ESPN.com asked NBA analyst and Hall of Fame coach Dr. Jack Ramsay to look ahead at the second half of the season. Here's what the Good Doctor had to say:

	Iverson

Player to Watch
East: Allen Iverson:
He has done so much for the 76ers, who entered the All-Star break with the league's best record at 36-14. Iverson's game performance -- points, steals, rebounds, assists -- has been almost incredible. He puts out such energy game after game. You wonder if he can continue playing at the same level for the final 32 regular-season games. I don't think he can raise his game to a higher level than it has been. But can he keep it there?

	O'Neal

West: Shaquille O'Neal
He hasn't been as dominant as he was last year. For ESPN Radio, I covered the Lakers' game against Sacramento on the Sunday before the All-Star Game. I saw Shaq after the game, and asked how he was doing. He said, "I'm going to come back strong." And the Lakers need that from him. Shaq says he's in shape. If he is, he's not playing the same kind of game. He hasn't been running the floor or as intimidating in the basket area. For the Lakers to play at their best, they have to run when the opportunity arises. That's Kobe Bryant's game, and Shaq can probably outrun any big man in the league when he wants to. It doesn't mean he should run every time, but he should pick his spots. Last year he would get into occasional fast breaks. I haven't seen him in one this year.

His ability to co-exist with Kobe is not a problem. The Lakers need the best from both of their games. Defense is the reason for the Lakers' so-so performance in the first half. A year ago they led the league in field-goal percentage defense. This year they are 15th. They were sixth in points allowed last year; this year they are 24th. The defense will lead to easy scores. If the Lakers are going to make a run, Shaq must return to the kind of dominance he had last year.

	Williams

Team to Watch
East: Milwaukee
The Bucks are such a great shooting team and have arrived at pretty good defensive scheme too. When they defend well, they win. The defense seems to augment their offense. They are getting good help from their big guys. Scott Williams is now back full time. Darvin Ham will return and help them with their rebounding. Ervin Johnson has played as well as he can. He's been a good defensive force for the Bucks. The Knicks are another team to watch because they defend so well. They are always a troublesome team to play.

	Duncan

West: San Antonio
The Spurs are getting back to the defense they played when they won the NBA title in 1999. They had an eight-game winning streak. In the first seven games of the streak, they kept their opponents' field-goal percentage between 35 and 39 percent. Tim Duncan seems to have his game back. The Spurs will get Avery Johnson back soon and Sean Elliott in the not-too-distant future. When they return, the Spurs could be good enough to win the title again.

Sleeper
East: Miami
The Heat are 10 games over .500. Pat Riley seems to coach with smoke and mirrors, getting his team to play tough defense. The Heat are hard to beat. They are hoping to add another big-bodied player before the trade deadline. I don't know where they will get one, but if they do, it would help their cause. They play the same kind of defense as the Knicks, and defense is a great equalizer.

	Williams

West: Sacramento
The Kings are a bit like Milwaukee in their ability to score, but they defend better. If the Kings can hold their own in rebounding, they have enough scorers and floor balance to beat anybody. The Kings have to show they can win on the road, where they are only 11-11. Jason Williams is the key player. The other players will perform on a more consistent level. If Williams can play solid and defend well at the point, he makes a big difference for the Kings.

Finals prediction
San Antonio vs. Philadelphia: The Spurs and the 76ers were my picks at the beginning of the season, and I have found no reason to deviate from them. Philadelphia is a solid defensive team. Iverson is having an incredible season. For now, however, the 76ers need players to step up in the absence of Theo Ratliff. Coach Larry Brown has a knack for getting players to fill the roles of injured starters and perform very well. The 76ers will also get Eric Snow back, allowing Brown to go back to his regular backcourt rotation of Snow, Iverson and Aaron McKie. I don't know Matt Geiger's status yet. If they can get him back, especially when Ratliff is out, that would help the Sixers. With everyone healthy, the 76ers should advance to the Finals from the East. The Spurs are a better team than they were last year, and Duncan has returned to top form. I expect the Spurs to win the West and would pick them to beat the 76ers in the NBA Finals. The Western Conference representative should win, but there could always be an upset.