Wow...this picture of Jalen at Michigan seems like a million years ago...

Notes from Last night’s Raptor loss to Dallas 93-91:

- Place is 3/4 full, good seats on the corner about 13 rows back...
- There's Dave and Clayton who work for the franchise...Clay rocking the fly gray suit...
- Wow, we must be in the friends, family, girlfriends and mistresses section…
- 1st quarter, Dirk is not hitting, Raptors do not capitalize…
- Mike James is strong going to the basket, very aggressive…
- Jalen is not starting…and not playing either…
- Oops, there he is…
- There are really only 2 plays in the Raptors offence…high elbow pick and roll and left block post up for CB4…
- Devin Harris layup…
- Araujo runs like his hips don’t work…
- And he can’t catch…or finish, my god man you’re 6’11” dunk the ball!!!
- Nope, blocked shot for Darrel Armstrong, who is exactly a foot shorter…
- Devin Harris layup…
- 2nd quarter Dirk still not hitting, but Jason Terry is un-guardable…
- Got the meatball sandwich and a Heineken which cost about $34,876 dollars…it’s OK though Alistair is paying…
- Best outfit ever: Dance Pack is in cutoff western style shirts, little mini-micro-skirts and knee high white boots…I think I’m having a conniption…
- Charlie V is active on the boards…he’s long and bouncy out there, they should run some plays for him…
- Devin Harris layup…
- At the half Dirk Diggler is 2-for-10 from the field including missing seven of his first eight shots…
- 3rd quarter, Dirk is feeling it…
- Devin Harris layup…
- Jalen really looks unhappy out there, and really out of the flow…
- Bonner three…it’s good…
- Devin Harris layup…
- Close action back and forth, but the Raps can’t pull away…
- Beer please…thank you…
- Bosh sure is getting to the foul line this year…(12-15 by end of game)
- Right now Joey Graham is guarding Jason Terry, which is like a pit bull chasing a fox…
- Terry for three…Graham is still hung up on the DeSagana Diop pick…
- Favourite Dance Pack member is short Brunette with big smile who cannot stop hugging my other favourite Dance Pack Member who must have been Miss Guyana in another life…wow, it’s like watching the “L Word” but with cheerleading outfits…(which is on Showcase on Tursday nights at 10 pm in case you’re wondering)
- Diop has 3 blocks…however like Araujo he cannot catch…
- Oh no…Joey Graham just got dunked on by Keith Van Horn…it’s bad enough when the white guy dunks on you, but the Mormon white guy?
- 4th quarter, Dirk is looking pissed…
- Mavs owner Mark Cuban, who dresses like a street person, actually joins the team in the huddle…he’s a total jock sniffer…
- Devin Harris layup…it's kind of a trend here...
- 2 minutes left and the Raptors have built a 6 point lead on the strength of a Mo Pete corner jumper, a Chris Bosh foul shot and a Mike James three…
- Incredibly, Dirk Nowitzki, the best player on the planet is left open on a pick and slide for a three…he drains it…1:42 left…
- Everyone in the building knew Nowitzki was going to get that shot but the Raptors…
- Jason Terry steal and Nowitzki is not picked up trailing the break…Naturally, Terry finds him and he pulls up for a three…it’s good…the entire arena exhales…
- Tie game…
- Let’s review…the Raptors did not pick up the tallest, best shooter in the world on 2 consecutive possessions…he’s a 7 foot German guy with shaggy Mettalica hair…is there anyone more conspicuous on the floor…in the building…in the universe?
- 89-89 with 36 seconds left, Mat Bonner open for three from the elbow it’s…not good…Dirk rebound (he has 11)
- 18 seconds left, keeping in mind that the giant German guy has scored the last 6 points, you’d think he’d be guarded right?
- Nope…herr Nowitzki hits a short uncontested jumper and the Mavs go ahead 91-89… Nowitzki has scored 13 of his 29 points in final quarter…
- Raps come out of the timeout, and after some confused offence Matt Bonner is left alone in the corner he pulls up for three and the lead…it’s GOOD…
- His foot was on the line, only a 2-pointer…tie game with 2 seconds left…
- Timeout Mavs…
- Raptors come out of the timeout with 2 responsibilities: not shots for Nowitzki and no layups…
- With 2 seconds left on the clock, Marquis Daniels inbounds to Terry, who curls around a screen, dribbles into the lane and feathers up a floating one-handed layup over the arms of Chris Bosh as time expires…ballgame…Terry had 26 points by the way…

Quote of the Night: "I don't wear pantyhose." - Nuggets center Marcus Camby, noting that the protective black sleeve on his leg differs from tights worn by players such as Kobe Bryant this season.

Trade Rumour: Heat send C Michael Doleac to Denver for SG Voshon Lenard…

1) Peter Vescey of the New York Post with his usual dreck:

JEFF'S ROCKETS ON SELF DESTRUCT

November 29, 2005 -- SOUNDING very Larry Browntide-ish following his team's seventh straight loss, Jeff Van Gundy podiumized the Rockets' front line. For a minute straight, Houston's Town Crier blanket indicted Yao Ming, Stromile Swift, Juwan Howard, et al., a half a dozen different ways for their alleged flagrant failure, game in and game out, to cover the pick and roll as per his faultless instructions. Van Gundy, adding a page to Jim Bouton's ageless book, "I managed good but, boy, did they play bad," says he spends every waking hour trying to figure out how to get through to his imbecilic bigs regarding that particular defensive approach. This is just the latest working example, I submit, that infidelity has become the fastest spreading communicable disease. If there's nothing holy within the Junior Mafia, if Lil' Cease had no compunction about turning on Lil' Kim, and real life mafia members are turncoating every other trial, it's no wonder coaches are giving up their players on an everyday basis. "This is definitely not the way to keep a team together," a former head coach remarked. "If you hang your players in public when things are going bad, you give them license to crucify you. Of course, they may do it anyway without any prompting whatsoever, but why give them an excuse to nail you, especially in this day and age when players even talk to Web sites?" * Erick Dampier's recent two-game, scoreless glitch before busting out for 14 points and 16 rebounds in the Mavs' 37-point demolition of Detroit elicited some especially cruel comments from the peanut gallery. As usual, I prefer to view Dampier's littering of the ledger that evening (season highs, by far) positively. I give him full credit for a triple-double — scoring, boarding and pulse rate. You can't help but feel sorry for Nene, who tore his ACL the day after the deadline expired for fourth-year players to extend their contracts. Then again, don't feel so sorry that you're tempted to take up a collection for him. According to sources, Nene rejected a once-in-a-lifetime chance (it seems, until proven otherwise when he becomes a free agent this summer) to secure his future and that of his children and their children. The Nuggets were prepared to guarantee $42-$45 million over six seasons. Another $10M of easily attainable incentives was there for the taking. All Nene had to do to earn half of those bonuses was play. All he had to do to earn the other half was perform. Ignoring advice of counsel and other voices of reason, the 6-11 Brazilian misled himself into believing he's worth maximum money. Because the Knicks are stacked almost one deep in playmakers, Larry Brown feels he can't grant Stephon Marbury his wish to convert exclusively from the point to shooting guard, a la Allen Iverson when Larry coached Philly. The 76ers' situation was different, he underlines "I had Eric Snow and Larry Hughes." You mean the Larry Hughes drafted No. 8 overall in '98? You mean the 19-year-old Brown was so eager to teach, showing so much patience he lasted all of 100 games before being sent to Golden State? You mean the 6-5 guard who was so dependable under Brown he committed 163 turnovers vs. delivering 157 assists? It's not surprising Brown would fudge the facts a bit or try to make someone out of nothing. Even less surprising is the media's repeated use of his quote without probing its relevancy. This season's incarnation of the once-proud Lakers franchise is 5-7, last place in the Pacific, two losses worse than last year's dozen-game getaway and 31/2 in arrears of my first-place Paper Clips. Frank Hamblen was spotted warming up in the bullpen. Meanwhile, Kobe Bryant is on an MVP tear, averaging 34.2 points per game, a Stagger Lee-ulean 20 more than the second-leading logger, Lamar Odom's 14.2. Kobe has 70 games of heaving to catch what surely must be the NBA record for point differential between two teammates. In 1962-63, when San Francisco's Wilt Chamberlain averaged 44.8 points (down from 50.4 the previous season in the Warriors' last season in Philly), Tom Meschery's average of 16 ppg was the bridesmaid figure — a difference of 28.8. OK, if you must know, Wilt's unreal 50.4 body of work was 28.5 better than Paul Arizin's 21.9. clip.

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

Ten things we've learned in the NBA this week

Things are beginning to get serious with the Houston Rockets … very quickly. The good news is that there is plenty of leeway in the Western Conference once you get past the San Antonio Spurs and Dallas Mavericks. Despite that fact, the Rockets are already frantically treading water before we complete the first month of the season. And the biggest question of all — putting it in perspective — is what to make of Tracy McGrady's perpetual back and knee problems.

1. The Rockets have begun the season 3-11, lost seven in a row and eight of 10. They have the worst record in the Western Conference; point guard Rafer Alston has a stress fracture in his leg, and Yao Ming has been unable to carry the team with McGrady out. What this really means: The Rockets are in trouble, and it will be interesting to see how coach Jeff Van Gundy handles it. Virtually all coaches take losing to heart, but it weighs on him more than most. It's very difficult to get a handle on McGrady's future, although he is clearly one of the top 10 players in the game (often in the top five). But when will that be? How long can he last? Yao, while averaging a career-high 18.9 points and 8.9 rebounds, is a very talented center who works well in a complementary capacity. He did have 30 points in the loss to the Bulls on Saturday night, but that followed the 23 points combined he tallied in the losses to the Grizzlies and Suns. The big money they shelled out for Stromile Swift may have been market value, but he still is not a consistently solid player on both ends of the floor to go along with his obvious athleticism. No one expects the Rockets to be on the top of the West with McGrady out. Then again, no one expected them to be on the bottom either. The only reason for a speck of optimism is, despite the horrific start, most of the West is mediocre; and even at 3-11, they're only five games out of the eighth spot.

2. The Atlanta Hawks became the last team to win its first game last week — hanging on beat the Boston Celtics, then they came back two nights later and spanked the Indiana Pacers in Indianapolis to snap a seven-game road losing streak. It was also the first time the Hawks had beaten the Pacers since March of 2003. What this really means: Well, the Hawks do have talent. They're just very young, and a lot of people still wonder why they chose Marvin Williams with the second pick of the draft instead of point guard Chris Paul. Coach Mike Woodson found out very early on that his team was much better off playing Joe Johnson at the wing rather than the point (they should have known that all along when they went after him). Al Harrington will be a free agent at the end of the season, and if Atlanta had constructed the team a little better around him, he'd be more inclined to stay with the Hawks. Plus, instead of having Paul at the point, they have average veteran Tyronn Lue running the show with Williams stuck on the bench, while Harrington, Johnson, 19-year-old Josh Smith and second-year swing man Josh Childress are garnering the bulk of the minutes. That's not to denigrate Williams' talent or future — he should be a star in the years to come, but when drafting, it's always imperative to know your roster. To have the opportunity to grab a point guard of Paul's caliber is rare. It's a decision that the Hawks will live to regret.

3. The Cleveland Cavaliers were rolling along at 9-2, including a 6-0 mark at home for an average of nearly 21 points a game until Thanksgiving Day at Conseco Fieldhouse against the Indiana Pacers. The Pacers embarrassed them by 22 points; then two nights later, they lost at home to the Minnesota Timberwolves. What this really means: The Cavs found out late last week that they're not over the hump yet. Pacers forward Ron Artest got into LeBron James' face and never left. James missed his first eight shots, and the rest of the team began launching from the perimeter instead of executing in the half court. What James, Larry Hughes, Eric Snow and everyone else have to remember is that they re-signed 7-foot-3 center Zydrunas Ilgauskas because he's that rare breed of scoring center. Instead of forcing jumpers and fast breaks when they're not there, they should execute the half-court offense around the soft hands of Ilgauskas. Young power forward Drew Gooden has improved a lot this year; so now that they've gotten off to the good start, it's time for them to listen to new coach Mike Brown and focus on defense and executing when the early offense isn't there. A three-game West Coast swing, beginning Friday night in Seattle, will be a good barometer of just how much they've grown up.

4. And speaking of the Pacers, just who are they anyway? They put the Cavaliers in their place. Then, they became the first team to lose to Atlanta this season. What this really means: The Pacers aren't close to hitting their stride yet. They already lost to Charlotte once and almost lost to them again the next night. But they have beaten Miami twice. Some of it may very well be getting adjusted to Artest returning from a year away and playing such a major role in their chemistry on both ends of the floor. Artest is such a dynamic player and personality that it has to be difficult for coach Rick Carlisle to adjust to him being in the lineup. Even more important, Reggie Miller has retired. And say all you want about how his numbers and minutes faded the past few years, at the end of the game, he was always one of the most dangerous clutch shooters in the NBA. The bottom line is that Jamaal Tinsley must take over this team and run the point with authority, and Jermaine O'Neal has to step up and be the leader making big plays on both ends of the floor. For O'Neal to retain his place among the upper echelon of frontcourt stars in this league — with Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett, and even Dirk Nowitzki to a certain degree, he needs to step up now. He's a great spokesman and always appears on the verge of dependable greatness. But he's not there yet, and, consequently, neither are the Pacers.

5. The Washington Wizards had lost five in a row and dropped a game below .500 before going into the Palace of Auburn Hills on Friday night to meet the two-time defending Eastern Conference Detroit Pistons. By pulling off the double-overtime victory, the Wizards became the first visiting team this season to win at the Palace, led by 36 points from Gilbert Arenas and Caron Butler's season-high 27 points. What this really means: The explosive Wizards caught the Pistons flat-footed, then went to Charlotte the next night and got embarrassed by 18 points against the Bobcats. This is not the same Wizards team as a year ago, and it's more than just not having the underachieving Kwame Brown. They just don't have the big bodies up front to compete; so if they don't coerce a team with an interior presence into running with them, they'll have a tough time winning consistently. As long as they have Arenas, Butler and Antawn Jamison healthy, they'll be dangerous and capable of outscoring teams on occasion. But Etan Thomas has yet to develop into a consistently effective player, and lottery picks Jared Jeffries and Jarvis Hayes still aren't to the point that they can be depended on for big-time contributions. It's early, but president Ernie Grunfeld must consider that these guys may be more attractive on the market to better acquire needs than to spend more time in development. There are too many young teams in the East that already have more young pieces that fit together.

6. Just when it looked like the Dallas Mavericks were about to emerge as a serious challenge to the San Antonio Spurs, Saturday night came and went. The Memphis Grizzlies spanked them by 20 at home, and even more importantly, they lost emerging young forward Josh Howard for at least a couple of weeks to a sprained ankle. What this really means: The Mavericks are still vulnerable defensively; Erick Dampier is not a consistent force inside, and Howard is really their best all-around player. The Mavericks aside, however, even more obvious has been the ascendance of the Grizzlies around the new and improved Pau Gasol — beard and all. He stayed off the foot that kept him out of 26 games last season and got stronger this past summer. The result has been across the board career-bests of 18.9 points, 8.9 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 2.64 blocks per game. When Jerry West cleaned house to bring in Eddie Jones, Damon Stoudamire and Bobby Jackson to play with incumbents Gasol, Shane Battier and Mike Miller for head coach Mike Fratello, it was all about having guys with a winning attitude who didn't play selfishly. But the only way it really works is if Gasol develops into the All-Star player he was anticipated to be in the NBA. So far, so good this season. Maybe it is the beard after all.

7. Marcus Camby went down with a bruised leg, and Kenyon Martin — still trying to recover from off-season microfracture knee surgery — tried to pick up the slack for the league's leading rebounder and second-ranked shot-blocker. But it was really Carmelo Anthony's night on Friday.

What this really means: Not to diminish Martin's 16 points and six rebounds, but this was Anthony's night to radiate some of that star quality with 35 points, six rebounds, four assists and two blocks. The win solidified the Nuggets' hold on first place in the Northwest Division, despite not having Nene for the rest of the season, Martin being out (or a shadow of his former self) and Camby struggling with the leg problem until he could play no more. Then again, no one has ever accused coach George Karl of backing down from the challenge of playing small and without any depth of "bigs" at all. Keep in mind, Karl didn't coach the first two losses of the season due to a suspension for unwittingly scouting players when he wasn't supposed to. So, realistically, the Nuggets are off to an 8-4 start with him (and are still trying to find some help up front). Camby will be back soon, but Martin's recovery is a bigger issue. The buzz still continues that they will ship third point guard Earl Watson for some frontcourt help as soon as they can (Dec. 15), but that could just be talk.

8. The answer to the Nuggets' woes could just be a stunning, yet familiar name to NBA fans in general … and Karl in particular. Shawn Kemp, still only 36, is reportedly down to his old playing weight of 270 pounds; and his agent, Tony Dutt, has been out and about trying to get Kemp back into the league. What this really means: For Karl and the Nuggets, this would be a low-risk, high-return scenario if Kemp has really overcome his drug and alcohol issues, along with getting back into playing shape. He's been living in both Seattle and Houston, playing ball as much as possible, and it isn't as if his Orlando Magic teammates in 2003 didn't love his leadership and embrace him as a teammate. If nothing else, there are a lot of teams that need help up front, and it would behoove many to give him a drug test and a workout — and strong consideration. Kemp was a special talent in the league for a long time. He's a kind-hearted soul who deserves another chance if he has been able to eradicate his self-destructive issues. But no one will know unless he gets a look. And no one knows him better than George Karl, who coached him in Seattle for five years. This could be a story for the ages.

9. The New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets don't really have a home yet as a result of Hurricane Katrina's destructive path. They're playing virtually all their games in Oklahoma City this season, with a handful in Baton Rouge for the fans in Louisiana, and all the young players and staff have been uprooted from their homes this season. Yet, 12 games into the season, coach Byron Scott has them ninth in the Western Conference, just a game out of the playoffs picture with four wins in their last five games. What this really means: They hit the jackpot with rookie point guard Chris Paul from Wake Forest , who looks an awful lot like the second coming of another All-American who played in North Carolina and for a team that played in both Kansas City and Omaha, Phil Ford. But there's a lot more going on than just Paul, with this extraordinarily young team being built around 12-year veteran P.J. Brown. There is loony Chris Andersen trying to stay healthy, 20-year-old J.R. Smith, rookie Brandon Bass and the now much-traveled Speedy Claxton. But the difference-maker during the streak has been 2003 first-round draft choice David West, a 6-foot-9, 240-pound former All-American from Xavier. Over the past four games, West has averaged 24.3 points and 8.8 rebounds and shot 59 percent from the field. For the season, those numbers are 16.3 points, 7.4 rebounds, .544 from the field and .854 from the free throw line. He's not flashy, powerful or exceedingly quick, but West is just a grounded, smart player with a superb touch and feel for the game in a lot of different areas. It would be kind to call them a long-shot to make the playoffs this season, but the Hornets are clearly building for the future with a vision; and there are plenty of reasons to be optimistic.

10. On Monday, USA Basketball announced that Phoenix Suns coach Mike D'Antoni, Portland Trail Blazers coach Nate McMillan and Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim will assist Duke's Mike Krzyzewski with the senior men's basketball team. What this really means: There are obvious scenarios that come to mind with Boeheim being the zone defense expert, D'Antoni the run and gun offensive mind and McMillan the defensive disciplinarian (who will focus on execution from both ends of the floor). Clearly Jerry Colangelo, in charge of putting this team together, has spent a lot of time considering how this would all look in the wake of the hastily put together teams of the past decade that evolved into the disaster of the World Championships three years ago and the first failure to win a gold medal since the inclusion of NBA players in 1992 in the 2004 Olympics (they won the bronze). Krzyzewski is the master of team orientation and won't whine about everyone to the media the way Larry Brown did in 2004. Colangelo did the right thing adding Boeheim, a long-time crony, in a politically correct move to respect the collegiate level. But in D'Antoni and McMillan, he grabbed two of the most energized and talented of the new regime of NBA coaches. If nothing more, they will support Coach K and add a focus to the team. This situation should show Colangelo at his best — given time and free reign, he'll put together a group of players who actually want to play as opposed to recent years when so many bailed at the last minute.

3) Kelly Dwyer of Si.com with his Champs and Chumps column:

Bulls on a rampage - Duhon maneuvers Bulls back on winning path

Word to my jittery brothers and sisters: next year anticipate the turkey-induced haze Thanksgiving night creates, and call ahead to the parents' house to make sure that their stash of Diet Coke isn't caffeine free. Yikes. It's taken me four days just to get my heart rate back up to its usual dangerously high levels. Oh yeah, the week that was and shall be in the NBA ...

Champs - Chris Duhon probably wasn't supposed to start the season like this. Duhon was supposed to have slid into a slot as Chicago's backup point guard by now while Kirk Hinrich came into his own and Ben Gordon cracked the starting lineup after a summer spent working his way into shape. Instead, Hinrich has leveled off, Gordon has struggled to score and Duhon has held it all together. After racking up a triple-double in the Bulls' season opener, Duhon has played consistently well this season, culminating in last week's averages of 16.7 points (on 61 percent from the floor), seven assists and 1.3 steals. After a rough start, Duhon's Bulls have won three straight, including an impressive W in San Antonio, to improve their record to 6-5, the sixth-best mark in the East. Tyson Chandler has re-established himself as a dominant force on defense, able stay in front of all who dare enter his lane, while also able to hustle to the weak side in time to pull down a rebound off an errant shot he contested. Hinrich, while short of producing a breakout campaign, has been steady, and Gordon is starting to find his shooting touch again. Knicks import Michael Sweetney looks like a rock in the low post. Not surprisingly, Chicago's run of good fortune coincides with a boost in their defensive play. Though the Bulls don't play 48 minutes of hellacious ball in defense of their goal (as it was in 2004-05), their ability to cover the floor on certain possessions in road wins over the Lakers, Spurs and Rockets last week reminds us of the Pistons at their absolute toughest. The Timberwolves had a strong week, taking down the Cavs and Bucks while doing most of their damage on the defensive end. Rookie coach Dwane Casey has his team atop the Northwest Division, Kevin Garnett (22.3 points, 11.3 rebounds, five assists, sterling D) is the league's most valuable player, and Troy Hudson has come out of his shell. The former Southern Illinois Saluki is averaging 14.8 points in 24 minutes a game over his last five contests, while hitting more than half his treys and playing as good a bit of defense as those dodgy ankles will allow.Memphis, in the meantime, has fashioned its own strong start -- they've won six of eight and now boast a 9-5 record. The 89 points per game they give up looks a little less impressive when you account for Mike Fratello's snooze-worthy pace, but it doesn't detract from the message: the Grizzlies will be a tough out all season. We dare someone in the West to knock them out of the playoff bracket. Pau Gasol, who looks like a member of The Fugs, has had a brilliant year, including a 36-point, 15-rebound, 5-assist night in a 20-point win over the Mavericks on Saturday.

Chumps - Though it doesn't seem like a soap opera waiting to happen, the relationship between Zydrunas Ilgauskas and the rest of the Cleveland Cavaliers is starting to interest us. He cracked to the Cleveland press last summer about being a "forgotten man," even after signing a lucrative contract extension. He joked about Sarunas Jasikevicius, the best man at his wedding, choosing to play for the Pacers instead of the Cavs, and mused aloud about his role in Cleveland's offense even after their hot start. We're not sure when these cracks, jokes and musings will turn into "complaints," "annoyances" or "dismissive comments about coach Mike Brown's choice in eyewear," but the situation bears watching. Big Z has had a strong year, averaging 13 and 8 in just 28 minutes a night, but he bogs down the offense at times, refusing to pass out of double-teams while often seeming out of touch with his high-octane teammates. He averaged 10.7 points and 6.3 boards last week but shot just 26 percent from the floor as Cleveland lost two of three. On a 9-4 team, this still seems like nitpicking, but the Cavs might want to start coddling their All-Star. Buy him a gold watch. Hire Cedric Henderson to keep him company. Something like that. We never mistook Ruben Patterson for the Mensa-type, so last week's press release about the Portland forward being dismissed from the team gave us no greater pause then the "news" regarding Jessica and Nick's split or the breakup between Rod Stewart's daughter and that 18-year old she was planning on shacking up with. Still, we developed a bit of respect for this classless moron after reading about his legal representatives' surprisingly measured take on a potential buyout between R-Patt and the Trail Blazers. It seems that the Blazers have decided to let Patterson sit on the shelf for the entire year and collect his salary. While ripping new coach Nate McMillan wasn't the wisest of choices, at least the self-described "Kobe Stopper" hasn't been deluded into thinking he'll sign a long-term deal with that imaginary contender that is just dying for the services of a wing defender and registered sex offender. Patterson (or his reps, at least) know that no sane team would dare pick up his $6.3 million dollar option for 2006-07, and that any buyout would result in a salary cut, so Patterson is just going to try and lay low and thank his stars that he isn't affiliated with Drew Rosenhaus in any way, shape, or form.
Back on the court, we've noticed that it's been a rough year for a crew of athletic wing types who are -- and stop me if you've heard this before -- "just a jump shot away." Check it, yo:

Indiana's Fred Jones -- 23.7 minutes per game, 4.9 points on 31 percent from the floor, 2.2 rebounds.

New Orleans' Desmond Mason -- 23.2 mpg, 7.2 points, 32 percent from the floor, 12 assists to 25 turnovers on the year.

Jazz wing Devin Brown -- 20.5 mpg, 7.2 points, 34 from the floor, and 6-of-23 from long range.

New York's Quentin Richardson -- 6.5 points and 3.6 boards in 23 minutes, 37 percent from the floor; again "just a jump shot away."

Atlanta high-flyer Josh Smith -- 9.2 points in 26 minutes, no threes, and 36 percent from the floor.

The week ahead - The Nets aren't anywhere near where they want to be right now. They've struggled all year to defend, they're starting to lose their way on offense, the bench stinks, Vince Carter is dealing with an assortment of injuries, Richard Jefferson is trying to find his way as a third option again and Jason Kidd has noticed that he's going to have to start putting points on the board if his team wants to have a chance. Other than that, the Atlantic Division is all theirs. New Jersey endured pitiful 30- and 36-point first halves on the road this week against Phoenix and the Lakers, which is just wrong, because a team this talented shouldn't be this boring to watch. Lawrence Frank's group needed overtime to end their three-game losing streak in L.A., after Kobe Bryant scored 38 second-half points and Brian Cook grabbed a last-second offensive rebound and scored over Clifford Robinson. The worst rebounding big man of his generation (and the current one, for that matter), Robinson is just part of the problem. Along with Jeff McInnis, the two are the mainstays of Frank's bench rotation, but they're giving him nothing. Though they average just under 45 minutes a night combined, they're only providing him with 11.6 points, five rebounds and 3.2 assists. When Frank decided to bench McInnis after a scoreless first half against the Suns last Friday, the veteran guard complained so bitterly that he was held to playing 25 minutes against the Lakers. The 6-7 Nets play in Denver tonight, the last contest in a five-game road trip, before taking on Detroit at home on Wednesday and Toronto on Saturday. Those Pistons have now lost twice, following a double-overtime thriller against Washington on Saturday night, and they'll take on the Knicks and Bulls in addition to the Nets this week. What follows is a startlingly luxuriant five-day break before heading out west for a three-game road swing. Brian Hill's Magic have slowed down the pace and slogged their way to a .500 record, partly fueled by Dwight Howard, who is averaging 15 and 13 for the season. Take it in now, Orland-o-ians, as the boys in blue head to Boston, Chicago, Memphis and Milwaukee this week. The next week won't be any easier, with home games against the Spurs, Bulls and Nuggets. The young Hornets are also 6-6, but their next four opponents include the Warriors, Nuggets, 76ers and Mavericks. The Suns have won three straight to improve their record to 7-5, and Phoenix will take on a relatively lightly scheduled week with games against the Pacers and Nuggets. They'll then embark on a lovely swing that includes nine games in 14 days. In addition to all of the grudge matches, this week features some intriguing matchups among the league's "kids." Dallas visits Milwaukee on Tuesday, which will be fun, as Andrew Bogut looked (or, at least played) great in a loss to the Pistons on Saturday night. The rookie big is angling for a starting role as Jamaal Magliore (eight points on 40 percent shooting) struggles to score. Wednesday features the Clippers in Cleveland -- plenty of scoring in that one -- and Warriors-Kings games are always happenin'. I also like Chicago in Boston on Friday night, a game featuring two of the East's youngest teams.

Ruminations - My father isn't the patient sort, so it must have been quite the undertaking for him to listen to each and every second of my unsolicited and impassioned defense of Bobcats boss Bernie Bickerstaff last Thursday night before tactfully asking me just where the Bobcats made their home. They play in Charlotte, their uniforms are hideous and Bickerstaff knows what he's doing. This team is brutal to play against, as their long-armed defense envelops passing lanes and leads to the league's fastest offensive pace. The Bobcats average 11.6 steals a game, three swipes more than their closest competitor, and Gerald Wallace is starting to take off. In three games last week, he averaged 22.3 points per game on 59 percent shooting, with 7.4 rebounds, 2.6 steals and 1.8 blocks per game. And with a payroll that barely exceeds $33 million, it's only going to get better for whatever city the Bobcats play in. So much for the Lakers' idea of keeping it close long enough for Kobe to take over in the 4th -- Los Angeles is now ohfer six when it enters the 4th quarter with a deficit. I don't know if Ricky Davis is an All-Star at this point, but he does get buckets, and he's showcased a brilliant touch playing alongside Paul Pierce this season. 21.7 points per game alongside 11 combined assists and rebounds. Pierce is averaging 26.1 (on a remarkable, for him, 49 percent from the floor) with 12.7 points/rebounds. Mark Blount is giving Clifford Robinson a run for his money with just 3.6 rebounds in 30 minutes a night. For my Clipper-feelin' friends, I give you Elton Brand -- 23.4 points per game on 57 percent from the floor, 10.7 rebounds and 2.3 blocks. Solid. After climbing to .500, the Seattle SuperSonics have dropped three straight, though Luke Ridnour is now hitting one-third of his shots from the floor. It's magic, you know. You couldn't doubt Salim Stoudamire's touch from long range after his time in Arizona, but we at least expected it to take him a month or two to get used to securing his own shot on this level. And as with our decision to go dressed as Charles Rocket for Halloween last month, we were wrong, WRONG! Forty-five percent from the floor and from behind the arc for the Hawks rookie, who's averaging 11.2 points in 23 minutes a game.

4) Big Willy Purdue thinks the Magic are good, for ESPN.com:

Four straight wins? It's Magic

BOSTON -- After taking their fourth straight win, one can't help but say this about the Orlando Magic: They are winning ugly. When a team emphasizes defense, that can happen. So be it. Last year, they gave up almost 102 points per game. This year, they've slowed the game down, and they're allowing only 88 points per game, fewest in the league. This is something they've worked on under coach Brian Hill. Back when I saw them at training camp with them in Jacksonville, that's what I constantly heard harped on. It's paying off. It showed in the 87-83 win over the Boston Celtics. The Magic even have Hedo Turkoglu thinking defensively. It used to be he'd scored 18 and the guy he covered would score 18. Granted, he still isn't making stops, but he's drawing the other team's top player, like Paul Pierce here Monday. Now, about these Celtics. Who's the leader? Not sure if it's Pierce. The word around here says Pierce is doing a much better job leading, but it's troubling to see his lack of eye contact with his coach, Doc Rivers, during the game Monday. During timeouts and breaks, you find him looking away and looking down. Teammates pick up on that. And this from the man you're looking to be your leader. Not good. Doc's tried that "tough love" by benching starting center Mark Blount last week for a game, hoping the other guys take notice. One thing about the Celtics is they don't have veteran presences this year like Gary Payton and Antoine Walker -- not necessarily vocal guys, but ones who know how to play. With the Celtics, you wonder: Do they have enough proven talent, or are they putting too much stock in potential? However, the Celtics (5-8) play in the Atlantic Division, so they're not necessarily going to sink to the bottom. If they were in the Central, they could be ticketed for last place. Orlando (7-6) is looking competitive in the Heat's Southeast Division. The guy I've been most impressed with is Steve Francis. Early on in the win over the Celtics, it didn't look like Delonte West could hold him. But Francis is focused on being more of a distributor this season. He took 15 shots on the way to 19 points, but most impressive in his line is this: Seven assists and one turnover. Up front, Dwight Howard really wants to be better, and he's always trying to improve. You see him trying to put that Tim Duncan 12- to 14-foot bank shot into his repertoire. And when you watch the game, he's often not impressive. But then you look at the box score against the Celtics and he has 10 points, 10 rebounds. And he had a big block of Blount's would-be game-tying shot with 12 seconds left. Defense! He reminds me of the way David Robinson approached the game. It's not that he makes it look easy, but he's only touched the tip of the iceberg as far as potential. Another key has been Jameer Nelson. He scored nine of his 16 points in the last 10 minutes of this game. He's this year's Mr. Fourth Quarter. Tuesday, his Magic face last year's Mr. Fourth Quarter, Ben Gordon. Down the road, the Celtics' fourth quarters, and all quarters, still need some sorting out. Kendrick Perkins, Dan Dickau, Al Jefferson, Justin Reed, Orien Greene -- we're talking a very young team here. With the Blount situation, it looks like Rivers is hoping to benefit from a "tough love" approach that coach Scott Skiles began using with the Bulls two years ago. It seems to be paying off now in Chicago. We'll see what happens in Boston.