Who you won't see in Dallas

Josh Smith has made the Hawks matter, but apparently not to coaches who pick All-Star reserves.

The 2009-2010 Eastern All-Stars

• Allen Iverson
• Dwyane Wade
• LeBron James
• Kevin Garnett
• Dwight Howard
• Chris Bosh
• Rajon Rondo
• Joe Johnson
• Gerald Wallace
• Paul Pierce
• Derrick Rose
• Al Horford

So, who is missing from that list? Let's look at some of the players who will be most chapped to learn that they won't be headed to Dallas to show off on Valentine's Day weekend.

Josh Smith
Quoting John Hollinger's Twitter feed: "Horford and Johnson made the All-Star team and Josh Smith didn't. I guess nobody actually watched the Hawks this year." One theory is that Smith has a reputation as being hard to coach. When coaches do the choosing that can hurt you. There is really no analysis by which Allen Iverson has outplayed Josh Smith this year. If someone can't play because of injury (or if writer Sherman Alexie's poetic plea to Iverson to stand down takes root), Smith is a logical replacement.

David Lee
John Hollinger wrote the other day that, thanks to an improved jumper, Lee's offensive production makes him an easy pick to be an All-Star, even if you acknowledge that he is far from the world's best defender. Worth noting, however, is that of the 14 All-Stars picked by the coaches (seven for each East and West) not one came from a team with a losing record. Maybe this one was over before it started for David Lee.

Antawn Jamison
Jamison has been downright heroic, playing his brains out as the Wizards burst into flames all around him. And yet, fashionable though the pick may be, even if he didn't play for such a bad team, his numbers all on their own make him a borderline All-Star at best. For instance, he has the League's 36th best PER (among qualified players), and in plus/minus, even on his own team Brendan Haywood is much better.

Andre Iguodala
This hasn't been his best season and Iguodala has never been an All-Star in the past. So why worry about this now? Because he's certainly a far better player than the other A.I. on his team, who is starting in this game. (There's a reason Iguodala has an $80 million guaranteed contract, while Iverson had to make good on a minimum deal.)

Ray Allen
Ray has been an All-Star nine out of the last ten years, and while 34-year-old wing players always slow down a little, it's not like he has fallen off a cliff in terms of productivity. It seems like Ray may be a victim of the rise of Rajon Rondo. The Celtics are good, but four All-Stars (Garnett and Pierce are in) is a very tall order.

Andrew Bogut, Joakim Noah, Anderson Varejao
After Dwight Howard, who is the best big man in the East? Hard to say. But this squad was always going to need more than one big. Al Horford won the "next best big man" spot, but it could have easily gone to Bogut, who anchors a good Bucks team, Horford's college teammate Noah, who has been the engine that drives the Bulls, or Varejao, who -- despite a reputation as a low-skill energy player -- is clearly the best big man on what has been the NBA's best team in the first half.

The 2009-2010 Western All-Stars

• Steve Nash
• Kobe Bryant
• Carmelo Anthony
• Tim Duncan
• Amare Stoudemire
• Kevin Durant
• Chris Paul
• Dirk Nowitzki
• Brandon Roy
• Zach Randolph
• Deron Williams
• Pau Gasol
  

And some of the notable players who are not on that list:

Chauncey Billups
When the rookie team was announced, Ty Lawson was left off. Now the Nuggets endure a couple of more snubs, with perennial All-Star Billups off the list. Somewhere, George Karl's blood is boiling. By many measures, Billups is playing better than last season when Denver's rise to prominence was attributed almost entirely to him.

Chris Kaman
Kevin Arnovitz of ClipperBlog says that Kaman is good, but probably not an All-Star for his play this season: "Kaman has done a admirable job restoring his career and establishing himself as a strong post presence who demands a double-team. He's also an above-average defender. These are achievements, and he's very useful to his team. We should recognize his value -- but not with an All-Star bid. Among centers, Kaman is second in the league in usage, but only 14th in PER. His true shooting percentage is 53.9, low-ish for an All-Star candidate. And his rebounding rate is the lowest of his career since his rookie season. Once a premier shot-blocker, Chris is now only 50th in the league in block rate among guys who play 15 minutes per game. My only beef is that Kaman was beaten out by the wrong Gasol."

Marc Gasol
The Grizzlies have been extremely good of late. Why is that? If you watch the games, it's undeniable that a mammoth part of the story is Marc Gasol, who is huge, strong and agile. He moves well with or without the ball, and sees the floor well for a big man -- often he is the focal point of the offense. (Wednesday night in Detroit, Memphis was down 93-91 in the game's closing minutes, then Gasol scored the game's last eight points for a six-point win.)

Grizzlies' stat guy Aaron Barzilai says that Gasol is a star: "Gasol is actually our team leader in plus/minus. He has a little quieter stats. Different kinds of contributions. But he has also played very, very well." I asked him if enough of the season passed for us to have a big enough sample size to believe plus/minus stats on something like that. His response was: "I think so. The numbers say it's by a pretty wide margin. So, even if the margin isn't as wide as it looks right now, he's definitely a very valuable contributor."

Carlos Boozer
The Jazz have been unbelievably good of late, and Boozer -- a player who disappointed many in Utah by opting in to his contract to keep playing for the Jazz -- has been the eye of the storm.

Nene
According to plus/minus, Nene is a top 10 NBA player. And when you watch the Nuggets play, it's not hard to understand. He's enormous, powerful and quick, which lets him influence plays all over both ends of the court. His scoring is efficient, his defense is tenacious and he rebounds like a maniac. He was excellent last season, and is probably even better now.

Carl Landry
The big problem the Rockets were supposed to have (besides issues with Yao Ming's foot and Tracy McGrady's expectations) was the lack of a star to take over games by scoring in crunch time. Aaron Brooks and Carl Landry have done plenty of that, with Landry -- one of the NBA's best post scorers -- particularly efficient in the fourth quarter. His PER is better than Garnett's or Stoudemire's.

Andrew Bynum
He has a good PER, even though his numbers are surely hampered by all the touches that go to Bryant, Gasol, Odom and Artest. If Pacer Roy Hibbert -- who tried to guard Bynum last night -- had an All-Star vote, it's a good bet he'd vote Bynum.

Ron Artest still finding his way in Lakers' offense

Reporting from Indianapolis - Defensively, Ron Artest did his job Wednesday night against the Indiana Pacers.

Offensively, Artest continued to struggle.

But because the Lakers defeated the Indiana Pacers at Conseco Fieldhouse with relative ease, Artest didn't have to provide much offense.

Artest had just two points, tying his season low. It was the fourth time in his last five games that he has scored in single digits.

He was one for six from the field against the Pacers.

"He obviously didn't shoot the ball very well tonight," Lakers Coach Phil Jackson said. "He has shot the three rather well for us."

Jackson said Artest still is finding his way in the offense.

The triangle is not considered that difficult for wing players, but Artest seems to be stuck.

"He's not growing as quickly as I'd like to see him grow and feeling like he knows what he can get accomplished out there in the offense and getting comfortable," Jackson said. "Looks like everything he tries to do is kind of force the action instead of get into it. We still have to work a little bit with him to get him comfortable out there."

Defense is where Artest has gotten the job done.

He was asked to defend Danny Granger.

Artest held Granger to 14 points on four-for-eight shooting.

"We knew Danny was capable of coming out for a big second half," Artest said. "We were fortunate enough to have him in a little foul trouble early on."

Bucks searching for their go-to guy in tight spots

Certain players have it, a late-game swagger that says they want the ball with the game on the line.

Denver's Chauncey Billups quickly comes to mind, a player who earned the nickname "Mr. Big Shot."

Two of the best are Kobe Bryant, of course, and LeBron James. Dallas forward Dirk Nowitzki is another confident player in the clutch.

A young Milwaukee Bucks team is still searching for a true closer in critical moments of tight games. They have struggled in those situations this season, going 4-10 in a league-high 14 games decided by three points or fewer.

Forward Carlos Delfino got the call in Dallas on Tuesday night but missed a running shot in the lane at the buzzer as the Mavericks escaped with a 108-107 victory over the Bucks.

On Wednesday night, it was rookie point guard Brandon Jennings' turn, and he scored a go-ahead basket with 22.3 seconds left in the Bucks' 91-88 victory over Philadelphia. Jennings was able to get to his left hand and convert a 12-foot floater after beating 6-foot-8 defender Thaddeus Young off the dribble.

The reality of the Bucks' situation is that the 20-year-old Jennings and 25-year-old center Andrew Bogut are the closers of the present and future.

And they're still learning what it takes to end up on the winning side in National Basketball Association games.

"Even Bogut, as well as he's playing, has not had a lot of late-game, tight-game experience in his career, where he has the ball in his hands," Bucks coach Scott Skiles said.

"It's 'Is the other team going to double me? Am I one on one, am I faced up, do I have my back to the basket?' We've got to stay with it and believe at some point we're going to win some of those close games."

Elton Brand missed an easy layup to help the Bucks survive against the 76ers, and Milwaukee was fortunate to win after going 2 for 8 at the free-throw line in the fourth quarter.

The Bucks have lost close ones in a variety of frustrating ways. Washington guard Earl Boykins drew a foul on Jennings and sank two late free throws in a two-point Bucks' loss; rookie Darren Collison hit a three-pointer to force overtime in an eventual Milwaukee defeat in New Orleans; and Bryant hit a buzzer-beating 15-footer to edge the Bucks in overtime at the Bradley Center in December.

Jennings took a long three-pointer at the end of regulation with the score tied in Houston, and Skiles said the Bucks needed a better shot. They lost that game in overtime when Luke Ridnour missed a tying three-point attempt at the buzzer.

But Skiles thinks Jennings will accept responsibility in tough situations and has the tools to trouble opponents.

Jennings has worked hard to develop a reliable floater, a running shot in the lane that he can get over taller defenders.

"Right now, it's a little tricky for him because he does have that nice floater he can make," Skiles said. "He's always a little bit in between of whether to go all the way (to the rim) or whether to shoot that shot.

"It's just something he's got to work through with experience. Again, it's an offensive rebounding opportunity. Normally when he gets into the painted area he makes a pretty good decision. He either plays in a crowd and kicks it to somebody who is open for a shot, or he gets it up on the rim."

Jennings is not prone to turnovers, another positive sign. During the last seven games, he dished out 53 assists and committed just 12 turnovers, a ratio of 4.4 to 1.

"As time has gone on, he's really gotten a better grasp for his teammates and the offense, which is understandable," Skiles said. "That stuff takes some time.

"When you think about his lack of professional experience, he should be a high turnover player, and he's not. It's an understatement to say that really bodes well for him going forward."

Jennings thinks the late-game magic will appear for the Bucks this season.

"Last night (in Dallas) we fought to the end," he said after the Bucks held off the 76ers on Wednesday. "Carlos Delfino had a great look, another floater.

"Before that he shot a three-pointer from darn near halfcourt and made it. We're just going to keep fighting and hopefully things will start turning our way sometime soon."

Rose living star dream

Although the reserves for next month's 59th NBA All-Star Game weren't announced until just after 6 p.m. Thursday, Derrick Rose was relaxing in his New Orleans hotel room that morning when he got a call informing him he was among the seven players added to the Eastern Conference team.

''I got a couple of calls, but it really didn't hit me until everybody, like 20 people, called me,'' Rose said after the official announcement was made.

Playing in an NBA All-Star Game has been a dream since he was a high school player at Simeon. It may have taken a moment to sink in, but the significance of the All-Star berth -- for him and the Bulls organization -- wasn't lost on Rose.

''I was in awe just thinking about it,'' he said. ''I was happy for the organization. I know they were happy for me. My teammates, I wouldn't be here without them. The coaching staff, they're doing a good job. I'm just in awe right now.''

Bulls fans, who have suffered through countless rebuilding efforts in the last 12 years, also should be in awe right now, because Rose gaining an All-Star berth is a clear sign things are headed in the right direction.

Bulls' success is Rose's success

Despite all the frustration of the first six weeks of the season, the Bulls are in a good position. With Rose definitely playing like an All-Star, the Bulls have a 12-5 record since Dec. 26 to get back to the .500 mark at 22-22. They look to extend their road winning streak to five games tonight against the New Orleans Hornets.

As spectacular as Rose has been of late -- he's averaging better than 23 points on better than 50 percent shooting in January -- it's doubtful he would have been selected without the Bulls' turnaround.

''Yeah, it's always a team effort,'' Bulls coach Vinny Del Negro said. ''Everyone has their role on the team, everyone understands the areas where they need to go to work every night and perform, whether you're a rebounder or a shooter or a penetrator or whatever.

''Defensive has been our focus from Day 1, and we feed off the ability that Derrick has to create in the open court, not only scoring the basketball but making the game easier for his teammates. That's what great players in this league do. They get their statistics, they find ways to help their team win, and they incorporate everybody in that. It's a very unique skill to have. There are only so many All-Stars, and Derrick's one of them.''

Rose also is the first Bull to make the All-Star Game since Michael Jordan in 1998. Jordan scored a game-high 23 points on 10-for-18 shooting that year and was the game's most valuable player.

''He's a legend in Chicago, a legend in the NBA,'' Rose said of Jordan. ''For me to have the opportunity to be an All-Star right behind him, it feels good.''

A study in big names

He'll come off the bench and probably won't come close to the 32 minutes Jordan played in '98 -- and certainly won't attempt 18 shots. But the 21-year-old looks upon his first All-Star appearance as a learning experience and will be content to defer to his star teammates.

''I'm gonna be watching them, observing them, just seeing what they're doing,'' Rose said. ''Hopefully, I'll take some leadership skills from them and try to bring it all to the Bulls so one day I can be in their shoes and the organization can win championships.''

We'll see about the championships, but this much is certain: The Bulls are better positioned to be a title contender sometime soon because of Rose.

''This is not a one-time All-Star deal for Derrick,'' Del Negro said. ''I expect him to continually evolve his game in all aspects. I know how hard he works and how coachable he is, and he's about the right stuff.''

Spurs' McDyess finding his comfort zone

For Antonio McDyess, the moment of truth came in a flash. He was streaking on a fast break in the Spurs' loss to Chicago earlier this week. Manu Ginobili was leading the way.

Without warning, Ginobili whipped the ball across the paint, through a thicket of bodies and toward McDyess' head, leaving its intended recipient with two options.

“Either I was going to catch it,” McDyess said, “or it was going to hit me in the face.”

Unlike other out-of-nowhere Ginobili passes he'd missed, fumbled or otherwise botched this season, McDyess made the catch, and finished the play with a pretty reverse layup.

For McDyess, it was an important Spurs rite of passage, a sign that — at long last — he is beginning to feel comfortable in silver and black.

“I'm kind of getting used to his passes,” said McDyess, who signed a free-agent deal in July. “Normally, I'm looking at the goal, or trying to block out. I've got to put it in my head Manu's going to pass the ball.”

It is one of the many lessons in self-preservation McDyess has learned in his first half-season with the Spurs. By his own admission, the adjustment has been a difficult one for McDyess, the 35-year-old center/forward who spent the previous five seasons in Detroit.

The hand-wringing surrounding Richard Jefferson's slow start in a Spurs uniform has obscured the fact that the team's other marquee addition had been underperforming, too. Traditionally a second-half player, McDyess is averaging 5.9 points and 5.4 rebounds, a little better than half of what he produced in his final season with the Pistons.

“It's hard breaking habits,” McDyess said. “Here, it's a totally different system. It's tough, especially when you're so used to playing one way. There's nothing similar between here and Detroit at all.”

While one game does not a breakthrough make, McDyess was encouraged by his 17-point outing Wednesday against Atlanta, his highest scoring night since joining the Spurs.

Combined with his 14-point, seven-rebound performance against the Bulls, McDyess has posted consecutive double-digit scoring games for just the second time this season.

The Spurs hope for more of the same tonight, when they host a surprising Memphis team that has surged within a game of them in the standings, and has already beaten them once this month.

“He's always been a solid player,” coach Gregg Popovich said of McDyess. “I just think for him, it's a matter of finding a spot for himself. Hopefully, that's happening.”

The Spurs would prefer McDyess' eureka moment to come sooner, rather than later. DeJuan Blair, the 6-foot-7 rookie Popovich had been starting at center until Wednesday, is better suited coming off the bench.

The Spurs need McDyess, a better defender and more well-rounded offensive player, to be their starter.

“We know what to expect from him,” guard Roger Mason Jr. said. “He's a vet. He's been there before. I'm very confident to know what we're going to get from him going forward.”

Against Atlanta, McDyess looked like the player the Spurs thought they were getting when they lured him from Detroit.

Making just his second start since Dec. 19, McDyess hit 8 of 9 field goals. He scored on fast breaks. He scored on lobs. He scored points on put-backs, and on the mid-range jumper that has become his signature move.

Whether Wednesday's game was a sign the light has gone on for McDyess, only time will tell. Game by game, moment by moment, he says he is feeling more comfortable in his new uniform.

“The last two games I've been feeling confident, just playing and not thinking,” McDyess said. “I'm just letting my instincts take over. I know it's going to come.”

In the meantime, with Ginobili around, McDyess will keep his head on a swivel. Just to save face.

Suspension and suspense

It's difficult to imagine a franchise in any sport plunging any deeper into the unknown than the Washington Wizards did Wednesday with the NBA officially announcing its decision to suspend Gilbert Arenas for the remainder of the season. While the announcements regarding Arenas and Javaris Crittenton got the big headlines nationally, we've accepted around Washington for a while now that neither would ever play for the Wizards again.

Of greater concern than what will happen to Arenas is how and when will the issue of the club's ownership be settled. While Washington Sports & Entertainment says nobody has an exclusive right to negotiate a purchase of the club, Ted Leonsis says his Lincoln Holdings indeed has an exclusive period to reach a deal. It's one of seemingly a dozen questions about the state of the Wizards that at the moment has no answer. If the club succeeds in voiding the remaining $80 million on Arenas's contract, does that make the Wizards worth more or less? And how would that affect negotiations? How reluctant is President Ernie Grunfeld to make deals that would enhance the club's future for an ownership group that might not keep him as the club's day-to-day executive?

As of this minute the Wizards have no permanent owner and no star player. Arenas isn't coming back to Washington, and shouldn't. The club doesn't want him and he doesn't want to play here, which he made clear in his meeting with league officials. League sources, increasingly, are of the belief that the Wizards and Arenas will have to reach a buyout of his contract instead of the team voiding it.

Of course, Arenas is going to play again in the NBA, just not here. . . . We're talking about a player who, after missing most of two seasons, was averaging 22 points and seven assists per game. When the free agent dust settles by, oh, August of this summer, teams that have failed to execute a free agent makeover (while leading their fans to think just that would happen) will be increasingly interested in a 28-year-old guard who doesn't have the wear-and-tear of the last three years. The bet here is a half-dozen teams will wind up being interested in Arenas by mid-summer. And to facilitate that transition to a new team it might be in Arenas's best interest to let the team void his contract. Probably no team is going to want to take on the remaining chunk of his contract over four years. But at, say, $7 million a year, interest in Arenas would jump.

Certainly, the NBA players' union will do its best to persuade Arenas not to allow his deal to be voided, as to avoid a precedent that would overwhelmingly favor management. But that is certainly the course of action that would most help the Wizards, especially if such a move could be made in time for the new owners to have salary cap room available to court free agents like Joe Johnson and Amare Stoudemire, if not the big fish like LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.

For now, it appears at the very least to be the end of the Arenas era, one that started with playoff trips and the promise of contention. But injuries, ill-advised rehabilitation efforts, the bloated $111 million contract and the unthinkably dumb and illegal act of bringing guns to the workplace led to this messy divorce.

NBA Insider: A new book by Orlando Magic executive Pat Williams offers a portrait of legendary coach Chuck Daly

There's a story Orlando Magic executive Pat Williams loves to tell about Chuck Daly, one of the greatest coaches in NBA history.

It took place sometime in the late 1970s or early '80s, as Williams served as the Philadelphia 76ers' general manager and Daly worked as the top assistant to Sixers coach Billy Cunningham.

"Chuck, you've got to be happy with how the team is playing," Williams said one day.

"Never trust happiness," Daly responded firmly.

Now, eight months after Daly's death from pancreatic cancer, Williams understands exactly what Daly meant. Daly was warning Williams never to feel too comfortable because in professional sports, the possibility of failure looms right around the corner.

Williams has recounted that anecdote in his recently published book Daly Wisdom: Life Lessons from Dream Team Coach and Hall-of-Famer Chuck Daly. Williams conducted over 100 interviews with people who knew the late coach. The result is an expansive collection of 52 phrases Daly often uttered, phrases that convey insight and reveal something about Daly's personality.

Williams, who completed the book with writer Peggy Matthews Rose, calls Daly's sayings "Chuckisms."

"When I finished the whole thing," Williams says, "I came away saying this is not really a sports book and it's not really a basketball book. But it's a leadership book, it's a business book, it's a success book through the life of Chuck Daly."

And what a life it was.

Daly didn't receive his first big break until he was in his early 30s. In 1963, Duke University coach Vic Bubas hired him as an assistant even though Daly was a high-school coach in Punxsutawney, Pa.

After several stops along the way, Daly eventually became the Detroit Pistons' head coach in 1983 and ultimately led the franchise to back-to-back championships.

In 1992, he shepherded the original Dream Team to Olympic gold. The stint fortified his reputation as a master manager of contrasting personalities and outsized egos.

Daly became the Magic's head coach in 1997 following a disastrous season in which players quit on coach Brian Hill. Orlando would become Daly's final stop as a head coach. He guided the Magic to a 41-41 record during the 1997-98 season and a 33-17 record during the 1998-99 season.

Those two seasons strengthened Williams' respect for Daly.

"He had a sensitivity to people even though he wasn't a warm, gushy guy," Williams says. "He knew how to put people together. He knew how to fit them together. Above all, he knew how to get his ego out of the way."

Williams' last extended face-to-face meeting with Daly came almost two years ago. They had lunch together at an Italian restaurant off of Sand Lake Road.

Daly died last year on May 9, shortly after he received his cancer diagnosis. He was 78 years old.

Working on the book helped Williams heal from his friend's death.

"For me to delve deep into his life and track down everybody of significance in his life, it helped me a great deal," Williams says.

And, now, by extension, Williams hopes the wisdom he's collected will help others, too.

Uno Uno?!

Boston Celtics power forward Glen Davis made headlines a when he said before a recent game that he wanted to drop the nickname "Big Baby." Davis said he is trying to mature after recent on- and off-court problems and wanted to take on a new name as he continues to grow. When a reporter suggested that Davis try "Uno Uno," a reference to Davis' No. 11 jersey, Davis seemed to like it. But Davis is singing a different tune now. Asked Thursday by the Orlando Sentinel how the nickname shift was going, Davis said, "I don't think I can shake 'Big Baby.' But when I think about it, I don't want to shake 'Big Baby.' I was just looking for some ideas, seeing what people thought. That's all. But I'm Glen Davis. 'Big Baby.' I'm not going to change that for nothing. I'm just going to stick with what I came in here with."

Magic woes

Think the Orlando Magic's tough January has left you stumped? Well, you're not the only one. Former Boston Celtics star and current NBA TV analyst Kevin McHale doesn't know quite what to make of the Magic either. "The Magic have just seemed a little bit funky to me all year," McHale told the Sentinel. "It's just hard for me to kind of figure out what it is, but they've just kind of been funky all year long."

Layups

The Cleveland Cavaliers own the league's best record and have beaten the Los Angeles Lakers twice. The Cavs could become even more formidable if they land Phoenix's Amar'e Stoudemire or Washington's Antawn Jamison in a trade. . . . Hedo Turkoglu's stats are down this year, but the former Magic player showed a hint of his old self Sunday when he hit a pair of free throws with 1.2 seconds remaining in regulation to give the Toronto Raptors a 106-105 win over the Los Angeles Lakers. . . . The Lakers' Jordan Farmar enjoyed his team's recent trip to the White House. For him, one highlight was seeing the Obama family's dog, Bo.

What's hot

● David Stern: The NBA commissioner suspended Washington Wizards teammates Gilbert Arenas and Javaris Crittenton for the remainder of the season for bringing firearms into their Verizon Center locker room on Dec. 21.

● Mike Woodson: Atlanta's coach showed up to the Hawks' game on Monday with his eyebrows shaved off, and his team won in Houston for the first time since Feb. 25, 1999.

What's not

● Richard Jefferson: San Antonio's key off-season acquisition averaged just 9.8 points per game and shot 41.0 percent from the field in his last four games.

● Minnesota Timberwolves: The floundering 'Wolves have lost their last five games, including a 33-point defeat to Milwaukee and a 27-point defeat to New York.

Quotes of the week

"Nets win! Nets win!" — Gary Sussman, the public-address announcer at the Izod Center, after the lowly New Jersey Nets on Wednesday notched their first win of the decade and their fourth win of the season, a 103-87 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers

"Did we need this? Are you kidding me? I mean we were 3-40. That's not a tough question to answer." — Nets center Brook Lopez after the victory over the Clippers, according to The Associated Press

"Howard gives out far more punishment than he gets, I can guarantee you that. I actually giggle at that when I hear all the 'Howard's getting hit' talk. It's a joke to me. That guy hits more than anybody in the league." — Boston coach Doc Rivers discussing Magic center Dwight Howard

Stat of the week

With their 108-107 victory over Milwaukee on Tuesday, the Dallas Mavericks won their 10th consecutive regular-season game decided by one point. The streak started on Jan. 14, 2007, and it's tied for the longest such streak in NBA history. The St. Louis Hawks also hold the record. The Hawks won a 10th consecutive one-point game in 1960.

Doc Rivers has shot to coach East

ORLANDO, Fla. - While Paul Pierce [stats] and Rajon Rondo [stats] found out about their All-Star selections yesterday, Doc Rivers and his staff still had some work to do before learning if they’d be coaching the Eastern Conference in the Feb. 14 game near Dallas.

The coach of the conference leader gets the job, but Cleveland’s Mike Brown is ineligible because he went last year. That means the team with the best non-Cavaliers record in the East at the end of this weekend wins.

Rivers is profoundly ambivalent.

“I always say I’ll take the honor, but I think we all would rather have the rest,” he said before the Celtics [team stats] lost to the Magic, 96-94, last night. “I don’t think there’s a coach alive who wouldn’t rather have that. I don’t know if there’s any other way to do the All-Star thing. I’ve always thought it’d be nice to actually give everyone a break and then have the game, but I don’t think that’s ever going to happen.

“But for coaches, the honor is nice. It means your team is playing well. But other than that, you’d rather have the break.”

Close to ready

Marquis Daniels (left thumb surgery) is on the trip and working out.

“He’s getting close, so that’s a good sign,” Rivers said.

Though the talk is Daniels will return on the western swing after the All-Star Game, the coach would like to get him in the rotation as early as Feb. 10.

“If we can get the New Orleans game in, that would be terrific,” Rivers said. “That would give him a game before All-Star break to try to get his legs and get some type of rhythm, then come out of All-Star break and we’ve got our whole team intact for the first time this year.”

High visibility

The Celtics have gotten in some laughs on the self-taken naked photos of Greg Oden that have shown up on the Internet. But the players do take seriously the ability of people to take camera photos of them that could be unflattering or taken out of context.

“I think as I’ve gotten older, I’ve become more responsible, and I understand that part of it,” said Pierce. “I mean, it’s that age where, as us being professional athletes and us being in the limelight, that’s what you’ve got to expect.

“When you go out of the house, when you go to restaurants, when you go to bars, when you go to clubs, it’s a video and camera world we live in today. You’ve got to just be responsible and know that what you represent and the things that you do are going to follow you if you’re in the wrong.”

Hitting back

The Celts are rather amused at the Magic calling foul on the treatment of Dwight Howard.

On the subject of Kendrick Perkins [stats]’ physical defense, the Orlando center was quoted in yesterday’s Herald as saying, “A lot of guys are physical. Just certain guys get away with physical play.”

Rivers rolled his eyes.

“We don’t have Howard rules, I can tell you that,” he said, referring to the Pistons’ old Jordan rules. “We just go out and play one-on-one defense. We have big guys. We have guys who are very good defenders.

“I literally get a kick out of all the people being physical with Howard (talk). Clearly people are looking one way. Howard gives out far more punishment than he gets. I can guarantee you that. I actually giggle when I hear all Howard’s getting-hit talk. I mean, it’s a joke to me. The guy hits more than anybody in the league, so if you’re going to give it out . . . That’s the way we look at it.”

Spoelstra: Beasley's Friday status closer to 'doubtful'

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. - While Michael Beasley reported continued soreness in his right knee, the team's training staff Thursday detected no swelling related to the hyperextension the second-year Miami Heat forward sustained in Wednesday's 111-103 loss to the Toronto Raptors.

With the team holding an optional practice Thursday at Oakland University, Beasley remained behind to take additional treatment on the injury sustained when he landed awkwardly on the foot of Raptors forward Hedo Turkoglu while going for an alley-oop pass from teammate Rafer Alston.

Coach Erik Spoelstra listed Beasley as "game-time, if not doubtful" for Friday's 8 p.m. matchup with the Detroit Pistons at the Palace of Auburn Hills.

Beasley was examined by the Raptors' team physician in Toronto, with further evaluation conducted by Heat trainer Jay Sabol in consultation by phone with Heat physician Harlan Selesnick.

"What they determined was that there wasn't anything that indicated we should send him home right now. That's a good sign," Spoelstra said. "Any kind of MRI or anything like that, they didn't feel like they need to do that right now."

Spoelstra said Beasley received "several hours" of treatment Thursday.

"Mike wants to play. We didn't send him home for a reason, that there's a possibility he could play at some point on this trip," Spoelstra said, with the three-game swing ending Saturday in Milwaukee.

"We'd have to test him first, run him and jump him, and see his comfort level and also Jay's comfort level about letting him go out and play," Spoelstra said. "I know Mike wants to, just like he did last night."

Beasley was injured with 7:32 to play in the first quarter in Toronto. He immediately was escorted to the locker room. He returned with 7:15 to play in the second quarter, before finding himself a step slow and in continued discomfort, leaving the game for good with 3:15 left before halftime.

Beasley has started all 45 games this season, standing second on the team in scoring at 16 points per game. If he cannot play against the Pistons, former starting power forward Udonis Haslem likely would receive his first start of the season.

Beasley has not missed a game due to injury in his two seasons since being selected No. 2 overall out of Kansas State in the 2008 NBA Draft. His only absence was one game on the inactive list on Dec. 12, 2008 due to the flu.

East reserves bring new blood to All-Star Game

Rajon Rondo and Derrick Rose are among four first-time All-Stars on the East.

For the second straight year, Eastern Conference coaches have selected four first-timers as All-Star reserves.

Three of the four newcomers are 23 years old or younger: Hawks center Al Horford (23), Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo (23) and Bulls point guard Derrick Rose (21). They represent the next generation of stars, who will garner many more All-Star selections in the next few years.

EASTERN CONFERENCE RESERVES East: Starters | West: Starters | Reserves G | Joe Johnson, Atlanta Hawks Jamal Crawford has made his job easier, but Johnson still leads the Hawks in scoring and assists. WATCH VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS G | Rajon Rondo, Boston Celtics Still struggling with his jumper and at the free-throw line, he leads the East in assists and steals. WATCH VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS G | Derrick Rose, Chicago Bulls The Bulls' first All-Star since Michael Jordan retired (for the second time) in 1998. WATCH VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS F | Chris Bosh, Toronto Raptors The only player in the league in the top 10 in both scoring (23.9) and rebounding (11.3). WATCH VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS F | Paul Pierce, Boston Celtics First selected in his fourth season (2001-02), Pierce has missed just one All-Star Game since. WATCH VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS F | Gerald Wallace, Charlotte Bobcats The only original Bobcat left on the roster is the franchise's first All-Star in its sixth season of existence. WATCH VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS C | Al Horford, Atlanta Hawks One of two All-Stars whose father played in the NBA, he's the first All-Star from the Dominican Republic. WATCH VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS

Rondo is the second All-Star from the Draft class of 2006, joining the Blazers' Brandon Roy, who earned his third All-Star selection this year. Horford joins the Thunder's Kevin Durant as the first All-Stars from the Draft class of 2007, and Rose is all alone as the first All-Star from the class of 2008.

Rose will have a busy weekend in Dallas. He and his fellow sophomores will take on the rookies in the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge & Youth Jam on Friday. And as the reigning Playstation Skills Challenge champion, he'll likely defend his title on Saturday.

Of course, neither of those nights will measure up to the big show on Sunday night at Cowboys Stadium.

"I would love to play in that game," Rose told the Chicago Tribune last week. "It'd be a dream come true. I can't lie."

After his Rookie of the Year campaign and coming-out party in the first round of last year's playoffs, Rose had a disappointing start to his second season, dealing with an ankle injury. But he began to turn his season around in early December, and since Christmas, he has led the Bulls to a 12-5 record with numbers clearly worthy of an All-Star selection: 23.1 points, 6.5 assists and 50 percent shooting.

Rondo got the better of Rose in that epic, seven-game series last April and has continued his ascension to the top of the point guard ranks. With his veteran teammates battling injuries, Rondo has taken on more of a leadership role with the Celtics. And his numbers have jumped as well. He's averaging career highs in points (14.2), assists (9.7), steals (2.54) and field-goal percentage (.534).

Horford is averaging career highs in points (13.6), rebounds (9.8) and field-goal percentage (.575). His numbers haven't jumped as much as Rondo's, but he's a critical defensive presence on the Hawks, who've taken another step forward this season.

The other first-timer on the East is Charlotte's Gerald Wallace. With the Bobcats in position to make the first playoff appearance in franchise history, Wallace is their first All-Star. He's also the only original Bobcat left on the roster and the heart of the second best defense in the league.

With only six teams above .500 in the East, there are no non-selections that can be considered serious snubs. But several other potential first-timers made strong cases. Milwaukee's Andrew Bogut, Philadelphia's Andre Iguodala, Charlotte's Stephen Jackson, New York's David Lee, and Atlanta's Josh Smith all should have been considered for selection.

Lee and Smith had the strongest arguments. But the Knicks' 18-26 record likely hurt Lee. Smith may have missed out because his teammate, Horford, qualified at center. The coaches had to vote for one center as a reserve, and Horford likely has less competition at center than Smith did at forward.

Filling out the East reserves instead are a trio of All-Star vets: Toronto's Chris Bosh (fifth selection), Atlanta's Joe Johnson (fourth selection), and Boston's Paul Pierce (eighth selection).

On Kobe, great athletes and a new Race committee

Things are looking up for Kobe Bryant in the latest Race to the MVP rankings.

You all don't know how close you came to getting an all-Kobe Bryant, all the time, Nos. 1 through 10 edition of The Race this week.

In aesthetic terms, there might have been something appealing about seeing the same guy listed one after another after another, stacked vertically to achieve an artistic effect not unlike what Andy Warhol did with repeating Campbell's soup cans. And yet, that wouldn't have been the reason.

Self-preservation would have been.

The Race, you see, is under new management. Beginning with this edition, a replacement committee takes over, otherwise known around here as The Management (or in Chicago parlance, The Outfit). Think of it as a mid-term inauguration.

The committee did not want to bring any baggage into this new duty. And lately, it had been dragging around several steamer trunks' worth of it, the result of a different Top 10 ranking. In that one, the committee offered up the greatest athletes in NBA history, where we eventually worked our way to No. 3 Michael Jordan, No. 2 LeBron James and No. 1 Wilt Chamberlain. The committee was heartened to see so much agreement with its top choice and fairly widespread acceptance of most other names on the list.

There were, naturally, some differences of opinions. That is to be expected, if not entirely welcomed, in matters such as these -- especially when a lot of you didn't bother to read the lengthy preamble and mistook one man's assessment of the league's all-time best athletes for just another run-of-the-mill, garden-variety ranking of the greatest NBA players. That's why, despite correspondence to the contrary, Larry Bird and Magic Johnson weren't included; even though the guy from French Lick and the fellow actually christened Earvin wouldn't quibble with it.

The omissions cited most fourth-, third- and second-most often by careful readers were Philadelphia legend Julius Erving, New York's mighty mite Nate Robinson and Orlando elder statesman Vince Carter. The committee can live with this, secure in the knowledge that those fine physical specimens are represented on your assessment's of the NBA's greatest athletes.

More troubling, though -- to the point of enlisting Brinks Security on a 90-day retainer and propping our version of Roy Hobbs' "Wonderboy'' bat against our nightstand -- was the hue and cry of Bryant's legions, questioning his absence.

The committee is not given to explaining itself in most circumstances, but in this case, it will make a brief exception: Like all NBA athletes, Bryant is a magnificent athlete. As a volume scorer, a creative and at times astonishing shooter, the closest thing to Michael Jordan since 1998 (closer even than Jordan's Wizards incarnation, 2001-03) and the bearer of four NBA championship rings, Bryant is more magnificent than most. While a couple of spots in our official Top 10 were used for group entries -- for example, No. 10 Gerald Wallace was a stand-in for all the great athletes in league history who didn't become great players (congrats to him, though, on his All-Star berth) -- Bryant surely would have been a deserving choice. The knife just had to cut somewhere.

(As for his exclusion from the honorable mentions, let's just say that a junior committee member will be ever so slightly boosting the nation's newly unemployed figures for January.)

Thus, the temptation to overdo the Bryant recognition in this edition of The Race. But the committee fought that off admirably, lest it be seen as sniveling and way too swayed by popular opinion.

Let's not forget, meanwhile, that the old committee all but proclaimed the Race to the MVP over and done in LeBron James' favor while dropping Bryant from No. 2 to No. 3 in two weeks ago in The Race.

The new committee is pleased to declare that an unconscionable slight.

1. LeBron James, Cavs

G	MPG	PPG	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	FG%	3P%	FT%
47	38.6	29.6	7.2	7.9	1.5	1.0	.505	.354	.775

Last Week's Rank - 1
A frantic meeting was held within The Race's walls after LeBron James scored only 12 points Wednesday against lowly Minnesota. Might this cost The King his top spot? After much deliberation, the verdict came down: Nah. James only needed to score 12 -- he passed for 11 assists, tattooed Corey Brewer with another of those caught-from-behind breakaway blocks and sat out the fourth quarter, well, because he could as Cleveland won for the sixth straight time. It's worth noting here that when James scores fewer than 20 points in a game this year, the Cavaliers are 5-0. Now that's efficiency.

2. Kobe Bryant, Lakers

G	MPG	PPG	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	FG%	3P%	FT%
46	38.4	28.3	5.5	4.8	1.7	0.3	.462	.321	.831

Last Week's Rank - 2
The Lakers' star began working on his second 25,000-point plateau, averaging 27.3 points, 9.6 rebounds and 8.0 assists in three games while shooting 53.7 percent. He helped L.A. improve to 3-2 on its lengthy Eastern trip.

3. Kevin Durant, Thunder

G	MPG	PPG	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	FG%	3P%	FT%
45	39.9	29.3	7.3	3.0	1.4	0.9	.479	.365	.873

Last Week's Rank - 3
The OKC star became the youngest player in NBA history to score 25 points in at least 19 consecutive games. But his 28 on 7-of-19 weren't enough to fend off Chicago, at home no less, as the Thunder lost its third in a row.

4. Tim Duncan, Spurs

G	MPG	PPG	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	FG%	3P%	FT%
41	32.5	19.9	10.8	3.2	0.5	1.8	.530	---	.747

Last Week's Rank - 6
The Spurs' inscrutable star shoots 34.0 percent (16-of-47) in a three-game stretch and ... moves up in The Race? Sure, since he drained an un-Duncan-like 80.5 percent of his free throws (29-of-36) in those games and grabbed 27 rebounds in a victory over Atlanta. San Antonio held the Hawks to 39.8 percent shooting and, led by Duncan, grabbed most (41 defensive rebounds) of the visitors' many misses.

5. Chris Bosh, Raptors

G	MPG	PPG	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	FG%	3P%	FT%
47	35.9	24.0	11.3	2.1	0.6	1.0	.520	.400	.787

Last Week's Rank - 8
If 34 double-doubles weren't already enough, Bosh made it clear he deserved an Eastern Conference All-Star roster spot -- probably a starting spot, if only Canada voted like China -- with 27 and 15 Thursday against New York and alleged coaches' snubbee David Lee.

6. Dwight Howard, Magic

G	MPG	PPG	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	FG%	3P%	FT%
46	34.9	17.5	13.2	1.5	1.2	2.6	.601	---	.600

Last Week's Rank - --
Shooting more free throws than field goals isn't something that happens much in this league. But it will when the guy involved hits his field goals (57.1 percent) almost as often as he sinks the supposedly easy ones (60.1). Howard averaged 18.7 points, 15.0 rebounds and, whoa, 5.7 blocks this week.

7. Dirk Nowitzki, Mavs

G	MPG	PPG	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	FG%	3P%	FT%
45	37.9	25.1	7.8	2.5	0.9	1.2	.476	.387	.888

Last Week's Rank - 5
Nowtizki slipped out of his special NBA status -- he had been the only guy averaging 25.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 1.0 steals and 1.0 blocks -- when he grabbed only five boards (and shot 5-of-11) in Thursday's loss at Phoenix. He slips here a little, then, as well, though he did score 20 at New York last weekend in the most lopsided victory in Dallas franchise history.

8. Derrick Rose, Bulls

G	MPG	PPG	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	FG%	3P%	FT%
44	36.3	19.8	3.7	5.9	0.8	0.3	.477	.235	.751

Last Week's Rank - --
Before the Chicago point guard makes his All-Star debut, he gets a spot on the new committee-edition of The Race. Rose helped the Bulls to a season-best winning streak of four games and, after averaging 16.2 points in November and 20.4 in December, has been scoring at a 23.5 clip in January.

9. Steve Nash, Suns

G	MPG	PPG	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	FG%	3P%	FT%
48	33.5	18.5	3.1	11.0	0.5	0.2	.524	.442	.946

Last Week's Rank - 7
Nash still is on pace to hit his usual numbers -- 50 percent from the floor, 40 percent from the arc and 90 percent from the line -- for the fourth time, something no one else has done more than twice. Despite his 19 points and 11 assists vs. Dallas, Nash was a minus-1 -- the Suns' bench actually won that one.

10. Dwyane Wade, Heat

G	MPG	PPG	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	FG%	3P%	FT%
45	36.8	27.3	4.8	6.2	1.8	1.2	.467	.301	.757

Last Week's Rank - 10
The Race was poised to give Wade big ups after he shouldered responsibility for Miami's narrow loss to Cleveland -- that's what MVPs do, when they aren't scoring, starring and winning. But after he scored only two points in the second half against the Cavs, Wade got contained to four in the fourth quarter of the Heat's loss at Toronto.

Williams finally gets the recognition he deserves

Forever linked with Chris Paul by draft class, Deron Williams will make his first All-Star appearance.

Deron Williams has earned a spot on the U.S. Olympic squad. He's led the Jazz to the playoffs the last three years. He's even locked down a spot on an All-NBA team.

Williams has enjoyed a decorated career for someone just 25. Now he can add another piece to the résumé. He's an All-Star for the first time.

WESTERN CONFERENCE RESERVES West: Starters | East: Starters | Reserves G | Chris Paul, New Orleans Hornets The best point guard around? Perhaps. Can dominate the game in so many ways. WATCH VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS G | Brandon Roy, Portland Trail Blazers Does everything the Blazers need. As effective scoring as he is setting up offense. WATCH VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS G | Deron Williams, Utah Jazz About time. Considered one of the best in the game, finally gets All-Star nod. WATCH VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS F | Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder First of many selections to come and has helped make Thunder relevant in the West. WATCH VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS F | Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas Mavericks Continues to improve after more than a decade. Bet on Dirk being first off the bench. WATCH VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS F | Zach Randolph, Memphis Grizzlies Forget the rep. Rebounding machine earned spot through his play and Grizzlies' rise. WATCH VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS C | Pau Gasol, L.A. Lakers Not really a center, but that's OK. Second banana to Kobe averaging double-double. WATCH VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS

"It'll be great to get my first All-Star appearance, especially in Dallas," Williams said.

Williams, Thunder forward Kevin Durant and Grizzlies forward Zach Randolph are the three newcomers in the group of seven Western Conference reserves. The four multiple-time All-Stars: Dirk Nowitzki (Mavericks), Chris Paul (Hornets), Pau Gasol (Lakers) and Brandon Roy (Blazers).

The reserves join starters Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash, Carmelo Anthony, Tim Duncan and Amar'e Stoudemire. The All-Star Game is being held Feb. 14 at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, before a stadium audience that should break all previous attendence records for a basketball game.

The All-Star Game is also a homecoming for Williams, who grew up and starred in high school in the Dallas area. And he's not the only one. Nowitzki gets to suit up before his hometown fans, while Durant played collegiately a few hours down the highway at the University of Texas.

"To have my first All-Star Game kind of in the middle of my two second homes, so to speak, Austin and Oklahoma City, would be very special," Durant said. "Some fans from Oklahoma City could come down to watch, my teammates could come to the game, and to walk out onto that court and see 80 or 90,000 people in the stands would be amazing."

The league's third-leading scorer said he didn't deserve All-Star consideration last year because Oklahoma City wasn't winning. Those sentiments struck a chord with Thunder coach Scott Brooks.

"That's powerful for a young player to say those types of things and really mean it," Brooks said. "He meant it."

Nowitzki, an All-Star for the ninth consecutive time, narrowly missed a starting berth when Duncan surged ahead in the final days. Though it's old hat, Nowitzki doesn't take his place in the league's showcase and within the Mavericks organization for granted.

"It is an honor to represent this franchise in the All-Star Game," he said. "We hope to put on a good show for our fans."

The selections by the West coaches went pretty much as projected, but a couple of picks deserve a second glance. Gasol was selected for the third time as the backup center despite not being the everyday center for the Lakers (Andrew Bynum is). Gasol missed 17 games and has had a slight dropoff in scoring.

Clippers center Chris Kaman was effectively snubbed for the second time. He also was initially left off the ballot by the writers committee. too. Kaman (20.1 points and 9.1 rebounds per game) is arguably having the best season of any traditional center in the West and the Clippers, despite being 20-25, are hanging on in the playoff hunt.

Randolph's selection is also notable. The league's fourth-leading rebounder is certainly deserving, and the Grizzlies are one of the West's surprise stories, but some thought Z-Bo's less-than-stellar reputation might cost him support within the coaching fraternity.

"It's changing," Randolph said of his image. "Because no matter what, you've got to get people to know that ... is definitely changing here in Memphis."

Other notable omissions include Chauncey Billups (Nuggets), Aaron Brooks (Rockets) and Rudy Gay (Grizzlies). Choosing among the guards had to be the toughest chore for West coaches. Among those backcourt standouts chosen, Paul is making his fourth All-Star team and Roy his third.

"He's had a better year this year than he's had any season," Portland coach Nate McMillan said of Roy. "He's averaging 23 [points per game]. With so many of our guys being injured and with guys around the league knowing he's an All-Star, he has still been able to put up the numbers, both scoring as well as winning in the West. He's had to shoulder a lot of load for the team."

The same can be said for Williams. Whoever the West coach is will be blessed with a stacked collection of point guards in starter Nash, Paul and Williams. The latter was just waiting to join the party after being left out the last few seasons.

"We've got a lot of great point guards in the West every year," Williams said. "It's been disappointing, but at the same time, go down the list. We have Steve Nash, Tony Parker, Chris Paul, Baron Davis, Chauncey Billups. There are a lot of good point guards out there."

What the NBA needs now is a good, old-fashioned rivalry

The LeBron James-Dwyane Wade rivalry is pretty timid compared to others in NBA history.

There was a time when NBA teams and players would challenge each other to settle a beef, and David Stern didn't seem to mind.

Well, not to an actual fight with fists or semi-automatic weapons. In the past, "fights" had more to do with rivalries, which were the rage in the NBA but now are about as rare as a Nuggets player without body art. Those rivalries gave the NBA some character, buzz and an intense following. They were spiced with a healthy amount of trash talking, bold challenges, even ruffled coaches. Those rivalries made everyone look forward to the next meeting.

Priceless, they were.

Lakers-Celtics. Of course.

Pistons-Bulls. Jordan Rules and all that.

Lakers-Kings. Shaq and Kobe versus C-Webb and Divac. Phil Jackson vs. the city of Sacramento.

Spike Lee-Reggie Miller.

Reggie Miller-John Starks.

Michael Jordan-John Starks.

Knicks-Heat. Lots of low scores and high temperatures.

And there were others. Those rivalries created headlines, hard feelings and were absolutely good for basketball. But whatever happened to them?

The few legitimate rivalries now are mainly manufactured by TV, looking for an angle. The last one with an edge was Kobe vs. Shaq, a rivalry for all the wrong reasons. And now even those two are back on speaking terms. Teams and players just don't rub each other the wrong way any more. When the Sixers are playing the Celtics nowadays, it's no different than the Sixers playing the Wizards. No intensity beyond the usual. No tough talk, before or after the game. No name calling. No blood. No big deal.

You'd even think that Kobe and LeBron James would at least try to settle the best-player issue, once and for all, but they're on good terms. Same for LeBron and Dwyane Wade and Carmelo Anthony. They were all teammates on USA Basketball. They like each other too much to be rivals. Some have even discussed the possibility of being on the same team next season. You think Bill Laimbeer ever had those summit talks with Robert Parish and Kevin McHale?

There are theories, whether true or not: Games aren't as physical. The same three or four teams don't meet in the playoffs every year, not like before. Thanks to expansion, too many teams mean too few regular-season head-to-head contests. And so on.

That's too bad. The league could use a few rivalries, if only to reassure folks that certain teams and players can work up a healthy dose of emotion against a specific enemy without crossing the line. Instead, we get two players who disagree over a card game, then promise to settle it in a way that even Laimbeer and Parish would refuse.

Zero Interest?

Gilbert Arenas has played his final game for the Wizards. So says a person connected to the organization. The Wizards were so embarrassed by the incident, and lost so much goodwill in town that they're ready to do whatever it takes (within reason, of course) to sever ties and move on.

It won't be easy, obviously, to trade Arenas because Agent Zero has $80 million left on a deal that runs four more years. With an upcoming labor negotiation putting teams on salary alert, good luck finding a taker for that contract. Plus, Arenas is awaiting sentencing and nobody knows what the judge might decide.

Unless the Wizards are prepared to get 50 cents on the dollar, they may be stuck with Arenas and his contract. Here are a few teams that might be willing to listen, if only because Arenas would be their missing link:

Clippers: They'll have room under their cap this summer and if they can't attract a premium free agent, Arenas would be the next best option. He's from Southern California and owner Donald Sterling is desperate for a star. Maybe they could send Baron Davis to the Wiz in a straight-up deal.

Hawks: If they lose Joe Johnson to free agency, and that appears likely, Arenas would be a good replacement, considering the Hawks were prepared to pay Johnson the money Arenas is making.

Nets: They need help. They have money.

Line Score of the Week

Marc Gasol, Grizzlies: 41 minutes, 8-for-13 field goals, 12 rebounds, 25 points against the Pistons.

Honestly, which Gasol would you rather have: Marc or Pau? Just by throwing the question out there says plenty about Marc, who is enjoying a breakout season on the suddenly interesting Grizzlies. Marc is much more physical than his older brother (whom he outweighs by 50 pounds) and isn't afraid to mix it up. His game isn't as fluid as Pau's but Marc finds a way to get his numbers, which is interesting given he plays on a team with Zach Randolph, Rudy Gay and O.J. Mayo.

With Marc Gasol on a roll, it brings even more scrutiny to the decision the Grizzlies made on Draft day last summer to take center Hasheem Thabeet over Tyreke Evans and Stephen Curry. Both Evans and Curry would be in the rotation and get heavy minutes on the Grizzlies, whereas Thabeet is busy, well, being big.

Line Score of the Weak

Baron Davis, Clippers: 29 minutes, 2-of-10 field goals, four turnovers, six points against the Nets.

Davis is a complex man. He's someone who is intelligent, socially aware, business oriented and at times a very good point guard. On the flip side, he's not always motivated to play, has dealt with fitness and injury issues and struggles with inconsistency. That pretty much sums up his career with the Clippers.

The Bad Baron suited up the other night in the Meadowlands. The Nets were without Devin Harris, meaning they were ripe to be beaten (again) and scorched by Davis. Instead, the opposite happened. The Clippers allowed the Nets to win only for the fourth time all season and Davis was an interesting no-show.

Of course, Baron being Baron, this probably means Davis will deliver a string of big games in the next week, which is exactly what you'd expect from him.

Dis and Dat

•After shooting 13-for-14 against the Mavericks and 11-for-14 against the Raptors, Andrew Bogut is beginning to grow on me. He's not Kwame Brown, that's for sure. Meaning: Don't make him out to be a disastrous No. 1 pick.

• Knicks general manager Donnie Walsh said even if the Knicks don't get the big-name free agent this summer, "we still did the right thing" by using the last two years to clear cap space. And he's absolutely correct. What was the alternative, win 35-40 games and not reach the playoffs or increase their odds of a high draft pick?

What the Knicks shouldn't do is throw big money at their fifth or sixth choice (Carlos Boozer?) and take themselves out of the running for a free agent the following summer.

That would be Carmelo Anthony.

• Oklahoma City will have a few dollars to throw around this summer. How about the Thunder making a run at Amar'e Stoudemire? Or perhaps Chris Bosh, bringing him closer to home in Dallas? That would satisfy their scoring problems in the post.

Then if they package Jeff Green with Nick Collison (expiring contract next season), they might reel in another big name. Scary thought.

• Wouldn't want to play the Nuggets in May if I were the Lakers, Mavericks or Spurs. Kenyon Martin is suddenly looking like the guy who once played for the Nets.

Speaking of which, Jason Kidd sure made a lot of his New Jersey teammates rich: K-Mart, Vince Carter, Richard Jefferson and Mikki Moore all put up big numbers, both on the floor and in the bank, when they caught passes from Kidd.

• Write the check already, Larry Ellison. The Warriors could use a shakeup.