursday marks Nellie's fifth anniversary with the Mavs. He's even added a new wrinkle, a 1-1-3 to go with a 1-3-1 and a trusty matchup zone. "We're not bad at it," Nelson said. "We're OK." Believe that. There is no more entertaining team in the league and no team more lethal offensively or helpless on defense as they showed going into the 140s to beat the Pacers. “We don't know how (to slow things down)," Steve Nash says. "Pretty good team, eh?"
7. Mike's Big Gamble
He put his reputation on the line, his franchise on the line and apparently Michael Jordan has come up a big winner again. The Wizards are solidly in the playoff hunt and he's doing enough at age 39 to enhance his own luster. But in what might be a surprise, Jordan said the best thing he did as president of basketball operations was re-sign forward Popeye Jones this summer when Jones was a free agent. The Wizards acquired Jones, Washington's leading rebounder (7.9 average), before the 2000-2001 season from Denver in exchange for Tracy Murray. Best move he didn't make: "Trading Hubert Davis," he said. When Richard Hamilton and Courtney Alexander went down, Davis held things together.
8. Spurs' Big Fade
They've become thoroughly predictable and boring and they appear to be the team in the West most ready to crash dive. Before the break they were throttled by the Raptors, Hornets, Clippers and Heat around two victories. The Spurs play decent enough defense, but with David Robinson coming up empty too often they can't score enough down the stretch of close games. "We haven't been able to buy a shot the last month," Malik Rose said the other day. Greg Pop also continued to juggle the rotation on a nightly basis and sent out a different starting lineup in six straight games.
9. Vince's Big Job
Let's face it, after his ill-advised trip to Chapel Hill last spring, the long knives have had it out for Vince Carter. Too often he doesn't show up to play. Too often, the Raptors play without emotion or fire. But this should be a very special team and it's Carter's job to make that happen. Is it fair to put that much pressure on a 25-year-old? It is when he makes so much money and possesses so much talent. With Morris Peterson (fractured finger) and Hakeem Olajuwon (right quadriceps, bruised ego) already out and others nursing minor ailments, the Raptors look to Carter to make the difference. "I want us to compete, I don't want us to feel sorry for ourselves," Raptors coach Lenny Wilkens said. "We competed, but we didn't make all the best decisions."
10. Isiah's Big Adventure
In his first try as a coach, Isiah Thomas produced a .500 team. That the Pacers haven't gained an inch on break-even this season does appear a big strange. Last time we looked this club featured four key elements of a Finals team from two years ago (Jalen Rose, Travis Best, Austin Croshere and some guy named Miller) and some of the brightest young talent in the game, i.e. Jermaine O'Neal, Jamaal Tinsley. Sure, Al Harrington is out but they weren't flying before he was hurt. Thomas says he is satisfied to hit the All-Star break a .500 team. "It will be a struggle for us to make the playoffs," Thomas said. Hate to hear that if you're an owner.
Jeffrey Denberg, who covers the NBA for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, is a regular contributor to ESPN.com.
