Big Wayne going around the Big Dipper...who is Wayne Embry anyway? That’s the question I seem to be getting a fair bit…well, here’s the lowdown:

Wayne Embry 6’8” 250 lbs. PF…In College at Miami of Ohio he was a Two-time All-Mid-American Conference selection, and a 2 time Sporting News Honorable Mention All-America (1957, 1958)…In the pros he played for the Cincinnati Royals, Boston Celtics and the Milwaukee Bucks garnering Five straight NBA All-Star selections from (1961-65) and an NBA championship with Boston Celtics (1968)…as a player for his career he averaged 12.5 PPG and 9.1 RPG, but his best years from 1960-61 to 1964-65 he averaged 16.6 PPG and 11.6 RPG…he was kind of like a shorter, wider, tougher PJ Brown…He is a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame as a contributor for being the first African American to be an NBA General Manager, Milwaukee Bucks (1971-79), an Vice President & General Manager, Cleveland Cavaliers (1985-92), an Executive Vice President, Cleveland Cavaliers (1992-94), and an NBA Team President and Chief Operating Officer, Cleveland Cavaliers (1994-present). He was a 2 time Sporting News NBA Executive of the Year (1992, 1998)…He also wrote a fantastic book called “The Inside Game - Race, Power, and Politics in the NBA”…there…now you know…

So…Kobe is averaging nearly 46 points a game in January. What can defenders do to slow him down? Somebody asked ABC's Scottie Pippen, regarded as one of the finest perimeter stoppers in history: "It's hard for me to say, because the game is so open now. There are no hard traps in today's game. You can't touch guys. You can't give a hard foul. Tony Parker is leading the league in points in the paint -- I never thought a point guard could shoot that high of a percentage. But obviously he's getting to the hole a lot. "The rules [limiting contact on the perimeter] have really changed the game. When Michael Jordan used to score 40 points, that was a huge headline, national news. Now 40 points doesn't even make you pay attention to SportsCenter. Fifty points is not even shocking. I think I've seen more 40-point and 50-point games in the last few years than I've seen in my whole life."

Well…it’s all over now…Five teams in NBA history have started a season 35-5 like the Pistons have this season ... and all five wound up winning the championship. The 1995-96 Bulls (72-10), 1971-72 Lakers (69-13) and 1996-67 76ers (68-13) opened with 37-3 records en route to a championship. The Bulls also started 35-5 in 1996-97 (69-13) and 1991-92 (67-15) and won it all both times.

If you’ve got time to kill…and your office door is closed…http://msn.foxsports.com/other/pgStory?contentId=5266564

LeBron James said Monday he declined the NBA's request that he participate in the NBA's All-Star dunk contest. He will, however, be in the skills challenge. "They didn't beg or plead, I just declined," he said before the Cavaliers' game against the Charlotte Bobcats. "They asked me to do something else, so I said yes."

About time…the Utah Jazz have announced that they will retire Karl Malone's No. 32 and unveil a statue of the two-time MVP on March 23 when the Jazz host the Washington Wizards. Malone, who played all but one of his 19 NBA seasons in Utah, will be the seventh member of the Jazz to be honored with a retired number and the first since John Stockton's No. 12 last spring. The pick-and-roll combination of Stockton-to-Malone will be on display permanently outside the arena with two bronze statues. The bronze statue of Stockton was put in last March, next to an empty pedestal already in place for Malone. Jazz owner Larry Miller announced the date of Malone's ceremony after the first quarter of Utah's game against San Antonio on Monday. Malone scored 36,928 points in 18 seasons with the Jazz and one with the Lakers before retiring last February.

Revenge is sweet…remember the trade between the Celtics and the T-Wolves? You know Wallyworld for Ricky Buckets? Well, for one night at least little known PG Marcus Banks was the best player in the deal…Last night, Banks had a season-high 20 points and six assists and Mark Blount added 16 points and 10 rebounds to support Kevin Garnett's 15 points and nine boards in Minnesota's 110-85 victory. To refresh, last Thursday, the Timberwolves sent Szczerbiak, centers Michael Olowokandi and Dwayne Jones and a conditional first-round pick to the Celtics for swingman Ricky Davis, Blount, Banks, forward Justin Reed and two second-round picks. Szczerbiak had 22 points in the losing effort.

1) Chris Sheriden reports on the now banned Birdman:
'Birdman' has colorful past, poignant

By the time Chris Andersen is eligible to return to the NBA, his arms should be as colorful as those alternate road uniforms he used to wear for the Hornets. There's a fascinating human interest story behind the first player banned from the league for a major drug policy violation since Stanley Roberts in 1999. Andersen is the son of a second-generation Motor Maid, a woman who grew up on Harley-Davidson motorcycles. His mother, Linda, could probably tell you where Sturgis is before she could tell you who Stockton was. She brought young Chris along when she went for her first orchid tattoo, later adding hummingbirds and butterflies, and Andersen returned the favor the first time he had ink injected under his skin. But Andersen spent 3½ of his formative years without his mother. His father, an artist, put him and his sister, Tamie, into a group home when he was 11. It was either that or a military school, because dad was heading off to New York to try to sell his paintings. Linda regained custody after initially being unable to find them and brought them back to rural east Texas, where she would pick 14-year-old Chris up from school on her chopper. Andersen's mom took her Harleys seriously, mind you, because it ran in the family. She says her mother (Andersen's grandmother) was riding the back of a Harley when pregnant with her. Andersen eventually became one of 34 members of the Class of '97 at Iola High School, and after a year and a half of community college, he ditched his letter of commitment to Clyde Drexler's University of Houston Cougars and decided to go for the money by playing professionally in China, where he faced Yao Ming before hardly anyone in America had heard of him. Andersen eventually played minor league ball in North Dakota and New Mexico before the Nuggets saw him in a summer league tryout. Known as "The Birdman," he was a hit with the free-spirited home fans in Denver and later New Orleans and Oklahoma City, and gained some national fame (or shame), by missing his first seven attempts at the dunk contest in Denver last year. (A year earlier, he spiked his hair for the dunk contest in L.A.) Andersen apparently failed a drug test last week, testing positive for one of the so-called "drugs of abuse" (including heroin, cocaine, amphetamines, LSD and PCP) that bring an automatic two-year banishment. No one has said exactly which substance Andersen tested positive for, but the players' union has filed a grievance on his behalf. Citing strict confidentiality rules that have cost high-ranking people their jobs when breached in the past, the union has not even disclosed the grounds for Andersen's appeal. Under league rules, the four-year, $14 million contract Andersen signed over the summer is now null and void. If his dismissal is upheld and he misses two seasons, the Hornets will have first dibs on Andersen should he be reinstated. If they were to want to bring him back, they'd have to tender him a contract at his old salary of $3.5 million. Not to be trite, but it really is a shame that Andersen just threw away more than $12 million. He seemed like a good guy every time I spoke to him. We once discussed the specifics of his tattoos, how one arm was tattooed with the Chinese symbols for good, the other with the symbols for bad. He also had the outlines of a few new tattoos on his arms and shoulders, explaining that it was an ongoing process to have all of the colors filled in. He expected it to take years, but I guess he'll have the extra time for it now.

2) Chris Ekstrand of Si.com with an early draft report:

Ten to watch - NBA scouts focused on these talented collegians

The 2006 NBA Draft will serve as a rebirth for college basketball players. For years now, college players have languished as the draft increasingly became the domain of relentlessly hyped international players and high schoolers jumping directly to the pros. Now, the new Collective Bargaining Agreement prohibiting high school seniors from entering the draft and a weak international class will help college players return to prominence on June 28. With about five months to go before the draft, it's the time of year when so-called draft experts pepper you with provocative predictions about who will go where. Mock drafts, the opium du jour of the weak-minded masses, are spawned and multiply by the day. Of course, a 41-point explosion by Gonzaga's Adam Morrison (vs. San Francisco, Jan. 23) or a four-point stinker by Duke's Shelden Williams (vs. Georgetown, Jan. 21) is enough to spur many prognosticators into action, with the player in question charging up the draft board with a bullet or sinking out of the first round entirely. Let's get a grip. It's January. Players are scouted and reputations are forged over an entire season and an entire college career, not one great or one bad game. NBA scouts watch for players who display improving skill level, consistent effort and consistent performance against high-level competition. I'd like to say one more thing about mock drafts while I'm on my soapbox. If you could get an honest answer out of an NBA GM, he'd tell you he has no idea who he will pick in June. Opinions change, and when you are evaluating the progress and potential of 19- to 21-year-olds, evaluations can shift at the 11th hour. I'll never forget what happened in 1995 to Antonio McDyess, who was a complementary player most of the season in an equal opportunity Alabama offense that spread shot attempts between McDyess and seniors Jamal Faulkner and Jason Caffey. Following the regular season, everyone at Alabama (including McDyess) and in the NBA thought he would be back for his junior year. Then McDyess blew up in the SEC Tournament, snagging 45 rebounds in three games. He followed that with 39 points and 19 rebounds against Penn in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. In the second round against highly-regarded Oklahoma State and Bryant "Big Country" Reeves, McDyess had 22 points and 17 rebounds in a loss. Overall, in five games that were heavily scouted by NBA teams, McDyess had averaged 21.4 points and 16.2 rebounds per game. He went from a likely spot on the '96 preseason All-SEC team to the second overall pick in the entire '95 draft in a matter of weeks. The moral of the McDyess story is don't let anyone sell you on the idea that they have the whole thing figured out in January. Instead, what I offer here are thumbnails of 10 players (in no particular order) who NBA teams are watching carefully this season, and the names of 15 more "persons of interest" for NBA scouts. I don't claim that all of these players will be first-round picks come June, or even that the 10 underclassmen on this list will apply for the draft. But at this early stage, these are players whose achievements have lifted them into strong first-round consideration. In the near future, we will discuss the list of international players who may be in the 2006 draft. But for now, we'll give the college players the spotlight they have earned.

LaMarcus Aldridge, Texas, 6-foot-10, 237 pounds, Sophomore Key Stats: 16.4 ppg, 9.4 rpg, 61.8 FG%, 2.1 bpg You had to look quick to see Aldridge in '04-05 before a hip injury ended his season on Jan. 15. But the 16 games he played last season hardly matter now. Aldridge doesn't even resemble the freshman of last year. One of the more agile, athletic, running big men to play college basketball in recent years, everything Aldridge does this season has the unmistakable air of confidence to it. He has always moved well on the court, but he is finishing near the basket with a unknown panache. Playing with P.J. Tucker and Daniel Gibson, Aldridge takes just 10.5 shots per game, but he makes nearly 62 percent of them and he's going to the line more often this season. Aldridge is sweeping the glass on both ends this year and he's getting in plenty of shot blocks and intimidations as well. NBA scouts salivate when they think about his frame with another 15 to 20 pounds of muscle on it.

Ronnie Brewer, Arkansas, 6-7, 217, Junior Key Stats: 18.6 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 2.8 apg, 2.8 spg (12th in nation) Yep, no doubt about it, I'm getting old. It seems like just a few years ago that Ron Brewer, a gifted 6-4 scoring guard, was finishing up an excellent, although injury-shortened career in the NBA. But actually it's been 20 years since then, and here's Ronnie, 20 years old and looking ahead to his own NBA career in the not-so-distant future. Ronnie is a different player than his Dad, long and lanky and very versatile, more of a utilityman and less of a stone scorer. Ronnie is a coach's dream, making all kinds of helpful plays -- grabbing a key steal, leading a fast break, disrupting defenses by breaking down his man and creating a shot for a teammate where none existed before. Brewer is one of those players who will rarely lead his (NBA) team in scoring, but like former NBA forward Derrick McKey or current Milwaukee Bucks' swingman Bobby Simmons, he'll make six or seven plays over the course of a game that really help you win.

Nick Fazekas, Nevada, 6-11, 235, Junior Key Stats: 20.7 ppg, 9.0 rpg, 52.7 FG%, 84.8 FT% It's often said of shooters that they've never met a shot they didn't like. In the case of Fazekas, we may have to amend that old adage a bit: there's not a shot his coaches wouldn't like to see him take. Fazekas needs to gain some weight and strength before he can defend NBA power forwards, but they will have a nightmare following him out near the 3-point line. His feathery touch is best from about 18 feet, but he can make the college 3-pointer with reasonable accuracy. The trouble with guarding Fazekas is if you put a 6-7 small forward on him, he'll simply shoot over his man all night in picking up an easy 20 points. As Fazekas builds his body, he'll be able to utilize other skills around the basket, but as is, he's a tough man to stop. Lacking the bulk to bully defenders in the post, he usually just shoots a turnaround jumper that is nearly unstoppable on the college level.

Randy Foye, Villanova, 6-4, 205, Senior Key Stats: 20.7 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 3.2 apg, 38.4 3-PT FG% Foye has been a good player in a good conference for three years, and Big East Conference coaches can tell you about some sleepless nights worrying about one of his patented shooting streaks that can erase leads and change games in just a few possessions. But this season, the tough kid from one of the bleakest sections of Newark, N.J. has been more consistent than ever, and he has been the glue that has held the team together and made the Wildcats' shocking four-guard alignment work. He took down then-No. 5 Oklahoma with 32 points in early December, followed by a 24-point performance against then-No. 9 Louisville on the Cardinals' home floor. It doesn't seem to matter much where Foye plays -- home, away, point guard, shooting guard, small forward -- he is often the best player on the floor this season for the No. 6 ranked team in the nation.

Mike Gansey, West Virginia, 6-4, 205, Senior Key Stats: 19.3 ppg, 61.0 FG%, 48.5 3-PT FG%, 2.3 spg Every college basketball fan who didn't already know it learned the name of Mike Gansey during last year's electrifying run to the Elite Eight of the '05 NCAA Tournament. Gansey's hyperkinetic style supercharged his team and captured the imagination of fans throughout the country. But something happened on the way to Gansey becoming a working man's folk hero. Instead of solidifying a place on the all-floorburn team and cementing a reputation as an effort player, Gansey improved his outside shot apparently overnight and became one of the best players in the country. A guy who was heretofore a streaky 3-point shooter has spent most of the season leading the nation in 3-point field goal percentage. A guy who was supposed to be a complementary scoring presence alongside All-American candidate Kevin Pittsnogle has instead become an equally dangerous offensive force. Even his first clunker of the year (10 points, 3-for-12 in a loss to Marshall Wednesday) can't obscure the fact that Gansey has made himself into a likely first-round pick.

Rudy Gay, Connecticut, 6-9, 220, Sophomore Key Stats: 15.3 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 2.1 spg, 1.9 bpg Gay's overall performance this season hasn't blown anybody away, but his versatility keeps NBA scouts glued to their seats during his games. Gay can do a little bit of everything on the court, including handling the ball like a guard on the perimeter and blocking shots underneath like a big man. Gay is not a great shooter, but his handle and leaping ability enables him to get to the basket and get off shots no matter who is defending him. He needs to work on his outside shot, but players with similar athletic traits who are in the NBA have improved simply by working at it, something Gay has shown a willingness to do. His impressive athletic ability allows him to patrol the passing lanes on the perimeter for steals, making him a threat anywhere on the floor. It might please scouts if Gay could become more dominant on the college level, but top-ranked Connecticut is so deep that probably won't happen.

Tyler Hansbrough, North Carolina, 6-9, 235, Freshman Key Stats: 18.1 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 61.7 FG%, 75.4 FT% High School All-Americans receive so much hype these days, it's almost impossible for them to live up to their press clippings as freshmen. Adjustments to lack of playing time, not being in a featured role, coaching styles and plain old lack of experience conspire against most of these players delivering the goods right off the bat. That's why the performance of Hansbrough resonates so strongly. Sure, he was given immediate playing time and that has helped him produce. But I imagine even Roy Williams has been surprised at the consistent productivity of the Man from Missouri. Hansbrough hasn't faced Duke yet, but he has riddled six ACC opponents for 20.7 points and 7.5 rebounds per game. In 16 games so far, he has failed to score at least 14 points only once. Hansbrough is scoring points the tough way too: he's taking punishment down low and averaging nearly nine free-throw attempts per game.

Adam Morrison, Gonzaga, 6-8, 205, Junior Key Stats: 27.6 ppg (1st in nation), 5.8 rpg, 51.7 FG%, 39.7% 3-pt FG Morrison is leading the nation in scoring for the seventh-ranked Bulldogs, and you have to watch him often to appreciate the myriad of ways he can score. He excels in open court situations, where he can take the ball all the way to the basket or pull up for his consistent mid-range jumper. He is always in motion, keeping pressure on opposing defenses. He has the threat of the 3-point shot in his arsenal but he prefers to get better shots close to the basket, something that endears him to NBA scouts weary of seeing college players settle too often for 3-pointers. He averages nearly nine free-throw attempts per game, a further indication that defenders cannot contain him.

J.J. Redick, Duke, 6-4, 190, Senior Key Stats: 27.3 ppg (third in nation), 49.8 FG%, 42.9 3-PT FG% Seeing how far down the draft list Redick goes is reason enough to watch on June 28. It will be intriguing to see how many teams reach for bigger, more athletic players instead of taking Redick, someone they have scrutinized with a microscope for four years. With the dearth of outside shooters on all levels of basketball right now, here is a player who has done nothing on the college level other than: 1) improve his shot selection and his shooting percentage; 2) learned everything there is to know about using a screen to get a shot; 3) improved his fitness level to a point where he can easily run all day without the ball until he locates a shot; 4) cut down his turnovers; and 5) improve his first step to the basket to keep defenders honest. Redick may never be a great passer or defender, but how many players come into the league these days with his earned reputation as a terrific shooter? Very, very few.

Shelden Williams, Duke, 6-9, 250, Senior Key Stats: 17.6 ppg, 9.5 rpg, 59.5 FG%, 3.6 bpg (4th in nation) If Williams couldn't score a point, he should still be an NBA first-round draft pick based on all the other things he brings to the table. But this guy is no Ben Wallace. He has excellent footwork and agility, knows well which offensive moves work best for him and sticks with them. He has some limitations and may never be the scorer that Elton Brand is, but there's no doubt with his improved free-throw shooting that he can score in double figures in the NBA. When you throw in his shot-blocking and rebounding prowess, Williams will likely be a lottery pick. Williams is an unerringly consistent player. What you see is what you get. Though he does not have the freakish athletic ability of a Kevin Garnett, and exceptionally athletic big men give him trouble, he's got more than enough tools in the tool belt to succeed in the NBA. Williams has the look of a player who will log 12 or 13 productive years in the NBA.

Here are 15 more players having superb seasons who are being watched closely by NBA teams: Hassan Adams, SG, Arizona, Maurice Ager, SG, Michigan State, Hilton Armstrong, C, Connecticut, Dee Brown, PG, Illinois, Rodney Carney, PF, Memphis, Glen Davis, PF, LSU, Paul Davis, PF, Michigan State, Jordan Farmar, PG, UCLA, Daniel Gibson, PG, Texas, Taj Gray, PF, Oklahoma, Matt Haryasz, PF, Stanford, Marco Killingsworth, PF, Indiana, Leon Powe, PF, California, Brandon Roy, SG, Washington, Steven Smith, PF, La Salle

3) Tim Legler of ESPN.com reports on the Western Conference playoff race as it looks today:

Did the Minnesota Timberwolves just deal themselves into the playoffs? How do Kobe and Co. fit in the picture? Is Artest enough to push the Kings into playoff contention? With about 37 games left to play, let's take a look at how the race for the Western Conference's eight playoff spots is shaping up.

Locks

San Antonio (35-10) -- Still the cream of the crop in the West despite not firing on all cylinders. Tim Duncan's foot and Manu Ginobili persistent injuries are a concern but Tony Parker is playing the best basketball of his career. If Nick Van Exel and Michael Finley find their niche in the playoffs, they will be in the Finals.

Phoenix (28-16) -- An incredible coaching job by Mike D'Antoni and another MVP caliber performance by Steve Nash has kept the Suns on the heels of the Spurs despite not having Amare Stoudemire. When he returns, with the additions of Boris Diaw, Raja Bell and James Jones, this team will give the Spurs all they can handle in the Western Conference Finals.

Denver (25-21) -- I know it sounds crazy to call a team four games over .500 a lock, but they will pull away from the pack and win their division now that they are healthy. Marcus Camby is arguably the best center in the conference. With him anchoring the defense, and with the emergence of Carmelo Anthony as one of the best clutch players in the league, Denver will be dangerous.

Dallas (34-10) -- Dirk has been Dirk. Jason Terry picked up where he left off in the playoffs. And Avery Johnson actually has the Mavs at least caring about the defensive end of the floor. They can beat anyone on any given night. They will be in a dogfight with the Spurs for the Western Conference's best record. If they get it, they could get to the Finals.

Memphis (26-18) -- The most underrated team in the league. By far. They are one of the top 5 defensive teams in basketball. They have great balance. They have depth. Losing Damon Stoudamire, however, will hurt Bobby Jackson's productivity as he logs heavy minutes. Great move by Jerry West to pick up Chucky Atkins to help in that area. Eddie Jones has been a difference maker with his defense and character.

Los Angeles Clippers (25-17) -- If they ever have all of their pieces at their disposal, this is a dangerous team. Elton Brand has been their rock as usual and Corey Maggette, Sam Cassell and Cuttino Mobley provide plenty of punch. Chris Kaman, Daniel Ewing and Chris Wilcox provide a nice supporting cast.

Likely

Los Angeles Lakers (23-20) -- Kobe Bryant's greatness wills them to win, but his dominance of the ball prevents Lamar Odom from being a consistent partner. When Bryant is rolling, the Lake Show can beat anyone, but they are the NBA's youngest team and their deficiencies up front will keep them slightly better than average.

Fighting For The Last Spot
Utah (21-24) -- They exemplify what a team is all about. Andrei Kirilenko is one of the most unique players on the planet and rookie point guard Deron Williams is poised beyond his years, but he appears to have hit the rookie wall and has lost favor with Jery Sloan. They compete, are well coached, and unselfish, but they don't have enough talent. Bottom line, no team would want to play them in the first round.

Golden State (20-23) -- They have one of the top 5 backcourts in the NBA, but their bench is abominable. They are in free-fall mode and Mike Montgomery doesn't know what to do. They should have made a serious move for Ron Artest to be taken as a legitimate playoff contender. Eventually, when you have to play your starters 42 minutes every night to survive, fatigue sets in. After a great start, they are heading in the wrong direction.

New Orleans (22-22) -- Byron Scott has done a great job making this group of youngsters believe they can win now. Chris Paul should be the unanimous selection for Rookie of the Year, and David West is having a breakout season. They are a fun team to watch.

Minnesota (21-22) -- KG and Wally Szczerbiak's lack of togetherness finally forced Kevin McHale to move Wally World to Boston. The T-Wolves get Ricky Davis, Mark Blount, Justin Reed and Marcus Banks in return, making them a lot younger and more athletic. They will improve defensively and Davis gives you everything Szczerbiak did on the offensive end. I like the deal. It could be the shakeup this team needed to get in.

Lottery Bound
Sacramento (18-26) -- Getting Artest for Peja was a steal. He will give them a defensive stopper, toughness and the only legitimate post up player on the team. Mike Bibby has been putting up numbers and Brad Miller and Bonzi Wells are solid. If Artest can resurrect his career, that window of opportunity might not have officially slammed shut.

Seattle (18-26) -- They are the one wild card in the West because they underachieved tremendously under Bob Weiss. Perhaps Bob Hill can get this group playing defense and sharing the ball again. Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis give you enough offense most nights.

Houston (15-29) -- What a disaster. First, Yao goes out with a toe. Then, it's T-Mac with a back injury. What's left after that isn't enough to be competitive. It might be for the best. They will have a chance to get younger and more athletic with a lottery pick.

Portland (16-27) -- They are starting to play better now that Nate McMillan has gone to an all-Maryland Terrapin backcourt, and they could get close to that 8th spot, but I doubt it. The Blazers struggle to get to 90 most nights and that means you have to be great defensively, which they aren't.

4) Frank Hughes of the Tacoma (Wash.) Tribune with a great Q & A with Nate McMillan:

Mr. Sonic looks at the bigger picture in Portland

Mr. Sonic is returning to Seattle for the first time since taking over the coaching duties for the Portland Trail Blazers. Frank Hughes, who covered Nate McMillan from 1997 to 2005, talked to the former SuperSonics player, assistant coach and head coach about his Seattle exit, his new gig and more.

Q: What do you think the response is going to be when you return to Seattle for the first time?

A: You know, I don't know what to expect. I am pretty much prepared for any and everything. I know in this business everybody doesn't love you. Even though I had that title of Mr. Sonic, I know there were some people who weren't fans of mine. I know what I tried to do for the city; I tried to give my best and be successful and I think I did that. It was a situation that was really good for me both as a player and as a coach and I gave all I had to the organization.

Q: Do you think people understand why you left?

A: No. I think if you ask people the reasons, they are all across the board. I think most people are not listening to what I was saying. That is, basically for me it was time to change and it was for a number of reasons. Sometimes you need to change.

Q: I think a lot of people wonder why you left to go to a team that is developing when you didn't enjoy developing players in Seattle.

A: I didn't struggle with developing young players. I jumped on board with developing when it was told to me. If the boss wanted to do it, we would do it. Rick Sund said it at the time: "It will be tough. You don't know what you are getting into. Are you sure you want to do this?" He was asking questions to Howard [Schultz] and Wally [Walker] for me because he had been through it before. It wasn't that I couldn't develop. I didn't want to lie. And when we were losing and nobody from that front office or ownership or management was stepping up to tell those fans what we were doing, that is when it bothered me. Because then I have to go out and explain it, but I have to watch my words because we have to sell tickets. That's not what we said at the beginning of that year. So the first thing I said to Mr. Allen is, we are going to tell the fans the truth. We are not going to sit here and say this team is a playoff team when we got three kids here who are under 20. You are telling me about developing. I have heard this before. What are you going to tell the fans? That's what I want to know. Because if you don't tell the fans the truth, I will.

Q: Earlier this season, you were criticized by some of your former players for your tough-nosed approach. What did you think when you heard the criticism?

A: It is blowing me away that they looked at it like that. It wasn't about that. As a coach, like any teacher or any parent, you try to get the most out of your students. You push them. And sometimes it is tough love. We had success. And all of us prospered from it. Imagine the number of people who got jobs because of my move. My whole staff got jobs. [Dwane] Casey's whole staff got jobs. Bob Weiss' assistants all got jobs. Two third assistants [Jack Sikma and Dean Demopoulos] are now No. 1 assistants. Rick [Sund] got a three-year deal. I got a five-year deal. Ray gets $80 million. Rashard became an All-Star. Vladimir [Radmanovic], Reggie [Evans] and Ronald [Murray] didn't get what they wanted, but they had options. Jerome [James] and AD [Antonio Daniels] got $60 million between them. The big thing is we won the Northwest Division. There is a price to pay for success.

Q: Did you feel vindicated when Bob Weiss got fired?

A: I believe you pay a price for success. What that team did last year, they worked hard. And they paid a price. But the reward for what they did was they won the Northwest Division when no one expected them to. I think they felt they could change and do it a different way and they found out that to be successful there is a price you have to pay. Now they are focusing on working harder than they did.

Q: What did you think when they started out the season the way they did?

A: Really, I heard about the style of play and some of the comments that were made. It bothered me -- some of the comments that were made about what I did there and how I coached there -- because basically what I was doing was what was asked of me and what was expected, to take that team and get into the playoffs. When the division and the Western Conference was as tough as it was, we had to push those players and work as hard as we did to, I feel, be competitive. Not so much win the division, because I don't think anybody thought we could win the division. But to compete, we had to work hard like that. I thought those guys responded. They worked hard, they were together, they did things the right way, they supported each other, they shed blood, sweat and tears over the years and they finally were rewarded. To hear some of the comments from some management and players was surprising.

Q: When you looked at the standings last week and you were only one win behind Seattle, did you feel validated in your approach because not a lot was expected out of the Blazers this season?

A: My thing was I know the big picture here. I am not looking so much where we are now but where we want to be. Not really comparing myself to Seattle because Seattle is a different team; that team won 52 games last year and this team won 27, so it is two totally different clubs with different directions. They had a plan up there for five years to be competing for a title. We are in Year 1 of doing something similar to that. The fact that we are behind them by only a few games, of course I am sure everybody is surprised by that. But for me, I know the big picture here.

Q: Has it been harder or easier than you thought it would be this year in Portland?

A: It has been a challenge, but again, I know the big picture. I know this year and the next year or two will be building years for us. And it is going to take some time. It hasn't been anything I didn't expect.

Q: What have been the positives? What have been the negatives?

A: The positives are I enjoy what I am doing, I enjoy the teaching. I know that we have to improve and we have to get better. The negative is you always want to win games, and I know we have to be patient. Fourteen wins at this point in the season, I have never experienced that. That is the tough part about it.

Q: How about all the goofy stuff you have had to deal with Ruben Patterson and Zach Randolph?

A: What I am dealing with here, I think most teams go through a lot of the same thing, where you have players where you have to put out a lot of fires. What I am doing here is no different than what I had to do up in Seattle for a number of years. I went through this in Year 1 with Gary [Payton], and some situations with Vin [Baker] and some situations with Danny [Fortson]. All teams go through that. Some teams are able to keep some things a little quieter than others. I hear even Seattle now is going through some stuff. That is on every team.

Q: Are you looking forward to coming back?

A: Yeah, I want that day to come and go. Because of all the attention that it is getting, and the fact that this will be my first time coming back. It will be like the first time I saw those guys [in the preseason], that was a little strange. The first time back in the Key, and being there, is probably going to be as strange as seeing those guys play on that floor with another head coach on the sidelines.

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

Action in the NBA heated up last week to a new intensity ... it just happened to be more so off the court than on the court, the amazing Detroit Pistons notwithstanding. We're talking about lawsuits and trades, a player getting booted out of the league for drug abuse and scouts mouthing off in locker rooms.

1. Item: Following a 24-hour hiccup caused by premature anticipation from Sacramento Kings owners Joe and Gavin Maloof, the much-anticipated deal that had the Kings sending Peja Stojakovic to the Indiana Pacers for Ron Artest was finally completed Wednesday. What this really means: On the court, it will initially make the Kings a much better team on both ends of the floor. Artest is a much more diverse offensive player, with better ballhandling and passing skills, and much tougher in the paint — although he's obviously not a perimeter shooter of Stojakovic's stature. And defensively and on the boards, it's no contest, as Artest is perhaps the best all-around defensive forward in the game. Off the court, of course, Artest's emotional instability will be a factor 24/7, 365 days a year. But more disturbing is how the Maloof brothers went public with the deal before it was complete and neither Artest nor Stojakovic had been contacted. This came just days after Stojakovic, who will be a free agent this summer, said he hoped to be playing for the Kings the rest of his career. It's the second huge gaffe by the Maloofs over the past six months — with them making overtures to the agent for coach Phil Jackson and making it public before coach Rick Adelman was warned of the breaking story (although the offer was never seriously considered anyway). Not only were these moves disrespectful to loyal soldiers Stojakovic and Adelman, but also to president Geoff Petrie — one of the best in the business. Considering the arena difficulties as well, plus most of their business interests being in Las Vegas, don't underestimate the possibility of the biggest dis of all, taking the franchise to Vegas.

2. Item: Some 24 hours after the deal was consummated, finally ridding the Pacers of the debilitating distraction that Artest had become to the franchise, there was relief with the addition of Stojakovic. Then came a blind-sided blow — All-Star Jermaine O'Neal tore a groin muscle that will keep him out anywhere from eight weeks to the rest of the regular season. What this really means: The loss of O'Neal is an even greater hit than Artest ever was as a distraction. These incessant injuries to J.O. and point guard Jamaal Tinsley are the real reasons why the Pacers have been on the cusp but not quite capable of getting to the NBA Finals since 2000. Reviewing the past three seasons, we now have seen O'Neal muddling along with knee, shoulder and now groin problems of varying degrees — all of which have caused him to play significantly below par. It's been even more obvious with Tinsley, who is capable of raising this team's level of play but is rarely playing in good enough physical condition or for enough consecutive games for the Pacers to gain any momentum. Meanwhile, Jonathan Bender, the highly-regarded 7-foot talent for whom they traded Antonio Davis six years ago and is said to be a great practice player, appears to be finished as an NBA player before he ever really got started. His knees are shot and the Pacers have ostensibly given up on him ever being a factor. That said, O'Neal is getting more difficult a player to gauge. He's been sitting on the cusp of superstardom for three years and can't seem to get over the top. A combination of injuries and erratic clutch play continue to be issues — today more than ever before.

3. Item: The Toronto Raptors fired general manager Rob Babcock and his brother Pete — the director of player personnel — elevating 71-year-old consultant Wayne Embry to interim general manager. What this really means: Many believe it was the end of a power struggle between the Babcocks and coach Sam Mitchell, particularly with the impending free agency of Chris Bosh and Mike James, and Jalen Rose trade rumors flapping in the wind. Chances are it was a combination of both, with the answer lying in the head of CEO Richard Peddie, who couldn't possibly have had much confidence in the Babcocks' capabilities in the trade or the contract negotiations. Now is the time to take a look at what happens next to what has been a moribund franchise the past four seasons. Who is the best guy to turn it around? On the periphery and out of jobs are Bob Whitsitt and John Gabriel. Whitsitt built conference finalists in both Seattle and Portland, and had one of the top five records in the NBA among general managers during his time at the helm. Gabriel had plenty of success in Orlando before things turned south with Grant Hill's ankle surgeries and ultimately ran out of gas. Also likely to be available will be Kiki Vandeweghe, a lame duck president with the Denver Nuggets. For a team that has been wallowing in futility for several years, yet has a quality core of youth, this next move could push things in the right direction or send them deeper into the abyss than ever before.

4. Item: Deposed senior vice president of marketing and business operations Anucha Brown Sanders has sued the New York Knicks, Madison Square Garden and president Isiah Thomas for sexual harassment upon her dismissal. What this really means: As if the basis of this suit against a team that has been struggling to regain respect isn't enough, the allegations include Thomas in collusion with concierges at visiting team hotels. He allegedly encouraged them to send opposing players to local bars and strip clubs on days before the game in the hopes of getting them drunk. She said Thomas showed signs of being in love with her and encouraged her to be with him. Thomas, against the wishes of his attorneys, held a press conference and denied everything with a vengeance. There have been denials on both sides that MSG has offered her $250,000 to drop the suit while she countered with $6.5 million. It's hard to fathom Thomas would get into any sort of compromising circumstances in the wake of his own family and the 43-year-old Sanders' three children. Thomas has had issues before, but none of this nature. Furthermore, there are those who believe Sanders was disappointed she didn't become general manager and was never capable of dealing with the powerful personality and humor Thomas brings to the table. Regardless, in the wake of this mess and the incessant struggles of the team on the floor, this could spell the end of Thomas as president just slightly more than two years into his reign.

5. Item: The NBA announced Friday that New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets forward Chris Andersen was "dismissed and disqualified from the league for violating the terms of the Anti-Drug Program agreed to by the NBA and the National Basketball Players Association." What this really means: Andersen becomes the first player since Stanley Roberts in 1999 to be dismissed from the NBA in such a manner. And since he hasn't been tagged with testing positive for marijuana and its ramifications in the past, this move screams of a first offense for a "drug of abuse." That list includes cocaine, heroin, amphetamines, methamphetamines, ecstasy and LSD, among others. As is the case so often with addicts, there is never acknowledgement of the problem. This would be a classic example of tough love for a professional athlete, certainly a group of people who rarely are called on the carpet with regard to anything. And more importantly, it's a blow to the Hornets, who have had more than their share of heartache over the years — most notably being displaced to Oklahoma City by Hurricane Katrina. "We can say that we were obviously disappointed and saddened to hear that Chris has been dismissed from the league. On behalf of his teammates, coaches and the entire organization, we wish him well and hope he learns from this experience," owner George Shinn said in a statement. Andersen is eligible to apply for reinstatement in two years, and he'll still be just 29 ... it's up to him.

6. Item: The Minnesota Timberwolves sent Wally Szczerbiak, Michael Olowokandi and Developmental League player Dwayne Jones to the Boston Celtics for Ricky Davis, Mark Blount, Justin Reed, Marcus Banks and two conditional second round picks. What this really means: The deal comes on the heels of a bizarre locker room scene following a two-point loss to the Philadelphia 76ers during which executive vice president Kevin McHale chastised the team and scout Rex Chapman reportedly ripped into Szczerbiak and superstar Kevin Garnett for failing to play together. The move sticks the Wolves with a long-term deal for the under-achieving Blount and the disruptive Davis. Reports are already out there that Banks may end up in Seattle in exchange for Reggie Evans and Flip Murray in a separate deal. All of this makes life tough on rookie coach Dwane Casey, with McHale and Chapman — of all people — taking over his locker room following a tough two-point loss. Whether or not the Garnett/Szczerbiak thing has been an issue in recent years is strictly speculation. What does appear obvious is McHale making the right moves to get the Wolves into the conference finals was an aberration as opposed to a big step forward. Since then, they have fired coach Flip Saunders, failed to make the playoffs and are even worse this season. And this deal, despite the extreme talent but displaced focus of Davis being a potential boon, appears to be another McHale folly — begging the question, does he have clue what he's doing? Not if a scout — even if he is Rex Chapman — walks into the locker room and chews out K.G.

7. Item: Getting rid of Blount's fat contract and underachievement allows Boston Celtics president Danny Ainge and coach Doc Rivers the latitude to develop their young core and around high-scoring swingman Paul Pierce. What this really means: They'll get a much more focused contributor in Szczerbiak than Davis, plus this opens the door for youngsters Al Jefferson, Kendrick Perkins and Delonte West to blossom as the heart of the team. It is strange how Ainge goes through these phases where he seems to have no clue what he's doing, then he'll turn around and make a great move like this one. It looked improbable — if not quite impossible — to dump Blount's bloated pay. Sure, they had to take on Olowokandi, but it's just for this season as insurance for Jefferson and Perkins. If they want him back, they'll be able to take a shot at him. That's not to say Ainge fleeced his old buddy from the Celtics McHale — there is no guarantee that Szczerbiak will continue to be worth the huge money they pay him if he reverts back to being injury prone as he was before last season. And Davis is more versatile with his skills. But they know Szczerbiak will play hard, and to win, and it will take some of the pressure off of Pierce to be the only big-time shooter. And even though they're just 18-26, they're still only four games out of the playoffs.

8. Item: On March 23rd, the Utah Jazz will finish the second half of their retirement equation with Karl Malone's No. 32 to be retired in the Delta Center next to John Stockton's and a 15-foot statue of the Mailman to correspond with a similar sculpture of his partner. What this really means: There is little doubt as time passes that owner Larry Miller will grow even more sentimental about the good fortune he had to have the most prolific duo to ever play together, particularly in this age of free agency. More importantly, this will hopefully mend whatever issues remained unresolved between two stubborn souls such as Malone and Miller. When Malone left as a free agent, it was inevitable there would be a problem. Now they can work that out. Meanwhile, the rumor is that Malone's purported successor Carlos Boozer — he of the inflated $68 million free-agent contract — will begin practicing next week and maybe even play in a game before Malone's celebration. Boozer, who played in only 51 games last season — his first with the Jazz — hasn't played yet this season because of a hamstring injury. How ironic that the man they tapped to replace an ironman such as Malone has already missed more than 10 times as many games as Malone did in his entire career. So if Malone's statue is made of bronze, what could they possible construct as a tribute to Boozer out of — cheese?

9. Item: The Detroit Pistons defeated the Memphis Grizzlies 95-89 Friday night to become only the seventh team in NBA history to get through the first half of a season 36-5 — and extended their record to 37-5 on Sunday night. What this really means: Sunday's win was the Pistons' 11th straight, and only the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls (38-3, 72-10 finish), 1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers (38-3, 69-13 finish) and 1966-67 Philadelphia 76ers (37-4, 68-13) had better starts than the Pistons have had. The 1991-92 and 1996-97 Bulls and 1983-84 Sixers also started 36-5. Although the overall depth of the squad may be in question, the adjustment to new coach Flip Saunders and the amazing chemistry of their versatile and talented starting lineup has been special from the start. And it all starts with point guard Chauncey Billups, who solidified his stature as the top Most Valuable Player candidate in Friday's game by scoring 16 of his 34 points in the fourth quarter of the win that took them to the midway point of the season. Not only was Billups the MVP of the 2004 NBA Finals, but he has raised his level of play every season. He is becoming the kind of clutch playmaker that makes teams special. When you add his decision-making ability and 3-point range to the superb mid-range scoring and running the floor next to Rip Hamilton, it creates a perfectly complementary backcourt. And then there is the trio of Ben Wallace, Rasheed Wallace and Tayshaun Prince — one of the best shot-blocking frontcourts in NBA history, unique if only because Rasheed and Prince are such superb 3-point shooters as well. There's a reason why they've been to the finals the past two seasons and on track for a third ... the play on the floor is all generated by Billups. But none of it would be possible if it weren't for the vision and tenacity of team president Joe Dumars ... from one generation to the next, the most underrated man in the NBA.

10. Item: LeBron James scored 32 of his 44 points in the second half Sunday to help the Cleveland Cavaliers overcome a 17-point deficit and earn a 113-106 victory over the Phoenix Suns. But even more stunningly, he made what was certainly the play of the season and perhaps many seasons. During a six-second span, he blocked a drive by Suns guard Leandro Barbosa, chased down the ball, then made a head and shoulders fake going full speed to free the defense — and finished the play with a tomahawk right-hand slam. What this really means: Almost single-handedly, James has helped right the ship that appeared to be sinking after guard Larry Hughes went out with a broken finger on his right hand on Dec. 31. Since then, they've been just 7-7. However, Sunday was their fifth win in a row after losing six in succession. Not only did James take over the team's scoring, he also contributed 11 rebounds and seven assists on Sunday. During the winning streak, James has averaged 37.2 points, 7.8 rebounds and 7.6 assists to keep the Cavs in the running for not only his first appearance in the playoffs, but as of Sunday night, they held a 2½-game lead over Milwaukee for home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs. The hope is Hughes will be back in two weeks for another boost, but the real question is whether young head coach Mike Brown and their chemistry this season will be able to avoid the late season collapses that kept them out of the playoffs the past two seasons. Better yet, we're finding out just how much James has learned about winning.