2008, February 15: ESPN.com Daily Dime - Change Comes Quickly In The Dramatic West

February 15, 2008 -- The news that Kobe Bryant was diagnosed with a torn ligament in his right pinkie finger Thursday has the potential to change the face of the West race. The Lakers' star decided not to undergo surgery that could sideline him for six weeks, and play through the pain. Timing is everything. If this is October or November, Bryant could take those six weeks off to heal. But at this point, knowing the competitor and warrior that he is, I can see why he's going to try to play through this. His team needs him in the West chase. First off, I love the Pau Gasol move and what the Lakers have done this season, hovering near the top of the West standings, aided by underappreciated players like Trevor Ariza. Andrew Bynum should be coming back, too. But injured pinkie or not, the San Antonio Spurs remain the favorite, and Manu Ginobili's big game Wednesday (46 points, eight 3-pointes) reminded us how tough it would be to beat the Spurs in a seven-game series. The challengers are doing everything they can to make that happen. The West race is heating up with deals. All these trades make me believe the games we have ahead are going to be great theater. I'm being paid to watch, but the kind of games we're going to see in the playoffs makes me want to buy some tickets. Come to the West, Jason Kidd! The West is waiting for you. I see the proposed big deal with New Jersey that is currently held up by Devean George should get done eventually. (My first question when I heard of the deal: Who's George's agent?) If for some reason a move wasn't made, and at this point it's about the worst-kept secret in the game, then it's like being at a pool party with all your family and friends in the water and you're the only one not going in. Dallas still hasn't jumped in to the dealing, but its toes are right over the edge. You can't help but like a Dallas team with Kidd. The Mavs already have been through the ups and downs of playoff basketball, getting to the Finals against the Heat two years ago before last year's disappointing first-round exit. While some question Kidd's shooting accuracy (36.6 percent), I think he's going to find a way to get it done in Dallas. That's the great thing about basketball -- players have strengths and weaknesses, but it is how all the parts of the team come together that is the big thing. Still, the team that I see as emerging as the main challenger in this new-look West is the Suns. What also has emerged is this: I didn't know Shaquille O'Neal had so many haters. We'll get to see Shaq after the All-Star break. You can't tell me that Phoenix is not one loaded team. If this was fantasy all-star ball, this team would win it. All the deals started with Utah solidifying its lineup by adding Kyle Korver. Denver could be in the market for a trade, too. Who knows what other deals we might see get done by the trade deadline? Mike Miller and Ron Artest are said to be out there. Where there's smoke, there's fire. All these moves are fun. It's a great time to be a fan of the game. ESPN analyst Jalen Rose is a regular contributor to the Daily Dime. For more about Jalen, visit his Web site: JalenRose.com. By Jalen Rose - ESPN.com