What'll decide West's race for eighth place

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What'll decide West's race for eighth place

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By Fred Carter
Special to ESPN.com


Editor's note: The Phoenix Suns and Houston Rockets figure to compete for the final playoff berth in the Western Conference down to the season's final week. ESPN's Fred Carter reveals what will ultimately decide the race for eighth place.

What the Suns need to do to make the playoffs

Penny Hardaway, left, is crucial to the Suns' drive for the playoffs.
1. Get consistent play out of a healthy Hardaway. Penny Hardaway has been through the battles and has more playoff experience than anyone on the team, going to the NBA Finals alongside Shaquille O'Neal in 1995. Penny knows how to play in the postseason, which is essentially where the Suns are while fighting the Rockets for the eighth spot in the West.

2. Keep Marbury on track. Stephon Marbury has played good, consistent basketball all season, and that needs to continue. Of course he has to take good shots and shoot a high percentage, but he also needs to distribute the ball effectively and create open looks for the rest of the scorers on the floor.

3. Get production from Marion and Stoudemire. The combination of Shawn Marion and Amare Stoudemire at forward has to attack the glass on both ends of the floor and find a way to get Phoenix 35 to 40 points a night. If that duo can rebound and make baskets consistently, the Suns have a great chance.

What the Rockets need to do to make the playoffs

The Rockets need Yao Ming to stand tall in the playoff push.
1. Utilize the big man. Yao Ming makes so many things happen for Houston in terms of scoring, shooting, rebounding and getting his teammates involved. He has to be a factor down the stretch. The Rockets have to get him the ball in situations where he can make big plays.

2. Become more unselfish. The Rockets rank 28th in the league in assists at just 18.3 per game, so if they can distribute the ball more down the stretch, it will be a big help. Steve Francis is the only player on the roster averaging more than three assists per game, so guys such as Cuttino Mobley, Moochie Norris and James Posey have to be more willing to move the ball and create open shots for others.

3. Get Rudy T. well soon. The Rockets will need coach Rudy Tomjanovich's leadership and guidance during the final week and in the postseason, should they get there. Much respect to assistant Larry Smith and the job he is doing, but Rudy T. has been there before and will be a great asset once he returns.

Fred Carter is an NBA analyst for ESPN.



http://espn.go.com/nba/columns/carter_fred/1530731.html