News from April 25.

Jermaine O'Neal (Ind) won the Most Improved Player award by receiving 52 of
the 126 possible media votes.
  Player                 # of votes  (out of 126 media votes)
  Jermaine O'Neal (Ind) ..... 52
  Ben Wallace (Det) ......... 16
  Steve Nash (Dal) ..........  9
  Jerry Stackhouse (Det) ....  7
  Brent Barry (Sea) .........  6
  Wally Szczerbiak (Min) ....  5
  Troy Hudson (Orl) .........  4
  Michael Olowokandi (LAC) ..  4
  Kenyon Martin (NJ) ........  3
  Andre Miller (Cle) ........  3 
  Michael Redd (Mil) ........  3
  Desmond Mason (Sea) .......  2
  Gary Payton (Sea) .........  2
  Kenny Thomas (Hou) ........  2
  Hidayet Turkoglu (Sac) ....  2
  Ricky Davis (Cle) .........  1
  Bobby Jackson (Sac) .......  1
  Todd MacCulloch (NJ) ......  1
  Lee Nailon (Cha) ..........  1
  Wesley Person (Cle) .......  1
  Jason Terry (Atl) .........  1

Omar Weaver (freshman, Riverside CC (CA), forward) declared himself
eligible for the NBA draft.  [thanks to Jed Tai]


Bos 93, Phi 85 - at Bos
Antoine Walker (Bos) had 24 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 turnovers.
Tony Battie (Bos) had 12 points on a perfect 5-5 FG and 2-2 FT, 6
rebounds, and 3 blocks.
Paul Pierce (Bos) had 25 points on 6-19 FG and 11-13 FT, 10 rebounds, and
6 turnovers.
Derrick Coleman (Phi) had 13 points and 13 rebounds.
Allen Iverson (Phi) had 29 points on 11-30 FG and 6-10 FT and 7 assists.
Vitaly Potapenko (Bos, ACL tear) did not play.
Bos leads the series 2-0.

LAL 103, Por 96 - at LAL
Shaquille O'Neal (LAL) had 31 points including 12-20 FG and 14 rebounds.
Kobe Bryant (LAL) had 19 points including 5-21 FG, 6 rebounds, and 5
assists.
Derek Fisher (LAL) had 18 points including 9-10 FT.
Scottie Pippen (Por) had 20 points including 4-5 3-pointers and 9
rebounds.
Rasheed Wallace (Por) had 31 points and 11 rebounds.
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 Sacramento (1) __
8 Utah (1)         |_ _____________ _____
                    _ _____________      |
4 Dallas (2)    ___|                     |_ _____________ _
5 Minnesota (0)                           _ _____________  |
                                         |                 |
2 San Antonio (1) _                      |                 |
7 Seattle (1)      |_ _____________ _____|                 |
                    _ _____________                        |
3 LA Lakers (2) ___|                                       |
6 Portland (0)                                             |_ ___________
                                                            _ ___________
                                                           |
1 New Jersey (1) __                                        |
8 Indiana (1)      |_ _____________  ____                  |
                    _ _____________      |                 |
4 Charlotte (1) ___|                     |                 |
5 Orlando (1)                            |_ _____________ _|
                                          _ _____________ 
2 Detroit (2) _____                      |
7 Toronto (0)      |_ _____________ _____|
                    _ _____________    
3 Boston (2)      _|
6 Philadelphia (0)