NCAA game of the month: La Salle took 4 OT’s to beat Central Connecticut, 107-106 last night. LaSalle PG Darnell Harris hit two free throws with no time remaining to win it for the Explorers, who got 41 points and 11 boards from soon to be NBA lottery pick Steven Smith. Toronto kid Tristan Blackwood (pictured here) had 28 and 9 dimes for the Blue Devils…Speaking of Toronto kids…I watched UCLA beat Michigan 68-61 on the weekend and Mississauga’s Ryan Wright, who’s a freshman at UCLA played well getting 8 points and 8 rebounds on 4-5 shooting from the floor with two very big dunks to boot…as well as Wright played, Toronto’s own Javohn Sheppard who playes for Michigan got 2 minutes og burn recording no points…

Too Funny: Sonics point guard Luke Ridnour received three stitches to his forehead after being hit by the teeth of teammate Vitaly Potapenko during a pregame huddle before Friday night's win over the Blazers. ...

Reason # 87495 Isaih Thomas is an idiot: The Knicks draft pick in the Curry trade was not lottery protected…so if the Knicks end up with one of the top picks, which they're headed toward, they'll just hand it over to Chicago…but hey they still have San Antonio's pick from the Malik Rose trade…

Worst sports talk show ever: Quite Frankly, the hour-long interview show hosted by Stephen A. Smith started on Aug. 1 and has averaged an 0.18 rating or 161,000 households since its debut. The ratings for males 18-and-over is 0.12. The figures are through Dec. 14….why? It’s the worst show ever…honestly, bring on the re-runs of Magic Johnson’s talk show instead…this one is that bad…

Yao…Ow…Houston center Yao Ming is expected to miss several games after undergoing surgery Monday on his infected left big toe. The 7-foot-6 Yao, who is averaging 19.9 points and nine rebounds has a toe infected with osteomyelitis, a common inflammation of the bone caused by bacteria, the Rockets said. The Rockets said that Yao will require antibiotics and rest for several weeks in order to allow the infection to properly heal.

Raps win…after going 9-of-16 from behind the arc, including Morris Peterson 's winning 3-pointer with 8 seconds left, the Raps beat the Magic 92-90 last night. The Raptors are now 4-1 on the road in December. ''I guess we have the attitude that we're in unfamiliar territory and we have no one but ourselves, so we stick together,'' said point guard Mike James , one of five Toronto players in double figures with 13 points. Peterson and Chris Bosh each scored 19 points for Toronto, which snapped a three-game losing streak. Steve Francis scored 20 points and Jameer Nelson added 14 as the Magic lost for the seventh time in nine games. ''That's my bread-and-butter spot,'' Peterson said. ''If you get an open look like that in this league, you've got to knock down the shot and we were knocking them down tonight.'' ''With 2 seconds left you just try to get your best look and Jalen made a great pass to Mo,'' Toronto coach Sam Mitchell said.

Just like Tom has been telling us: Morris Peterson, who hit a 3-pointer from the left corner to give the Raptors a 92-88 lead over the Magic on Monday, called that his "bread and butter spot." Entering the game, Peterson had attempted 113 3-point field goals this season, 46 of which he shot from the left corner (41 percent). Another 23 attempts, 20 percent, have come from the right corner.

NCAA is fun exactly because you never know…DePaul beats Wake Forest by three in Winston-Salem and then loses to Old Dominion by 44…and ODU loses by 21 at Drexel and then, a week later, beats DePaul at home by 44…

Ouch…Washington Wizards guard Jarvis Hayes is out indefinitely after fracturing his right kneecap again. Hayes was diagnosed by team doctors on Monday. He was sent home from the Wizards' western road trip Saturday after feeling discomfort during the first quarter of Friday night's loss to the Los Angeles Lakers

1) Kelly Dwyer of Si.com reports that the Hawks and Hornets are cooking:

The meek shall inherit the NBA - Hawks, Hornets hint at methods behind the madness

The nights are long, the days are cold, but at least we have Zaza Pachulia's jump hooks to keep us warm. Call in the kiddies, light a candle and gather 'round for some the week's best and worst ...

Champs - First, a cold shower: the Hornets and Hawks probably aren't on the road back to respectability, despite some impressive wins recently. Both teams boast young and intriguing rosters full of developing talents alongside dubious ownership groups that employ beleaguered heads of personnel. It's hard to expect great things from both franchises with the lack of leadership coming from on high. As it stands, however, both squads are playing some of the best basketball in the NBA right now, and they deserve a little recognition, however fleeting. The 6-17 Hawks have won four of five, and while they haven't exactly developed a team-wide sense of cohesion and purpose, their possession-by-possession focus has improved immensely over the last week. Atlanta has some solid parts, and when coach Mike Woodson shortens the rotation and attacks mismatches with isolation play (shades of Don Nelson's finer days), the team can thrive. The team is winning with yin and thriving with yang, pulling out Ws in a couple of different ways. Though the Hawks registered just 12 assists in a win over the Spurs on Dec. 10, they've averaged 21.8 assists per game (up from 16.5 after San Antonio win) in the games since. And after missing nine of 10 3-point attempts in wins over the defending champs and the Cavaliers three nights later, they've gone on a tear in the three games since, hitting 60 percent of their 50 attempts. And yet, this probably wasn't what GM Billy Knight had in mind when he put this team together. Knight probably envisioned a series of like-minded, multi-talented players sharing the ball and creating matchup mismatches without having to dribble themselves into oblivion. Sadly, a group like that needs a point guard to make it all work, and while Knight has done a masterful job securing talents like Pachulia and John Edwards off the scrap heap, he's also given up way too much for free-agent signee Joe Johnson and missed on draft picks such as Josh Childress (drafted before Luol Deng, Andre Iguodala and Al Jefferson) and Marvin Williams (drafted ahead of Chris Paul and Deron Williams). Williams is only 19, but averaging 5.4 points and 4.4 rebounds in 22.6 minutes isn't going to cut it. Compare that with the similarly talented Shareef Abdur-Rahim, who averaged 18.7 points and 6.9 rebounds in 36 minutes as a 19-year old rookie. The 11-13 Hornets may not share Atlanta's overall talent level, but they've become a joy to watch and won three of five last week. Check out Chris Paul's numbers over the last five games: 18.4 points on 49 percent shooting, 7.2 rebounds a game with 8.4 assists, 3.2 steals and just 2.2 turnovers a game. The 6-foot tall Paul is boarding (6.2 per game this season) at a rate similar to Knicks wunderkind Channing Frye (6.5 caroms a night this year), and Frye might be the next Bob McAdoo. Among those helping Paul is 20-year-old J.R. Smith, who averaged 18.8 points over his last four contests before twisting an ankle in a Hornets win over the Spurs on Sunday. Although Smith could use his time more wisely than hoisting five 3-pointers a game in December, he appears poised to become a Rashard Lewis-lite. And speaking of poise, forward David West is developing far ahead of schedule (even after he lost 2004-05 to injury). It may just be me, but the Hornets' orthodox rotations seem built for longer term success than Atlanta's phalanx of swingmen. I'd love it if a group of 6-8 all-around types could take over the NBA, but until it happens, I'm sticking with what brought me here. As expected, the 10-13 Houston Rockets have gotten their act together, and have won six of seven. Even though he's still rounding into shape, Tracy McGrady has been a godsend in his return from a back injury, averaging 26.8 points per game alongside 12 combined assists and rebounds in a little more than 40 minutes a night. With the intangible pressure off him, Yao Ming averaged 21.9 points on 54 percent shooting with 9.3 rebounds over his last 10 games, before the real pressure of an inflamed big toe put him on the shelf as of Sunday. Worst case scenario? Yao is out for 10 days, which hurts, but the Rockets can survive. They play only four times during that span, with games against the Raptors, Nuggets (losers of three straight), Jazz and Hornets. I maligned them last week, but the forward duo of Ryan Bowen and Juwan Howard has improved, though not enough to warrant playing the minutes they're playing. Over the last five games, "Ry-Ju" has combined to average 13 points and 9.2 rebounds in 49.5 minutes per game. And, yes, I will continue to call them "Ry-Ju" because the name sounds like a character from those "Street Fighter" video games, and I like to yell "Ha-dooken" whenever Ry-Ju uncorks one of his nasty-looking jump shots.

Chumps - The Nuggets won just two of six games on their Eastern Conference road trip, following up a promising win over the Shaq-less Heat with losses to the Magic, Hawks, Nets and Cavs. Missing at various times has been Marcus Camby, Kenyon Martin, Earl Boykins and Greg Buckner. Boykins had played in 253 consecutive games before hitting the pine on Dec. 13 with a strained left hamstring. But Boykins seemed as if he could use the break; the Nuggets' spark plug was shooting just 37 percent in the nine games leading up to his trip to the inactive list.
Even with injuries burning holes in the roster, Carmelo Anthony has improved considerably over the last 10 months, while Andre Miller has continued his yeoman's work at the point guard slot. George Karl, by and large, has done a fantastic job with this team, but he wasn't brought in solely to win with a Nuggets team at full strength; almost any coach not named Michael Cooper could do that. Karl has to find a way to slog out wins even with important cogs missing in action, and so far, he's not getting the job done. This is still a good team, especially on the defensive end, but that hasn't prevented them from suffering breakdowns in late-game situations. In the fourth quarters of their last four losses, the Nuggets have been outscored by a total of 10 total points, which speaks to the importance of taking care of each possession in the clutch. Denver will play five of their next six at home to end the year, but this run includes games against the Spurs, Rockets, Sixers and Wizards, split up by a trip to Golden State. The Knicks are a mess, and Larry Brown has nobody but himself to blame -- though he's trying his damnedest to absolve himself of any blame for the team's 6-17 start. Clearly, this was a mismatched roster from the start -- something LB must also have known -- but even with this disparate group of talents, a .261 winning percentage is unacceptable. New York is losing in brutal fashion. Last week's run included defeats at the hands of the Bucks (by 20), the Magic (by 15), the Hawks (by 11) and the Ron Artest-less Pacers. Not exactly a murderer's row, especially when you play three out of four at home. To top it, every Knick outside of the rookie trio of Channing Frye, Nate Robinson and David Lee looks uncomfortable with their teammates. Each and every one of the veterans expects the veteran to his left and to his right to be the next to be shipped out, and if you watch this team's body language, it appears as if none of these Knicks think they are to blame for these pitiful showings. This issue probably deserves more than a pithy one paragraph, but the trend of calling either a block or charge on any drive that results in a lick of contact needs to stop. The NBA's referees did a tremendous job cleaning up the game last year, but these flops and fits are getting out of hand. It is possible for a player to drive the lane, brush past a stationed defender, and not have a foul committed. And this isn't to rail against the Derek Fisher-types who hit the deck at any given instant. There are just as many needless block calls going on this season as there are silly charges. The flow of the game is interrupted, players are limited by having to play through foul trouble and slashers are starting to worry about driving the lane -- which will wipe out any progress the league made last year when it started to enforce hand-checking rules.

The week ahead - The 9-13 Washington Wizards have hit a low point. They're a game and a half out of the Eastern playoff bracket, and they're coming off a nasty road loss to the money-makin' Portland Trail Blazers. Still stuck on the road, the Wizards will face the SuperSonics, Nuggets and Suns this week. If they're not careful, they'll celebrate "holiday" with a 9-16 record, with games against the Lakers, Suns and Heat looming. A loss to the Rockets on Sunday hasn't tempered the Lakers momentum, but they'll have a tough stretch over the next seven days. The Mavericks will be in town on Tuesday, ready to avenge a home loss the Lakers put on Avery Johnson's bunch last week. Statistically, this Mavericks team is one of the slowest in the league, and they'll force the Lakers out of their transition game with zones off of missed shots and nary an attempt at pulling in offensive rebounds. Things will slow down even further as the Lakers head to Orlando on Friday, before games against the Heat and Washington on Sunday and next Monday. The Lakers are going to have to rely on Phil Jackson's structured offense more than ever this week. The 13-12 Philadelphia 76ers have but two games (against the Warriors, in Atlanta) from now until Dec. 27. That's a lot of practice time, so will this be the week that coach Maurice Cheeks implements a balanced offensive attack that will take the ball out of Allen (33.4 points and 7.4 assists) Iverson's hands? Stop laughing. With Andrei Kirilenko (15.2 points, 10.8 rebounds, five assists, 4.8 combined blocks and steals over his last five games) and Mehmet Okur starting to kick a little ass, we'll get a good idea of just where the Utah Jazz stand among the Western playoff contenders this week. Though they're at 11-13 now, Utah is just two games behind the eighth-place Lakers, and they're looking at three winnable road games in Cleveland, Boston and New York. After an exciting start, the 6-18 Charlotte Bobcats have fallen past the Hawks and into the dregs of the Southeast Division, but they could pull off a solid week. The Bobcats have games against the Kings, Bulls and Clippers -- three teams that, for a variety of reasons, chafe at having to play against pressure defense. Don't be surprised if the Cats pull two of three. On the other end, don't be surprised if Charlotte's opponents use the extra pass to shoot the Bobcats into their 19th, 20th and 21st losses. The Bucks have just two games between Dec. 18 and 25, and we're really looking forward to how they hold up at home against the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday. San Antonio has given some games away over the last week with poor execution (!) and poor free-throw shooting from Tim Duncan and Brent Barry (!!), so the champs are pretty peeved. The last time the Spurs out-rebounded an opponent was Dec. 9, and the big ol' Bucks could have their way on the glass.

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

10 things we learned this week

It took a little longer this year, but it's always impossible not to get excited about Grant Hill being activated and back on the floor for the Orlando Magic. After missing the first 19 games of the season with a sports hernia, it's a heck of a lot more encouraging to see him back now as opposed to playing in just 47 out of a possible 328 games from 2000-04 when he suffered through four ankle surgeries.

1. Item: The Magic have been struggling to keep their heads above water with the ninth best record in the Eastern Conference so far, but remain in striking distance due to Steve Francis, Dwight Howard, Hedo Turkoglu, DeShawn Stevenson, Jameer Nelson and a handful of role players. What this really means: They split the first two games upon Hill's return, but the simple fact that he had 28 points, six rebounds, three assists and two steals in his debut at Dallas is a reminder of how we've really missed one of the great players of this era in his prime. They pushed the Mavericks before losing by six, then crushed the Knicks in New York in his second game. Now, 33, Hill was essentially non-existent for the Magic the first four seasons of his maximum contract, and just got his feet back on the ground last season. To have lost the prime years is a travesty not only for Hill, but for the league. With all the negative publicity the NBA has gotten about its stars, they really missed perhaps the brightest and classiest player representing them off the floor because he was rarely capable of stepping foot on the floor. So for however long we have him, let's appreciate it … no doubt Magic coach Brian Hill will.

2. Item: The Minnesota Timberwolves entered the week having lost four in a row since winning nine of 11, but at 12-10 they are the only team in the Northwest Division playing above .500. What this really means: Let's leave the rest of the division for another time — the Nuggets, Sonics, Jazz and Blazers all have their own problems. Meanwhile, back in the Twin Cities, the Wolves lost the first three games of their present losing streak by a grand total of five points. They lost by a point in overtime to Philadelphia — highlighted by the showdown between Kevin Garnett and Chris Webber, with Webber making a clutch block on Garnett late in the game. They lost by two to San Antonio, and lost by two to Sacramento on a Bonzi Wells 3-pointer at the buzzer. In other words, the T-Wolves are playing everybody close, and they're just figuring out how to consistently execute offensively down the stretch of games for new coach Dwane Casey. But clearly Casey has gotten through to them on the defensive end. Besides, with Garnett averaging 21.3 points, 12.3 rebounds and 5.0 assists during the losing streak, this reversal of fortune figures to be temporary, doesn't it?

3. Item: Speaking of Webber, he just completed a three-game run of averaging 26.3 points, 12.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists, looking a lot more like the pre-knee surgery Webber who was an All-NBA forward. What this really means: Webber could be the poster player for recovery from micro-fracture knee surgery … we're now into the third season. Perhaps more importantly, Webber, All-Star guard Allen Iverson and Sixers coach Maurice Cheeks are starting to figure it out. Sure, they're still hot and cold, struggling to get above .500, but they've already had some good runs and Samuel Dalembert is still getting into the floor after beginning the season on the injured list — initially with a hip strain, followed by a quad strain. Nonetheless, the Sixers do have the tools to win the weak Atlantic Division, and for the first time this decade, it is more contingent on somebody else than Iverson — and that would be Webber. As the best passing power forward of this generation and maybe ever, if the Sixers run their offense through him, he'll go a long way toward making the game easier for Iverson and everyone else around him. It would be refreshing if the buzz about Webber were positive for a change.

4. Item: On second thought … Part II of the latest preposterous episode of Ron Artest, NBA nutcase, has Artest and his agent publicly reconsidering his desire to be traded by the Indiana Pacers because he didn't like coach Rick Carlisle's offense. What this really means: The days of giving Artest the benefit of the doubt are over for the Pacers. The sooner Donnie Walsh finds a deal — any deal – he's comfortable with, the better. The chemistry will change because they'll obviously get players worthy of minutes. More importantly, the toxic spirit of Artest from the locker room can only benefit this team. This is particularly disconcerting for All-Star forward Jermaine O'Neal. Say what you want about O'Neal, but not only is he a top-10 player in this league, but he's a top-10 standup guy. Despite a glowing public image, he put his reputation on the line and sullied it for Artest in the Palace Brawl last year. It cost J-O 15 games, plenty of money and even today severely damages one of the best franchises in the NBA. Now he wants out? Those days are over and the Pacers would be better off even if they dealt him to the San Diego Clippers for a 1983 first round draft choice.

5. Item: That ominous feeling everybody in the Eastern Conference has right now doesn't appear to be temporary. It's almost as if Miami Heat owner Micky Arison called in the cavalry to rescue his teetering team when Shaquille O'Neal returned from an 18-game absence with an ankle injury and Pat Riley replaced Stan Van Gundy as coach beginning in Chicago on Dec. 13. What this really means: It now no longer matters how deep the love is between Riley and Van Gundy, his trusty lieutenant. Van Gundy tired of the situation and let Riley have it with his resignation Now we'll see. They were 10-10, then won O'Neal's first four games back and Riley's first three as coach before losing to LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers to temporarily spoil the fun. There is no doubting the spectacular play and game-winning capability of Dwyane Wade every night. The question is how Riley's controlling nature will affect O'Neal, along with veterans Antoine Walker, Gary Payton, James Posey and Jason Williams. Riley is a tough guy and he does bring four championship rings to the table. Alonzo Mourning is the only player really familiar with what it's like to play for him. But keep in mind Riles, now 60, was really burnt out when he left the team to Van Gundy seemingly minutes before the 2003-04 season and climbed into the front office. He's 60, needs hip replacement surgery, has won only two playoff series the past 10 years. Nonetheless, it's doubtful he is willing to bend to O'Neal's silliness about his weight or anything else. Consequently, the most exciting and controversial 24 months in franchise history are unfolding right now.

6. Item: The New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets played their first game in Louisiana this season when they lost 101-88 to the Phoenix Suns at the Pete Maravich center in Baton Rouge before 7,302 — nearly 10,000 less than capacity. What this really means: The future of the Hornets in New Orleans continues to remain dicey unless the NBA promises to subsidize the franchise. Even though the game was the first of six to be played at Baton Rouge, not New Orleans, the issues surrounding the recovery from Hurricane Katrina have the Hornets so far down the totem pole that it just may not be financially viable. It's so touchy for commissioner David Stern and even for the people of Oklahoma City, nobody can breathe a word about the obvious. Of course, it would seem like they are kicking a city when it's down, but the Hornets weren't working there anyway — even after just five seasons. The Hornets are an exciting young team coached by Byron Scott and they're averaging 18,500 in Oklahoma City, a growing city clamoring to become major league. What isn't fair is to keep moving this team around. This is the third city in six seasons and it's impossible to build long-time commitments until this team gets settled. It's too early for the big decision, but it's also naïve to exclude Oklahoma City from the big picture equation.

7. Item: The Los Angeles Lakers won three out of four and eight of 11 to move a few games over .500 and gain at least some traction in the Western Conference playoff picture. What this really means: The effect of coach Phil Jackson's return is beginning to take hold, even if they are limited with talent and depth. This is his ultimate test … not only getting Kobe Bryant to buy into his scheme and actually execute what he professes, but developing Lamar Odom and coaxing the rest of the team to grow around those two players. For his entire career, Jackson has been dodging shots from the peanut gallery because he had great teams there for him with the Bulls and Lakers, but the fact of the matter is they didn't win before he came and they didn't win after he left. But this team is considerably less talented than either previous stop. This will show not only his basketball IQ, but teaching and motivational skills. Here's guessing those nine rings he won as a coach (not to mention two with the Knicks as a player) will hypnotize this group of Lakers and carry them into the playoffs. After all, he's one of the most underrated defensive coaches of this generation.

8. Item: The Houston Rockets now are 10-5 with Tracy McGrady in the lineup after going 0-8 without him. What this really means: Funny, how they suddenly look like a playoff team again after everybody was writing them off with the query: "What's wrong with the Rockets?" Well, let's see, it's like taking Kobe off the Lakers, LeBron off the Cavs, Dwyane off the Heat … you get the picture. This guy is the key to the team. That's not to underestimate the value of Yao Ming, without whom they are 1-0 since he hurt his BIG right toe and is out indefinitely. But Yao is just a key component. McGrady is the electricity that makes the team run. So much of the West is mediocre this season that they didn't lose too much ground in the playoff hunt, but it all but eliminated them from getting homecourt advantage in the first round. And one new face who might benefit more than anybody else is rookie Luther Head, who might just be the answer their looking for at the other backcourt position. But the face that matters most is clearly McGrady's.

9. Item: Don't look now, but the woebegone Atlanta Hawks entered the week having won four of five, including wins over the Spurs, Nuggets, Cavaliers and the Knicks. What this really means: They're not quite as bad as everybody says, just incredibly young and inexperienced. Joe Johnson the lightning rod for change of personnel and ownership after a sign-and-trade from Phoenix with a maximum contract, has been extraordinary. The past two games, he's averaged 33.0 points, 7.0 assists and 4.5 rebounds — while making 12-of-18 from 3-point range. Over the five games he's put up 24.6 points, 6.6 assists and 5.2 rebounds. Yes, he can play. So can Al Harrington, the free agent to be and the subject of trade rumors. Whereas Johnson had 36 points on 6-of-7 from beyond the arc in the 11-point win over the Knicks, Harrington had 35, including 6-of-6 from 3-point range. And young Josh Smith added a whopping eight blocks in that game. So when you toss in solid center Zaza Pachulia, second-year wing Josh Childress and rookies Marvin Williams and Salim Stoudamire, maybe we should all be listening to general manager Billy Knight, sit back and be patient. Let's give coach Mike Woodson at least a full season with this group to see what kind of progress can be made. As it is, they're obviously dangerous.

10. Item: Although the New Jersey Nets are just one game out of first place in the Atlantic Division, they are 11-12, and as unpredictable from night to night as the process that has them moving from the Meadowlands to Brooklyn. What this really means: The Nets have won two in a row, but had lost five of eight before that. It's just hard to fathom in the Eastern Conference when you have Jason Kidd, Vince Carter and Richard Jefferson to build around — plus very talented young 7-footer Nenad Krstic — that you can't get the team to play better than .500 ball for any length of time. Carter has averaged 26.8 over the last five games, but the bumps and bruises always take their toll on him. He remains among the most talented and exciting players in the league, but he's not playing at the same level as he did at the end of last season when he led them to their unlikely playoff appearance. But a lot of this falls on coach Lawrence Frank. Sure, his defensive principles are important, but let's be frank, Lawrence. With Kidd, Carter and Jefferson, the only chance this team has to win big is to run like the Phoenix Suns and dare teams to outscore them. Slowing them to a defensive-oriented, halfcourt team is like asking Bobby Labonte, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon to race on bikes.

3) Greg Anthony of ESPN.com thinks Elton is it:

Choosing the leading Brand

To me, the Most Valuable Player award should always go the player who has the greatest impact in making his team a winner. Individual stats can be deceiving -- the MVP isn't necessarily the best player statistically. But my current leader in the MVP race is impressive by any measure of numbers, and he's boosting a team to some newfound winning ways. That kind of combination is tough to beat. So here's how the chase stacks up:

1. Elton Brand, Clippers forward -- The Clippers are in first place. I don't think anybody in their right mind would have said that coming into the season. Brand's scoring at a career-high average (25.0), but what's most impressive is his turnovers are down to a career-low 2.0 per game. He's an undersized (6-8) power forward who never takes a night off. I think he can keep up this MVP pace; the question is, can his team keep pace with him?

2. Allen Iverson, Sixers guard -- The most intimidating ballplayer at 6-foot to ever play the game has matured. He's got his team in first in the worst division, but that still means a playoff berth. The NBA's leading scorer (33.4) is shooting better than he ever has (45 percent). And he's flirting with a career-low in turnovers (3.0). Impressive.

3. Steve Nash, Suns guard -- You couldn't have an MVP list without last year's winner. Nash has kept his team in the thick of things without Amare. And I think he's playing much better D this year than in years past.

4. Tim Duncan, Spurs forward -- His numbers (20 ppg, 12 rpg) never blow you away, but his game does. When you look at his overall impact, you've got to put him on the list. He's the best power forward to play the game when you judge him on what he's done -- win, and win a lot.

5. LeBron James, Cavaliers forward. He and his team are obviously getting better, and the offensive numbers show it. But he's been poor defensively since he's come into the league. He's got to become more dominant defensively. When he does that, that's when his whole team goes to another level.

ON THE FIVE FRINGE - Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki and Lakers guard Kobe Bryant are two guys who have stood out, and one of them could end up winning it. It's not like a top five and big drop. The Lakers' team is playing great D, much better than they did than did a year ago. Dirk has continued to take his game to another level as a leader. Statistically he's always been there.

MVP-LIKE SEASONS, BUT WITH LITTLE CHANCE TO WIN - Celtics forward Paul Pierce is having a phenomenal season. Now if he played on better team with a point guard…Nuggets center Marcus Camby changes a game defensively. This is his best season ever for rebounds (NBA-leading 13.3 per game). Where would Denver be without him? And of course, Timberwolves forward Kevin Garnett is exceptional. What else is new? Finally, how about the MVP for the Detroit Pistons starting five? The durabilty and the teamwork they put out is worthy of the game's highest individual honor.

4) Peter Vescey of the New York Post rips on Isaih as usual:

DOUBTING THOMAS

AS someone once splen didly stiffed by Peter Kalikow during his transitory overcast ownership of The Post, I urge Transport Workers' envoys to make damn sure they're properly inoculated against highbrow reptiles. Then again, if I were union boss Roger Toussaint I'd refuse to negotiate with the MTA Chairman, any of his representatives, even Kevin Spacey. The only New York executive I'd agree to bargain money, years, medical benefits and other perks with is Isiah Thomas, who's making a luxurious living as Knick president of basketball operations Doling out or assuming corpulent contracts. What's absolutely alarming is Thomas' President Bush-like assertion over the weekend. Out of one tonsil he claims he wouldn't change any of 350-odd personnel moves since replacing Scott Layden two years ago this Thursday. Out of his other tonsil Thomas says had he known Larry Brown would be the team's coach he may have altered some offseason alterations. "There are players on the team he probably wouldn't have wanted or wouldn't have picked," Thomas said on WFAN without a ripple of retort. In other words, Thomas is telling us his hand-picked, pedestrian players would've been just groovy for Phil Jackson or P.J. Carlesimo or Herb Williams to coach. On the other hand, some fail to meet the snobbish standards of Brown, who's supposedly an expert at turning mincemeat into filet minion. What, it's OK to stick another coach with a bunch of slop and expect him to make the best of the situation, but Brown should be better provided for? Either Thomas is convinced those he's rounded up during the renovation of his first roster renovation can compete at the NBA level/playoff plateau, or he admits he has misjudged his accrued talent a wee bonnie bit. Either Thomas wanted the players or they're all about under-the-table deals with agents for celestial clients in the future. Either they can ball or they should be ordered to take their balls and go home. Either Thomas is completely in charge of overseeing personnel decisions or he's going to defer to a hired hand; in that case, hopefully the door will hit him on the way out of Two Penn Plaza. What's it gonna be, Isiah? You can't have it both ways. You're oscillating at an unsafe speed and rapidly losing all remaining credibility. Either Brown can coach or Stephon Marbury's contract isn't the only bloated one Camp Cablevision is going to wind up ingesting. Either Brown can make a difference where others have proved inferior, or his reputation is a fable of a myth of a fairy tale. Either Brown's a great teacher or he's not. Anybody can stand up in front of a classroom of smart students and take credit for the results. If his slower students aren't learning, why should he be considered a great teacher? Either Brown, as advertised, can make the most of the least (from what I saw against the Pacers there's a lot more competence in supply than Brown is letting on), or all these years you've been operating under false pretenses. Either you've been fakin' it or you're for real. Which is it, Larry? It can't be both ways. THIS JUST IN: The Knicks are such a bad watch, President Bush has no interest in spying on them. Just so there's no misunderstanding, Ron Artest's apology to one and all in Pacer Place has been for naught; Donnie Walsh and Larry Bird are committed to trading him as quickly as possible, which isn't helping them in their pursuit of Al Harrington in a three-way deal. Sources say Hawk GM Billy Knight is in hurry to move his rising free agent. That's true more than ever now that Atlanta has won four out of five and appears to be playing unselfishly. A Sonic source says Seattle, for all intents and purposes, bailed out of the bidding for Artest when it categorically declined to stuff Nick Collison in the stocking. After eyeballing Danny Granger for the first time in person, I'm calling out Rick Carlisle (again) for not giving the rookie forward the quality minutes he earned in training camp and the exhibition season. He shouldn't have had to wait for Artest to be sent to his room to get regular daylight. All it took was just one look (dozen points, half dozen rebounds, three fourth-quarter blocks, from a small forward, no less) to comprehend the acreage of Granger's boundaries. He's not good, he's really, really good: He's a lethal shooter inside or out; an uncompromising defensive force; quick to find the open man, particularly when that man is hot (Sarunas Jasikevicius) and deadlier than him. No wonder Pacer management isn't flinching about trading Artest. THIS JUST IN: Artest's agent just called and claimed his client wants to remain a Bull.

5) Brian Schmitz of the Orlando Sentinel with an enlightening article on Steve Francis, who for the record I can’t stand:

Francis continues to make amends

Before we tell you why in the world a bleary-eyed Steve Francis would get up at 7 a.m. in New York for a meeting he requested at NBA headquarters, we first must go back in time. Seven years ago, Francis, in effect, thumbed his nose at the Vancouver Grizzlies, extremely sensitive Canadians, Brian Hill and a man named Stu Jackson. The Grizzlies had selected Francis in the 1999 NBA draft with the No. 2 pick, but he refused to report. Vancouver had no choice but to trade him to the Houston Rockets. At the time, Hill was the Grizzlies coach and Jackson was the general manager. Francis and Hill talked about their past this summer after Hill returned as the Magic's coach. Jackson left Vancouver and has been in the NBA's front office since 2000 as senior vice president of basketball operations. He has been the league's top cop, doling out fines and punishment. Francis generally kept his distance from Jackson, although Steve-O's rap sheet with refs has kept them linked indirectly through the years. Whether real or imagined, Steve-O has believed Jackson has been out to get him. That Jackson worked behind the scenes to torpedo his bid to play in previous Olympics. That Jackson has been harsh in dealing with his technical-foul-filled blowups with refs and other indiscretions, such as his suspension for kicking a courtside photographer last season. Veiled vengeance for Vancouver, Francis figured. "There's been so many incidences where I had no other choice but to think something like that," Francis said. But the Sentinel has learned that last Wednesday morning, before the Magic's shoot-around in New York, Francis met with Jackson at his office for their first heart-to-heart. Francis asked for the sit-down and said he's glad the air is cleared. "Yeah, man. It was a good conversation with Stu," he said. "I went to him to voice some things. "He gave me straight-up answers. I only have one NBA career -- that's what I told him -- and he's going to probably be in that office forever, and hopefully we can co-exist." Francis said he and Jackson talked about his past and present on-court behavior. A perennial league-leader in technical fouls, he has been whistled for two this season. Francis said he also made it clear to Jackson that he wants a chance to represent the United States in the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. "I definitely want to be a part of that," Francis said. "Stu was telling me about the commitment you have to make." Francis didn't "bring up" the Vancouver snub with Jackson, but Steve-O conceded his virtual cold war with him can be traced to his draft bailout. "I think so . . . of course," he said. He wanted Jackson to know he's not the "old Steve Francis" anymore and not to hold past transgressions against him. Francis said that five years ago he didn't have the maturity to "talk to that guy," meaning Jackson. The new Steve Francis is growing. It's just the latest in a series of positive changes Francis has made in his life. He became a father this summer and turns 29 in February. He's still a work in progress, however, facing a multimillion-dollar civil suit stemming from a June bar brawl. Francis' agent, Jeff Fried, said Francis was not involved in the incident. "I'm making strides to be a better person on and off the court," Francis said. "I'll keep surprising you."***20-Second Timeout: Catching up with . . . Darrell Armstrong - Darrell Armstrong has played the past two seasons with the Dallas Mavericks, but he became a hustling fan favorite when he joined Orlando in 1994. He played nine seasons with the Magic, earning Sixth Man of the Year and Most Improved Player awards in the 1998-99 season. At 37, Armstrong hopes to play another season, retire and get into coaching. Magic Confidential: You're a guy everybody wants to see play forever. How tough is it in the twilight? Armstrong: You start reflecting on everything. It's going to be hard for me. I'll miss the locker room and the camaraderie. MC: You made the most of your career after getting a late start. Armstrong: I was undrafted and didn't break in until I was 26. Couple semi-pro leagues, overseas . . . It was meant for me to be here in the NBA. MC: Do you think your legacy will be as a guy who collected floor burns? Armstrong: That's my trademark. Everybody knows I try to leave it all on the floor Everybody remembers Michael Jordan and Karl Malone, the Hall of Fame guys. Fans and coaches remember guys who gave hustle to the game. It's not about all-stars, points. . . . It's about playing hard, the way the old-school guys played it. They didn't wear sweatbands, rubber bands, headbands. MC: You'd like to become a coach? Armstrong: My ideal thing? Be a head coach in the WNBA. The season is perfect, 30-some games, summertime . . . Plus, I have a 14-year-old daughter who's playing. MC: I take it you'll always feel like a Magic player. Armstrong: I'll always have that team in my heart. ***Tuesday's Two Cents - Freedom of speech obviously is not recognized by the NBA. It has fined Indiana Pacers swingman Ron Artest for a lot of things, but why $10,000 for simply saying he wanted to be traded? Sometimes voicing your unhappiness to the media is a player's only outlet. Artest can't go to the union and gripe, however. It agreed to punishment for players making disparaging remarks when it signed the collective bargaining agreement . . . Memo to trade-niks: The Magic are better off without Artest. He's Dennis Rodman, only better-dressed. I'll spare you all the new-age psychobabble euphemisms regarding the troubled Artest. It's like Chris Rock joked: "Whatever happened to crazy?" . . . I think Knicks Coach Larry Brown is trying to figure out his exit strategy from New York. . . . Can Miami Heat Coach Pat Riley now get a Viagra and a Vitalis endorsement? Scoop Dogg I -- When the time comes, former Magic guard Darrell Armstrong will ask the club if he can sign a one-day contract and retire as a Magic player. II -- Former Magic forward Dennis Scott has been approached about coaching in the WNBA. ***At the Arena - The first 2,500 fans who attend the Magic game against the New Jersey Nets on Wednesday night will receive an autographed photo of Travis Diener, Keyon Dooling or Hedo Turkoglu. Wednesday: New Jersey Nets at Magic. Former N.J. assistant Brian Hill brought the Nets' "Princeton" offense to Magic. Apparently, it no longer works for Princeton. The Tigers recently scored just 21 points against Monmouth (N.J.), matching their lowest total in 70 years. Friday: L.A. Lakers at Magic. Phil and Kobe. It's been so sweet I expect Kobe to jump up and down on Oprah's couch. Monday: Milwaukee Bucks at Magic. After scoring 30 in a 20-point rout of the Knicks recently, Michael Redd will arrive with his shooting arm in a locked-and-upright position.