NBA NOTES | Around the league

A dangerous division: San Antonio has made its move, from worst to first in what seems like the blink of an eye. Minnesota has followed the Spurs' lead, as the Mavericks discovered Thursday at the Target Center. A few weeks ago, the Midwest Division looked like one big treadmill. In the NBA's most difficult division, everyone was good. No one was great.
Combined, Midwest teams are 35 games over .500 as of Friday without a losing record in sight. Six division teams could qualify for the playoffs. Now, teams are emerging. Those that fail to respond may be left behind. A week ago, the Mavericks shared first in the division. As of Friday, they're only a game out of a tie for first and just two games ahead of last-place Utah. No team made more of a statement than San Antonio, which was in last place two weeks ago. Eight consecutive wins later, the Spurs have managed to climb their way to the top.
They aren't the same team that won the NBA title last season. But with the offense struggling, they've turned to what always works in San Antonio -- defense. Check out the scores from some recent wins: 70-67; 86-73; 78-67; 73-70. Pretty? No. Effective? You bet.
No wonder the Spurs took all of 21/2 minutes in discussions last week before extending coach Gregg Popovich's contract through 2008. Now the Spurs are back to a winning mentality. "I never thought we were the worst team in the league two weeks ago, and I don't think we're the best now," San Antonio's Manu Ginobili said. "We're just more confident."
Kevin Garnett is carrying Minnesota, which moved to 6-1 in December with a win over the Mavericks. As long as Garnett plays like the MVP front-runner, the Timberwolves will be able to weather the injuries to Wally Szczerbiak, Michael Olowokandi and Troy Hudson. All Garnett has done is record double-doubles in 20 of his past 21 games. "I still think he is kind of underrated," the Mavericks' Antoine Jamison said. "I think he should have at least two MVP trophies in his closet somewhere. ... In my book, he's the probably the greatest right now."
Denver continues to run and work, oblivious that it shouldn't be anywhere near the top of the division. The Nuggets are just one win away from equaling their win total for all last season. Their longest losing streak this year: two. "They believe they can win," Los Angeles Lakers forward Karl Malone told the Denver Post. "I don't know that it's a surprise, because those are guys who are taking their jobs very seriously."
Memphis has built a formidable home-court advantage and coach Hubie Brown has made a 10-man rotation work more often than not. Houston ranks among the leaders in points and allowed and field-goal percentage defense, which helps the Rockets beat the teams they should beat. As the win over the Los Angeles Lakers showed, the Mavericks might have the most talent in the division. Their Midwest opponents aren't waiting for the Mavericks to find themselves.
-- The Dallas Morning News