1.   As Sprewell continues to adjust and Houston asserts himself as an All-Star, Ewing will have to share the scoring load.

2.   A healthy, productive Robitaille and a re-energized Kovalev could balance the scoring load in the second half.

3.   Carr is a senior point guard who specialized as a playmaker last season and now is being asked to carry the scoring load.

4.   Coach Larry Bird, however, said the Pacers would be better served not looking for Miller to carry the scoring load.

5.   Coming off knee surgery, he will be given ample opportunity to take much of the scoring load off Ewing.

6.   Guard DeJuan Wheat and forward Jason Osborne, both juniors, take the scoring load off Walker.

7.   Houston, Larry Johnson and Chris Childs have picked up the scoring load.

8.   Junior forward Luke Walton and point guard Jason Gardner normally bear the brunt of the scoring load.

9.   Kukoc and Pippen can take the scoring load for stretches of minutes, and Rodman remains the one player who can dominate a game with rebounding or defense.

10.   Padilla and Travieso could see much of the scoring load fall on their shoulders until the team becomes consistent inside.