With Theo Ratliff leading the way, Philly could make some playoff noise.

Miami's Tim Hardaway has a sprained knee on one leg, a sprained ankle on the other. Only extended rest will get him healthy again. The Heat will play Detroit in the first round of the playoffs. The Pistons' Grant Hill has an inflamed left ankle joint, the sort of injury that doesn't heal quickly.

Milwaukee survived George Karl's bout with foot-in-mouth disease to get back to the postseason by beating Orlando. The Bucks are a big underdog against the Pacers, whose 7-4 Rik Smits chose this moment to decide he's contemplating retirement again. "I'm going to celebrate for a couple of days before I make some smart-ass comment about Indiana and get them stirred up like the Orlando fans," Karl said Monday night. Your owner thanks you, George.

Charlotte is emerging from the Season in Hell, and the Hornets got a lift when the 76ers apparently blew home court advantage against them by giving back a game to Indiana Monday night. Toni Kukoc was so angry he smashed the glass casing for a fire extinguisher on his way from the court to the Sixers' locker room. Worse for the Sixers, Allen Iverson has a chipped bone in his left big toe and a inflammation of his shooting (right) elbow.

Is this any way for some Eastern Conference "Jack" to bulk up for the role of Giant Killer?

Until they fell on their own sword against the Pacers Monday night I was ready to wholeheartedly endorse the 76ers as my upset special in the East. I saw the Sixers live twice this month. I saw a few games on satellite. I like their speed and their defense. But I don't like the way they responded to pressure by caving in Monday night to a Pacers team that didn't even bother to suit up Reggie Miller and Mark Jackson.

Still, I can't dismiss a Larry Brown team that features Iverson, Kukoc and the marvelously improved Theo Ratliff.

The other night, Dikembe Mutombo went nose-to-nose with Ratliff, who swatted down seven Hawks shots and had 13 points and 13 rebounds. "His improvement is amazing," he said. "I salute him. He has become so much better the last few years so he must be a hard-working guy."

Still, Charlotte has the inside track on home court, a deep and battering front line and a strong sense of commitment. That might be enough to overcome a backcourt disadvantage.

Brown must get more offense out of Kukoc, whose passing skills are undeniable. He also must get some strong games from backup center-forward Matt Geiger, who may prove to be the key in this series.

I'm assuming Iverson will benefit from days off and do what he's done all month, play through the pain. After the Tattooed Terror scored 12 points in the first quarter, 27 in the game against the Hawks Friday night, Jason Terry reacted with wonder.

"They told me to try to stay with him," rookie Terry said. "Before I knew it he had a dozen. I didn't know, do I play up on him and he goes by me or do I play off him and he shoots over me. Bad choices."

Iverson, he said, never mentioned his sore elbow. "He told me his (chipped left big) toe was killing him, but the way he plays now, he should break a few more toes. Maybe he'd score 50 or 60."

If Philadelphia escapes Charlotte, the Pacers stand in the way. Then the Sixers play a different game against them. Indiana is soft inside, Jackson can't keep up with the Philly guards. Miller is too inconsistent. The key is controlling Jalen Rose, who will be a max-out free agent this summer.

Either team beats the Miami-Detroit, Toronto-New York winner.

The Knicks lost three of four to the Raptors during the season, but if Camby's knee is healthy they won't falter in this series. Patrick Ewing is rejuvenated. Antonio Davis and Kevin Willis can't control him. Latrell Sprewell is too tough.

Want an upset? Try Detroit over Miami. Of course, Hill's knee is a serious question. Last time he tried to play, Hill said. "I felt like an old man out there." The Heat are ordinary unless Hardaway is really good. The Pistons are playing defense these days and they want to keep George Irvine as coach. So does club vice president Joe Dumars. It's Irvine who needs to be convinced and this would do it.

"We have to wait until the end of the season to figure out where he's at," Hill said. "But he has done a good job. Regardless of what happens from here on out, what he has done so far has shown me that he is definitely what this team needs."

Lindsey Hunter, Jerome Williams and Jerry Stackhouse -- and even Christian Laettner -- have endorsed Irvine.

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