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This Nike Air Max Lebron VII Low "Rumor Pack" has me conflicted, you guys. On one hand, the shoes all look really nice. I like them all quite a bit.

On the other hand, isn't the whole concept of the line kind of gross? I mean, we all know LeBron James(notes) is a free agent this summer, but it's kind of weird that Nike is rubbing that in everyone's face.

But let's go back to the first hand, the one that really likes the look of these shoes. There's four different versions, one each for the different places LeBron might end up — the New York Knicks, the New Jersey Nets, the Cleveland Browns (?), and CSKA Moscow (??). I'm partial to the Browns colorway, but I can't see that looking great on the basketball court.

Now, back to the other hand. Yuck, right? I understand that Nike is heavily invested in where LeBron ends up, and there's that rumor that there's a huge increase from Nike if LeBron signs with the Knicks, but it just feels wrong to have Nike profit off of Cleveland's misery.

There's not even a Cavaliers-themed version. You can argue that the Browns version is the nod to Cleveland, but would it have been so bad to have made the Russia shoes just a little darker and said they were for the Cavaliers? At least throw the team a bone, Nike.

Currently, the shoes are only available in China, where they retail for about $130 US. Surely, they'll make their way to our shores pretty soon. When that happens, we can all use our feet to figure out where LeBron James is playing next.

BDL Rating: Two (out of five) Muggsy Bogues

(h/t Waiting for Next Year)

Los Angeles Lakers 109, Toronto 107

The Lakers are such a tangled, winning, wonderful mess that I don't know where to start.

Probably with the Mamba. He is currently on a roll in the latter stages of games that is unseen since Jordan's finest hours. Those who care enough to get things right knew entering this year that his clutch persona was overrated, he wasn't exactly bad down the stretch, but he had a miserable shooting percentage and needed to shoot nearly twice as much to score just as much as LeBron or a bit more than Carmelo or Manu down the stretch of games. Check the stats.

But this year? There's been nothing like him in this league, and there's been nothing like this run in 20 years. Another game-winner. Another roll down the stretch that saw him either nailing a shot, or getting to the line. Absolutely dominant. He came off the bench with eight minutes to go, a la Jordan, and completely took over with 14 fourth quarter points within the confines of the offense.

The Laker offense? The one that I ripped to shreds a few days ago? It was a lot better. It tried to get the ball inside, continually. Initially to Kobe, but as the game went along, more and more to Andrew Bynum(notes) and Lamar Odom(notes) in various areas around and in the paint. The result was a barrage of near-rim makes and misses but mostly makes.

And that's how you have to do it. Keep the other players' hands warm for three quarters just in case you need them in a pinch, late (what if Toronto were actually able to execute a double-team on Kobe late? Then Bynum et al would have been ready, unlike the losses to Miami and Orlando), and let the magnificent Mr. Bryant take over from there.

Startlingly, Los Angeles' real problem was defense. One of the NBA's top defensive teams all year, the Lakers fell behind early and watched as the Raptors sustained the lead not because Toronto is this fantastic offensive team and they can't help but stumble into open threes, but because the Lakers weren't covering. They weren't talking, they weren't rotating, and they weren't helping. Guards, bigs, everyone.

Luckily, as the pressure rose and Kobe found his comfort zone, it became too much for Jarrett Jack(notes) and Hedo Turkoglu(notes), who made mistake after mistake down the stretch.

Back to the Laker D. It started with penetration, Jack and Jose Calderon(notes) did well to penetrate early and start the domino effect, which usually resulted in a well-spaced shot or three-pointer (Toronto made 9-22, 41 percent). Bosh led the team with 22 points, seven rebounds, and ZERO turnovers (geesh), and Hedo Turkoglu missed five of seven shots, dished four assists, turned the ball over four times in less than 30 minutes of play, and he'll make $12 million in 2014.

Calderon was briefly ticked when Fiat heir Lapo Elkann appeared to get in the way of Jose saving a loose ball late in the fourth (I'm still unclear as to whether or not JC would have gotten it, plus Calderon stepped on the out of bounds line), but Elkann helped bring the Fiat 500 (and, by extension, the Fiat Abarth 500) to the masses, so I give him a break.

I am so grateful for the opportunity to sit on a couch around midnight in my living room and watch Kobe Bryant(notes) do what he does. The man is a giant.

***

Orlando 113, Los Angeles Clippers 87

The Magic are just in a different class. To say that they "bullied" the Clippers doesn't really do it justice, because it implies that Orlando won by merely pushing the Clips around. There was pushing (and swatting), to be sure, but the Magic just had them at every angle.

They made all 12 of their free throws. They turned it over on just nine percent of their possessions. They held the Clippers to a criminally-low 95 points per 100 possessions. Orlando hit their three-pointers at a knockout (41 percent) rate. They're just way better.

22 points, 15 rebounds, four turnovers (half of Orlando's total, actually), three assists and two blocks in just 32 minutes for Dwight Howard(notes), who was absolutely everywhere in this win.

***

Charlotte 83, Miami 78

I go to extremes in games like these.

I was one of the few, without a stake in the contests, that adored the old, nasty, Miami/New York matchups from over a decade ago. Other sportswriters had their fun with it, but if you're an NBA fan and can't appreciate a good clutch-and-grab bout, then you shouldn't be writing very large books on basketball.

These days, most of these affairs seem an anachronism. Almost out of place, but not entirely unwelcome. A nicely-done defensive battle with a low possession count can still be a thing of beauty, it just rarely is. Not calling this game a thing of beauty, but it was a compelling watch despite just 86 possessions and both teams coming in way under 100 points per 100 possessions.

From the start, from the jumper that he hit to start the game that seemed to signal that his legs were there, Raymond Felton(notes) had this game. Had it in his pocket. Eight first half assists, 11 all day - which is pretty damn impressive when you factor in his team's miniscule total of 28 field goals.

15 points for Felton, who was helped by a pretty solid interior corps from Charlotte. Boris Diaw(notes) had 11 points, eight rebounds, five assists, and three blocks. Tyson Chandler(notes) and Tyrus Thomas(notes) combined for 11 and eight with two blocks and two steals in 42 minutes. Theo Ratliff(notes) added eight points and a block with three boards in 18 minutes.

This may not seem like much, but in a game where every bucket or board was met with a forearm to the chest, these guys were making a difference. Especially when you consider how slow this thing was.

D.J. Augustine had a nice fourth quarter, and the Bobcat D made it so Dwyane Wade(notes) needed 26 shots to get his 27 points.

19 points and three blocks for Jermaine O'Neal(notes) in 33 minutes. Don't let ‘em tell you he's a corpse this year. This guy has had a great year, and while he was an absolute dog in 2008-09, he's turned it around and contributing quite well this season.

***

Portland 88, Sacramento 81

Portland had some trouble keeping its house in order at times, on both ends, but by and large they should be happy with a good home win over a competitive Kings team.

There were flashes, throughout, that have to scare Western Conference squads. Little transition leak-outs or a pass from one 6-11 guy to another 6-11 guy to another 6-11 guy. Even with all the Trail Blazer injuries, there's a good chance Portland coach Nate McMillan is going to have some pretty phenomenal rotation parts to work with down the stretch and in the playoffs. Especially if Nic Batum and LaMarcus Aldridge(notes) keep going hard.

An injured Jon Brockman(notes) sat in on the Kings telecast for a spell, which was nice.

***

Houston 96, Washington 88

Andray Blatche(notes) needs to chill out, though I can't blame him for having absolutely no idea what to do at this point in his career.

The guy's been fantastic since the Wizards sent Antawn Jamison(notes) to Cleveland, but he also forces shots and really has no idea how to react when a wrench is thrown into the proceedings. It's not that he's being selfish when he makes up his mind before going into a move that he's going to shoot the ball no matter what, it's that he has no idea how to execute anything other than putting up a shot. He's never had to deal with being the focus before.

And with the way that he took it to defensive mastermind Chuck Hayes(notes) early on; you couldn't blame the guy for thinking that everything was going to fall. But from what I saw, as the game went on, Blatche kept forcing things, and it turns out that Flip Saunders kept him on the bench for the final four and a half minutes  of the Wizards loss.

Not sure I agree with that (you can't find some way to squeeze him in for a play or three, mindful of the fact that he needs to settle down?), but I can understand why.

Houston recovered on the boards, the got another good game from Jordan Hill(notes) (11 and eight rebounds) off the bench, and Luis Scola(notes) made up for his seven turnovers with a 23-point, 10-rebound contribution. Back from injury, Trevor Ariza(notes) picked up right where he left off, needing 13 shots to score 13 points. Speaking of needing to learn to settle down.

Blatche had 18 points to lead his team, but also five turnovers, and he put up 22 shots.

***

Milwaukee 86, Boston 84

I'm not entirely sure how to recount a game like this. After all, it went pretty much as you'd expect.

It was close, it was slow, it was physical. Little things mattered, just because there were so few chances in this game to make up for a play gone wrong or a loose ball sent the other way.

And the Bucks nearly fell into the habits that have lost them plenty of games over the last few seasons. Andrew Bogut(notes) started out by playing like Andrew Bogut - 10 points, six rebounds and two blocks in the first quarter - he sat for a good chunk to start the second, needlessly, and was a nonentity in that second quarter as Boston outscored the Bucks by six.

Bogut then played the rest of the game. 15 points, nine rebounds, two blocks in the second half. He was a monster. Actually, he was Andrew Bogut. I'm not going to tell you that he hasn't improved this year, he has, but this guy has been there all along. It's just taken a series of coaches (and his current coach's second year) to realize that.

Just 84 possessions, both teams turned it over on 18 percent of their possessions, the Bucks couldn't get to the line, and the Celtics missed field goals. Typical night out, for both, and one that ended with Paul Pierce(notes) just missing a game-tying fadeaway as the final buzzer sounded. Again, no surprises.

But a fantastic watch. Really hoping for these teams to meet in the first round.

Other things? Ray Allen(notes) didn't hit a field goal in three tries  ... Rasheed Wallace(notes) earned 12 technical fouls in this game, received none ... I always called Carlos Delfino(notes) a great rebounder, and he's making me look good this year - 19 and eight rebounds in the win ... Brandon Jennings(notes) was talking trash to Kevin Garnett(notes) as they left the floor, so I'm assuming Brandon Jennings is still somewhere in the Bradley Center, in an uncomfortable position, as you read this.

***

Indiana 107, Philadelphia 96

You can kind of pick out the guys that care at this point. It's that time of year.

Roy Hibbert(notes) cares because he can't stand his coach and wants to prove to anyone watching that he's worth a starting slot and the ball in his hands. As a result, active on both ends, "my bad"s when he screws up, 12 and 11 rebounds and seven assists. This man is one of the best passing big men in the NBA, and I'm glad I finally have an orthodox box score stat to go on, besides just watching another one of his backdoor bouncers result in a missed lay-up. And he actually has an assist ratio (the amount of possessions he uses that turn into assists) that is right behind guys like Ben Gordon(notes) and Stephen Jackson(notes).

Jrue Holliday cares, because he doesn't know any better. The frustrations this league can throw at you by the pant lode haven't gotten to him yet. 21 points, four rebounds, four assists for the 19-YEAR OLD.

Samuel Dalembert's(notes) cared all year. It's not a bit of inspired play following what happened in his homeland a few months ago, and he's not in a contract season. He's just brought it this season. 16 and 11 rebounds, four blocks, and yet he only played 22 minutes despite just one foul all night.

The Pacers played well, without Danny Granger(notes), looking to pass and seeing the floor well. Philly's shrugged shoulders helped.

In the first half, T.J. Ford(notes) also threw an alley-oop to Earl Watson(notes), which was nice. Of course, take that shot away, and they combined to shoot 6-22, while A.J. Price(notes) received yet another DNP-CD.

Because it's March, Brandon Rush(notes) scored 24 points.

***

Utah 132, Chicago 108

The Bulls think they can out-score teams and win, which is cute, and pretty stupid, and the results are what you see here.

Chicago's wins either come off of good defensive efforts, or the rare 2009-era offensive romp, but the signs were there last night. The signs that told them that they were playing the Jazz, that Utah was matching them shot for shot, that the Bulls couldn't compete with a team like this offensively over 48 minutes, and that it had to start defending. They didn't heed those signs, of course, as the Jazz outscored Chicago 69-47 in the second half.

Nearly 140 points per 100 possessions for Utah. 34 assists on 45 field goals, with a road scorekeeper, no less. The Jazz are a freakin' machine, at this point.

***

BDL Hump Day Chat! at 3 p.m. EST, today.

Each weekday morning, BDL serves up a handful of NBA-related stories to digest with your can of beans, ya hobo.

Brian Windhorst, Cleveland Plain Dealer: "An MRI on Antawn Jamison's(notes) left knee at the Cleveland Clinic revealed nothing serious. Jamison was pulled from the Cavs' 97-95 win over the San Antonio Spurs in the third quarter when the back of the knee tightened up. Jamison said he's been bothered by soreness in the knee earlier this season and was able to get through it with treatment. The Cavs said his status for Friday's game at Philadelphia will be updated later. He's considered day-to-day at this point. Coach Mike Brown said his plan was to play LeBron James(notes) on Friday after giving him two games off to rest."

Bob Cooney, Philadelphia Inquirer: "Sixers general manager Ed Stefanski, asked yesterday about a report by Howard Eskin that the organization will fire Eddie Jordan at the end of the season, said: "I don't comment on rumors." During his Sunday night show on NBC-10, Eskin reported that the Sixers will get rid of Jordan. Eskin also reported that Jordan's replacement would be one of four coaches - Jeff Van Gundy, Jay Wright, Doug Collins and Avery Johnson.

Kevin Ding, Orange County Register: "Derek Fisher and Lamar Odom(notes) are, respectively, the head and the heart of the team. And with the Lakers stumbling up to the crossroads of this post-championship season, both Fisher and Odom came to share a vision Tuesday night. They grew tired of their team being pulled left or right or backwards by individual concerns or even resting comfortably with an eye peeking back at the title already behind them. As Fisher told his teammates in a compelling halftime speech and then Odom told reporters in a fierce postgame rant, there is only way for the Lakers to react to these crossed roads: Go hard. Straight forward."

Sam Amick, Sacramento Bee: "Even the leading Rookie of the Year candidate makes rookie mistakes. And while the Kings' Tyreke Evans(notes) doesn't typically apologize for every slip-up on the floor, he offered a mea culpa Tuesday for an off-floor flub. Evans, who made comments critical of teammate Andres Nocioni(notes) to The Bee after Sunday's loss to Oklahoma City, apologized in a Tuesday afternoon radio interview with KHTK's Grant Napear and Mike Lamb and reiterated his stance at the Rose Garden later. The players had exchanged words during the fourth quarter, with the rookie frustrated at the veteran's shot selection in the most crucial of times. Afterward, Evans told The Bee, 'We were in the game, and you come down and take bad shots? That's not team basketball. Coach (Paul Westphal) didn't say nothing, so I thought I had to step up (and say something).' 'I apologize,' Evans said in the visitors' locker room before facing the Blazers. 'It was me being frustrated and wanting to win. But me as a rookie, I should have pulled him over on the side and said, "You know, that wasn't a good shot," instead of putting him on blast in front of a crowd like that.' Evans said he and Nocioni resolved the matter after Monday's practice, shaking hands and putting it behind them."

K.C. Johnson, Chicago Tribune: "[The Bulls'] season-high-tying five-game skid, coupled with the Bobcats' victory over the Heat, has dropped them to ninth in the Eastern Conference playoff picture. Worse, the Bulls continue to display troubling defensive signs without their energetic and emotional leader (Joakim Noah(notes)). 'Joakim helps us a lot, but our team defense hasn't been very good,' Kirk Hinrich(notes) said. 'We're getting away from what has made us successful.' Indeed, that's eight straight opponents who have surpassed the century mark against the Bulls. That hasn't happened in franchise history since Feb. 8, 1990. It's also the fifth time in eight games the opponent has shot 50 percent or better as the Jazz, the league's most accurate shooting team, checked in at 54.2 percent. The Bulls also lost Luol Deng(notes) to a right calf strain early in the fourth quarter. Deng, who will undergo an MRI on Wednesday, had returned from missing Monday's practice with the flu to score 14 points in 32 minutes."

Gary Washburn, Boston Globe: "Ray Allen had a difficult time explaining why he attempted only three shots last night against the Bucks. He attributed it to a lack of ball movement, and many times in the 86-84 loss, the ball stopped moving when it got to Paul Pierce(notes). Pierce has struggled from the field of late and he was 2 for 9 in the second half last night, with 9 points and two turnovers. With the Celtics trying to rally late, Pierce went scoreless, missing all four shot attempts, including the potential tying 15-footer at the buzzer. Boston was 7 for 19 from the field in the fourth quarter and it was apparent that the offensive cohesiveness that allowed the Celtics to lead most of the second half had come to a halt. 'I didn't think it was good,' Allen said about the ball movement. 'It wasn't consistent all night. We really didn't score. We were down 8 so we had to score. I thought we did an OK job the last minute or two, but we didn't score.'"

Frank Isola, New York Daily News: "Donnie Walsh is skipping the Big East Tournament to keep a trained eye on the Big Wreck that is his basketball team. The Knicks' president was expected to accompany the club on its five-game trip with the growing sense within the organization that the entire basketball staff is on high alert. The Knicks (22-41) enter Wednesday's game against the Spurs on pace to lose 50 games for the second straight season. The roster will be overhauled, especially with Walsh having enough salary-cap space to sign two "max" free agents. Walsh is still deliberating which Knicks to re-sign, including David Lee(notes), and he may also be contemplating changes to the support staff, particularly since the team has struggled defensively. In typical Walsh fashion, he's downplaying his presence on the trip, saying, "This gives me a chance to be around the team. It's really the last chance this season for me to do this." Still, Walsh's scheduling change comes days after an ugly home loss to the Nets and after he accepted responsibility for the Knicks' wretched season and deflected blame from his head coach, Mike D'Antoni."

Jeff McDonald, San Antonio Express-News: "Some observers might have been surprised to see Manu Ginobili(notes) inserted into the Spurs' starting lineup in the wake of Tony Parker's(notes) fractured hand. Ginobili wasn't one of them. 'It's not that I was expecting it,' Ginobili said, 'but there weren't many other options.' Ginobili earned just his second start of the season Monday at Cleveland, scoring a season-high 38 points and making seven 3-pointers in the Spurs' 97-95 loss. In his only other start, Nov. 18 at Dallas, Ginobili left in the first quarter with a strained groin. After, he joked that he never wanted to start again. Had it not been for Parker's injury, which is set to keep him out six weeks, Ginobili would have gotten his wish. Instead, coach Gregg Popovich now needs Ginobili's scoring and playmaking ability in the starting lineup, even if it creates a void on the bench. 'It was a necessity,' Popovich said."

ESPN.com: "Detroit Pistons guard Rodney Stuckey(notes) will miss at least a second game after collapsing in Cleveland. Pistons president of basketball operations Joe Dumars says Stuckey won't play Wednesday night against the Utah Jazz. Coach John Kuester added that there is no timetable for his return, which will be determined by doctors. Stuckey spoke to the media on Tuesday for the first time since his collapse on Friday night. 'It was good to see him,' Kuester said, according to the Detroit Free Press. 'He looks good. There's no new news as far as when he'll play. We'll find out some more information in the next 48 hours, I would imagine.'"

Detroit News: "Suspended Heat guard Rafer Alston(notes) still hasn't contacted the team. Coach Erik Spoelstra said before Tuesday's game against Charlotte that Alston's lone communication since Friday was through text messaging. Spoelstra wouldn't say if Alston will be released, but said they're 'moving forward with the guys we have in this locker room.'"

There is a healthy, healthy chance that this game will end with a 80-72 score.

I know the NBA runs now. I know it doesn't like hand-checking, it tries to call bumping off the ball, and once in a week you'll actually see a moving screen called. Actually, the last one helps the offense. That's right. The NBA loves offense now, it wants to make offenses run smoother, and for that I thank the NBA.

The Celtics and Bucks don't want your offense to run smoother. They want to beat you, defensively, because for all the famous and semi-famous that dot their respective rosters, the Bucks and Celtics can only win if they shut you down. And there's a good chance that both teams shut each other down, there's a good chance (I'm serious) that we could see 45 combined turnovers in this game, and there's a great chance you'll have the time of your life watching this mess.

I mean it. This will be a defensive battle between two smart teams with smart coaches who know that the Bucks are a half game out of playing the Celtics in the first round of the playoffs. OK, a half-game up of the Raptors, the Bucks are, in the fifth spot and avoiding the third-seeded Celtics for now. But anything can happen in Toronto. Oh, you know it. And a Celtic win tonight puts the Bucks in a virtual tie with the Raps.

Eight games tonight, some solid marks worth flipping through. Comment away if you see fit.

Boston Celtics: 40-21, 91.6 possessions per game (22nd), 106.9 points scored per 100 possessions (14th), 101.9 points allowed per 100 possessions (first).

Milwaukee Bucks: 33-29, 92.6 possessions per game (16th), 104.5 points scored per 100 possessions (23rd), 102.8 points allowed per 100 possessions (third).

All statistics courtesy basketball-reference.com.

When Michael Finley(notes) joins the Celtics on the court he won't be wearing the number he's worn his entire career. Nope, the No. 4 belongs to Nate Robinson(notes) since he got to Boston a little earlier than the 37-year-old shooting guard.

But it's okay. Finley chose to wear No. 40 instead. Why? Here's why:

"I was two weeks too late,"' Finley said with a smile. "So I just added an imaginary zero to it and made it 40."

Sound reasoning, except the zero isn't quite imaginary.

However, maybe there's more to the story. Maybe, just maybe, Finley chose 40 for another reason. Here are a few suggestions why he chose his new number:

• He's old. He wants to embrace his over-the-hill lifestyle and accept that he'll be the big four-oh in just a few short years.

• He's a big Sublime fan and it's a shout-out to his favorite song.

• Finley loves rap music and he can't help but reference the famous drink.

• Josh Hartnett is his favorite actor and he loves "40 Days and 40 Nights."

• Trickle-down economics means a lot to him, and he just wants to show his support for Ronald Reagan, America's 40th President.

To be completely honest, all of these sound like fine reasons forchoosing a basketball number. In fact, they make just as much sense as the imaginary zero theory.

However, they're just a start. Hit up the comments to let us know why you think Michael Finely chose to wear 40.

A look around the league and the web that covers it. It's also important to note that the rotation order and starting nods aren't always listed in order of importance. That's for you, dear reader, to figure out.

C: Stacheketball. KG says Wilt is "like an angel," apparently unaware of what either of those are.PF: HP. Darren Collison's(notes) assist-fest might not have been as assist-y as you'd think.SF: HRO. "Chloe Sevigny & Lou Reed Chill Courside at a Knicks Game" wins headline of the day.SG: The Onion. Dirk Nowitzki(notes) can't handle all the Mavericks' ball movement.PG: Talking Points. The 24 best players to never make an All-Star team.6th: Nike. Become Mars Blackmon. Seems like a good idea. (via Skeets)7th: Sports Radio Interviews. Ron Artest(notes) thought his hair would be "the most coolest thing to do."8th: Celtics Hub. Ray Allen(notes) has been killin' it since the trade deadline.9th: NBA Offseason. Hands down the strangest NBA movie proposal you'll see all day.10th: NBA Playbook. Everything except the shot was perfect for the Spurs' final play last night.

Got a link or tip for Ball Don't Lie? Holler at me at trey.kerby (at) yahoo.com, or follow me on Twitter.

Jerry Krause never did this, Michael. Not even close.

You ranted and raved and cursed and called Jerry Krause every name in the book for infringing on your little jockish scrap of territory when Krause ran the Chicago Bulls, and you were probably right. You were definitely right. It's his team, he runs it, but he doesn't have to be using the team bathroom just minutes before tipoff, when the players usually do. He didn't have to be on the players' bus, desperately craving approval from the guys that didn't pick him in high school. He didn't have to be around.

Could you have handled it - as a professional, a team leader, a father, a CEO - better? Of course. Did your immature potshots make it so Scottie Pippen, taking your lead, nearly submarined your final season with the Bulls with a back-of-the-bus rant against Krause and subsequent trade demand in December of 1997? Of course they did. You laid the template, big boy.

But were you right? Sure. Players play, coaches coach, personnel chiefs track the transactions, and owners lord over in an entirely appropriate manner, if they wouldn't mind. A decade into his distinguished and wildly successful (on several fronts) stewardship of the Dallas Mavericks, I'm still uneasy every time I see Mark Cuban barreling over the towel boys to meet the players after a dead ball. Can't we not do that? Isn't this a little embarrassing to anyone else?

Of course, a soon-to-be 10th playoff appearance in 10 full years of running the Mavericks makes it go down a little smoother. Your Bobcats, Michael, haven't won anything. Even in its best season, with a hot shot coach squeezing everything he can from this roster, this win-now rotation with absolutely no hope for future glory or even future savings, the Bobcats are a half and full game in back of Bulls and Heat teams littered with expiring contracts.

And yet, this hasn't stopped you from making a show of yourself as de facto Bobcat personnel head for the last few years. Showing up at Madison Square Garden with Charles Oakley. Pumping fists right next to the Bobcat bench in North Carolina. Showing up about thrice per year and acting all the part of the deadbeat dad that jumps the turnstile just before the second inning for the first time all season, telling his son to "choke up" after his little league coach just spent six weeks working on the poor kid's swing.

You've never worried about making us uneasy, Michael. You've never cared that we thought your post-retirement (the last one; but we could probably say the second one if we're honest) behavior churlish, spoiled, embarrassing, pathetic, sad, sad, sad. That never bothered you.

But it's going to have to, if you're going to hang on to the one thing you have left. Your money.

Your dignity? Come on. You're still challenging 12th men to HORSE contests, and losing. The internet is littered with stories of your pathetic attempts to prove your 1992-ness, challenging white collar types for pickup games and stealing girlfriends for sport, raising the roof at two in the morning and stiffing every server in sight. The site of Michael Jordan in a ridiculous blazer parked over pre-torn jeans exhorting a group of Bobcats you feel like he's seen a dozen times a year (TV and in-person combined) is to be expected now. Along the same lines of Stephon Marbury's(notes) latest foibles. You're that bad, to us, Michael. And you're the reason I do what I do.

You're going to have to get it together, though, Mike.

You're going to have to grow up, first and foremost. Nothing starts until your childhood ends, and there's nothing more childish than a game of freakin' HORSE. You think Bill Gates is playing jacks in the mailroom? Trying to best the water delivery guy at Minesweeper?

From there, you're going to have to act like a proper owner, or a GM. You can't be both. You're either going to have to cede control with some input to Rod Higgins, or you're going to have to take over, fully, and deal with the idea of someone else acting as principal owner. The job is too complicated, and no person could pull it off in 2010. No man, not even you. Once you've grown up, then I'll believe you can understand that. I'm not holding my breath.

As owner, you're going to have to show the same initiative and hands-on interest that made you such a successful businessman in the 1980s and 1990s. No, you didn't build the Nissans or make the Nikes, but you knew how to run things. Sometime, around the time of your second retirement (and, say, MVP.com), that went away.

Now, that's OK. That's what retirement is - not having to really answer to anyone, and turning 18 holes into 36 holes. There's nothing wrong with that, you've certainly earned that, but you're not retired anymore. Your input was on point back in your heyday because you had a set schedule. Meetings to attend, shootarounds to show up for, close to a hundred games a year. You don't really have that anymore, even with your supposed commitments to the Bobcats. Those days are over.

And if you continue to play the role of the retired-guy-that-isn't? You'll fail. Because this organization is set to fail.

The Charlotte Bobcats treated the Charlotte fans to the expansion experience back in 2004, and in the years that followed. Win now, from the beginning. Penny-wise, pound-foolish, gun for 44 wins in the East as soon as possible.

The problem with that is that Charlotte is not an expansion city. They'd had a second round playoff team as recently as 2002. They knew the NBA inside and out. They saw right through Robert Johnson, those terrible uniforms, and this middling personnel plan. To say nothing of the borderline - from coach to slow-down coach - unwatchable basketball that sustains to this day.

You need to get out there. You don't need to charm the masses; you need to build a successful basketball team.

You need to hire a personnel boss who isn't beholden to you in any way, who will stand up to you; and one that will do nothing but feed fake phone numbers to Larry Brown. Larry Brown is a team's best friend and a GM's worst nightmare. He'd trade for Tyrone Hill if Hill didn't have such a nice seat to Hawks games. Good god, I mean, you just signed Theo Ratliff(notes). Take a hint. Aaron McKie(notes) can't be far behind.

You've never backed down from anything, but because standing up to the idea of what's right ("what's right" isn't .500 in the East), and standing up to Brown would be too much work, you've backed off the Bobcats. And that has to stop. You have to catch up. I mean,

KD: "Michael?"

MJ: "Yes?"

KD: "Base-year compensation."

MJ: "Gesundheit."

You have to sell this team, in this market, and that means starting over with fans that absolutely know better. That means no Stephen Jackson(notes), no Tyson Chandler(notes), and no "win-now." And if Larry Brown doesn't like it, then he's more than welcome to turn in the rest of his salary and quit. I think he'll come around.

Challenge it up however you want. Whatever you have to do to put in honest hours. Wear some tinted glasses that turn every white mug you see into Jeff Van Gundy, and every black dude around into Bryon Russell. Work like you used to work. Earn some real holes in those jeans.

The most telling thing I can say about you at this point, Michael, is that I spent the first 18 years of my life knowing nothing but your domination of the sport. Knowing and understanding that if your team fell short, it was never really your fault, and just the vicissitudes of a team game. I watched you win and win and win and surprise and own and dominate and win some more.

It's been just 11 years since your retirement from the Bulls, 12 years since your last win, and somehow that's all gone. I've absolutely no faith in you turning this around, MJ. Not while watching you embarrass yourself on the sidelines. Not with so much growing to do. If the Bobcats do get better, it'll be because of the players, Brown, and possibly Higgins. I doubt you'll have put in the work.

So add me to the list. With the high school coach, with Isiah, Van Gundy, with Russell, with whomever else. And prove me wrong.

It starts with leaving the bench.

The last we heard from Antoine Walker(notes), he was in massive debt — $4 million, massive. Since then, not much.

He hasn't played in an NBA game in more than two years, and the last transaction involving the former Celtic star was a buyout after not playing a minute for the Memphis Grizzlies.

But according to Peter May's Yahoo! Sports report, Walker is playing professional basketball again. Kind of.

According to reports coming out of the island, Walker's deal with the Guaynabo Mets is for one month, guaranteed, as they want to see what kind of shape he's in. He is reportedly being paid $7,000 a week. Another former NBA player, Marcus Fizer, also joined the Mets at the same time. They started the season 4-0 according to the standings posted on Latinbasket.com.

Walker at least has a profile on LatinBasket, so there's something happening there. However, there's no stats or really anything except a headshot. Very strange.

According to May's report, Walker tried to land a deal in the Chinese Basketball Association, new home of Stephon Marbury(notes). With their inflated statistics and hefty paychecks, the CBA would have been a perfect fit for 'Toine. But it wasn't meant to be.

Instead, Walker's working as a hired gun where he'll have to prove that he's in basketball condition, which has never been the big guy's specialty. He'll have to prove something, as a month of playing basketball for $7,000 a week will leave him, oh, just $3.95 million short of repaying his debts. Furthermore, Walker still has a DUI case against him, and is still awaiting trial for his arrest for writing bad checks at casinos.

Let's just hope 'Toine can revive the shimmy in Puerto Rico. Then, maybe, he can turn his life around. I think that's how the song goes.

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"Smiling" Mike Conley(notes) is making a mistake here. Everyone knows you don't get between Brook Lopez(notes) and his favorite ball, "Ball-y." Even if you do get it away from him, he's just going to cry about it until he gets it back. Best caption wins Dr. House's ball. Good luck.

Previously, Kobe and Vince go breakdancing.

Winner, Dennis: "VC: Why you been acting so messed up towards me?KB: Why you been acting so messed up towards ME?VC: Well, you go first.KB: I don't know maybe I felt a little threatened or something because your career is just kind of blossoming and mine is kind of winding down or whatever.VC: And I felt like this guy is really hurting me. And it hurt! You're Kobe Bryant(notes)! I freaking worship you man!KB: I'm sorry I was whack.VC: I was whack.Cue dance sequence

Runner up, gaborik10m: "VC: Hadouken!KB: Shoryuken!

Second runner-up, Robert C: "Kobe's arm pit sweat avoidance skills are second to none." 

This is Larry Brown's second season as head coach for the Charlotte Bobcats. In Larry Brown terms, that's a life sentence. Naturally, he has contacted the Clippers about taking over for Kim Hughes, should he find himself jobless. Or, you know, just bored.

The news comes from Sports Illustrated's Frank Hughes.

Brown, according to sources, was concerned that George Postolos, Charlotte's would-be owner if Jordan's group hadn't raised the necessary capital, was prepared to clean house, which meant that Brown would have been out. To preserve his position as an NBA coach, Brown reached out to Clippers owner Donald Sterling to let him know that he is open to returning to L.A.

To be fair, Brown does own a home in Malibu, plus his wife reportedly wants to move back to California. But c'mon, Larry Brown!

Everybody already thinks you're kind of skeezy for the way you left the Pistons and the Knicks. Not to mention you'd be going to the Clippers. The Clippers, Larry Brown!

It just doesn't make sense. Remember how much you don't like playing young players? Well, the Clippers are basically all young players. And they'll be even younger next year — Blake Griffin(notes) will be back, and they'll have whoever they pick in this year's draft. You're going to hate it there. Except for the beautiful weather and low pressure situation. That part would be cool.

But do you really think Michael Jordan would fire you? He might not be the greatest front office guy in history, but he knows you're a good coach. Oh, and you're from North Carolina. That's like a a guaranteed job in the NBA. You should be fine.

Maybe just chill out on this one, Larry. Stick around and the Bobcats might even up pretty good.

Recently, things have been bad for Allen Iverson(notes). His daughter's illness, release from the 76ers, divorce and accusations of drinking and gambling problems have surfaced in the past few weeks.

The Philadephia Inquirer's Stephen A. Smith had hinted at them previously, but over the weekend, he shed light on Iverson's problems.

If numerous NBA sources are telling the truth - and there's no reason to believe they'd do otherwise in a situation of this magnitude - Iverson will either drink himself into oblivion or gamble his life away.

Smith continues, saying that Iverson had been banned from casinos in Detroit and Atlantic City. It's all bad, but through it all, Iverson has remained silent.

Until now, that is. From his Twitter account we get this response from Iverson:

To my fans: You all know that my life isn't perfect. I am going through some very tough times right now, like I am sure that we all do from time to time. However, I will stand tall like always with "rhino" thick skin. Even though I have become used to hearing people say things about me that aren't true, it still hurts. I encourage you to continue your ongoing support and I want you to trust that this is another obstacle in my life that, with God's help I will overcome. God Bless You All.

It's not much, but it's his first public statement. And, I guess, there's Iverson's denial about something, though it's pretty unclear what he's denying. If I were a betting man, I'd wager that this situation is going to get a lot uglier.

Whether Al Horford's(notes) last-second bank-shot would have counted (on first glance, it looked like it didn't count, on second it did, on closer/LED'd examination it was clearly too late; and boy, howdy, do I love instant replay in our game), I was ready to ask any scout worth his fish and chips (and they do love the fried food and quotable hyperbole) to point toward New York's direct for a blueprint as to how to beat the Hawks.

For whatever reason, the Knicks had Atlanta spaced out in ways that would please a Skip Spence fan but in no way that could suit Mike Woodson's defense. The Hawks often "had" (they didn't really) to guard four Knicks above the free throw line, New York often bordered on illegal offense (it does exist, when there is one person below the line on the strong side and four above the line on the weak side), and the Hawks just couldn't keep up with New York's long passes and Princeton-y cuts and finishes.

In a seven game series, sure, the Hawks would have their way. Hell, they were a couple of tenths of a second away from pulling this one out. But the template is clear. Make all five of these Hawks at least think that they have to guard their man far, far away from the hoop. Whether they have to or not. Watch as layups result. Copyright, 2010, Mike D'Antoni.

The Knicks hit 10 fewer free throws than Atlanta and turned the ball over six more times, but New York just has this team's number, and for good reason. Woodson just can't figure out how to handle the spacing, and for whatever reason, the Knicks only seem to trot out the sound spacing and smart play when they take on the Hawks.

It's as if Mike D'Antoni really, really wants Joe Johnson(notes); or he really, really, really dislikes Joe Johnson.

David Lee(notes) had 19 and 13, 27 points for Danilo Gallinari(notes) despite some iffy shots down the stretch, and though the Hawks' frontcourt was fantastic (offensively, at least) as usual, Mike Bibby(notes) (ohfer four) and Jamal Crawford(notes) (5-16 shooting) struggled mightily for Atlanta.

***

Cleveland 97, San Antonio 95

I understand that the Spurs shot 41.7 percent, that Tim Duncan(notes) had just 13 points in 34 minutes, and that San Antonio missed 19 of 29 three-pointers. I understand that offense was a problem, but defense was the issue. The Cavs can D up, but for a Cleveland team playing without LeBron James(notes), Zydrunas Ilgauskas(notes), Shaquille O'Neal(notes) and (for the second half) Antawn Jamison(notes) to put up over 105 points per 100 possessions? Pretty telling.

Scoring 105.4 points per 100 possessions is pretty bad, and carried out over an entire year, it would rank the Cavaliers 22nd in the NBA, right between the 76ers and the Wizards. But these are the Cavaliers, built for defense, playing without LeBron et al. With a fake All-Star (Mo Williams(notes)) and a host of also-rans for 48 and a usually-is (Jamison) for 21 minutes. There's no way this team should compete like this, much less put up 48 second half points without Antawn.

But they scored. They played defense, which was to be expected, and they pushed the ball and saw what happened on the glass. And they won. They held off a late Spurs rally and they won. Good Cavs win, baaaaad Spurs loss.

Manu Ginobili(notes) started and had 38 points, seven boards, five assists, two turnovers and two steals. His last-minute three-pointer was rightly overruled a two in the final stages, but it shouldn't have come to that.

***

Memphis 107, New Jersey 101

I didn't see much of this game. With four others going at the same time, including some close ones from sea to shining Mississippi, I stuck around for good bits of Marc Gasol(notes) dominating Brook Lopez(notes) in the first half and the Grizz going up 16 points in the first half. So while I saw bits of New Jersey's comeback - Devin Harris(notes) looked driven, decided to drive; Courtney Lee(notes) made shots - I cannot accurately tell you first hand why, exactly, New Jersey made a game of this.

Besides, of course, the fact that the Grizzlies often lack focus at home, and that the Nets are way, way better than their terrible, terrible record.

Mike Conley(notes) and DeMarre Carroll(notes) (a player I pointlessly ripped before the season) helped hold serve late as the Grizz held on.

***

Dallas 125, Minnesota 112

Because of what may have been the highest possession count we've seen in the NBA this season, 107 of those buggers, the final score wasn't quite the defensive mess you'd assume. The Mavericks held Minnesota to under 105 points per 100 possessions playing with two point guards, two ostensible small forwards, and whatever the hell Dirk Nowitzki(notes) is besides awesome.

The Timberwolves are awful, mainly because Kurt Rambis is about as bad a coach as we have in this league. Kevin Love(notes) (averaging 15 and 11 this year in only 29 minutes per game, ridiculous numbers) finally had a bad game, so my point is pretty shot, but the guy played only 12 minutes. He shot 1-for-7 and had six rebounds.

So, play the guy 36 minutes, he might approach 20 rebounds (against one of the worst rebounding teams in the NBA, playing without their two 7-foot centers), and his shooting percentage will likely return to the mean. Right? The rebounding is a constant, the scoring has to come around provided you play him more than Mbenga minutes.

But not Rambis. He plays Sasha Pavlovic 21 minutes. Sasha is the worst player in the NBA this season, he registered a -20 in this loss, he missed more shots than Love did over that span, came through with two rebounds and two turnovers, and generally played like Sasha Pavlovic. But Kevin Love finally turned in a stinker, so let's cut his minutes nearly by a third.

Kurt Rambis? You are terrible at this job. There is no passable reason why this team should have lost 50 of its first 64 games.

This wasn't the most artfully crafted ripjob, but don't worry. They let me do this five days a week.

Shawn Marior had 29 points, 13 rebounds and zero turnovers (fantastic) in the win.

***

New Orleans 135, Golden State 131

This is a hard game to accurately analyze because, stereotype and final score ring true, there was no defense played in this contest.

None. Hard play on both ends on the offensive end, I liked the attitude both teams came out with, but there was no defense to be had. Honestly, cut either team's offensive stats by 30 percent, at least, and you'll get a better picture of what went on.

Fun watch, though. Those Warrior D-Leaguers really get it at. They're the reason NBA teams don't look for the bigger scorers in that collective, but guys who can think on their feet, learn plays on the fly, know what to do after grabbing an offensive rebound in traffic, and know what to do when a play breaks down and the ball ends up in their hands. The Warriors have a ton of these guys, and they continue to impress.

Anthony Morrow(notes), too, who kept stepping into three-pointer after three-pointer, six of six all day.

Warriors couldn't guard anyone, though. Or, the Warriors couldn't guard anyone slightly more often than the Hornets couldn't guard anyone. There was no rhyme or reason nor substantive philosophy behind New Orleans providing barely-better defense, it just happened. Could be the road, for Golden State, could be that New Orleans is a better team.

The only thing I pulled from this game is that neither team played any defense, and the contest has absolutely no meaning whatsoever.

Darren Collison(notes) had 20 assists in the win.

We all know the troubles Bill Walton has had with his feet. There were several breaks that robbed him of a good portion of his basketball career. Now the bones in his feet are fused and he'll always have pain and walk with a limp. That's what makes this Reebok Pump commercial so heart-wrenching.

Guh. "Where were you when I needed you?" is what got me, and Walton talking about what he would have done to save his feet.

I'm sure these Pumps would have been better than the adidas Superstars he wore, but it's still sad to actually hear him say it. That'd be like Greg Oden(notes) doing ads for a new line of knee stabilizers in 20 years.

(h/t A Stern Warning)

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

Rusty Simmons, San Francisco Chronicle: "Warriors coach Don Nelson couldn't help but deviate from his usual light and humorous interview before Monday night's 135-131 loss to New Orleans. The injury woes have gotten to the point that they're simply not funny anymore. 'If it wasn't for the tears,' Nelson said, 'I guess it would be funny.' That comment came following the Warriors' announcement that Andris Biedrins(notes) will have surgery to repair a tear in an abdominal muscle Tuesday, a procedure that will likely cost the center the rest of the season. The Warriors have already lost Kelenna Azubuike(notes) (knee) and Brandan Wright(notes) (shoulder) for the season. Biedrins, who is expected to miss four to six weeks, joins a group - Raja Bell(notes) (wrist), Vladimir Radmanovic(notes) (Achilles tendon) and Anthony Randolph(notes) (ankle) - that might be holding on to lost hope for a return."

Mike Wells, Indy Star: "The trash talking started inside the Indiana Pacers' locker room shortly after college basketball began with Midnight Madness practices in October. The back-and-forth has continued all season and won't stop until somebody cuts down the nets at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 5. Brandon Rush(notes) thinks his Kansas Jayhawks will be hoisting the NCAA trophy for the second time in three seasons. Mike Dunleavy likes his Duke Blue Devils. And Danny Granger(notes) is pulling for his New Mexico Lobos. Tyler Hansbrough(notes) led North Carolina to the championship last season, but his Tar Heels have little hope of returning to defend their crown this year. 'The talking has been nonstop,' said point guard A.J. Price(notes), a rookie from Connecticut. 'Guys will let you know if they think your school is garbage. We've got a lot of guys that have played in the [NCAA] Tournament and reached the Final Four.' Ten Pacers reached at least the Sweet Sixteen. Seven made the Final Four and three cut down the nets."

Chris Tomasson, FanHouse: "Brandon Roy is still thinking he could be a 2012 Olympian. So is his coach, and Portland's Nate McMillan just happens to be a USA Basketball assistant. Wanting to rest a surgically repaired left knee, Roy declined an offer last month to be on Team USA's roster, of which 27 players are in a pool to be selected for this year's World Championships in Turkey and the 2012 Olympics in London. But the Trail Blazers star said in an interview with FanHouse before Sunday's game against Denver he might welcome being a candidate for the 2012 Games if Team USA then needs a shooting guard. 'I still hope so,' Roy said of playing in the London Olympics. "Besides winning the NBA championship, that also has been a dream of mine to have a gold medal. But I kind of had to choose right now (whether or not be on the roster). 'If there's a chance, I'm healthy and playing well and somebody can't play that year, you never know what happens. I would love to try to play. If they are looking for a reserve, I would raise my hand and say, "Here I am." I would love to try then if the opportunity presents itself.'"

Eddie Sefko, Dallas Morning News: "The play of Roddy Beaubois this season and particularly of late has perked up the ears of the French Federation, which runs the French national basketball team that will compete in the World Championships this summer. Beaubois is from Guadeloupe, a French holding in the Caribbean, which makes him eligible for the French team, which already has five NBA players on it. However, San Antonio's Tony Parker(notes), out with a hand injury, has said he won't play this year. Could that open up a point guard spot for Beaubois? 'I got a call a few days ago, and they talked about coming here to talk about it,' he said Monday. 'We'll see when they come. But until then, I just try to focus on the season. If they come, we'll talk, and I will think about it.' Beaubois added that it would be 'an honor, for sure' to represent his country."

Bob Young, Arizona Republic: "Leandro Barbosa, who had surgery on his right wrist six weeks ago, returned to practice, and {Alvin} Gentry hopes he'll be available to play against the Lakers. 'I'll speak with the trainers, but he'll do a little more contact stuff [Tuesday] and practice Thursday, and if everything is OK he should be ready to go, I would think.' Barbosa said his right arm is still 'a little weak' and there is some swelling, but he added that if he feels comfortable Thursday he likely will play Friday. 'I'm very hungry to come back and help my teammates,' he said. 'We'll see what happens.' "

Benjamin Hochman, Denver Post: "The pain in Kenyon Martin's(notes) left knee was so bad Saturda, he couldn't play golf - 'that's my plant leg' - so the Nuggets forward spent the sunny day indoors, instead golfing on a Nintendo Wii video game. The pain has persisted, and now Martin will miss an undetermined amount of time while undergoing platelet rich plasma (PRP) therapy. He plans to return this season, although perhaps not until the NBA playoffs, the team announced Monday. Martin began the PRP therapy Monday. It's definitely a good news-bad news situation for the Nuggets (42-21), who rank third in the Western Conference. The good news is Martin won't require surgery on the knee, which is suffering from patella tendinitis. The bad news is the race in the West is tight and without Martin, the Nuggets will be without their 'defensive quarterback,' as coach George Karl calls him."

Jeff McDonald, San Antonio Express-News: "Further examination of Tony Parker's injured shooting hand Monday revealed both the diagnosis and prognosis the Spurs had feared. Parker indeed has a non-displaced fracture of his fourth metacarpal and is expected to miss the next six weeks. Surgery will not be required. If he were to stick to that timeline precisely, Parker might return for the final three games of the regular season. Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, however, indicated the timeline might be fluid, depending upon how Parker's body responds. 'It might mean four to eight weeks,' Popovich said before Monday's 97-95 loss to the Cavaliers."

Chris Perkins, South Florida Sun-Sentinel: "Former Heat guard Mike James(notes), who last month had his contract bought out and was then released by the Washington Wizards, said he would like to re-join the Heat. James, who played 93 games for the Heat over two seasons, from 2001 to 2003, is at home in Houston working out and hoping to be signed. James, who would be eligible for the playoff roster, said he would especially love to be in a playoff race. 'I want to get thrown in the fire, please,' he said Monday. 'Give me only three plays and if I don't do anything from there, if that's my only chance, I'll take that. Let me run with that right there.'"

ESPN.com: "Minnesota Timberwolves forward Ryan Hollins(notes) was ejected from the game against Dallas in the fourth quarter on Monday night after delivering a forearm to Dirk Nowitzki's(notes) head. After Nowitzki grabbed a rebound on the defensive end, Hollins threw his left forearm at Nowitzki's head, landing a glancing shot. Officials reviewed the play and assessed a Flagrant 2 foul, which brought the ejection."

AP: "Cavaliers forward Antawn Jamison(notes) [left] Cleveland's [Monday] game against San Antonio in the third quarter with stiffness behind his left knee. The Cavaliers provided a vague update on Jamison, who was recently acquired in a trade with Washington. Jamison did not appear to injure himself but walked gingerly to the locker room before being evaluated by Cleveland's medical staff."

RealGM: "The Memphis Grizzlies recalled center Hasheem Thabeet(notes) from the Dakota Wizards, the team's NBA Development League's affiliate, Grizzlies General Manager and Vice President of Basketball Operations Chris Wallace announced."

Just this morning we were giving Ron Artest(notes) a nine out of 10 on the Style Watch scale for his excellent "defense" hair cut. Now, less than seven hours later, Ron Artest is bald.

That photo is courtesy of Mike Trudell who attended the Lakers' practice today and snapped the picture of the newly-shorn Artest in the wild. According to the reporter, "the 'defense' design remains in 3 languages. Just less loud." Phew.

It's blurry and dark, but from the looks of it Artest's head is shaped exactly like Joe Smith's. We'll tentatively rate this a six out of 10 on the scale until we get a better look.

The slight etchings of "defense" are nice, but it makes Ron look like a journeyman power forward rather than the spiritual heir to Dennis Rodman's throne of weird. Definite downgrade.

Kobe Bryant never gets tired of being the Lakers' closer. And though he savored the chance to stop Los Angeles' longest losing streak in nearly three years with yet another flawless game-winning shot, Bryant is hoping he won't have to bail out the Lakers quite so frequently in the final weeks before they defend their title.

Mike Dunleavy and the Los Angeles Clippers parted company for good Tuesday, barely a month after he relinquished his head coaching duties to focus solely on being general manager. Now that arrangement is over, with the team announcing his departure in an e-mailed statement. Assistant general manager Neil Olshey will take over Dunleavy's job.

A serious mismatch on paper, it looked even more ridiculous in real life: Milwaukee Bucks point guard Brandon Jennings, all of 6-foot-1 and 169 pounds, standing up to Boston Celtics forward Glen Davis -- a player 8 inches taller and nearly 130 pounds heavier. Still, Jennings didn't back down from an on-court confrontation with Davis in the fourth quarter.

The Los Angeles Clippers were distraught and dejected, stunned after losing two things Tuesday night. Their game to the Orlando Magic. Their general manager Mike Dunleavy. The way both happened caught them by surprise. Dwight Howard had 22 points and 15 rebounds to help the Magic roll past the Clippers, 113-87 on Tuesday night to tie a season high with their sixth straight victory.

Pistons guard Rodney Stuckey will miss at least a second game after collapsing in Cleveland. Detroit president of basketball operations Joe Dumars says Stuckey won't play Wednesday night against Utah and there is no timetable for his return, which will be determined by doctors. Stuckey was out of the lineup against Houston on Sunday, two days after he was wheeled off the court on a stretcher...

His right wrist wrapped in ice, Deron Williams insisted he feels no pain when he soars for dunks. It hurts when he shoots, though. The way he played Tuesday, it was hard to tell. Williams got the better of Derrick Rose, finishing with 28 points and a season-high 17 assists, while CJ Miles scored a season-best 26 points to lead the Utah Jazz to a 132-108 victory over the Chicago Bulls.

The Charlotte Bobcats keep finding new ways to beat the Miami Heat, and that just might end up deciding which team goes to the playoffs. That prospect left Dwyane Wade fuming after the Heat's second-half offensive meltdown. Thanks to D.J. Augustin's big fourth quarter, Raymond Felton's steady play and Wade's shooting woes, the Bobcats earned their third straight win over Miami, 83-78...

With just 16 games left in the season, Brandon Roy will take any win, even the clumsy ones. Roy scored 19 points to lead the Portland Trail Blazers to what Roy called an "up and down" 88-81 victory over the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday night. "It's not winning the way we want," Roy said, "but we've got to keep trying to push to try to find it." The Kings pulled...

With Kenyon Martin's left knee aching, Carmelo Anthony vowed to be more of a force on the boards. With coach George Karl's health problems, Chauncey Billups pledged to take on more leadership responsibilities -- if that's even possible. These have turned into trying times for the Denver Nuggets, leaders of the Northwest Division.

For the Houston Rockets, who need as many hands on deck as possible to get out of the win-lose blahs, it was good enough simply to see Trevor Ariza and Kyle Lowry back on the court. Ariza returned after missing seven games with a left hip injury, and Lowry was back after sitting out 12 games with a sprained left ankle.

Stephen Jackson scored 17 points, Raymond Felton added 15 points and 11 assists, and the Charlotte Bobcats used a fourth-quarter comeback to beat the Miami Heat 83-78 on Tuesday night in a key game for playoff positioning in the Eastern Conference.

Deron Williams got the better of Derrick Rose, finishing with 28 points and a season-high 17 assists, while CJ Miles scored a season-best 26 points Tuesday night to lead the Utah Jazz to a 132-108 victory over the Chicago Bulls.

Mike Dunleavy was let go by the Clippers on Tuesday evening. Mike Dunleavy is out as general manager of the Los Angeles Clippers, barely a month after relinquishing his head coaching duties.

The league has handed down a suspension following the Phoenix Suns altercation with the Indiana Pacers on Saturday.

Published: Monday, March 8, 2010 at 7:57 p.m. Last Modified: Monday, March 8, 2010 at 7:57 p.m. The Portland Trail Blazers turned in one of their worst defensive efforts of the season their last time out, and with it went their three-game winning streak.

Darren Collison had 16 points and a career-high 20 assists, and the New Orleans Hornets snapped a four-game losing streak with a 135-131 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Monday night.

Mr. Fantasy Howard Chen is hoping Detroit Piston Rodney Stuckey is all right after his seizure against Cleveland March 5. Concerning fantasy numbers, Mr.

The New York Knicks beat the Atlanta Hawks for the third time this season, 99-98 Monday night when video replay showed Al Horford's basket came after the buzzer.

New Jersey Nets' Yi Jianlian suffers a sprain to his left ankle in Saturday's win over the New York Knicks.

Al Jefferson has returned to the Minnesota Timberwolves after serving a two-game suspension for a DWI arrest.

Shawn Marion is a proud basketball player who feels he is still in the prime of his career.

Lately, lots of heavy hitters around the NBA circle have had the name Stephen Curry on their tongues.

BATTLING HARD: San Antonio Spurs guard Manu Ginobili of Argentina outruns Memphis Grizzlies guard O.J. Mayo during the second half of NBA basketball action in Memphis, Tennessee.

A pair of Northwest Division rivals get together again Sunday night, when the Denver Nuggets wrap up a three-game homestand versus the Portland Trail Blazers at the Pepsi Center.

Thaddeus Young scored a career-high 32 points, Jrue Holiday had 21 and the Philadelphia 76ers beat the Toronto Raptors 114-101 on Sunday to snap a five-game losing streak.