OKC's painful internship continues

Chalk up another painful learning experience for the Thunder, which got caught from behind by a veteran Suns team that simply looked more sure of themselves down the stretch on Tuesday night.
It wasn't so much that Oklahoma City blew the game; Steve Nash just snatched it back, draining jumper after clutch jumper in one of those, 'he's still got it' efforts, rescuing a 99-98 win.
Counterpart Russell Westbrook is going to be special, but he's not used to having the ball in late-game situations. Right now, the hustle game is his forte, and he's going to have to take his lumps in order to ramp up to the level he needs to be at for the Thunder to pull off games like these.
After picking up an offensive rebound off a Kevin Durant miss on OKC's final possession, Westbrook never seemed comfortable with the shot and wound up taking an awkward jumper when he should've set back up, either by dribbling out himself or finding an open teammate to initiate one final look. At that point, the shot clock was off and the team could've reset and created a better opportunity.
Thinking on your feet takes poise, and poise comes with experience. It's important that Westbrook and new coach Scott Brooks capitalize on these situations and emerge as quick studies by learning from mistakes.
Losing a home game to Phoenix is nothing to hang your head about. It was disappointing to come so close, but it's not like coming up short against the Suns is going to keep them out of the postseason or anything. This first season in Oklahoma City is about making progress with the bigger picture in mind.
Progress has already made under Brooks in that the Thunder is committing much fewer turnovers and digging in better on the defensive end. Making life difficult for a team like Phoenix is a baby step. For now, stringing a few of those together is all Oklahoma City can hpe for.

Tuesday's +/- report: Andray Blatche (+21, 25 points, 12 rebounds, five blocks) certainly responded to Washington's coaching change. Deemed out of shape by Eddie Jordan -- he was, by the way -- Blatche put together a dominant performance as the x-factor in the Wizards win. All-Stars Caron Butler (+23, 35 points, eight rebounds, six assists) and Antawn Jamsion (+25, 25 points, 11 rebounds) played like they had a pact going not to let Ed Tapscott lose his debut, but certainly welcomed Blatche's help... Jamal Crawford (-18, 4-for-10, seven assists) made his debut in Don Nelson's starting lineup and seemed at ease. He just didn't have his jumper going...It's nice when a 26-point night qualifies as quiet, but LeBron James (+17) barely looked like he was breaking a sweat in Cleveland's romp at Madison Square Garden, where seven Cavs scored in double-figures... Seven Knicks broke into double-digits, too, including newcomers Al Harrington (-20, 13 points, nine rebound in 27:16) and Tim Thomas (-3, 16 points, six rebounds, four assists), neither of whom started... Nate Robinson (-20 in 18:29) had one of those nights where he shouldn't have bothered to leave the house. Not only was he ineffective as a starter, but had to leave in the second quarter with a strained groin... With Josh Howard still out with a bad ankle and Gerald Green down with a back issue, Antoine Wright (+6) took advantage of a spot start to score a career-high 24 points in 39 minutes, helping Dallas even its record at 7-7... Jason Terry (+10, 29 points, five assists) delivered the result down the stretch, continuing to thrive under Rick Carlisle as the Mavs' most effective player... The Pacers have to be frustrated about blowing a fourth-quarter lead to their ex-coach, but should be encouraged about the progress Brandon Rush (+8, 8-for-12) is making. His emergence, in addition to the development of Danny Granger (-10, 22 points, nine rebounds) and Marquis Daniels (-2, 14 points, 11 rebounds) are helping make up for the absence of Mike Dunleavy... The Lakers went on a 37-12 run after New Jersey tied the game mid-third quarter, with Jordan Farmar (+24, 18 points, five rebounds) and Sasha Vujacic (+25) serving as L.A.'s most effective backcourt of the night, although they did get a nice assist from Lamar Odom's (+29) playmaking skills.

Feast week's here: Let the content flow

Got a lot on the plate for this Thanksgiving week, so be sure to feast on Pro Basketball News. Coming this week:

You fantasy players that own Tracy McGrady may want to plan for other arrangements in the immediate future. Check back later today for details.

Meanwhile, Magic head coach Stan Van Gundy hasn't gotten what he's wanted out of his bench yet this season, and won't have his most reliable contributor, swingman Keith Bogans, for the next four-to-six weeks. Could wind up being the best thing that happened to J.J. Redick and Courtney Lee, though. Find out why on Wednesday.

In Milwaukee, lottery pick Joe Alexander is struggling to find his niche, but second-round pick Luc Richard Mbah a Moute has quickly become an invaluable part of Scott Skiles' rotation. He still makes rookie mistakes, but is well on his way to becoming one of the NBA's primary glue guys as his career takes shape. Look for that when you're gorging on post-Thanksgiving leftovers.

Don't forget the PBN package deal of daily power rankings and must-read links, as well as the ever-popular rumors page, which hooks you up with a one-stop shop for all you need to know, and Monday's Weekly Essentials, which many of you have nagged me for since you can't live without them.

Word on the street is that Eric Musselman has more knowledge to drop, while Sam Amico is handling buisiness up in Cleveland.

Check back often.

Monday's +/- report: Gerald Wallace (+16, 11 points) is still in Charlotte, so while he's there he may as well help the Bobcats win. He was very efficient is helping down the Sixers, 93-84... Andrew Bogut (-10, 7-for-9 FG) was putting together an impressive night before suffering a right knee contusion. Word is he's day-to-day... Jameer Nelson (+6, 8 points, 6 assists) also left the Amway Arena floor, succumbing to a groin injury that could cost him Wednesday night's homecoming game in Philadelphia...Yao Ming (+11, 28 points, 12 rebounds, four assists) led the Rockets to a clean sweep of their three-game road swing through D.C., Orlando and Miami... Udonis Haslem (-14, 2 points, 7 rebounds) had the unenviable task of guarding Yao and didn't fare too hot... Forgettable night for Memphis rookie Darrell Arthur (-16 in 12:16) off the bench against San Antonio. Meanwhile, Spurs newbie George Hill (+9, 20 points) might have fond memories of his trip to FedEx Forum... What's been wrong with the Hornets? Chris Paul (+16, 14 points, 10 rebounds, 17 assists) and David West (+17, 27 points) haven't had too many nights where they both go off like they did against the Clippers.

Most hated in Toronto? Is it close?

It's hard for Vince Carter to make many new enemies up in Toronto, but maybe there's a few 10-year-olds he made cry Friday night who were too young to despise him when he left in 2004.
Always fun when Vince goes back to Canada.
In New Jersey's dramatic 129-127 victory over the Raptors, Carter sent the game to overtime with a dramatic 3-pointer stuck right in Anthony Parker's grill, then snapped a tie with 2.1 seconds remaining by finishing an alley-oop off a perfect inbounds pass from Bobby Simmons.
If you didn't hate him then, you hate him now.
Second-year center Sean Williams is another player to add to the list of Nets to boo whenever they touch the ball next time they're in town on Dec. 15. His dirty play may have cost the Raptors the services of Jermaine O'Neal for a little while, as the Raptors newest acquisitions had to leave for the locker room early in the fourth quarter after having his jersey tugged by Williams while up in the air, causing him to land awkwardly and suffer a left knee strain.
There are a few courtesies players typically extend one another in the spirit of sportsmanship, and included among those is never yanking a jersey when someone's up in the air. It's in the same family as under-cutting or throwing elbows at people's heads. It's just not done.
Williams crossed the line, and now the Raptors will have to suffer the consequences. Hopefully for O'Neal, the injury isn't serious, but it definitely disrupts the positive momentum he had generated with five consecutive double-doubles.
As for Carter, what can you say? He embraced the moment. Everyone in the building knew he was getting the ball at the end of regulation and overtime and he still got loose. On the alley-oop, he lost Jose Calderon with a nice stutter-step and easily put away Simmons' brilliant feed, reversing it for style points.
Only seen one game-winning alley-oop worthy of comparison to Carter's Friday night heroics, and that came courtesy of another Slam Dunk champ, Orlando's Dwight Howard, who flushed a beautiful inbounds pass from Hedo Turkoglu right over Tim Duncan to beat the Spurs at the buzzer two seasons ago.
Here's the footage: Which one's more impressive? Carter's or Howard's? Try and be objective, Toronto.

Friday's +/- report: New Jersey's Williams (-16) didn't look like he made much of a contribution on the court, but in pulling O'Neal (-3, 7 points, 7 rebounds) down, he opened the window for a comeback. Rookie Brook Lopez (+18, 14 points, 6 rebounds), who has taken over as the starting center, enjoyed a very good night. Jose Calderon (+4, 26 points, 15 assists) handled it well for someone who's not at 100 percent... Jameer Nelson (+8, 22 points, nine assists) helped Orlando get a solid road win with great play down the stretch, which included finding Rashard Lewis (+4, 23 points, 9-for-12) for the game-clinching jumper. That duo helped picked up Hedo Turkoglu (-1), who shot 1-for-13... The Clippers went cross-country and led Philadelphia late, but got screwed by Elton Brand (+9, 17 points, eight boards) again. Baron Davis (+8, 18 points, six assists, four steals) missed a potential game-winner... Kevin Garnett (+23, 17 points, four rebounds) didn't have to do too much in his return, other than lead a defense that held Minnesota to 31 percent shooting... No Carlos Boozer, no Deron Williams, big problem. Utah got smoked in San Antonio, blitzed by Roger Mason (+25, 29 points, 7-for-10 from 3-point range)... Derrick Rose (+1, 25 points) shot 6-for-6 in the fourth quarter to guide Chicago to a road win at Golden State, but left with an apparent right hip injury in the final minute... Anthony Randolph (-1) was impressive, blocking four shots and finishing with 10 points and nine boards in 13 minutes, but missed a key layup late that would've extended the game.

Detroit drubbing best thing for them

Roughly 11 short months ago, Boston and Detroit got together at TD Banknorth Garden under decidedly different circumstances.
The Pistons were the proven commodity, while Boston, even at 20-2, were the new kids on the block. They were two factions of veterans separated by rings. Detroit's group had them, while Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce were among the unfortunate.
Circumstances sure have changed quickly.
It was a freezing Wednesday night in late December when the new-look Celtics and Pistons first dropped gloves in what's become the Eastern Conference's premier matchup. Chauncey Billups knocked down a pair of free throws with one-tenth of a second remaining and the Pistons snapped the Boston's 12-game home winning streak to start the season. After the game, I'll never forget walking into the Detroit locker room to see Billups, Hamilton and Prince huddled by their lockers discussing the night's events and their disdain for their new rivals.
It was a sight that can now be appreciated the way you do anything you know you'll never see again. Forty-eight minutes came down to one-tenth of a second. Chapter One had written. It was the start of a collision that would change both franchises. Going back and reading my on-scene column from that night, it seems like that was apparent even then.
Doc Rivers dropped the following: "Chauncey is the general over there. It's a good game for us to learn from. We wanted this as a measuring stick to see where we actually were. We know that if to be of any substance, we've got to go through Detroit and some other teams and like Paul (Pierce) said, I would rather deal with it now than later."
Boston took the bitterness of that defeat and worked it into the desperate suffering that served as motivation through June. In retrospect, Detroit may have taken it as a sign to relax. The Celtics could be handled. Despite all the hype surrounding them, all the Pistons had to do was press the button when the time came and blow right by them.
Nearly half a year later, they were proven wrong. The Celtics got their title. Flip Saunders caught a pink slip. Pistons players were put on notice that nobody was safe. It took time for the hammer to drop on that, but ultimately, with Billups moved, they wound up disbanded.
As Detroit walked back into Boston on Thursday night, Allen Iverson led them. Recent wins over the Lakers and Cavaliers gave the Pistons hope that they could hang with the defending champs, but once the game unfolded, it was clear they weren't quite ready for the challenge.
Boston was too strong defensively. Detroit, too uncertain of how to play off its new point guard just yet. The 98-80 loss was the second time they've lost by 18 in the last three games. That swagger they enjoyed all those years looks gone.
Uncertainty has replaced it.
That's not entirely a bad thing, though. Eventually, this group is going to know where they belong on the floor and how they're best-served playing. Iverson will get acclimated. Antonio McDyess should return. Time is on their side.
The key, however, is that nobody is going to appear bored with the regular season, as has been the case around Detroit these past few years. Since winning it all in 2004, the Pistons have been missing the hunger you need to be the last ones standing. They're 0-2 against the Celtics since acquiring Iverson, but have a purpose to work towards now.
No longer can Detroit sit back and say, "we'll be there at the end." In this case, uncertainty is a driving force. Ditto with the doubters. The Pistons must be focused on improvement, from first-year coach Michael Curry placing the pieces together to the players themselves working towards progress as a unit.
By the time they return to Boston on March 1, they'll have had sufficient time to gel and see where they're really at.
Roles have reversed. The Celtics are now the measuring stick. The Pistons have lots of work to do.

Thursday's +/- report: Rajon Rondo (+10, 18 points, eight assists) was more productive than Allen Iverson (-9, 16 points, four assists) and even though he didn't have the best statistical night, Kevin Garnett (+16, 15 points, four rebounds) still got the better of Rasheed Wallace (-28, 13 points, five fouls)... It was an extremely rough night for Rodney Stuckey (-22, 0 points, five turnovers in 15 mintues)... Kwame Brown (+2, six points, seven rebounds) had a few moments where he looked overmatched, but was the only member of the Pistons starting five to register on the plus-side... Pau Gasol (+21, nine boards, nine assists) stood tall in his moments against Shaquille O'Neal (-7, 15 points, nine rebounds), helping pick up teammate Andrew Bynum (-7, 10 points, seven rebounds), who look flustered.

Humphries hopes to stay in rotation

Kris Humphries was smacked right on top of the head by Dwyane Wade with 1:35 left in the third quarter of Toronto's 101-95 win in Miami. It was the kind of shot that starts little skirmishes these days.
It had to feel good.
Wade, coming over to help after Humphries had beaten Udonis Haslem for position, was pump-faked up into the air by Humphries and came down chopping, drawing an immediate flagrant-1.
Humphries no doubt relished the contact. It meant he was out on the floor.
The 6-foot-9 forward known to his teammates as "Hump" has been one frustrated Raptor this season. After playing over 20 minutes in six of Toronto's seven preseason games, scoring in double-figures five times, Sam Mitchell shelved him.
"I wasn't playing at all before. I was in the rotation last (home) game, then kinda in-and-out this one, but I just want the opportunity to play," Humphries told me Tuesday after the Raptors' loss to Orlando. "I feel like I've earned it. I just want to play, help us win some games, man."
After getting a season-best six meaningful minutes against the Celtics on Nov. 12, Humphries donned a suit for a game due to a bruised toe and had to wonder whether he'd better start getting used to picking out clothes to wear at the end of the bench.
Andrea Bargnani's insertion into the starting lineup has given him hope, albeit the cautiously optimistic kind. He was hopeful the 14 points and nine rebounds he scored against Miami on Sunday were enough to keep Sam Mitchell's trust, but couldn't be sure. On Wednesday, he got 12:32 of run and drew a team-high seven free throw attempts, scoring a bench-high eight points. He started the fourth quarter. Still, the Heat went on a run with him in the game so he can't be sure what to think. Humphries told me he and Mitchell haven't talked much about the siuation.
"At this point with me and him it's just being ready to play. I think a lot of times when you first get somewhere there's a dialogue trying to see where you fit in and stuff, but now we're at the point, where it's just, you never know, so just be ready. That's where I'm at," said Humphries, who averaged career-highs in games, minutes, points and rebounds in his second season with the Raptors, but barely got off the bench come postseason. "Last year I played a lot for like a couple of months and then didn't play at the end of the year. It's just been up and down.
"(Jermaine O'Neal) being here, I was told it was going to be more of an opportunity for me, just the way the rotation was going to go, but you can't get involved with that. I just have to be ready when he taps me."
The Raptors are 2-1 since Mitchell began starting Bargnani and giving Humphries opportunities. In that span, he's averaging 8.0 and 4.3 rebounds. Bargnani, who scored a season-high 25 points on Wednesday, has also taken to the change.

Wednesday's +/- report: Jose Calderon (+16) made a triumphant return to the lineup, finishing with eight points and seven assists as he gutted out through 32 minutes. He's clearly not 100 percent, but he's a substantial upgrade over Will Solomon and Roko Ukic, who are still trying to learn the nuances of the league after spending most of their pro careers in Europe... Dwyane Wade (-5, 40 points, 11 assists, five blocks) and Shawn Marion (-3, 20 points, 14 rebounds) were solid for the Heat, but rookies Michael Beasley (-16 in 11:56) and Mario Chalmers (-21) had a pair of Mama said... nights... Jason Terry (+10, 31 points, 13-for-21) looks like he's enjoying himself... Tracy McGrady (-3, 16 points) doesn't need to be out there if he's going to be as limited as he looks. He might want to re-evaluate shutting it down...Allen Iverson (+11, 23 points) led all starters in the +/- game in his first installment of the Cavs/Pistons rivalry... LeBron James (-5, 25 points, 8-for-21) looked less than brilliant for the first time in like weeks...Reggie Theus is no doubt thrilled that he just went into New Orleans and won a game with rookies Donte Greene (-1, 15 points, 3-for-4 on 3-pointers) and Jason Thompson (-1, 10 points, six rebounds) starting and second-year stud Spencer Hawes (+9, nine points, six rebounds) serving as the only big off the bench. Greene made his first career start... The Willie Green (-9, six points) jinx continued in Minnesota. Philly can't seem to win when he doesn't play well... Mike Miller (+5, 10 points) managed to out-rebound Al Jefferson (+7, 25 points), 10-8... Chris Kaman (+31, 11-for-13, 25 points, 14 rebounds) won't be going anywhere if he keeps playing like he did against the Thunder. For a night, he and Marcus Camby (+30, 14 points) were a dominant combination... There was another Austin Croshere (-17 in 17 minutes, three points) sighting for the Bucks, but wasn't quite as effective as his previous one... Paul Millsap (+20, eight points, seven rebounds, five blocks) and Andrei Kirilenko (+12, 16 points, seven rebounds, four blocks) continued winning games for Utah off the bench. One of them may be starting soon. Carlos Boozer landed awkwardly going up for a rebound against Luc Richard Mbah a Moute with what was diagnosed as a strained left quad tendon and will be re-evaluated Thursday... Greg Oden (+9) racked up another double-double (11 points, 10 rebounds) in just 17:27 in his Rose Garden debut... Ben Gordon (-35, 11 points) gets credit for not showing up the longest (29:59) in that pathetic excuse for a game Chicago gave Portland, besting Derrick Rose (-32, 1-for-8) by 12 seconds.

Clippers continue laughingstock ways

Following Monday night's action, there are four one-win teams. Only one is worthy of being called a massive disappointment.
Oklahoma City and Minnesota are young and starting over. Washington is banged up and has played a league-low three home games. Then there's the Clippers.
Strange sight to see Michael Finley clowning them on Monday night as he stole passes and finished easy layups in San Antonio's 86-83 conquest at Staples.
Felt like I was having a Life On Mars moment. Are we back in the late 90s?
Finley finished with 19 points and a pair of steals, enjoying one of those nights that made you reminisce about his younger days with the Suns and Mavericks. He came back down to earth during L.A's 13-2 run to tie the game late, but had moments where he made the Clips look like an expansion team.
Truth is, L.A. didn't any help from Finley in that department. They looked like the putrid squad that stumbled through the latter part of last decade, when they went 41-173 from 1997-99.
Errant passes, the parade of Spurs layups early in the fourth quarter, Ricky Davis getting catcalls from disgruntled Clippers fans for his shoddy play. It's that ugly.
Baron Davis and Marcus Camby entered the season gimpy and may not be all the way back yet, but their veteran influence just isn't resonating with their new teammates.
They were out-executed by a tired, depleted San Antonio team that is trying to win games with Tim Duncan and a host of players that in a healthy Spurs world, wouldn't be playing more than 25 minutes per game. That includes Finley and Roger Mason, Jr., who easily got free for the game-winning 3-pointer at the top of the key when Ricky Davis got picked off by Duncan at the top of the key and got no help from teammates.
L.A.'s final possession ended with Baron Davis completing his 0-for-8 night from beyond the arc with a bad miss that failed to draw rim.
Despite a league-high eight home games, the Clippers have won only once. They start a three-game road swing in Oklahoma City on Wednesday knowing they can't let too many more slip away becore packing in the season becomes realistic.
Elton Brand, who Clippers fans will see Friday when L.A. visits Philadelphia, will no doubt be a sight for sore eyes. Maybe he knew something we didn't.

Monday's +/- report: Shaquille O'Neal playing on back-to-back nights? Let's shelve that concept. The Diesel, fresh off his outburst on Sunday night, suited up in Salt Lake City and struggled. Outside of a few sharp passes early, O'Neal (-27, nine points, five assists) was flat more often than not, grabbing one more rebound than me sitting on my couch. On nights where he doesn't have it, Terry Porter is much better off giving his minutes to Boris Diaw and Robin Lopez... Andrei Kirilenko (+14, 19 points, seven rebounds) shook off a sprained right finger and provided terrific energy for the Jazz, finishing with a couple of blocks, while Paul Millsap (+15, 11 points, nine rebounds) added an emphatic second-quarter rejection of O'Neal that seemed to deflate the Diesel completely... With Deron Williams' ankle keeping him out, Brevin Knight (+19, 6-for-7) again pinch-hit brilliantly... Yao Ming (+23, 7-for-8, 19 points, 12 rebounds) took advantage of Oklahoma City lacking anyone capable of stopping him... Russell Westbrook (+2, 14 points) had a season-high five steals. Once he gets that jumper down, he's going to be really tough... Bruce Bowen (+12, six points in 24:46) continued to respond well to coming off the bench. He understands that the Spurs need more firepower in the starting five and hasn't let not starting affect the tenacity he plays with... Ricky Davis (-10) definitely deserved the boos he got. He looked half-asleep out there. If he's going to play like that, rookies Mike Taylor (-5, eight points, three steals) and Eric Gordon (+1, four points) would be better off getting his minutes. At least they'll play with energy.

Mavs gain footing in comeback win

Dallas got itself a mood-changing win at Madison Square Garden, with Dirk Nowitzki and Josh Howard combining for 70 points. Down seven points with just over two minutes to go, the Mavericks finally played with the desperation they've been missing to this point, aided by a level of Knicks' ineptitude that had yet be seen under Mike D'Antoni.
The Knicks will have to do their best to leave this game in the past, but Dallas needs to bottle the intensity it utilized to avoid its eighth loss in 10 games and start digging out of its hole. The Mavericks came out flat, with neither Erick Dampier nor DeSagana Diop able to stay with Zach Randolph, who is really working hard as New York's primary post option. He's run the floor, shot well from the perimeter and rebounded like a beast, so it took energy guys like James Singleton and Brandon Bass in order to turn the tide.
Carlisle went deep into the well and dusted off Jose Barea and Antoine Wright for key fourth quarter minutes, searching for the right formula to snap out of this current funk. Nowitzki, who deserved criticism for his role in the Mavericks' recent struggles, connected on huge shots over David Lee, while Howard and Bass provided the bounce necessary to overcome a lethargic start. With a morale-boosting win in hand, the Mavericks continue their three-game road trip in Charlotte on Tuesday before returning to Texas for Wednesday's nationally televised game in Houston.

Sunday's +/- report: Andrea Bargnani (0, 6-for-12) joining the starting lineup was the big news in Toronto, but it was the job Will Solomon (+3, 15 points, 11 assists) and Roko Ukic (+10, four assists) did in place of the injured Jose Calderon (hamstring) that made the difference in a 107-96 win over Miami. Jason Kapono(+2, 10 points), Kris Humphries (+9, 14 points, nine rebounds) and replaced starter Jamario Moon (+9, eight points, five rebounds) did a nice job providing energy off the bench... Shawn Marion (-5, eight points, four boards) doesn't resemble himself these days... Any time the Magic needed a big play, it seemed like Mickael Pietrus (+15, 18 points in 20:36) came up with it. Tony Battie (+3, nine points, seven rebounds) had his best game of the season helping replace Dwight Howard (+2) while he wrestled with foul trouble, scoring just four points in 26 mintues... Emeka Okafor (-6, eight points, nine boards) actually played less than Howard due to foul woes in the 90-85 loss... Roger Mason (+10, 18 points) continued to be invaluable for San Antonio, whose 90-88 win in Sacramento came despite a 31-point night from John Salmons (-1).

Garnett likely to draw suspension

Expect Kevin Garnett to be suspended for throwing a punch for the second time in three seasons.
The mandatory one-game suspension looks unavoidable even though Garnett threw more of a slap than a punch, but the Celtics star would undoubtedly appreciate it if Milwaukee's Andrew Bogut joins him on an unpaid vacation day.
Here's the DVR slo-mo skinny from the altercation between Garnett and Bogut with in the fourth quarter at Milwaukee's Bradley Center:
Bogut drives in on a leave from Ramon Sessions, cuts in hard and goes right at Garnett, going up on him with his left hand. As he's met at the rim, Bogut extends his right elbow and catches Garnett's face with it while the ball is blocked out of his hands. Bogut grabs the loose ball, goes back up and is immediately fouled. As he's coming down, Bogut clumsily falls forward and swings his left arm downward, catching Garnett with another elbow. As they pull apart from their mid-air tussle, Garnett reaches out with his left arm and smacks Bogut in the forehead. Bogut recoils like he's been doused by a tidal wave and starts crying foul, wondering why he was hit. Garnett then looks at him puts his hand to his lip and wipes, indicating that Bogut knows exactly what he did. Referee Eli Roe came between them and no other players got involved. Both received technical fouls and since Bogut had already accrued one, he was ejected. Garnett later fouled out in overtime.
Garnett was suspended in Jan. 2007 for throwing an errant punch at Detroit's Antonio McDyess that looked a little like the slap he threw Bogut's way.
It will be interesting to see what Stu Jackson does with the Australian 7-footer, who I think should get a one-game penalty because he slyly did initiate antagonizing contact with Garnett twice on the play. Odds are good that the NBA continues its stern stance on situations like these.
My take on the Rockets-Suns skirmish fallout (scroll below to Nov. 13 entry) definitely sides with Phoenix's Steve Kerr, who was shocked that Jackson was so hard on Matt Barnes and Steve Nash and will appeal their fines.
Jackson explained his suspensions of Alston and Nash to the Houston Chronicle: "Steve Nash escalated the incident by coming in not as a peacemaker, but as an escalator. Tracy McGrady pushed him."
That's contradictory. If Nash got a one-game suspension, McGrady should've also. Barnes getting a second game seems a little harsh, but can be stomached since the incident turned uglier by spilling into the crowd and Barnes played a major part in starting it.
Since nobody escalated the Bogut/Garnett situation, a one-game suspension for each seems like a just resolution.

Saturday's +/- report: Anthony Morrow (+24, 37 points) was on another planet in his first start, but it's worth noting that being removed from the starting five didn't impede C.J. Watson (+22, 10 points, eight assists) from being a factor. That shows a good attitude and unflappable confidence from a young player... Baron Davis' (-21, 7-for-19) first effort against his former team didn't go smoothly, despite his 25 points and 11 assists... Nice night from Cal's Ryan Anderson (+11, 17 points, 3-for-3 on 3-pointers) in the Nets' 119-107 upset of Atlanta. His old running mates looked good, too, winning 68-56 over Pacific in Mike Montgomery's debut as head coach... It was an extremely rough night in Philadelphia for Oklahoma City's Earl Watson (-33, four points, six turnovers) and Nick Collison (-32, 0-for-7) ... Thaddeus Young (+35, 23 points) did a nice job of not forcing much in the Sixers' 110-85 rout. If he can concentrate on keeping it simple, he's going to improve Philadelphia's chances of hanging with Boston sooner than later... Bogut (+2, 20 points, nine rebounds) outplayed Garnett (+4, 6-for-15), but Paul Pierce (+6, 28 points, seven rebounds, six assists) and Ray Allen (+8, 27 points) picked up their amigo... Carlos Boozer (-20, 5-for-12, 17 points) found out that they're still mad at him in Cleveland... J.J. Hickson, who many are hoping develops into the Boozer-type the Cavs crave at power forward, registered a -18 in 3:38, getting his run in when the Jazz enjoyed their finest stretch... In Houston's 91-82 win over New Orleans, Luis Scola (+9, 12 points, 10 rebounds) helped offset David West (-4, 18 points, 10 rebounds), who got less help than expected from Chris Paul (-3, 2-for-10) and Peja Stojakovic (-6, 1-for-5, 3 points).

Morrow makes name for himself

In Orlando this July, Anthony Morrow had European scouts huddled together on cell phones muttering his name like some kind of mantra.
"Muh-ruh?" "Muh-row." "Morrrrow."
Had a first-hand view of them scrambling around to try and track down his representation, only to find out he had already signed with Budivelnyk in the Ukraine and was just chasing his NBA dreams on the Nets summer league squad.
As you now know, that move to Kiev was put on hold.
Morrow shot 28-for-43 from three-point range over 12 games in Orlando, Las Vegas and Utah, won MVP of the Rocky Mountain Revue and wound up signing a partially guaranteed deal with the Warriors.
After Saturday afternoon's 37-point explosion at Staples Center, it's safe to assume he's going to hang around long enough to collect his new paycheck entirely.
Starting in place of C.J. Watson as Don Nelson went to Stephen Jackson as point-forward, Morrow hit 15-for-20, including 4-for-5 from 3-point range. For those NBA scouts who pigeon-holed him as just a shooter in keeping him out of the 2008 Draft, he added 10 rebounds.
And yes, Morrow certainly had everybody that passed him over in mind when he was filling it up over the likes of Baron Davis and Al Thornton this afternoon. This summer, he fully copped to harboring a massive chip on his shoulder over not being selected in either of the two rounds despite putting in four years at Georgia Tech in the prestigious ACC. He was bitter about it and planned to stay that way. Says it helps him play better.
Of course, winding up in Golden State is the greatest thing that could've ever happened to him, because he's tailor-made for the freedom Nellieball provides. In Nelson, he also fell into the lap of a coach willing to give everybody a fair shake. Watson and fellow starter Kelenna Azubuike are Nellie finds, guys he falls in love with and finds minutes for.
Sometimes he falls out of love, but with Morrow, don't be surprised if it's for keeps. Even when Monta Ellis returns, Morrow could remain in the lineup to stretch out defenses and feed off penetration. While Azubuike's activity is an asset, having a guy like Morrow to stretch defenses could be invaluable.
To think, if the kid hadn't gone on a nice shooting run over the summer, he could be making his living in virtual anonymity. Instead, given the likelihood that he'll flourish under Nelson, he's about to become very popular.
The mad rush to pick him up in fantasy leagues has already started. Remember, the name's Morrow.

Slumping Dirk leaves Dallas hanging

Maybe if Dirk Nowitzki had shown up this week, we wouldn't be talking about Dallas fading into oblivion. The former MVP had two chances to help put this early season slide to rest and added to his dubious list of missed clutch opportunities.
On Tuesday, he shot 5-for-17 and fouled out of a home game the Mavericks should have won against the Lakers. Looking crisper than they have at any point this season, they went on a 17-0 run early and had racked up 60 points by halftime on the NBA's stingiest team.
You know how that story ended. Nowitzki looked lost down the stretch and Dallas fell again. With an opportunity to get the lead back inside the final two minutes, Dirk shot blanks.
Thursday night, the Mavericks surged to a 21-3 lead in Chicago and looked set to unleash a season's worth of frustration on a Chicago team that came out in a fog. Ben Gordon put his team on his back and warmed them up. He got an assist from Nowitzki in helping to get the Bulls back in it, thanks to three missed jumpers and an errant pass. Nowitzki rested for a lengthy stretch until re-entering halfway through the second quarter, missing a short runner and traveling to help hold Dallas back.
In an eventual 98-91 loss, Nowitzki shot 5-for-17 again. He got to the line only three times. It's obvious he's in a slump, and to say this is an inopportune time for one would be an understatement.
Rick Carlisle needs him at his best to pull this team together. The head coach admits Dallas is behind where they want to be, and knows how risky that is in the loaded Western Conference.
Ultimately, it's up to Nowitzki to channel his inner Robert Traylor and play tractor. Teams are targeting him as the focal point, so be it. It's on him to dig the Mavs out of this hole they're digging, which he tried doing last Sunday by questioning his teammates' effort and challenging them to play harder.
His guys have put forth enough to have walked out of games against the Lakers and Bulls in victories.
Because of its superstar leader, Dallas didn't.
"If there’s an effort problem, it’s something that the coach can address," Carlisle told the Ft. Worth Star-Telegram prior to the Lakers game, "but the players have to ultimately look in the mirror and say 'I can do more’ or 'I can do better.'"
He wasn't referring to Nowitzki, but right now, with Dallas at 2-6, that's who it has to start with.

Thursday's +/- report: Tyrus Thomas (+17) hasn't come out a big winner in the +/- game often this season, but he was huge against Dallas, coming off then bench and changing the game with his energy. His eight points and eight rebounds (five offensive) and his desire to defend and mix it up, many times against Nowtizki (-9), was invaluable to the cause... Joakim Noah (-15) showed more energy in during the pre-game introductions than he did in this start. He clocked the first 3:58 of the game and was never re-inserted. Vinny Del Negro has started multiple players at center depending on the matchup, but may be ready to go back to his opening night combo of Thomas and Drew Gooden (-12, 3-for-12), who returned from an ankle energy that's kept him out this week... Larry Hughes (+3) saw his first action of 2008-09, scoring five points in 13 minutes as he returned from a shoulder dislocation... LeBron James (+14, 22 points, eight rebounds, 11 assists) chose his Magic Johnson repertoire to show off in the 110-99 win over the Nuggets and buddy Carmelo Anthony (-9, 18 points)... Ben Wallace (+9) scored a season-high 11 points on 4-for-4 shooting before having his night cut short by a right knee contusion... Delonte West (+15 in 33:31) continued his good glue run... Kwame Brown (-8, 1-for-3 in 9:24) replaced Amir Johnson (-4, 3-for-5) in the Pistons' starting five because Michael Curry wants to diversify his first and second units and felt Johnson and Rasheed Wallace were too similar. That I get, but to make that lineup change against Golden State didn't make sense. Andris Biedrins (-12, 17 points, 19 rebounds) wore out Brown and had a double-double by the half before Curry made an adjustment, going small with Wallace (+19, 19 points, 11 rebounds) at center to draw Biedrins out to the perimeter. That changed the game... Allen Iverson (+9) scored 23 points on 23 shots and did have nine assists, but the Pistons still have a ways to go before their a fluid unit with him at the controls.

Suspensions looming for Suns/Rockets?

Time to see what kind of mood league disciplinarian Stu Jackson is in this season. Will the league office be hard or lenient? We're about to find out.
Through the magic of DVR, here's the play-by-play of the footage the league office will be reviewing often this morning from the incident that transpired at U.S. Airways Center with 27.6 seconds remaining and the Rockets leading the Suns, 74-55:
With Tracy McGrady dribbling on the left wing, Rafer Alston moves over to set a screen on Matt Barnes, who sees him coming and isn't called for throwing a forearm shove his way to clear him out of the play. Alston, finally back up off his heels, immediately runs towards Barnes as McGrady's shot floats towards the net and squares up. Amare Stoudemire hadn't even turned around to inbound the ball by the time Steve Nash, noticing the situation, immediately rushes over. McGrady and Yao Ming try to step in between Barnes and Alston, while Nash reaches out and makes contact with Alston as he loses his balance. McGrady is surprised by the bodies coming together and while slipping, reaches out with his left hand and appears to push Nash as he's falling, standing over the Suns point guard as Shaquille O'Neal and Yao rush in, with the Rockets center shoving his star teammate aside from behind, presumably in attempt to keep him from doing anything stupider than he's just done. As if the 7-foot-6 Yao couldn't handle the job alone, the 7-foot-1 O'Neal also shoves McGrady away. While this is going on Nash is on the floor, Alston is cowered over him and a heap of bodies are threatening to make this one big avalanche. As McGrady hits the floor, Leandro Barbosa comes up and grabs Nash, who is intertwined with Alston as he's pulled away. Barbosa, O'Neal, Barnes and Suns coach Terry Porter get to them as they come together, with O'Neal's momentum shoving the pile towards the crowd. Barnes, Porter and official James Capers, who really did good work in mixing it up to help avoid anybody from really hitting each other, end up moving with Alston back up about 10 feet into some more paying customers. Alston throws what looks like a slap-punch with his left, which causes about a dozen people to come together in order to diffuse the situation despite heightened emotions. The commotion was scary, perhaps an ice cube away from really becoming ugly, but fortunately, common sense prevailed among fans and the players on the bench, which included king of serenity Ron Artest.
Nash, McGrady and O'Neal got technicals, while Barnes and Alston were ejected. As far as additional punishment goes, it wouldn't surprise me to see Barnes suspended for one game for the unnecessary contact that incited the situation, McGrady picking up a game for following through on the shove to Nash and Alston getting two games -- one for escalating the situation into what it became and an additional penalty for swinging his arm in a punch-like motion. Can't see Nash and O'Neal getting suspended here. Even though both were actively involved, they did so in the role of peace-maker. McGrady acted in that spirit, too, until he lost his cool with Nash. We'll see if it costs him. Could go either way.
The fact that the altercation spilled over into the crowd changes how willing the league is to dismiss this as boys being boys. If no further action is taken, though, it could be a sign that the league is willing to be lighten the heavy fist that has been wielded since the Palace brawl. Every one of these instances are viewed on a case-by-case basis, but this first high-profile incident figures to set the tone for what's to come.

Tough night for Horford
Al Horford is going to be an All-Star, perhaps as early as this February. I've been a big believer in him since he was at Florida and called him a can't-miss prospect prior to the 2007 Draft.
Love his game more than you do, but he cost Atlanta an opportunity to improve to 7-0. Call it a learning experience, potentially something that could knock expectations back down to earth after his 27-point, 17-rebound night in Chicago on Tuesday. Against Kevin Garnett and Kendrick Perkins, he was on the floor for just 22:48, finishing with five points and five fouls.
The 22-year-old Horford looked his age when he was unable to avoid foul trouble early, with his absence serving as a major reason that Boston was able to cut into an early double-digit deficit. In the fourth quarter, Paul Pierce got him to bite on pump fake and leaned into him on a jumper to draw his fifth with over 10 minutes left in the fourth. Forced to play cautious above the return, he wasn't able to freely provid the defensive presence the Hawks were counting on with Josh Smith in street clothes. To add to the second-year centers's frustration, he was caught sleeping by Kevin Garnett on an alley-oop that got the crowd loose in the final minutes, and his night ended with victory snatched away from him when he got caught on a switch and was beaten to the spot by Pierce, who went all "Captain and the Truth" on the Hawks by draining the game-clinching jumper.
Horford will see better times, but it's how he handles nights like these that will dictate how good he'll truly be. Keep an eye on how the he fares against the Nets on Friday night, because although New Jersey is filled with a host of young deer up front, Horford has the skills to dominate and should make it a point to do so.

Wednesday's +/- report: Tough break for the Raptors, who lose Jose Calderon (-11, six assists) to a hamstring injury and a game to Atlantic rival Philadelphia, 106-96. Toronto can't afford to be without him for any lengthy stretch... The Sixers made sure Elton Brand (+15, 25 points on 21 shots) got off, while the trend of them winning when Willie Green (+13, 17 points, nine assists) plays well off the bench continued...Nash (-15, 10 points, three assists) was bumped and bruised after being thrown around the floor and looks like he can use a day off. Alston (+17, 7-for-11, 15 points) got the better of him -- in the game, not the skirmish... Portland's Rudy Fernandez (+4, 25 points) stole the show, but fellow Spaniard Sergio Rodriguez (+8, five points, five assists) out-did him in the +/- game. Greg Oden (-6, 3 points) was shaking off the rust and had a rough night off the bench, though he did dunk in his first NBA field goal...Miami rookie Mario Chalmers (-26, 1-for-4 in 30:45, five turnovers) had a much rougher night in the 104-96 loss to the Blazers... Zaza Pachulia (+6, nine points, five boards) left the 103-102 loss to the Celtics with a shoulder injury... Kevin Garnett (+13, 25 points, 12 rebounds) is in midseason form... Rasho Nesterovic (+14) returned to the Pacers lineup with 10 big points, including the dagger on one of his reliable long-range jumpers to help make up for the absent Danny Granger (quad) in a 98-87 win over the Nets... New Jersey missed an opportunity to beat a team missing their best player because forwards Bobby Simmons (-16) and Yi Jianlian (-15) were awful, combining to shoot 6-for-17 with eight turnovers... Wilson Chandler (+24, 11-for-12, 27 points, seven rebounds) officially threw his hat into the Most Improved ring in the 132-103 win over Memphis... Spurs rookie George Hill (-13, 4 points in 22 minutes) struggled in his second start, while another unheralded first-year contributor, Milwaukee's Luc Richard Mbah a Moute (+8, 11 points, seven rebounds) no doubt made a fan of Gregg Popovich in his first career start. That's his kind of player... Andrew Bynum (+20, 14 points, eight rebounds, four blocks) delivered a message to the Hornets that they're going to have to go through him to take the Lakers' crown. Phil Jackson would bottle the energy he played with if he could... Chris Paul (-2, 30 points, 13 assists) was slow to get started, but he almost stole the game back for his Hornets... Dwight Howard (+16, 30 points, 19 rebounds, 10 blocks) had a ridiculous night in Oklahoma City, but don't forget about the effort backcourt mates Jameer Nelson (+16, 17 points, 10 rebounds) and Mickael Pietrus (+20, 17 points, five rebounds) gave. The Magic could use that consistently to truly break through... Caron Butler (+5, 27 points, nine rebounds) was worried about his blood pressure with this losing streak Washington was on, so he did his best to stabilize it... It helped that the Wizards caught Utah on the night Andrei Kirilenko (-2, 1-for-7) had his worst game of the season.

No quick-fix for Philly

Maurice Cheeks has to be wondering where the last four days have gone.
Following an embarrassing offensive performance in Orlando last Thursday, the Sixers coach went back to basics to try and get his team on the same page with new acquisition Elton Brand. Despite all that instruction, the same team showed up against Utah Tuesday night, sputtering to 13 points in the fourth quarter of a 93-80 loss.
Brand finished with just 13 points and five rebounds and must point a finger at himself for not matching the energy Utah's post guys played with, including rookie Kosta Koufos, making his first professional start.
Not that the rest of the Sixers should hang this one on their new teammate. Thaddeus Young shot 3-for-15 and the bench combined for 4-for-16 as the team continued its collective freeze. They landed in Toronto following the disappointing home loss to face a Raptors team that shut them down in Philly in the opener, becoming the first of what is now a list of five opponents to hold them under 90 in a victory.
Eventually, Brand will get on the same page with fellow Andre Miller and Andre Iguodala. Whether Brand has to become more active in transition or Iguodala and Miller become more efficient in the halfcourt game, there will ultimately be harmony. Young is playing fearlessly and showing off his improvement, but there's no way he should be leading the team in scoring.
The starting lineup's pieces will fit once the kinks come loose, but one major issue that should be of even greater concern is how weak and inconsistent Philadelphia's bench has been. The Sixers are averaging 84.6 points in their five losses and 120.5 in their two wins, with the major discrepancy between success and failure being the play of the bench. Lou Williams is being counted on to be an x-factor and has been hit-or-miss. Willie Green was expected to be the stabilizer and has instead been two different players, phenomenal in the wins (17 ppg, 13-for-18 FG) and awful in the losses (3.5 ppg, 5-for-17).
Heading into Tuesday night's game against a major division rival, the 76ers have to be considered the Eastern Conference's biggest disappointment. It's not time to panic yet, but this isn't the start envisioned for a team that fancied itself a contender.

Tuesday's +/- report: Delonte West (+16, 11 points on 5-for-7 shooting) was very good as a glue guy in his 38 minutes of a 99-93 win over the Bucks, continuing to grow into one of Mike Brown's men of confidence... Milwaukee rode a strong third quarter from Luke Ridnour (-6, 6-for-16) to claw back in the game, but he couldn't generate any offense for his team when it truly mattered... Carmelo Anthony (+16, 25 points) got his hands dirty inside as the Nuggets transition into a more physical side, holding Charlotte to 40 percent shooting in an 88-80 win. Adam Morrison (+11, 16 points) was the Bobcats bright spot. Matt Carroll (-17 1-for-4) wasn't... Andrei Kirilenko (+24) and Paul Millsap (+20) each scored 16 on a combined 14-for-20 from the field in helping Utah's bench destroy Philadelphia's 38-12 in Deron Williams' return (-3, 1-for-8, 9 assists)... Rookie Marreese Speights (-20 in 10 minutes) and the aforementioned Green (-18 in 12:25) were the biggest culprits... Great friends Al Horford (+11, 27 points, 17 rebounds) and Joakim Noah (-13, 1-for-3) started against each other in Atlanta's 113-108 victory in Chicago. Horford was the late bloomer at Florida, and has just kept on blooming... Trevor Ariza (+16, 6-for-10) is making ESPN's J.A. Adande look good, while Jerry Stackhouse (-11) and Gerald Green (-10) couldn't replace Josh Howard on the wing, shooting a combined 11-for-27... Hard to find fault with Allen Iverson's effort (+7, 30 points, nine assists) in his first win with the Pistons, but backup Will Bynum (+10) deserves credit, too, helping make up for the absence of Rodney Stuckey by getting into the lane well and creating chances... Jason Thompson (-1, 15 points, 9 rebounds) defended everyone from Tayshaun Prince to Rasheed Wallace in his first start. He looks miles ahead of what was expected of him and is going to be a very good one.

Oden close to coming back

Orlando, Fla. - Greg Oden's return is growing near.
It probably won't come Wednesday night in Miami, but odds are good that he'll be back at some point during the Blazers' five-game road trip that began on a prosperous note with a 106-99 win against the Magic. The win was Portland's first road success in four tries.
Oden continues to make progress after returning to the court on Sunday when he participated in some light contact work at the Magic's training facility in Maitland.
I briefly caught up with him on his way out of the visiting locker room at Amway Arena. Although he's encouraged and eager to get back, he remains adamant about not rushing. Given what he's been through just trying to get on the court since being selected No. 1, it's understandable that he'd fear doing anything to further tempt fate.
"Right now, I'm still rehabbing. Just trying to get my foot back, but it feels good," said Oden, who
is traveling with the team through their five-game road trip whether he plays or not. "I'm going to start doing a lot more and we'll see what happens. It's getting better. I think things are going smoothly with the recovery."
The "a lot more" begins Tuesday in South Florida, but given that there's no way to predict how his foot will react to an increased workload from one day to the next, I'd expect the organization to choose to err on the side of caution. It's also unlikely that he'd play both ends of a back-to-back, so while it's possible we'll see him return against New Orleans on Friday, he could also be held back until Saturday's visit to Minnesota.
Oden was running with the second unit during Sunday's stint, which looms a sign that he'll be eased back in off the bench this time around. Nobody came out and said that, but that's the feeling I got.
"When Greg comes back, I don't know if he's going to start or come off the bench," Brandon Roy told PBN, "but he's going to come back and earn everything he gets and I think that's the proper approach."
Look for more on that eyebrow-raising quote Wednesday at ProBasketballNews.com, where we'll look ahead to part II of the Oden experience and his effect on the Blazers, particularly Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge, Portland's other young pillars.

Monday's +/- report: Paul Pierce (+8, 36 points, nine rebounds) and Ray Allen (+15, 19 points) made the key baskets down the stretch, but Kevin Garnett's presence was most effective, registering a +26 in 35 minutes, most of which were spent helping to frustrate Chris Bosh (-, 9 points on 3-for-8 shooting)... Danny Granger (+17, 20 points, seven rebounds) continued to be a beast against Oklahoma City, getting help from T.J. Ford (+16, 24 points, 10 assists), who had his best game as a Pacer to help overcome Kevin Durant's 37 points... LaMarcus Aldridge (+17, 16 points, 11 rebounds) had to draw Dwight Howard (-3, 29 points, 19 rebounds) for most of the game after Joel Przybilla (-2 in 9:30) got in early foul trouble and did very nice work. Offensively, he was instrumental in the success of Nate McMillan's small lineup, consistently supplying a threat on the pick-and-pop... Dwyane Wade (+5, 33 points, five assists) recovered from a slow start to score 14 points during a key 17-5 Miami fourth-quarter run that erased an 85-76 deficit, turning the game over to Chris Quinn (+17, 9 points) to seal at the free throw line. Miami won, 99-94, despite the absence of Shawn Marion, who was told to rest a groin injury. His minutes were split between Yakhouba Diawara (-9, 1-for-4) and Daequan Cook (+9. 15 points)... O.J. Mayo (-3, 33 points) missed a late game-tying 3-pointer in a 107-102 loss to Phoenix, but has become the Rookie of the Year favorite given his play of late.

Saturday's +/- report

You won't find a Washington Wizard that had an enjoyable night in Orlando on Saturday, as the first meeting between the Southeast Division rivals went decidedly in the Magic's favor. Dwight Howard (+21) was as efficient as can be, shooting 11-for-13 and grabbing 16 boards, but Rashard Lewis wound up at +30 despite shooting 0-for-5 from 3-point range. In case you haven't noticed, he's having an extremely strong season thus far, showing off a more complete all-around game... Juan Dixon (-24, 1-for-6) stepped into the starting lineup for the injured Antonio Daniels (knee) and didn't fare well, while Dee Brown (-2) did mix it up in his 20 minutes, grabbing four rebounds and dishing out five assists with just one turnover... Danny Granger (+23) shot just 6-for-17, but continued his superb season by being the most effective of the Pacers in the 98-80 rout of New Jersey... Vince Carter (-21) couldn't keep the Nets from short-circuiting without Devin Harris (ankle) despite 31 points. Josh Boone (-8, four points, seven rebounds), who was so effective in Friday's upset of Detroit, couldn't put it together back-to-back nights, with an airball included among his 0-for-4 night at the free throw line. The other frontcourt starters, Bobby Simmons (-14) and Yi Jianlian (-11), shot a combined 2-for-15... Chris Paul (+10, 21 points, 13 assists) righfully got most of the love for breaking Oscar Robertson's record for consecutive points-assists double-doubles to start a season, but Tyson Chandler (+16) was tops in the +/- game, finishing with an efficient 13 pints and 10 rebounds... Dwyane Wade (-6, 30 points, 10 assists) is dominating, but Shawn Marion (-14, 10 points, eight rebounds) continues to disappoint. he's doing himself no favors for his upcoming free agency thus far... LeBron James (+12) scored 41 points again, while Anderson Varejao (+10, 13 points) did more damage off the bench. The energy of those two is really carrying Cleveland through its recent surge, which continued with a 106-97 road stomping of Chicago... With Kirk Hinrich out (torn ulnar collateral ligament) and Thabo Sefolosha benched, Ben Gordon (-3) made his first start of the season count, scoring 29 points. Unlike Marion, he is making the upcoming season easier on his agent. Tyrus Thomas (-20) was back in the starting lineup with Drew Gooden (ankle) not dressing and shot 3-for-10... Shaquille O'Neal (+14, 29 points, 11 rebounds) made a strong case for skipping out on back-to-backs. In what is sure to be a rarity, he out-scored Amare Stoudemire (+14, 24 points)... Joe Alexander (+5, 8 points in 24 minutes) got a lot of run in the 104-96 loss, with his increased minutes coming at the expense of Charlie Villanueva (-9, 0 points in 9:50)... LaMarcus Aldridge (+8, 24 points, 13 rebounds) is finding his stride for the Blazers and should be in the right mindset to take pressure off Greg Oden when he returns from his foot injury in what's expected to be another 7-to-10 days... Minnesota rookie Kevin Love (-6) didn't handle his first back-to-back as a starter very well, going 0-for-7 in the 97-93 loss to Portland.

Recapping memorable 13-game Friday

Busy Friday night in the NBA. Be sure to check out Pro Basketball News for columns on the difference between Chauncey Billups and Allen Iverson's debuts, Jerry Sloan picking up his 1,000th win in Utah and NBDL Draft fodder.

The waiting game continues in the Gerald Wallace trade saga, which includes the rumor being dispelled as NBA sewing circle talk. Expect a move to be made. The Charlotte Observer caught up with Wallace for his thoughts, to which he replied: "as long as I’m here I’m going to do whatever I can to help our team."
He backed up his words with strong defense in a typical honest effort in Friday's upset of New Orleans.

On a down note, the ankle monster crept up and claimed Atlanta's Josh Smith and San Antonio's Tony Parker, sidelining each for at least two weeks. The Spurs will suffer more since Manu Ginobili is already out, but don't dismiss how badly this figures to hurt the Hawks. Joe Johnson is playing well enough to humor in MVP talk, but Smith has been the glue guy, shoring up holes defensively and showing off his improved versatility on offense. Marvin Williams and Al Horford will have to step up their games to ease his void.
Roger Mason, Jr. will probably wind up with the bulk of Parker's opportunities, though rookie George Hill figures to get increased chances behind likely starter Jacque Vaughn.

Friday's +/- report: D.J. Augustin (+6, 11 points, four assists) proved familiarity puts him at ease. He's known Chris Paul (+2, 20 points, 10 assists, six steals) since his high school days and it showed in his comfort level going up against him... Chris Duhon (+13, 12 assists, one turnover, seven rebounds) made Mike D'Antoni very happy in D.C., running the point about as well as he can be expected to... JaVale McGee (-2) got nearly 30 minutes of action and notched his first career double-double (12 points, 10 rebounds... Proof Dwyane Wade is back: +24, 33 points, 10 rebounds, nine assists... Proof Tim Duncan can't do it alone: -19 despite 22 points and 11 rebounds. Michael Finley continued his fine play (-24, 0-for-8) against the Heat. The Spurs probably can't afford for him to continue his traditional slow start... Despite 12 assists, it was a tough night for Jose Calderon (-14, 2-for-10), who kept losing Mike Bibby (+19, 5-for-7 3-point shooting, 19 points)... Meanwhile, Al Horford was the picture of efficiency (+27 in just 16:35)... It was a a rough night for rookie Ramon Sessions (-16, 11 points, five turnovers) in Boston, while Paul Pierce (+13, 18 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists) continued to evolve as an all-around player. Now that he has a lot more help, we're learning he can do a lot more than score.... Tayshaun Prince (-20, 19 points, 11 rebounds) really didn't fare well playing the spread-four in Michael Curry's small lineup, but his presence sure did sit well with Josh Boone (+23, 18 points, 14 rebounds), who made it a point to follow everything... Anderson Varejao's (+18, 18 points, eight rebounds) energy changed the game for Cleveland in the second half, and made up for another poor outing by Ben Wallace (-18, 0 points, 0 rebounds in 19 minutes)... Joakim Noah (+20, 9 points, 14 rebounds) responded positively to see Aaron Gray promoted to starter ahead of him, while rookie Robin Lopez (-6, 14 points, 7 rebounds) did some nice things in place of Shaquille O'Neal. Nice night to be an athletic big man... Nice to see Andrei Kirilenko (+13, 16 points, 12 rebounds) play such a large role in Jerry Sloan's milestone night. He links the previous Jazz era to this one... Spencer Hawes (+15, 13 points, eight rebounds) showed no sign that Brad Miller's return from suspension bothered him, doing his damage off the bench... Can't say the same for Ryan Gomes (-13, 1-for-5), who gave up his starting spot to rookie Kevin Love (6-for-7, 20 points, eight rebounds)... Jason Kidd (+12, 22 points, 10 rebounds, nine assists) was brilliant in Denver, but that 0-for-1 from the free throw line really hurt. His make would've tied the game and potentially set up overtime... Nene (+4, 8-for-12) was the most impressive of the Nuggets, moving around more fluidly than he has since having his knee repaired... O.J. Mayo (+12, 20 points, nine rebounds) got 44 minutes in Memphis' win at Golden State and might be surpassing Rudy Gay (+5, 23 points, 8-for-20) as Marc Iavaroni's most trusted player... Rookie Anthony Randolph (+9, 8 points, 7 rebounds) made a favorable impression on coach Don Nelson in the loss.

Brand victimized by 76ers' struggles

ORLANDO, Fla. - There are a lot of nuances that make basketball a complicated game. Ideally, it should be simple. Find the open guy, get the easiest shot, put ball in hole. Repeat.
Orlando didn't bother with complications in its 98-88 victory over Philadelphia on Thursday night. Stan Van Gundy sent an extra body at Elton Brand almost every time he touched the ball and dared the other Sixers to beat him.
Again, simple. Take the best player away and make the others beat you. Defense 101.
Brand took just eight shots in nearly 35 minutes, trusting teammates and passing out as the defense dictated, but only wound up with one assist. Teammates Andre Iguodala, Thaddeus Young, Andre Miller, Lou Williams, Willie Green, Kareem Rush and Royal Ivey, the perimeter contingent, combined to shoot 27-for-78 (34.6 percent), including 5-for-17 from 3-point range.
"You have to make shots. If you're making shots off the double, then you deter the double a little bit more, but we didn't make enough shots to deter them," said Sixers coach Maurice Cheeks. "They doubled every time he touched the ball on the block. So, I thought the second half we did a much better job of passing the ball out of the double and getting some people open shots, but when you shoot 34-37 percent... you've got to make those shots."
After a disappointing pair of games in Florida, the Sixers return home to lick their wounds and won't play again until early next week. We'd suggest significant shooting practice between now and then as a little joke, except it probably wouldn't be funny to the Philadelphia faithful.
This is the Sixers' greatest fear materializing, one that was easily predictable. Cheeks' squad can run, pass, defend and rebound, but shooting isn't their strong suit.
Rush, brought in this offseason to help teams from keying in on Brand, saw a season-high 17:28 against the Magic, finishing with 7 points on 3-for-6 shooting. Cheeks may have to trade defense for someone who can spread the floor more often this season because teams are going to take one look at this Orlando tape and sell out on stopping Brand.
There's no point in getting cute with it.
Cheeks said that Brand hadn't seen as many doubles as he saw on Thursday night this season, but that's going to change unless his guys start knocking down shots. They may still be learning to play with him, but Brand is bound to grow frustrated if teammates don't do their part to keep him from getting handcuffed.

Thursday's +/- report: Jameer Nelson (+20) played his best game since the first round of the 2008 playoffs, finishing with 16 points, nine assists and only three turnovers. He did an especially nice job of running the team, helping keep the Sixers from entertaining serious thoughts of a comeback. Hedo Turkoglu (+20) did a nice job of bouncing back from a rough night against Chicago, playing lively ball for 36 minutes... Miller (-18, 7-for-24) continued his slow start, and he needs to start turning it around fast. He's in a contract year and deserves to get paid given his steady play since arriving in Philly in the original Allen Iverson deal... It's not every day you see three baskets in the final 1.9 seconds of a game. Although Brandon Roy eventually did play hero with a long 3-pointer at the buzzer, his original shot to put Portland up 98-96 with 1.9 was the one I'd want to put on a poster. After a night filled by being suffocated by Ron Artest, Roy left the forward considered the league's best man-to-man defender stumbling all over himself with an abrupt stop-and-start, using his own momentum against him. Artest caught his balance in time to helplessly raise his arms as Roy completed the follow-through in a floating would-be game-winner. His last shot following Yao Ming's go-ahead 3-point play topped it for dramatic purposes, but that initial jumper was as pretty a clutch basket as they come. Roy, despite 6-for-18 shooting, finished at +2 for the contest, battling through a five-turnover night.

Phoenix flurry helps it gain confidence

The Suns are halfway through this week's four-game swing through the Eastern Conference, headed to Chicago and Milwaukee after doing damage in New Jersey and Indiana, and I must say, I'm impressed.
As detailed in this week's Essentials, it didn't look like Phoenix had much of a swagger through the season's first week, and looked ripe for the picking with two road back-to-backs to deal with amid so much uncertainty.
When Steve Nash looks like he's struggling with the controls, you worry.
While beating the Nets and Pacers doesn't rank up there with solving world hunger or winning the presidency, the manner in which the Suns won should help them rest easier without the need of those Radisson sleep-number beds.
Phoenix followed up a dominant 114-86 victory over the Nets with a 113-103 stomping of the Pacers.
Shaquille O'Neal was expected to get the night off, so it wasn't an issue that he got in foul trouble early and was basically absent. Nash played only 33 minutes and the Suns still ran past an Indiana team built in the spirit of their old identity. Despite T.J. Ford, Danny Granger and Marquis Daniels running the floor, the younger Pacers got dusted.
Outside of a 10-2 early deficit, there was little to be concerned about. Once Phoenix got its feet set in the game, it coasted. Same thing happened against the Nets. These performances, away from home, albeit in sparsely attended arenas against below-average teams, aids team morale.
Grant Hill started and looked sharp despite having to play 35 minutes due to Matt Barnes' family emergency (birth of twins), possibly giving Porter something to think about down the road when his team needs another spark. Amare Stoudemire started out 10-for-10 and finished with 41 points (17-for-21), while Boris Diaw was active and eased the absence of Phoenix's missing bodies inside.
Considering Diaw could rarely get it going in Atlanta and flourished under D'Antoni, some league observers predicted he'd regress right back into passive mode without the ball in his hands as often, but he's come to play.
Two weekend wins against another pair of younger teams that like to get up and down would really set minds at ease, helping the Suns return home at 6-1 with home games against Memphis, Houston and Detroit on tap next week.

Wednesday's +/- report: Hill (+5, 11 points) looked about as fresh and mobile as he's had since returning to the court full-time a few seasons ago. He was credited with four blocks and seemed to be showing off how good he felt on the second night of a back-to-back. Pacers rookie Brandon Rush (-19, nine points) was among those abused by Hill's friskiness... Travis Diener (+3) scored a basket in eight minutes in his first action of the season...Tayshaun Prince (+10, 27 points, 10-for-13) showed off how versatile a scorer he can be when the Pistons need him to score. Allen Iverson, in attendance, no doubt took notice. He hasn't had many second options better than Prince, who runs fourth in Detroit... Jason Kapono (-6, 0-for-6) could've kept the Raptors unbeaten if he'd knocked down a couple timely shots he came up empty on... Mario Chalmers' (+18) nine-steal night helped set the tone on what was a difficult night for Philadelphia in South Florida. Fellow rookie Michael Beasley (+18, 17 points, nine rebounds) had another strong night, punctuated by better-than-average defense. He's been up and down in that facet of the game, but at least he's giving the effort... Thaddeus Young (-23) scored 19 points, but was charged with five turnovers on a forgettable night... Emeka Okafor (+14, 16 points, 15 rebounds) didn't let his Bobcats down. Nazr Mohammed did (-12 in 2:59), suffering a rougher return to New York than head coach Larry Brown... The Knicks survived a brutal night from Quentin Richardson (-17, 1-for-9, six turnovers) thanks to Nate Robinson (+14, 24 points, 9-for-12)... Derrick Rose's highlights looked pretty, but he really struggled after his strong start and ended up at -18 against the Cavs despite 20 points and seven assists...LeBron James (+22, 41 points, nine rebounds, six assists) had way too much fun with ex-teammate Drew Gooden (-20, 4-for-13). A lot of the clowning sure looked personal... Tough night for Antawn Jamison and Caron Butler (-20 each, 15-for-34 combined), who know the shorthanded drill by now. If they don't play well, the Wizards are going to lose. Took overtime in Milwaukee... Richard Jefferson (+19, 32 points, nine assists) made the case for himself to be the Bucks' offensive focal point even when Michael Redd (ankle) returns... Proof this +/- thing isn't an exact science: Finley, despite 1-for-9 shooting, registered a team-high +12. Tony Parker, 55 points and all, was just +7... Paul Pierce (+20, 20 points, nine boards, five assists) continued his marvelous run as the Celtics corralled OKC.

Ray downs Rockets in early showdown

Election night inserted CNN into the remote rotation on a light NBA night, but thanks to the magic of picture-in-picture, Barack Obama's nomination projection was mixed in with Boston's Eddie House knocking down a pair of free throws to put away the Rockets in an impressive performance.
Congratulations, President-elect Obama, clearly the night's big winner.
Somewhere among the runner-up pool of others who thrived on Tuesday night you'll find Celtics guard Ray Allen, whose 29 points made him top dog in one of the season's most attractive early matchups.
Allen's play entering this game had raised worries that he'd reverted back to the tentative, ineffective form that sabotaged him during the early part of the playoffs. In Houston, he snapped out of it, knocking down 11-of-15 field goals to help Boston avoid a two-game losing streak.
The guy who averaged over 20 points and nailed 52 percent of his 3-pointers in the Finals was back.
Doc Rivers recognized it, too, drawing up play after play for him to come off screens and catch-and-shoot. Because of Pierce's emergence into "the best player in the world" and the need to play through Garnett's versatility, Allen comes in as the decisive third option. By the second part of last season, it seemed that he'd grown too comfortable in that role, shedding his funk just in time to help bring home the series wins against the Pistons and Lakers.
It's important that Allen live up to his part in the "Big Three" equation, because the Celtics can't afford to lose his firepower if they're going to make good on a repeat bid. Nights like these, where he can take over a big game, are necessary to keep his confidence and aggressiveness where Boston needs it to be.
Tuesday's +/- report: Shaquille O'Neal shot 7-for-8, but Phoenix was only +3 when he was out on the court. Still, he used Nets rookie Brook Lopez, who looked awed by the Diesel, playing with a lot of nervous energy that contributed to four turnovers and four fouls. Twin brother Robin Lopez was much more effective, registering a +18 primarily by running the floor, taking up space and blocking or altering shots. Paul Pierce (+13) didn't have a great offensive night (5-for-15, 13 points), but he did a nice job of occupying Ron Artest (-1, 3-for-16), going right at him physically and refusing to be bullied. Artest got too caught up in shooting from the outside and was rendered ineffective for the first time as a Rocket. You would've gotten long odds on anybody other than those two getting into the testiest confrontation of the night, but Brent Barry and Leon Powe did manage to edge them when they got into it in the fourth quarter... Kendrick Perkins (+3, 15 points, seven rebounds, four blocks) deserves mention after the job he did against Yao Ming (-8), frustrating him into 4-for-14 shooting and a couple sloppy turnovers. Yao called it "one of my worst games of all time."... Rick Carlisle is doing a nice job getting Dirk Nowitzki (+19, 30 points, 13-for-24) open looks in different spots on the floor, keeping defenses from finding a comfort zone against him. Meanwhile, Jason Terry (+24) found himself wide open more often than San Antonio has ever let him roam loose, putting up a relatively easy 29 points on 13-for-21 shooting. The Spurs are currently overmatched, but should be encouraged that first-round pick George Hill (+2) might be able to give them an offensive boost. He scored 11 points in 15 minutes in his first action of the season, showing no signs of shyness. Under normal circumstances, an unheralded rookie like Hill wouldn't see daylight in Gregg Popovich's rotation, but right now, anyone who can help put the ball in the basket appears welcome. Pop even toyed with a Tony Parker/Hill backcourt with mixed results.

Hey, Hedo, look out!

ORLANDO, Fla. - Hedo Turkoglu got thrown under a fast-moving bus on Monday night, after which driver Stan Van Gundy waved and honked the horn.
"His conditioning is not great and when he gets a little tired he doesn't want to do anything except jack up a jumpshot," said the Magic head coach of the league's reigning Most Improved Player honoree after discussing the problems Turkoglu and Jameer Nelson had running fourth quarter pick-and-rolls as Orlando stressed to try and close out Chicago in a 96-93 win.
"We're just not playing the game well, we're not at all."
Turkoglu made some nice plays early to get the Magic going, filling the playmaking void so often missing with point guard Jameer Nelson so often in shoot-first mode. Things fell apart thereafter, presumably when Van Gundy felt Turkoglu got winded, to which the Turkish international replied that he's feeling "fine," with no difference from how he felt just a few months ago when he was continuing his breakthrough season with a strong playoff run.
Over the summer, he participated in the Eurobasket qualifying tournament and fared well, suffered a strained right groin late in the preseason and just hasn't been the same All-Star caliber player he grew into last year.
Through four games, he's shooting 20-for-56 (35.7 percent) and averaging 15.0 points. While Rashard Lewis has stepped his game up and Dwight Howard continues to be a beast inside, Turkoglu has yet to get it going.
It looks like Van Gundy decided to try a drastic approach to wake him with, blaring an airhorn in his face through the media.
Mind you, this is no mandate. No one is going to be too heavily critical of Turkoglu, including Van Gundy, this early in the season. That's irrational. Although Van Gundy tends to get grumpy when the milk goes sour, he's not sacrificing any cows just yet. What this "we may just have to try something else" thing is all about is inspiring a pair of players that have come out flat. Other than throwing more isolations Rashard Lewis' way, playing the pick-and-roll with Turkoglu and another guard is Orlando's best strategy, since they have to keep the ball away from Dwight Howard for fear of teams hacking him late.
We'll see how Turkoglu responds to Van Gundy's prodding when the Magic hosts Philadelphia on Thursday, but he no doubt knows the volume has been turned up. Last time Van Gundy got behind the wheel of his big bus, Howard was the victim, tossed under for not attacking the boards like he's capable of.
He responded with XX rebounds his next time out. Can't blame Van Gundy for going back to the well with Turkoglu. If it works, he's lauded as a genius.
If it doesn't? At least he's blown off some steam.
Monday's +/- report: Courtney Lee (-6, 1-for-6) got off the bench for 20 minutes after three DNP-CDs, replacing the slumping J.J. Redick in Van Gundy's rotation for the night. Although SVG admitted that the rookie struggled with his shot, he did like his defense and energy. Chances are good you'll see him again against the Sixers... Chicago's top pick Derrick Rose (-8, 14 points) showed off a speed that you rarely see: fast-forward. Whenever he accelerates, he looks like someone is speeding him up via remote. Memphis' Mike Conley is the only one I've seen who comes close to this freakish blur, who played just shy of 39 minutes but had just one assist... Amir Johnson (+21, 11 points, five offensive rebounds) made Joe Dumars look good in his assertion that his young forward could have a Ben Wallace-like impact with his energy. Wil Bynum (+11, 12 points, four assists), trying to force his way into the rotation but unlikely to do so barring injury, made the most of his opportunity prior to Allen Iverson's arrival by playing 22 minutes, scooting around and making plays... Raymond Felton (-25) makes another appearance in a negative light, registering just one assist and three turnovers in 22 minutes... Willie Green (+18, 16 points) had a near-perfect night, going 5-for-6 from the field and knocking down all five of his free throws. The Sixers shot 59 percent in their 125-91 win over Sacramento and were hovering around the 70 percent mark... Kevin Martin (-27, 14 points) isn't responding well to not having Ron Artest to play off of. He looks completely out of sync and needs to realize there's no excuse for finishing with no rebounds and one assist in nearly 33 minutes. Martin must be more active...Al Harrington (-19, 3-for-15) ran into a wall in Memphis, perhaps aiding his cause in getting out of Golden State... Marc Gasol registered just a +2 despite his 27 points, 16 rebounds and three blocks against the Warriors. His six turnovers weighed him down...Ben Wallace (-3, 0 points) was the only Cavalier starter not to register a positive, but he did set the tone for Cleveland owning Dallas on the glass, coming up with eight offensive rebounds in just 21 minutes... Tough night for Jason Terry (-23, 1-for-8)... Andrei Kirilenko (+24) and Paul Millsap (+24) were the night's most effective players, combining for 39 points, 20 rebounds and six steals off the deadly Utah bench in an 89-73 rout of the Clippers... It wasn't all bad for L.A.'s other basketball meat, as even though Baron Davis (-14, 5-for-15, nine assists) and Marcus Camby (-15, five points, nine rebounds) struggled, at least the pair was back on the floor, even working out the kinks in garbage time. It won't be long before Mike Dunleavy get the worst coaching start of his career (0-4) turned around.

Thunder notch landmark win

Let the record show that the Oklahoma City Thunder claimed its first win with defense.
They dug in and held Minnesota to 12 fourth-quarter points, playing with an urgency that serves as a blueprint for their mission statement from here on out. P.J. Carlesimo was brought in to get his young players to buy in to winning thanks to sacrifice -- the San Antonio way.
The former Spurs assistant had some rocky nights with the Sonics last season, including surrendering 168 points at Denver as recently as March 16, but he looks to have found a young group that is willing to commit defensively above all else.
Rookie Russell Westbrook is definitely the catalyst, selected fourth by GM Sam Presti in part because of his potential as a stopper, but he's not alone in taking credit for an early-season turnaround that has the Thunder surrendering just 90 points per game through their first three. Kevin Durant is making better use of his frame. Jeff Green looks more polished. Desmond Mason has fit in well.
Most important, the Thunder are leaving everything that goes wrong on the offensive end right where it belongs, immediately concentrating on defense. That type of focus from such a young crew has to have management enthused.
Durant, Westbrook, Green, Mason and Earl Watson combined to shoot 38 percent (24-for-63), but never carried their struggles over to the defensive end. That allowed them to survive and get an 88-85 win, but more than that, set an example for what it's going to take to grow into a winner.
Sunday's +/- report: Andrew Bogut (+20, 13 points, 11 rebounds) was the most effective player on a light night, keeping the Knicks from getting control of the pace by consistently establishing himself inside on both ends... Bucks rookie Joe Alexander (-10, 0-for-2) didn't have the most convincing NBA debut... New York's starting backcourt, Chris Duhon (-19, 2-for-6) and Jamal Crawford (-14, 0-for-6), gave them no chance... Tough night at the office for Minnesota rookie Kevin Love (-9), who had just four points and four rebounds in 17 minutes... Joe Smith and Chris Wilcox (+12 each) deserve props for their role in Oklahoma City's breakthrough, playing tough down low and grabbing four of the Thunder's 19 offensive boards.

Pistons pick up unexpected boost

Wal-ter Herr-mann!
Wal-ter Herr-mann!
Can't say I ever expected to hear that chant outside of a FIBA contest involving Argentina, but it rained down from the Palace stands during the fourth quarter of Saturday night's 117-109 win over the Wizards, lauding clutch play after clutch play.
Herrmann never left the game after entering with 2:39 remaining in the third quarter and took over, keeping balls alive, finding open teammates and scoring 13 of his 16 points in the deciding stretch, including a long-range dagger that made it 112-102 with 1:20 remaining.
The Pistons liked his energy enough to bring him in alongside Primoz Brezec in what a cost-cutting move that sent Nazr Mohammed to Charlotte last December. Although he had his moments, Herrmann didn't exactly guarantee himself a place in the team's long-term plans in his 28 games with the team after arriving in town. He did, however, do enough to earn another one-year deal in the offseason because Detroit was intrigued on his potential as an energy player and thought his physical style fit would help keep things tough on opposing wings while Tayshaun Prince got rest.
On Saturday night, he far exceeded anyone's expectations.
Detroit is a popular pick to get back to the NBA Finals after consistently falling short the past few seasons. Many ex-players turned analysts believe that the Pistons will realize they're playing with a shrinking window of opportunity and finally respond under Michael Curry. My personal belief is that Detroit still has the most effective mismatches in the Eastern Conference and will benefit from the development of emerging star Rodney Stuckey.
If the performance against the Wizards is any indication, another reason to believe in Detroit is their improved bench. Detroit held off any hopes of a Washington comeback with a unit featuring reserves Herrmann, Stuckey, Jason Maxiell and Antonio McDyess.
Michael Curry's bench has been his most effective weapon thus far, with the move of starting Amir Johnson to maximize his energy and keep McDyess fresh yielding immediate results. Arron Afflalo and Kwame Brown have also had a positive impact, coming in and leaning on people when called upon.
Things couldn't be going any smoother for the Pistons thus far. Joe Dumars loves the fact that his young guys are busting it and doing heavy lifting. He's satisfied that his veterans are rounding into shape and getting back to the grind.
And he's no doubt thrilled with what Herrmann has the potential to be if he can keep playing this. Countryman Andres Nocioni has made a living being an agitator for division rival Chicago with his hustle. Herrmann could easily fit that bill.
Between Stuckey's ability to get to the rim, Maxiell's explosiveness around the basket and McDyess' steady presence, Detroit has a healthy aresenal of game-changing reserves.
One more to fill out Curry's rotation certainly wouldn't hurt.
Saturday's +/- report: No surprise that there's a correlation between Andre Miller (-14, 5-for-18) playing poorly and the Sixers blowing a 23-point lead in Atlanta. Andre Iguodala (-3, six turnovers) also looks rusty. Philadelphia will get it together soon enough... Joe Johnson scored a night-high 35 points, but the +/- leader for the Hawks was floor general Mike Bibby (+16, 19 points), who looked extremely poised during the comeback. He's not forcing anything and giving Atlanta the stabilizer it has long been missing at the point... Watched a lot of Heat/Bobcats, and one of the things that struck me most is how dominant Jason Richardson (+15, 23 points) and Gerald Wallace (+15, 34 points) looked against Dwyane Wade (-2) and Michael Beasley (-6). Beasley had his fun on the offensive end (25 points), but was abused on the defensive end, consistently finding himself out of position. Looks like he's a rollercoaster ride on that end of the floor thus far... Word out of Charlotte is that Larry Brown wants Sean May in shape before he's back in the mix. Dieting through the holidays is never easy... Rajon Rondo dropped a clunker (-22, 2 points). One gets the sense that when he doesn't bring energy, the Celtics, relying on his young legs to get them going, will fall flat. With Mike Dunleavy sidelined by knee issues, Marquis Daniels (+21, 13 points, 10 rebounds, four assists), building nicely of his excellent preseason, stepped in and helped the Pacers get things accomplished... Dwight Howard (+18, 29 points, 14 rebounds, five blocks) played like an MVP against Sacramento, showing off a killer instinct the Magic love to see. He devoured the Kings' young bigs, particularly Spencer Hawes (-20)... Surprisingly, running up and down the floor against the Warriors didn't suit Yi Jianlian (-9, 0-for-4 in 17 minutes) or Devin Harris (3-for-12)... Jason Kidd (+11) messed around and flirted with a triple-double (9, 9 and 7) for the first time under new coach Rick Carlisle, with one stat looming as encouraging: 11 field goal attempts. If teams are going to leave him open he's got to be a factor... Mo Williams is struggling (-19, 5-for-15) -- hopefully there's no LeBron's No. 2 jinx... Chris Paul out LeBron'ed LeBron (+21, 24 points, 15 assist) picking up where he left off last season. The one turnover is a nice touch... Derrick Rose (+8, 26 points) and O.J. Mayo (-10, 16 points, five turnovers) had quite the duel, but to me, Drew Gooden (+11) grabbing 20 rebounds was the story of the Bulls' bouncing of Memphis. He owned the Grizzlies big men... Russell Westbrook (-17, 2-for-7) had a rough night, while Houston continued to get an excellent boost from diminutive point guard Aaron Brooks (+9), one of the young season's more unheralded surprises... Charlie Villanueva's (-19, 16 points) rollercoaster ride continued for Milwaukee, as Scott Skiles continues to search for the right pieces at his latest stop. With Luke Ridnour sidelined with a bad back, Ramon Sessions (-9, 12 points, nine assists) stepped in and played nearly 37 minutes. The second-year guard from Nevada had some fine moments, deftly hitting teammates in closed spaces, but also surrendered the game-winning 3-pointer from Jose Calderon when he closed poorly and didn't contest the shot... Incidentally, those new Milwaukee uniforms should do nicely at the NBA store, but the combination of the vibrant red and the font on the front of the jerseys give them a college-look feel. Not that there's anything wrong with that. At least they're no longer purple... Kobe Bryant (+13, 33 points on 24 field goal attempts) played his least effective game of the season but still dominated. It's nuts how high a level he's playing at this early in the season... Allen Iverson (+2, 13 points) sure looks unmotivated. Carmelo Anthony (-8, 5-for-15) is back, but time looks to be running short for the combination of two of the league's top scorers. A.I. will be joining a contender sooner than later... Deron Williams is aiming to be back Wednesday from his ankle injury, but Utah has survived his absence as well as expected, even setting a franchise record with just four turnovers against the Clippers. Brevin Knight (+22, six assists) was an excellent offseason signing... Andrei Kirilenko (11 points, nine rebounds, four assists, three blocks) is enjoying his time as sixth man while Matt Harpring mends. AK might even stay in the role if he keeps performing like he has been. His +28 was the highest number of a 14-game night... Amare Stoudemire (+22, 23 points, 13 rebounds) actually played some ball without his goggles on against the Blazers, having to give them up when they snapped on him in the second half. All of the Suns starters looked like they were seeing 20/20, shooting 61 percent from the field (33-for-54)... Brandon Roy (-23, 7-for-18) had the roughest time of the night in the +/- game despite his team-high 20 points.

Beasley gets first shine on

Michael Beasley is capable of playing defense.
Saw it with my own two eyes, and although the contacts have been in for a bit and might be drying up, the Bausch & Lomb I dropped in earlier this morning ensures I wasn't envisioning things.
While Shawn Marion was stifling and fellow rookie Mario Chalmers did a nice job at being pesky, Beasley aided the cause throughout Miami's 103-77 home victory over Sacramento. Every time some one stepped into his realm, he showed, expanded and tried to make a play. Was he on time every time? No.
Did he get beat? Sure. Did he give an honest effort on the defensive end of the floor? Erik Spoelstra can truthfully be satisfied with that answer.
Although Shawn Marion was by far the most disruptive of Miami's players, Beasley applied pressure when needed and consistently aided the cause.
Want to be melodramatic about it? Best. Game. Ever.
Two. Games. In.
Realistically, Beasley proved he can be a presence thanks to the wingspan that promises to help him get away with not being 6-foot-10 like Kansas State claimed. He's right around 6-foot-8, the size of most NBA small forwards. He's part of a frontcourt where the 6-foot-8ish Udonis Haslem is starting at center and the 6-foot-6ish Marion will be out on the wing -- these are their real heights we're talking about -- so it goes without saying he'll be asked to guard bigger forwards. On Friday night, he proved he could, checking Mikki Moore, John Salmons and fellow rookie Jason Thompson with success. Sacramento obviously doesn't have the firepower many other teams do, but what Beasley did in his first win as a pro is a something to build on.
Truth be told, he played like a novice in the opener against New York, looking to get by with his vast talent. He tried to take a short cut when deciphering what it takes to succeed in this league. Against the Kings, the 19-year-old put in work.
What more do you expect? Beasley had 17 points and nine rebounds without forcing the action like most rookies in his situation would.
On a night where Marion was the presence Miami expected him to be and Wade did his thing in a meaningful game at the AAA, it's Beasley's metamorphosis from Game 1 to Game 2 that stands out.
Magical start eludes Orlando
If you followed the Weekly Essentials over on CBS the last few years, you know that whoever winds up bestowed the "Team of the Week" can typically count on cakewalks through the week.
Orlando was the inagural PBN-tabbed "Team of the Week" and looked dreadful in losses to Atlanta and Memphis. On opening night, Howard was adament about how Magic fans shouldn't dump their seats on the bandwagon. Even after an unexpected Rudy Gay buzzer-beater, he no doubt still feels that way.
That being said, the Magic are 0-2 when based on what we saw from them last year, they should be 2-0. Howard is working hard, averaging 14.5 rebounds and four blocks through those first two losses, but can't seem to get the ball in a comfortable position to score. Against the Grizzlies, he got off just nine shots.
Stan Van Gundy is taking responsibility for it, but Jameer Nelson and Anthony Johnson, as point guards, have to own the blame. To be perfectly accurate, Nelson has to feel most responsible being the starter and the incumbent. The Magic have now gone through eight quarters spent lost offensively, playing its best basketball when the newly acquired backup is on the floor.
Meanwhile, Howard also takes ownership of the responsibility, no doubt beating himself up on the flight home from Memphis since he had five fouls and five turnovers. On Wednesday, he took blame for a game he had no business being ashamed in, stating the following:
"I expect to go out there and give my teammates 100 percent. That's the only thing I can expect. Tonight, I don't think I gave my teammates everything that I had from the first quarter to the fourth quarter, so we just got to get better at that. I learned a lot from the Olympics and I think the biggest thing that I learned is that in order to lead a team, sometimes you got to be able to take blows like this, come back the next game and show your teammates and show everybody that it won't happen again."
Orlando had no business losing to Memphis. Howard did give his teammates 100 percent. The Magic still fell short against an inferior team. Against Sacramento on Saturday night, Orlando's guards have to do their best to keep the franchise player happy.
Fact of the matter is, while Howard and Van Gundy are taking blame for the shortcomings of their point guards, specifically Nelson, the fact of the matter is that this unexpected 0-2 start is on him.
Friday's +/- report: Memphis rookie Darrell Arthur earned his first start and grabbed 10 rebounds, but finished -10 due to an 0-for-6 effort from the field. Darko Milicic (+7, seven points, five rebounds in 13 minutes) responded well to being benched... Nelson (-5) shot 1-for-6 from 3-point range in the Magic loss... Elton Brand's 24 points and 14 rebounds are going to get the bulk of the credit for Philly's 116-87 rout of the Knicks, but it was actually Andre Iguodala (+26) that led the Sixers in on-court effectiveness. He shot just seven times, but had six boards and seven assists, playing the brand of ball he's best at. When he doesn't feel like he's got to carry a team, he's at his best. Watch and see... Zach Randolph (-28, 5-for-19) again failed to endear himself to Mike D'Antoni... Anthony 'Peep' Roberson got 7:37 worth of run, which is of course, 7:37 more than Stephon Marbury has seen thus far. Roberson (-2) joined Wilson Chandler as the most effective Knicks on a night where nothing worked... Jermaine O'Neal shot just 2-for-10 and was the only Raptors starter to get out-scored while on the floor (-8), but he had a pair of blocks on two of the most athletic big men in the league (Andris Biedrins and Brandan Wright) that would indicate that he's finally healthy... Backup Andrea Bargnani led the Raptors (+11, 8-for-10, 19 points) looked as impressive as he has since entering the league... Ronny Turiaf was the only one of the Warriors to register a positive impact on the court (+9, five boards, five blocks), becoming a Don Nelson favorite. He played 33 minutes... Dwyane Wade and Haslem share top honors for the night (+34), but Beasley's aforementioned effort and what Daequan Cook got done (+24, 13 points, six rebounds), loomed as most important for Miami. Cook is apparently becoming Erik Spoelstra's trusted sixth man...Sacramento's Spencer Hawes (-32) was victimized, but he looks like an asset, patrolling the paint with a sense that he belongs there. It won't be long before he's one of the Kings' top contributors... Without doubt, Luol Deng (-26, 2-for-10) is Chicago's best player. He's just not performing up to his potential. Unlike Ben Gordon (-16), he got his money -- time to start earning it... Brian Scalabrine might have gotten the loudest cheers for Boston in their rout of the Bulls, but he was a -13 off the floor, which will hopefully remind Celtics fans that he's best suited for mop-up duty... The Nuggets were thrilled to gain a split without Carmelo Anthony, especially since they trailed the Clippers by 18 at the break, but what should make them happiest is how Nene performed. In what was probably his best game since being sidelined by a cancer scare, the Brazilian big man (+30, 10-for-15, 22 points, 11 rebounds) looked like he was worth every penny of the $60 million deal he signed way back when... Jason Hart was the least clutch bench performer of the evening, going 1-for-5 (-25), in helping cost L.A. its first win. Baron Davis, who he tried to help replace, was +9 in his 13 minutes before succumbing to a hip injury... Although San Antonio dropped to 0-2, one encouraging performance was dropped by Roger Mason, who shot 6-for-7 from the field (-2) and at least looked capable of filling some of the void left by the absence of Manu Ginobili. He was confident down the stretch, looking well beyond where most thought he'd be at his stage of his Spurs career...LaMarcus Aldridge (+6, 23 points) was terrific, but it's disconcerting that it took Greg Oden to be gone for him to show up. He'll have to learn to assert himself when the Blazers' franchise center returns. The difference between Friday night's win and Tuesday's first effort was glaring, which has to be a concern given how much is hinging on he and Oden co-existing effectively.