"NBA playoffs day 5 summary"

After being shocked by Denver in Game 1 of their first round series, one might have thought the San Antonio Spurs would change their game plan heading into Game 2.

After all, another home loss to the Nuggets, and the Spurs would be in deep dodo.

But, no, there was nothing different about the Spurs who lost Sunday night and the Spurs who won Wednesday night, 97-88, to even the series at 1-1. Except that they were better. Except that their Big Three - Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobli - came to play. Except that their defense held Denver's dangerous duo - Allen Iverson and Carmelo Anthony - to a miserable 17-for-46 shooting performance.

Sorry, folks, these were the same old Spurs.

When Denver made a valiant run in the fourth quarter, Ginobli embarked on one of his characteristic drives to the basket - between at least three defenders - to extend San Antonio's lead to six. When Iverson responded with a 3-pointer to make it a one-possession game, the Spurs didn't panic (despite Robert Horry's wild arm gestures toward coach Gregg Popovich). Instead they simply threw the ball into Duncan, who backed down Nene and hit one of his very characteristic bank shots.

Game over. Series tied 1-1.

Don't get me wrong. This is going to be a great series that lasts at least six games, and I’m guessing seven. But Wednesday night had to be refreshing to San Antonio fans, because the team they saw in front of them was basically the same team that won an NBA championship about 23 months ago.

After being outplayed by Nene in Game 1, Duncan responded (like he usually does), scoring an efficient 22 points on 9-for-17 shooting. Parker still struggled a bit from the field, hitting six of 15 shots, but an 8-for-8 performance from the free throw line gave him 20 points, and he dished out six assists. Ginobli, coming off the bench, contributed 17 points, including eight in the fourth quarter.

San Antonio's chances of getting back to the Finals rest on Ginobli's shoulders. He's always the X-factor. When he's on his game, he can get to the rim - or free throw line - on any possession. It's just a question of how aggressive and hungry he is. As he said after Wednesday's game, he was playing with a sense of urgency.

And that's the other thing about the Spurs. That's what made Sunday night's loss so confounding. No matter who they're playing in the playoffs, the Spurs always play with energy and passion. There are no letdowns, no letting up on the gas. They methodically beat one team, then the next, then another... and they're in the NBA Finals (where they're 3-0).

If Wednesday was any indication, the Spurs are back. After a one-game reprieve, they're ready to show why they've been the best team in the NBA over the past half-decade.

Duncan's steadiness. Ginobli's slashing drives. Parker's mid-range jumpers and teardrops in the lane. Bruce Bowen's virulent defense.

We saw it all Wednesday night.

Which has to have the Nuggets a bit concerned heading into Saturday's Game 3 in Denver.

Other insights
LeBron James looking (for the most part) like himself isn't the only big positive Cleveland can take out of its 109-102 Game 2 win over Washington Wednesday night.

How about the play of Drew Gooden? The power forward scored 24 points - three less than James' 27 - on nine fewer field goal attempts and also grabbed 14 rebounds.

The first two games of the series have been very encouraging for Cleveland not just because they've beaten the atrophied Wizards, but because of the contributions of their non-LeBrons. In Game 1 Larry Hughes broke out for 27 points, and on Wednesday it was Gooden's turn to share center stage with James, scoring 19 of his 24 in the first half to help Cleveland grab a double-digit lead that would just barely hold up at the end.

Hughes didn't have a bad Game 2 either, scoring 19 points in 44 minutes of action, and Zydrunas Ilgauskas also was solid, contributing 16 points and nine rebounds.

If James can get this kind of help on the offensive end on a consistent basis, Cleveland shouldn't have a problem making it through the first two rounds of the playoffs.

We'll see how the non-LeBrons fare on the road, however. That's where true playoff warriors earn their stripes.

...

What was Baron Davis thinking?

With Golden State trailing Dallas by a manageable 11 points with 0.2 seconds remaining in the third quarter Wednesday night, Davis picked up his second technical foul for arguing - and laughing, and clapping his hands about - a call against him. He was ejected and Dallas went on to win 112-99 to even the series at a game apiece.

Sure, it would have been difficult for Golden State to come back in the fourth quarter of a game Dallas needed. But Davis, the Warriors' audacious leader, should have checked himself. He knows his team has the firepower to make up 11 or 13 points in a matter of minutes. He shouldn't have lost his cool.

With that said, the Warriors have to feel good about themselves heading back to the Bay Area for Game 3 Friday night. With the exception of a 15-2 third quarter run by Dallas, Golden State played the Mavericks evenly. It's pretty obvious, now, that this series will be no cakewalk for Dallas.

As long as the Warriors' stars are able to stay in the games.

Thursday's must-see game
Houston at Utah, 9 p.m., NBA-TV
I am real interested to see how this one goes. Before the series, my thinking was that the home team would win every game, and so far that's held true. But Utah has looked really bad. Can the Jazz turn it around?

It will have to start with Mehmet Okur and Deron Williams, whose play was mediocre in Houston. Utah needs this game to stay alive. Expect a dogfight.

I'm out. Enjoy staying up late to watch Kobe vs. Raja.

"NBA playoffs day 4 summary"

If you look at the majority of teams in these NBA playoffs, they have the following.

A solid starting lineup, usually featuring a star player.

And a couple role players off the bench who can provide 10 to 20 serviceable minutes.

And then there's Leandro Barbosa. It would have been a crime for the Phoenix Suns' guard not to have won the Sixth Man of the Year award (thankfully, Barbosa received the honor, and decorum remained intact).

Barbosa actually isn't a backup. He's a starting point guard. The only problem is, he's on the same team as Steve Nash, so he's relegated to the bench (at least at the start of games). But when he gets into the game, he's a force - much more than a "role player."

Just look at Barbosa's numbers in the first two games of Phoenix's series against Los Angeles. In the Suns' Game 1 win, Barbosa scored a team-high 26 points in 35 minutes of action (not exactly normal minutes for a bench guy). Then, Tuesday night, Barbosa led Phoenix's 126-98 demolition of LA with another 26 points, this time a game-high.

While Nash runs the show for the Suns, Barbosa provides quite an encore when it's time for the star to rest his back. And it is obvious that Nash is very comfortable with Barbosa in the game. Tuesday night he lied on the sideline, about as sanguine as a yoga instructor, while Barbosa dropped shots from all over the court (he finished 11-for-18 from the field).

Barbosa's play may turn out to be the key to Phoenix finally getting over the hump and making the NBA Finals, because with the way he's playing, the Suns don't miss a beat at the point guard position. Every other team in the playoffs has a drop-off from their starting PG to their backup. It is very minimal with Phoenix.

Yes, Nash dishes the ball better (he settled for 14 assists Tuesday), but Barbosa is a more explosive scorer and he can also find his teammates - just not as frequently as Nash or with as much grace and ease. Because they're different players, it's not uncommon to see them on the floor at the same time - and a lineup featuring Nash, Barbosa, Raja Bell, Shawn Marion and Amare Stoudemire is downright scary.

Despite Barbosa's play, I still think the Suns don't play enough defense to get by San Antonio in a seven-game series, but if Denver can find a way to defeat the Spurs, the Suns would be able to outrun the Nuggets.

The Spurs are the main hurdle between Phoenix and the NBA Finals. They won two of the teams' three regular-season meetings, including a 92-85 win in April during which Phoenix's usually smooth offense looked confused. If the Suns can avoid San Antonio, however, they will have a decent shot at making the finals. They're more experienced and have better depth than the Nuggets, and they split the season series with Dallas.

Of course I'm looking way ahead. Phoenix still has to win two games against the Lakers. But if Barbosa keeps playing the way he did the first two games, Phoenix will invariably make the second round and possibly keep running from there.

Other insights
The Chicago Bulls are quickly ruining my prediction of a Detroit-Miami rematch in the second round. The Bulls dominated the Heat Tuesday night, 107-89, to take a 2-0 lead in the series.

Miami's players say they're not concerned, and they have a right to this outlook considering they're the NBA champs and they came back from an 0-2 deficit in the Finals last year.

But don't forget what happened to Detroit a year ago. After a phenomenal regular season, the Pistons became overly cocky in the playoffs, pushing aside losses like they were nothing... until they were eliminated. The Heat better start guarding Luol Deng and Ben Gordon better, otherwise its players could be sitting on the beach wondering what went wrong.

And one other thing: This is Miami's final run with its current nucleus. Next year – with the exception of D-Wade and Shaq - we will see a different Miami team.

...

I didn't see any of Toronto's 89-83 win over New Jersey Tuesday (the NBA TV factor), but I'm not worried about missing the early games in this series, because it's going at least six or seven games. These teams are very evenly matched - the first two games were decided by a combined 11 points - and will battle each other down to the wire of each contest.

One positive for New Jersey. It got the split despite two poor-shooting games from Vince Carter against his former team. In the two games he combined to shoot 13-for-43 from the field for a combined 35 points. Expect him to heat up back in New Jersey.

Wednesday's must-see game
Warriors at Mavericks, 9:30 p.m. EST, TNT
This is the second game of what should be an interesting doubleheader. Denver tries to take a 2-0 series lead in the opener against the Spurs. Obviously the Mavericks will come out with a lot of energy after losing Game 1 at home, but don't expect the high-flying Warriors to stand down against the No. 1 seed.

The closer this game is, the more pressure there will be on Dallas. Golden State simply needs to stay in the contest until the fourth quarter and then make its push.

I'm out. Enjoy LeBron owning Washington.

"NBA playoffs day 3 summary"

Chauncey Billups is the most clutch outside shooter in the NBA.

There, I said it. After watching Billups stop cold another late-game surge by Orlando Monday to seal a 98-90 victory for a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series, I am convinced.

No player in the NBA makes more big 3-pointers than Billups. His ability to drill contested triples when his team needs points is reminiscent of Reggie Miller. The only difference, of course, is in the position the two play. Miller ran off screens, caught the ball in rhythm and went straight into his shooting motion. For the most part, Billups has to create his 3-point attempts, which isn't easy considering he stands a modest 6 feet, 3 inches.

Billups is able to create space from his defender despite everyone in the building knowing he's going to shoot from behind the arc. That is one reason he's so special. The other, obviously, is that he sinks the difficult shots, which have a tendency to rip out the opponent's heart.

Monday was just another day at The Palace for Mr. Big Shot, as he's appropriately called. After Orlando cut a 15-point deficit to seven in just over two minutes midway through the final quarter, Billups hit a 28-foot triple over the arm of an outstretched defender to extend Detroit's lead back to 10 points. Later, following an Orlando basket that narrowed the margin to six with just over a minute to play, Billups showed off his versatility, driving to the basket, drawing a foul and making a twisting left-handed layup.

After the free throw, the game was as good as over.

Billups had done it again.

Everybody knows about Gilbert "Hibachi" Arenas and Kobe Bryant. Their heroics are shown on sports highlight shows - and even non-sports news shows - over and over. Billups, on the other hand, doesn't get the exposure simply because often times his shots aren't as dramatic as Arenas' 30-footers at the buzzer or Bryant's made shots while falling out of bounds.

But Billups is the most consistently clutch of the three - and of anyone else in the NBA. Dwyane Wade may be the best at getting to the free throw line. Tim Duncan may be the most clutch post threat late in a game. When it comes to hitting a big shot for three points, however, Billups is the man.

I'm sure we'll see a lot more "clutchness" from him as the playoffs continue.

Other insights
Don't count Utah out in its series against the Houston Rockets.

Yes, the Jazz trail 2-0 now after falling 98-90 in Houston Monday night. But now they're headed home. And almost nobody is better at home than the Jazz. Utah finished the regular season an impressive 31-10 at home. It will be very difficult to beat there.

Expect the home fans to spark Mehmet Okur and Deron Williams, who have struggled the first two games. Utah will win at least one of the next two games, but if Houston is able to steal a game, it should close out this series on its home floor in Game 5.

...

An interesting side note. We've had three days of the playoffs, and on two of the days there have been identical scores in games. On Saturday, the first two games - New Jersey over Toronto and Chicago over Miami - were 96-91. On Sunday, three of the scores were nearly identical: 95-87, 95-89 and 97-85. Finally, on Monday both games were decided by a 98-90 score.

One other thing to notice about those scores: Teams are scoring under 100 points. Seven of the nine highest scoring teams this season are in the playoffs - and they all averaged 100-plus points during the regular season. The decreased point totals in the playoffs is just another pieces of evidence that teams simply exert more energy on defense in the postseason.

Tuesday's must-see game
Miami at Chicago, 8 p.m. EST, TNT
This will be a battle. The teams fought back and forth in the opener before Chicago pulled it out in the final minutes. I expect the opposite in this one. It will be close all the way, but Shaquille O'Neal will stay on the floor for the Heat, creating more space for Dwyane Wade, who will be the hero for Miami.

I'm out. Enjoy Chris Bosh’s dominance and Vince Carter getting booed.

"NBA playoffs day 2 summary"

It was fun Sunday night watching the Red Sox sweep the Yankees at Fenway Park for the first time in 17 years (they even won a World Series during that span!), but that momentous event couldn't compare to the upsets that broke up the decorum of the NBA playoffs.

After watching just one home team lose in the first six playoff games (Toronto to New Jersey), Denver and Golden State shocked what I consider the two best teams in the NBA, San Antonio and Dallas, respectively, last night.

First, Carmelo Anthony and Allen Iverson combined for 61 points as the Nuggets upended the Spurs 95-89, then the Warriors refused to be intimidated by the mighty Mavs (or Mark Cuban), winning convincingly 97-85 in Dallas to improve to 4-0 on the season against the Mavericks.

What a night!

Let's start with Denver.

Entering the playoffs, we knew this. We knew that Denver could score droves of points. We knew Anthony and Iverson could create shots for themselves at anytime. We knew that Steve Blake is one of the most underrated point guards in the league (the fact that he can keep the aforementioned pair happy consistently is very impressive).

But here's what we also (thought we) knew. Denver - outside of Marcus Camby - doesn't play defense.

Until Sunday night. The Nuggets played alike a completely different team. I'm sure if George Karl had been asked how many points he thought his team needed to win, he'd have said at least 100. Granted, San Antonio isn't a high-scoring team. But in the Spurs' two regular-season wins over Denver, they scored 90-plus points. If not for a last-minute flurry of points, they would have ended up in the low 80s Sunday night.

And the game was in San Antonio.

Nene was the key for the Nuggets. He outplayed Tim Duncan. Will this happen again in the series? I highly doubt it. But if he can come close to performing like he did in Game 1, the Nuggets might be able to steal the series. Duncan scored 14 points. Nene had 13. Duncan grabbed 10 rebounds. Nene had 12. Duncan played 40 minutes. Nene played 38.

Overall, it was a superb effort by the often criticized big man who up to this point hasn't lived up to his contract.

Of course the Nuggets are run by Anthony and Iverson, and on Sunday they looked like Jordan and Pippen, Frazier and Monroe, Havlicek and Sam Jones. Both players shot better than 50 percent from the field and they were each 8-for-8 from the free throw line. They were unselfish but assertive. They took several shots, but mostly good shots. And they made the big shots down the stretch to help Denver pull away.

Speaking of hitting big shots, how about Golden State's Baron Davis? The point guard was close to unstoppable in Game 1, lighting up the Mavericks for a game-high 33 points, not to mention 14 rebounds, eight assists and three steals.

Maybe more importantly, Davis is the leader of an absolutely fearless bunch of Warriors whose confidence is sky-high right now. They haven't lost to Dallas yet this season, and until that happens, no one on that team is going to believe it's possible. Their body language is almost cocky, but at the same time, they're a No. 8 seed, so there's no looking ahead.

They have the perfect mindset. They're loose. They have nothing to lose. But they also are hungry, as Davis said after the win, and they're not content to simply be in the playoffs for the first time since 1994.

And their coach, Don Nelson, knows their opponent and most of their opponent's personnel. The Warriors did an excellent job on MVP candidate Dirk Nowitzki, holding him to 14 points on a horrible 4-for-16 from the field. Whenever he tried to spin off his defender, another Warrior was there to either knock the ball from his grasp or oppose Nowitzki's shot.

Golden State's defense of Nowitzki exemplified their overall game plan. They wanted to be the aggressors. They didn't sit back and let Dallas run its offense unperturbed. They got in passing lanes - forcing 13 turnovers - and they pushed the tempo. Despite being undersized, their leapers battled Dallas' stalwarts, and they were only outrebounded 50-45. The fact that Davis - at 6-foot-3 - was able to grab 14 rebounds speaks to the kind of intensity the Warriors played with.

And if their play on Sunday night was any indication, they're not going to settle for one win in Dallas. They're going to fight just as hard to win Game 2.

Other insights...

Expect a much larger column on this after the Lakers are eliminated from the playoffs, but Kobe Bryant is becoming the next Wilt Chamberlain. The Michael Jordan comparisons are dead. So it's time to start the Kobe-Wilt comparisons. Yes, they're a guard and a center, but their inability to win and mold well with their teammates is where they're similar

Bryant was explosive for three quarters Sunday in the Lakers' 95-87 loss to Phoenix, but he was a pitiful 1-for-10 in the all-important fourth quarter, which allowed the Suns to come back and steal the victory in a game they didn't deserve.

...

Much of Cleveland's success in these playoffs will ride on the shoulders of... Larry Hughes. That's right. We all know LeBron James will do his thing, but Hughes needs to be effective in order for Cleveland to advance to the NBA Finals (they could feasibly get to the Eastern Conference finals on LeBron's shoulders because of an easy draw).

Hughes was very effective Sunday in Cleveland's 97-82 pasting of Washington. He scored a team-high 27 points on 9-for-17 shooting from the field and 8-for-8 shooting from the free throw line. He took smart shots instead of ill-advised shots - a vice of his - and let the game come to him.

It was a positive sign for the Cavs.

Monday's game to watch
Utah at Houston, 9:30 p.m., TNT. Expect another hard-fought close game in the 80s. This series personifies what these playoffs will likely be - low-scoring defensive battles. I expect a similar result to Game 1, with Yao Ming asserting himself and Tracy McGrady taking over down the stretch.

"NBA playoffs day 1 summary"

The matchup of Texas might actually occur in the second round before a possible Dallas-San Antonio showdown.

Because on Saturday night, the No. 5 seeded Houston Rockets showed why they're a championship contender. Up by just two points in the fourth quarter, the Rockets went into lockdown mode, giving Utah no easy shots and blowing the game wide open.

They went on to win 84-75.

Tracy McGrady showed that he's capable of being a lockdown defender, blocking Utah's Matt Harpring twice in a span of a couple minutes. Chuck Hayes and Juwan Howard banged down low against the bigger and supposedly stronger Carlos Boozer and Mehmet Okur.

Houston was dominating the game. And Yao Ming wasn't even on the floor.

Of course when Yao was present, he was the force I expect him to be throughout these playoffs. He scored a game-high 28 points to go along with 13 rebounds. He gives Houston a post presence who can be thrown the ball at any time and create a pretty decent shot opportunity for himself.

And then there was McGrady, who scored 22 of his 23 points in the second half. It was mentioned during the telecast that McGrady has never been more focused on basketball. He turned off all his cell phones and pagers (and whatever else NBA players carry these days to communicate) and is not helping out friends and family members with ticket requests. He has one focus, and that was clear in the second half Saturday.

The Rockets are going to need McGrady to make big shots for them when they're struggling offensively. McGrady showed that he can do just that, sinking a huge 3-pointer and then getting fouled on a 3-point attempt in the fourth quarter. He was, on both ends of the floor, the catalyst for Houston's huge run to put the game out of reach.

And he could be the catalyst in the Rockets not only getting past Utah, but giving Dallas a run for its money in a possible second-round series.

Other insights...
Once again the Pistons showed their inability to put away a team when it's down Saturday night. They led by double figures for almost the entire game against Orlando, but they let the Magic get within three points in the final minute before a Tayshaun Prince dunk helped seal a 100-92 victory.

Detroit has to develop a killer instinct. It can afford to mess around with the Magic. But not against the Heat or Bulls, its second round opponent.

...

Speaking of the Heat and Bulls, I must say I was surprised by the outcome of Game 1. When I saw that the game was very close in the final minutes - Chicago led 78-76 with just over five minutes remaining - I thought for sure the Heat would pull out the contest because they have Dwyane Wade, one of the game's most clutch players.

But Chicago proved me wrong, making all the key plays down the stretch to hold on for a 96-91 win. This is a great sign for Bulls fans. We all know they're a tough, physical team that isn't going to get blown out of a lot of games. If it can also become a team that finishes games strongly, watch out.

Sunday's game to watch
I know it's nice outside (at least here in Michigan) and you probably won't get to watch all four games today. But at least catch the Lakers-Suns game (3:30 p.m. EST; ABC). It will be very interesting to see how Kobe Bryant comes out in this series. Will he be too selfish? Will he be too unselfish? Or will he find the perfect medium and be able to lead the Lakers to an upset win? We'll see. I'm out.

"NBA playoffs first-round preview"

I have to say this.

I'm feeling good about my chances at picking the NBA playoffs' winners. On a whim, I looked back at my regular season predictions today and was surprised to find that I correctly picked 14 of the 16 playoff teams - I was wrong about the Clippers and Pacers, leaving the Warriors and Raptors out of the mix. But I did pretty well, picking the top two teams in the East (Pistons and Cavaliers) and getting the West's top three, although I had Phoenix No. 1 and Dallas No. 2.

So it's nice outside, I’ve got a new haircut, and I'm feeling good. And with that said, here are my first-round playoff picks.

EASTERN CONFERENCE

No. 1 Detroit vs. No. 8 Orlando
The most interesting thing about this series will be the return of both Grant Hill and Darko Milicic to Detroit. Other than that, it won't be very competitive. The Pistons always seem to drop Game 3 in their opening series, so I'll stick with the trend, but they'll take the series in five games. Detroit's wealth of big bodies will wear down Dwight Howard, and Chauncey Billups will post up Jameer Neslson all day long.
- Prediction: Detroit in 5 games

No. 2 Cleveland vs. No. 7 Washington
It's a shame Gilbert Arenas and Caron Butler are out, otherwise this would be one heck of a series (remember last year?). Instead, it will only be mildly competitive because the Cavs suffer from "off-game" syndrome, meaning they don't always show up to play. LeBron James will dominate a couple games. Washington's Antawn Jamison will have his way in one game. But in the end - and I can't believe I'm saying this - James' supporting cast will lead the Cavaliers to an easy series win.
- Prediction: Cleveland in 5 games

No. 3 Toronto vs. No. 6 New Jersey
This is a very intriguing matchup, as Vince Carter returns to the city he left (expect boos). New Jersey obviously has much, much more playoff experience than the Raptors, but I don't put too much stock into that. Chris Bosh will have a huge series against the Nets' inferior post players, but New Jersey will dominate the perimeter. Carter, playing the final games before his contract is up, will have a huge series, and Jason Kidd will outplay up-and-coming point guard T.J. Ford. It will be a competitive series, but the Nets survive.
- Prediction: New Jersey in 6 games

No. 4 Miami vs. No. 5 Chicago
It is important to note that Chicago has homecourt advantage, and that last year the Bulls won two of three home games as a No. 7 seed against the Heat. Still, the result will be the same this year. How can you possible go against Dwyane Wade (regardless of his shoulder problems) and Shaquille O'Neal in the playoffs? You can't. The Bulls will play hard-nosed basketball, throwing bodies at both of Miami's stars, but it won't be enough. The Heat is rested and ready for the only part of the season it cares about. O'Neal showed when Wade went out what he can do when he's motivated. He'll dominate Ben Wallace. The Bulls' outside shooters will win a couple games for them. But just a couple.
- Prediction: Miami in 6 games

WESTERN CONFERENCE

No. 1 Dallas vs. No. 8 Golden State
This is the most intriguing 1-8 matchup in quite sometime. The Warriors owned Dallas during the regular season, winning all three games, including two when Dallas played its big guns. So there will be no lack of confidence on the Warriors' bench. Plus, they have Don Nelson, the former Dallas coach, who knows everything about his former team. But Dallas has worked way too hard after last year's heartbreaker in the Finals to lose this early in the playoffs. The first few games, the offenses will rule as the teams run up and down the court, but then the Mavericks will lock up on defense, winning the final two games to take the series.
- Prediction: Dallas in 6 games

No. 2 Phoenix vs. No. 7 Los Angeles
Another rematch from last year's first round (there are a total of three rematches). This one probably won't have the drama of last year's, when Phoenix rebounded from a 3-1 deficit to take the series in seven games. Phoenix should overwhelm Los Angeles, especially with Amare Stoudemire playing well down low. The key for the Lakers will be how well Andrew Bynum can stand his ground against Stoudemire. And then, of course, there's the Kobe Factor. If Kobe Bryant goes off, scoring 50 points a game and making all the right decisions, anything is possible. But I just don't see it. Phoenix has much more talent all around.
- Prediction: Phoenix in 5 games

No. 3 San Antonio vs. No. 6 Denver
This one's just as intriguing as the first two Western Conference matchups. On paper, Denver is as talented as San Antonio. It can score tons of points with Allen Iverson and Carmelo Anthony running the show, and Marcus Camby has had a great comeback year after all the injury-plagued seasons. But the Spurs are a great playoff team, and they have all the key pieces back from their championship team of 2005 and their squad last year that lost in the seventh game of the conference semifinals to Dallas. As long as the Spurs make the series into a slowdown, half-court matchup, they'll have no problems. Denver needs to run as much as possible.
- Prediction: San Antonio in 6 games

No. 4 Utah vs. No. 5 Houston
Houston, with the better record, has homecourt advantage in this one, and that could turn out to be the difference, because this is going to be a back-and-fourth, bruising series. It's also going to mark the emergence of Yao Ming as a strong playoff player. Yao, while healthy, has had a very auspicious year, and it's going to carry over into this series. Mehmet Okur and Carlos Boozer will have problems with Yao, Tracy McGrady will draw the key fouls, and Shane Battier and Luther Head will combine to hit the huge 3s. The home team will win every game in this series.
- Prediction: Houston in 7 games

And there you have it. The first round of the NBA playoffs. It's going to be hard to match last year's first round, which featured Phoenix's great comeback and the LeBron-Gilbert showdown. But who really knows what will happen?

I'm just hoping my success from my preseason picks carries over.

"Who's MVP?"

Steve Nash? Dirk Nowitzki? Kobe Bryant?

It’s a three-man race for NBA MVP this season, and everyone seems to have a viewpoint on the issue. Yesterday on sports talk radio, the host said there’s no way Bryant shouldn’t win it because he does more (such as rebound and defend) than Nash. Plenty of pundits have vouched for Nowitzki because his team has the best record in the NBA.

But what about Nash? The lack of support for him goes back to the whole “let another guy win” thing. Remember in December when college football coaches wanted to give Florida a shot at Ohio State since Michigan had already had its chance?

This is kind of like that.

Bryant may be leading the NBA in points per game, but look at his team. It’s barely hanging on to a playoff spot. Meanwhile, Nash’s Suns are firmly seated in the second spot.

To me, it’s toss-up between these two guys. Nowitzki is just behind them simply because the Mavericks would still be a good team – a playoff team – without him. LA and Phoenix would likely be lottery teams without their stars.

So as we come down the stretch here, let’s not forget that this is a new year. Who won the MVP the past two seasons has nothing to do with the voting for this year. The fact that Bryant has never won an MVP has nothing to do with it either.

The MVP will be this year’s best player. And right now it’s tough to choose between Steve Nash and Kobe Bryant.

"This is your time, Shaq"

All right, Shaq, Diesel, Great Aristotle, this is your time, your chance to show you're still the best center in the league, your opportunity to show you're not just some washed-up, indolent, four-ring-wearing, police-badge-carrying dude.

Yeah, Dwyane Wade said he's trying to return. He must be the most courageous player in the league. Not a soul on this planet would have condemned him for taking off the rest of the season and getting surgery to repair his dislocated shoulder. But, nope, being one of the league's fiercest competitors, he's planning a no-strings-attached return, which could see him playing in the last few games of the regular season and then - if the Heat make it - the playoffs.

But, Shaq, don't take this as a sign to relax. Your team's chances of qualifying for the playoffs in the dismal, awful, embarrassing Eastern Conference are on your gigantic shoulders. Your team's offense needs to run through you, because otherwise we'll be watching Jason Williams chuck up 25-footers and Antoine Walker trying to drive the lane like he's 25, and no one wants to see that.

But you, even at 34, can still bang with the league's biggest, baddest dudes. We know this, Shaq. Just the other day Detroit's Dale Davis said in the "Detroit Free Press" that you're still the toughest big man to defend in the league. When you want the ball down low, when you want to score, you're unstoppable. We all know this. You proved against Davis and others last Friday, dominating the Pistons to the tune of 31 points, 15 rebounds and six assists. You play like that - with even a 50 percent D-Wade at your side - and the Pistons will have close to no shot against you in the playoffs.

I personally consider you an enigma, Shaq Daddy. When you play your hardest, I consider you the greatest player of all time. You are that good, and you've proved that with your playoff performances. During your three NBA championship seasons with the Lakers you averaged 30.7, 30.4 and 28.5 points per game, respectively, in the playoffs. You could be counted on when the game mattered most. Your playoff numbers are among the best of all-time, alongside Jordan's (33.4 ppg) and West's (29.1 ppg).

But, Diesel, those guys never took a third of the regular season off. They never relied on a superstar teammate to carry their team to the playoffs while they chased down criminals in Miami (although that is very altruistic of you). In five of your 14 seasons previous to this one, you failed to play 60 regular season games. This will be your sixth.

If you dedicated yourself during the season and off-season, you could have put up Wilt-like numbers your entire career. Heck, you've already played more seasons than Wilt (who dominated the league for most of 14 years). But, it should be noted, with the exception of one season, Wilt never played less than 72 games and played the entire 82 games four times, including his final three seasons. You have a chance to become universally considered the best center to ever play the game.

This is your biggest challenge. You've always had that sidekick. Penny in Orlando. Kobe in L.A. (until you two became more antagonists than sidekicks) and D-Wade in South Beach. These guys have always been healthy, keeping the motor running when you've gone down to your various injuries (the big toe was my favorite).

But now it's the sidekick who's down. And at just 29-29 your Heat are in the seventh spot in the East and up a mere 2½ games on New York and Orlando, who are tied for ninth. One bad streak, and you could be on the outside looking in. This is your time, Shaq. How will you respond? Gary Payton's not gonna save this season. Ditto J-Will, 'Toine, James Posey, Eddie Jones, Udonis Haslam, etc.,. etc. This may be your last shot at a championship – at least with the current makeup of your team. You guys (minus D-Wade) are old, and Pat Riley looks ready to retire for good.

One man will be responsible for either saving this season for the Miami Heat or making this the first year since 1999 that the defending NBA champion did not make the playoffs. And that Bulls team was sans M.J., Pippen, Phil Jackson and Dennis Rodman. Yeah, a few key pieces.

But you've got everybody back from a year ago except for now, of course, your MVP. So now you need to make up for his absence, play through any aches or pains you're feeling and be The Man. As you showed against Detroit, you're certainly capable of it. You're certainly capable of logging 36 minutes and a double-double night in and out.

So let's see it, Shaquille O'Neal. Let's witness the rebirth of arguable the game's greatest center. Hey, if Wilt played 82 games and 42.3 minutes per game during his final season, you can play 35 minutes a night for 24 games until your sidekick returns, can't you?

"The Spurs just keep plugging away"

In case you forgot - amidst all the behind-the-back passes by Steve Nash and 10-game winning streaks by Dallas - the San Antonio Spurs are still in the NBA.

I know. It's almost as hard to believe as the idea of Brittany Spears with hair. But it's true. I promise.

Oh, and one other thing... they're still pretty good.

At 39-18 and riding a six-game winning streak, the Spurs are nowhere near the indomitable Mavs, who have won 12 straight games - their third 12-game winning streak this season (an NBA record - how cool!!!). But the Spurs are second in the best division in basketball - the Western Conference's Southeast Division - and if the playoffs started today, they'd be the fourth seed in the West.

I wouldn't be the least surprised if they made it to the NBA Finals. This is, after all, their year. Since 2003, the Spurs have won the title every other year. And it's too bad they couldn't come through in 2001, because then the EOY streak would extend all the way back to 1999 and the playing days of Dallas coach Avery Johnson.

Since 1999, the Spurs and Lakers have the most NBA titles with three apiece. In the past four years, the Spurs, with two, have the most

But nobody - and I mean, not a soul outside San Antonio's city lines - talks about the Spurs as title contenders this season. I’ve been fed so much Phoenix talk, I'd rather eat a cactus than hear another peep about the Suns' playoff chances. Yes, the Mavericks have earned their praise, because they certainly are the best team in basketball. But let's not forget that the Spurs were a Dirk Nowitzki three-point play away from eliminating the Mavericks a year ago in the conference semifinals. We even hear more talk about the Utah Jazz than the Spurs. And nobody, until this season, even knew Utah After Stockton & Malone existed.

The reason, apparently, no one likes to mention the Spurs at the dinner table is because they're flat-out boring. Tony Parker brings the ball downcourt. They post up Duncan. Someone throws it to him. He either shoots or kicks it out to Parker, Bruce Bowen or Manu Ginobili. Bowen shoots. Parker shoots or drives, throwing up a teardrop. Ginobili drives acrobatically to the hoop...

OK, stop. What is so boring?? It's not like they give the ball to the same guy every time downcourt (see Cleveland), or post up the same 300-plus-pounder whenever he's in the game (see Miami sans Wade), or let the same dude shoot ridiculous fadeaways 75 percent of the time (see Houston; Tracy McGrady).

Yes, San Antonio's style of play isn't as exciting as Phoenix's. But what team's is?

The Spurs are ignored, disliked, thrown under the bus (if you want to go with the cliché) because they're the Spurs. Because they are consistently good. For the past 10 years, no other team has been as consistent as San Antonio. They've made it to the second round of the playoffs or farther all but one year, they’ve reached the conference finals four times and all three times they've gotten to the finals, they've won the Larry O'Brien trophy.

In a way, the Spurs have become the Yankees of the NBA. But instead of people constantly scrutinizing them publicly, people show their hatred for the franchise by blatantly ignoring it. Regardless of what San Antonio does the rest of this season - unless Ginobili scores 100 points or something - it won't get any attention. We'll talk plenty about Phoenix and its chances of winning its first ever title. Dallas will definitely be in the news. Houston. Detroit. Miami, if D-Wade comes back. Cleveland. Washington. Chicago.

They'll all get plenty of attention from the national media. But the Spurs? Nada. Not until they methodically begin to make another push toward a championship.

And to be honest, the only team I'd take over San Antonio right now is Dallas. And just by a hair. I'd pick the Spurs over the Suns, or Jazz or Lakers. I'd take them over the Pistons in the Finals.

I know we've all forgotten, but San Antonio has the same nucleus from its 2005 championship team. Duncan, Ginobili and a now-married Tony Parker. Yeah, they're all older, but so are Steve Nash, Nowitzki and Rasheed Wallace.

The Spurs are like your '67 Firebird. You forget about it and leave it in the garage. But when your son gets his hands on the keys and decides to take Dad's car for s spin, it runs as smooth as your '07 Benz.

I can't blame people for considering the Spurs old laundry. We live in a rapidly changing world. Wasn't it yesterday that Discmans (you know, those things that play CD's that used to be considered hip) were attached to every adolescent? And I'm afraid to mention the word "cassette" around my peers for fear of unrelenting "you're old" heckling.

The point is, people love what's new - which, in the NBA, is the Phoenix Suns and their style of play (although, as any NBA historian will tell you, Phoenix is far from the first NBA franchise to employ the run-'n-gun - think Showtime; 1980s). No kids wear Tim Duncan jerseys anymore. He's way too fundamentally sound to have a good-selling jersey. Cats on the And1 Mixed Tape sell more jerseys than Duncan. Heck, ask a 13-year-old basketball player who Duncan is, and he might not even know.

It's a shame that more young players and enthusiasts don't appreciate the Spurs. If someone wanted to learn how to play basketball the right way, San Antonio would be the team to watch. They're so solid in all the fundamentals, which is one of the big reasons why Duncan has three fat rings on his fingers (although, knowing Duncan, he probably never wears them in public because he hates to show off).

That's right. You'll rarely see a SportsCenter Top 10 play provided by the Spurs. Or, for that matter, even much of a highlight of any of their games. They're rarely on national TV, despite the great record and pedigree (they get awful ratings). But come April, then May, then June, there's a good chance they'll be around, winning games like usual.

And people will ask each other, where did these guys come from?

When, as hard as it is to believe, they've been here all along.

"Don't do it, Scottie"

Scottie Pippen didn’t have to do this. He didn’t have to put himself out there like this, to get reamed by the always voluble Charles Barkley. If Pippen really wants a seventh NBA championship – a way to one-up Michael Jordan – he could have easily become an assistant coach with almost any team in the league.

Who’s going to turn down Pippen? Maybe the Pistons or Lakers. But that’s about it. The Spurs, the Heat, the Mavericks. I’m sure he could have gotten a gig with one of them.

But, no, Pippen would rather play. Pippen, 41, declared late this week that he’s “hoping for a late-season return to a contending team.” In other words, Pippen wants to play maybe 10 regular season games and then cruise through the playoffs to the championship.

Sounds like a good deal to me if anyone’s willing to pick up the man with the bad back. Pippen retired in 2004 after a return to the Chicago Bulls lasted just 23 games. He averaged just 17.9 minutes and 5.9 points per game that season. Between 1998 – the year of the Bulls’ last championship – and 2004, Pippen played for Portland and Houston.

Pippen is kidding himself if he actually believes he’ll be able to return and play a key role for a contending team. He’ll be no more than an assistant coach – relegated to the bench, maybe playing five to 10 minutes a night. If that satisfies his competitive juices, then “Go for it, Scottie!!” but more than likely, this story will end up like his teammate’s did in 2003.

When Jordan made his second return to the NBA in 2002 with the Washington Wizards, NBA fans – rightfully so – were ecstatic. This was, after all, MICHAEL JORDAN! To modern-day fans, the greatest player of all time. I’m sure NBA commissioner David Stern was sipping champagne, because every time Jordan played TV ratings soared.

But Jordan’s two years with Washington – he was also the general manager at the time, but was fired after he stopped playing – were riddled with injuries on the court and issues off it. He refused to listen to doctors about his bad knee, instead playing way more minutes than he should have, basically ruining the knee. He refused to work with his teammates, getting in a feud with Richard Hamilton – who was shipped to Detroit after Jordan’s first season – and demeaning Kwame Brown, whom Jordan had selected in 2001 with the No.1 pick in the draft, in front of his teammates. Jordan absolutely shattered Brown’s confidence, and I’m not sure Brown has completely recovered it.

Jordan left the game in 2003 with nothing more than when he retired for the second time in 1998 after hitting his famous final shot over Utah’s Bryon Russell in the NBA Finals. Jordan’s legacy will never, ever be tainted. He was too good for that. He could have averaged two points a game those last two seasons, and the majority of this country would still consider him the best player to ever lace up sneakers.

Pippen is another story. His legacy could definitely be tainted. During his playing days, Pippen was always characterized as Jordan’s sidekick. No one thought he’d be anything without Jordan. He almost disproved this during the 1994 playoffs, but the Bulls couldn’t get past the New York Knicks in a hotly contested seven-game series.

In 1997, however, Pippen’s legacy was validated when he was named one of the NBA’s top 50 players of all time. Then, in 2005, Pippen had his No. 33 retired by the Chicago Bulls in a tear-stained ceremony that Jordan and several other Bulls’ teammates attended. No longer were there critics jumping on Pippen for being Jordan’s piggyback. His place in basketball lore was cemented.

Now, what’s happened has happened. No one can take away what Pippen accomplished during the 1990s. But he can certainly mitigate people’s opinion of him in the coming months. If Pippen returns to play a few games for a contender, he’ll be viewed as a “ring seeker.” Yep, just another guy hungry for a championship ring, but not willing to put in the work a whole season requires.

And, did I mention, he won’t be doing much playing during his return? Mostly, he’ll be sitting on the bench.

Something he could do as an assistant coach, which wouldn’t tarnish his image one bit.

And he could still play rec ball on the side.

"The Hardaway Gang"

In the next few days, Tim Hardaway will likely get reamed for his comments made on a radio show Wednesday about how he would react to having a gay teammate and what he thinks about gays in general.

Hardaway, a retired five-time All-Star guard, said on Miami sports talk radio to columnist Dan Le Betard: "You know, I hate gay people, so I let it be known. I don't like gay people and I don't like to be around gay people. I am homophobic. I don't like it. It shouldn't be in the world or in the United States."

Hardaway later apologized for his comments, but he's not getting away with this one. His words are out there, and columnists across the country are thanking Hardaway for giving them such an easy column to write in the next day or two.

I'd like to follow the pack and write that Hardaway was way out of line and that his viewpoint is the exception among past and present NBA players. I want to absolutely ream him and take away the "T" from TMC.

But, alas, I can't.

Because, honestly, Hardaway was just the speaker of the house. In other words, there are others out there who feel the exact same way he does. Players who are appalled at the thought of showering next to a gay man. We just don't know their thoughts. We just haven't heard them all over America's airwaves.

Why do you think John Amaechi hid in the closet for his entire career? Because, obviously, he was scared to death of what would happen to him if he came out. He wasn't a great player. He wasn't a star. He wasn't making wheelbarrows full of cash. He couldn't afford for his career to be cut short.

Amaechi played just five seasons in the NBA and averaged 6.2 points per game. If he had declared his homosexuality, say, during his second year, I bet he'd have been out of the league within a year and out a few million bucks. So he made the smart move.

It's great that LeBron James said he wouldn't mind having a gay teammate and that he'd want the player to come talk to him about his sexuality. James sounds sincere in saying this. But let's remember that James is also the man who said he wants to become the richest person in the world. He's going to need everyone's support to do that. A few critics here, a few critics there, and he'll be relegated to the Top 10 list.

As demeaning as Hardaway's comments were, they weren't that shocking. Professional sports laud being macho, testosterone-ridden, and "The Man." None of your boys are going to be calling you "The Man" if you share the ball with a gay teammate or become good friends with him.

They'll be questioning your sexuality, your manhood. It just wouldn't work.

A gay player in the NBA, or NFL, or MLB would find himself all alone in the clubhouse, isolated by his teammates. He'd be viewed as "the gay guy" and his friends would be limited. He wouldn't be as trusted on the court or field as his teammates. He might not receive as many passes in basketball. If he is a running back, his offensive linemen might intentionally miss blocks, leaving him out to dry.

It's not a pretty picture, but it's a realistic one. Tim Hardaway's not the only homophobe. How else could you explain this country's resistance to gay marriage? People may not hate gays - like Hardaway does - but they certainly don't feel comfortable around them. And in a tight locker room, feeling relaxed around your teammates is high on the priority chart.

No other athlete - past or present - will paraphrase Hardaway's comments in the coming days. They'll see how the former star, the "T" in TMC with the killer crossover, is castrated by the enormous American sports media.

But don't be ignorant on this one. They're out there. More Tim Hardaways.

Just ask Amaechi. That's why he kept his secret for so long.

"Dennis the Hall-of-Famer"

If I had a kid, Dennis Rodman would be near the top of my list of people not to leave my kid around. He is, after all, a hard-partying, nose-earring-wearing, past-Madonna-husbanding, arresting middle-aged man.

Not exactly a trustworthy babysitter.

But is he a Hall-of-Fame basketball player? I'd bet my kid's life on it.

Rodman, retired from the NBA since the 1999-2000 season, isn't yet eligible to be nominated for a Hall-of-Fame ballot, according to a "New York Times" article, because he has played professionally in other leagues since then. A player has to have been retired five years to make the ballot.

When he becomes eligible, Rodman should be on that first ballot. He was that good - if not controversial - of a player.

I know Bostonians won't like this comparison, but Rodman was a mini Bill Russell. All he did was win. Russell won 11 championships, a record that will most likely never come down. Rodman won five championships in a much more competitive era.

First he helped the Pistons overcome their nemesis, the Lakers, in the 1989 finals and then repeat the next year. Rodman stayed on with the Pistons for two more playoff runs, which both ended in defeat, before the team missed the playoffs in his final year there. Then Rodman joined San Antonio for two years during which the Spurs averaged more than 57 wins a season. Again, they failed to make a playoff run. But Rodman's impact cannot be denied. The 62 games the Spurs won in 1995 was the most ever by the franchise until it won 63 last year.

Finally, Rodman came to Chicago and helped lift the Bulls to their second three-peat. Ask just about any player from those teams, and they'd say that without the rebounding machine, they couldn't have accomplished that feat.

When asked whether Rodman should make the Hall-of-Fame, past teammate Scottie Pippen said: "The Hall of Fame is not built on offense, it’s built on greatness, and Dennis was one of the greatest I’ve ever played with. Maybe you could have made the argument before he joined the Bulls that he didn’t have the credentials. But with our team, night in and night out, he proved his greatness, and now his credentials speak for itself. In my mind, he’s a first-ballot Hall of Famer."

A few more of Rodman's numbers. The 6-foot-7 forward led the league in rebounding seven consecutive years. That is absolutely amazing, especially considering the guys he was competing against. Hakeem Olajuwon, David Robinson, Charles Barkley, Robert Parrish, Dikembe Mutumbo, Alonzo Mourning. The shorter, skinnier Rodman outworked all of these behemoths to the ball year after year. There were six seasons in which Rodman averaged more than 15 rebounds a game. That, right there, is a Hall-of-Fame-worthy statistic. Rodman recklessly threw his body all over the court to snatch rebound after rebound.

Russell finished his 13-year career with averages of 15.1 points and 22.5 rebounds per game. Rodman, in the 14 seasons he played, averaged 7.3 points and 13.1 rebounds per game. On the surface, the number don't even seem close. But you have to realize that Russell played in a very high-scoring era during which teams chucked up several more shots than during the low-scoring '90s, in which Rodman was at his prime.

Also, like Russell, Rodman was a beast of a player on the defensive end. He even managed to win two Defensive Player of the Year awards in 1990 and 1991. For a 6-7 player on the same team as "Bad Boys" Isiah Thomas, Joe Dumars and Bill Laimbeer, that's awfully impressive.

Was Rodman even close to the player and leader Russell was? Heck, no. Russell was one of the five greatest players of all times - and if you ask Boston sports writers, such as Bob Ryan, he was the best ever. Rodman was just a role player. If he hadn’t been around leaders like Thomas and Michael Jordan, he might not have fit his role so well.

But as ABC and ESPN statistician Elliott Kalb writes in his book, "Who's Better, Who's Best in Basketball?" Rodman "should be remembered for being the player who hustled non-stop - and did all the dirty work. He would dive on the floor. He would deny the entry pass. He would pass up shots so his teammates would be happy. He gave his team more extra possessions than anyone."

Kalb rates Rodman as the 30th greatest player of all time, a huge compliment to Rodman. He even calls Rodman "the greatest defensive player in the history of the game." While that statement could surely spark a dinner-and-dessert argument, it can't be dismissed. This guy made every single team he was on - even the '98 and '99 Lakers - better. He played unselfish. He played hard.

And most of his histrionics were off the court and didn’t affect his team. By no means was he a T.O. or Barry Bonds.

You may not like Dennis Rodman. But if you appreciate the game of basketball, you have to appreciate Dennis Rodman. And you have to believe that he's a future Hall-of-Famer.

"Monday morning (late) wake-up call"

Only a caveman (or someone like that) would not be impressed with the Phoenix Suns right now.

After Sunday's relatively easy road win over LeBron (and the Cavs), Phoenix is now 36-8. It has won 17 consecutive games, the NBA's longest streak in seven years, and the 1972 Lakers' 33-game winning streak doesn't seem that far off in the distance.

While the Suns are extremely fun to watch right now, I must spoil the party. All of these wins... they mean nothing. Come mid April, Phoenix will begin the playoffs along with 15 other teams, all hungry to play for a full two months and come away with the Larry O'Brian trophy. No one will care in May that Phoenix won 18 straight, or 24 straight, or whatever its streak ends up being.

The playoffs are a new season, and Phoenix - like every other team - will start out at square one.

Last season the Pistons had an even better start than the Suns. They began the season 37-5, bringing up conversation about them challenging the '96 Bulls' record of 72-10, the best ever regular season by an NBA team. But, alas, the Pistons starters got so worn out by the end of the season, they didn't have anything left in the playoffs. They were able to sneak by LeBron n' crew in the second round, but didn't stand a chance against a fresh Heat team in the conference finals.

Their season was over and it was considered by every pundit who covers basketball a disappointing season. The league-leading 64 regular-season wins were forgotten. Ditto the 37-5 start. None of that mattered

The Heat went on to win the championship.

Speaking of the Heat, they're nowhere close to Phoenix right now. If the playoffs started today, Miami wouldn't even make the playoffs in the morbid East. Toronto would make the Second Season ahead of it. But would anyone say Miami's not going to be there in April, and May, and possibly June, battling for a repeat?

I didn't think so.

Shaq is just coming back now. By April, I'd assume, Pat Riley will be back pacing the coach's box. And the team will finally be hungry again to win.

As silly as it sounds now, come April I will give Miami - assuming it makes the postseason - just as good of a chance of repeating as I'll give Phoenix of winning its first NBA championship.

Even if that winning streak has reached 55 games.

"Saturday morning wake-up call"

If you could start a team with Wilt Chamberlin or Bill Russell, who would you take?

I've been reading a lot about these two guys, and it is very difficult for me to determine who was the better player.

Russell won way more championships (11) than Chamberlin (2), but he also had a better supporting cast for his entire career. Bob Cousey directed the Celtics through 1963, Bill Sharman was a pinpoint shooter as was Tommy Heinsohn, Sam Jones was Mr. Clutch, K.C. Jones was a solid player and so were Satch Sanders, Jim Lustocuff and Frank Ramsey.

Yeah, Russell had plenty of help.

Chamberlin, on the other hand, never had such a complete team around him until he joined the Lakers in the later 1960s, which featured Jerry West and Elgin Baylor. He did have guys such as Guy Rodgers, but never a rotation as solid as Boston's.

Still, there are some questions as to how dedicated Chamberlin was to winning. In his first few years in the league, he seemed to only care about his individual statistics. Alex Hannum changed this when he took over the Philadelphia Warriors in the early '60s, and they came very close to beating the Celtics in the '62 Eastern Conference Finals.

But Russell simply refused to lose. He did whatever it took to win. Unlike Chamberlin, there were never any questions about Russell's intentions when he took the court. Just win, baby.

Russell refused to stand down to anybody, unlike Chamberlin - especially in Wilt's early years - who often wouldn't retaliate when being pushed around by opponents' physical centers.

Despite this, the statistics clearly favor Chamberlin. He led the league in scoring from 1960-1966, averaging a record 50.4 points in 1962. Russell never averaged more than 18.9 points per game. Chamberlin also had the edge in rebounding - believed to be Russell's biggest strength - averaging the most boards in the league 11 times compared to four times for Russell. And Chamberlin is No. 1 in all-time rebounds ahead of Russell.

But when it comes to MVP awards, Russell has a slight advantage of five to four. That right there makes my very, very tough decision. Russell was a tiny bit better than Chamberlin.

So if I had the privlege today of starting a team with either of these greats from the past while they were in their prime, I'd take Russell.

Barely.

"The NBA's conundrum"

The next time you run into an NBA team, try something for me, OK? Ask the players who Bob Pettit, or George Mikan, or Wes Unseld, or Earl Lloyd was.

Ask them about these former NBA icons, about what these past greats mean to the players. I bet half of the team won't even know some of these guys.

That's too bad. And it's also one of the main problems with the NBA today.

When I was so young that I couldn't even toss a ball to the rim, there was a poster on my bedroom wall of a wolf. It read: "Respect your elders."

If today's NBA players had a greater knowledge and respect of those who came before them, I believe several of the "image problems" we constantly hear associated with the league would no longer be issues.

The truth is that most players gifted enough to reach the NBA are pampered from the beginning. Scouts are drooling over them by the time they reach puberty. High school is nothing more than a prep school for the NBA, as is the one year of college ball. By the time players reach the NBA, their heads are so big that any sign of disrespect just isn't going to be tolerated.

Hence, the minor brawl at MSG the other night. J.R. Smith took exception to Mardy Collins’ hard foul. So he retaliated. Carmelo Anthony was sick of the lowly Knicks talking junk and beating up his players, so he threw a cheap punch.

These players lose their cool over the smallest things. Perspective could help them.

Consider the fact that in the 1950s and '60s, most NBA players didn't make enough money from playing to support themselves. So they worked other jobs during the off-season. I’m sorry - I just can't imagine LeBron bagging groceries.

Back in the day players didn't complain at every call. They just played hard as can be for 48 minutes. There was no need for a "no complaining" rule.

If today's young guns sat down and watched some old tapes, they would see what the NBA is all about: Playing hard every night and representing yourself well off the court.

This isn't to say that all of the past NBA greats led A+ lives. But there wasn't a general problem like there is today.

Too many kids not taught to respect authority. Too many kids taught solely to "get yours." Too many kids who don't appreciate their opportunity.

When all they need to do is take a peek into the NBA archives.

"Since when has trading been fair?"

The more, and more, I look at it, I am... shocked.

An NBA trade that was actually fair. A trade from which both sides should benefit (although one much sooner than the other). It's just not common, just not... right?

Except that it is.

I am going to write Christmas cards to the Denver Nuggets and Philadelphia 76ers for making a deal that didn't make one of the organizations look dumb (especially Philly, considering the last time it traded away a superstar - Charles Barkley in 1992 - it got virtually nothing in return). Neither team's fans should be shaking their heads after this one. The trade that sent Allen Iverson to Denver for Andre Miller, Joe Smith and two 2007 first-round draft picks was about as fair as you can get.

For the rest of the season, of course, it will seem like a one-sided deal. Denver, with the two top scorers in the NBA, is now a contender to win (gasp) an NBA championship. Do I see it happening this year? No, sir. But Iverson, just 31, and 'Melo should anchor this franchise for at least the next five years.

Next question: Will the Nuggets win a title in that time period? There's a decent chance. And if I'd been asked that before the trade, I'd have said, "No chance."

Anthony is a great player, but - just like Kobe - he needed a sidekick to take this franchise to the level San Antonio, Phoenix and Dallas are on. He's got him now.

Look at every NBA champion in recent memory. No team has won the title with a superstar and group of average players. Bird had at least one other All-Star on all three of his championship teams. Ditto Magic for all five of his titles in L.A. Jordan had Pippen. Duncan had Robinson. The '04 Pistons didn't need a star. Last year, Wade had Shaq.

LeBron could (maybe) be the first player to win a title without an All-Star teammate, but I'm not convinced. He'll have to be at his best.

Denver gave up a lot to get Iverson. But it will all be worth it. These two guys on the court at the same time will be something to watch.

Unlike the 2006-07 76ers.

This team will not put up many W's in the months to come. They’ll certainly play hard and grind out some victories, but even with a HUGE upgrade at the point guard position (Kevin Ollie wasn't exactly the answer at the position), this team will have a tough time scoring. This is not a good thing, considering the Sixers give up over 100 points a game.

But while Philly's tough-necked fans won't be cheering much this season, they can expect better things in the near feature (even if they won't admit it, just like after the Eagles drafted Donovan McNabb). June's NBA draft will be absolutely loaded with talent, provided most of the nation's big-time freshmen come out. With three first-round draft picks and plenty of cap room, the 76ers would have to pull a Matt Millen to not come away with some NBA-ready talent.

Add two or three capable players to Philly's young corps of Miller, Andre Iguodala (now the only A.I. in town), Samuel Dalembert and Kyle Korver, and you've got at least a foundation for future success. And possibly a future superstar (one of the draft picks).

The NBA is a "What have you done for me today?" industry, and the results this season will not be pretty in Philly. But take a look at this team in a couple years, and there's a good chance Allen Iverson won't be a part of the conversation.

No one will be saying, "How could we let him get away?" but rather, "Look what this deal's done for us."

And no one in the Rockies will be regretting the trade either. The Nuggets will be among the NBA's elite.

Making the Dec. 18 trading of A.I. to Denver one of those rare deals after which both sides are content.

I guess it really ’tis the season for giving.

"Dumars' two big mistakes"

I'm not gonna lie. I love Joe Dumars. He was my favorite NBA player during the 1990s, even when he was aging and his arching 3-pointers were hitting the front of the rim instead of swishing through the net. I admired him for transforming the Detroit Pistons from a mediocre, middle-of-the-pack team into NBA champions in 2004.

I really like the guy. He's one of the classiest men in sports, no ifs, ands or buts.

But, again, I can't lie in saying that Dumars' work the past three years has been subpar. Nowhere close to as poor as that of, say, his old Bad Boys' teammate, Isiah Thomas.

But Dumars has made two key mistakes as Pistons' GM that are hurting the franchise, which is not to say that the Pistons are falling fast. They're still one of the NBA's elite, but they could be even better.

It all starts with the 2003 NBA draft. Of course the Pistons went on to win the title the following season - making us onlookers oblivious to Dumars' miscue - but now, after two playoff disappointments, we are more apt to examine Dumars' drafting of Darko Milicic with the second pick of the draft behind LeBron James.

I understand Dumars' thinking in taking Milicic. He was a young talent out of Serbia & Montenegro. His potential seemed sky-high. Dumars knew it would take time to develop that talent, but he was fine with that because he knew his current crop of players could win without Milicic (although, more than midway through the season, Dumars realized he needed a big man who could score and traded for Rasheed Wallace).

Milicic, meanwhile, would practice with the team, work with Dumars' specialized assistant coaches - and sit on the bench during games, except in the closing minutes of blowouts. This, of course, is when the Detroit crowd would begin the "We want Dar-ko" chants.

But, in drafting Milicic, Dumars overlooked three studs who have gone on to become stars. Denver drafted Carmelo Anthony, who had just led Syracuse to a national title as a freshman, with the third pick. Toronto took Chris Bosh, a similar young big man like Milicic, but given the opportunity to play large chunks of minutes, Bosh has developed into the Raptors' best player. Finally, Miami took Dwyane Wade, like Anthony a proven winner, who had led Marquette to its first Final Four since Al McGuire's championship team of 1977.

Wade, as you know, has surprised everybody in the league. He, not Shaquille O'Neal, is the Heat's best player. He rallied them to the NBA title last year and this year he is carrying a Shaq-less, uninspired bunch.

Dumars, it seems, was more concerned with drafting a player who wouldn't disturb the chemistry of the group he had than drafting a proven marquee player who had proved he could win games on one of sports' biggest stages. Had he drafted Anthony or Wade, he likely would have had to move one of his starters - either Richard Hamilton or Tayshaun Prince.

I love Hamilton and Prince. I can imagine how difficult it would be for Dumars to ship one of them to another team. They are selfless players who always play hard. But let's be honest here. What Pistons' lineup is more intimidating: One with Hamilton or Anthony starting as the two guard?

The answer's a no-brainer. Anthony has had his ups-and-downs in Denver, but this year he is showing his true colors, leading the league in scoring and shooting over 50 percent. Additionally, he is a better defender than Hamilton and he occasionally draws double teams.

And Anthony hits big shots. Can you imagine a backcourt of Chauncy "Mr. Big Shot" Billups and Anthony? It could have happened had Dumars drafted Anthony. And he wouldn't have necessarily had to dump Hamilton or Prince, either. One could have been the first man off the bench, cutting their minutes down a little, but not a ton. Twenty-five to thirty minutes a game is still a lot for an entire 82-game schedule.

Yes, the Pistons might not have won the championship with Anthony instead of Milicic in 2004. But there have been two seasons since then, and Anthony is still just 22 years old - a year older than Milicic. I bet the Pistons would have a title by now with Anthony, and possibly many more on the horizon.

But Anthony, instead, is tearing it up for Denver, a team that should be in the lower half of the Western Conference. And Milicic isn't even in Detroit anymore.

Which brings me to the second mistake Dumars made: unloading Milicic too soon, and for hardly anything. In fact, not only did Dumars give Orlando Milicic last season, but he also unloaded backup point guard Carlos Arroyo for Kelvin Cato and a possible 2008 first-round draft choice (the Pistons get the pick if the Magic don't draft in the top five in 2007 - which is likely considering Orlando's hot start to the season). Arroyo is having a career year for the Magic, averaging 10.6 points and 3.2 assists a game as a backup to Jameer Nelson.

Milicic, meanwhile, given the minutes he was never granted under Larry Brown and Flip Saunders in Detroit, is putting up decent numbers in Orlando, averaging eight points, 4.9 rebounds and two blocks a game.

Dumars gave up on Milicic too soon. Obviously Dumars has a better basketball eye than most, but if you look at international players - especially those from the 2003 draft - playing in the NBA, it usually takes three or four seasons for them to really become comfortable. Dumars didn't even give Milicic three full seasons.

The Pistons could use Milicic's big body right now. After losing Ben Wallace in the off-season to Chicago, the Pistons - despite the signing of Nazr Mohammed - are short on forwards. Besides Antonio McDyess, Detroit's main big man off the bench is Jason Maxiell, who is undersized at 6-foot-7 and is averaging just 10.4 minutes a game. Mohammed, 29, is not in good enough shape to play big minutes (he's averaging less than 20 a game), which is forcing Rasheed Wallace, 32, to play more than he should (35.5 minutes a game).

One of the Pistons' main downfalls in the playoffs last season was fatigue. The starters - especially the guards - played too many minutes during the season and didn't have any gas left come May. Rasheed Wallace is just as important to this team's fortunes as Billups or Hamilton, and if he's not playing at full throttle in the playoffs, Detroit might not even reach the conference finals.

Milicic's presence would be very beneficial right now. Look around the league at the other foreign players who were chosen in the first round of the 2003 draft. Many of them are thriving for the first time in the league. They are, at last, comfortable.

Mickael Pietrus, who was chosen 11th by Golden State, is playing at an all-time high. After averaging less than 10 points his first three seasons, Pietrus is scoring 12.8 points per game and averaging 5.2 rebounds. We all know about Boris Diaw's story. Chosen 21st by Atlanta, Diaw struggled for two years in HotLanta, averaging less than five points. But he emerged last year in Phoenix, scoring 13.3 points per game, and he was named the NBA's most improved player.

Of course, a lot of Diaw's newfound success can be attributed to the system he joined and the passing of Steve Nash - and his numbers are a little down this season (8.6 ppg; 5.1 rpg; 4.0 apg) - but don't tell anyone in Phoenix that he's not an integral part of their team. He is, and likely will be for years to come.

Diaw's teammate, Leandro Barbosa, was another foreign player chosen in the 2003 draft (with the 28th pick by San Antonio). And Barbosa didn't emerge onto the scene until his third year. He averaged 7.9 and seven points per game his first two seasons before blowing up for 13.1 a game last season. This year he's been even better, averaging a career-high 18.9 points and 4.7 assists a game. Don't even think about mentioning Phoenix's plan for success with throwing in a "Leandro" or "Barbosa." He's a huge part of the NBA title contenders.

But would anyone have thought that a year ago? Probably not.

Phoenix didn't give up on Barbosa, just like Golden State didn't give up on Pietrus, and now both teams are reaping the benefits of their decision. The Pistons, meanwhile, haven't gained anything from the Milicic trade. They thought the move would allow them to re-sign Ben Wallace this past summer, since Cato's $8 million-plus contract expired during the summer, but Chicago outbid Detroit.

And the Pistons are left with nothing, except a 2008 first-round draft pick. Of course, by then the Pistons could be without Billups, who is a free agent after the season. Dumars would be very smart to make sure Billups does not skip town. Do whatever it takes.

Because then he could be back at square one - just like when he became GM in 2000 - with an average team.

"NBA players need to remove shackles"

"New York Times" columnist William C. Rhoden came out with a book this summer that brought great controversy with it.

The book, titled "Forty Million Dollar Slaves: The Rise, Fall, and Redemption of the Black Athlete" details how the black athlete's plight hasn't really changed over the past 100 years - how "black athletes’ exercise of true power is as limited today as when masters forced their slaves to race and fight. The primary difference is, today’s shackles are often of their own making."

Well, I can't say I agree or disagree with Rhoden's argument – I won't be able to do that until after reading the book - but today in sports there is an obvious case of a powerful white man - NBA Commissioner David Stern - controlling a large group of athletes, mostly black.

I wrote a column a couple weeks ago about the effect the new microfiber ball and "zero-tolerance policy" is having on the league this season. Several of the NBA’s players have complained about the changes since the beginning of the season. Everyone from Shaquille O'Neal - one of the league's biggest players - to Steve Nash - one of its smallest players - has grumbled about the ball. Turnovers are up, it bounces weird off the rim - making traditionally strong rebounders average - and players simply don't like its feel.

I don't blame them. Especially the veterans. Here, they've been using one ball for 10 years, now all of a sudden it's gone? It's ludicrous.

Friday the players' association took a stand, filing two unfair labor practice charges against the NBA over issues with the new ball and the league's crackdown on player complaints. Union director Billy Hunter said that if changes aren't made, legal action could be the association’s next step.

Washington Wizard Antonio Daniels, in his 10th season, hit it right on the head when he said, in an ESPN.com article, "You never want to feel that the NBA's a dictatorship."

That must be what it feels like to the players right now. Stern is making changes that have an impact on every single game, and the players aren't allowed to fight back? That's a dictatorship, for you.

I don't care how much money these guys make. I don't care about how "easy" their lives are compared to ours. We know all that. But that doesn't mean they shouldn't get the same rights as any member of an organization to have input on important decisions made by that organization and to protest changes they disagree with.

Although officials have slightly improved during the season's first month, technical fouls are still up from last year. There were 175 T's through the first 225 games this season. Last year there were only 120 through 225 games. While it was ridiculous how much players argued with refs during the playoffs last season, the way officials have clamped down on even minor emotional outburst by players this season has been overzealous.

Players, naturally, are going to be upset if a foul is called on them that they disagree with. To not allow any sort of reaction is, well, shackling them.

This situation would be completely different if at least some of the league's players agreed with the new rule and the implementation of the new ball. But I haven't heard one good word spoken about either new measure. Even when Vince Carter received a friendly bounce from the new ball to save a game for the New Jersey Nets, he wasn't praising the ball. Instead, he said that what happened never would have occurred with the old leather ball.

Hopefully enough high-profile players will speak out against the new measures that Stern will be forced to make some changes. Not only would this benefit the players, but it would also prove that they are not slaves living under a dictatorship. It would prove that they have the power to influence the league's direction and that it's not just a one-man show.

And it would tell the fans that, no, players aren't just entertainers on your television screen. They are real people, just like you, who - regardless of the amount of money they're making - care about how their organization is run and won't let themselves be treated like insubordinates.

"Falling of the Bulls"

Living in Australia, where the main sports are rugby and Australian rules football, there isn't exactly a lot of interest in the NBA (although I think I saw a Paul Pierce jersey the other night). Because of this - big surprise - NBA games on television are few and far between.

Last night I was lucky enough - at least I thought at the time - to catch the Chicago Bulls-Los Angeles Lakers game. It was the first NBA game I'd watched live since Game 6 of the Finals in June.

I needed my NBA fix.

Instead, after watching a quarter-and-a-half of basketball, I realized that the only people who need a fix are the players on the Chicago Bulls.

Chicago looked awful in the 82-72 loss. The Bulls shot jump shot after jump shot, and they bricked most of them. When I checked the box score after the game I was actually surprised that the Bulls even shot 33.8 percent. I had projected around 30 percent. The only bright spot was Andres Nocioni, who shot 50 percent - 11-for-22 - and scored 30 points. Only one other Bull - Luol Deng - scored in double figures, with 13, and he was a grimy 5-for-16 from the field.

Ben Wallace - I repeat, Ben Wallace!!! - was the only Bull to shoot upward of 50 percent. He was a nice 3-for-5 for eight points.

The Bulls are now 3-7 about an eighth of the way through the season and I'm already regretting my pre-season prediction of them finishing fifth in the Eastern Conference. This team is not playoff material right now, and I honestly don't see them becoming playoff material unless they make a trade in the next few months.

Before the season I shook off the nagging voice in my head telling me the Bulls wouldn't be able to score consistently without an inside threat. "But they have a great defense and plenty of shooters," I told the voice. "They'll be fine. They did all right with this system last year."

I should have listened to that voice. The Bulls are finally facing the consequences of having absolutely no inside offensive threat. Chicago's inside players - Wallace, PJ Brown and rookie Tyrus Thomas - scored a combined 10 points last night. Ten points. Nocioni is listed as a small forward, but he plays mostly on the outside. Eighteen of his 30 points came from behind the 3-point arc.

The Bulls' guards aren't even getting to the hole. Last year I admired the courage shown by small guys Kirk Hinrich and Ben Gordon as they attacked the basket possession after possession, drawing fouls on the opposing big men. Last night the Bulls went to the free-throw line a mere 19 times compared to 29 attempts by the Lakers. And six of those free throws were attempted by Wallace, one of the five worst free-throw shooters in the league.

To summarize, the Bulls offense is about as threatening as a prairie dog in a cage. They're averaging 93.7 points a game, fifth worst in the league. They're shooting 44.1 percent from the field, seventh worst in the league. I could throw more stats at you, but I don't want to cause any sickness.

But one of the things I said to myself before the season was: "The Bulls defense will keep them in any game, even if their throwing up bricks every time down the floor. They've got Ben Wallace!"

Well, Chicago's defense is in the top half of the league. They're giving up 93.6 points a game. But they're not exactly intimidating opponents. Last night I was shocked when Kwame "was he really a No. 1 draft pick?" Brown caught a pass from Kobe Bryant just inside the free-throw line and soared over Nocioni for a rim-rattling jam. Because I didn't catch the game's first half, I missed a Smush Parker dunk over Wallace. For those of you unfamiliar with Smush, he's a 6-foot-4 guard. Not exactly another KG.

Nobody is afraid of Chicago's defense and nobody even has to prepare for Chicago's offense. They know what to expect: jump shots, jump shots, and more jump shots. And, maybe, a few Wallace free-throw bricks.

It's a sad sight to watch. Here, the Bulls signed Wallace for $52 million and the city of Chicago was thinking, "Finally, after eight years of suffering, we may be on our way back to the glory days." The United Center crew was prepared to play the song "We are the Champions" once again.

No one's thinking such thoughts anymore. Yes, the season's early. The Bulls could turn this ship around. But it's unlikely. And they're definitely not a championship contender.

Oh, well. At least there's the Bears

"David Stern's Agenda"

Vince Carter - not exactly the humblest of athletes - admitted it.

It was last Sunday night, after New Jersey defeated Washington 105-93 in overtime, and Carter was talking about his desperation 3-pointer in regulation that clanked off the back of the rim - straight into the air - and then back through the net.

The improbable triple tied the contest at the end of regulation and the Nets wore out the Wizards in OT.

When asked about whether the shot would have gone in with the NBA's old ball, Carter responded firmly: "If it would've hit like that? Heck no. No way."

Thanks, Vince.

NBA commissioner David Stern can try all he wants to turn the media and NBA fans’ focus to the play on the court, but the fact remains that he made two curious rule changes before the season that are being questioned by not only the media and fans, but players as well.

There was the switching of balls from the traditional leather texture, which had been used for 35 years, to a "microfiber composite with moisture management." Apparently, the ball is supposed to provide "superior grip and feel throughout the course of a game."

But from the box scores I've browsed on a daily basis, I've been shocked at the number of turnovers teams are committing. I've seen individual players routinely make five or six turnovers, and teams give up the ball more than 20 times. Through six games, Allen Iverson is averaging 5.2 turnovers a game. Last season, Gilbert Arenas led the league in turnovers. He played 80 regular-season contests and gave the ball away 297 times. If you do the math, that's just over 3.5 times per game - which is nowhere near AI's average.

Through Wednesday night's games, only two teams - Washington (11.83) and Cleveland (13.71) - were averaging less than 14 giveaways a game, and eight teams were averaging 17 or more turnovers. The Orlando Magic - the team averaging the most turnovers at a 19.75 clip - averaged 15.1 last year.

The statistics tell the story. Teams are throwing the ball away more often. Now, this could be due to players still getting used to the ball's composition, but think about it: Including the pre-season, teams have been using the ball for over a month now.

The "we're still getting used to it" excuse would be pretty lame at this point.

Another thing about the ball: Players, especially post guys, have complained that the ball bounces off the rim differently (softer, mostly – like with Carter’s shot). As a result, when they anticipate the rebound, they move to the wrong part of the floor. Maybe that’s the reason that Paul Pierce, who was on hand to help introduce the ball in June, is leading the league in defensive rebounds.

He’s got “new ball knowledge.” He’s also just 6-foot-6 and has never come close to leading the league in a rebounding category before.

OK, enough balling about the ball. The other rule big rule change is the no-arguing-with-the-refs rule.

And, boy, has it caused some controversy. Players are being T'd up before they can even utter a word. A nasty look toward a ref - especially by Rasheed Wallace (who received two T's in the Pistons' opener) - can bring about a T. If a player begins to say something but catches himself... you guessed it: he's likely getting a T.

Wallace compared the new rule to slavery. I wouldn't go that far, but it's definitely affecting players. I've never played on a level close to the NBA - rec ball is my only claim to fame - but even I know that players get emotional during the course of a game (you should see the arguing that takes place in some of those rec games). If they don't think they touched an opponent and are called for a foul, in the heat of the moment, a yell or waving of the arms may occur.

These actions should be allowed.

I agree that excessive arguing after the play has been over for a while should warrant a T. There is no need to continue bickering with a ref while standing outside the lane, awaiting a free-throw attempt. Shut up, move on, continue to play.

But to T-up players for expression initial feelings about a call is ludicrous.

Another complaint I've heard about the rule is that players are treated differently. Veterans such as Sam Cassell who have made a of habit of chatting with refs for five or 10 minutes after a call continue to get away with their antics. Players such as 'Sheed, on the other hand, are T'd up immediately.

Something needs to be changed; that's a given.

I have to wonder why these changes were made. Especially the new ball. No players were complaining about the old rock. Why switch things up? Was Stern fishing for publicity for his league during October, when the MLB playoffs and football dominated the headlines?

I'm not sure, but couldn't he wait? The season was right around the corner, and the NBA is a league that you either follow or don't. You won't find many on-the-fence NBA fans. So once the season began, those fans were going to follow their teams and the league.

Regardless of whether there was a new ball.

The discipline rule wasn't a bad idea. It just needs to be toned down a little. I'll admit that it was ridiculous, watching the playoffs last season, how every time a player was called for a foul he would bicker with the refs. It got to the point where I wondered if some players were even focusing on the game at hand.

Stern might have instilled the rule to protect his refs, who were reamed in the 2006 postseason for missed calls and favoritism. In the final minute of Game 5 of the Finals, Dallas players, coaches, fans - and, of course, Mark Cuban - thought the refs charged the Mavericks with a timeout they didn't call which happened to be the Mavs' final TO. And any team that played Miami complained of Dwyane Wade receiving all the calls during the playoffs.

But, then again, we've seen the favoritism thing for years. Remember a guy by the name of Michael Jordan and a certain Bryon Russell who got pushed off? And Reggie Miller always got away with his share of shoves to free himself.

So favoritism hasn't changed. And neither, really, has the players' bickering. So did Stern make the move to protect the refs, or was it another publicity stunt?

We'll likely never know, but one thing is for sure: The changes will continue to receive plenty of pub throughout the course of the season and into June.