The longstanding in-state rivalry between the Lakers and the Sacramento Kings has died off.

Chris Webber and Vlade Divac are long gone from the Kings who pushed the Lakers to overtime in Game 7 of the Western Conference finals in 2002. That was the last time the teams met in the postseason, although they'll face each other for the first time this regular season Sunday night at Staples Center.

At least one King from those past battles is back: guard Bobby Jackson, who was re-acquired by Sacramento last offseason. He is one of the few veterans on a young Kings team that could be missing Kevin Martin (ankle) again.

The Kings are now looking like the weakest link in the Pacific Division, too.

Phil Jackson prefers when none of his starters has to play more than 34 minutes. Not only did he get his wish in the Lakers' one-sided win over Denver, but none of them spent 30 minutes on the court -- and they still kept Carmelo Anthony in check. Kobe Bryant scored 11 of his 29 points in the third quarter before sitting out the fourth, Andrew Bynum had 13 points and 13 rebounds, and Los Angeles...

Kobe Bryant had a below-average game. He's got so much help on this Los Angeles Lakers team it didn't matter. Bryant scored 24 points, Vladimir Radmanovic made all five of his 3-pointers and a host of others made significant contributions to help the Lakers past the Phoenix Suns, 105-92 on Thursday night.

Boston 98, Detroit 80

I suppose it isn't fair to ask the Detroit Pistons to play the defending champs twice in 11 days, a scant few weeks after trading the team's most celebrated player and identity-shaper for the whirlwind and identity-shifter that is Allen Iverson. But we shouldn't completely dismiss these two big losses. There's a kernel of truth in there, somewhere.

We should partially dismiss them, though. Really, how much are the Pistons going to figure out in eight games (4-4) with this guy? This isn't like getting used to having to shade for Jim Abbott defensively once in five games or even switching out your all-around dynamic QB for a trad pocket passer in his mid-30s. Basketball is far, far more complicated. Ask the Nuggets, who traded for Iverson in December of 2006 and still never seemed to get how to use the guard in a way that put the team over the top.

Coaching matters. Stern decisions have to be made, and a lot of that "buck stops here" nonsense actually helps. It helps drive away excuses, and it helps to make you cringe should you have to spit out "we'll get ‘em next time" after the game. If it hurts to say that, you're on the right track. If you're shrugging your shoulders, then something is missing. And I don't care that the season is 82 games.

So when you see the Piston reserves acting like pampered former All-Stars, or Detroit failing to close out on shooters, or stepping into open lanes in order to make sure that the open lanes cease to be open lanes, you have to wonder when the buck is ever going to be able to stop.

This isn't to say that Detroit played the same poor way the entire night, far from it. They just did it long enough to lose handily again. That's the difference between a pretty good team that occasionally plays great and ... the Celtics. The Celtics are just about always there.

The Pistons have never always been there, save for the second round of the playoffs. That's it. Up and down but ultimately rewarding regular season, iffy first round, second round dominance, before falling apart in a third round that they should have won every year. Every damn year. Should have won it, and didn't, for three years running.

You probably saw the game. The Celtics stars were good, and the Celtic bench played great. None of Doc Rivers players saw more than 27 minutes of action, they held a rebounding edge, kept the turnovers down (finally, just 12), and all of Rajon Rondo's decisions seemed to be the right move. 18 points, eight assists, three steals and just two turnovers in only 26 minutes for Rondo.

I'm not saying the Pistons don't care. They do. They're just like most teams in that they don't care enough. And caring enough is a tough, tough thing. It takes a ton of patience.

It's just that, while we should cut them some slack because of the Iverson deal and allow Detroit some time, there are still things to be critical about that don't have a thing to do with Allen Iverson.

Or maybe they do. Either way, we still have to observe a bit more. The season goes on for 82 games, after all.

Los Angeles Lakers 105, Phoenix 92

For most of the month, while the focus has rightfully been on Los Angeles' dominant defense, I've been watching Lamar Odom quietly (and inefficiently, because the shots aren't falling in great numbers) make Tex Winter a happy, happy man.

Winter is the architect of the Lakers' offense, and likely the strongest principle of his famed Triangle offense is the way players are supposed to penetrate the defense. With a pass (preferably, because that means there is an open player somewhere in the teeth of that defense), a drive, a shot, or a rebound.

The last two may not seem like the best moves overall, because shots over the top of the D and ugly offensive rebounds don't seem to go hand-in-hand with the spacious and aesthetically-pleasing Triangle offense.

But these things are important, especially when the player creating the penetration is among those (like, say, the Laker youngsters that come off the bench) who might not be the most structurally-sound Triangle denizens. There's a reason Derek Fisher starts, you know.

So there LO is, shooting the ball, or getting into the lane for a lefty runner or hook that might not fall. Not only is his per-game numbers way down from last year, but his per-minute numbers have taken a dive as well. Even with all those chances to pad his stats among the bench corps. And yet, he's helping. So, so much. Don't let them convince you that he isn't.

Los Angeles held the Suns to about 99 points per 100 possessions, which is right around what the Charlotte Bobcats average, while putting up a number of its own (113 per 100) that would lead the league by a wide margin if averaged out for the year. And that was in Phoenix. And Kobe missed 15 shots, while Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol combined for 14 points. This team is all that and a bag of crisps.

Each weekday morning, BDL serves up a handful of NBA-related stories to digest with your Teddy Grahams.

Peter Vescey, New York Post: "Donnie Walsh is set to pull the trigger on his first substantive move as KnicksNew York Knicks president, The New York Post has learned. Knicks sources said a deal for Al Harrington was to go through late yesterday, but was delayed until today. A league conference call is scheduled for this morning that would bring the disgruntled Warriors forward to the Knicks, presumably for Malik Rose. [...] The move will reunite Walsh with Harrington, whom the Pacers president drafted out of high school (No. 25) in 1998."

UPDATE: Alan Hahn is reporting that it is in fact Jamal Crawford heading to Golden State in exchange for Harrington.

Ivan Carter, Washington Post: "Gilbert Arenas continues to rehabilitate his surgically repaired left knee but remains limited to non-contact basketball activities, and neither the team nor the three-time all-star has established a firm timetable for a possible return to game action. Arenas has watched the Wizards stumble to a 1-8 start from the bench and said the team's progress or lack thereof could impact his plans. Yesterday after a practice at Verizon Center, Arenas said he and center Brendan Haywood, who is expected to miss four to six months following wrist surgery, are hoping the team can rebound from the poor start and remain in playoff contention. 'Me and Brendan, we talk about it,' Arenas said. 'If I come back in January — that's about 20, 25 games we counted — when do we say it's okay? If we're 15 games out, how hard is it to come back from that? It might depend on who is in the eighth spot at the time and what our record is.'"

Mike Wells, Indianapolis Star: "He's 7-foot, 255 pounds and plays center. Just don't expect him to play like one. Rasho Nesterovic doesn't have a strong inside game. He isn't an intimidating shot blocker. He isn't overly athletic and doesn't fly above the rim for alley-oop dunks. Ask his Indiana Pacers teammates, though, and they'll say Nesterovic is one of the keys to their offense. He's an exceptional passer. He consistently makes the midrange jump shot. He has a high basketball IQ. Most important, he wins. He has never been the focal point, but he made the playoffs each of his 10 seasons."

Rick Bonnell, Charlotte Observer: "Bobcats coach Larry Brown can live with a lack of experience. Lack of effort, he'll not tolerate. So he might start rookies D.J. Augustin and Alexis Ajinca in Atlanta tonight against the Hawks, in part to send a message to the veterans. 'He gives effort every play and that's what we're not getting,' Brown said of Augustin, who would start at guard alongside Ray Felton. 'It's been obvious we've been lacking pizzazz and enthusiasm and effort (among the starters). The second group, I don't think that's the case at all. They might be inexperienced, but they're trying hard.' [...] Ajinca and Augustin would replace Sean May and Matt Carroll as starters. And, based on repetitions in practice Thursday, Brown is strongly considering this lineup. Brown gave the players off Wednesday, then conducted one of the most physically-taxing practices of the young season."

Chris McCosky, Detroit News: "Right now, the Celtics are too fluid, too cohesive and too efficient at everything. They move the ball around so crisply on offense, they make the Pistons look two steps slower. If they weren't getting straight-line layups Thursday (13 in the first three quarters), they were draining uncontested 3-pointers (6-for-10 through three quarters). Defensively, the Celtics are so tightly wound and aggressive, the Pistons barely completed initial passes of an offensive set, let alone swing the ball. Uncontested shots were few and far between."

Paul Coro, Arizona Republic: "See that up there? That's where the Los Angeles Lakers put the bar. Suns coach Terry Porter said Thursday night's game with the Western Conference favorite would be a good measuring stick for his team, and it's clear that the Suns are far away. [...] Suns substitutions strayed from the norm Thursday. Terry Porter went to Sean Singletary as the primary backup point guard instead of Goran Dragic. It initially backfired when Singletary missed two shots and he committed his first NBA turnover during a 14-0 Lakers run following starter Steve Nash's exit. The other new move came late in that run. After Lakers center Andrew Bynum posted up Amaré Stoudemire, Shaquille O'Neal got off the bench, walked by Porter and said, "I'm going in." Three minutes later, the Suns led again."

Sarah Rothschild, Miami Herald: "Heat rookie forward Michael Beasley has been reduced to a spectator in the fourth quarter of recent games. He has started in the 12 games and is averaging 30.2 minutes, but he sat for much of the fourth quarter in four of the past five games. As the Heat mounted a 17-point, second-half comeback during a 101-95 loss to the Raptors on Wednesday, Beasley watched. ''If I was the coach, I would have stayed with that lineup, too,' Beasley said. Beasley played a career-low 12 minutes against Toronto."

Kate Fagan, Philadelphia Inquirer: "Elton Brand's words, spoken as he sat on a stool within the cozy confines of the Target Center's visitor's locker room, were as bruising and straightforward as his low-post game. No, he wasn't looking forward to seeing his former teammates, the Los Angeles Clippers, whom the 76ers play at 7 o'clock tonight at the Wachovia Center. What he wanted was a victory. 'I don't care to see them,' Brand said. Brand's words were not meant to slam his former pals — he said he had texted two of them, Chris Kaman and Cuttino Mobley, leading up to the game — but rather as an indication of how focused he was on leveling the Sixers' record, which at 5-6 is a disappointment. 'I can't worry about individual stuff,' Brand said. 'It's just a competition. It's just a game we need to win.'"

Steve Bulpett, Boston Herald: "It will be Kevin Garnett’s second visit to his old arena with the Celts, but he didn’t play last February because of the abdominal strain that cost him nine games. 'You don’t know until you get there,' said coach Doc Rivers of Garnett’s hyper forecast before the Celtics’ 98-80 win over the Pistons last night. 'With Kevin, he walks that line every night. Usually it’s a gut feel. Sometimes I’ve been wrong. I’ve called him in the office and he’s completely calm even though he looks ... well, calm in Kevin’s world. But then there’s times that he needs to be talked down some. You just don’t know until you get there and read it. I think it’s nice that he’s been there once. He didn’t play, but he’s been there.' The coach will be on guard because of how intense Garnett was last year. It wasn’t until he actually walked out onto the floor for a pregame moment to acknowledge the crowd that anyone knew he’d leave the dressing room."

Janny Hu, San Francisco Chronicle: "Injured guard Monta Ellis had the screws in his surgically-repaired left ankle removed Wednesday in Birmingham, Alabama, and is expected to rejoin the Warriors after next week's East Coast swing. Team officials did not set a date for a return to basketball-related activity, though Ellis' agent, Jeff Fried, has said he anticipated a Thanksgiving week start."

Israel Guitierrez, Miami Herald: "For most, being left open on an NBA floor is the result of an offensive play properly run. Udonis Haslem sees it a bit differently. To him, being left unaccounted for is dismissive. He used to consider that so insulting that he once berated Don Nelson and the Warriors' bench for ignoring him time and again — even though Haslem was benefiting from it with a huge game. 'It gets old after a while,' Haslem said. 'Basketball is supposed to be 5-on-5. People mix all those junk defenses. To me, I feel like that's kind of cowardly. Just play ball.' He will take the wide-open shot. But that doesn't mean he has to like it."

Los Angeles Lakers at Phoenix

I know we, as basketball junkies, should be looking forward to the Celtics/Pistons game.

Good defense in that one. Slow-down, playoff basketball from two teams who fought for the Eastern Conference crown last year and still might be the favorites to take to the Eastern Conference finals this year. Provided, of course, that Mo Williams learns how to play defense.

But let's not try to fool ourselves. We want to see the Suns play the Lakers. We like watching the Suns play anyone, even if they have slowed a bit. We enjoy the Lakers getting a good challenge. This may not be a matchup of the best two teams in the West, and it may not even be a close game. But that's the one to watch. You know it.

Don't eat your vegetables, and move right on to the confection of your choice. Play with your toys, even when you're working. Shaq and A.C. Green (both former Suns and Lakers, pictured above) would.

It didn't take long for Steve Nash to pull the passive/aggressive, "I don't think we should run away from our running game"-bit. He's already been talking about it in halftime interviews and to the press postgame. He knows that the running game still might be his team's best chance at doing anything this spring. Meanwhile, the Lakers want nothing to do with spring. They're all about the summer. And I'm all about this game.

Celtics/Pistons? We appreciate you. We respect you. And if we had to choose, we're watching the second game.

(Join Skeets and co. for a live blog tonight, starting around 8 p.m. Eastern.)

Los Angeles Lakers: 8-1, 96.4 possessions per game (3rd-most in the NBA), 108.8 points scored per 100 possessions (5th-most in the NBA), 94.8 points allowed per 100 possessions (1st in the NBA). David Watts.

Phoenix Suns: 8-4, 91.7 possessions per game (14th), 108.7 points scored 100 possessions (8th), 105.7 points allowed per 100 possessions (16th). David Watts.

It's been too long, Machine. It's been much too long.

In today's brand new Machine episode from Lakers-Fan.com, Sasha Vujacic recounts the story of how he breaks down during Game 4 of the NBA Finals against the "Leprechauns" from Boston.

And it's introduced by the real Machine himself! Enjoy!

OK, this has to be the best one yet. No doubt.

(via The Lakers Nation)

Each weekday morning, BDL serves up a handful of NBA-related stories to digest with your Nintendo Cereal System from Ralston-Purina. At least for now. We'll see how long this lasts.

K.C. Johnson, Chicago Tribune: "Larry Hughes started for the injured Luol Deng Wednesday, but Deng's sore left hamstring can't make the Bulls' glut of guards disappear. That's why the disenchantment Hughes expressed late Tuesday in Los Angeles, after averaging 18 minutes this season, could resurface. 'I don't want to play like this,' Hughes said. 'I'm not comfortable with 15-20 minutes. Something has to change.' It did, albeit temporarily. But Derrick Rose is the No. 1 overall pick, Ben Gordon is the team's leading scorer and Kirk Hinrich, currently injured, is the best perimeter defender. 'You have to understand that situation and I do,' Hughes said. 'We have a lot of guys at one position. Somebody has to come off the bench and you accept that role. But I'm not expecting 15-20 minutes, and I don't want to deal with that.'"

Mike Wells, Indianapolis Star: "Trying to defend stars such as LeBron James and Kobe Bryant affected Granger's offense. Or vice versa. Sometimes he struggled defensively if he focused too much on offense. That hasn't been a concern this season. Marquis Daniels is guarding the opponent's best perimeter player at the start of each game, which means Granger doesn't have to exert as much energy on both ends of the court. 'It definitely helps a lot,' Granger said. 'I don't get tired as much as I used to. It's a hard job chasing those guys around. I still end up defending them at some point in the game.'"

Paul Coro, Arizona Republic: "In a convoluted storyline layered with meanings lost in translation, Suns center Shaquille O'Neal is denying an interview that he probably didn't need to deny. From a transcript run Friday on a Sacramento Bee blog, O'Neal's comments were pulled and translated in Los Angeles and then nationally on an ESPN crawl. The "news" was that O'Neal had not ruled out a return to the Lakers when he is a free agent in 2010 and that Lakers coach Phil Jackson orchestrated O'Neal's tension with Kobe Bryant. Part of the problem was that O'Neal said Wednesday that he did not talk to anyone in Sacramento, where the Suns played last Friday — but the interview was done in the preseason in Phoenix by the Bee's Scott Howard-Cooper, a former Los Angeles Times writer whom O'Neal knows."

Chris McCosky, Detroit News: "Ben Wallace, who is playing a somewhat diminished role for the Cavaliers these days, barely recognizes his former Pistons team. 'It's strange coming in here now and this guy's not here any more, and that guy's not here and then a couple more guys are gone,' he said. 'The numbers keep getting smaller (of guys he played with here) and that is a little strange.' Wallace said, like everybody else, he was shocked when he heard the Pistons had traded Chauncey Billups and Antonio McDyess for Allen Iverson. He joked that all that was left was, 'the Big Three,' Hamilton, Rasheed Wallace and Tayshaun Prince. 'Their style of play has definitely changed,' Wallace said. 'They are forced to play a different style of basketball now. You get used to playing one way, then you've got to change the way you play toward the end of your career, I mean, I am sure it's been a little tough on them.'"

Michael Lee, Washington Post: "For a fleeting moment, it seemed that cocky swagger that has come to define the Washington Wizards in their annual journey through adversity had returned. A desperate, hard-luck team appeared set to pull out a gutsy road victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday night when DeShawn Stevenson dribbled toward the right baseline, gave Maurice Evans a slight nudge for separation, then drilled a jumper over him to give the Wizards a four-point lead with just more than a minute remaining. Stevenson waved his hand over his face, rookie JaVale McGee patted him on his backside and Stevenson then jumped into Caron Butler as a stunned Philips Arena crowd looked on. It was a premature celebration, because the Wizards don't have the Eastern Conference's worst record by mistake. They've earned it in a season that has been marked by fourth-quarter mishaps and an inability to close. And one minute proved to be too long for the Wizards to hang on, as Joe Johnson and Marvin Williams nailed back-to-back three-pointers to hand them a 91-87 defeat."

Charles F. Gardner, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: "Hey, the Milwaukee Bucks still haven't won in Utah since the 2001-'02 season. But the Bucks did have a decent chance Wednesday night, holding a 10-point, third-quarter lead before faltering in a 105-94 loss to the Jazz. 'Compared to the Denver game, it was a step up,' said Bucks center Andrew Bogut, who finished with 16 points and a season-high 20 rebounds. 'We came with intensity and played hard. But we still were making simple mistakes. We were so close, yet so far. Mental lapses for 4 or 5 minutes at a time absolutely cost us ball games.'"

Mark Murphy, Boston Herald: "The Celtics coach, asked yesterday about Knicks forward Quinton Richardson’s postgame complaints about the C’s perceived compunction for boastful talk, wrote part of the issue off to rivalry and the other to the source. 'This thing with the Knicks has been going on for a while now,' Rivers said. 'And Q has been in the middle of it. But a lot of teams talk to us, man. What I tell our guys is, 'You’ve proven what you can do, so just go out and do it.''"

John Denton, Florida Today: "What then will happen to Redick? Pietrus is the unquestioned starter when healthy and Keith Bogans has been Orlando’s best reserve. According to head coach Stan Van Gundy, rookie Courtney Lee is the Magic’s best on-ball defender on the perimeter. Then, there’s Redick, who is eager to learn his fate as it applies to the future. 'This was an opportunity presented because MP (Pietrus) was injured and whenever chances like this come I have to go out and earn my minutes,' Redick said. 'I hope I’ll get more chances like this.' Those chances were few and far between after Redick was pulled from Van Gundy’s rotation following a dreadful three-game start to the season."

Brian Lewis, New York Post: "As if their listless loss to LeBron James & Co. wasn't bad enough, Yi Jianlian strained his neck yesterday in practice. With every power forward on the roster banged up, the New Jersey Nets could start a pair of rookies tomorrow in Toronto. [...] 'Yi hurt himself in practice, strained neck. We'll know more [today],' said coach Lawrence Frank. 'He kind of jolted back. It must've been some sort of hit, and his head [went back]. It wasn't anything glaring.'"

SI.com: "Anthony Morrow can still walk without incident from his downtown hotel to the BART trains that sometimes take him to the Golden State Warriors' arena. Most of Oakland's famously enthusiastic hoops fans haven't yet put a face to the name that hit their favorite team's starting lineup like a thunderbolt last weekend. [...] Just a few weeks after Morrow was wondering whether he'd have to play in Ukraine this winter, he is Golden State's starting shooting guard. Corey Maggette and captain Stephen Jackson already see him as an equal, and coach Don Nelson is talking about building parts of his famed offense around Morrow. 'He's the real deal, and we haven't even learned how to play with him yet,' Nelson said. 'I told the team that we'd better know where this guy is at all times. We'd better get him open, because he looks like the real deal.'"

Cleveland 106, New Jersey 82

The Cleveland Cavaliers are first in the NBA in offensive efficiency right now.

I'll let that sink in a little bit, you might not want to buy it, it might not make sense that one of the ugliest and most frustrating offensive teams of the last four years is now pumping out the league's best offense, but that's what happens when something sick like LeBron James happens.

Nobody should be surprised by James' play, this is right in line with the expected growth from last year, when he out-scored, out-shot, out-rebounded, out-assisted, out-blocked and had a lower turnover ratio than the guy who was voted NBA MVP (they tied in steals, though James did on a slower-paced team). This is right in line with where he should be. And he should continue to be what he's been since the spring of 2007: the NBA's best player.

And his contributions, through the roof by most standards but maybe not as mind-boggling due to Cleveland's slow (24th in the NBA) pace, are what is driving this top-heavy Cleveland offense. That one that, somehow, is tops in the NBA. Yes, Mo Williams, blippity blah. Yes, Big Z still hits shots. Yes, Delonte. But Williams has actually played worse in Cleveland than he did in Milwaukee last year. This is on James.

31 points, eight rebounds, four assists, three turnovers and a block in 34 minutes in the win. And this was his easy night.

Los Angeles Lakers 116, Chicago 109

The Lakers lost because they're better than the Bulls, much better, and that isn't in doubt. But coming in second in the blame/praise column is the team's focus coming out of timeouts, deadballs, and quarters/halves. Los Angeles' play in the third quarter turned this into a blowout after it'd been a game for a while, and though Chicago came back, advantages built in the first and third quarters were too much to overcome.

Pau Gasol (34 points, 24 in the first half) built his initially, and then Kobe Bryant came out firing in the third quarter. The Bulls rallied behind Derrick Rose (25 points, nine assists, two turnovers), but Ben Gordon (6-22 shooting) never plays well in Los Angeles, and Luol Deng (4-10 shooting, nine points) has been left behind by Vinny Del Negro's offense.

Orlando 103, Toronto 90

What happens when your team loses a player who contributes 13.5 points, nine assists, and one of the best assist-to-turnover marks in the NBA?

You lose by 13. You only dish 12 assists as a team on 35 field goals. You turn it over a sickening 21 times, or on 24 percent of your possessions. Too simple? Too right. You know it.

The Raptors miss Jose Calderon, even if the shots aren't going in and he's not providing the direct assist, his ability to keep a live dribble and run things acts as the straw that stirs the offensive drink for Toronto, and they just didn't have enough in Orlando on Tuesday night. Toronto isn't giving up without JC, they played a tough game, but the talent just isn't there at the point guard slot.

Backup Will Solomon had seven turnovers and four assists, needing 13 shots to score 10 points. And Roko Ukic just isn't an NBA contributor. He missed six of eight shots and had two turnovers in 16 minutes to one assist. Chris Bosh's 40 points on 19 shots, 18 rebounds, four assists, three turnovers, two steals and a block (geesh) kept Toronto in it.

Orlando started J.J. Redick, and guess what? He tied for the team lead with a +20 mark. There are all sorts of factors that go into that stat, and it's not always the best representation of how well a guy does, but the number is there, take what you want from it. He had 10 points on 4-9 shooting and didn't turn the ball over in 34 minutes. Hedo Turkoglu turned it over five times, but his activity (22 points, seven assists) stirred a few drinks for the Magic.

Memphis 109, Sacramento 94

The Kings just can't be expected to compete with all these injuries, and when a guy like Rudy Gay (22 points and eight rebounds doesn't seem like much, but he was brilliant in the first half) is going off, you're lucky just to escape with a 15-point road loss. Especially when Bobby Jackson has to carry the offensive load for significant stretches.

And Tom Ziller? How dare he dispute some of my poorly-conceived hyperbole and bluster?

Indiana 113, Atlanta 96

We're in the test phase for the Hawks. They can't jump right back into the playoffs, we still have a little over five months to go before that, and they're going to have to go through the doldrums of an 82-game season just like everyone else. Also, if the Hawks are going to compete at all, Atlanta is going to have to play inspired defense just about every night. Because just playing up to form is going to leave the Hawks well short of .500 and out of the playoff bracket.

On Tuesday, they played to form, as it was during the home-and-home losses to the Nets. Atlanta's early win streak came because they were playing over their heads, but that is something that can be sustained. It's not typical, but it can happen if the effort is there. These guys need to get after it in the first quarter, and not let up. They have to work harder than other teams, because they're not as good as most other teams.

That wasn't there on Tuesday, and while a 17-point loss to an injured Pacer team may seem surprising now, it wouldn't be surprising to you way back in October, when you were wearing parachute pants and drinking New Coke. Or whatever we did back then.

Danny Granger has really left me more than surprised on his own this year, he's been reflexively great. I thought he was a nice wing player who stood still out on the perimeter and nailed a bunch of shots, while contributing the occasional drive and offensive foul. And you can't blame me for that, because that's all he did last season. Shoot the lights out and pick up charges.

This year, he's a full-on all-around force. With handle and touch and the ability to create new and different and potent shots. 34 points in 35 minutes for Granger in the win.

Golden State 111, Portland 106

I watched it early this morning, and I'll be honest, I have no idea what happened. So I'm off to watch again, and anyone with any questions can just hit up this afternoon's BDL Live Chat, which will take off around 3 p.m. or so.

Miami 94, Washington 87

A worrying game for both teams, for me at least.

The Heat continue to go away from Michael Beasley. I understand that he's a rookie on what is essentially a veteran team, a rookie who doesn't often make himself available for shot attempts in a way that Shawn Marion (a master at working off the ball and pouting a little bit) would appreciate, but the Heat have to involve this guy more often. For on and off-court purposes. And for the porpoises. Yes, he was in foul trouble, and the defense was iffy; but six shots and 15 minutes of play is not enough.

Meanwhile, the Wizards (who have played a grand total of three games this entire season, off memory) took in a pair of tres efficient games from Antawn Jamison (25 points on 15 shots, 12 rebounds, four assists, zero turnovers) and Caron Butler (21 points on 12 shots, 12 boards), that's not going to happen much, and they still lost at home to a Heat team that played well, but not that well.

19 points, 10 assists, six rebounds, five turnovers, two steals and three blocks for Dwyane Wade in the win.

Denver 114, Milwaukee 105

Good thing the Nuggets are starting defensive stalwart Dahntay Jones, otherwise Charlie Bell (25 points) may have had 45 for the Bucks on Tuesday.

A hot first half for Denver allowed the Nuggets to take it easy and rest the starters, and that's probably a good thing. Meanwhile, the win now-Bucks are 5-7, and Andrew Bogut took (and made) just one shot in 16 minutes. This cannot work.

What does work? Pickaxe and Roll and BrewHoop's takes.

Dallas 100, Charlotte 83

Charlotte needed a banked-in turnaround jumper, going over his right shoulder from the right block and into the paint, from Adam Morrison to make it to 10 points in the first quarter. And you know what? You're supposed to bank that in. Larry Bird did it. Sometimes it's good to hit a banker that goes over the front of the rim. I'm not being a prick, ‘ere. I promise.

The Bobcats stunk in this one, though. They made few second half runs but they had a truly tough time creating good shots, and Dallas just did what it could on the other end. The Mavs had 50 rebounds to Charlotte's 34, while Dirk Nowitzki (34 points) and Josh Howard (21) had another devastating performance. Made Bobcats cry.

Boston 110, New York 101

I'll say it. I think starting Brian Scalabrine in Kevin Garnett's absence was a little cruel and a little lame and quite wrong. To Leon Powe.

Doc Rivers might like Powe's work off the bench, but so what? He's young. He's not a KG-type that has to cap minutes at 34. Start him, sit the starters, leave Powe and his scoring acumen out there with the reserves. 14 and 7 in 28 minutes for Powe off the bench.

We're probably about to start going nuts about Wilson Chandler around here, but the guy had 23 points on 23 shots. He had seven rebounds in almost 39 minutes, but he just shoots a lot for a team that runs a lot.

Each weekday morning, BDL serves up a handful of NBA-related stories to digest with your Crispix. At least for now. We'll see how long this lasts.

Kyle Hightower, Orlando Sentinel: "Who said Polish guys can't jump? In a discussion with fellow Magic European-import Mickael Pietrus (originally from French Guadeloupe), Polish-born Marcin Gortat boasted after a recent practice his ability to dunk from the free-throw line — like Julius Erving. Doubtful of his skills, Pietrus bet Gortat an unspecified sum that he could, drawing a full post-practice audience that included several barefoot players and even Coach Stan Van Gundy. With a full-court run-up, the 6-11 Gortat successfully pulled off the dunk twice after the first one was disputed by Pietrus, who questioned his takeoff point. Said Gortat, as he walked into the locker room mobbed by teammates: 'I'll take my payment in Euros.'"

Jonathan Feigen, Houston Chronicle: "A day after Rockets guard Tracy McGrady said, 'Until further notice, I’m going to have to shut it down,' he was running through practice as if he never felt a shot of pain in Monday’s second half. McGrady said he was not certain he would play tonight against the Dallas Mavericks, but the chances have improved as much as his knee. He said he was 'hopeful' he could play, called the MRI that was planned and canceled 'not necessary' and did not describe himself as likely to stop playing entirely."

Jimmy Smith, The Times-Picayune: "Hornets All-Star guard Chris Paul has been surpassing records and milestones as fast as autumnal leaves fall, and each time he collects a steal in the next 12 games, he draws closer to the NBA mark for thefts in consecutive games. The record is held by former San Antonio Spurs guard Alvin Robertson, who had 105 consecutive games with a steal from Nov. 6, 1985, to Dec. 29, 1986. Paul ranks second with at least one steal in 93 games in a row. He passed Michael Jordan (77) in the final weeks of last season, and looks to build on the streak in tonight's game against the Sacramento Kings at the New Orleans Arena. Through nine games this season, Paul has 27 steals — an average of three per game — both best in the NBA."

Don Seeholzer, St. Paul Pioneer Press: "When it comes to shooting the ball, Mike Miller has a green light. More often than not this season, though, he has decided to proceed with caution. Timberwolves coach Randy Wittman would like to see that change, even if it means being a little less unselfish. After watching Miller take a season-low four shots, and make three, Sunday night in the Wolves' 90-84 loss at Denver, Wittman said he would like his shooting guard to start pulling the trigger more often. 'Sometimes you get into turning down shots to make the extra pass,' Wittman said Tuesday. 'Mike does all the right things, but at times he's got to be a little selfish, too, when he's got an open shot. I wouldn't want anybody else taking an open shot. Every time he shoots it, I think it's going in.'"

Mike Bresnahan, LA Times: "The NBA's all-time leading scorer has one word for Andrew Bynum — patience. Bynum has struggled with his shot and recently said he wanted to be more assertive once he got the basketball in the post. To paraphrase Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, it will happen in time. 'The offense is designed to spread it around, but if you're getting high-percentage shots in the post, they're of great value to a team,' said Abdul-Jabbar, in his fourth season as a Lakers' special assistant coach in charge of Bynum's development. 'It's a situation where he has to prove that he can deliver and then maybe the offense can look for him more than it is right now. He just has to be patient.'"

Ivan Carter, Washington Post: "Wizards forward Andray Blatche is in his fourth NBA season, yet the team continues to stress that he needs to get into better physical condition. Prior to last night's game, Coach Eddie Jordan was asked about Blatche's up-and-down play through the season's first seven games. 'We call it a dash and a flash but he's certainly not consistent right now,' Jordan said. 'From the time he got into the league, we've talked about his conditioning improving and he hasn't gotten to the point where it's where it should be, where he can sustain a high level of intensity and a high level of concentration.' Jordan said the team has created a modified workout program that has Blatche arriving for practice long before his teammates, in addition to added work in the weight room."

Ramona Shelburne, LA Daily News: "The buzzards aren't quite yet circling, but they might be making flight plans. That's what happens when a team opens the season 1-9, as the Clippers have. Every loss brings a handful of new phone calls from front offices around the NBA, wondering if they might be of any assistance in shaking things up. The Clippers generally tend to answer those phone calls and listen, but don't expect any major moves right away for two very important reasons. 'I think guys are honestly really committed to turning this thing around,' Clippers forward Marcus Camby said after practice Tuesday. 'We still feel like we have a chance to make the playoffs. It may seem bleak because of where we're at right now, but we still have 70-plus games to go.'"

Howard Beck, NY Times: "Jared Jeffries could be practicing in a week and back in the rotation soon. Jeffries received a positive report after his latest X-ray on Friday and said he expected to start running within days. Jeffries broke his left leg on the third day of training camp. 'I need to get another X-ray, and if it’s still healing the same way it is, with no pain the way it has been, then I should be good to go,' Jeffries said."

Paul Coro, Arizona Republic: "Suns coach Terry Porter planned to play eight or nine men per game this season but warned it would not be the same eight or nine. That has proven true, with him lately calling upon Louis Amundson and rookie Sean Singletary for important minutes. First-round draft pick Robin Lopez was the hailed big-man acquisition, but he has fewer appearances than the energetic Amundson. Singletary seemed bound for the NBA Development League when he was acquired in August, but Suns affiliate Iowa began camp without him Friday, when Singletary was running the Suns' point for the final six minutes of an overtime win at Sacramento. Suspensions and erratic rookie play from Lopez and Goran Dragic have given Amundson and Singletary the chances for which Porter told them to be ready."

Chris Tomasson, Rocky Mountain News: "If Nuggets center Nene doesn't make the All-Star Game, he won't complain. Nene is set to marry Lauren Prothe, of Fort Collins, on Valentine's Day, the day before the All-Star Game in Phoenix. Nene isn't listed on the All-Star ballot but could be named a reserve. 'I don't need to be thinking about that,' Nene said. 'This All-Star time, I'm going to be thinking about my wedding.'"

Kate Fagan, Philadelphia Inquirer: "It hasn't been a dream-like start for either the 76ers or up-and-coming backup guard Lou Williams. The Sixers are 5-5. Williams is shooting 35.7 percent from the field, 26.1 percent from the three-point line, and has 20 turnovers and 17 assists while averaging 9.3 points per game. 'I'm in a shooting slump,' said Williams, who signed a five-year, $25 million contract during the off-season. 'I guess that's what they call it. I've never been in one before. I think I got too caught up in my shot rather than creating things for my teammates. In seasons past, I opened things up for other people ... I have to get back to that.' Starting tonight at the Minnesota Timberwolves (1-8), the Sixers hit a valley in their schedule that includes four consecutive opponents with sub-.500 records. It is an ideal time for the Sixers to get above .500."

Frank Isola, NY Daily News: "Stephon Marbury's days as a Knick are drawing to a close, but the veteran point guard could survive until the new year. Knicks president Donnie Walsh has not given up on trading Marbury, who is scheduled to earn $21.9 million this season. Marbury is open to a buyout and has enlisted the help of the Players Association to negotiate with the Knicks. The two sides met last week, but no additional meetings are scheduled for this week, according to a person familiar with the talks. Walsh will not be rushed into making a decision, especially one that could cost the Knicks nearly $20 million. Another source believes that Marbury won't be released until Jan. 1 because Cablevision Systems Corp., which owns the Knicks, won't have to report the financial loss until 2009. A team source, however, insists that the decision to either trade or negotiate a buyout is Walsh's to make."

Each weekday morning, BDL serves up a handful of NBA-related stories to digest with your bananas. At least for now. We'll see how long this lasts.

Paul Coro, Arizona Republic: "Suns center Shaquille O'Neal just went through five-day span in which he was assessed $60,000 in NBA fines. Or in his terms, a 0.3 of a percent tax on his $21 million salary this season. After Thursday's $35,000 fine for his shoves during last week's scuffle between the Suns and Houston Rockets, O'Neal was fined $25,000 Monday for 'verbal abuse of an official and failure to leave the court in a timely manner' after his flagrant-foul ejection in Sunday's win over the Detroit Pistons. 'It's like a tax,' O'Neal said, later adding, 'For 25 (thousand dollars), I should have said a little more.' There is an expectation that O'Neal's flagrant foul, a Penalty 2, will be reduced to a Penalty 1. Such a change would mean that his foul on Pistons guard Rodney Stuckey was 'unnecessary' but not 'excessive,' and his fine would be reduced."

Eddie Sefko, Dallas Morning News: "Jerry Stackhouse and his agent are exploring options for a possible departure from the Dallas Mavericks, the result of a turbulent first month of the season in which his playing time and level of performance have dropped dramatically. Stackhouse did not demand a trade Monday after practice, but he calmly detailed his situation and said that he feels there is plenty of good basketball left in him, too much to be a bit player. He speculated that the end of his Mavericks tenure might be coming soon and that the organization's decision to bring along young players has left him with an uncertain future, given that he will probably be a free agent next summer. 'Sometimes, that cycle comes,' Stackhouse said. 'When I came to Philadelphia [as a rookie], Jeff Malone was still a very capable player. But they said: 'Jeff, Jerry Stackhouse is the starting shooting guard here, and we're starting over.' He still went and played somewhere for a couple more seasons.'"

John Reid, The Times-Picayune: "With four losses in six games, Hornets Coach Byron Scott did not expect to see his players in a good mood during Monday's practice at the Alario Center. So maybe it came as no surprise to Scott that with a team on edge, there was a scuffle, a dodging of reporters and a frustrated forward looking for answers. Not necessarily in that order. Near the end of an extended full scrimmage, forward/guard Rasual Butler and guard Morris Peterson exchanged words and eventually had to be separated. When practice ended, forward David West and point guard Chris Paul left without speaking to anyone. And forward Peja Stojakovic still appeared to be flustered from his 1-for-5 shooting performance for three points in Saturday's 91-82 loss to the Houston Rockets at the Toyota Center."

Jonathan Feigen, Houston Chronicle: "Rockets forward Shane Battier, who has spent the preseason and first three weeks of the regular season working to rehabilitate his sore left foot, is expected to practice with the team today, Rockets general manager Daryl Morey said on Monday. Battier has not practiced with the team yet, but after a demanding workout on Monday was cleared to join the team’s practices unless there is any set back after Monday’s workout."

Mike Baldwin, The Oklahoman: "Forward Desmond Mason will be sidelined at least 10 days. An MRI revealed Mason suffered a sprained right elbow. Saturday, his arm hit the backboard while attempting to block a shot at Philadelphia. But the injury actually occurred a week earlier against Minnesota, when Mason’s arm hit the rim attempting another block. 'The doctor told me when it gets to a point it doesn’t hurt anymore I can get back and play,' Mason said. 'It’s tough. I don’t like to sit out, even practices. It’s frustrating but I’d rather do this than hurt it worse and be out six weeks.'"

Marc Berman, New York Post: "NBA Player's Association attorney Hal Biagas is expected to resume Stephon Marbury buyout talks with Knicks president Donnie Walsh tomorrow or Thursday, with a possibility of a formal proposal coming by week's end, according to a person familiar with the situation. The exiled Marbury, who has yet to play this season, flew with the team to Boston yesterday, but that could be his last road trip as a Knick. Biagas, Marbury and Walsh met last Thursday in Westchester to begin divorce proceedings. According to the individual, Walsh told Biagas and Marbury that he'll need one week to think about matters, explore any potential trades and consult with Knicks owner James Dolan. 'He wants to see what's out there on the trade market,' the individual told The Post. 'There's optimism [about a buyout]. He is trying to work something out.' Marbury has told confidants he does not care if he yields more than his $21.9 million wage this season."

Brian Hanley, Chicago Sun-Times: "When it comes to the Bulls' so-called ''circus trip,' Derrick Rose's teammates apparently adhere to the thinking that if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all. 'If it was good, people would have been telling me,' Rose said after practice Monday. 'But nobody's been talking, so I don't even want to know.' The Bulls' 6-52 cumulative record on the annual November trek in the 10 years since Michael Jordan last played for them speaks volumes. The Bulls went a combined 1-11 the last two times they vacated the United Center so Ringling Bros. could take over their home. A 3-3 trip three seasons back was the best the team has done in a decade. The Bulls begin this trip tonight against the Los Angeles Lakers."

Joe Freeman, The Oregonian: "Martell Webster, who has missed all of the regular season rehabilitating his injured left foot, said Monday after the Trail Blazers practice that he has set a target return date: Dec. 5, roughly eight weeks after he had surgery to repair a stress fracture. Webster had a protective boot removed during the Blazers last home game, Nov. 8 against Minnesota, and will learn more about his progress tomorrow, when team doctors examine his foot. 'It's getting better,' Webster said of his foot. 'I'm inching toward that due date so we'll see how it goes. I have a visit with the doctor tomorrow and we'll see what he says. Hopefully I can start doing some jogging, with shooting involved. If not, it's back to the treadmill.' Webster, who has done light weight lifting and a ton of pool work during his rehab, said team doctors have told him he needs to be able to walk on a treadmill for two miles — without pain — before he can resume basketball activities. Webster said he's been able to walk the two miles, but with some discomfort."

Lisa Dillman, LA Times: "Reunion Week started early, and you knew it was going to be that way when Clippers Coach Mike Dunleavy was asked to revisit the Elton Brand saga ... on Saturday. That's when another reunion was in progress at Staples Center. Baron Davis versus his former team, the Golden State Warriors. And Corey Maggette versus his old Clippers' buddies, well, the few of them still on hand. Brand versus his former team, the Clippers, was still well off in the distance, Friday at Philadelphia. 'We'll hug and ask about each other's families and say good luck and then we'll go to war trying to beat each other up,' Clippers forward Tim Thomas said Monday."

48Minutes.net: "By extending [Stephen] Jackson now, the Warriors are tossing aside their previously iron-clad rules of dealing with a player only when the team has used up all of its possible leverage. I’ll be fascinated to hear the explanation for this exception, if any is forthcoming on the matter. Outside of the reasoning for why the Warriors would break with their own philosophy, here’s the biggest question: How will the signing impact the Warriors in the summer of 2010, when a whole raft of top-notch free agents is scheduled to flood the market? There is no real hope that a player with the stature of LeBron James will be willing to come to Oakland when the lights of New York are beckoning to him. But having maneuverability in that timeframe — when teams will potentially be looking to offload players in order to make a run at UFAs such as Paul Pierce, Jason Richardson, Josh Howard, Dirk Nowitzki, Tayshaun Prince, Yao Ming, Kobe Bryant, Michael Redd, Amare Stoudemire, Tony Parker, Chris Bosh or Caron Butler — would afford a franchise the opportunity to recast its core, if that was deemed necessary."

Dim the lights, turn up the volume and pay close attention to this rapid fire verbal exchange between an anonymous lippy Lakers fan and Pistons forward Rasheed Wallace. The insults start flying around the :08 mark.

In case you missed it, that was ...

Lakers fan: "Rasheed, you suck!
Sheed: Not like yo mamma!

Thanks to BDL reader Fidel for the tip.

The BDL NBA Power Rankings combine two parts Chivas Regal with one part flippant observation to create the most unbalanced ranking possible, and to offer the least accurate look at the state of the NBA on a weekly basis. If you disagree with your team's spot, feel free to go crazy in the comments or spit venom via email.

1. Los Angeles Lakers — One always had the hint that Arron Afflalo was Los Angeles' kryptonite. The Lakers are now on pace to only win 72 games. The dream is over, people. What can I say? [KD]

2. Boston Celtics — Kevin Garnett: "You can look at our record, but we still have a long way to go." Um, not true, Kevin. Saturday's OT battle in Milwaukee was the Celtics' 68th game in the last 12 days. They're almost done. [JE]

3. Phoenix Suns — Things are too good. Something's going to happen. Steve Nash is going to rob something, or someone. Grant Hill is going to default on a loan. Shaq's going to turn out to be a bloody Bolshevik. They're going to break our hearts. You know it. I like their defense (14th), though. [KD]

4. Cleveland Cavaliers — "LeBron James scored 38 points, leading a second-half rally that gave the Cleveland Cavaliers their seventh straight victory ..." That has to be the Associated Press's go-to line. I bet they use it to pick up chicks at the bar. Also, "LeBronco James":

5. Detroit Pistons — It is a repudiation of all that is sane and civil that Kwame Brown is starting over Amir Johnson. At least Amir's per-minute stats are better. We'll always have the per-minute stats, Amir. Always. [KD]

6. New Orleans Hornets —I've watched the Bees play three or four times this season, and I still have no idea what to make of them. I am flummoxed. One quarter they're dominant, the next quarter they get pushed around a little bit and start playing the refs. Ranking them sixth seems too high and low at the same time. [JE]

7. Atlanta Hawks — Hey, remember when the Hawks were on pace to win 82 games? Man, those were the days. Back when shows had great theme songs and my dad had a neckbeard. [JE]

8. Houston Rockets — When I wrote "rusty bunch of geezers," I meant "tempestuous batch of all-world talents and Aston-driving basketball mercenaries, several of which boast a Victor Mature-like sense of cool and whimsy, even at their most droll." Obviously, both Noel Coward and Carl Landry are standing directly in back of me. [KD]

9. Portland Trail Blazers — The worst defensive team (29th) that nobody knows about ... wait, I'm sorry, did someone order a 7-footer with skills? [KD]

10. Orlando Magic — The Magic Men were the only squad in the league last season with a better record on the road (27-14) than at home (25-16), and we could be looking at a repeat performance. Their moms must suck at cooking. Sloppy Joes and crap like that. [JE]

11. Utah Jazz — One of these days, mister, they're gunna get the whole gang back together and, you wait. Yeah, you wait. Also, minus the Afghan Whigs t-shirt, Kosta Koufos looks like me from October 1994-November 1994. Then I got the haircut right. The skin took a while. [KD]

12. Philadelphia 76ers — It is beyond comprehension. You even take pictures of your hotshot free agent pickups in the uniform. Just go back to the old unis, already. Stop making this harder than it has to be. What would Steve Mix say? [KD]

13. Toronto Raptors — Calderon's out, and you know Darrick Martin is circling the parking lot, like a vulture, trying to guess which car is Will Solomon's.

(Everybody knows Will Solomon can't afford a car!) [KD]

14. Denver Nuggets — 25th in offense, 6th in defense. Yes, I'm back on that thing again. [KD]

15. New York Knicks — Actual "MSG Mic Check" with Coach D'Antoni Sunday night: "C'mon defense, let's go. Let's go guys! Go! Here we go, here we go, guys. Here we go! Here we go, here we go. Way to go, Zach! Here we go white, here we go white. Here we go white." Awesome. [JE]

16. Chicago Bulls — My girlfriend had to tell me to shave the thin little mustache, and she told me she knew exactly why I was growing it. [KD]

17. Miami Heat — Win, loss, win, loss, win, loss, coach was in CHiPs.

18. Milwaukee Bucks — "While the Bucks' 5-6 record isn't going to turn many heads in L.A. or New York, it's tough to complain given what they're up against: an obscene eight back-to-backs in the first month, 12 of the first 19 on the road, and seven games and counting without Michael Redd." Frank Madden. Boom! [JE]

19. New Jersey Nets — A young man blocks out harmful memories of weak ankles and significant events of his life. As he grows up, he finds a way to remember these lost memories and a supernatural way to alter his life and win two games over the Hawks. "The Harris Effect," starring Devin Harris. [JE]

20. Indiana Pacers — The Pacers are actually outscoring their opponents by two a game, which puts them at 13th in the NBA, which means they're better than their record. And yet, six years after it hit the internet, nothing's better than this record. [KD]

21. San Antonio Spurs — Monty Williams has been annoying his family for weeks, stepping outside of restaurants to check his voicemail, and driving circuitous routes in order to stay in cell phone range. He thinks the call is coming. He thinks Pop is going to need him. He's really not as deluded as you think. [KD]

22. Golden State Warriors — If you have five dollars and undrafted free agent Anthony Morrow has five dollars, undrafted free agent Anthony Morrow has more money than you. [JE]

23. Sacramento Kings — The Kings are horrible. The team is a mismatched batch of parts that shouldn't fit, couldn't fit, and (eventually) won't fit. The team competed like mad all last season. The squad's offense, while iffy, is at least innovative and trying new things. The team is fun to watch. The team entertains the fans. The team works hard. The team is injured. The team has no singular focus off the court. The team has a singular focus on the court. The team should be worse than it is. And you want to fire the coach of this team? [KD]

24. Dallas Mavericks — Sigh. [JE]

25. Charlotte Bobcats — At least three times this season, 68-year-old coach Larry Brown has told his team to stop playing like Laverne and Shirley. Funny line, except "Laverne and Shirley" was a situation comedy that ABC cancelled in 1983. Nine of Brown's players weren't born yet. [JE]

26. Memphis Grizzlies — Once again, it's time for Matt Moore's Griz Semi-Chub. Take it away, good sir ... "The best part about following the Grizzlies is that no matter the score, the fourth quarter will be exciting. They always seem to close the gap. The worst part about following the Grizzlies is that no matter the score, they're probably going to lose, often in profoundly frustrating ways." [JE]

27. Washington Wizards — You just get the feeling that if Chris Whitney were around, none of this crap would be going down. [KD]

28. Minnesota Timberwolves — See: Grizzlies, Memphis.

29. Los Angeles Clippers — This team doesn’t play to expectations, however small. This team cannot rebound, in spite of two guys who had double-figure boards last year. This team is full of mercurial, flighty guys who need coddling (players that were acquired with both coach and front office knowing that they were mercurial, flighty guys who need coddling), who instead receive stern lectures in the press as a result. This team has played at home, a lot. This team loses, a lot. And this team wants to keep its coach? [KD]

30. Oklahoma City Thunder — "PJ Carlesimo is definitely a great hire if you're looking for someone to lose games, alienate fans and insult your city. If not, though, you might want to go with a guy who players respect." Sound advice. Embrace the comments, people. [JE]