Love this photo of Dale Ellis shooting the runner...his shooting form is still perfect even fading back off of one foot...

Great game for Toronto's Denham Brown last night as UConn beat Arkansas 77-68 in the Maui classic, as big D went for 21 points on 7-16 from the floor with 4 rebounds including 3 offensive…however, the Huskies had 22 turnovers which may be tough in the next game against and Arizona team that can really bring pressure…just ask Kansas who scored only 4 points in the first 8 minutes and could barely get the ball up the floor in the eventual 61-49 loss to Arizona…and yes I stayed up to around 1:45 am to watch and yes I’m regretting it as I gulp coffee in my office at 7:30 am this morning…

Trade Rumour: Pistons send C Darko Milicic and PF Rasheed Wallace to Minnesota for PF Kevin Garnett…or Pacers send PF Jermaine O’Neal and PG Jamaal Tinsley to Minny for PF Garnett…

Roll your eyes alert…during the Warriors 100-97 win over the Nets last night Wince Carter suffered a strained muscle in the middle of his back 4:43 before halftime when he stretched his arm out to catch a pass. Carter returned briefly in the second half before leaving for good with 10:20 remaining in the third and heading to the locker room. "I couldn't run down the court," Carter said. "Just wait, just let it heal and go from there." Strained his back reaching for a pass? Nets doctors have recommended a week of strained carrots and close snuggling to his mother’s bosom…

Hmmm…this is curious, not quite strange but very curious…former Purdue basketball coach Gene Keady is considering coming out of retirement after being offered a position with the Toronto Raptors. Keady, who went 512-270 in 25 seasons with the Boilermakers, retired after last season and was fully satisfied with golfing and spending time with his wife. But Wayne Embry, the Raptors' assistant to the president, called Keady to offer him a job as a consultant or bench coach for the NBA franchise. "When he calls, you listen," said Keady. "When he's affiliated with something, you know it's going to be done right." He spent Friday, Saturday and Sunday with the team and watched the Raptors beat the Miami Heat 107-94 on Sunday. "I like what I saw when I was up there," he said. "I like the players, the organization and the coaches. What's not to like?" Toronto is the only team pursuing Keady. "It's a good situation for someone to go in and help," he said. "It's nice to feel needed." Translation: retirement was fun, but Toronto is waving a lot of cash in front of me…

Allen Iverson scored 24 points in the first half of last night’s 103-91 win over the Hornets…and then did not score in the second half. However, Iverson had nine assists, raising his season total to exactly 100. He has never before reached 100 assists in his first 12 games of an NBA season. In the last 15 years, the only other 76ers player with 100 assists in his first 12 games was Dana Barros in 1994-95.

The Nanny Stopper is at it again…The Trail Blazers have placed forward Ruben Patterson on the inactive list, after he cursed at coach Nate McMillan during during the team's huddle between the third and fourth quarters in Sunday's loss to the New York Knicks over his lack of playing time. Patterson will remain in Portland while the rest of the team is on a six-game road trip. In a statement released Monday, GM John Nash said: "We will not tolerate this type of behavior from any player, we will continue to demand a higher level of professionalism and personal responsibility from all of our players or we will continue to take appropriate action. Character and talent are the things we're looking for in a player, it's important that the players understand they have to respect the game. They have to respect the league. And they have to respect the fans. You must be a professional at all times." Patterson, has had some hideous off-court incidents: In 2001, Patterson pleaded guilty in Washington state to an attempted rape charge for forcing his children's 24-year-old nanny to perform oral sex. Patterson had to register as a sex offender in Oregon and was suspended for the first five games of the following season by the NBA. In February 2001, he was convicted of misdemeanor assault for attacking and beating a man who scratched his car outside a Cleveland night club. In November 2002, he was arrested on felony domestic abuse charges. His wife, Shannon Patterson, later dropped the charges, but the couple divorced.

1) Greg Anthony of ESPN.com with his surprises and disappointments early on in this season:

Five orders of flounder

The season is young yet, but some trends are already pretty clear. So let's recognize five teams that are the biggest surprises, and the five that have not yet lived up to their advance billing.

FIVE BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENTS

Houston Rockets: The moves they made don't seem to have panned out. Still waiting for Yao Ming to go to the next level. With Tracy McGrady not at 100 percent, they're struggling to find offense. And they're not the same defensively. Who'd have thought they'd be 3-7 after 10 games?

Sacramento Kings: A team that obviously has questions about its personnel and its style. Now with Mike Bibby and Peja Stojakovic being both their best players and their leaders, I'm not sure if they're suited for their roles. This used to be a great passing team. And they're still poor on the defensive end. They still need to establish an identity.

New Jersey Nets: In terms of their one through three of Jason Kidd, Richard Jefferson and Vince Carter, they're as good if not better than anyone else. But I'd like to see those three play better together. And the frontline is lacking. That's what's going to keep them from competing with the elite in the East.

Orlando Magic: They don't have a horrible record, but they're 1-4 at home. Steve Francis is up and down. Dwight Howard needs to become more consistent. They've got to figure out what they're going to do with their shooting guard.

Miami Heat: A team with tremendously high expectations, but the loss of Shaq has it reeling. I've been impressed with Alonzo Mourning, but the reality is this is a team built around Shaq and Dwyane Wade. They're really just not clicking now.

FIVE BIGGEST SURPRISES

Los Angeles Clippers: They continue to play great basketball, and they're more than just Sam Cassell and Cuttino Mobley. Elton Brand has taken his game to a new level, playing with great passion. They have the luxury of bringing Corey Maggette off the bench. But can Cassell and Mobley do it for whole season? Sam's not getting any younger.

Milwaukee Bucks: Another team that started pretty fast. I like the chemistry of this team, but I would like to see it get a little better defensively. T.J. Ford and Maurice Williams are a solid 1-2 at the point. Bobby Simmons is probably their best all-around player. Can his defensive personality have an effect on the team as a whole? If so, they have a good chance to make the playoffs.

Golden State Warriors: Another team with a tremendous perimeter game with Troy Murphy, Mike Dunleavy and Baron Davis. The question is, can they establish an interior presence offensively and defensively? That's going to be huge with them moving forward.

Memphis Grizzlies: Pau Gasol continues to get better. You could argue that they're better this year at the point with Damon Stoudamire and Bobby Jackson. Those are two guys who have been around winning situations a long time. They're a team that gets very comfortable playing winning basketball.

New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets: I think Byron Scott is coach of the year. I'm a big, big fan of Chris Paul. I've really been impressed with his patience and quick learning. I don't know if they're good enough to continue to play at this level. But it's fun to watch.

2) Marty Burns of Si.com reports that the Raptors, despite the recent 1st win, are coming apart:

The bitter truth - Dismal start leaves Raptors, fans with sour outlooks

If the U.S. gets hit with a sudden cold front this week, it might be due to our neighbors up in the Great White North. The collective sigh of relief in Toronto was that big on Sunday after the Raptors beat the Heat for their first win of the 2005-06 season. Toronto (1-9) no longer has to worry about setting the NBA record for most losses to start a campaign (the 1998-99 Clippers and '88-89 Heat each started 0-17). That leaves the Atlanta Hawks (0-9) all alone on the NBA's Please-God-Let-Us-Win-One-Now-Tour. But Sunday's victory won't change the overall landscape in Toronto. GM Rob Babcock appears to be on the hot seat, as does his hand-picked coach, Sam Mitchell. Raptors top brass denies there's any truth to the speculation, but few around the league seem to believe it. The Raptors are a mess and show few signs that they can turn things around any day soon. As a result, Mitchell is breaking clipboards. Jalen Rose is on the bench for key stretches. Even mild-mannered Chris Bosh is calling out teammates. Meanwhile, fans are growing restless. At last Wednesday's game against the Sixers, two spectators were ejected from Air Canada Centre for carrying a sign with Babcock's face on it underneath a pair of devil's horns. The sign read "Raptor Killer" on one side and "Fire Babcock" on the other. The incident touched off a mini-controversy in Toronto, with many fans wondering where the line is between fair comment and objectionable language. The sign did not appear to be a clear violation of the NBA's fan code of conduct, which bars "any obscene or indecent messages on signs or clothing." However, the Raptors do have a disclaimer on the back of each ticket that prohibits "conduct deemed objectionable." In other words, they can boot just about anybody they want. As many Raptors fans pointed out, the team should be glad it still has fans that care that much. At any rate, Babcock apparently had nothing to do with the ejection. Though he was seated nearby during the game, he claims he didn't tell security to remove them. "I try not to pay attention to guys like [that]," he told the Toronto Star. "I was aware they were there, but it's something I don't pay attention to. It's their opinion. They want to rattle me, but it's just better to just let those things go. They have their right to their opinion. They have the right to make signs. But I don't have to acknowledge that." Maybe Sunday's victory over the Shaq-less Heat will ease the tension in Toronto. Maybe former Purdue coach Gene Keady, currently interviewing for a spot on Mitchell's staff as an assistant, will provide a comb-over of their mostly bald defense. Maybe fans will get in the holiday spirit and allow Babcock to get on with rebuilding the Raptors in peace. After all, rookies Charlie Villanueva, Joey Graham and Jose Calderon each has had his positive moments. Or maybe Toronto will keep losing, and these early public demonstrations from angry fans will be a sign of things to come.

Who's Up - Marcus Camby, Nuggets - Nobody is calling him "Cotton" these days. The 6-foot-11 veteran center has been more like steel wool this season, ranking first in the NBA in rebounding (14.3) and second in blocks (3.4). He's also posting career-highs in scoring (16.4 points) and field-goal accuracy (56.2 percent). Camby had 21 points, 21 rebounds and four blocks Sunday in a victory over the Grizzlies, and 18 points, 22 rebounds and seven blocks last week in a win over the T'wolves. Perhaps most amazing, he has stayed healthy and on the court for each of Denver's first 11 games.

Who's Down - Kwame Brown, Lakers - It just keeps getting worse for the former No. 1 overall pick. Brown, who has been a non-factor all season, suffered a strained right hamstring in Friday's loss to the Clippers and will be sidelined for up to two weeks. The Lakers were counting on the 6-11 power forward, acquired in a trade with the Wizards last summer, to provide a consistent low-post presence. But Brown is averaging just 5.9 points (on 40.7 percent shooting) and 2.44 turnovers over his first nine games, while struggling to get comfortable in the triangle offense. Maybe the break will do him some good.

Rumor Mill - Is Kiki Vandeweghe on the go? Nuggets GM Kiki Vandeweghe is in the final year of his contract, and Nuggets owner Stan Kroenke has given no indication he plans to do anything about it before the end of the season. If Vandeweghe becomes a free agent, he could end up in Portland or Toronto next season. It's all speculation right now, of course, since neither of those teams has an opening. But Blazers GM John Nash is also in the final year of his deal, while Babcock is rumored to be on the hot seat in Toronto. The New York Daily News reported Sunday that Atlanta also might be interested in Vandeweghe, but it seems unlikely since Hawks GM Billy Knight just got a four-year contract extension two summers ago.

Three Seconds – 1) The Jazz seem to be getting some kind of cosmic payback for the Carlos Boozer signing a year ago. Since then it seems the injuries have not stopped. Boozer (hamstring) and Andrei Kirilenko (ankle) once again find themselves out of the lineup, as they were much of last year. Boozer recently had a relapse of his hamstring injury and will be out well past Christmas, meaning he will miss Utah's lone visit to Cleveland on Dec. 20. A foot injury prevented him from making the trip to his former city a year ago. Meanwhile, the timing of the Jazz injury bug couldn't be worse. With nine of their next 11 games at the Delta Center, the Jazz had a prime chance to make a move in the West. 2) It's been said before, but it's worth repeating: Tayshaun Prince has to be mentioned with Bruce Bowen and Ron Artest when it comes to any discussion of the league's premier stoppers. After Paul Pierce said he didn't consider Prince that great of a defender, the lanky Pistons forward went out and held Pierce scoreless for the first 19 minutes of Detroit's blowout victory last Tuesday. Three days later Prince helped hold McGrady to six points on 3-of-16 shooting in Detroit's triumph at Houston. Even if T-Mac was hampered by a sore back, it was an impressive week for Prince. 3) Stephon Marbury shook off his concerns about his role in Larry Brown's offense (and that criticism from Walt Frazier) and broke out with 27 points and eight assists in New York's victory over Portland. He even got a standing O from Garden fans. But if anybody thinks this is the last we've heard of the Marbury-Brown relationship, there's a certain bridge for sale in Brooklyn. Hint: it's the same bridge Brown is going to want to walk across on his way out of town the next time Starbury chucks one up early in the shot clock. The Brown-Marbury pairing can work (see Allen Iverson, Chauncey Billups), but it's going to take a lot of time and patience on both sides.

Around the Rim - Gotta hand it to the Mavs for that 37-point smack-down of the Pistons on Saturday. But it's worth noting that Detroit was playing the second of a back-to-back after having defeated Houston the night before. Still, Dallas now owns lopsided victories over the Spurs and Pistons, the two teams that made the Finals a year ago. ... Speaking of the Spurs, coach Gregg Popovich isn't banning the use of the term "defending champions" in team marketing strategies this time around. "That team had a lot of new players," he told SI.com earlier this season. "This team is pretty much the same one that won the title." ... Celtics boss Danny Ainge says Iverson is currently "the best player in the Eastern Conference." Gee, I wonder if LeBron James will see that before Tuesday's visit from the Celtics, or if Dwyane Wade and Shaq will remember it when the Heat faces Boston on Feb. 6. ... The D League tipped off its 2005-06 season on Friday. Among the NBA players assigned thus far are Dijon Thompson (Suns), Ersan Ilyasova (Bucks), Sean Banks (Hornets), Peter John Ramos (Wizards), Pape Sow (Raptors) and Dwayne Jones and Bracey Wright (T'wolves). .... From the Dept. of Corrections: Raptors forward Jalen Rose has two years left on his contract (not one, as I mistakenly wrote in the Rumor Mill section last week). It doesn't change my view that a trade for Marbury would be odd for both sides.

2) Chris Sheridan of ESPN.com thinks KG may go to the Pistons or Knicks:

Pistons, Knicks shopping for KG?

Get ready for the Kevin Garnett trade rumors, the first of which was quickly shot down Sunday by Kevin McHale and Joe Dumars -- even as others maintained it was legit. Both team executives denied there was any truth to talk that made its way around the league over the weekend that the Detroit Pistons were willing to ship a package including Rasheed Wallace and Darko Milicic to Minnesota for Garnett. The future of the 29-year-old, eight-time All-Star came into question after Garnett's much-discussed interview Thursday night on TNT. Garnett criticized McHale for his handling of the Timberwolves during the troubled 2004-05 season in which Flip Saunders was fired and McHale took over as head coach. Dumars insisted he had not been in contact with the Wolves regarding Garnett, and McHale also dismissed the rumor, which came as executives from others teams were trying to gauge whether the Timberwolves would seriously consider dealing the franchise player who has been with Minnesota throughout his entire 10-year NBA career. Team owner Glen Taylor told reporters in Minnesota that Garnett has "never, ever" sought a trade. "We're not trading Garnett," McHale said Sunday night. The prevailing opinion around the league is that Minnesota, barring a sustained nosedive prior to the All-Star break, would not consider trading Garnett before next summer. With a record of 5-4 following their victory over Charlotte on Saturday night, the Wolves are in first place in the Northwest Division. Garnett is under contract for $18 million this season, then will make $21 million, $22 million and $23 million over the next three years. With Wally Szczerbiak under contract for an equal number of years ($10 million this season, $11 million, $12 million and $13 million the next three), the Timberwolves would have very little salary cap flexibility for the next half-decade unless they jettisoned their two highest-paid players. Minnesota already has a forward (Mark Madsen) and three guards (Marko Jaric, Troy Hudson and Trenton Hassell) signed at least through the 2009-10 season. One source told ESPN.com that the New York Knicks had made Minnesota an offer that included the expiring contracts of Penny Hardaway ($15.7 million) and Antonio Davis ($13.9 million). But for such a trade to work under salary cap rules, the Knicks would also have to take back Sczcerbiak. While that deal would be stunningly lopsided talent-wise, it would relieve the Wolves of $102 million in salary obligations over the next three seasons, allowing them to enter the 2006 offseason with approximately $25 million of cap space. One source close to several NBA players insisted that the viability of the Knicks' offer should not be dismissed, going so far as to say Garnett was making a private push through back channels to be dealt to New York and reunite with former teammate Stephon Marbury. "I'd bet money he'll be wearing a Knicks uniform by the end of February," the source said. Another source insisted Detroit's offer of Wallace and Milicic was real, adding that the offer was made through another Pistons official so that Dumars could maintain deniability in case the players came to him for an explanation. The Nets have also been mentioned as a possible trade partner in a Garnett deal, but it is believed the Wolves would consider a deal with New Jersey only if they could get back Richard Jefferson, whose status as a base-year compensation player under salary cap rules makes him exceedingly difficult to deal. The best offer the Nets could make this season would include Vince Carter, another player (Nenad Krstic?, Mile Ilic?) and a pair of No. 1 picks (their own and the Clippers'). Trade activity typically subsides during the first month of the NBA season, and this year has been no different. Only five trades have taken place since training camps opened, and none since the start of the regular season three weeks ago. But teams are still talking, and the pace of deal-making should pick up after Dec. 15, when players who signed over the summer become trade eligible. Since the teams are talking to each other, we're talking to them as well to find out who's available and who will be. Here's the Top 5 on our Most Likely to be Traded List, aside from Kevin Garnett.

P.J. Brown, New Orleans Hornets. With the team temporarily located a long way from his hometown of Slidell, La., the main factor that kept P.J. married to the Hornets is a nonfactor now. The 36-year-old would be happy with a trade to a contender, and his $8 million salary this season and next has made him the most sought-after big man on the trade market (other than Garnett). Coach Byron Scott wants to keep Brown, but owner George Shinn is rebuilding. Other teams expect the Hornets to wait 20-25 games before becoming active on a Brown trade.

Zoran Planinic, Nets. Looks as though New Jersey has been showcasing the third-year 6-foot-7 Croatian point guard caught, who's in a crowded backcourt numbers crunch along with fellow reserves Jeff McInnis, Lamond Murray and Jacque Vaughn on a team desperate for size.
He's signed through next season, and he's shown flashes. Detractors point out he loves the nightlife, he loves to boogie -- too much, maybe.

The Portland Trail Blazers entry: Zach Randolph/Darius Miles. The relationship is already rocky between new coach Nate McMillan and the two young multimillionaires, and the Blazers might be seriously rethinking their earlier decision to commit a combined $134 million to the two athletically gifted but averse-to-authority forwards. Randolph's skill level gives him huge trade value, but there aren't many players signed through 2010-11, and he's one of 'em.

The Cleveland Cavaliers entry: Luke Jackson/Sasha Pavlovic/Eric Snow. There isn't enough room in a tight Cavs rotation for the two backups, Jackson and Pavlovic, and both have been showcased by a team that has stormed out of the gate. If the Cavs want to keep both youngsters, they can deal Snow to New York for Malik Rose and make Damon Jones their starter. Rose and Snow are both under contract through '08-09. Knicks coach Larry Brown loves Snow, and Cavs general manager Danny Ferry is a fan of Rose, his former teammate, so it seems to make sense for both teams.

Luol Deng, Chicago Bulls. There's no question the Bulls love him, but they're also desperate for size if they want to make a serious run this season. As of now, they'll have more cap room than anyone next summer, but the best available free agent big man might be Nazr Mohammed (depending on what happens with Ben Wallace). If they move Deng, they'll get value -- and perhaps a better big man than what'll be available next summer. There won't be any room for Deng next season if Peja Stojakovic and Andres Nocioni are the small forwards.

3) Kelly Dwyer of Si.com with his around the rim column:

That's Dallas with a D - Mavericks finally realize they can win with defense
Here's a look around the week that was and the week ahead in the NBA, because it's what the pilgrims would have wanted. Later in the article, I'll pass along Jahidi White's homespun recipe for his favorite Thanksgiving dish -- the deep fried cheddar-turkey.

Champs

Quietly, Dallas is rolling. The Mavs have won five straight, seven out of nine overall, and demolished the previously-unbeaten Pistons on Saturday by 37. The Mavericks' play against the Eastern Conference champs was a revelation; not only did they blister the nets on offense (hitting 17 of 21 shots in a 40-point first quarter en route to finishing with 112 points), they also held a newly-potent Pistons offense to 82 points. Detroit had been averaging just a shade under 100 points per game heading into the contest, but found itself struggling to get shots off against that long-armed Dallas frontline of Dirk Nowitzki, Josh Howard and Erick Dampier. Damp scored 16 points on 8-of-9 shooting, adding 14 boards and two blocks in 25 minutes. Suffice to say, he's earned the nap he'll take from now until Christmas Eve. For years the Mavs have paid offseason lip-service to improving a dodgy defense, but if the first nine games are any indication, they may have finally turned it around. Even with the injured Doug Christie predictably taking an indefinite seat on the inactive list, they are giving up only 97.9 points per 100 possessions this year, the seventh-best mark in the NBA. In fact, they're the only team to rank in the top 10 in both offensive and defensive efficiency, as their 106.4 points per 100 possessions clip ranks fourth in the NBA.

Spiraling north a bit, the Cleveland Cavaliers -- winners of seven straight as of Monday -- are boasting the league's most efficient offense this season. It took a few games, but Larry Hughes has developed into exactly what the Cavs were hoping for when they signed the man last summer -- a mini LeBron James, born to run alongside the real thing. Although rookie coach Mike Brown has James concentrating on his own scoring for now, LBJ is still hitting the open man. But this year he hasn't been stuck dribbling the ball at the top of key as much, waiting on a cutter who never shows. The result is a team beating opponents by an average of 9.1 points per game, tops in the league.

Last week, Celtics boss Danny Ainge told the Boston Globe that Allen Iverson was the best player in the Eastern Conference, which is saying quite a bit when you factor in the notion that Paul Pierce is currently enjoying a career year. AI's work has been brilliant in leading Philly to a 6-5 record. Iverson is averaging 32.5 points per game on 45 percent shooting, 8.3 assists and 2.5 steals, all while turning over the ball less than three times a game -- a tremendous mark for someone who has to dominate the ball as much as he does. He's turned Chris Webber (21 and 10 this year) into a scary threat again, which is an achievement in itself. Allen draws defenses so far away from the 32-year forward, that the once and future C-Webb is able to camp out at the top of the key for 24 seconds at a time. Andre Iguodala (58 percent), John Salmons (53 percent), Lee Nailon (54 percent), and Kyle Korver (42 percent and improving) are all having career years from the floor. Concurrently, as lovely as the Sixers' offense has been this season, their defense has been brutal.

Chumps

Baron Davis was lauded as the savior of the floundering Golden State Warriors Professional Basketball Club of California this summer, and so far his presence has been enough to keep the team excited about its playoff prospects. The Warriors are a tough team, one of the best defensive squads in the game, and they've proven hard to put away. Even in recent losses to the Clippers, Bucks and Suns, the 6-5 Warriors tend to play until the final buzzer. And though B-Diddy has imbued his teammates with a sense of toughness by playing through a painful hamstring strain, that's about all Davis has offered. After shooting 7-for-21 against the Clippers on Sunday, Davis actually improved his shooting percentage to 33 percent this year. Davis has been worse from behind the arc (28 percent), although he is averaging a respectable 16.1 points and 8.8 assists per game overall. Davis' wild touch from beyond is encouraging his band of young chuckers to let loose, with less-than-encouraging results. Despite connecting on only 32 percent of their three-point tries, Golden State's 290 3-point attempts this season is nearly double the attempts thrown up by most other teams, with Seattle's 214 attempts ranking a distant second.

Because I'm a selfish git, I'd like to throw a frustrated "Chump" out to Amaré Stoudemire's left knee, if only for keeping him on the shelf for half the season. Without that handicap, his Suns may have put together an undefeated November. Leandro Barbosa used to fire bricks and mortar from all over the court, turning the ball over with Metamucil-driven regularity, and forcing the Suns to run guys like Joe Johnson and Jim Jackson at backup point guard. This season, the third-year guard was tearing things up, shooting 54 percent from the floor and 42 percent from deep -- while scoring 15.7 points per game in just under 26 minutes a night. He also turned the ball over seven times all season before he went down for a few weeks with a knee injury versus the Spurs. Boris Diaw has also turned into an all-around superstar, upping his PER to 19.2 this year after turning in a pitiful 9.3 mark in his first two seasons.

A whole slew of NBA media-types deserve a "Chump" because of the way Raptors rookie Charlie Villanueva and incumbent big Chris Bosh have been able to co-exist this season. The author includes himself in this group, after having spat Guinness and half-eaten pretzels in laughter at the TV after seeing Toronto GM Rob Babcock draft the UConn product last June. Even after Villanueva's strong preseason, Bosh's struggles from the floor in the exhibition season (36 percent) raised concerns. Though the Raptors as a whole stink, the two big forwards are working well off each other. The two most potent lineups in the Toronto attack thus far have featured both playing side-by-side. In their last five games, Bosh has averaged 22.8 points (on 52 percent from the floor) with 12.8 rebounds, while CV has contributed 18.4 (50 percent) and 9.6 boards.

The Week Ahead - Even after Toronto's 13-point victory over the Heat on Sunday got them their first mark in the win column, life won't be getting any easier for the 1-9 Raptors. They fly to Phoenix on Tuesday, followed by a game against the 8-2 Clippers the next night. Then they'll partake in back-to-back road games against the Kings and Warriors. Good thing rookie guard Jose Calderon continues to shine, averaging 6.3 assists off the bench and turning the ball over only 1.9 times a game. Compare that to fellow rookie guard Sarunas Jasikevicius, an altogether sturdier sort who has struggled to adapt to the NBA's speed. He's had but 15 assists in nine games, compared to 14 turnovers. The defending champs have won eight of 10 to start the season, but the Spurs are hurting, and this week they'll have a chance to test their resiliency and the versatility that marked their postseason run last spring. Games in Sacramento, Golden State and a Friday-night matchup with the Chicago Bulls will force San Antonio to play in three different ways. The Kings move the ball and feed off their crowd, the Warriors play hard on D and try to get lucky on offense and the Bulls will attack San Antonio's brilliant interior defense. Houston is off to a distressing 3-7 start, but given the team's shooting woes, injury issues and a brutal November schedule, three wins may not be so bad. So far this season, the Rockets have played the Kings, Nets, Heat, Pacers, Celtics, Timberwolves, Spurs and Pistons (the last two coming on back-to-back nights). It won't get any easier this week, with games against the Grizzlies, Suns, Mavericks and Bulls. Thankfully, the Rockets end the month softly in Atlanta. Atlanta's best chance for their first win of the season will be at home next Sunday, in a matinee game against the Portland Trail Blazers that will feature a teaming throng of 48 paid attendees.

Ruminations - Early returns on the Eddy Curry trade aren't looking too hot for the boys in blue. Here's the story in numbers, through Sunday's action: Curry -- 23.1 minutes per game, 12.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.3 blocks, 3.1 turnovers, 51 percent from the floor and 64 percent from the line. And three assists all season. Michael Sweetney -- 24.4 minutes per game, 12.5 points, 8.6 rebounds, 1 block, 1.6 turnovers, 52 percent from the floor and 70 percent from the line. Eleven assists this season. Throw in a slew of Knicks picks sent Chicago's way; Tim Thomas' expiring contract and the fact that Sweetney makes about 1/5th what Curry does, and you'd have to call this another miss -- so far -- for Isiah Thomas. Good thing Channing Frye (13.2 points and 5.7 rebounds in 21 minutes) is playing like a future All-Star. No goofin' around with Chris Paul, as the rookie is averaging 17.4 points (on 46 percent from the floor), 6.3 assists, 5.2 rebounds, 2.1 steals and just 2.8 turnovers for the 4-5 Hornets. The Pacers suffered an embarrassing 32-point defeat in Charlotte last Wednesday, prompting Jermaine O'Neal to intimate the Pacers appeared uninterested and unprofessional in defeat. But 26 Pacers turnovers, compared to 10 by the Bobcats, may have had more to do with the loss. Two nights later, Indy seemed to bring a bit more fire in racing out to an early lead, only to see the Bobcats tie things by halftime. When the second half rolled around, though, Indiana put together a 13-point advantage, only to see Bernie Bickerstaff's crew narrow the gap again to four points before Indiana pulled away. Orlando's big kid Dwight Howard is averaging 16.2 points and 16.8 rebounds in his last five games, but coach Brian Hill is upset with him because he's not dunking with two hands enough -- as the 20-year-old prefers to throw down with one. Umm, Coach Hill, don't you have bigger problems to worry about? Rest in peace, Link Wray. The rockabilly giant passed away on Saturday at the age of 76, after a long and painfully-loud career of guitar brilliance. I've had to learn how to read lips in the years since taking in one of Wray's deafening live shows, but it was well worth it. Rumble on, cat.

4) Mike Kahn of FOXSports.com with his 10 things column:

Ten things we learned in the NBA this week

Scoff if you want. Deny them respect. Count the days until the inevitable finally begins to take shape, if that's your perspective. Any way you look at it, the Los Angeles Clippers entered this week with a 2 1/2-game lead in the Pacific Division — tied with the San Antonio Spurs at 8-2 for the best record in the Western Conference.

1. The Clippers are off to the best start in the 36-year history of the franchise, and coach Mike Dunleavy has them believing that not only are they the best team in Los Angeles, but they're capable of winning the division. What this really means: Acquiring Sam Cassell and Cuttino Mobley changed the dynamic of the team. Cassell brings the experience of two championship rings and the confidence to win games in the fourth quarter. Mobley gives them an exceptional streak shooter who will defend and not back down from anyone. Put them together with All-Star power forward Elton Brand, explosive Corey Maggette at forward and rapidly improving young big man Chris Kaman, and, well, it appears that Elgin Baylor has finally put together a team that can win. However, like so many teams, they do lack quality depth; and Cassell just turned 36. He has been breaking down in recent years, which is why Minnesota traded him, and unless young point guard Shaun Livingston proves he can stay healthy and grow, it will be difficult for the Clippers to sustain this momentum over the course of the season. But, should Dunleavy be able to maintain a lid on Cassell's minutes and keep him healthy, the Clippers will be playoff bound and maybe even threaten 50 wins for the first time — even dating back to when they were the Buffalo Braves.

2. The Cleveland Cavaliers are also off to an 8-2 start, winning all four games last week, and precocious star forward LeBron James recorded his first triple-double of the season with 36 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists in the Cavs' thrilling 126-123 win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday night. What this really means: This is a completely different team than the previous two James played on his first two seasons, and it is built to win over the long haul. Rookie head coach Mike Brown is showing his pedigree early from having coached under Gregg Popovich and Rick Carlisle, with an eye on defense and the requisite intensity to consistently execute on offense. Even without injured specialists Anderson Varejao and Ira Newble, the Cavs are playing much more effectively inside and are better defensively. Just as Eric Snow promised, he is in better shape and playing tough defense, while the acquisition of Larry Hughes looks to be a perfect complement to James after exploding for 37 points, six assists, four rebounds and three steals against the Sixers. Damon Jones brings better perimeter shooting, as does Donyell Marshall — who is also an underrated rebounder. Essentially, this just proves that Danny Ferry has been learning at a high level for generations from his father, as a player in the league and as a personnel director. It can also be said that this is his payback to Cleveland for all the years they had him as an overpaid, average player courtesy of the horrid Ron Harper trade. The one concern would be Jones' shaky personality and Hughes' history of injuries. Then again, there is James, who just wanted a versatile and experienced supporting cast to go along with himself and sweet shooting center Zydrunas Ilgauskas — and that should be enough.

3. A week ago, the Seattle SuperSonics looked like they were coming apart at the seams. Vladimir Radmanovic was screaming for minutes or to be traded, while the team wasn't defending or playing hard for new coach Bob Weiss, and lost a franchise record three games in a row by an average of 31 points to fall to 1-4. - What this really means: Since then, the Sonics have been 4-1. And it's been far more than just the high-scoring duo of Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis, even though they dominate the box score. Weiss finally came to grips with the need to start young power forward Nick Collison, who adds not only rebounding and defense, but is close to regaining the offensive confidence he had as an All-American at Kansas. They were losing by double-figures in each of the past two games, only to pull them out for wins over Chicago and Sacramento. But over the course of the season, it is unlikely they will return to playing the same kind of defense they played for previous coach Nate McMillan, and that will hurt them in the long run. The key will be if Radmanovic, who had 17 points in 30 minutes in the win over Sacramento, is mollified by Weiss with consistent minutes and grows back into being the consistent third scorer on the team. If he does, they could defend their Northwest Division title. If he doesn't respond, they need to trade him, or they could miss the playoffs altogether.

4. Saturday was the one-year anniversary of the brawl at the Palace of Auburn Hills that was set off initially by Detroit Pistons big man Ben Wallace going after Indiana Pacers forward Ron Artest late in a game that the Pacers were winning handily. It escalated into the stands after a fan threw a drink at Artest as he was trying to calm himself down on the scorer's table. The result was innumerable games lost by suspended Pacers' players and the biggest black eye in NBA history. - What this really means: It's difficult to say whether or not the NBA has recovered from that or not. The league will always retain its core fan base, and the globalization of the sport has helped buffer revenues for the years to come. Commissioner David Stern implemented a dress code, which was another step toward softening the image of the league as well. The bigger question is whether or not a new generation of fans is being built, and therein lies the question of the impact of the brawl and the perception of players that the whole situation was blown way out of proportion. There is little Stern can do to alter that until the best players in the game grasp their responsibility. The league does great things in its community outreach programs, but unless it directly affects the public, they don't care. The league didn't need Tim Duncan referring to the dress code as "retarded" or wearing his I-Pod during pre-games to ignore everyone. Kevin Garnett has a great image and has been an incredible support to the displaced people of Hurricane Katrina, but he went public on national television with his dismay with the Minnesota Timberwolves' organization in an attempt to take the high road out of town. Someone has to step up and coagulate a cadre of stars to rebuild the image of the league the way the members of the Dream Team did in the 1980s. Maybe it's not fair to compare generations, but the league's history and future demands it. Can Dwyane Wade, Amare Stoudemire and LeBron James be those guys? The NBA world sure hopes so.

5. Retired center Vlade Divac was charged with being a draft evader in his native country of Serbia-Montenegro, just weeks after he announced his retirement and took a job in the personnel department of the Los Angeles Lakers. What this really means: Divac, 37, was ultimately cleared of charges by the end of the week for not performing his mandatory six months of military service before his 35th birthday. It just proves that politics in every country can be skewed, and it's too bad this issue wasn't resolved before it became international news. Divac is a hero in his homeland and the best ambassador any country could want. He has led the country to medals in basketball, and more importantly, mentored countless athletes and people in the general population in how to live full lives away from their war torn countries. The good news is that he will now be able to return to that role, help foster better relations with Europe in the growing relationship with the NBA, and continue to help improve lives for so many. Don't be surprised if he and another former NBA player — Lithuanian Sarunas Marciulionis — are key elements as the NBA ultimately establishes an international league in Europe over the next 10 years.

6. The Los Angeles Lakers and New York Knicks met last week in what was more of a marquee matchup of Lakers coach Phil Jackson and Knicks coach Larry Brown taking over beleaguered franchises than a high-quality basketball game. What this really means: The Lakers won, but to say they are ahead of the Knicks developmentally would be a gross exaggeration. Kobe Bryant averaged about 35 shots a game the past week, and in Sunday's loss to the Chicago Bulls, Bryant took 34 shots, while Lamar Odom attempted just four. After a solid start that Odom made as the primary playmaker and second scorer — with center Chris Mihm and point guard Smush Parker showing spark — the team has reverted back to give Kobe the ball and get out of the way. They'll win games in the fourth quarter that way from time to time, but not every game, every night, and they won't make the playoffs unless it changes. Meanwhile, Brown loosened the reins off of point guard Stephon Marbury on Sunday night, and he responded with 27 points in an 11-point win over the Portland Trail Blazers. It's obvious Marbury isn't the traditional point guard that Brown has always had in the past and that Brown would like to move him to shooting guard as he did with Allen Iverson, but the Knicks don't have anyone else to run the point. One move that seems somewhat logical to resolve the problem would be for the Knicks to dump lazy center Jerome James to the size-challenged Denver Nuggets for natural point guard Earl Watson — considering the Nuggets have three point guards. Both were free agents and their salaries match; so come Dec. 15, the deal can be done.

7. Someone had to knock off the Detroit Pistons, who won their first eight games, but who would have thought it would be a 37-point blowout loss to the Dallas Mavericks? What this really means: Well, you'd better get used to it because the Mavericks are clearly contenders to the Spurs in the Western Conference. It isn't just the superlative scoring skills and rebounding of All-Star Dirk Nowitzki anymore. Young coach Avery Johnson has them playing defense, holding their last three opponents to a total of 240 points combined. One major difference has been the continued growth of young swingman Josh Howard and the bounce back of Marquis Daniels after an injury-prone second season. They perfectly fit the way Johnson wants to play, while veteran point guard Jason Terry and young Devin Harris are growing into more of the kind of playmaking point guards Johnson wants now and in the future. Even with Erick Dampier's erratic play in the middle, the rest of the team is so explosive; and the defense is improving so much that they are becoming a different caliber team. And this is before top-flight sixth man Jerry Stackhouse has returned to 100 percent physically. Just how good the Mavs become by the end of the season remains questionable, but with the young bucks just finding their way — they should be better later, not now. And that could give the Spurs — with their aging bench — problems in a seven-game series.

8. Sometimes, it's just karma. Obviously, the Phoenix Suns had great karma last season, winning 62 games and going to Game 5 of the Western Conference finals after managing to win just 29 games the year before. Steve Nash won the MVP Award, Mike D'Antoni Coach of the Year and Amare Stoudemire blossomed into a superstar in the playoffs. This season the Suns have begun 4-5 ... and for good reason. What this really means: Stoudemire is out until at least mid-season after having micro-fracture knee surgery before the regular season began. Saturday, young shooting guard Leandro Barbosa, who had taken a huge step to become the team's leading scorer with career-high stats in all offensive categories, sprained the medial collateral ligament in his left knee and will be out up to three weeks. And if that wasn't enough, Dick Van Arsdale — who has been with the organization since its inception in 1968 in myriad capacities as a player, coach, personnel director and now as an executive vice president — suffered a stroke at his home Saturday. That's not to say the Suns can't or won't bounce out of their present funk, but sometimes things set up right, and other times they don't. From the top, we can only hope Van Arsdale bounces back quickly and is back at the Suns' game as a significant player in the personnel infrastructure. And, presumably, the wiry Barbosa will be back without losing confidence after suffering from the bad luck of being in the way of one of Manu Ginobili's myriad flops. Finally, there remains a flicker of hope that Stoudemire will return after the All-Star break and shake all of this uneasiness around the franchise and that they'll be right back on track. Nonetheless, you just never know which way karma will take you.

9. The irony in sports never ceases to amaze. It was just four years ago that Nate McMillan, then coach of the Seattle SuperSonics, was beside himself when management refused to re-sign Ruben Patterson because they didn't like his general character and behavior. Insiders believe the lack of input for personnel began there for McMillan and ultimately led him to leave for Portland last summer, the team that signed Patterson that fateful summer. What this really means: Well, eight games into their reunion, McMillan and Patterson's relationship is falling to pieces. Following the first game of a seven-game road trip East, Patterson was sent home and placed on the inactive list following an expletive-laced tirade at McMillan for lack of playing time. No one was deeper in Patterson's corner than McMillan, but on an extraordinarily young team, that kind of behavior from the 30-year-old Patterson is intolerable. Also in a dab of irony, it badly marred a breakout game for young point guard Sebastian Telfair in a trip home and against his cousin Stephon Marbury. Telfair had 27 points, seven assists, six rebounds and three steals in the 103-92 loss, but it was a landmark game for both reasons. The way-too-young Blazers started the season a surprising 3-3 because McMillan has them playing so hard. But commitment can be fleeting, and it was imperative management supported him with Patterson, unlike the pathetic mishandling of a Darius Miles tirade a year ago that undermined and ultimately ended the tenure of coach Maurice Cheeks. This is a step in the right direction and might even accelerate a deal for Patterson to head east where a lot of teams are interested in his toughness and defense.

10. The Toronto Raptors finally broke into the win column with a 107-94 win over the Miami Heat Sunday night after losing their first nine games. What this really means: Even bad teams win, but it would be unfair to overlook the blossoming of young forward Chris Bosh just because he's stuck on a horrible team. Bosh had 24 points, 12 rebounds and three blocks in the win over the Heat, and he continues to develop his all-around game. Still only 21, he will get much bigger and stronger as he ages, and with that delicate left-hand touch, will be one of the better frontcourt players in the NBA over the next decade. Already, he is averaging 20.2 points, 11.4 rebounds and shooting just a tad below .500. So far, rookie Charlie Villanueva has played very well and for the time has silenced the critics' remarks that he's a lazy underachiever. If he continues to play hard, he and Bosh will benefit from each other immeasurably. And one of the surprises of the season so far has been the explosions from point guard Mike James on a few occasions. The Raptors won't win many games this season — they may struggle to win 20-25 — but if coach Sam Mitchell can get Jalen Rose to buy into his plan, they can make things difficult for everyone else as Bosh's star continues to grow in stature.

5) Tony Meija of CBSsportsline.com thinks Mavs SF Josh Howard is coming into his own:

Essentials: Howard's stock rising along with Mavs'

In blowing away the Pistons 119-82 Saturday night, the Dallas Mavericks flexed some impressive muscle. Detroit, the lone remaining unbeaten came in and got embarrassed, opening eyes all around the league. After all, the whispers had already begun that these Pistons were even better than the Larry Brown versions that made a pair of Finals appearances. The Celtics, just a few evenings before, had a sizeable lead on Detroit erased in the final quarter in a forceful yet seemingly easy manner, overwhelmed by traits only championship teams possess. But in Dallas, the only team on the court appeared to be the Mavericks, bolstered by the emergence of Josh Howard, who continues to improve dramatically and might become a surprise All-Star candidate at this pace. Howard has been the difference in why this team has been gone from good to great. Dirk Nowitzki has been Dirk Nowitzki, Erick Dampier remains plagued by foul trouble and Jason Terry is as steady as he was a year ago. But Howard has taken his game to another level, and the Mavericks have followed suit. His climb thus far has been similar to how he transformed himself in between his junior and senior seasons at Wake Forest, where he went from steady performer to first-team All-American and ACC player of the year. In the pros, his production was remarkably similar to what he did in his first three years of college. He'd hustle, defend vigorously, bang the boards, keep the ball alive and score through his athleticism. This year, the player who told CBS SportsLine.com that the difference between him and most of his peers is that he actually enjoys playing defense, has become a focal point in the offense. Last week, the third-year small forward shot nearly 64 percent and averaged 25.5 points in victories over the Pistons and Hawks. For the season, he's scoring at a career-high 13.8 clip, a figure that is sure to go up now that it appears he has found his niche. The Mavericks have an opportunity to send a message to Southwest favorite San Antonio and the rest of the league this week, playing host to divisional rivals Houston and Memphis while squeezing in a visit to Miami. Howard in particular gets to show his stuff, likely matching up with Tracy McGrady on Tuesday if the superstar is back is up to speed. Howard's other tests could range from Antoine Walker or Dwyane Wade to Mike Miller and Shane Battier. He has always been counted upon to contain those type players and has done so successfully, but now that that he's making those guys work on the defensive end, he's all the more effective. That makes Dallas a significant threat -- a fact the Pistons would no doubt attest to. ***Emerging presence: David West gobbled up Orlando on Saturday, scoring a career-high 32 points on a vast array of post moves, spot-up jumpers and trips to the free-throw line. His emergence is a pleasant development for New Orleans/Oklahoma City, considering P.J. Brown missed time to attend a funeral and J.R. Smith has been sidelined by a sore ankle. Chris Paul is flourishing while running the offense, so the rebuilding Hornets will have formed a nice, young nucleus to work with if West can be a consistent threat. Before missing time, Brown was dominating both offensively and on the boards in his positional switch to center; having two players Paul can consistently feed in the post gives the Hornets a mighty leg to stand on in the Western Conference's toughest division. Considering Oklahoma City is going to be such a tough venue because of the rabid fan base and lack of familiarity opponents have with the arena, expect the Hornets to play spoiler all season. They'll play host to the hot Timberwolves on Wednesday, looking to end their two-game winning streak. That means there's a good chance West will have plenty of opportunities to test his mettle against Kevin Garnett. From outhouse to penthouse? Everyone knows the LeBron James-led Cavaliers have failed to make the playoffs in each of his first two seasons, one of the few knocks one can lay on the 20-year-old prodigy. That shouldn't be a problem this year. With plenty of reinforcements brought in thanks to the deep purse new GM Danny Ferry had to work with, the Cavaliers have opened the season winning seven of nine, many of them coming in lopsided fashion. They've not only been good, they've been dominant. James ranks third in the league in scoring and has already had a few Jordan-like unconscious performances from beyond 3-point range. Larry Hughes has shaken off a sluggish offensive start and is actually hitting 50 percent of his 3-pointers (11-for-22) entering the week. That certainly makes missing out on coveted outside threat Michael Redd much easier to swallow. The Cavs have been so good that slick 7-foot-3 big man Zydrunas Ilgauskas has become the third option despite averaging 17 points a game last season, while newcomers Donyell Marshall and Damon Jones have been outstanding from the perimeter. Inside, outside, anyway you want it, Cleveland is potent. How potent? We'll get to see this weekend in a nationally televised showdown on Thanksgiving night. Indiana, a preseason favorite for many, against Cleveland, emerging powerhouse. Toke down on turkey, stuff yourself on stuffing, and then catch Ron Artest and LeBron James going at each other. For holiday's sake, Rick Carlisle has to make that happen. Big week for point guards: Washington and Orlando square off Wednesday, which means we get to see if Steve Francis can resist the urge to go back at Gilbert Arenas, who will no doubt go at him relentlessly. Friday, he gets young buck Sebastian Telfair, who will likely do the same. Allen Iverson and T.J. Ford will try to outquick each other Wednesday in a rematch of the exciting season opener in which Ford had his comeback party and Redd forced overtime with a shot just before the buzzer. Jason Kidd and Steve Nash, two of the best passers with the finest court vision in league history, lock horns Friday. Earlier in the week, also on Wednesday, New Jersey visits Shareef Abdur-Rahim, who they courted and then shunned, when they make their annual visit to Sacramento.