By Shawn O'Neal
SportsLine NBA Editor

May 14, 1999

Call it spring cleaning, NBA style.

Just a little sweeping, mind you. But for the teams packing the brooms, it could make all the difference in the second round.

Portland was the first team to tidy things up, taking two from Phoenix at home before sending the Suns to the golf course with a 103-93 setback Wednesday in America West Arena.

Tim Hardaway's this week's monster fizzler.(AP)

Indiana swept past the Milwaukee Bucks Thursday, picking up the 99-91 victory in Milwaukee after being taken to overtime in Game 2.

The L.A. Lakers would have been the third team to go 3-0 in the first round, but Houston held firm Thursday, forcing Shaquille O'Neal and friends to play on with a 102-88 victory in Game 3.

Impressive on their own merits, the first-round sweeps may prove invaluable down the road for the No. 2 seeds, especially considering how the rest of the playoffs are shaping up; and how Portland's Isaiah Rider tweaked a knee Wednesday night.

With the No. 3 vs. No. 6 series in each conference turning into slugfests, the Blazers and Pacers figure to run into a winded opponent in the second round. So, while the Utah Jazz struggle with the Kings, and the Magic-76ers goes deep, the Pacers and Blazers can sit back and take it all in.

Or they can practice their form with the brooms. You never know when they'll need them again.

THE MIAMI HEAT WON'T BE SWEPT, but they've certainly put themselves in quite a spot against the New York Knicks.

Tim Hardaway is a big reason for the Heat being in position to be just the second top seed in league history to get gassed in the first round.

After averaging 17.6 points in the regular season, Hardaway put up 17 total in the first two games and scored 5 points on 1-of-5 shooting in Game 3 before getting ejected. His problems could be health related, as he's spent much of his career battling gimpy knees.

No matter what the problem is, Hardaway is struggling, and he's killing the Heat.

Sizzlin' ... The Countdown

5. Spurs Stayin' Alive

After giving up their home-court advantage to the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 2 of the Western Conference playoffs, the San Antonio Spurs took it right back in the Target Center Thursday. It's not a series victory, but it's a step in the right direction for a team that has struggled annually in the playoffs.

4. Deep Knicks

After struggling with their chemistry all year, the New York Knicks appear to have found it in their series with the Heat. If Latrell Sprewell and Allan Houston can really coexist and Patrick Ewing can accept a less-than-feature role, it'll be hard to consider the Knicks a fluke if they get into the second round, and even beyond.

3. Silas signs on

The Charlotte Hornets aren't in the playoffs, but they made a nice move this week with the signing of interim coach Paul Silas to a long-term contract. After the Dave Cowens fiasco, Silas took control of a team that was in shambles and almost led it to the playoffs. Besides, he's been an assistant long enough -- he deserves another shot at a head job (Silas guided the San Diego Clippers to a 78-168 mark in three seasons immediately following his playing career).

2. Those crazy sixes

Both No. 3 seeds -- Orlando in the East and Utah in the West -- stand on the brink of elimination thanks to a couple of teams that haven't spent much time in the playoffs this decade. Combined, Philadelphia and Sacramento had made three previous playoff appearances in the 1990s. Utah and Orlando have combined for 13 -- and three appearances in the Finals. It's hard to tell whether the runs are a product of the teams' improvement or simply the wacky season, but, no matter what, it's been fun to watch.

1. Sweepstakes

While the Nos. 1 and 3 seeds have mixed results, Portland and Indiana are loving life at No. 2.

Fizzlin' ... The Countdown

5. Peachtree Paranoia

As well as the Atlanta Hawks are playing against the Detroit Pistons, their playoff stock has dropped thanks to a couple of key injuries. Alan Henderson has played just four minutes in the series and Chris Crawford's separated shoulder does nothing for their defense. They've held up thus far, but sooner or later it's going to catch up to them.

4. Soft Suns

Maybe it should have been obvious. Still, despite their shortcomings, most expected the Phoenix Suns to give the Trail Blazers a run in the first round. Instead, the Suns had Jason Kidd and nothing more. Not surprisingly, they were knocked out in the first round for the fourth straight year. This, however, was the first one to end in a sweep. It will become the norm if the team doesn't give Kidd some help in a hurry.

3. Dippin' Pippen

He had a subpar regular season, but many still harbored expectations for a solid playoffs from Houston's Scottie Pippen. He has a chance for recovery after pouring in 37 points in Game 3, but his late turnover in Sunday's narrow Game 1 loss to the Lakers, and complete disappearance in Game 2 made Michael Jordan's legend continue to grow.

2. And what?

He's playing well on the court, but Sprewell's athletic apparel commercial -- nodding to his past problems, and referring to himself as the "American Dream" -- is a joke.

1. Grim Tim

As Hardaway goes, so go the Heat. That might not be very far.