As usual, there will be approximately 60 stars from the college ranks, D-League and international game competing against one another and themselves over the course of two days.

While the NBA’s combine may not have the luster of the NFL’s, it’s still an important affair that showcases everyone from consensus top five picks to fringe second-rounders.

With that being said, here is my latest 2013 NBA Mock Draft-Pre-Combine edition.

February 12, 2013; Gainesville, FL, USA; Kentucky Wildcats forward Nerlens Noel (3) shoots a free throw against the Florida Gators during the second half at the Stephen C. O

1. Orlando Magic
Player Name: Nerlens Noel
Position, School: PF, Kentucky

The Magic have a ton of holes to fill and they are in a fortunate situation where they can take the best player on the board. If his knee passes all of the test, that guy is Noel. He is an excellent shot-blocker who should develop a better than average offensive game. Knee injury or not, Noel has the makings of a dominant NBA big man. He has more upside than anyone in the draft and will look very nice paired with Nikola Vucevic.

2. Charlotte Bobcats
Player Name: Ben McLemore
Position, School: SG, Kansas

The Bobcats have a couple nice young pieces in place with Kemba Walker and Michael-Kidd Gilchrist. Now it’s time to address the need for a productive shooting guard.  With great athleticism and an elite scoring ability, he could be a go-to player early in his career. While he was a bit inconsistent last season, McLemore still has plenty of room to grow and his natural skill translates well to the next level.

3. Cleveland Cavaliers
Player Name: Otto Porter
Position, School: SF, Georgetown

The Cavs have their backcourt for the future set with Kyrie Irving and Dion Waiters and also have some nice frontcourt players in Tristan Thompson, Tyler Zeller and Anderson Varejao. What Cleveland needs is a productive 3 and Porter could be the perfect fit. He can do it all at both ends of the court and is a future NBA star.

4. Phoenix Suns
Player Name: Victor Oladipo
Position, School: SG, Indiana

Oladipo is the best on-ball defender in this class, which will greatly improve what was a horrible Suns’ defense. He is an explosive athlete and if his offensive game continues to improve, Phoenix could have themselves a future star.

5. New Orleans Hornets
Player Name: Shabazz Muhammad
Position, School: SF, UCLA

The Hornets could look at Michigan’s Trey Burke here, but the need for someone that can put the ball in the basket is too great. Greivis Vasquez proved that he can be a solid point guard and by adding Muhammad, they get themselves a guy that can create his own shot and finish as a shooter or near the basket. He also is a guy who can help take some of the scoring pressure off of Eric Gordon.

6. Sacramento Kings
Player Name: Anthony Bennett
Position, School: PF, UNLV

Bennett is one of the most versatile players in the draft. He has the strength to play inside at power forward and the handle and shooting ability to play small forward if needed. He is currently injured, but the Kings need help at both positions and his upside is too great to pass on.

7. Detroit Pistons 
Player Name: Trey Burke

Apr 5, 2013; Atlanta, GA, USA; Michigan Wolverines guard Trey Burke (3) reacts during practice for the 2013 NCAA Mens Final Four at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

Position, School: PG, Michigan

The Pistons can use a true point guard that will allow them to move Brandin Knight off the ball. Burke is a point guard how can pass as well as he scores and has a very bright NBA future ahead of him.

8. Washington Wizards
Player Name: Alex Len
Position, School: C, Maryland

The Wizards have their backcourt for the future in John Wall and Bradley Beal, so here is an opportunity to add a big man that can complement those guys. Len didn’t put up the greatest numbers in college, but he had to deal with poor guard play. His athleticism and ability to finish near the basket should work out great in Washington.

9. Minnesota Timberwolves 
Player Name: C.J. McCollum
Position, School: PG/SG, Lehigh

This is probably a reach, but I like McCollum a lot and think he’s a great fit in Minnesota. I don’t view McCollum as a point guard in the NBA but think he could be very good off the ball. The Timberwolves are still searching for an answer at shooting guard and have shot only 30 percent from behind the arc on the season.  McCollum is a guy who can really knock down the long-range shot, connecting on 51 percent on his three-point attempts.  He will be this year’s Damian Lillard.

10. Portland Trail Blazers
Player Name: Cody Zeller
Position, School: C, Indiana

The Blazers have a great starting five but no depth at all. Zeller gives the Blazers some addition height and a guy that runs the floor very well. He can finish around the basket and has a nice mid-range game. He’s the best player left on the board here and could turn out to be a steal for the Blazers.

Knicks over Celtics in 6

Pacers over Hawks in 5

Bulls over Nets in 7 Heat over Bucks in 7

Knicks over Celtics in 5

Pacers over Hawks in 4

Bulls over Nets in 7 Heat over Bucks in 4

Knicks over Celtics in 6

Pacers over Hawks in 5

Bulls over Nets in 5 Heat over Bucks in 4

Knicks over Celtics in 6

Pacers over Hawks in 6

Nets over Bulls in 7 Heat over Bucks in 4

Knicks over Celtics in 6

Pacers over Hawks in 6

Bulls over Nets in 7 Heat over Bucks in 4

Knicks over Celtics in 6

Pacers over Hawks in 5

Nets over Bulls in 7 Heat over Bucks in 4

Knicks over Celtics in 6

Pacers over Hawks in 5

Bulls over Nets in 7 Heat over Bucks in 5

Knicks over Celtics in 4

Pacers over Hawks in 6

Bulls over Nets in 7 Western Conference 1^st Round Thunder over Rockets in 7

Spurs over Lakers in 6

Nuggets over Warriors in 7

Grizzlies over Clippers in 7 Thunder over Rockets in 7

Spurs over Lakers in 6

Nuggets over Warriors in 6

Clippers over Grizzlies in 7 Thunder over Rockets in 4

Spurs over Lakers in 4

Nuggets over Warriors in 6

Clippers over Grizzlies in 7 Thunder over Rockets in 5

Spurs over Lakers in 6

Warriors over Nuggets in 7

Clippers over Grizzlies in 6 Thunder over Rockets in 7

Spurs over Lakers in 6

Warriors over Nuggets in 7

Clippers over Grizzlies in 7 Thunder over Rockets in 5

Spurs over Lakers in 4

Nuggets over Warriors in 5

Clippers over Grizzlies in 5 Thunder over Rockets in 5

Lakers over Spurs in 7

Nuggets over Warriors in 5

Clippers over Grizzlies in 6 Thunder over Rockets in 6

Spurs over Lakers in 6

Nuggets over Warriors in 5

Clippers over Grizzlies over  in 7 Eastern Conference Semi-Finals Heat over Bulls in 6

Knicks over Pacers in 6 Heat over Bulls in 6

Knicks over Pacers in 5 Heat over Bulls in 5

Knicks over Pacers in 7 Heat over Nets in 4

Knicks over Pacers in 5 Heat over Bulls in 6

Knicks over Pacers in 7 Heat over Bulls in 6

Knicks over Pacers in 5 Heat over Bulls in 5

Knicks over Pacers in 5 Heat over Bulls in 6

Knicks over Pacers in 6 Western Conference Semi-Finals Thunder over Grizzlies in 5

Nuggets over Spurs in 6 Clippers over Thunder in 7

Nuggets over Spurs in 6 Thunder over Clippers in 6

Nuggets over Spurs in 7 Thunder over Clippers in 7

Warriors over Spurs in 7 Thunder over Clippers in 7

Spurs over Warriors in 6 Clippers over Thunder in 7

Spurs over Nuggets in 4 Thunder over Clippers in 5

Nuggets over Lakers in 4 Thunder over Clippers in 7

Nuggets over Spurs in 7 Eastern Conference Finals Heat over Knicks in 6 Knicks over Heat in 7 Heat over Knicks in 6 Heat over Knicks in 6 Heat over Knicks in 6 Knicks over Heat in 7 Heat over Knicks in 6 Knicks over Heat in 7 Western Conference Finals Thunder over Nuggets in 5 Nuggets over Clippers in 7 Thunder over Nuggets in 5 Thunder over Warriors in 6 Thunder over Spurs in 5 Clippers over Spurs in 7 Thunder over Nuggets in 5 Thunder over Nuggets in 7 NBA Finals Thunder over Heat in 7 Knicks over Nuggets in 7 Thunder over Heat in 7 Heat over Thunder in 6 Heat over Thunder in 6 Knicks over Clippers in 6 Heat over Thunder in 6 Thunder over Knicks in 6 Finals MVP Russell Westbrook Carmelo Anthony Kevin Durant LeBron James LeBron James Carmelo Anthony LeBron James Kevin Durant

When we look at the Western Conference, the Oklahoma City Thunder are looking to take the next step and win an NBA championship, but seven other teams will look to have something to say about that.

There are plenty of storylines in the Western Conference other than in OKC. Can James Harden make the Thunder pay for trading him? Will the Clippers and Grizzlies show the hate for each other that we expect? Can the Lakers beat the Spurs without Kobe Bryant? Will the Spurs get things figured out and make a run at their fifth ring? And will the Nuggets and Warriors break the scoreboard with what promises to be a fast-paced and exciting series?

Those questions and plenty more will answered over the course of the next couple of months.

Feb 20, 2013; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets shooting guard James Harden (13) drives to the basket during the fourth quarter against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Toyota Center. The Rockets defeated the Thunder 122-119. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

As the postseason begins gets set to begin this Saturday, here’s a look at everything you need to know about each first round series.

No. 1 Oklahoma City Thunder vs. No. 8 Houston Rockets

Season Series: OKC 2-1

How they matchup:

Oklahoma City- 60-22

Points per game: 105.7 (third in NBA)

Rebounds per game: 43.6 (sixth)

Assists per game: 21.4 (21st)

Points allowed per game: 96.5 (ninth)

Field goal percentage: 48.1% (third)

Three-point percentage: 37.7% (third)

Free-throw percentage:  82.8% (first)

Houston- 45-37

Points per game: 106.0(second)

Rebounds per game: 43.4 (seventh)

Assists per game:  23.2 (sixth)

Points allowed per game:  102.5 (28th)

Field goal percentage: 46.1% (ninth)

Three-point percentage: 36.6% (eighth)

Free-throw percentage:  75.4% (17th)

What to expect: This should be an exciting series filled with a lot of up and down action as it features two of the three top scoring teams in the league.

The storyline here is James Harden against his old team, but Harden’s first taste of leading a team into the playoffs as a franchise player will likely be a quick one.

The Rockets are a nice story but they have their issues at the defensive end of the floor.

The difference between the two teams is that the Thunder can get stops when they need them.

Prediction: Oklahoma City in five

Anthony will join Tyson Chandler, Kenyon Martin and plenty of other Knicks players who will sit out the regular season finale at The Garden against the Atlanta Hawks.

Apr 14, 2013; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks small forward Carmelo Anthony (7) looks to the net during the second quarter against the Indiana Pacers at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports

However Oklahoma City’s Kevin Durant will also sit out the Thunder’s finale Wednesday night against the Milwaukee Bucks, ensuring the fact that Anthony will win the scoring title.

Even if Durant would have played, it was a forgone conclusion that Anthony would win the scoring championship as Durant would have had to score 70 points to unseat ‘Melo, but stranger things have happened.

‘Melo wins his first career scoring title by finishing with a 28.7 points per game average, besting Durant, who finished at 28.1.

The Los Angeles Lakers Kobe Bryant finished third with a 27.3 average.

Winning the scoring title is quite the feat for Anthony, who overtook Durant with an outstanding 15-game stretch to close the season.

During the final seven games in March, Anthony averaged 27.8 points per game, but he really took control of the scoring race by averaging a whopping 36.9 points in eight April contests.

When the playoffs begin, Anthony wouldn’t have played a game in eight days due to resting a sore shoulder. Hopefully for the sake of Knicks fans, Anthony will be able to pick right up where he left off.

Anthony winning the scoring championship breaks a three-year hold that Durant has had on the scoring title and he also becomes the first Knicks player to capture the honor since Bernard King did so during the 1984-85 season.

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With the NCAA Tournament in the books, it’s time to start spending even more time focusing on the 2013 NBA Draft.

Some guys helped their causes with strong tournament performances, while some guys hurt their stock in a big way with poor performances on the game’s biggest stage.

Things have changed a great deal since my last mock, so without any time, let’s take a look at my 2013 NBA Mock Draft: Post NCAA Tournament edition.

As a note, the draft order is after games played on April 10.

1. Charlotte Bobcats
Player Name: Nerlens Noel
Position, School: PF, Kentucky

The Bobcats have a couple nice young pieces in place with Kemba Walker and Michael-Kidd Gilchrist. Now it’s time to address the need for a productive big man. Noel is an excellent shot-blocker who should develop a better than average offensive game. Knee injury or not, Noel has the makings of a dominant NBA big man. Noel has more upside than anyone in the draft and should develop into a very good shot blocker and rebounder.

Mar 14, 2013; Kansas City, MO, USA; Oklahoma State Cowboys guard Marcus Smart (33) brings the ball up the court against the Baylor Bears in the second half during the second round of the Big 12 tournament at the Sprint Center. Oklahoma State defeated Baylor 74-72. Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports

2. Orlando Magic
Player Name: Marcus Smart
Position, School: PG, Oklahoma State

Smart makes perfect sense for the Magic here as they can target their floor general of the future. He may be more of a scorer than a pure passer, but he is a winner and a leader and can impact this Magic offense from the guard position, something they need badly. He needs to work on his jumper but he is a playmaker and is a beast defensively.

3. Phoenix Suns
Player Name: Ben McLemore
Position, School: SG, Kansas

McLemore’s less than spectacular NCAA Tournament drops him from the top spot for the first time this season. But he’s still only 20 years old and has excellent potential as a pure shooter, something the Suns desperately need as they have made only 32 percent of their three-point attempts on the season.

4. Cleveland Cavaliers
Player Name: Otto Porter
Position, School: SF, Georgetown

The Cavs have their backcourt for the future set with Kyrie Irving and Dion Waiters and also have some nice frontcourt players in Tristan Thompson, Tyler Zeller and Anderson Varejao. What Cleveland needs is a productive 3 and Porter could be the perfect fit. He can do it all at both ends of the court and is a future NBA star.

5. Detroit Pistons 
Player Name: Shabazz Muhammad
Position, School: SF, UCLA

It’s hard to pass on Victor Oladipo here, but the Pistons get no production from the small forward spot and have to address the need. Shabazz Muhammad is a reach here, but he fills an immediate need and has upside. While Muhammad has been a slight disappointment as a freshman, he’s tough, knows how to score and brings a strong motor to the table.

Mar 24, 2013; Dayton, OH, USA; Indiana Hoosiers guard Victor Oladipo (4) high fives a fan as he leaves the court after the win over the Temple Owls during the third round of the 2013 NCAA tournament at University of Dayton Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

6. New Orleans Hornets
Player Name: Victor Oladipo
Position, School: SG, Indiana

The Hornets have good young players at every position right now and while they could use a slight upgrade at small forward right now, it’s too tempting to take Oladipo here.  He is an elite defender, an explosive athlete and a rapidly improving offensive player who will fit in great on Monty Williams’ team. I’m making this pick under the assumption that New Orleans moves Eric Gordon in the offseason, something I expect them to do.

7. Sacramento Kings
Player Name: Trey Burke
Position, School: PG, Michigan

Burke’s stock continues to rise after leading Michigan to the title game and he will find a home in Sacramento (or Seattle).He is  a bit undersized, but his toughness, all-around game, mistake-free basketball and winning attitude should be a great fit with the dysfunctional Kings. He’s a no-risk pick at No. 7.

8. Washington Wizards
Player Name: Anthony Bennett
Position, School: PF, UNLV

The Wizards have their backcourt for the future in John Wall and Bradley Beal, so here is an opportunity to add a power forward that can complement those guys. Bennett has an NBA body and can score from anywhere on the floor. The Wizards should be thrilled to get him this late.

9. Minnesota Timberwolves 
Player Name: C.J. McCollum
Position, School: PG/SG, Lehigh

This is probably a reach, but I like McCollum a lot and think he’s a great fit in Minnesota. I don’t view McCollum as a point guard in the NBA but think he could be very good off the ball. The Timberwolves are still searching for an answer at shooting guard and have shot only 30 percent from behind the arc on the season.  McCollum is a guy who can really knock down the long-range shot, connecting on 51 percent on his three-point attempts.  He will be this year’s Damian Lillard.

10. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Toronto)
Player Name: Alex Len
Position, School: C, Maryland

The Thunder need to find a long-term replacement for James Harden and an eventual replacement for Kendrick Perkins.  With that being said, they can’t pass on Len here as he has a decent offensive game and can rebound and block shots. Len has a ton of upside and the Thunder can bring him along slowly.

‘Melo’s heroics haven’t just resulted in the Knicks being on a 12-game win streak, but individually Anthony is pursuing a goal of his own.

Apr 7, 2013; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony (7) dunks the ball against Oklahoma City Thunder forward Nick Collison (4) and Thunder forward Kevin Durant (35) during the second half at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports

His 36-point performance during Sunday’s victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder has moved ‘Melo past Kevin Durant in the race for the NBA scoring title.

Anthony’s recent hot streak means that Durant officially is in danger of losing the scoring title for the first time in three years. ‘Melo is now leading the NBA with a 28.44 points per game average, slightly ahead of Durant’s 28.35.

For Anthony to win his first career scoring title, he must keep up the pace for six more games.

Three of those games will be at Madison Square Garden against the Washington Wizards, Indiana Pacers and Atlanta Hawks, while three will be on the road against the Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers and Charlotte Bobcats.

Anthony has played 12 games on the season against those opponents and has averaged 27.8 points. That is a bit deceiving though as a six-point effort when ‘Melo was injured and left the game against the Cavs on March 4 brings that average down.

Durant on the other hand has five games remaining and it is unclear if Thunder head coach Scott Brooks may elect to rest his stars a game or two down the stretch to prepare for the playoffs.

The Thunder’s next three games are on the road against the Utah Jazz, Golden State Warriors and Portland Trail Blazers. The Thunder then finish up at home against the Sacramento Kings and Milwaukee Bucks.

To date, Durant has played 12 games against those opponents and has averaged 27.4 points on the season.

The opportunity for ‘Melo to win the scoring title is certainly within reach and with the roll he is on, you have to like his chances.

However even if he captures the crown, Anthony would be the first to tell you that it doesn’t mean much without a lengthy playoff run.

The individual awards are nice, but ultimately Anthony is going to be judged on how far he can lead the Knicks in the playoffs.

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It happened on the road against a very tough team in a very tough building to win, as the Thunder entered the game 33-5 on their home floor.

Despite allowing 120 points and watching Thunder point guard nearly take over the game with a 37 point effort to go with 11 rebounds and eight assists, the Knicks won an offensive slugfest 125-120.

Apr 7, 2013; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; New York Knicks guard Raymond Felton (2) talks to Knicks center Tyson Chandler after he was charged with a technical foul during the second half at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports

Carmelo Anthony outdueled Kevin Durant and took ahold of the NBA’s scoring lead and more importantly led the Knicks to their 12th consecutive win and sent a message to the NBA in the process.

The Knicks were shorthanded, without Kenyon Martin and Marcus Camby, leaving Tyson Chandler as the Knicks only healthy big man. In addition, they found a way to win despite allowing OKC to shoot 57.7 percent from the floor and 52.9 percent from behind the arc.

The Knicks didn’t have a bad day from the floor themselves though, knocking down 49.5 percent of the attempts from the floor and 44.1 percent of their three-point attempts on the afternoon.

With that being said, let’s take a look at how each Knicks player graded out in one of their biggest wins of the season.

Individual Grades

Raymond Felton (16 points, 5-of-12 shooting, 8 assists, 4 rebounds, 1 steal)

Felton has been much better since getting moved off of the ball and Sunday was no exception as he was an important part in winning. His ability to get into the lane and finish among the Thunder bigs was crucial and he made a huge play late in the game when he fell in the lane and still found a way to tip the ball out to J.R. Smith who knocked down a huge three. Grade: B+

Pablo Prigioni (3 points, 1-of-2 shooting, 3 assists, 1 steal)

Prigioni struggled for a change with the defensive pressure of the Thunder, including making a pair of costly third quarter turnovers on back-to-back possessions that allowed the Thunder to get back into the game. In addition, everyone that attempted to guard Westbrook on this afternoon struggled in a big way. It wasn’t Prigioni’s best day, although he was instrumental in getting the ball moving during his 19 minutes. Grade D

Iman Shumpert (0 points, 0-of-2 shooting, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal)

Shumpert’s shot wasn’t falling early and he struggled defensively on Durant. The result was only 11 minutes played and Anthony moving out to the perimeter to guard Durant. Grade: D

Carmelo Anthony (36 points, 15-of-29 shooting, 12 rebounds, 1 block)

It wasn’t a 40-point effort from ‘Melo, but it was just as dominant. Anthony made it happen from the inside and the outside and somehow scored 31 points before making it to the free-throw line for the first time. He did a better than average job on Durant defensively and his nine offensive rebounds spoke of a man on a mission. Simply another elite performance from Anthony. Grade: A+

Tyson Chandler (15 points, 6-of-9 shooting, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 blocks)

The Thunder scored 120 points, so Chandler’s defense wasn’t a factor, but he was active at the offensive end, scoring 15 points and grabbing three offensive rebounds. The Thunder didn’t miss much on the afternoon so his rebound total is rather low, but he was a big part in the win nonetheless. Although another technical foul could have proved costly. Grade: B-

Apr 7, 2013; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; New York Knicks forward Chris Copeland (13) handles the ball against Oklahoma City Thunder forward Nick Collison (4) during the first half at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports

Chris Copeland (13 points, 5-of-9 shooting, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 block)

With some of the Knicks starters in foul trouble, they needed a spark from their bench and got one as the Knicks reserves scored 36 first half points and totaled 55  for the game. However they don’t win without the early spark that Copeland provided. He was able to have success getting to the rim and ultimately opened things up for the long-range shot. Copeland still has his shortcomings, but on this afternoon he was exactly the spark that the Knicks needed. Grade: A

Steve Novak (6 points, 2-of-4 shooting, 2 rebounds)

Novak didn’t contribute much, but knocked down a pair of big three’s in only 12 minutes of playing time. Grade: C+

Jason Kidd (14 points, 5-of-8 shooting, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals)

In addition to Copeland adding a spark, Kidd’s play was vital in the victory as he had a very productive day, knocking down four triples and doing all of the other things that the future Hall of Famer always does to help this team win. Grade: A

J.R. Smith (22 points, 7-of-18 shooting, 7 rebounds, 4 assists)

Smith’s shot wasn’t falling at the rate that it has been as of late, but he made up for it by getting to the free-throw line nine times. I am a little worried that he didn’t take the ball to the rim a lot as nine of his 18 attempts came from behind the arc, but he had a big fourth quarter and knocked down a huge three that swung the momentum the Knicks way for good. Grade: B+

James White: DNP (Coach’s Decision)

Kenyon Martin: DNP (Left Knee)

Marcus Camby: DNP (Left Foot)

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The Knicks have listed Kenyon Martin (sore left knee) and Marcus Camby (left plantar fasciitis) as doubtful for their game against the Thunder on Sunday afternoon in Oklahoma City.

Apr 2, 2013; Miami, FL, USA; New York Knicks power forward Kenyon Martin (3) drives to the basket as Miami Heat power forward Chris Andersen (11) defends during the first half at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Playing in Oklahoma City, where the Thunder are an impressive 33-5 on the season, certainly will represent the toughest challenge the Knicks have had to date on their current streak.

The Thunder have  an impressive frontcourt which will be tough to matchup against as they start Kevin Durant, Serge Ibaka and Kendrick Perkins, while bringing the likes of Nick Collison off the bench.  The Knicks on the other hand could be without five big men: Martin, Camby, Amar’e Stoudemire, Rasheed Wallace and Kurt Thomas. That means Tyson Chandler, who has said he is feeling much better coming off of  a  neck injury, will have his hands full as the Knicks only healthy big man.

If Martin misses Sunday’s game, it will be the second consecutive game he has missed due to the knee, but Knicks head coach Mike Woodson called the reason for Martin’s rest “precautionary.”

“His knee is sore,”  Woodson told ESPN’s Jared Zwerling. ”It could be because he didn’t have camp and he’s played a few back-to-back games. And when Tyson was out, I was playing him because I was desperate and didn’t know where else to go.”

As for Camby, this is expected by now as  the  free agent contract  that the Knicks gave him during the offseason has turned into a bust as the veteran has played in only 24 of the Knicks 75 games this season.

The last time the two teams squared off the Knicks lost by one point, but were without the services of Carmelo Anthony, who sat out the game with a right knee injury.

Speaking of Anthony, he could pass Durant in the scoring race with a big game on Sunday as Durant is averaging 28.4 points per game, while ‘Melo is right on his heels at 28.3.

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Anthony sits just 0.2 points behind the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Kevin Durant for the NBA’s scoring title and if he plays the way he has over the course of the past week, ‘Melo may just bring home that trophy.

Feb 26, 2012; Orlando, FL, USA; Western Conference forward Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma City Thunder (35) dribbles past Eastern Conference forward Carmelo Anthony (7) of the New York Knicks in the second quarter in the 2012 NBA All-Star Game at the Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

Durant, searching for his fourth consecutive scoring title, is averaging 28.3 points per game, while Anthony is on his heels at 28.1. The Los Angeles Lakers Lobe Bryant sits third in the league at 27.0 ppg, but Kobe has no chance at catching either Durant or ‘Melo.

So how can ‘Melo catch KD?

It’s as simple as continuing to be efficient from the floor. Anthony has scored 90 points in the Knicks last two games, but has done so on 60 percent shooting. If he is taking good shots and more importantly making them, then I can see Anthony overtaking Durant. But if Anthony has days where he is making 7-of-28 shot attempts, then I think the task becomes a little more difficult.

Catching the three-time scoring champ won’t be easy for Anthony, but according to Durant, Anthony can have the scoring title.

“He can have it,” Durant told Jeff Caplan of NBA.com after OKC’s Thursday morning shootaround….

“I mean the stuff he’s doing right now, every time he touches the ball it looks like it’s going to go in,” Durant said. “He’s having a nice run right now and his confidence is high. I’m sure he’s going to take over. If it happens, cool.”

If Durant wins it this year he joins a club with Michael Jordan and Wilt Chamberlain of players to win it more than three years in a row. Considering the fact that this is just Durant’s sixth NBA season, that seems like a bit of an insane accomplishment.

While it would be nice for Anthony to unseat Durant as the NBA’s top scorer, Anthony should be more focused on leading the Knicks to postseason success, ‘Melo has enough individual accomplishments, but so far in his 10-yer career, has failed to prove he can win in the postseason.

I’m sure if you give Anthony the choice, he would prefer to lead the Knicks deep into the playoffs rather than add another individual trophy to his trophy case.

Doing so would do a lot for his legacy.

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With that being said, that won’t stop me from continuing our look at the contenders as the race for number two is a pretty tight one.

Here’s a look at our 2013 NBA MVP Rankings heading into the final couple weeks of the regular season.

10. Paul George: George replaces Carmelo Anthony in the rankings and for good reason. He has been a big part of why the Indiana Pacers have been locked into a battle with the New York Knicks for the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference. His 17.6 points, 7.8 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game aren’t shabby numbers.

9. Stephen Curry: Averaging 22.5 points per game and is coming off scoring games of 29, 30, 24, 35 and 25 all while shooting over 50 percent from the floor.

Mar 24, 2013; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets shooting guard James Harden (13) drives against San Antonio Spurs center Boris Diaw (33) and shooting guard Danny Green (4) during the first half at the Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Campbell-USA TODAY Sports

8. Kobe Bryant: The Lakers would be in the playoffs if they started today, mostly due in part to Kobe carrying the Lakers. He’s averaging 27.1 points, 5.5 rebounds and 5.5 assists and is shooting 46.6 percent from the floor. Bryant certainly still belongs on this list.

7. James Harden: If the Rockets make the playoffs, there may be no more valuable player in the league. The most impressive part of Harden’s breakout season isn’t necessarily the 26.3 points per game that he is averaging; it’s the insane rate that Harden is able to get to the free-throw line. On average, harden has gotten to the charity stripe 10.3 times per game and is shooting an impressive 86 percent.

6. Tim Duncan: Duncan has turned back the clock and is having one of those “vintage” Duncan years of the past, averaging a near double-double with 17.3 points and 9.9 rebounds per game. Wonder why the Spurs are so good? Duncan is a huge part of their success.

A couple teams are riding monumental win streaks, while the rest of the teams are positioning themselves for the playoffs or the lottery.

With that being said, let’s get right into this week’s rankings.

30. Charlotte Bobcats (14-52): The Bobcats have gone only 7-47 since starting the season 7-5. They are 27^th in the NBA in both points per game and rebound, 28^th in points allowed per game and last in the NBA in assists. Maybe this year they can actually win the draft lottery. Last Week’s Ranking-30

29. Orlando Magic (18-48): Four losses in five games for the Magic, heading into a brutal five game stretch that features games at Milwaukee, Indiana and New York before returning home to host Miami and Oklahoma City. Last Week’s Ranking-29

28. Minnesota Timberwolves (22-41): The ‘Wolves have lost four out of five to continue their swoon, but did upset the San Antonio Spurs behind Ricky Rubio’s first career triple-double. The good news is that Kevin Love could return by late March or early April. Last Week’s Ranking-28

27. Detroit Pistons (23-45): The Pistons have lost 11-of-12 and Brandon Knight continues to be on the wrong end of highlight reel plays. This time courtesy of DeAndre Jordan’s monster dunk. Last Week’s Ranking-23

26. Philadelphia 76ers (25-40): The Sixers have lost 13-of-16 and looked like a rather young and sloppy team down the stretch against Miami, even All-Star Jrue Holiday. But they earned a tough and surprising win over the Pacers on Saturday. Last Week’s Ranking-27

February 1, 2013; Denver, CO, USA; New Orleans Hornets guard Austin Rivers (25) during the first half against the Denver Nuggets at the Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

25. Phoenix Suns (22-45): Four consecutive losses for the Suns and 6-of-7 overall after getting blown out by the Wizards. But one bright spot has been Wesley Johnson. Since moving into the starting lineup five games ago, the Syracuse product has shot shooting 49 percent from the floor and averaged 14.3 points per game. Last Week’s Ranking-24

24. New Orleans Hornets (22-44): The Hornets have lost 5-of-6 and lost rookie Austin Rivers to a broken hand, although Rivers was having a terrible freshman campaign. Among the recent losses, the Hornets blew a 25-point lead to the Los Angeles Lakers and saw a 17-point lead evaporate to the Orlando Magic. Last Week’s Ranking-25

23. Sacramento Kings (23-43): The Kings have won 2-of-3, including hammering the Chicago Bulls by 42-points.Overall, they have played some playoff teams very tough as of late. Last Week’s Ranking-26

22. Cleveland Cavaliers (22-44): The Cavs have lost 6-of-8 and lost All-Star Kyrie Irving for likely the rest of the season. If you’re the Cavs, you have to be a bit concerned about the amount of injuries the young star has accumulated the past three years, dating back to his one season at Duke. Last Week’s Ranking-20

21. Toronto Raptors (26-40): Andrea Bargnani is done for the season and the Raptors can’t put together a winning streak, alternating wins and losses throughout their past six games. Last Week’s Ranking-21

20. Washington Wizards (23-42): The Wizards are riding a three-game winning streak, but they may have a few more of those if they could keep rookie Bradley Beal healthy as his 14.2 points per game could help the NBA’s worst offense. Last Week’s Ranking-22

19. Utah Jazz (34-32): It’s been eight losses in the last 11 games for the freefalling Jazz, who now are looking up at the Lakers for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. But a win against the Grizzlies on Saturday shows that Utah isn’t ready to concede a playoff spot just yet.  Last Week’s Ranking-16

18. Portland Trail Blazers (31-34): Damian Lillard torched the Knicks on Thursday and became the fastest rookie to reach 1,200 points and 400 assists since Allen Iverson in 1996-97. Lillard has all but locked up Rookie of the Year honors, leading all first-year players in points (19.1) and assists (6.5), and he has upped his scoring to 22.4 points per game since mid-February. The Blazers still are in striking distance for a playoff spot, but it could be better for their future if they miss out, as making the postseason would cost them a first-round pick in this summer’s draft.  Last Week’s Ranking-19

17. Dallas Mavericks (31-34): The Mavs were swept by the Spurs for the first time in 15 years, but five wins in their past six games have Dallas sitting only three games out of a playoff spot. Last Week’s Ranking-18

16. Milwaukee Bucks (32-32): After a recent hot streak, the Bucks have dropped three in a row. While they are firmly in the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference, Milwaukee sits only 3.5 games out of the No. 5 seed. Last Week’s Ranking-17

Mar 6, 2013; San Antonio, TX, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose (1) warms up before the game against the San Antonio Spurs at the AT

15. Atlanta Hawks (36-29): Wins over the Lakers and the Suns have stopped a recent slide, but the Hawks are fading fast and could find themselves the No. 7 or No. 8 seed before it is all said and done. Last Week’s Ranking-15

14. Chicago Bulls (36-29): The Bulls rebounded nicely with a win against the Warriors, but that still doesn’t excuse the fact that they lost to the woeful Kings by 42 points, nor does it excuse the fact that they have dropped 12-of-18 since February 4. Last Week’s Ranking-11

13. Golden State Warriors (37-30): The Warriors have rebounded off a 3-10 stretch by winning four of their last seven games, but Mark Jackson’s team is one that is clearly trending in the wrong direction. However the Warriors have nine of their final 15 games at home so they could still make a late charge. Last Week’s Ranking-10

12. New York Knicks (38-25): The Knicks have lost their past three games on their current west coast trip by an average of 22.5 points per game and have gone only 20-20 since their impressive 8-5 start to the season. The injuries have piled up and the Knicks look nothing like the dominant team they appeared early on, right now they are mediocre at best.  Last Week’s Ranking-8

11. Houston Rockets (36-30): The Rockets have won 3-of-4 and continues to hold on to the No. 7 seed in the west. That’s a bit surprising because they haven’t won more than two in a row since January and their defense sits among the bottom 10 in the league in efficiency. Last Week’s Ranking-12

10. Boston Celtics (36-29): Just look back ant where the Celtics were when Rajon Rondo got hurt and what has happened since. Somehow the Celtics, winners of 7-of-9, sit only two games away from earing home court advantage in the first round of the playoffs.  Last Week’s Ranking-13

9. Los Angeles Lakers (35-32): The Lakers have gone 17-7 in their past 24 games and would be in the playoffs if the season started today, but now there are concerns about Kobe Bryant’s ankle. However if Dwight Howard keeps focusing on playing basketball instead of being a crybaby, the Lakers will be fine as Howard looks healthy and has been outstanding as of late.  Last Week’s Ranking-14

8. Brooklyn Nets (38-27): The Nets have won 4-of-5 and trail the Knicks by only one game for the Atlantic Division lead. However Brooklyn’s true test is upcoming when they go on the road for an eight-game trip from March 18-April 3. On the season the Nets are only 16-14 away from the Barclay’s Center. Last Week’s Ranking-9

7. Indiana Pacers (40-26): Recent losses to the Lakers, Heat and Sixers mean the Pacers have gone only 4-5 over their past nine. But despite the recent slide, Indiana is still the second best team in the east right now, although the Knicks and Nets are within two games. Last Week’s Ranking-7

6. Los Angeles Clippers (45-21): The Clippers are still in a solid spot despite dropping 3-of-5. However two of those losses came at the hands of the Grizzlies and Nuggets, who are now both ahead of them in the rankings.  Last Week’s Ranking-4

Mar 13, 2013; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Nuggets forward Kenneth Faried (35) dunks the ball during the first half against the New York Knicks at the Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

5. Memphis Grizzlies (44-21): The Grizzlies are 15-5 since trading away Rudy Gay and have moved up to the No. 3 seed in the West for a moment. But they saw their six game winning streak snapped with back-to-back losses at the hands of the Nuggets and Jazz. Last Week’s Ranking-5

4. Denver Nuggets (45-22): If it weren’t for the Miami Heat making history, the 11-game win streak of the Nuggets would be drawing much more attention. Denver sits only a half game away from being the No. 3 seed, and home court would be big for them in the postseason as the Nuggets are an amazing 30-3 at the Pepsi Center. Last Week’s Ranking- 6

3. Oklahoma City Thunder (49-17): The race for the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference is tightening as the Thunder now sit only one game behind the Spurs for top honors. That alone would be big in the Western Conference Finals as the Thunder one 20-1 at home against Western Conference opponents. Last Week’s Ranking-3

2. San Antonio Spurs (51-16): The Spurs reached 50 wins for the 14^th consecutive season. But as good as the Spurs have been, they have won only three of their last five, which includes a 30-point loss to the Blazers and a 24-point waxing at the hand of the Timberwolves. With or without Tony Parker in the lineup, that can’t happen. Last Week’s Ranking-2

1. Miami Heat (50-14): Miami’s 21’st consecutive win means they are one of only four teams in NBA history to win as many as 20 games in a row in the same season. The defending champs are on some kind of roll and hold on to the top spot for at least another week. Last Week’s Ranking-1

Biggest Climber: Lakers (+5)

Biggest Faller: Knicks, Pistons (-4)

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There’s no doubt who the top team is right now, but as we get ready to watch the final month-plus of the season, there has been a lot of movement as team’s position themselves for the postseason.

With that being said, let’s get right into my Week 18 NBA Power Rankings.

Feb 20, 2013; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Ricky Rubio (9) against the Philadelphia 76ers at the Target Center. The Timberwolves defeated the 76ers 94-87. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

30. Charlotte Bobcats (13-49): The Bobcats have lost 43 of their last 47 games. That’s beyond bad. What’s even worse than that is the fact that they have lost their past eight games by an average of 24.25 points per game. That’s borderline embarrassing. Last Week’s Ranking-29

29. Orlando Magic (17-46): The Magic have had their own woeful streak, losers of 23-of-26 overall, but did show a lot in a near upset of the Miami Heat this week. Last Week’s Ranking-30

28. Minnesota Timberwolves (21-37): Since January 8, when the Wolves were last over the .500 mark, they’ve gone only 5-26. The one bright spot though has been Ricky Rubio, who have averaged 4.3 steals over the course of the past 10 games.  Last Week’s Ranking-26

27. Philadelphia 76ers (23-38):You have to feel bad for Sixers coach Doug Collins, who is having trouble getting even good efforts from this bunch, much less wins. Philadelphia has won only one of their past 12 and is sinking faster than the Titanic. Last Week’s Ranking-24

26. Sacramento Kings (22-42): The Kings have lost 14 straight on the road to Western Conference opponents, although Marcus Thornton is starting to throw his name in the Sixth Man of the Year race, averaging 22.2 points while shooting 58.1 percent from the field and 50 percent from behind the arc in his last five games. Last Week’s Ranking-27

25. New Orleans Hornets (21-41): The Hornets have lost seven of nine games since the All-Star break, including a 45-point rout to Oklahoma City and a home loss to the Orlando Magic. However the loss to the Thunder came without Eric Gordon as he is proving to be irreplaceable for the Hornets. When he’s in the lineup they compete. When he’s not, they usually get blown out. Last Week’s Ranking-25

24. Phoenix Suns (21-41): The Suns have won 3-of-5 and have shown something in beating playoff teams in San Antonio and Atlanta as of late. Last Week’s Ranking-28

23. Detroit Pistons (23-41): Since Jose Calderon took over the point guard duties; Brandon Knight has excelled playing off the ball. But it hasn’t helped in terms of wins as the Pistons have dropped four in a row and 7-of-8 overall.  Last Week’s Ranking-20

22. Washington Wizards (19-41): Since John Wall returned, the Wizards are 14-12, although they have lost 4-of-5 as of late. Last Week’s Ranking-21

Mar 1, 2013; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers shooting guard Dion Waiters (3) shoots over Los Angeles Clippers small forward Matt Barnes (22) in the second quarter at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

21. Toronto Raptors (24-39): Rudy Gay has cooled off some and so have the raptors, losers of 6-of-7. A couple weeks ago it looked like Toronto was going to make a run at the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference, but they now trail the Milwaukee Bucks by eight games. Last Week’s Ranking-17

20. Cleveland Cavaliers (21-41): The Cavs have gone 8-7 over the course of their past 15 games and while Kyrie Irving gets all the attention, youngsters Dion Waiters and Tristan Thompson are proving to be nice pieces to build with as well. Last Week’s Ranking-22

19. Portland Trail Blazers (29-32): The Blazers are still in the Western Conference playoff race after winning three of their past four. They also have gotten contributions from their bench, which is the worst in the NBA. Newly acquired Eric Maynor and rookie Meyers Leonard have come of the pine lately to provide a spark. Last Week’s Ranking-23

18. Dallas Mavericks (28-33): The Mavs have a ways to go to sneak into the playoffs, but Dallas has won 6-of 10 to stay in the thick of things for the final playoff spot in the West.  Last Week’s Ranking-18

17. Milwaukee Bucks (30-29): Monta Ellis has heated up and the Bucks appear to be back on track, seeing a four-game win streak snapped with a loss to the Clippers.  Last Week’s Ranking-19

16. Utah Jazz (32-30): The Jazz got point guard Mo Williams back after missing 32 games with torn ligaments in his right thumb, but they’ve been without Al Jefferson as of late and have won only one of their past seven games.  Last Week’s Ranking-10

15. Atlanta Hawks (34-27): The Hawks have lost 4-of-5, but still have a chance to get hot and find a way into a top four seed as they sit only 1.5 games behind the Nets for the No. 4 seed in the East and play Brooklyn twice in the upcoming week. Last Week’s Ranking-16

14. Los Angeles Lakers (32-31): The Lakers are finally over the .500 mark, but just keep in mind that they are only 2-13 against the top five teams in the West.  Last Week’s Ranking-14

13. Boston Celtics (34-27): Boston somehow has gone 13-4 since losing Rajon Rondo, including winning five in a row, but I’m still not sold that they can keep this up. Last Week’s Ranking-15

12. Houston Rockets (34-29): Houston added point guard depth with Aaron Brooks, but it also covers them when Jeremy Lin is struggling, which he has a lot as of late. Regardless, the Rockets have won 3-of-4 and have three winnable games upcoming.  Last Week’s Ranking-12

11. Chicago Bulls (35-27): The Bulls broke a two-game losing streak with a win over Utah, but Joakim Noah looks to be the favorite for Defensive Player of the Year and Derrick Rose has been cleared by doctors to play. The Bulls could be a very tough out in the playoffs. Last Week’s Ranking-13

Mar 4, 2013; Cleveland, OH, USA; New York Knicks center Tyson Chandler (6) celebrates with point guard Jason Kidd (5) and point guard Raymond Felton (2) in the fourth quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

10. Golden State Warriors (35-28): The Warriors have lost 5-of-7 and have been slumping, but they play 16 of their final 22 at home where they have a 20-8 record this season. It will be important for them to take care of business as Mark Jackson’s team is one that really needs home court advantage in the first round. Last Week’s Ranking-11

9. Brooklyn Nets (36-26): Deron Williams’ big night Friday from behind the arc made it two wins in a row for the Nets, but you still have to be concerned with their inability to bet good teams as Brooklyn has just a 12-25 record against teams currently over .500. Last Week’s Ranking-9

8. New York Knicks (37-22): The Knicks have a banged up Carmelo Anthony and after hosting Utah on Saturday face a very tough five-game road trip. The Knicks are a team certainly heading in the wrong direction as since their 18-5 start, they’ve gone just a mediocre 19-17 since. That’s not the making of a team that thinks they can contend for a title.   Last Week’s Ranking-8

7. Indiana Pacers (39-23): It’s hard to imagine a team that has gone 8-2 in their past 10 dropping three spots, but that’s how good the teams ahead of the Pacers have been. Despite the drop, the Pacer are for real, losing just six games since January, with three of those coming in overtime. Last Week’s Ranking-4

6. Denver Nuggets (41-22): Denver’s recent stretch of basketball has been great. This is a team that has gone 29-10 since starting the season 12-12, including going an impressive 27-3 at home.  Last Week’s Ranking-7

5. Memphis Grizzlies (41-19): The Grizzlies have won 11-of-12 with their only loss being a tough one in Miami. There haven’t been too many people complaining about the Rudy Gay trade as of late.  Last Week’s Ranking-6

4. Los Angeles Clippers (44-20): The Clippers have won 5-of-7 and are looking more like a team that can contend for a title. But to do that they have to avoid the Oklahoma City Thunder, who swept the Clippers this season, taking all three games.  Last Week’s Ranking-5

Feb 27, 2013; San Antonio, TX, USA; San Antonio Spurs guard Tony Parker (9) drives to the basket during the first half against the Phoenix Suns at the AT

3. Oklahoma City Thunder (46-16): Speaking of the Thunder, it’s been business as usual for OKC, winners of 7-of-8. The Thunder now only trail the Spurs by 1.5 games for the top seed in the West.  Last Week’s Ranking-3

2. San Antonio Spurs (48-15): Losses to the Suns and Blazers as of late have knocked the Spurs out of the top spot, but even without Tony Parker-who was having an MVP-type of season- the Spurs have gone 29-7 since late December.  Last Week’s Ranking-1

1. Miami Heat (46-14): There’s not much to say as to why the Heat are back in the top spot. Seventeen wins in a row and counting have done all of the talking for them. LeBron James is poised to win another MVP and it looks like the Heat are on their way to back-to-back titles as the way they are playing right now, it is hard to fathom anyone beating them in a seven-game series.  Last Week’s Ranking-2

Biggest Climber: Blazers (+5)

Biggest Faller: Jazz (-6)

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The Knicks once again had problems defending the oppositions point guard, as Russell Westbrook scored 15 first quarter points to eventually give OKC and 11-point lead before Smith got hot by dropping 18 second-quarter points to pull the Knicks within three at 59-56.

A 1-for-14 beginning to the third quarter could have hurt, but the Knicks defended as well as they have all season and only trailed by five before Smith started carrying the team again and eventually got the Knicks a six-point lead.

Mar. 7, 2013; New York, NY, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook (0) shoots over New York Knicks point guard Raymond Felton (2) during the first half at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Debby Wong-USA TODAY Sports

But the Knicks couldn’t hold it despite one of their best efforts of the season.

New York shot only 40.7 percent from the floor on the night, while allowing OKC to shoot 44.3 percent. In addition the Knicks were outrebounded 42-38 and they dished out only 10 assists on the night which shows how little the ball moved.

With that being said, here’s a look at how each Knicks player graded out in this tough loss.

Raymond Felton (16 points, 6-of-16 shooting, 3 assists, 1 rebound, 1 steal, 4 turnovers)

Felton wasn’t nearly as efficient as he was Wednesday night against Detroit. Twelve of his points came in the first half, but the he missed eight of his next nine shots and ended up just 1-of-8 from three-point range. The turnovers are starting to pile up for Felton and his last one was costly with the Knicks trailing by just one with 90 seconds left. In addition, opposing point guards continue to torch him as the combination of Westbrook and Reggie Jackson combined for 29 points. Grade: C

Iman Shumpert (2 points, 1-of-7 shooting, 1 rebound, 1 steal)

Shump looked slow on the second day of a back-to-back and shot the ball poorly. He also did very little to impact the game and once again had the Knicks worst plus-minus rating of minus-11. Grade: D

James White (6 points, 2-of-5 shooting)

White came into the night having started all four games in March, but has averaged just 7.5 minutes and 0.5 points in those contests. I will take a pair of three’s and some decent defense in 12 minutes. Grade: C+

Kurt Thomas (2 points, 1-of-2 shooting, 2 rebounds)

Thomas again started but played only five minutes, but he made a jumper and grabbed a pair of rebounds in that short span. He can’t be asked to do much more in only a couple minutes of playing time. Grade: C

Tyson Chandler (9 points, 3-of-4 shooting, 10 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 4 turnovers)

Chandler had a very slow first half with only just five points and three rebounds, but he was much better in the second half looking like the usual active Chandler. With the way he finishes around the rim, the Knicks have to find a way to get him a more than four shot attempts. I would like to see that number somewhere between seven and eight per night. But other than that it was a productive night from Chandler except his rare four turnovers were costly.  Grade: B

Amar’e Stoudemire (16 points, 5-of-16 shooting, 8 rebounds, 2 blocks)

STAT wasn’t nearly as efficient as he has been during the past few weeks, but still finished with 16 points and eight rebounds. Playing 29 minutes in the second game of a back-to-back could have had something to do with that. But he was active at both ends of the floor. Stoudemire was caught sleeping a few times defensively but also made some hustle plays, including a big block of Derek Fisher on a breakaway layup. Grade: B+

J.R. Smith (36 points, 14-of-29 shooting, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals)

That was more like it for Smith. He did force a few shots, including the final one, but for the most part he played under control. Smith had to create some for himself but a lot of the time he took shots within the flow of the offense, even though the ball was primarily in his hands. He did miss the game winner, but his coach could have done a much better job to put him in a better position to get a better shot. Hopefully Smith can play this way going forward instead of reverting back to his freelancing ways. Grade: A+

Steve Novak (3 points, 1-of-2 shooting, 2 rebounds, 1 steal)

Novak hit a three and tallied a steal in the first half, but the lowlight was his attempt to draw a foul by jumping into the defender, but changed his mind mid-air and try a pass that was stolen. Novak did not attempt a shot in the second half as the Knicks needed some more from him in his 13 minutes on the floor. Grade: C-

Mar. 7, 2013; New York, NY, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder shooting guard Kevin Martin (23) drives past New York Knicks power forward Kenyon Martin (3) during the second half at Madison Square Garden. Thunder won 95-94. Mandatory Credit: Debby Wong-USA TODAY Sports

Jason Kidd (0 points, 0-of-2 shooting, 10 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, 1 block)

If Kidd finds a way to get into the scoring column, the Knicks likely win the game as the future Hall of Famer did not attempt a shot in the first half. But he did grab 10 rebounds and contributed in other areas in usual Kidd fashion. Grade: B-

Kenyon Martin (4 points, 2-of-3 shooting, 1 rebound, 1 steal)

In only Martin’s second appearance in a Knicks uniform, he left an impression in his 17 minutes.  K-Mart was very energetic and played solid defense, at times matched against scoring leader Kevin Durant. Martin showed that he could contribute offensively as well as his putback slam late in the second quarter pulled the Knicks within four points, and then tied the game with an alley-oop layup shortly thereafter. Grade: B

Pablo Prigioni: DNP (Coach’s Decision)

Marcus Camby: DNP (Coach’s Decision)

Chris Copeland: DNP (Coach’s Decision)

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That didn’t happen as the Knicks held onto Iman Shumpert, but they did make a small move involving Ronnie Brewer.

According to Darnell Mayberry of The Oklahoman, the Oklahoma City Thunder and Knicks have agreed to a deal that will send Brewer to the Thunder in exchange for a second-round pick. The pick coming to the Knicks will be the Thunder’s own 2014 selection.

Thunder sending Knicks a future second-round pick for Brewer.

— Darnell Mayberry (@DarnellMayberry) February 21, 2013

January 5, 2013; Orlando FL, USA; New York Knicks small forward Ronnie Brewer (11) points against the Orlando Magic during the second half at Amway Center. New York Knicks defeated the Orlando Magic 114-106. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

In the last 10 games, Brewer, who is mired in a horrible shooting slump, has played more than five minutes only once.

The Knicks were shopping Brewer all day to clear a roster spot as they were at the maximum amount of 15 players and didn’t want to release someone and eat their contract.

Now that they have freed up a roster spot, expect the Knicks to add a body via free agency.

They have been linked to both Lou Amundson and Kenyon Martin for some time now, but another option could be to wait until March 1 to see who gets bought out by their current teams.

That could happen to a guy like Jermaine O’Neal, who the Knicks were rumored to be trying to acquire from the Phoenix Suns as early as Wednesday.

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Feb 2, 2013; Cleveland, OH, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder small forward Kevin Durant (35) celebrates a three-point basket in the fourth quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

MVP:  Kevin Durant (Thunder)

If I could give out a “co-MVP”, believe you me I’d have LeBron share this with KD, but unfortunately these are MY rules, and Durant gets the nod.  It’s hard to argue that with what he’s done this season so far: 29.4 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 1.9 three’s, 1.6 steals and 1.2 blocks per game for the team with the second-best record in the NBA.  Those absurd numbers also include a 51.6 FG percentage, a 90.3 FT percentage and a 41.9 three-point percentage.  He is on pace to record only the 11^th 50/40/90 (FG%/3P%/FT %) season with at least 10 points per game…ever.  For you stat geeks out there, Steve Nash (4x), Larry Bird (2x), Reggie Miller, Mark Price, Dirk Nowitzki and believe it or not, Jose Calderon, are the others.  And oh, by the way, Durant is still only 24-years old.  Let that sink in for a minute.  If you were lucky enough to have had one of the top 2 picks in your draft, congratulations are in order.

Honorable Mention:  LeBron James, Chris Paul, Kobe Bryant, Carmelo Anthony, James Harden

Rookie of the Year:  Damian Lillard (Trail Blazers)

Lillard has been the favorite to win this award from the beginning (please see my article on Oct. 28^th) and he hasn’t disappointed.  Portland’s No. 1 draft pick this season (sixth overall) has helped guide the Blazers to a surprising 25-23 record.  His above average size for the point guard position has allowed him to make the most of certain situations and he has rewarded fantasy owners to the tune of 18.4 points and 6.5 assists as well as 2.3 3-pointers per game and an 84.8 FT%, both uncharacteristically good stats for a rookie.

Honorable Mention:  Anthony Davis, Bradley Beal, Andre Drummond, Alexey Shved

The “Ugghh, I Wish I Had More Patience!” Award:  Co-winners: Nikola Vucevic (Magic) and Ersan Ilyasova (Bucks)

Vucevic was one of my much-talked-about sleepers going into the season (see my Nov. 8^th article).  He started well out of the gates, but a brief lull in his stats and minutes between November 19 and November 28 caused many owners to jump ship.  During this five-game stretch he posted lines of 5.8 points and 7 rebounds in only 22.6 minutes.  His total season averages of 12.1 points, 11.3 rebounds and 32.4 minutes show that that run was simply a fluke.  If you were a patient owner and held onto him, you’ve been rewarded handsomely.  The Swiss-born, USC product is first in the Eastern Conference in double-doubles with 26.

Ilyasova shares this award, but his season trajectory has been a little different.  With an average ADP of 54.3, he was quickly becoming THE bust of the year.  Many fantasy owners took a slight gamble by taking him early, but were hoping that his unique combination of size and good shooting would garner them dominance in multiple stat categories.  He finished last season with a bang.  His April averages of 14.7 points, 9.3 rebounds, 0.7 blocks, 1 steal and 1.5 3’s exemplify the well-roundedness that fantasy owners look for.  He signed a $40-million contract in the offseason and expectations were high, but all that soon came to a crashing halt.

Mired in former-Coach Scott Skiles’ daily lineup mercurialness, he was accumulating inconsistent minutes and even a couple DNP-CDs.  He was the most frustrating guy to own because he could go from having 17 points and 11 rebounds in 27 minutes (12/26) to having 6 points and 4 rebounds in 14 minutes (12/29) and then coming back with 24 points and 3 3-pointers in 27 minutes (12/30).  Every time you wanted to drop him, or did, he’d stab you in the heart by having a great game and if you held onto him he’d have a dud.

Now that Jim Boylan is at the helm we can say that he is a MUST OWN and the owners who stuck with him or those that swooped him up on the waiver wire thinking his fortunes would change, have been rewarded.  In his past 8 games, the 25-year old from Turkey is averaging 20.5 points, 9 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 2.5 3’s, which he’s hitting at a 63% clip.  All this talk about Turkey makes me want to get a sandwich.

Honorable Mention:  Michael Beasley, J.R. Smith, Luis Scola, Kyle Lowry, Tristan Thompson

Feb 5, 2013; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indiana Pacers forward David West (21) posts up against Atlanta Hawks forward Josh Smith (5) at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

Fantasy Surprises of the Year…so far (based on Average Draft Position):

David West, Pacers (ADP: 113.7): Having a bounce back year with 17.3 points, 7.7 rebounds and 1.1 blocks (20 ppg over his last 12, which includes a triple-double)

Shawn Marion, Mavericks (ADP: 117): 11.2 ppg, 8.2 reb, 50 FG%.  He has played in 41 of a possible 48 games at age 34.

J.J. Hickson, Trailblazers (ADP: Undrafted):  12.9 ppg, 10.7 reb, 56 FG% and tied for third in the NBA in double doubles.  It may be time to sell high as a possible trade to a contender could reduce his role.

Kyle Korver, Hawks (ADP: Undrafted):  11.5 ppg, 4.1 reb, 1 steal, 2.9 3PG.  Leads NBA in 3P% at 47.4%.  The Ashton Kutcher look-a-like is doing better than the “Two and a Half Men” star’s ratings these days.

J.J. Redick, Magic (ADP: Undrafted):  15.3 ppg, 2.5 reb, 2.5 3PG, 45.2 FG% (all career-highs).  His 4.5 assists are 8^th in the NBA for shooting guards.  Who says Duke players can’t be good in the pros?

Chandler Parsons, Rockets (ADP: Undrafted):  14.4 ppg, 5.8 reb, 3.6 assists, 1.1 steals, 1.8 3PG, 8 double doubles

Honorable Mention (ADP is in parentheses):  Kemba Walker (92.3), Nikola Pekovic (95.3), Jamal Crawford (112.7), Greivis Vasquez (115.9), Omer Asik (116), Jarrett Jack (undrafted), Matt Barnes (undrafted), Metta World Peace (undrafted), Tiago Splitter (undrafted), Amir Johnson (undrafted),

Fantasy Busts of the Year…so far (based on Average Draft Position)

Mike Conley Jr., Grizzlies (ADP: 40.3):  Career low 42.7 FG% and career high 2.4 turnovers per game.  The fact that he is only 25-years old is not a good thing when your stats regress.  The trade of Rudy Gay should boost his points, though.

Deron Williams, Nets (ADP: 5.3):  16.8 ppg is his worst since his 2^nd year in the league; 7.7 assists and 0.9 steals are both his worst since his rookie season

Marcus Thornton, Kings (ADP: 68.9):  11.3 ppg, 1.1 assists, 1 steal, 40 FG% (averaging 7.7 points in 18.6 minutes over the last 12 games)

Gerald Wallace, Nets (ADP: 80.2):  8.9 points, 5.2 rebounds and a 43.1 FG% are his worst averages since the 2003-04 season with Sacramento.  “Crash” has crash-landed.

Kris Humphries, Nets (ADP: 85.6):  The last two years he averaged 11.9 points, 10.7 rebounds and 1.5 blocks. He signed a 2-year, $24 million contract and is averaging 6.2 points, 6.5 rebounds and 0.6 blocks.  Could it be the curse of Kim Kardashian?

Marcin Gortat, Suns (ADP: 42.5):  His blocks are up, but after last year’s averages of 15.4 points (on 56% shooting) and 10 rebounds in his first full season in Phoenix, this seasons numbers of 11.5 points (on 52.3% shooting) and 8.9 rebounds are a little underwhelming.

Honorable Mention (ADP is in parentheses):  Pau Gasol (18.3), Jeremy Lin (63), Manu Ginobili (66.2), Jason Terry (75.6), JaVale McGee (78), Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (91.4), Kawhi Leonard (106), Jeff Green (112.7),

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We have a new No.1 team as the Oklahoma City Thunder’s second stint as the top team ends after a two week run.

Where does your favorite team fall?

Let’s not waste any time and find out.

30. Charlotte Bobcats (11-34): The Bobcats have won only three times in January after winning only once in December. Four wins in two months keep them as the worst team in the NBA. Last Week’s Ranking-30

29. Cleveland Cavaliers (13-33): The Cavs went 2-1 during the week and saw a three-game win streak come to an end against the Golden State Warriors. They may be a really bad team but will find themselves well represented during All-Star Weekend with Kyrie Irving in both the All-Star Game and Rising Stars Challenge and Tyler Zeller, Tristan Thompson and Dion Waiters playing in the Rising Stars game. Last Week’s Ranking-29

Jan 30, 2013; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves point guard Ricky Rubio (9) dribbles the ball down court in the first half against the Los Angeles Clippers at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

28. Orlando Magic (14-31): The Magic have lost seven in a row and are not a good defensive team. There aren’t many quick fixes for that. Last Week’s Ranking-28

27. Minnesota Timberwolves (17-25): Ricky Rubio is back but Kevin Love is still sidelined and as a result the ‘Wolves have dropped five in a row and 10-of-11. Last Week’s Ranking-27

26. Phoenix Suns (16-30): The Suns have gone 3-2 since Lindsey Hunter took over for Alvin Gentry, including a big win over the Lakers. But this team is not built to go anywhere. Last Week’s Ranking-23

25. Sacramento Kings (17-30): The Kings are a horrible rebounding and defensive team who also has problems sharing the basketball. They rank last in the NBA in points allowed for the second straight season (103.1), 24^th in rebounds (40.5) and 28^th in assists (19.8). In addition they are last in the NBA in rebounding rate (47.9). Last Week’s Ranking-25

24. Washington Wizards (11-33): Despite dropping their last two games, Washington has gone 6-5 since John Wall’s return and the Wall-Bradley Beal backcourt looks really promising going forward. Last Week’s Ranking-24

23. New Orleans Hornets (15-31): The Hornets are a young team playing better, but are coming off a tough week in which they lost 3-of-4. Even though he hasn’t played in every game since his return, the Hornets are 7-6 in games Eric Gordon has played. Last Week’s Ranking-17

22. Detroit Pistons (17-29): Acquiring Jose Calderon makes the Pistons marginally better this season and gives them cap flexibility for the summer. Calderon’s ability to create should see a spike in numbers for Andre Drummond and Greg Monroe. Last Week’s Ranking-20

21. Los Angeles Lakers (20-26): The Lakers went 3-1 during the week, most because Kobe Bryant has turned distributor. But it is still a circus in Los Angeles and this group could be broken up in the next couple of weeks. This team can’t defend and isn’t going anywhere. Last Week’s Ranking-26

20. Philadelphia 76ers (19-26): The Sixers had a nice week, going 2-1, but despite Jrue Holiday heading to the All-Star Game, he can’t carry this team. Last Week’s Ranking-22

Jan 28, 2013; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Memphis Grizzlies forward Rudy Gay (22) during the second quarter against the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center. The Grizzlies defeated the Sixers 103-100. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports

19. Boston Celtics (22-23): The Celtics weren’t playing well with Rajon Rondo in the lineup, but they are in trouble without him. They don’t rebound well as a team and aren’t nearly as good defensively as normal Doc Rivers’ coached teams. Last Week’s Ranking-18

18. Toronto Raptors (16-30): The Rudy Gay trade was big for the Raptors and the combination of Kyle Lowry, DeMar DeRozan and Gay is intriguing and should be enough to get the Raptors into the playoffs. Last Week’s Ranking-21

17. Dallas Mavericks (19-27): The Mavs were looking good for a while but have dropped two in a row, prompting Mark Cuban and Rick Carlisle to criticize officiating. That’s a first. Last Week’s Ranking-15

16. Portland Trail Blazers (23-22): The Blazers starting five is very good and has them over the .500 mark contending for a playoff spot. They have found their rhythm again, winning three of their past four. Last Week’s Ranking-16

15. Houston Rockets (25-23): The Rockets ended an awful slump by winning three in a row before being tripped up by Denver. They are one of the better offensive teams in the league, but still have their issues defensively. Last Week’s Ranking-19

14. Atlanta Hawks (26-19): The Hawks are hanging around in the Eastern Conference playoff race, splitting their past 10 games. But will Josh Smith be traded, breaking up this team with an eye on the future? Last Week’s Ranking-14

13. Milwaukee Bucks (24-20): The Bucks continue to stay in the playoff race, winning five of their past seven, mostly on the play of point guard Brandon Jennings, who should be an All-Star. Last Week’s Ranking-13

12. Brooklyn Nets (27-19): The Nets record suggests they should be higher up in the rankings, but they have been a product of their schedule. Brooklyn hasn’t beaten many good teams this season and were taken apart by Miami this week.  Only seven of the Nets 27 wins have come against teams currently over .500 and they have an overall 7-15 record in such games. They have to beat good teams consistently to be taken seriously. Last Week’s Ranking-9

11. Utah Jazz (25-21): The Jazz are playing well in a tough Western Conference and have won 7-of-10 overall. Given the quality of teams ahead of them in the standings, it may be hard for Utah to move past the No. 7 seed, but they are in a good position to make the playoffs. Last Week’s Ranking-12

Jan. 25, 2013; Miami, FL, USA; Detroit Pistons small forward Tayshaun Prince (right) talks with head coach Lawrence Frank during the first half against the Miami Heat at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

10. Indiana Pacers (27-19): The Pacers keep winning despite being the third worst offensive efficient team in the NBA. It helps when they have a league-best defensive efficiency rating of 96.2. Last Week’s Ranking-10

9. Memphis Grizzlies (29-16): It is always hard when you trade your leading scorer when you are contending, but adding Ed Davis, Tayshaun Prince and Austin Daye will keep the Grizzlies in contention, if not make them better. Last Week’s Ranking-8

8. Chicago Bulls (28-17): Without Derrick Rose, the Bulls have managed the third best record in the Eastern Conference, but Rose should be coming back soon and that could make Chicago scary good.  Last Week’s Ranking-11

7. Golden State Warriors (29-17): The Warriors have to worry about Stephen Curry’s ankle again, but got Andrew Bogut back and are in the middle of a three-game win streak. Last Week’s Ranking-6

6. New York Knicks (28-15): Now that Amar’e Stoudemire looks all the way back, the Knicks are loaded from top to bottom. They have hit a soft spot in their schedule which could see them take off once again. There is one concern though. While the Knicks rank third in the league in offensive efficiency, they are only 16^th when it comes to defensive efficiency. Last Week’s Ranking-7

5. Denver Nuggets (29-18): The Nuggets have won five straight and 8-of-10 and look dangerous right now. They are an impressive 19-3 at home and may have the most balanced attack in the NBA. Last Week’s Ranking-5

4. Miami Heat (29-13): The regular season doesn’t really matter much for the defending champs, especially the way LeBron James has been playing. The only concerns for the Heat are their 11-10 road record and the fact that they are 22^nd in the NBA in rebounding rate. Last Week’s Ranking-4

Jan 21, 2013; Philadelphia, PA, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Tim Duncan (21) is defended by Philadelphia 76ers center Lavoy Allen (50) during the second quarter at the Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports

3. Los Angeles Clippers (34-13): Chris Paul has missed five straight games with a bruised right knee cap and eight of the Clippers past 10 overall in which they have gone only 6-4. But they broke  four-game losing streak by winning two in a row and still have the league’s third best record. Last Week’s Ranking-3

2. Oklahoma City Thunder (35-11): It has been a small bump in the road for the Thunder as of late as they have split their past six games and as a result they lose grip on the top spot in the rankings. They are still the highest scoring and most efficient offensive team in the league though so it wouldn’t be a surprise to see them back in the top spot before long.  Last Week’s Ranking-1

1. San Antonio Spurs (37-11): Tim Duncan has sat out the past four games, but the Spurs have managed to reel off nine consecutive wins and are playing like the best team in basketball. That’s because Tony Parker has been playing like the best point guard in the NBA, seventh in the entire league in PER (23.54). When he’s playing, Duncan ranks fifth in the league in PER (24.9). Having two of the top seven players in terms of PER on the same team makes the Spurs very dangerous. But as always, they have proven they can win no matter who is in the lineup. Last Week’s Ranking-2

Biggest Climber: Lakers (+5)

Biggest Faller: Hornets (-6)

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There’s nothing better to do then hand out the NBA Midseason Awards to recognize the NBA’s best and worst of the first half of the season.

January 21, 2013; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors head coach Mark Jackson instructs against the Los Angeles Clippers during the fourth quarter at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Clippers 106-99. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

With that being said let’s hand out our first award.

Coach of the Year: Mark Jackson, Golden State Warriors

This was a close race and there were more than a few deserving coaches, but Jackson gets the nod. The Warriors have exceeded expectations and they have beaten good teams, including the Thunder and Clippers recently in a three-day span. Once Jackson got a healthy team he has gotten everyone to buy in and has the Warriors looking like a legit playoff team. Runners-Up: Tom Thibodeau, Vinny Del Negro, Frank Vogel.

Most Improved Player: Paul George, Indiana Pacers

The Pacers are the best defensive team in the NBA but are 29th in the league in points scored. They wouldn’t be where they are though without George, who has improved more than any player in the NBA, averaging over 17 points per game and his rebounding and assist numbers are up at least one per game as well. George is finally playing to his talent level and has helped the Pacers ease the loss of Danny Granger. Runners-Up: Greivis Vasquez, Jrue Holiday

Least Improved Player of the Year: Jan Vesely, Washington Wizards

When handing this out, I was looking for a player who should have been taking the next step by now, but simply hasn’t. That made the choice easy as Vesely, the No. 5 pick in the 2011 draft, can’t crack a bad Washington lineup. When he does play it is often for 10 minutes or less and rarely produces. Can you say bust?

Sixth Man of the Year: Jamal Crawford, Los Angeles Clippers

Sorry Knicks fans. As much as J.R. Smith deserves this honor, Crawford deserves it just a little bit more. The former Knicks is a vital part of the NBA’s best overall bench and is third in the NBA in fourth quarter scoring. Like Smith, Crawford is averaging close to 17 points per game, but is a little less streaky and more efficient. Runners-Up: Smith, Jarrett Jack

Defensive Player of the Year: Joakim Noah, Chicago Bulls

This is another tight race and Tyson Chandler is certainly considered, but Noah and the Bulls are a playoff team without Derrick Rose because Noah has anchored their defense and brings it every night. Noah is a spectacular post defender, but he also can get out and mix it up with guards on pick-and-rolls. He is a great rebounder and a huge source of energy for Thibodeau’s squad. Runners-Up: Chandler, Chris Paul, Larry Sanders

Jan 21, 2013; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers point guard Damian Lillard (0) drives to the basket against the Washington Wizards at the Rose Garden. Mandatory Credit: Craig Mitchelldyer-USA TODAY Sports

Worst Defensive Player of the Year: Steve Nash, Los Angeles Lakers

Nash wasn’t a good defender in his prime. Now he is hands down the worst defender in the NBA. On a nightly basis Nash makes Amar’e Stoudemire look like an All-NBA Defensive team member and that is hard to do.

Rookie of the Year: Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers

Lillard is top 20 in the league in scoring (18.3 ppg), 13th in assists (6.6) and seventh in minutes played. Plus, his play is a big reason behind LaMarcus Aldridge’s consistently great play. The Blazers are even in playoff contention hanging around the .500 mark ad that is saying something. Lillard leads all rookies in scoring, assists and minutes played. Runners-Up: Anthony Davis, Bradley Beal, Andre Drummond

Worst Rookie of the Year: Thomas Robinson, Sacramento Kings

Remember when Robinson was saying that he should be the No. 1 overall pick in last year’s draft? Good thing the Hornets didn’t listen to him. The No. 5 overall pick is barely getting 15 minutes per game on a Sacramento team that is not loaded with frontcourt talent.

MVP: Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder

Tough choice between Durant and LeBron James, but KD is the clear winner here. Durant has improved his scoring numbers from last season, while his rebounding average is down a hair, but assists are up almost a full assist, steals are up and blocks are up. The Thunder traded James harden, but Durant got even better and is a big reason why OKC is the best team in the NBA right now. He is averaging 29.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.3 blocks on the season. That’s not even the most impressive part. Durant is shooting 52.1 percent from the floor, 41.3 percent from behind the arc and 91 percent from the free-throw line. No one else in the league can boast those types of numbers. Runners-Up: James, Chris Paul, Carmelo Anthony

Least Valuable Player: Dwight Howard, Los Angeles Lakers

The last two years of Howard’s career have been nothing short of train wreck, which is mostly to his own doing. While Howard is not the sole reason for the Lakers’ struggles, he is a central figure in their demise. Howard has earned himself a spotty reputation and now his attitude has at the very least a negative impact on a dysfunctional Lakers group. His numbers aren’t bad, but the way he goes about his daily business certainly is. Runner-Up: Andrew Bynum

Biggest Surprise: Golden State Warriors

Before the season I felt the Warriors would be a playoff team, but they have exceeded expectations and have proven they can play with anyone in the NBA. They are 26-16 and are only two games out of the No. 4 seed in the Western Conference and home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs.

Biggest Disappointment: Los Angeles Lakers

I don’t think much of an explanation is needed here, but calling the Lakers first half of the season a disappointment is being kind.

Best Offseason Move: Every Move Clippers Made

It’s hard to pinpoint one move that anyone else has made having more impact than anything the Clippers did in the offseason. They went from not having depth a season ago to adding: Crawford, Matt Barnes, Grant Hill, Lamar Odom and others. The Clippers are the deepest team in the NBA and everyone they signed is playing a role in them becoming legitimate championship contenders. Runner-Up: Houston acquiring James Harden

Worst Offseason Move: Sixers Acquiring Andrew Bynum

Hard to find anything worse at this point in the season than dealing Andre Iguodala for a guy that hasn’t played a game yet. The Sixers are a disappointing 17-25 and a lot of that can be attributed to dealing for Bynum, who will be a free agent at the end of the season.

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Jan 22, 2013; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers point guard Kyrie Irving (2) shoots over Boston Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo (9) in the fourth quarter at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

With that being said, some teams are in a lot better shape at the midseason point than others.

With that being said, let’s take a look at my latest NBA Power Rankings as we have hit the hallway point of the season.

30. Charlotte Bobcats (10-32): The Bobcats continue to struggle despite Kemba Walker’s stellar play, losing eight of their past 10 games. Last Week’s Ranking-30

29. Cleveland Cavaliers (11-32): Kyrie Irving is an All-Star and has averaged 23.8 points, 6.0 assists and 2.4 steals per game as the Cavs have won two of their past five, but there isn’t much to get excited about other than Irving in Cleveland right now. Last Week’s Ranking-28

28. Orlando Magic (14-28): Arron Afflalo has struggled and so has the Magic, who have dropped 8-of-10. Last Week’s Ranking-26

27. Minnesota Timberwolves (17-22): No team can complain about injuries until they look at what has happened this season to the ‘Wolves. All of the injuries have finally caught up with them and the playoff dreams appear all but gone in Minnesota. Last Week’s Ranking-21

26. Los Angeles Lakers (17-25): Things have gotten so bad for the Lakers; it is almost hard to put it into words. Clearly nothing is working in Lakerland and changes need to be made as they have lost 8-of-10. Last Week’s Ranking-19

25. Sacramento Kings (16-27): The Kings have won only three of their past 10, with those wins coming against Cleveland, Washington and Charlotte. Not much to get excited about except a potential move to Seattle. Last Week’s Ranking-25

24. Washington Wizards (9-31): Even though he has come off the bench, the Wizards are a different team with John Wall. They have gone 4-3 since his return after going 5-28 without him. Since his return, Wall has averaged 14.0 points and 6.9 assists with a 21.04 PER. Last Week’s Ranking-29

Jan 18, 2013; Philadelphia, PA, USA;Philadelphia 76ers guard Jrue Holiday (11) sets up a play during the third quarter against the Toronto Raptors at the Wells Fargo Center. The Sixers defeated the Raptors 108-101 in OT. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports

23. Phoenix Suns (15-28): Lindsey Hunter is 2-0 as the Suns interim coach and the latest win came against the Clippers, but this team has a long ways to go. Last Week’s Ranking-27

22. Philadelphia 76ers (17-25): The Sixers get some good news in the fact that they have an All-Star in Jrue Holiday, who has been fantastic. The bad news is that they continue to lose games, dropping 8-of-10. Last Week’s Ranking-20

21. Toronto Raptors (16-27): The Raptors are a better team than their record indicates and despite winning only 4-of-10, they are a team heading in the right direction. DeMar DeRozan’s buzzer beater against the Magic on Thursday could get this team back on a roll. Last Week’s Ranking-22

20. Detroit Pistons (16-26): The Pistons have won 6-of-10 and are playing decent basketball at the moment, led by Greg Monroe, who has averaged 12.6 points, 9.2 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game the past five. Last Week’s Ranking-24

19. Houston Rockets (22-22): No team has fallen as fast as the Rockets, who were a Top 10 team only two weeks ago. Losing 8-of-9 with the only win coming against the Bobcats will do that to you. Last Week’s Ranking-15

18. Boston Celtics (20-22): The Celtics teased us by winning six straight games, but have followed that performance by dropping five in a row, prompting many to believe that changes are coming in Beantown. Last Week’s Ranking-13

17. New Orleans Hornets (14-28): The Hornets…err I mean Pelicans…are playing very well, winning 7-of-10 with the losses coming to the Knicks, Spurs and Warriors. Greivis Vasquez could me the most underappreciated player in the NBA. The point guard is having a great season, averaging 14.3 points and 9.2 assists per game. Last Week’s Ranking-23

Jan 18, 2013; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Mavericks power forward Dirk Nowitzki (41) celebrates making a basket against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the game at the American Airlines Center. The Thunder defeated the Mavericks in overtime 117-114. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

16. Portland Trail Blazers (21-21): After a nice stretch of good basketball for over a month, it was bound that the Blazers lack of depth would catch up to them eventually as the Blazers have lost 6-of-10.However their starting five can matchup with anyone. Last Week’s Ranking-18

15. Dallas Mavericks (18-24): The Mavs have won 4-of-5, with their only loss coming against the Thunder in overtime. With Dirk Nowitzki starting to play better, Dallas could contend for a playoff spot. Last Week’s Ranking-17

14. Atlanta Hawks (24-18): The Hawks have won 3-of-5, but the loss of Lou Williams really hurts. Last Week’s Ranking-14

13. Milwaukee Bucks (22-18): The Bucks have won 4-of-5 and Ersan Ilyasova is starting to resemble the player from last season, averaging 14.6 points, 9.4 rebounds and 1.2 steals during that stretch. Last Week’s Ranking-16

12. Utah Jazz (23-19): The Jazz have been great as of late, winning 8-of-10 overall. In addition, they keep taking care of business at home, with a 14-4 record on the season. Last Week’s Ranking-12

11. Chicago Bulls (25-16): Lookout for Jimmy Butler. The second-year player has averaged 14.8 points, 7.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.3 steals per game while playing great defense as the Bulls have gone 4-1 during their past five games. Last Week’s Ranking-10

10. Indiana Pacers (26-17): The Pacers have the 29^th worst offense in the NBA, but they keep winning because they have the best defense in the league. Last Week’s Ranking-8

9. Brooklyn Nets (26-16): The Nets have gone 12-2 during their past 14 games and keep moving up in the rankings. They would be higher, but only six of their 26 wins on the season have come against teams currently over .500. Last Week’s Ranking-11

8. Memphis Grizzlies (27-14): The Grizzlies have won 6-of-10 and the recent trade of Marreese Speights doesn’t necessarily help them now, but should allow Memphis to hold onto Marc Gasol, Rudy Gay and Zach Randolph. Last Week’s Ranking-9

7. New York Knicks (26-14): Despite a big win in Beantown on Thursday, it has been a rough go for the Knicks as of late. New York has gone only 8-9 during their past 17, but they should get point guard Raymond Felton back this weekend and they enter an easier part of their schedule with only five of their next 15 games against teams currently over .500. Last Week’s Ranking-5

6. Golden State Warriors (26-15): The Warriors keep showing us they are for real, this time by beating the Thunder and Clippers in back-to-back games. Yet somehow Stephen Curry isn’t an All-Star? Last Week’s Ranking-7

Jan. 23, 2013; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat small forward LeBron James (left) and shooting guard Dwyane Wade (right) react during the second half against the Toronto Raptors at American Airlines Arena. Miami won 123-116. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

5.  Denver Nuggets (26-18): This is more like what we thought we would see from the Nuggets this season. They are the fourth highest scoring team in the league and have gone 15-6 during their past 21 games. Their best players have been starting to play much better, most notably point guard Ty Lawson, who has averaged 17.4 points, 7.4 assists and 1.0 steals during the past five games. In addition, the Nuggets are an impressive 16-3 at home this year. Denver is for real and will be a threat in the west the rest of the season. Last Week’s Ranking-6

4. Miami Heat (27-12): LeBron James is showing why he is the best player in the world. During the last five games, the three-time MVP has averaged 29.4 points, 6.6 rebounds, 8.4 assists, 1.0 blocks and 2.4 steals while shooting 61.9 percent from the field. The Heat still have some holes to fill but they will be tough to stop if LeBron keeps playing at this level. Last Week’s Ranking-4

3. Los Angeles Clippers (32-12): The Clippers four week run at No. 1 comes to an end and most of that is due to Chris Paul missing five of the Clippers’ past seven games. The Clippers have lost three straight as a result, but there is no reason to panic at the moment. Last Week’s Ranking-1

2.  San Antonio Spurs (34-11): It’s hard not to put the Spurs at No. 1, especially after winning six in a row and 15 of their past 18 overall. Tony Parker and Tim Duncan are heading to the All-Star Game, but the Spurs have been getting contributions from everyone, most notably Tiago Splitter, who has a PER over 20. They are a Top 5 team in both offensive and defensive efficiency and a real threat to win another title. Last Week’s Ranking-3

1. Oklahoma City Thunder (33-10): The Thunder are back up to the top spot where they belongs the NBA’s best tem. Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook have been outstanding, but Durant is the likely MVP of the league at this point. KD has averaged 34.5 points per game during the month of January and in the past four games has dropped 52, 37, 32 and 33. Last Week’s Ranking-2

Biggest Climber: Hornets (+6)

Biggest Faller: Lakers (-7)

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We are at the halfway point of the NBA season, so that means there likely won’t be a whole lot of movement from just a couple of weeks ago.

January 11, 2013; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors power forward David Lee (10) looks on during the third quarter against the Portland Trail Blazers at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Trail Blazers 103-97. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

With that being said, here’s a look at my latest NBA MVP Ladder.

Honorable Mentions: Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan, Zach Randolph, Tony Parker, James Harden, Stephen Curry, Russell Westbrook

5. David Lee, Golden State Warriors: Lee has to get some love for the success of the Warriors so far. Lee has 25 double-doubles on the season and ranks seventh in rebounding (10.8 RPG) and 11th in scoring (19.6 PPG). He is a big reason why the Warriors have the seventh best record in the NBA. Previous Ranking- Not Ranked

4. Carmelo Anthony, New York Knicks:  Anthony still has an MVP resume, ranking second in the NBA in scoring at 29.2 PPG, while ranking fourth in the league in PER (25.29). However while that is no doubt impressive, his MVP candidacy has taken a hit as of late as the Knicks have gone only 7-9 in their past 16 games. Previous Ranking-4

3. Chris Paul, Los Angeles Clippers: Paul slips a spot after missing three games last week, but his MVP resume is still impressive, ranking third in the NBA in PER (26.11), while averaging 16.6 points per game while also ranking second overall in assists with 9.7 per night. He also leads the NBA in steals with 2.6, while leading the Clippers to the best record in the NBA. Previous Ranking-2

2. LeBron James, Miami Heat: LeBron leads the league in PER (30.3) and is fourth in the league in scoring (26.3 PPG), 10th in assists (7.0 APG) and is also pulling down 8.1 rebounds per game. As much as James is having an MVP-type season again, the Heat aren’t as good (at this point) as they were a season ago and must become a better road team. Previous Ranking-3

1.  Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder: Durant’s January, in which he has averaged a whopping 32.3 points per game, has just helped his MVP case. He’s the NBA’s leading scorer, averaging 29.5 points per game and is playing on a team that is an NBA-best 33-9. He’s second in the NBA in PER (29.15) and is also averaging 7.5 rebounds and a career-best 4.2 assists per game. His case gets even stronger due to the fact that he is shooting 51.6 percent from the floor, 40.4 percent from three and 90.9 from the free-throw line. Just like last season, the MVP could end up being a two-horse race between LeBron and Durant when it is all said and done. Previous Ranking-1

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There’s a lot of movement this week and a very tight battle for the top spot overall. Where does your team rank?

Jan 11, 2013; Toronto, ON, Canada; Charlotte Bobcats forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (14) goes to the basket against Toronto Raptors guard Landry Fields (2) at the Air Canada Centre. The Raptors beat the Bobcats 99-78. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports

Let’s get right into it.

30. Charlotte Bobcats (9-29): Michel Kidd-Gilchrist has the makings of a future star, but after snapping their lengthy losing streak, the Bobcats have lost five in a row again. Last Week’s Ranking-29

29.  Washington Wizards (7-29): Bradley Beal is also a youngster that has the makings of a future NBA star and the Wizards have gone 2-1 since John Wall returned to the lineup. Last Week’s Ranking-30

28. Cleveland Cavaliers (10-31): Kyrie Irving is something special and the Cavs have some young pieces, but they aren’t ready to win yet. Last Week’s Ranking-28

27. Phoenix Suns (13-28): The Suns have trouble scoring the ball but it doesn’t help that they are also only 26^th in the league in terms of defensive efficiency. Last Week’s Ranking-26

26. Orlando Magic (14-24): The Magic snapped a 10-game losing streak and have made it know they are looking to make deals. J.J. Redick has been playing very well and could be the first to go.  Last Week’s Ranking- 27

25. Sacramento Kings (15-24): DeMarcus Cousins has been brilliant, averaging 20.7 points over his last 10 games and recording eight double-doubles and the Kings have split their past 10 games. But there isn’t much else to get excited about in Sacramento except a potential move to Seattle. Last Week’s Ranking-21

24. Detroit Pistons (14-25): The Pistons beat the Hawks and Heat and have won 6-of-10 but have dropped their past two. It will be interesting to see Andre Drummond get more minutes and see what he and Greg Monroe can do together.  Last Week’s Ranking-19

Nov 4, 2012; New York, NY, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Andrew Bynum (33) looks on against the New York Knicks during the first half at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

23. New Orleans Hornets (13-26): The Hornets have a bright future and are showing why, winning 7-of-10, which is impressive considering they won only six of their first 29. The backcourt of Greivis Vasquez and Eric Gordon has been outstanding and a big reason for the sudden turnaround. Last Week’s Ranking-25

22. Toronto Raptors (14-25): The Raptors should be coming back to earth after dropping three in a row, ending a string of which they won 10-of-13. Last Week’s Ranking-17

21. Minnesota Timberwolves (16-20): Finally the injuries have caught up with the Timberwolves, who have lost five in a row. The latest Kevin Love hand injury is a back breaker. Last Week’s Ranking-20

20. Philadelphia 76ers (16-23): Andrew Bynum says he could be back around the All-Star break, which is great news for the Sixers as they need him badly, dropping eight of their past 10 games. Last Week’s Ranking-24

19. Los Angeles Lakers (17-22): Kobe Bryant has been outstanding at both ends of the floor, but the Lakers have lost 7-of-10 and are 26^th in the NBA in points allowed per game. Last Week’s Ranking-23

18. Portland Trail Blazers (20-19): The Blazers have dropped four straight after playing so well for the last month. A playoff run will be unlikely with the worst bench in the NBA, despite their starting five playing very well. Last Week’s Ranking-12

17. Dallas Mavericks (17-23): The Mavs have turned things around lately, winning four straight. But to get back into playoff contention, Dallas must get better defensively, allowing the 27^th most points in the NBA. Last Week’s Ranking-22

16. Milwaukee Bucks (20-18): The Bucks keep hanging in there in the Eastern Conference, but there is just something about this team that makes it hard to believe in them. Last Week’s Ranking-15

Jan 11, 2013; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Celtics point guard Avery Bradley (0) shoots the ball against the Houston Rockets during the second half at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports

15. Houston Rockets (21-19): The Rockets have been fun to watch and have been hanging around  but they have lost five straight which means they drop from the Top 10 for the first time in weeks. They are turning the ball over almost 15 times per game, which is the worst mark in the league. Last Week’s Ranking-9

14. Atlanta Hawks (22-16): The Hawks are coming back to earth rapidly, winning only three of their past 10. Last Week’s Ranking-14

13. Boston Celtics (20-18): The Celtics have won six of 10 and things have looked better for Boston since Avery Bradley returned although his recent rib injury could be a concern. Last Week’s Ranking-16

12. Utah Jazz (21-19): Utah is back to playing well, as their season has been filled with stretches of good play and bad play. They have won 6-of-10 and are 12-4 at home on the season. Last Week’s Ranking-18

11. Brooklyn Nets (23-16): The Nets have turned things around by winning 8-of-10, but they have only two wins against over .500 teams since the end of November. Last Week’s Ranking-13

10. Chicago Bulls (22-15): Without Derrick Rose, the Bulls season has been quite odd. They have won 7-of-10 but have done most of their damage on the road where the Bulls are 11-5 on the season, compared to only 11-10 at home. Last Week’s Ranking-11

9. Memphis Grizzlies (24-13): The Grizzlies keep winning because they are second in the NBA in defensive efficiency, but the offense must get much better as they rank only 22^nd in the league in offensive efficiency. A three-game losing streak doesn’t help at all either.  Last Week’s Ranking-4

8. Indiana Pacers (24-16): The Pacers have won 7-of-10 as well and have done so without the services of Danny Granger all season. Paul George has upped his play and the Pacers are No. 1 in the NBA in both rebounding and defensive efficiency. Last Week’s Ranking-6

7. Golden State Warriors (23-14): The Warriors are third in the NBA in rebounding and still a threat in the Western Conference, but that can’t get by without Stephen Curry, who is out with an ankle injury. Last Week’s Ranking-5

Jan 17, 2013; London, United Kingdom; New York Knicks forward Amar

6. Denver Nuggets (24-17): I said all season that the Nuggets fortunes would turn around once the unkind schedule gave them some home games. After barely playing any games at home throughout the middle of December, the Nuggets are now 15-2 at home and rolling, winning 9-of-12 overall. Last Week’s Ranking-10

5. New York Knicks (25-13): The Knicks are getting healthier by the day and should expect Raymond Felton back in the next week or so. Iman Shumpert made his season debut Thursday against the Pistons, the same day that Amar’e Stoudemire turned in his best performance since returning January 1. This is a deep and dangerous team. Last Week’s Ranking-7

4. Miami Heat (26-12): Back-to-back road wins over the Warriors and Lakers were needed for a team that has gone only 10-9 away from home this season. However they have to find a way to add some quality size to repeat.  Last Week’s Ranking-8

3. San Antonio Spurs (30-11):  Manu Ginobili is out for about two weeks, which is bad news. However the good news is that Tony Parker is averaging 19.4 points and 7.2 assists per game and Tim Duncan’s 17.2 points and 9.6 rebounds are the highest totals in each category that Duncan has posted in three years. Last Week’s Ranking-3

2. Oklahoma City Thunder (31-8): The Thunder have won five in a row and 8-of-10 overall.  They are the NBA’s most efficient team in terms of offense and the sixth most efficient defensive team. Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook are playing at a very high level and it was very difficult not to put them back in the top spot. Last Week’s Ranking-2

1. Los Angeles Clippers (31-9): The Clippers rank in the top five in the NBA in both offensive and defensive efficiency and continue to win. Their deep bench allows Vinny Del Negro to limit the minutes of both Chris Paul and Blake Griffin. Despite losing to the Magic, the Clippers maintain the top spot as they beat the Grizzlies, Rockets and Timberwolves without the services of Paul. The Clippers are the first team this season to stay in the No. 1 spot for four consecutive weeks. Last Week’s Ranking-1

Biggest Climber: Jazz (+6)

Biggest Faller: Rockets, Blazers (-6)

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There has been a lot of movement since the calendar switched to 2013, as some of the top teams have slumped as of late and some of the middle of the pack teams are starting to make their move.

Where does your favorite team land?

Let’s not waste time and jump into this week’s rankings.

Dec 28, 2012; Washington, DC, USA; Orlando Magic head coach Jacque Vaughn talks with guard J.J. Redick (7) during the second half at the Verizon Center. The Wizards defeated the Magic 105 – 97. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA Today Sports

30. Washington Wizards (5-28): The Wizards are 2-2 against the Miami Heat and Oklahoma City Thunder and 3-26 against the rest of the NBA. But even a win against the Thunder won’t stop Washington from slipping back into the basement. Last Week’s Ranking: 29

29.Charlotte Bobcats (9-25): The Cats have gone 2-3 over their past five to climb out of the cellar for the first time in three weeks. Last Week’s Ranking-30

28. Cleveland Cavaliers (9-28): The Cavs managed a win over Atlanta, but losing Anderson Varejao for two months is something they can’t recover from. Last Week’s Ranking-28

27. Orlando Magic (12-23): Ten consecutive losses for the reeling Magic and counting. However there is a bit of good news as Orlando and that is they get Charlotte and Washington upcoming in the next week. Last Week’s Ranking-26

25. Phoenix Suns (12-25): Despite point guard Goran Dragic playing pretty well, the Suns have won only 1-of-11. It could be time to blow this team up. Last Week’s Ranking-25

25. New Orleans Hornets (10-25): Since Eric Gordon returned, the Hornets have gone 4-1, including wins over the San Antonio Spurs and Houston Rockets. Gordon hasn’t been great but the Hornets have started winning. Overall they split their past 10 games and have won three in a row. Last Week’s Ranking-27

24. Philadelphia 76ers (15-22): The Sixers have lost five in a row and 8-of-10,but despite Jrue Holiday  playing well, no one  else is  a  Sixers uniform is contributing enough. Last Week’s Ranking-19

Jan 10, 2013; Sacramento, CA, USA; Dallas Mavericks power forward Dirk Nowitzki (41) on the bench against the Sacramento Kings during the overtime period at Sleep Train Arena. The Dallas Mavericks defeated the Sacramento Kings 117-112 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

23. Los Angeles Lakers (15-20): Dwight Howard and Pau Gasol are out and the Lakers have lost five straight. Just when you start to think it is starting to get better in Lakerland, things just get much worse. Last Week’s Ranking-18

22. Dallas Mavericks (14-23): The Mavs have won only 2-of-12 and those victories came against Washington and Sacramento. Dirk Nowitzki is  starting to round into shape but there isn’t enough talent around him and O.J. Mayo isn’t playing as well as he was early in the season. Last Week’s Ranking-24

21. Sacramento Kings (13-23): The Kings appeared to be turning the corner but a three-game losing streak shows that they aren’t ready. Maybe it  is time for a shake up here also because things aren’t working. Last Week’s Ranking-23

20. Minnesota Timberwolves (16-16): Kevin Love’s latest setback just crushes the Wolves, who have been dealing with tons of injuries all season long. Last Week’s Ranking-14

19. Detroit Pistons (13-23): Greg Monroe has been playing well and the Pistons have won 6-of-8 and both losses have come in overtime. Last Week’s Ranking-22

18. Utah Jazz (19-18): The Jazz have too much talent to be constantly hovering around the .500 mark, but four wins in five games could get them hot again. Last Week’s Ranking-20

17. Toronto Raptors (13-22): The Raptors were 4-19 at one point in the season and have since gone 9-4 behind the spectacular play of point guard Jose Calderon. Last Week’s Ranking-17

16. Boston Celtics (18-17): Are the Celtics starting to put things together? Four consecutive wins is a good sign. Last Week’s Ranking-21

15. Milwaukee Bucks (18-16): The Bucks need one more piece to take this team from average to above average. That piece may already be on their roster in Ersan Ilyasova, who has underachieved to this point of the season. Last Week’s Ranking-12

Jan 08, 2013; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Brooklyn Nets guard Deron Williams (8) shoots a foul shot during the second quarter against the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center. The Nets defeated the Sixers 109-89. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports

14. Atlanta Hawks (20-14): The Hawks make a big drop after losing four in a row, including losses to: Cleveland, Detroit and Minnesota. They have had trouble with opposing big men and have dropped 5-of-6 overall. The Hawks were a surprise the first quarter of the season and could be coming back to earth. Last Week’s Ranking-9

13. Brooklyn Nets (20-15): The Nets have seemed to figure it out under interim coach P.J. Carlesimo, who will be the coach for the remainder of the season. Brooklyn has won 7-of-10 and if Deron Williams-and Gerald Wallace for that matter- start playing well eventually, the Nets could once again be a major factor in the Eastern Conference. Last Week’s Ranking-16

12. Portland Trail Blazers (20-15): LaMarcus Aldridge and J.J. Hickson have been outstanding down low and rookie point guard Damian Lillard has been quite the spark for the Blazers, who have won 11 of  their last 14. Their lack of a bench will kill them in the end, but right now the Blazers are playing very well. Last Week’s Ranking-15

11. Chicago Bulls (19-14): Despite a loss to the Bobcats at home two weeks ago, the Bulls have a 15-6 record inside the Eastern Conference- only the Knicks have a better mark. When Derrick Rose returns, the Bulls will be a tough out in the postseason. Last Week’s Ranking-13

10. Denver Nuggets (21-16): The Nuggets finally got some games at home and have responded by winning 10 of their past 13. Andre Iguodala is getting more comfortable in his new surroundings and the Nuggets are poised to take off and be a threat in the Western Conference like many predicted before the season began. Last Week’s Ranking-11

January 5, 2013; Orlando FL, USA; New York Knicks center Tyson Chandler (6) talks with small forward Carmelo Anthony (7) during the second quarter at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

9. Houston Rockets (21-15): James Harden has scored at least 25 points in 14 straight games and the Rockets show no signs of slowing down at the moment. Last Week’s Ranking-8

8. Miami Heat (23-11): The Heat can’t rebound the basketball and show no intensity at the defensive end of the floor. Even worse, they are only 7-8 on the road. It may not be time to panic just yet, but there are some concerns with the defending champs. Last Week’s Ranking-5

7. New York Knicks (23-12): After a great start, the Knicks have come back to earth, going only 5-7 over their past 12. But they have had to deal with a ton of injuries, so they are still legitimate contenders right now. They stay ahead of Miami because they punished the Heat twice by 20. Last Week’s Ranking-6

6. Indiana Pacers (22-14): Roy Hibbert has been lousy but the Pacers have reeled off 12 wins in their past 15 games, including three consecutive wins over Milwaukee, Miami and New York. Defense and rebounding have been the keys to the Indiana turnaround as they rank first and second in rebounds and points allowed per game. While Hibbert has not been good, Paul George is starting to realize his potential and has been outstanding as of late. Last Week’s Ranking-10

5. Golden State Warriors (22-12): The Warriors continue to play well although recent losses to the Clippers and Grizzlies knock them down a couple of pegs. Last Week’s Ranking-3

4. Memphis Grizzlies (23-10): The Grizzlies have been rumored to be shopping Rudy Gay and others, but as long as they are contending, I can’t see them making a deal. After a less-than-spectacular December, Memphis looks back on track by winning 4-of-5. Last Week’s Ranking-7

3. San Antonio Spurs (28-10): Tim Duncan and Tony Parker have been outstanding and the Spurs just keep rolling, winners of nine of their past 11. Last Week’s Ranking-4

2. Oklahoma City Thunder (27-8): A shocking loss to the Wizards keep the Thunder out of the top spot for now, but despite winning only six of their past 10, Kevin Durant,  Russell Westbrook are serious contenders. Last Week’s Ranking-2

1. Los Angeles Clippers (28-8): Chris Paul is making a case for the MVP and the Clippers keep on winning impressively. After losing consecutive games to see their 17-game win streak come to an end,  the Clippers are right back at it by reeling off three in a row. They hold onto the top spot for a third consecutive week. Last Week’s Ranking-1

Biggest Climber: Celtics (+5)

Biggest Faller: Timberwolves (-6)

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It’s time to take a look at the leading contenders for the NNBA’s highest honor in my weekly MVP ladder.

First let’s look at those who just missed the cut.

January 4, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard Kobe Bryant (24) reacts after scoring a three point basket against the Los Angeles Clippers during the second half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Honorable Mentions: David Lee, James Harden, Russell Westbrook, Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Zach Randolph, Stephen Curry

Now for the Top 5.

5. Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers

Kobe is having another fantastic season, leading the NBA in scoring at 30.5 points per game. He is also pulling down 5.2 rebounds and dishing out 4.7 assists per night. Even more impressive is the fact that Kobe is shooting a career-high 48.3 percent from the floor. He only clocks in at No. 5 though because his Lakers are only 15-17 on the season.

4. Carmelo Anthony, New York Knicks

Anthony certainly has been MVP-like all season long- when he has been healthy. Despite being second in the NBA in scoring at 28.9 points per game and pulling down 6.3 rebounds per game, Anthony drops a couple of spots mostly based on the fact that he has missed six games on the season due to injury and in turn the Knicks are 5-5 during their past 10 games. However the Knicks are 22-10 on the season and a legitimate contender based on the play of Anthony. He will be in contention for the MVP all season if he keeps this up.

3. LeBron James, Miami Heat

The reigning MVP is at it again. LeBron has been scorching hot as of late, but only clocks in at No. 3 thanks to Miami losing two road games this week to the Detroit Pistons, Milwaukee Bucks and a home loss to the Chicago Bulls. However James is averaging career highs in field-goal percentage (54.5) and three-point percentage (40.4), and he ranks fourth in the league in scoring with 26.6 points per game. James leads the league with a PER of 30.25. With the Heat in contention for a second consecutive championship, LBJ will be in contention for a second straight MVP.

2. Chris Paul, Los Angeles Clippers

Jan 4, 2013; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; OKlahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant (35) handles the ball against Philadelphia 76ers guard Dorell Wright (4) during the second half at the Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports

It was hard not to put CP3 at the top spot, especially after leading the Clippers to a 17-game win streak, but he sits at No. 2 for now. His numbers aren’t the greatest but that is due in part to only playing 32.9 minutes per game as of late. But they certainly aren’t bad numbers as Paul has averaged 16.7 points, 9.3 assists and a league-high 2.7 steals. His 25.9 PER is outstanding and according to 82games.com, he has held opposing point guards to a PER of only 11. No player has had the impact on his team that CP3 has.

1. Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder

Durant gets the top spot after averaging 28.3 PPG (third in NBA). But here are the three most impressive things about his potential claim to the MVP. First, Durant has a 7.1 win shares according to Basketball-Reference. No player in the NBA can top that. Next, are the outstanding shooting percentages. He is shooting 51.3 percent from the field, 42.5 percent from three-point range and 90.5 percent from the free-throw line, all career highs. No other player in the NBA can boast a line of 50-40-90. Finally there is the fact that he has led the Thunder to a league-best 25-7 on the season. Add up Durant’s resume right now and there is nothing about it that doesn’t scream out MVP.

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There has been a lot of movement this week, but the top teams look pretty similar to the way they did one week ago.

Dec. 19, 2012; Phoenix, AZ, USA: Charlotte Bobcats guard Kemba Walker (15) reacts in the first half against the Phoenix Suns at the US Airways Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Where does your favorite team land?

Let’s waste no time and find out as here are my Week 8 NBA Power Rankings.

30. Charlotte Bobcats (7-18): Michael Jordan’s squad is back where they spent all of last season- in the basement. The ‘cats have lost 13 in a  row and it is not going to get any better. Charlotte finishes the year with the Golden State, Denver, Miami, Brooklyn and Chicago. If they don’t beat New Orleans on December 29, there is a good chance the Bobcats won’t win again in 2012. Last Week’s Ranking-28

29. New Orleans Hornets (5-20): The Hornets got Anthony Davis back but it hasn’t helped them win games. They have won only one out of their past 10 and have lost nine in a row. They are also only 2-18 over their past 20. That name change can’t happen quickly enough. Last Week’s Ranking-27

28. Washington Wizards (3-20): This is the second straight week the Wizards have moved up a spot, but it isn’t because anything they have done, but the Bobcats and Hornets have been that much worse. On a good note, Bradley Beal is starting to improve, but that’s about it in D.C. Last Week’s Ranking-29

27. Cleveland Cavaliers (5-22): The Cavs lone win during their past 11 games came against the Lakers. Kyrie Irving and Anderson Varejao are sensational, but there is little else to get excited about right now. That could change if rookies Tyler Zeller and Dion Waiters keep progressing slowly. Last Week’s Ranking- 26

26. Detroit Pistons (7-21): The Pistons have lost six in a row and have won only once in their past nine- to a Cavs team without Kyrie Irving. Last Week’s Ranking-24

25.  Sacramento Kings (8-17): They did beat the Warriors and have gone 4-6 in their past 10, but when they lose they often get drilled. Keep an eye on Jimmer Fredette, whose play has picked up as of late. Last Week’s Ranking- 23

Dec 14 2012; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Philadelphia 76ers forward Thaddeus Young (21) dunks during the game against the Indiana Pacers at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

24. Toronto Raptors (8-19): Last week they were in the basement and looked like the worst team in the NBA but have since won 4-of-5 even though Kyle Lowry has been injured. In his place Jose Calderon has been brilliant at times. Last Week’s Ranking-30

23. Philadelphia 76ers (12-14): Huge drop for the Sixers as they have won only two of their past 10. They are getting decent contributions from the likes of Nick Young, Thaddeus Young and Evan Turner, but this team needs Andrew Bynum and Jrue Holiday healthy and at least in the case of Bynum, that may never happen. Last Week’s Ranking-14

22. Portland Trail Blazers (11-12): They have split their last 10 and have gone 3-2 in their past five. The problem in Portland is depth, which prevents them from turning in consistent efforts on a nightly basis. They have a very good starting five, but very little behind it. Last Week’s Ranking- 21

21. Los Angeles Lakers (12-14): The Lakers have won 3-of-5 and are showing some signs of turning things around, but they  have lost to Orlando and Cleveland in the past 10 games and beat Charlotte by only one after trailing by double digits in the second half. We will know more about Mike D’Antoni’s team once Steve Nash returns, but right now it’s hard to take them seriously. Last Week’s Ranking-22

20. Brooklyn Nets (13-12): It’s been an ugly couple of weeks for the Nets, who learned on Wednesday that New York still belongs to the Knicks. Overall the Nets have won only two of their past 10 and those were against Detroit and Toronto. Deron Williams is struggling and if he doesn’t figure things out soon, the Nets will continue to struggle. Last Week’s  Ranking-12

19. Dallas Mavericks (12-13): The Mavs got good news in the fact that Dirk Nowitzki could be back soon and they have hung around the .500 mark without him. O.J. Mayo has been great and if Dirk can play like he is capable of,  then the Mavs could go on a little run. Last Week’s Ranking-16

18. Phoenix Suns (11-15): Last week I said the Suns had too much talent to lose the way they have been losing and they responded by winning 4-of-5.  They are tough to beat at home, posting a 9-5  record, too bad they have only won twice on the road. Last Week’s Ranking-25

Dec 19, 2012; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Celtics small forward Paul Pierce (right) drives to the hoop against Cleveland Cavaliers small forward Alonzo Gee (33) and power forward Tristan Thompson (13) during the first half at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports

17. Orlando Magic (12-13): The Magic have won 4-of-5 and have gone 7-3 during their past 10 games. They are doing it with solid team defense as Orlando has allowed the sixth fewest points in the league (94.2). Last Week’s Ranking-20

16. Boston Celtics (13-12): Paul Pierce’s huge 40-point night on Wednesday hopefully is a sign of things to come for this Celtics team, who through 25 games have been nothing short of mediocre. Last Week’s Ranking-11

15. Houston Rockets (13-12): The Rockets backcourt of James Harden and Jeremy Lin are sharing the ball more now and it shows in the results. The youngest team in the NBA has won 4-of-5 and have swept the Knicks on the season. Now they just have to figure out how to do it more consistently. Last Week’s Ranking-18

14. Milwaukee Bucks (13-11): The Bucks have only two players (Brandon Jennings and Monta Ellis)averaging over 11 points this season and have only three in double-figures. In addition they have allowed more points than they have scored, but their defense is pretty good, especially the interior defense where Larry Sanders deserves some early Defensive Player of the Year recognition. If they find some more offense they could be dangerous. Last Week’s Ranking-13

13. Minnesota Timberwolves (12-11): They got Ricky Rubio back to pair with Kevin Love so now we will see if this Minnesota tem is for real. They have won 6-of-9, but also have lost two in a row. Despite all of the injuries, the ‘Wolves have stayed above .500 in a very tough Western Conference. Last Week’s Ranking- 15

12. Denver Nuggets (14-12): The up-and-down roller coaster ride of a season for the Nuggets continues, as this week Denver is red hot. Denver has won 4-of-5 to get back over .500 and if Andre Iguodala ever figures thins out, this team will be scary. Also as I mentioned a week ago, they have played only 8-of-26 games at home. They are 7-1 at the Pepsi Center this year, so once the schedule evens out, the Nuggets should take off. Last Week’s Ranking-19

Dec 15, 2012; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Indiana Pacers small forward Paul George (24) drives during the fourth quarter against the Detroit Pistons at The Palace. Pacers won 88-77. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports

11. Indiana Pacers (14-12): The Pacers have been on a tear, winning four of their past five and 11-of-15 overall. They finally found some offense to go along with David West, as Paul George has averaged 20.1 points, 7.8 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.3 blocks and 1.4 steals per game in the month of December. Throw in George Hill’s impressive play and you can see why Indiana has been winning. If Roy Hibbert ever decides to contribute, this Pacers team could be a contender again in the Eastern Conference. Last Week’s Ranking- 17

10. Utah Jazz (14-13): Utah remains a hard team to figure out, but they stay in the Top 10 this week. They have gone 5-3  in their past eight, and are 9-2 at home, but have to put together more consistent wins. If they don’t, this could be their last week in the Top 10. Having said that, I still like their talent. Last Week’s Ranking- 9

9. Chicago Bulls (14-10): The Bulls are putting themselves in good shape in the Eastern Conference. Even without Derrick Rose, Chicago has won 8-of-11. A lot of credit has to go to Joakim Noah, who is playing great basketball, averaging 13.6 points and 10.6 rebounds per game. Last Week’s Ranking- 10

8. Atlanta Hawks (15-8): The Hawks have cooled off some, but remain one of the better teams in the east. That is thanks to great team defense and guys like Al Horford, Josh Smith and Lou Williams playing great basketball. Also note that all but two of the Hawks losses have come to teams ranked ahead of them. Other than losses to the Cavs and Rockets this season, they have beaten every team they are supposed to beat. Last Week’s Ranking- 8

7. Golden State Warriors (17-9): Despite allowing 131 points in a loss to the Kings, the surprising Warriors have been getting it done on the defensive end. Almost everyone on the team not named David Lee has improved defensively, but Lee is carving out an All-Star season at the offensive end of the floor, averaging 19.8 points and 11.2 rebounds.  Last Week’s Ranking-6

6. San Antonio Spurs (19-8): The Spurs have lost 4-of-5, including a statement game to the Thunder on Monday. Having said that it was a tough and long road trip and Tony Parker and Time Duncan have been outstanding. You just don’t see a Gregg Popovich team lose 4-of-5 very often. Last Week’s Ranking-2

5. Memphis Grizzlies (17-6): Memphis has cooled off a bit, going only 6-4 during their past 10, but as long as they have  healthy Rudy Gay and Zach Randolph to go along with the likes of Marc Gasol and Mike Conley, then this team will pretty much be around this spot all season. Memphis has great depth and are still very dangerous in the Western Conference. Last Week’s Ranking-5

Dec. 17, 2012; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks center Tyson Chandler (6) reacts after being called for a flagrant foul on Houston Rockets point guard Jeremy Lin (not pictured) during the second quarter at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Debby Wong-USA TODAY Sports

4. Miami Heat (16-6): Are the Heat just coasting through the regular season with their eyes on the playoffs? It’s likely. The only troublesome thing with this team is they lack focus and intensity on the defensive end at times, something that is likely contributed to simply looking forward to the postseason already.  Last Week’s Ranking-7

3. New York Knicks (19-6): The Knicks just keep getting it done and are a team that will be in the hunt for the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference. Since their loss in late November to the Brooklyn Nets, the nicks have lost only twice since- to the Bulls and Rockets, both without the services of Carmelo Anthony. With Amar’e Stoudemire and Iman Shumpert coming back soon, this Knicks team will be scary good. Last Week’s Ranking-3

2. Los Angeles Clippers (19-6): The Clippers are on quite the roll, winners of 11 in a row after an odd four-game skid in late November. Before that they had won six in a row, so this is a team on a serious roll. Chris Paul and Blake Griffin are dominating and this is one of the deeper teams in the NBA. Paul has been so good at running the Clippers’ offense, he hasn’t needed to score, having  not scored over 20 points in the last 10 games. That speaks volumes for how well this team is playing. Last Week’s Ranking-4

1. Oklahoma City Thunder (21-4): Back-to-back weeks in the top spot for the Thunder, who are riding a 12-game winning streak. They have won 15 of their past 16 and quite honestly I have run out of good things to say about Scott Brooks’ team. They are simply that good right now. Last Week’s Ranking-1

Biggest Climbers- Denver and Phoenix (+7)

Biggest Faller- Philadelphia (-9)

With that being said, let’s jump right into this week’s NBA Power Rankings.

Dec 12, 2012; Houston, TX, USA; Washington Wizards shooting guard Jordan Crawford (15) passes against the Houston Rockets during the first quarter at the Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Campbell-USA TODAY Sports

30. Toronto Raptors (4-19): I liked the Raptors young talent before the season, but six consecutive losses and 12-of-13 overall earn them the bottom spot. Last Week’s Ranking-28

29. Washington Wizards (3-16): The Wizards have actually won three of their past seven, but it’s hard to know if this team will be any good until John Wall returns and who knows when that will be. Last Week’s Ranking- 30

28. Charlotte Bobcats (7-14): So much for that good feeling from this Charlotte team. They’ve lost nine in a row after a surprising 7-5 start. Last Week’s Ranking- 24

27. New Orleans Hornets (5-14): Anthony Davis is back for now and the Hornets…err I mean Pelicans… need him as they have lost 7-of-8. Last Week’s Ranking-26

26. Cleveland Cavaliers (5-18): Kyrie Irving is back and the Cavs had a big win over the Lakers, which snapped a string of five straight losses. Last Week’s Ranking-29

25. Phoenix Suns (8-15): They snapped a seven game losing streak with a surprising win over Memphis, but they have the talent to be better than this. Last Week’s Ranking- 25

Dec 11, 2012; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Detroit Pistons point guard Brandon Knight (7) is defended by Denver Nuggets point guard Ty Lawson (3) during the fourth quarter at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Nuggets beat the Pistons 101-94. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports

24. Detroit Pistons (7-17): Brandon Knight is starting to look like a nice NBA guard, but while they started to look like they were going to put things together, they have stumbled and lost 4-of-5. Last Week’s Ranking-19

23. Sacramento Kings (7-14): They have talent, but don’t seem willing to learn how to win as a team. However the Kings have won five of their past 11. Last Week’s Ranking- 27

22. Los Angeles Lakers (9-13): Mike Brown must be laughing right now. There is no more disappointing tem in the league and if they are hoping Steve Nash is the cure for all their problems, they will have a while longer to wait for his return. Last Week’s Ranking-22

21. Portland Trail Blazers (9-12): The Blazers have won three of their past five including somehow beating Toronto on Monday when they went 0-for-20 from behind the arc. Last Week’s Ranking-23

20. Orlando Magic (8-13): Give Jacque Vaughn credit. His team competes hard every night. Last Week’s Ranking-21

19. Denver Nuggets (11-12): Talk about disappointments, George Karl’s team is an early season one. After winning four straight at the end of November, the Nuggets have lost 6-of-9. They have had only six home games all season and won five of them though. If they get through this month, most of their January games are at home. Last Week’s Ranking-12

18. Houston Rockets (10-11): Jeremy Lin is starting to pick things up after a very slow start. It looks like he and James Harden are slowly starting to learn how to play with each other. Last Week’s Ranking-14

17. Indiana Pacers (11-11): The Pacers just can’t find consistent offense right now and newcomer D.J. Augustin was demoted to third-string point guard after shooting only 26.6 percent from the floor so far. Last Week’s Ranking-13

Dec 12, 2012; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves power forward Kevin Love (42) asks for a foul call against the Denver Nuggets during the fourth quarter at Target Center. Timberwolves won 108-105. Mandatory Credit: Greg Smith-USA TODAY Sports

16. Dallas Mavericks (11-11): Wednesday’s overtime loss to Boston broke a three-game winning streak that put the Mavs back over .500. If they can just hang around there until Dirk Nowitzki eventually returns, they could be a team that surges later in the year. Last Week’s Ranking-20

15. Minnesota Timberwolves (10-9): Despite all of the injuries the ‘Wolves are above .500. They got Kevin Love back and will get Ricky Rubio back in the next few days. Last Week’s Ranking-15

14.  Philadelphia 76ers (12-10): Andrew Bynum says he will return this season. The Sixers could use his scoring, but are hanging in there without him. Last Week’s Ranking-11

13. Milwaukee Bucks (11-9): Milwaukee is such a hard team to gauge. Can they keep winning with only two scorers averaging over 11 points per game (Monta Ellis and Brandon Jennings)? Last Week’s Ranking-18

12. Brooklyn Nets (12-9): The Nets win over Toronto snapped a five-game skid, all without Brook Lopez in the lineup. Last Week’s Ranking-6

11. Boston Celtics (12-9): Boston has been so inconsistent all season, but won a big overtime game against the Mavs, which makes three wins in four games. They have to finish strong to the last three games of a tough road trip against Houston, San Antonio and Chicago to build some momentum. Last Week’s Ranking-10

10. Chicago Bulls (12-9): Chicago is starting to put some consistent wins together, winning five of their past seven, but have a very tough seven game stretch upcoming. Last Week’s Ranking-17

9. Utah Jazz (13-10): The Jazz have won four straight and faces a tough Western Conference matchup at San Antonio on Wednesday; however they are only 4-9 on road this season. Last Week’s Ranking-16

Dec 10, 2012; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat small forward LeBron James (6) drives to the basket against Atlanta Hawks center Al Horford (15) and power forward Zaza Pachulia (right) in the second half at American Airlines Arena. The Heat won 101-92. Mandatory Credit: Robert Mayer-USA TODAY Sports

8. Atlanta Hawks (13-6): They blew an opportunity to make a statement in Miami on Monday, but have been one of the NBA’s biggest surprises, winning 10 of their past 12. Last Week’s Ranking-9

7. Miami Heat (14-6): The Heat have some issues, but there is nothing to panic about, but they have lost three of their last five games. Last Week’s Ranking-4

6. Golden State Warriors (15-7): Speaking of pleasant surprises, the Warriors did make a statement by beating the Heat on the road. Mark Jackson’s team is hot, winning 10-of-12 overall. They have the talent to stay that way for a while. Last Week’s Ranking-8

5. Memphis Grizzlies (14-5): The Grizzlies have dropped three of their past five, including tough back-to-back losses to Atlanta and Phoenix. Their three week hold of the top spot is over. Last Week’s Ranking-1

4. Los Angeles Clippers (16-6): The Clippers have won six in a row and haven’t lost in December. They have a chance to continue their winning ways with a four-game road trip that features Chicago, Charlotte, Milwaukee and Detroit. Last Week’s Ranking-7

3. New York Knicks (16-5): The Knicks are for real and Carmelo Anthony is playing at an MVP-level, but what makes them tough is their extraordinary depth, something that will get even better when Amar’e Stoudemire and Iman Shumpert return from injuries. Last Week’s Ranking-3

2. San Antonio Spurs (18-5): The highest scoring team in the NBA has games against Portland and Boston before a big Monday affair with Oklahoma City. The Spurs are an amazing 11-3 on the road and have won 10-of-12 overall. Last Week’s Ranking-5

1. Oklahoma City Thunder (18-4): The Thunder claim the top spot this week. Not only do they boast the NBA’s best record, but have won nine in a row and 12-of-13. I think it is safe to say they have figured out how to win without Harden. Last Week’s Ranking-2

Biggest Climbers: Utah and Chicago (+7)

Biggest Faller: Denver (-7)

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Who has moved up and who is sinking like the Titanic? Can the Memphis Grizzlies hold onto the No. 1 spot for the third week in a row?

Let’s not waste any time and answer all of those questions in my latest NBA Power Rankings.

Nov 28, 2012; Memphis, TN, USA; Toronto Raptors shooting guard DeMar DeRozan (10) brings the ball up court during the game against the Memphis Grizzlies at the Fed Ex Forum. Memphis Grizzlies defeated the Toronto Raptors 103-82. Mandatory Credit: Spruce Derden–USA TODAY Sports

30. Washington Wizards (2-13): A surprising win against the defending champs, but the Wizards are still the worst team in the league. The good news is that after 12 straight losses to start the season, Washington has won two of three. Last Week’s Ranking- 30.

29. Cleveland Cavaliers (4-14): Losers of 10 of 12, the Cavs aren’t very good, which is a shame given the way Anderson Varejao is playing. Kyrie Irving also isn’t close to returning, so they will continue to struggle.  Last Week’s Ranking-29

28. Toronto Raptors (4-14): The Raptors have dropped seven of their past eight games and are 1-10 on the road. Last Week’s Ranking-28

27. Sacramento Kings (4-12): They have lost three straight and have the worst record in the Western Conference. Tyreke Evans was on a roll offensively, so his knee injury doesn’t help matters out.  Last Week’s Ranking-25

26. New Orleans Hornets (5-11): They are changing their name to the Pelicans. I’m sure that will turn everything around. Last Week’s Ranking-27

25. Phoenix Suns (7-12): The Suns lost five of six on their recent six game road trip, including four in a row. Lucky for them they return home for eight of their next 10. Last Week’s Ranking-22

24. Charlotte Bobcats (7-9): The Bobcats have lost four in a row, including a tough overtime loss against the Blazers where they blew an 18 point second half lead. Last Week’s Ranking-17

23. Portland Trail Blazers (8-10): They stopped a four game skid by winning two in a row-both in overtime- but they were the first to lose to the hapless Wizards. Last Week’s Ranking-23

22. Los Angeles Lakers (8-10): No point guard and now Pau Gasol is also injured, this Lakers team has issues, none bigger than Dwight Howard’s inability to make free-throws. Howard alone cost the Lakers two straight wins, where the Hack-a-Howard strategy worked for both the Magic and Rockets. Maybe he should have spent less time crying and complaining last year and more time working on making free-throws. The 46.8 percent Howard is shooting from the charity stripe is pathetic.  Last Week’s Ranking-16

21. Orlando Magic (7-10): Wins against the Warriors and Lakers on the road were impressive. You have to hand it to Jacque Vaughn. His team may not be a playoff team, but they compete every night. Last Week’s Ranking-24

Nov 30, 2012; Memphis, TN, USA; Detroit Pistons center Greg Monroe (10) drives against the Memphis Grizzlies at the FedEx Forum. Memphis defeated Detroit 90-78. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports

20. Dallas Mavericks (8-9): Nice move by Dallas by adding Derrick Fisher.  They’ve won only four of their past 12 and a veteran point guard could help. Last Week’s Ranking-21

19. Detroit Pistons (6-13): The Pistons 0-8 start is a memory as they have gone 6-5 since. However they are 1-10 on the road which could be a huge problem all season.  Last Week’s Ranking-26

18. Milwaukee Bucks (8-8): The Bucks are the most inconsistent team in the league. They beat the Celtics one night and lose to the Hornets without Anthony Davis by 21.  Last Week’s Ranking-14

17.  Chicago Bulls (8-8): The Bulls are getting it done the same way they always do, with rebounding and defense, but they’ve had problems putting together consistent wins. They suffered a tough division loss against the Pacers but have upcoming winnable road games against Detroit and Cleveland before hosting the Clippers and Knicks. After that we will know more about Tom Thibodeau’s team. Last Week’s Ranking-18

16. Utah Jazz (9-10): If only the Jazz could play all their games at home. They blew a lead and lost their first home game of the season to the Clippers on Monday but overall are 6-1 at home compared to 3-9 on the road. Three consecutive losses overall don’t help matters much either. Last Week’s Ranking-10

15. Minnesota Timberwolves (8-8): Since returning, Kevin Love has averaged 19.4 points and 14.6 rebounds in his seven games, but the ‘Wolves have only gone 3-4 in that span. Last Week’s Ranking-20

14. Houston Rockets (9-8): The Rockets have won five of six and have wins over the Bulls, Knicks, Lakers and Jazz in that span. The youngest team in the NBA is playing very well right now. Last Week’s Ranking-19

13.  Indiana Pacers (9-9): Everyone in a Pacers uniform not named David West has been very inconsistent all season, but they lead the Central Division despite scoring only 90.3 points per game. Last Week’s Ranking-15

Nov 25, 2012; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard Jrue Holiday (11) celebrates making a basket during the fourth quarter against the Phoenix Suns at the Wachovia Center. The Sixers defeated the Suns 104-101. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports

12. Denver Nuggets (9-9): The Nuggets blew fourth quarter leads in three straight losses before beating the Raptors on Monday. The up-and-down Nuggets now have five straight on the road where they are only 4-8 on the season. Last Week’s Ranking-11

11. Philadelphia 76ers (10-8): Jrue Holiday has been great and the Sixers sit over .500 thanks to beating up on some bad teams. They are allowing only 89.3 points per game, but are scoring only 88.6 Last Week’s Ranking-13

10. Boston Celtics (9-8): The Celtics went 1-1 while Rajon Rondo was suspended. They can’t afford many more blowups like that from their best player. Last Week’s Ranking-8

9. Atlanta Hawks (9-5): They have won four of five, but we will find out more when they face Memphis and Denver this week.  Last Week’s Ranking-7

8. Golden State Warriors (10-7): The Warriors won five of six, then came out and lost to the Magic at home. It may be a while still before we figure Mark Jackson’s team out. Last Week’s Ranking-12

7. Los Angeles Clippers (11-6): They snapped an odd four-game skid by rebounding to win three in a row. It’s safe to say Chris Paul and company are back on track. Last Week’s Ranking-9

November 26, 2012; Washington, DC, USA; San Antonio Spurs point guard Tony Parker (9) dribbles the ball against the Washington Wizards at Verizon Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

6. Brooklyn Nets (11-6): The Nets saw their five-game win streak snapped with losses to Miami and Oklahoma City, showing that they still have a ways to go to hang with the NBA’s elite. Last Week’s Ranking-5

5. San Antonio Spurs (14-4): Probably would have the top spot had they not rested their starters and beaten the Heat. But they have gone 2-2 against the teams that are ranked ahead of them. Last Week’s Ranking-2

4. Miami Heat (12-4): It’s safe to say the Heat overlooked the Wizards and had their eyes on the Knicks, but you can’t lose to the Wizards regardless, especially when LeBron James has a triple-double. Last Week’s Ranking-3

3. New York Knicks (12-4): They’ve rebounded to win three in a row after losing to Brooklyn. The Knicks are perfect at home, with all four losses coming on the road. Carmelo Anthony is playing at an MVP level and will need to keep it up as the Knicks take on the Heat on Thursday. They have received scares though with injuries to Jason Kidd and Raymond Felton. Last Week’s Ranking-6

2. Oklahoma City Thunder (15-4): The Thunder have won six in a row and nine of 10. It’s safe to say they are clicking on all cylinders and have figured out how to win without James Harden. Last Week’s Ranking-4

1. Memphis Grizzlies (13-3): Zach Randolph had a performance for the ages with a 38 point, 22 rebound performance in a win over the Suns. Despite the loss against the Spurs, the Grizzlies hold onto the top spot for the third week in a row. One item of concern though is that Memphis is only 5-3 against the Western Conference.  Last Week’s Ranking-1

Biggest Climb-Detroit Pistons (+7)

Biggest Drop-Charlotte Bobcats (-7)

Nov 05, 2012; Philadelphia, PA, USA; New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony (7) shoots a jump shot during the second quarter against the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wachovia Center. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-US PRESSWIRE

Buckets Over Broadway’s Matt Shetler and Thunderous Intentions’ Andrew Kennedy return to take a look at the only remaining undefeated team in the New York Knicks.

They also dive into the start of the season for Kennedy’s OKC Thunder.

In addition they look at the disappointing start to the season for the Los Angeles Lakers, who can stop the Miami Heat offense and much more.

After looking a some surprise performances to start the season, the duo hand out their Player of the Week awards.

Who gets the honors for Week 1?

You have to listen to find out.

You can listen to the show simply by clicking the player at the bottom of the page.

Tune into the FanSided NBA Podcast every week and make sure you check out all of the great programming on FanSided Radio.

1. Los Angeles Lakers –

2. Oklahoma City Thunder – Kevin Durant is the best pure scorer in the universe. He isn’t even in his prime and he can average 30 points a game this season. Russell Westbrook is a freak athlete at the point guard position and maybe a summer with Team USA helped him become a better point guard. The Thunder are an elite team and will be one of the best all year.

3. Los Angeles Clippers – The second team in LA will be a force this season. Chris Paul is now in his prime has an awesome team around him. If Blake Griffin stays healthy, Paul will make him into an elite big man. The Clippers are no longer a laughing stock.

4. San Antonio Spurs – You would be foolish to count out the Spurs this year. Gregg Popovich is the best coach in the league and the Spurs will not let the Lakers and Thunder just run away with the West.

5. Denver Nuggets – The Nuggets are loaded with young talent at every position this season. If George Karl can get this team to play together and maximize their potential, the Nuggets will be a threat in the West.

6. Memphis Grizzlies – The Grizzlies will always be consistent and win games in the West. They have a great starting five that is very balanced. They have a scorer in Rudy Gay, defender in Tony Allen, floor general in Mike Conley, and two great post players in Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol. Memphis is no joke.

7. Dallas Mavericks – Two years removed from their championship season, the Mavericks are a different team. They still have Dirk Nowitzki so they won’t be a pushover and he won’t have that championship hangover like last season. They have new faces in Darren Collison and o=O.J. Mayo in the backcourt that give them speed. The Mavs are different but are still good.

8. Minnesota Timberwolves – The Timberwolves are loaded with young, but inexperienced talent. Ricky Rubio showed when healthy he is a playmaker while Kevin Love is one of the league’s best players. With Brandon Roy and Andrei Kirilenko added to the roster, this team will take the next step this season.

9. Sacramento Kings – Like the T’wolves, the Kings have a lot of young talent. That might have reached with their Jimmer  Fredette pick a year ago but they are still a very talented team. DeMarcus Cousins seems to be growing up and he and Thomas Robinson can be the next big dominant duo down low. Tyreke Evans will have to step it up if the Kings have playoff dreams.

10. Golden State Warriors – Do the Warriors get over the hump or are they still the Warriors? They finally have a solid nucleus of players in Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, Harrison Barnes, David Lee and Andrew Bogut. Can Mack Jackson really coach? The Warriors will have an interesting season.

11. Portland Trailblazers – Portland is a sleeper team this year. LaMarcus Aldridge is having himself quite a career up there in Portland and is heavily underrated. Damian Lillard is apparently the real deal at point guard. I still think this team will take a few years to compete.

12. Utah Jazz – The Jazz will be quiet this season. They lack star power and big playmakers. Paul Millsap and Al Jefferson are great but can they put this Jazz team on their back? I don’t see it at all.

13. New Orleans Hornets – Rebuilding begins now in NOLA but it might be sooner rather than later when the Hornets play in some serious ball games. They got lucky with landing Anthony Davis and Austin Rivers. They still have Eric Gordon and when he is healthy, he is one of the best shooting guards in the league. The Hornets will grow together.

14. Phoenix Suns – The post-Steve Nash era begins now for the Suns, and it might be a little rough. Goran Dragic will have to show he can handle the starting role as point guard and Michael Beasley will finally have the main scorer title for the first time in his career. The Suns will not be the Suns of the past we are used to watching.

15. Houston Rockets – Sorry Jeremy, I had to do it to you. I can’t see the Rockets being very good this year. Linsanity will stop, Omir Asik is the most overpaid player in history, and I just feel bad for Kevin Martin. Sorry Houston, there is going to be a lot of problems this year.

With the Knicks’ recent acquisition of Rasheed Wallace, it’s obvious the New York brass believes this team is ready to contend for a title from now on. To test this assumption, stacking the Knicks against the defending Western Conference champs Thunder, will be the best opportunity to see if their title aspirations are legitimate.

Here I analyze a potential—Yes I know it’s still early to call it this—Finals showdown between two title hungry teams.

Point Guard:
Raymond Felton/Jason Kidd/Pablo Prigioni vs. Russell Westbrook/ Eric Maynor/ Reggie Jackson

Jan 14 2012; Oklahoma City OK, USA; New York Knicks power forward Amare Stoudemire (1) drives to the basket against Oklahoma City Thunder small forward Kevin Durant (35) and point guard Russell Westbrook (0) during the third quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Richard Rowe-US PRESSWIRE

If you thought Westbrook was a good basketball player before, he showed the NBA universe last season he’s is now an amazing one. There are only two words that can really describe Westbrook’s game: explosive and tenacious. On offense, Westbrook uses his blurring speed and explosive athleticism on drives to the basketball and to stop and pop for his free-throw line jumper. Despite not being the traditional point guard (in terms of facilitating more) that critics and fans would like him to be, he has made his game work for his team.   On defense he has quick hands and is really aggressive with his on the ball defense.

To sub in for Westbrook we have Eric Maynor, who’s back after an ACL injury sidelined him last season. Maynor fits the mold of the traditional point guard your looking for to run your team. He’s smart with the ball and makes his teammates look better. Reggie Jackson probably won’t see many minutes again this season with Maynor back, but he has a similar scoring mentality to Westbrook so he will always try to make the most of his minutes.

The Knicks have virtually no chance against Westbrook’s speed and athleticism. He will be a matchup nightmare for both Kidd and Prigioni. Their best hope is Raymond Felton, who can be a capable defender but against a player as prolific and dynamic as Westbrook, holding him under 30 is a win for the Knicks.

Advantage: Thunder

Shooting Guard:
Ronnie Brewer/Jr. Smith/ Iman Shumpert vs. Thabo Sefolosha/ James Harden/ Daequan Cook/ Deandre Liggins

Every team has a pesky wing player that they sick on the opposing team’s best scorer. For the Thunders that player is Thabo Sefolosha–who does it quite well. This long and lanky player can score if given opportunities but relishes when he’s giving his defensive assignment a hard time. Daequan Cook is very good long-range sniper and provides the Thunder with energy minutes.

It’s admiring the loyalty and humbleness of Jeff Harden. Harden is the best shooting guard after Kobe Bryant in the Western Conference. He can start for any team in this league but he understands his role on this team and comes off the bench. Even with multiple suitors this summer and next summer, Harden wants an extension on this team. On the basketball court Harden can do a bit of everything: facilitate, shoot, score, and run the break.

The Knicks won’t have to worry about offensive outburst from Sefolosha but who’s going to stop Harden? If left unchecked he can go for 30. He has a knack for getting to the free-throw line and lives to score in the 4th quarter. The Knicks will have to look to put a bigger defender to disrupt Harden’s game—hopefully Brewer is up to the challenge.

Advantage: Thunder

Small Forward:
Carmelo Anthony/ Steve Novak/ James White/ Chris Copeland vs. Kevin Durant/ Lazar Hayward/ Hollis Thompson

There are only a handful of players on this planet today that have an offensive game that rivals Carmelo Anthony’s and sadly (for the Knicks) Kevin Durant is one of them. It’s very scary that he’s only 24 years old and can be scoring the way he does for another decade. That is because he has incredible range for his jumper making it possible for him to score virtually anywhere on the court. He’s a great finisher on the break and he’s now a tremendous closer in the final minutes of games.

The only chance the Knicks have to slow Durant down is to bully him out of his comfort zone. Durant is a rhythm jump shooter and Ron Artest has guarded him effectively in the past by being very aggressive with him. But now that Durant is more comfortable with this cover, the Knicks will have to keep doing this to wear him down a bit. But most importantly, Anthony has to make him work extremely hard on the other end of the court to limit his effectiveness.

Advantage: Thunder

Power Forward:
Amar’e Stoudemire/ Kurt Thomas vs. Serge Ibaka/ Nick Collison/ Perry Jones

Serge Ibaka is one of the best rim protectors in the league today. He has great positioning and timing on his blocks which makes penetrating guards and post up players cautious when trying to score in the paint. As great of an improvement Ibaka has made since arriving in the league, he still has much more room for improvement. He can actually learn to post up, which would make his game even more dangerous.

Nick Collision is a great backup behind Ibaka because he hustle, rebounds, knows the system, and you don’t lose size when Ibaka sits down for a rest. The Thunders probably made one of the steals of the draft when they took Perry Jones who can eventually turn into a beast in this league.

I believe that Stoudemire will be a handful for Ibaka and Collision with his improved offensive repertoire but the depth and talent is much greater in OKC.

Advantage: Thunder

Center:
Tyson Chandler/Marcus Camby vs. Kendrick Perkins/Cole Aldrich/ Hasheem Thabeet

Jan 14 2012; Oklahoma City OK, USA; New York Knicks center Tyson Chandler (6) loses the ball against Oklahoma City Thunder center Kendrick Perkins (5) and shooting guard Thabo Sefolosha (2) during the third quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Richard Rowe-US PRESSWIRE

Perkins is the type of scowling intimidator you want clogging the lane on defense. He isn’t happy unless his opponent is unhappy which is something you got to respect. Although I feel that he hasn’t completely assimilated into the Thunder culture just yet, but he was an amazing acquisition for them and will bode well for them moving forward. Hasheem Thabeet has the size and defensive anchoring ability you hope for but has shown to be too raw—on both ends of the floor—in his tenure in the league.

But with defensive tandem of Camby, Chandler, and now newly acquired Rasheed Wallace, the Knicks have more than enough size and toughness to keep these guys in check.

Advantage: Knicks

Coaching:
Mike Woodson vs. Scott Brooks

Although Mike Woodson has more coaching experience than Brooks; he will have his hands full against this loaded team. Partly because the Thunder are chameleon like in the way they play. They can play both half court and up-tempo. And they pack tremendous amount of firepower, which can be a real problem because two of the positions the Knicks will have a hard time defending. Woodson will need to slow this game down use Stoudemire’s improved offensive game to create matchup problems.

Advantage: Thunder

Prediction

Sadly the Knicks lose this matchup. The Knicks should see improvement next season and make some noise in the playoffs but they’re not ready to challenge this this team—who surely will be in Finals again come next June. The Knicks will probably be beaten 4-1 or 4-2 in a seven game series.

Yes, teams like the San Antonio Spurs, or Boston Celtics, or Dallas Mavericks in 2011 have relied on their veteran players to carry them home, but Woodson almost seemed to dismiss the importance of youth. For instance, the reigning champions, the Miami Heat, were carried by their Big 3 who, except for Dwyane Wade (30), are below 30-years old. Their Finals opponents, the Oklahoma City Thunder, hardly have rotation players sniffing 30 years of age.

In his Knicks Fix last week, Alan Hahn outlined the average ages of NBA championship teams since 2007, all of which were under 30-years old. With the additions of players like Marcus Camby, Jason Kidd, Kurt Thomas, and Pablo Prigioni, the average of the Knicks’ roster is 31-years old. That’s not to say that they are too old to contend, but their depth is reliant upon some players with a lot of miles on their legs.

The Knicks’ starting lineup is not particularly old – Raymond Felton is 28, J.R. Smith is 26, Carmelo Anthony, 27, Amar’e Stoudemire, 29, and Tyson Chandler, 29 – but their bench depth will rely on the health of some pretty old players. If a member of the Knicks’ starting lineup were to get hurt (especially at point guard or upfront), the Knicks could find themselves in a tight spot playing heavy minutes to some older veterans.

Furthermore, in an NBA that is evolving more and more into a position-less and a more open game, the Knicks’ veteran signings have made them slower and far less versatile with very players on their roster able to play outside of their given roles. Whereas the Miami Heat may very well run out a lineup this year featuring entirely wing players – Wade, LeBron James, Ray Allen, Chris Bosh, and Rashard Lewis – the Knicks may not have the versatility to match-up with such a lineup.

(And of course, it is fair to compare the Knicks with the Heat seeing as how these Knicks were built to take down those Miami foes).

So, have the Knicks gotten too old this offseason? We certainly can’t say definitively until the season gets underway, but they have taken an old-school approach to the game that may turn out to be out-of-date with the new-school NBA.

The now-famous words LeBron James used when asked how it feels to finally be the champion. Words commonly used when someone isn’t so much excited about winning or achieving something extraordinary, but when the pressure is finally off your shoulders and the overwhelming feeling of relief washes over.

The only moment I can compare LeBron’s words to is the moment when the game was no longer in doubt in 1994 when the San Francisco 49ers were well on the way to crushing the San Diego Chargers, and teammates jokingly ripped the proverbial monkey off of Steve Young’s back. But, even then, Young seemed overly jovial and excited. LeBron, in contrast, was relieved.

All of last year, after “The Decision” and the backlash it generated, James seemed confused and baffled that people hated him. He went from generally loved and adored by an entire country to despised in the matter of a half-hour ESPN special. In the 24-hour news cycle and the what-have-you-done-for-me-lately environment we live in, it doesn’t take long to become hated. LeBron found out the hard way, and he didn’t know how to react.

Look, he had to go through the School of Hard Knocks. Even when James wasn’t winning and seizing the big moments on the court, he was still filling up the stat sheet like few before him. However, he needed the adversity in order to truly become great.

Its corny and cliche, but everything happens for a reason, and sports are no different. Does James eventually win a ring if he didn’t go through the 2010-11 hate cycle and fail in the Finals to the Dallas Mavericks? Maybe, maybe not.

Has LeBron avenged himself? That’s up for him to decide. Will the country like him any more today than they did yesterday? Not until he brings home another gold medal in London.

Does it all matter to LeBron? Not anymore. And that’s why the world should be fearful of what he can accomplish. He isn’t doing it for us anymore.

He’s doing it in spite of us.

The Thunder lost 91-85 Sunday night to put the Heat up 2 games to 1 in the series.  The 2 losses have been for completely different reasons.  In game 2, the loss was mostly attributed to the awful start as they went 1-12 in the opening minutes and fell behind 18-2 making it catch-up for the duration of the game.  In game 3, after playing a solid 40+ minutes of basketball, poor decisions in crunch time led to their downfall.

Lets first talk about game 2:

After having such a bad start, a comeback of this magnitude against the Miami Heat in the Finals even with a guy like Durant is hard to come by. Since game 1 was also similar in that the Thunder fell behind early (shot 1-6 from opening tip resulting in a 20-10 deficit in first quarter), people were wondering whether Harden should be in the starting lineup to add scoring to the slow-starting offense. Sefolosha was not posing any offensive threat at the shooting guard position or doing his job on defense (3 points in Game 2) and Perkins wasn’t playing much of a role either (combined 8 points 15 rebounds in Game I and 2), so it was a valid point.

But who in there right minds would want to tinker with the starting lineup in the finals when for the whole playoffs the starting lineup of Russell Westbrook, Thabo Sefolosha, Kevin Durant, Serge Ibaka, and Kendrick Perkins was working – they won 13 of 17 games and went 47-19 in the regular season.  Scott Brooks said in an interview before game 3 “it hasn’t even crossed my mind to change the starting lineup”.  Westbrook in an interview on slow starts said that its all about “coming out ready to play and they were more ready to play than we were…we have to come out and play harder.”  Later he was asked what adjustments they needed to make and Westbrook said he isn’t making any adjustments “regardless of what anybody says.”

The Thunder improved on their game 2 deficiencies in game 3.

1.  They came out with a strong start, never being down by more than 6 in the first quarter shooting 9-19.

2.  Sefolosha came back from a poor game 2 and played outstanding defense on Wade and Lebron coming up with 3 steals, one of which was one of the most important plays of the game when he stripped it from Wade dribbling up the court and finished for a layup to make it a 3 point game with around 2 minutes left.  He also hit the first basket of the game.

3.  Perkins proved all the doubters that he should stay in the starting lineup by going for 10 points on 12 rebounds, 6 of which were offensive.

4. The Thunder’s defense forced 8 turnovers in the 4th quarter, close to as many as all of game 2.

But with all of these improvements, plus Durant still scoring 25 points, the Thunder still lost.  Bottom line is that in a very tight game, the Thunder still did not make smart decisions.  Whether is was Westbrook’s offensive charge, or Harden’s rookie move fouling Lebron with 16 seconds left (they did not need to foul down 3) as he tried to draw a charge with his below par acting skills.  Then the miscommunication on the inbound pass from Sefolosha down 4 with 13 seconds left, which is truly unaccetable… lead to their demise.  This cannot happen if the Thunder want to win the finals.  In game 2, you could come back being down in the 1st quarter, but in game 3 when you make mistakes in the final minutes, there is no coming back.

So How Can The Thunder get to Game 6?

One thing for sure is they need to hit their free throws.  In game 3 they shot 15-24 from the line and with every game being decided by 6 points or less, where leads come and go as fast as a jaguar in the finals, this cannot happen.

Another thing that needs to happen is Westbrook needs to find a medium of aggressiveness.  He needs to pick his spots – when he needs to step up and drive to the basket and when he should just give the ball to Durant and that is a point guard job to do.

In game 3 the thunder improved on their game 2 weaknesses but weren’t smart down the stretch. And in game 4 they need to not only improve on game 2 weaknesses by getting off to a better start but also game 3 weaknesses by finishing the game wisely.

If they overcome all these weaknesses – slow starts, lack of production from supporting cast, Westbrook and Harden playing without intelligence late in the game, and poor free throw shooting, we will see the Finals return to Oklahoma.

As they took gratitude in seeing the Thunder rally to  beat the Heat in Game 1, don’t be surprised if they have their notepads and pencils out taking notes on  what make  these title contenders tick. With that in mind, here are five things the New York Knicks can learn from the Heat and the Thunder to be title contenders next season.  

Lesson 1: Showing Mental Toughness Against Adversity

Jun 12, 2012; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook (0) reacts after scoring against the Miami Heat during the third quarter of game one in the 2012 NBA Finals at the Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-US PRESSWIRE

Not letting someone break you. Being able to comeback from any obstacle or challenge no matter the odds. This is mental toughness in its purest form. And thus far in the playoffs both the Thunder and the Heat have shown great doses of this special ingredient.

In their second round against the Indiana Pacers, the Miami Heat lost Chris Bosh to an abdominal strain in Game 1. This proved to be huge loss because now the Heat were in desperate need of size and scoring. The Pacers took advantage of this and jumped to a 2-1 lead. Now down 2-1 and the Pacers with all the momentum in the world, the Heat responded by having their two stars, Dwyane Wade and Lebron James go on a scoring binge of epic proportions. Behind them the Heat were able to overcome losing Bosh to win three straight against the Pacers and close them out on their own floor.

While the Thunder have shown great mental toughness in every round. How many times have we seen the Thunder get out to slow start and come back to win it the second half? lt’s honestly starting to be the norm for this young and hungry Thunder team because they make the most of their regrouping opportunities. At halftime Scott Brooks beats in the X’s and O’s of how they can get back into the game and the Thunder go out and execute. They know that if they stay to their gameplan their unbreakable–the epitome of mental toughness– and by that point  no lead is safe.

The Knicks should take note of this mentality. It’s something that all title winners have because they know the war that is the NBA title run. They know that if it easy everyone would be doing it. And that is why the Knicks need to implement this theme in the locker room more by They need to holding  everyone accountable and playing like every possession is their last.

Lesson 2: Let Your Defense be Your Offense

Although  both the Heat and Thunder are great offensive teams–averaging over a 100 points during the regular season–they let their defense set up their offense.

They use defensive stops to fuel their offense. Steals and deflections become easy transition buckets for these teams and the Knicks should do the same because at the end of the day, defense wins championships.

Quite frankly, the  Knicks are halfway there on this lesson because their second unit. Between Iman Shumpert, Jr. Smith, and Steve Novak they provide positive energy for this Knicks team. But I would like to see more of this from the  Knicks’ starting lineup. If the Knicks’ starting lineup can match this spark their second unit provides they will see successful results. And if their offense suffers, who cares. Because you can always coast on offense  but if you let up on defense you’re done.

Lesson 3: Have  Game-Changing X-Factors

Mar. 16, 2012; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks small forward Steve Novak (16), guard Iman Shumpert (21), shooting guard J.R. Smith (8), guard Landry Fields (2), and forward Josh Harrellson (55) stand on the court during the second half against the Indiana Pacers at Madison Square Garden. Knicks won 115-100. Mandatory Credit: Debby Wong-US PRESSWIRE

Between the Heat and Thunder they have a plethora of players that can come in and change the complexion of a game and series.

For the Thunder it’s the  defensive specialists Thabo Sefolosha, Kendrick Perkins, and Serge Ibaka. They use their hustle, energy, and grit to propel their  team.  Don’t believe  me?  Lets look back at what these guys did to the San Antonio Spurs–arguably the best team in the past decade.

When Sefolosha started guarding Tony Parker he was able to slow down Parker’s penetration and narrow his passing lanes because of his length and size. While Ibaka with his large frame and great lateral quickness did an exceptional job guarding Manu Ginobili off of pick and rolls. And Perkins did all the little things that don’t show up on a box score: set sturdy screens, alter shots, and intimidate the mess out of players.

As for  the Heat,  floor spacing is key for them and it starts and ends with Mario Chalmers, Mike Miller, and Shane Battier taking and making perimeter shots. If the three’s are falling for the Heat they become incredibly hard to cover. While the floor is stretched, Wade and Lebron are able to wreak havoc by ducking their heads and driving to the basketball where they’re adept finishers. Along with this if Udonis Haslem is ferocious rebounder and hitting his mid-range jumper the Heat become very versatile in how they can make you pay for helping on Lebron and Wade drives.

The Knicks X-factors are Smith,  Shumpert, and Novak–no surprise there. They are all game-changers with their activity and shooting. But the Knicks need others to step up provide sparks because Shumpert has proven to be injury prone in his rookie season, Smith can be a big headache, and Novak despite his positive locker presence and automatic shooting is a liability on defense.

Lesson 4: Make The Extra Pass

Ball movement is a basic fundamental of basketball but it’s one that has tremendous impact on today’s game.  With so many teams implementing  traps and helping on defense, making the extra pass will find the open teammate for a high percentage shot. Not only is this efficient basket it also “team” basketball. The Heat and Thunder are great passing teams and are both willing to move the ball to get a quality shot.

I’m not saying the Knicks don’t have this but it’s something that they should practice daily because that’s what all the best teams do: practice fundamentals religiously.  If you watched the NBA’s Final Four you saw spectacular ball movement win games and poor ball movement lose games.

Lesson 5: Learn From Your Mistakes

May 22, 2011; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat forward LeBron James (6) posts up against Chicago Bulls forward Luol Deng (left) in the first quarter during game three of the 2011 NBA Eastern Conference Finals at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-US PRESSWIRE

Plain and simple.

Both teams have gotten to the Finals by learning from their past mistakes.

The Thunder lost to both the Lakers and Mavericks in past playoffs but this year they beat both in a sweeping fashion in the first two rounds of the playoffs. That is because they owned up to their weaknesses and made them strengths. Kevin Durant learned from Dirk Nowitzki on how to close games and now he’s out dueling the best of closers thus far in the playoffs. So much that he has left both Dirk Nowitzki and Kobe Bryant in awe by his potential. With the former saying that, “he’s way ahead of my curve” and the latter commenting on his potential, “a 6-11 me.”

Last year, critics ripped into Lebron about needing improve his post game, so he enlisted the help of arguably the best post player to play the game: Hakeem Olajuwon. Because of it Lebron is scoring more efficiently.  According to Olajuwon, Lebron’s historic 45 point effort in Game 6 against the Celtics showed what he learned, “The way they were executed it was a joy to watch because I know that we worked on that, and to see him using it at a most crucial time. He is in a comfort zone, and he is doing it how he is supposed to do it.”

Both Carmelo Anthony and Amar’e Stoudemire  could do what Lebron and Durant has done here. While I’ll say that Anthony is  arguably the best one-on-one scorer in the league but you’re never too good to expand your game.  Anthony could start by improving motivation for defense which is lacking more often than not. As for Stoudemire he could do like Lebron and expand his post game so he can assimilate better  into the half court offense the Knicks will most likely be running next season.

On one hand, there is the Miami Heat: the NBA’s top villains; the team that finished the Knicks’ 2011-12 season.

On the other hand, there is the Boston Celtics: a cruel, crafty, conniving group that loves to break the Knicks’ collective hearts in dramatic fashion. They also finished the Knicks 2010-11 season with a sweep in the playoffs.

May 28, 2012; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat small forward LeBron James (6) works for position against Boston Celtics small forward Paul Pierce during the first half in game one of the Eastern Conference finals of the 2012 NBA playoffs at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-US PRESSWIRE

It’s a battle of evil vs. evil; Darth Vader vs. Voldemort; Freddie Kruger vs. Jason; Hannibal Lecter vs. … another cannibal.

So who are we, as Knicks fans, supposed to root for?

For some, the Miami Heat is the answer.

Often times, fans – and even players and coaches – take solace in seeing the team that eliminated them, advance further into the playoffs; letting them know they lost to the best team. As if the five-game defeat the Knicks suffered at the hands of the Heat wasn’t pride-shattering enough, imagine if Miami didn’t even make it to the Finals. Furthermore, if the Heat lost to a team that the Knicks had beaten twice in the regular season – the Celtics – , what would that say about the Knicks?

On the opposite end of the spectrum, however, fans might take comfort in seeing their most recent assassins sent packing, and once again, failing to live up to the lofty, (self-proclaimed) championship goals. Likewise, the Celtics haven’t wronged the Knicks since March, while the Miami Heat have done so four times in the past month.

(I would like to use this space to remind you, though, that the Boston Celtics have made a habit of ripping our hearts out in front of us. Paul Pierce game-winner. Ray Allen Game 1 game-winner. Game 2 fumbled play. Paul Pierce game-tying basket, and ultimate overtime win. OK, remember? Sorry, I had to do that.)

However, if you’re like me, you’re rooting for the best basketball to be played. Whichever team advances will play the San Antonio Spurs or Oklahoma City Thunder in a sure-fire good vs. evil matchup. Watching the humble, plodding, machine-like precision of the Spurs face the high-flying Heat would be a delight. Some fans might enjoy watching the NBA’s two old guards – the Spurs and the Celtics – play each other in one last grasp at a championship. The Thunder vs. the Heat would be the NBA’s dream matchup – a display of young, athletic, star-fueled action that would surely boost TV ratings to a new high.

However, there is no doubt that the winner of the Eastern Conference Finals will draw some pain for Knicks fans. I would prefer not to watch Paul Pierce’s smug, patchy-haired face bow to opposing crowds in blazes of bravado, or watch Kevin Garnett bark around the court like a rabid, admirably unwavering dog. At the same time, watching the Miami Big Three flex and flop and dance and dunk their way around the court for another two series would make my stomach churn.

Consider me a San Antonio Spurs fan for the remainder of the season.

Who is to blame for the Knicks' early season struggles (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

In the end the Knicks lost by only 12 points, but that was due in large part to a fourth quarter in which the Knicks dominated play without the OKC starters in the game. The score after three quarters was 92-65; and that was the story of the game.

The Knicks once again displayed abysmal defense, and an offense void of any meaningful leadership, or point guard play.  The addition of Tyson Chandler is not paying dividends the way people around the team seemed to think it would.

Chandler is a great defensive player—but he can’t do it all by himself.

The absence of Carmelo Anthony was obviously a blow to the Knicks offensive game plan; a reason why players like Iman Shumpert felt the need to chuck up extra shots in order to try and get something going.

Offense notwithstanding, the Knicks defense is poor beyond words at this point, and it doesn’t appear that salvation is any closer unless Grunwald—or whoever is actually running the team—can make some moves and change the defensive attitude of this squad.

As the losses begin to pileup, the Knicks play this season is raising serious questions about the Knicks’ long-term stability.  We are technically just over 1/6^th of the way through the abbreviated NBA schedule and the Knicks are currently sitting 7th in the Easter conference standings; a spot that is far below where they were expected to be at this point in the season. (more…)

Kobe bites his shirt! Does that mean he's worried the Lakers won't be on top this year? Nah, probably he just forgot to eat dinner. (Source: Yardbarker.com)

With the season beginning tonight, it’s time to rank how strong all the teams are at this point.  This isn’t who will be strongest at the end of the season or who will have the best regular season.  This measures how strong each team is right NOW.  If a team engaged in a seven game series today with any of the teams listed below them, I’m saying they’d win.  So yeah, injuries count big time.  And chemistry.  And like, how good they are.  It’s basically a highly complex formula that you mere mortals wouldn’t understand.  Either that or it’s all based on pure opinion.

1. Los Angeles Lakers — Even with the recovering Kobe shooting 28% this pre-season they’d still beat everyone.  Hell, he only shot 24% in Game 7 of Finals.

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Could Phil Jackson, the Zen Master himself, get fired this season? Of course not, you idiot, but where do the rest of the coaches in the league stand? (Source: Yarbarker.com)

I seem to be in a major ranking/grading/evaluating the whole NBA-mode, so today we’re gonna check out which coaches might not make it through the season.  Every year it seems like about six coaches are fired in the middle of the 82 game grind.  And a few more who made it through the grist then are shown the exit during the summer.  But we just finished one summer, so we ain’t talking about the next one yet.  Just this upcoming season.  Who’s Bulletproof?  Who’s on the Hot Seat?  And where does everyone else stand and why?  Well, you’re lucky ‘cuz we’s about’s ta answer these questions fer ya.

Bulletproof (again, for this upcoming season only):

Doc Rivers – Celtics

George Karl – Nuggets:  He might quit if it’s too grueling, but ya can’t fire a guy coming back from cancer.  Ya just can’t.  If you disagree, grow a heart, dude.

Phil Jackson – Lakers

Gregg Popovich – Spurs

Jerry Sloan – Jazz

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Many view Kevin Durant as the Second Coming. We see him and the Thunder more likely coming Third through Sixth. (Source: Yardbarker.com)

On Wednesday we discussed what the Eastern Conference Playoff picture looks like, and today we go west, young man.  We’d already previously examined how much teams improved/regressed during the off-season, but now we’re talking about how they stack up against each other.  Meaning, we gave Orlando a zero for their summer and the Wizards a +2, but now we’re here to tell you that yes, of course Orlando is still gonna be far better.  For those who haven’t seen those posts on off-season grades, click the following links to see what we had to say about the Northwest, Atlantic, Central, Southeast, Pacific and Southwest Divisions.  Also, we’re only gonna be talking about the regular season here.  So even though we don’t think the Celts will be a top two team record-wise, it doesn’t mean we think they’re incapable of making it through the gauntlet again.  Lastly, some teams will be put in clusters ‘cuz they’ll likely end up with similar records and what does a victory or two here and there matter amongst friends?

#1 – Lakers

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Will Al Jefferson replacing Carlos Boozer on the Utah Jazz be an upgrade or downgrade? (source: Yarbarker.com)

In this final chapter of our series we’ll be finishing up with the teams of the Northwest: Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Oklahoma City Thunder, Portland Trail Blazers and the Utah Jazz.  For the first five parts, check out our reviews for the Atlantic, Central, Southeast, Pacific and Southwest Divisions.  Once again, for the newcomers, here are the rules:

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New Bulls' coach Tom Thibodeau got his defensive chops from one of the best coaches in the game: Jeff Van Gundy. Unfortunately, it seems he also co-opted Jeff's same clothing/grooming style. (source: Yardbarker.com)

There has been confirmation that both the New Jersey Nets and the Chicago Bulls have hired new coaches.  The Bulls have hired Celtic’s assistant coach Tom Thibodeau, widely acclaimed for his defensive schemes.  Many have argued that his addition was equally as key to turning the Celts into defensive juggernauts in 2008 as getting Kevin Garnett.  The Bulls were great stoppers just a few years ago under former coach Scott Skiles (who this year turned the Milwaukee Bucks from matador defenders into, um, what’s the opposite, brick wall defenders?).  While the Bulls’ whirl-a-gig center, Joakim Noah, has kept the team from slacking too much, the arrival of Thibodeu should catapult the team back to a spot as one of the top defensive squads.

Meanwhile, the Nets, after a 12-win season where the only thing they stopped was your team from playing a quality opponent, is already being brought back to life by their new 6’5″ Russian katrillionaire, Mikhail “Don’t Call Him Mikey P” Prokhorov.  It’s a nice coup for him to snag Avery Johnson, the coach with the highest winning percentage in NBA history.  He turned the Mavericks from the offense-only laughingstock 200s posse which included the Sacramento Kings and Phoenix Suns, into a solid defensive ball club.  And that was with a star player, Dirk Nowitizki, who due to his complete lack of D, almost legally changed his name to “Irk.”

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Evaluating players before the draft is not easy, but at least you know who you are talking about. Predicting who is going to get picked when is harder. Everyone has their own ranking system, but the big question is whether a team is going to pick the best player available or pick the player who best addresses the team’s needs.

The other question is, what on earth was that GM thinking? The most recent “what was he thinking” award goes to the Minnesota Timberwolves, for using the 5th and 6th draft picks on point guards (Jonny Flynn and Ricky Rubio), followed by having one of them (Rubio) make noises that he would never play for the Wolves, and creating a situation where the other, Flynn, felt unsure of the team’s commitment to him, and for good reason.

So for me to say who will make which pick is guesswork, because every year there are inexplicable decisions made, and there are players drafted in the top 20 whose name you hear when he is selected, but then never again. Comparing mock drafts, I have seen players’ names move twenty spots or more.

Mostly, I’m seeing mocks that describe players, not why they will be picked or what the team is thinking. I already wrote about the players likely to be drafted in the first round, so instead, lets’ discuss what the team should do, not what they will do, because many teams have a weird tendency to pick the same type of player over and over regardless of the results. (Lakers trying to find a point guard, Bulls drafting post players, Houston drafting 3’s, Warriors drafting skilled bigs, etc.) Redundancy makes sense for some teams, but for others it’s stupid. I’ll take those case by case.
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Is Kobe eyeing the game clock or Father Time? (source: Yardbarker.com)

I posted this on the main page of FanSided:

With the Lakers/Thunder series tied at 2-2, and the winner of Game 5 historically taking the series like 85% of the time, the pressure is on Los Angeles tonight. Specifically Kobe Bean Bryant, aka the Black Mamba. In honor of the occasion, ESPN.com decided to nail the coffin on KB24’s grave by asking their writers six questions exploring what’s wrong with him. Let’s look at their responses and see where they’re spot-on and where they’re spot-off.

1. What’s wrong with Kobe?
Henry Abbott of TrueHoop writes:

This year, any time he’s called on to be truly explosive physically — dunk, block or beat a defender with raw speed — he doesn’t look like the guy he once was. I don’t know what’s wrong, but because it has happened quickly, I have to think it’s one of his many injuries, not just some age-induced slippage.

Several of the writers echo this sentiment, but there’s a key part wrong with it: this is not a new thing.  Kobe’s game has changed over the last three years as he’s aged.  He hasn’t been that explosive constant-driver-to-the-basket in a while.  As Chris Broussard correctly notes:

For the rest of my article, click here.

The Portland Trailblazers' coach, Nate McMillan. (Source: Yardbarker.com)

On the front page of FanSided I had the following:

First off, congrats to Oklahoma City’s Scott Brooks for winning Coach Of The Year. Without a doubt, the dude deserved it. As everyone likes to point, he took a team that started last year 3-29 and without any real significant personnel additions, turned them into this season’s 50-win team. We all knew they’d be good, particularly since after that 3-29 start they went 20-30, but no one expected them to be this good this soon. The scary thing to imagine is how good they’d be if they’d used their #3 draft pick on Tyreke Evans or Stephen Curry instead of James Harden. I know they wanted Russell Westbrook to remain the man at point guard so they chose the top shooting guard prospect, but c’mon, both ‘Reke and Curry can play the two. At 6′6″, presumed Rookie of the Year ‘Reke is even an inch taller than Harden. I imagine he’d get more than the 13 minutes/game that Harden’s averaged during the first two playoff battles. But I came here not to talk Thunder, but Trailblazer.

The man who came in second place for Coach Of The Year was the Bucks’ Scott Skiles, another well-deserving candidate. In the off-season Milwaukee lost Richard Jefferson, Charlie Villanueva and Ramon Sessions, then only got 18 games out of leading scorer Michael Redd (and in many of those games even Redd’s minutes/abilities were limited due to injuries). Yet Skiles got his team to buy in on defense (which has always been his calling card), and with the late-season trade for John Salmons, brought them to an impressive 46 wins (& they might’ve had even more if not for Andrew Bogut’s season-ending injury at the beginning of this month). Um, however, this isn’t about him either.

Click here to read the rest.

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“If a player fouls out in a game, can they keep on playing?”  Had you asked me that question before this past Friday, I’d've called you a moron for asking it.  Duh, if they get 6 fouls and foul out, clearly they can’t stay in the game anymore.  Seems that’s not true.  Apparently there’s a little clause that perhaps has never actually been invoked before.  The Golden State Warriors have had more injuries this year than a Yao Ming family reunion.  As a result, they went into Friday’s game against the Milwaukee Bucks with only 8 players (the minimum allowed under NBA rules).  Within a few minutes Anthony “Don’t Call Me Rob” Morrow tweaked his knee, adding him to the infirm group that included Ronny Turiaf, CJ Watson, Kelenna Azabuike, Vladamir Radmanovic, plus some others that I’m blanking on.

Fine, the Warriors still had two subs.  Unfortunately, D-League call-up, Chris Hunter then fouled out in just 11 minutes.  No worries.  The Warriors pull within 3 with less than a minute left.  And Andris Biedrins fouls out.  Okay, less than a minute to go, no subs.  However, to get the clock to stop running, the Warriors purposely foul the Bucks twice.  And both times it’s rookie Stephen Curry who does it.  The last time there’s only four seconds left.  But it’s his sixth foul, which’d leave the Warriors with just four players.  What happens then?  Do you play four on five?  No, apparently the last guy who fouled out (in this case Curry) gets to come back in!  However, the other team gets a technical free throw in addition to the foul shots they were already getting.

Sad Post-Script #1: Due to the NBA’s minimum requirement of 8 players, for Monday’s game against Chicago the Warriors called up some dude named Anthony Tolliver from the D-League for a 10-day contract.  Did he feel alone being the new guy from the minors?  No, the whole 3-person bench was D-League call-ups.  Tolliver even lucked out and got to start the second half.  That’s when his luck dried out.  He injured his knee and had to leave the game.

Sad Post-Script # 2:  Despite playing against a team with a bench of D-Leaguers, Chicago still lost that Monday game.  By nearly 20 points.

Sad Post-Script #3: Which D-Leaguer got the least minutes on the team?  Answer: None.  Pathetic NBA “regular” Devean George, who started the first half, only played 6 minutes.

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According to NewsOK (apparently that’s the name of an Oklahoma newspaper, although isn’t that kinda like naming your paper NewsFineWhatever?):

Hawks forward Joe Smith, who has written 400 to 500 songs, released his first CD, a 19-track debut entitled “The Beginning,” last season when he was with the Thunder. Smith, whose music name is Joe Beast, hopes to release his second rap CD before the NBA All-Star break.

Really?  400 to 500 songs?  And Joe Beast?  I thought the era of bball players trying to become rappers was over.  With him spending that much time writing songs, it’s no wonder that the former #1 pick has never amounted to anything more than a role player.

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U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan (a former baller at Harvard) at a recent NCAA convention pretty much said the NBA’s policy of basically “forcing” kids to go to one year of college before they can enter the pros, well, that it sucks donkey meat.  It’s not that he wants everyone to be able to go to the NBA straight outta high school, it’s that he feels like the one-and-done players aren’t getting the true value of the educational experience.  One possible solution is allowing high school players to make the jump straight to the pros, but if they do decide to go to college they then have to stay for two years.  For more info, check out this New York Times’ article, as well as TrueHoop’s exclusive interview with Arne “Don’t Call Me Tim” Duncan.
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Who’s the best player in the NBA?  Dwight Howard’s answer may surprise you:

I tell my friends all the time if I had to chose between LeBron, Kobe and Carmelo, I’m gonna choose Carmelo.

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Would Lakers’ coach Phil Jackson like to also be a General Manager someday so he can control what players his team has?

“I have no interest in that. I don’t want to have to deal with agents. I don’t want to have to lie.”

Wait a sec, doesn’t the General Manager hire and fire the coach?  In other words, the Lakers’ GM is Phil’s boss.  Forget about the fact that Phil makes $10 mill a year or that he’s won 10 championships, who wouldn’t want his job just so you could publicly call your boss a big ol’ liar?
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Nate Robinson painting.  And yes, I want it if it’s painted on velvet.

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In a recent post, I showed the Pacers & Knicks beating each other up and lamented that those days are gone.  However, it wasn’t all roses and glory for those Pacers.  Sadly, back then people felt they had to keep their homosexuality secret.  It’s time to come out of the closet.  C’mon Mark Jackson, you’re better’n that!

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Yao Ming in an Esquire interview on forcing himself to dunk:

When I was young, [in China] we were taught not to dunk. We were taught not to stand out from the rest of the team. It’s different now. The young guys in China are new age. They want to show their stuff. But I am old-school. It was a big adjustment when I first came here to play at a camp. The coaches told me to dunk, but I would lay the ball in. Finally, the coaches made everyone else on my team run laps when I didn’t dunk. I didn’t want my teammates to be punished because of me. That’s how I learned to dunk.

Pretty smart that in order to get him to “stand out from the rest of the team,” they used his desire to be part of the team.

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Lastly, Tony Parker of the San Antonio Spurs and his lovely wife, actress Eva Longoria-Parker (of ABC’s “Desperate Housewives”) do an amazing job of recreating “Summer Loving” from that Olivia Newton-John classic, “Grease.”  Between this and Joe Smith’s 500 songs, how much free time do these guys have on their hands?

For two days, several players had trouble sleeping because they were convinced that their downtown hotel is haunted.

“I definitely believe it,” Jared Jeffries said. “The place is haunted. It’s scary.”

Eddy Curry claims he slept for only two hours Sunday night because he couldn’t stop thinking about ghosts roaming the hotel.

Curry then went on to say that he was so scared he was only able to eat three tubs of ice cream instead of his usual seven.

Whew!  That explains why the Knicks looked lost and scared against the Thunder.  Mars Blackmon (aka Spike Lee) once marveled at Michael Jordan’s abilities and declared, “It’s gotta be the shoes.”  Here, the loss — it’s gotta be the hotel.

Next year, we stay at a Sheraton.

Gather round me, pardners, a story I will tell,

How our Knicks flew to OKC, yet ended up in hell.

Both sides came out blasting, defendin’ their flanks,

But they were using real ammo, we was firin’ blanks.

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They had a young gunslinger, Slim Durant was his name,

His shot was so hot, he done nearly burst into flame.

For some reason we often put little Duhon on ‘im,

Then we’d double, leavin’ his teammates wide open.

—

Their team’s called the Thunder but they was like a tornado,

They tore through our defense, like Injuns on a raid-o.

Shootin’ like they was Wyatt Earp an’ ol Doc Holliday,

I ain’t religious, but Lord fer relief I did pray.

—

I know, I know, OKC is Oklahoma City, not the OK Corral,

Yeah, that town was in Arizona, but it’s artistic license, pal.

Last year these guys was nothin’, a bunch o’ jokies,

Now they’s a serious team, these hard-playin’ Okies.

—

Defensively this year, they’re top three in the land,

With General Carlisimo gone, they play real grand.

Point guard Russell Westbrook’s underrated, 7-11 he went,

I ain’t talkin’ convenience stores, it’s shootin’ I meant.

—

Our I-talian, Gallo, didn’t hit not a single shot,

So he focused on boards – an’ eleven of ‘em he got.

Why he don’t rebound like that regularly, I don’t know.

Guess the kid’s still young, his consistency will grow.

—

Duhon like Gallo, went 0-fer, just shootin’ awf-ul-ly,

From two feet away he proly couldn’t hit a big oak tree.

David Lee, skills growing daily, this game he’ll remember,

‘Cuz he lost faith in his shot, played like he done in November!

—

Least we got to see our young talent, Jordan Hill,

Kid is raw, but his potential gives me a thrill.

Wish his minutes would get a big spike,

That’s unlikely ta happen under Coach Mike.

—

Tiny man Nate was the only cowboy that done kept fightin’,

Sadly, that meant his shot selection was still darn frightenin’.

Harrington came back, seemed to reinjure his leg,

At times he was great, other times he laid an egg.

—

Now what’s a team to do after such a sad, sad loss?

“Throw it down the toilet” said D’Antoni, the boss.

Forget this one bad game, try’n keep up team morale,

‘Cuz thankfully we only play  once a year – in the OK Corral.