News from April 26.

Shaquille O'Neal (LAL) won the IBM Award.  The IBM Award is given to the 
player with the highest statistical computation of the following formula:
  (Player PTS - FGA + REB + AST + STL + BLK - PF - TO + (team wins x 10)
   x 250) / (Team PTS - FGA + REB + AST + STL + BLK - PF - TO)
The top 10 finishers for the IBM Award.
  Player                      Points
  Shaquille O'Neal (LAL) .... 110.21
  Kevin Garnett (Min) ....... 100.83
  Anthony Mason (Mia) .......  96.86
  Jason Kidd (Pho) ..........  95.04
  Ben Wallace (Det) .........  94.09
  Dirk Nowitzki (Dal) .......  93.77
  Karl Malone (Uta) .........  92.60
  Tracy McGrady (Orl) .......  92.23
  Tim Duncan (SA) ...........  91.92
  Marcus Camby (NY) .........  91.62

De Sagana Diop (high school senior, Oak Hill Academy (Virginia), center)
Joe Johnson (sophomore, Arkansas, forward) declared themselves eligible 
for the NBA draft.  Underclassmen have until May 13 to declared themselves
eligible for the draft.


Tor 94, NY 74 - at NY
Vince Carter (Tor) had 22 points and 7 rebounds.
Charles Oakley (Tor) had 12 points and 10 rebounds.
Antonio Davis (Tor) had 15 points and 12 rebounds.
Alvin Williams (Tor) had 23 points.
Kurt Thomas (NY) had 23 points including 9-12 FT and 12 assists.
Allan Houston (NY) had 14 points.
Mark Jackson (NY) had 10 points, 9 rebounds, and 5 assists.
Larry Johnson (NY, sore back) did not play.
The series is tied 1-1.

LAL 106, Por 88 - at LAL
Shaquille O'Neal (LAL) had 32 points including 14-24 FG, 12 rebounds, and
5 assists.
Kobe Bryant (LAL) had 25 points on 8-11 FG and 8-10 FT, 7 assists, and 3
steals.
Rick Fox (LAL) had 19 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists, 5 steals, and 5
turnovers.
Scottie Pippen (Por) had 21 points, 8 rebounds, 4 steals, and 6 turnovers.
Rasheed Wallace (Por) had 17 points.
Steve Smith (Por) had 16 points.
LAL out-rebounded Por 48-32 including 16-7 offensive.
Ron Harper (LAL, surgery left knee) did not play.
LAL leads the series 2-0.


Playoff Standings
  1st Round             2nd Round            3rd Round         Finals
  (Best of 5)           (Best of 7)          (Best of 7)     (Best of 7)
1 San Antonio (2) __
8 Minnesota (0)     |_ _____________ _____
                     _ _____________      |
4 Utah (2)   _______|                     |_ _____________ _
5 Dallas (0)                               _ _____________  |
                                          |                 |
2 LA Lakers (2) ____                      |                 |
7 Portland (0)      |_ _____________ _____|                 |
                     _ _____________                        |
3 Sacramento (1) ___|                                       |
6 Phoenix (1)                                               |_ ___________
                                                             _ ___________
                                                            |
1 Philadelphia (1) _                                        |
8 Indiana (1)       |_ _____________  ____                  |
                     _ _____________      |                 |
4 New York (1) _____|                     |                 |
5 Toronto (1)                             |_ _____________ _|
                                           _ _____________ 
2 Milwaukee (2) ____                      |
7 Orlando (0)       |_ _____________ _____|
                     _ _____________    
3 Miami (0)     ____|
6 Charlotte (2)