Quote of the week: When Andrei Kirilenko was asked if he weren't in the NBA, what would he be doing he said: “ I’d definitely be an athlete, probably football. Not American football, real football. Played with foot….” That’s so Ivan Drago from Rocky 5…

Only thing to say about the Raptors 111-98 loss to the Jazz last night was that Andrei Kirilenko is nasty…in case you missed it, he went for his first career triple-double: 18 points, 16 boards and 11 assists and even had 4 blocks and 3 steals for good measure…

Jay Leno is funny…” University of Texas quarterback Vince Young has decided to go pro, and Virginia Tech quarterback Marcus Vick has decided to go con.''

Chris Bosh will be an All-Star this year: Bosh averages 22.4 points, 9.2 rebounds and is shooting over 50 percent from the field -- making him, along with LeBron James, the only Eastern Conference players averaging better than 20 points and shooting over 50 percent…

Trade rumor: Timberwolves send SG Trenton Hassell and C Michael Olowokandi to the Denver Nuggets for PF Kenyon Martin…

The Sixers added former USC coach Henry Bibby as an assistant. Bibby replaces Jim Lynam, who earlier this month announced that he would not return to the team this season due to health reasons.

You know what my take on the Shaq Kobe love-in is? I have two thoughts…

One: Shaq is probably the nicest guy in the NBA…I mean, Kobe could have won 10 titles in a row by continuing to have the offence revolve around Shaq, but instead he went behind Shaq’s back and forced the owner to make the trade to Miami, even after Shaq stuck with Kobe through the whole Colorado thing…and still Shq extended the olive branch here…I think one day we’ll look back and think to ourselves, we did not appreciate him enough for his charisma, his kindness, his philanthropy, his values, his being an upstanding citizen, his understanding of NBA history and his place in it and of course, his preposterous talent…

Two: the look of relief on Kobe’s face when Shaq approaches him says it all: Kobe psyche need Shaq to validate him…Kobe wants, no needs Shaq’s approval, for lack of a better word, and that bewildered, dopey-happy look on his face simply proves it…

Maybe the NFL football play of the year…How about 6’3” 253 lb. Patriots TE Ben Watson running a diagonal 130 yards across the field to drill the 6’0” 190 lb. DB Champ Bailey at the 1-yard line to prevent the touchdown? Honestly how fast is Watson? I will repeat: he ran 130 yards faster than Bailey ran 100 and he outweighs him by 60 pounds!!!!!!!! Bailey is considered by many NFL pundits as perhaps the best athlete in the league…it’s a ridiculous play…much more impressive that Don Beebe catching Leon Lett in the Superbowl way back when…

Reason number #4857 I like Andrew Bogut: Whebn asked how big a disappointment it would be if he failed to win Rookie of the Year Bogut replied: “For me, not really. If you accomplish your team goals, you [accomplish] your individual goals. But obviously Chris Paul is the Rookie of the Year. He's led a team that struggled last year. He's had the biggest impact so far. What pick did he go, No. 4? Before the lottery, I thought he'd be challenging me for the No. 1 pick.”

1) Marc Stein of ESPN.com with some help for KG:

Wolves' piercing gaze

The Minnesota Timberwolves will be playing in Boston at a time when they've been talking trade with the Celtics, too. Wednesday night, then, brings the Wolves as agonizingly close as they can be to the player they lust for so badly . . . but can't get. Paul Pierce. No player at Kevin Garnett's elite level needs a scoring sidekick more than KG, and so no name circulating in the NBA's perpetually bubbling vat of speculation can hold greater appeal to Minnesota than Pierce. Approaching birthday No. 30 in May, and in his 11th season, Garnett has never been more versatile, on the floor and in those new adidas commercials. The only thing missing, as always, is a Kobe mode, where KG unleashes a string of 40-point games to rescue a roster filled with journeymen. That's not going to happen when KG's taking 16 shots a game. The solution? If he's really going to stay up there at the North Pole -- as he calls it and as he vows -- KG desperately needs to be paired with a create-his-own-shot scorer to haul the Wolves back into the West's elite. Someone who can capitalize on Garnett's passing vision, willingness to share and ability to dominate the game everywhere else. Of course, if you don't have the assets to pry the saintly Ron Artest away from Indiana when the Pacers are openly looking to make a trade, you're not going to be able to swing a Pierce deal. The recent disclosure from Wolves owner Glen Taylor that a transaction involving Michael Olowokandi was imminent -- with Boston's Mark Blount possibly taking Kandi's place as part of a multi-team exchange -- amounts to a concession from Minny that it lacks what it takes to score Artest. Sad but true . . . and there's more agony for Wolves Nation. I'm told that Pierce, who's been dealing with trade speculation since the June draft and knows it's not likely to go away any time soon, certainly wouldn't protest if he wound up at KG's side someday. On paper, they look like a dream tag team. Yet such a pairing could only happen if Danny Ainge consents to a deal that either brings Wally Szczerbiak to Boston . . . or a multi-team extravaganza in which Szczerbiak's presence triggers the assemblage of a package that convinces the Celtics to part with Pierce. Another long shot. Nevertheless . . . You can expect to keep hearing the Wolves mentioned prominently in the hunt for any quality scorer who hits the market. That means, yes, Minnesota is one of the few teams out there that can make a case for the pursuit of Orlando's Steve Francis. That also means the notion that New York's Stephon Marbury could someday be reunited with KG should be safely filed away. That means, furthermore, that Boston's Ricky Davis -- who's been on Kevin McHale's radar for years -- wouldn't be a bad Pierce fallback. You wouldn't rule any of them out with the Wolves because Garnett is the pass-first superstar in Minneapolis. He doesn't need a doubles partner who defers. Yet he also possesses the leaguewide acclaim and team-first commitment that originally made the Wolves believe that Artest, for them, wasn't so risky. The theory held that Artest, at the Target Center, would be more willing to accept his spot in the pecking order behind Garnett than he was in Indy next to Jermaine O'Neal. I'm not so sure that applies to Marbury, who has already decided once in his life that the Twin Cities weren't big enough for he and KG. But Francis? That's a possibility the Wolves will have to weigh, in spite of the concerns about Francis' contract and comportment, if Orlando maintains its interest in Szczerbiak and Trenton Hassell. Either way, Minnesota knows what it needs. Assuming that it can't steal back Chauncey Billups, and that Garnett simply can't ignore his unselfish instincts if he's not going to launch more than he is with such a thin supporting cast, they've got to unearth a go-to scorer somehow. ASAP. It'll probably never be Pierce, granted, but you get the idea. As close as they can get.

2) Terrific article from Kyle Whelliston of Midmajority.com reporting that D1 newcomer Kennesaw State is doing alright:

Undersized Owls somehow lead the A-Sun

If this Division I basketball thing doesn't pan out, Tony Ingle has options. For instance, he can always sell his revolutionary diet drink. "I got this plastic cup from McDonald's, got it a long time ago," said Kennesaw State's head coach in a slow, hoarse drawl. "I pour some chocolate Slim-Fast in it. Then I get some cherry juice. Listen to me now ... cherries are low in calories, gives the Slim-Fast a little, you know, chocolate-covered cherry taste. Stir it up real good, put it in the freezer. Fifteen, 20 minutes, there's a little bit of ice there forming on the inside. "You drink that, wash down a couple double cheeseburgers, maybe a few Whoppers from Burger King. Goes down nice 'n' cold, puts you right where you want to be." Fortunately for insomniacs across America, Ingle won't have to swap his day job for the world of late-night infomercials anytime soon. When the sun's rays first danced against the Atlantic Ocean on Tuesday morning, the 7-1 Fighting Owls (9-8 overall) had a half-game lead atop the Atlantic Sun's leaderboard. The 2004 Division II national champions are exceeding all expectations about how a transitional school should perform -- even if the newness hasn't quite worn off yet. "My favorite thing about Division I, and I always get comments about this from our alumni ... we get to see our name on the ESPN scroller every other night," Kennesaw athletic director Dr. Dave Waples said excitedly. Lately, when "Kennesaw" has shown up on the Bottom Line, it's been in the bright yellow that indicates victory. Since losing their first game of 2006 to Florida Atlantic, the league's other Owls have rattled off five straight league wins. First, they beat league favorite Gardner-Webb on the road, shocking the Runnin' Bulldogs 74-68 in the opening game of the league's new Friday night regional cable package. Three days later, they outgunned the Campbell Fighting Camels 81-77. Then, they returned home to their brand-new 4,500-seat Convocation Center and, in rapid succession, bucked East Tennessee State, knocked off fellow D-I newbie North Florida and jacked Jacksonville. Before the season, the idea that Kennesaw State would have any sort of success this year seemed as plausible as its coach's weight-loss plan. Ingle had just four players left over from last year's Peach Belt Conference co-champion squad -- including just one returning starter, versatile guard Ronnell Wooten. Ingle named a brand new set of assistant coaches over the summer. And although they're eligible to win the Atlantic Sun's regular-season title, the NCAA's mandated four-year transition period means that KSU won't be allowed to compete in any postseason tournaments until 2009-10. The Owls' statistical profile is more in keeping with a team with virtually nothing to play for, not a first-place ballclub. The Owls give up more points (73.5 ppg) than they produce (72.5 ppg). They're currently ninth in the A-Sun in field-goal percentage (41.8 percent) and eighth in free throws (66.7 percent), and they are among the worst rebounding teams in the entire country (27.2 rpg, 303rd). So what's their secret? When pressed to reveal the reasons why his team is able to overachieve, despite logistical and statistical obstacles, Ingle simply changed the subject to something lighter. "I got one for you," Ingle said. "I was on the bus last week. Driver asked me, 'How you doing, Coach?' I told him, 'I'd have to lie to tell you the truth.'" The sight of the Fighting Owls stepping onto the floor might seem like some sort of existential joke, too. They're anything but formidable in their oversized shirts with awkwardly large numerals, which only serve to make the players appear smaller than they are. Their regular rotation tops out at 6-foot-6 on paper, but even that's suspect -- their second-leading rebounder Brent Ragsdale (generously listed at 6-4) will reluctantly admit to 6-2 if asked twice. The coach's two sons, Golden Ingle and Israel Ingle, drag the team's average height down further at 5-11 and 5-10, respectively. And then there's the game action. Take the East Tennessee State game last Thursday, for instance. By the time the crowd had sat down in their seats following the national anthem, the visiting ETSU squad, just a year removed from consecutive SoCon championships, had already scored five points on the way to a 20-11 lead. But after the second media timeout, something clicked -- buoyed by a string of Golden Ingle 3-pointers and urged on by his hyperanimated father on the sidelines, the undersized, underdog Owls battled back and cut the lead to two by halftime, 33-31. During a stalemate of a second half against the much faster and stronger Buccaneers, the Owls' primary style emerged. They were slower, but never deviated from their metronomic tempo. They were smaller, but positioned themselves just outside the paint, where glancing misses usually bounce. Anytime there was a mismatch in KSU's favor anywhere on the floor, it was exploited. Anytime the lane was clogged with bodies, Golden Ingle would take an open shot. When the yellow-and-black blur of foggy confusion finally lifted, Kennesaw State had emerged with a 78-72 OT win. Asking Coach Ingle afterward to spout coach-speak about the victory didn't provide any insight, just more sidesteps and jokes. Maybe the vague general questions offered too much wiggle room. So, coach, tell me this: What did you say to your team during that second timeout? Ingle paused, then spoke softly, a broad smile breaking over his mountain-range face. "I just told 'em simple, 'I know we're getting beat bad right now, but I just want to tell you something. I love you guys, and I want to thank you for letting me be your coach. I don't want to sound like no Mike Krzyzewski American Express commercial. But if I coached you, and if I was always telling you all about the things you were doing wrong, you wouldn't play good for me. You'd be all nervous and tight. When I tell my guys I love them, I mean it. I know they're out there playing their best for me, and that they love me just as much as I love them. There's no reason for me not to stay positive." Ingle has seen plenty of negative. He received his first Division I coaching shot 10 years ago at BYU after seven seasons as an assistant under Roger Reid, a stretch that included five NCAA Tournament appearances. When Reid was fired abruptly in December 1996 in the midst of a disastrous 1-25 campaign, Ingle stepped forward and took over on an interim basis. It was a no-win situation, both figuratively and literally -- the Cougars went 0-19 under Ingle, and BYU dismissed him as soon as the season was over. Away from coaching, Ingle's life spiraled into depression. In order to support his wife and five children, he stitched together as much employment as he could find. At one point, he said, he was juggling upward of seven jobs, which included part-time scout for the Utah Jazz, color commentator on Mountain West telecasts, insurance salesman and caretaker of the John Wooden Legends of Coaching Award. But he was so miserable that he ignored any coaching offers that came his way. "There was one night, I remember it so well," Ingle said, mournfully. "I was kicking back watching the TV, I had my bowl of Doritos there on the coffee table. Golden and Tony Jr. came in together and they said, 'Dad, we can see how unhappy you are. You've gotta go back to coaching again, no matter where the job is ... both of us'd rather see you coach than play ourselves.' And then they both came and gave me a big hug. I hugged 'em back and we were all crying, crying...But the whole time, I kept one eye on the coffee table," the coach said. "I know how fast those Doritos can disappear." The Ingle family eventually packed up their furniture and snacks, and caravanned out to the north Atlanta suburbs. The Georgia native took the Fighting Owls from 11 wins to 20 in his first two seasons as head coach. In his third year, KSU won 25 and made the NCAA D-II Tournament for the first time in school history. In his fourth year, they won it all. The championship earned Ingle NABC Division II Coach of the Year honors and helped spur KSU's move toward a higher level of competition. Just nine months after the basketball Owls cut down the nets in Bakersfield, Calif., the Kennesaw State administration announced they were leaving the Peach Belt for the Atlantic Sun. The Owls began work on a state-of-the-art campus facility (which was quickly completed late last summer) and accepted the mandatory four-year waiting period to achieve full-fledged Division I status. "We can't win another national championship for four years," athletic director Waples said. "But at some point in time, we just might. I wouldn't bet against Tony. He'll just outcoach you, and he'll outwork you." Until 2010, the postseason-ineligible Fighting Owls and their old-school coach can only win for the sake of winning. But in the meantime, their coach will keep trying to outhustle the competition for the Division I national championship of comedy. "Someone asked me the other day if I had an iPod," said Ingle. "I thought they were making fun of my face. I said I've got a lot of diseases, but that ain't one of 'em."

3) Sam Smith of the Chicago Tribune on the return to Chicago of Eddy Curry with the Knicks:

Curry still hard to get a handle on - The Knicks are no more sure of center's future than Bulls were

Eddy Curry returns to Chicago on Wednesday to play against the Bulls for the first time. The results of the game will be just a footnote to the effect one of the most bizarre, controversial and mysterious transactions in NBA history has had on two of the league's most distinguished franchises. Is Curry the dinosaur of the NBA, a low-post center who can be the centerpiece of a championship contender for years, as the New York Knicks believe? "I'm not expecting that of him," Knicks President Isiah Thomas said. "I'm not expecting him to be that kind of personality, the aircraft carrier, so to speak. Do I think you can win with him? Yes. I do think he needs teammates, other guys around him to get there. But I think he can be a piece of a championship team." That was the plan, the belief, when the Bulls mortgaged their future in 2001 to pair Curry with Tyson Chandler and have cornerstone big men on whom to build another dynasty. It didn't happen quickly enough amid numerous changes in players and personnel, and now it cannot happen at all after the bizarre events of last spring and summer. Curry developed a heart arrhythmia the Bulls considered too dangerous to allow him to play. Subsequently, Curry and the Knicks effectively decided the condition didn't exist. Did the Bulls panic and overreact, changing their direction unnecessarily and fading into a haze from which they are trying to escape? Did the Knicks get the steal of the century, a young, powerful low-post big man who will be an All-Star fixture for years? Or did the Knicks and Curry rush to financial judgment, ignoring the young man's health in their common desire for instant gratification? Will Curry become a star and leave the Bulls a franchise hopelessly misdirected, noted more for its malice toward players and parsimony? Or will Curry leave the Knicks wishing and hoping for more when there is no more to give—as he did the Bulls? The questions will hang over the franchises, both suffering now with sub-.500 records and uncertain rosters, for years. So will the conflicting stories and beliefs about the curious series of events that led to Curry and Antonio Davis being traded from the Bulls to the Knicks for Tim Thomas, Michael Sweetney and a first-round draft pick. "I understand, kind of, Chicago's thinking," said Thomas, who said he believes Curry will improve greatly after a summer of work with the Knicks' coaches. "If someone had told me as a general manager the kid had a heart condition, I can see how you'd be afraid of that. But there was so much information and misinformation out there. A lot of doctors were talking and people were being quoted who had not examined Eddy. "He never really was diagnosed with what everyone said he had, what Hank Gathers had. No doctor ever said he had that. Everyone said, 'If he has that, then this could happen.' All of a sudden they quit saying 'if' and said he had it. "I always thought Eddy Curry would be with Chicago the next 10, 15 years. A guy like him with that type of sizzle, that type of athleticism, the feel, touch and a decent guy. That combination comes along once every 25 years. I don't know if he'll ever turn out to be a great basketball player, but he definitely has the potential to be one." Ah, potential. It was on the business card of both Chandler and Curry, the results of the second post-Michael Jordan Bulls rebuilding. The first one, of course, sounded much like the latest with salary-cap room, draft picks and flexibility, all of it abandoned too quickly. It's old ground and not so fertile anymore, but the plan was good. It was the execution that was lacking. Curry and Chandler, if they were the next Shaquille O'Neal and Kevin Garnett, would have worked. No one would be watching a 15-22 team that's back to disappointing its fans. But Curry didn't quite have the work ethic and desire, and Chandler didn't quite have the skills. It's easy to say the Bulls miss Curry, whom they would have re-signed if he hadn't had the heart issues. When he did, it became a maze of accusations and anger that led to an inevitable split. Everyone in Chicago knows Curry is a low-post scorer who can get 20 points in almost any game. They also know he's inconsistent and a poor defender—Knicks coach Larry Brown continues to criticize his defense—who doesn't pass much (one assist in the last eight games and six all season.) Not quite in shape yet, Curry is on a typical run with 20 points or more in every other game since just after Christmas and 15 or fewer in the others. The Bulls long wondered about making a long-term investment in Curry, yet it has been Chandler who has played poorer after getting a big contract. One theory is they thrived off one another, even if they were not Tim Duncan and David Robinson. Curry, who just turned 23, is averaging 14.5 points and 6.7 rebounds in 27 games. "I look at this like his draft class," Thomas said, "and he's the No. 1 pick." So with Curry gone, the Bulls are averaging 95.8 points, which is 1.3 more than they averaged last season with him. They are giving up four more per game than last season, and no one ever has accused Curry of being the rock on defense. The prevailing theory is that without Curry to provide cover for him, Chandler has fallen victim to the pressure and expectations. The Knicks envision an inside/outside duo of Curry and Channing Frye, but they're a freeway to the basket, yielding almost 50 percent shooting the last dozen games. The Bulls need a star player. There's no question it's their No. 1 priority to accommodate the complementary pieces that populate the roster. Is Curry that star? Would he ever be? There was an amusing interview with Curry in a New York newspaper last week in which he told a story about meeting his wife, who worked for the Bulls at their practice facility, at a mall and being so shy he needed someone to approach her for him. If he couldn't have his wife, he said he would choose Beyonce Knowles and his chef to be stranded on a desert island with him. The chef, Curry said, because he wants to begin eating healthier. He then listed his favorite meal as fried catfish. It's hard not to smile when thinking about Curry. It's just difficult to figure out whether the Bulls or Knicks will be getting the last laugh. The first act is here on Wednesday.

4) Marty Burns of Si.com with his NBA Notebook:

Power outage - Pacers' O'Neal joins KG, Duncan in Olympic bypass

Add Pacers forward Jermaine O'Neal to the list of NBA All-Stars who are unlikely to be part of the next U.S. Olympic squad. O'Neal said on Saturday that he would love to play for Team USA, but that he wouldn't be free to travel for this summer's World Championships in Japan because his wife is expecting. "I want to do it, but there's no way I can go out of the country [this summer]," he said before his team's game in Chicago. "They want people to play in the World Championships, but there's just no way I can do it. Obviously, the birth of my child is more important than any basketball situation." O'Neal said he planned to talk with Suns CEO Jerry Colangelo, the man in charge of putting together the invite list for the team, to see if there is some way he could still be part of the Olympic team without traveling to the World Championships. But Colangelo, who is in the process of interviewing some 30 to 35 candidates, is already on record as saying he expects the 20 invited players to give a three-year commitment. "If there's a situation where I can go to the [tryout] camp, do the camp, but then not have to travel [for the World Championships], then maybe I could do it," O'Neal said. "But I can't go out of country. There's no way. My wife wouldn't let me." O'Neal joins Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett as All-Star power forwards who have said they likely wouldn't be part of this next Olympic squad. All three have played for past U.S. teams in international competition. Their absences could clear the way for Elton Brand, Shawn Marion, Dwight Howard or Chris Bosh. As for his current job with the Pacers, O'Neal said he and his teammates are trying to hold up despite the daily Ron Artest trade rumors. He downplayed a suggestion by Pacers forward Scot Pollard that a quick resolution to the Artest saga might help team morale. He admitted, however, that it can be tough for some players to hear their names mentioned in trade speculation. "I don't know. I don't think about that situation," he said. "That's not really something I think players should have to wonder about every single day. I think [Larry Bird and Donnie Walsh are] going to do what's best for the team, and they'll do it on a timely basis and do what they feel is good for them. "I think the concern for some of our guys is that they will be traded with him. That's more the situation guys worry about. It's not 'Is he going to get traded?' Obviously he's been out 17 games. But it's a situation now where different scenarios keep coming up, and guys probably feel uncomfortable they might be included in the trade." O'Neal, by the way, had to leave Saturday's game in the second quarter after he sprained his ankle while landing on Michael Sweetney's foot. The Pacers won 91-89, thanks in large part to Stephen Jackson's 29 points. O'Neal is expected to miss at least the next two games.

Who's up - Kobe Bryant, Lakers: Not even a sore wrist can slow the NBA's scoring leader these days. Bryant had 38 points -- including four quick baskets down the stretch -- to go with seven rebounds and seven assists Saturday as the Lakers won at Golden State to make it five victories in their last six games. It followed a 27-point effort in Thursday's victory over the Cavs, in which he hit the game-winning 3-pointer in LeBron James' face. Over his past seven games, Bryant is averaging 42.0 points on 45.2 percent shooting (98-of-217). He recently had a string of four straight games with 45 or more points, becoming the first player to accomplish the feat since Wilt Chamberlain in 1964.

Who's down - Steve Francis, Magic: The three-time All-Star was placed on indefinite suspension by the Magic last week after he refused to re-enter a game late in a blowout loss at Seattle. Francis has been growing increasingly frustrated with his team's losing and his reduced role in the offense. He has looked listless on the court at times. His sit-down strike in Seattle came one day after he hit just 3-of-16 (10 points) in a loss at the Clippers. Francis' agent says his client wants to stay in Orlando, but trade rumors are swirling (see below). Francis is scheduled to meet with Magic coach Brian Hill and co-GM Otis Smith on Monday, and with his teammates on Tuesday.

Rumor mill - Francis to the T'wolves? One hot rumor going around this weekend had the Magic sending the disgruntled Francis to the T'wolves for Wally Szczerbiak and Trenton Hassell. The trade works under salary cap rules, but Minnesota owner Glen Taylor told the Minneapolis Star-Tribune his team had no interest. Still, it does make some sense for both teams. Francis is the kind of All-Star talent who could take some scoring pressure off Garnett. With three more years and $39 million on his contract, Francis isn't that much more expensive than Szcerbiak (three years, $36 million). Meanwhile, the Magic would get two quality shooting guards (one offensive, one defensive) to replace DeShawn Stevenson.

Grudge match(es) of the week - Wed. Jan 18: Knicks at Bulls: Eddy Curry returns to his hometown to face his former team for the first time. The Knicks center did not play in the first meeting, Nov. 30 in New York, because of an injury. And though he hasn't been playing well of late, he will no doubt be primed to face the Bulls, who traded him in the offseason after he refused their request for a DNA test to help determine the cause of his heart ailment. The Knicks have two other former Bulls on their roster: Jamal Crawford, who was dealt to New York in '04, and Antonio Davis, who came along in last summer's Curry deal. AND Friday, Jan. 20: Bucks at Hawks: It's the first meeting of the season between last year's top two draft picks, Andrew Bogut and Marvin Williams. While the two play different positions, each should have plenty of motivation to bring their "A game." Williams, a 6-9 forward, no doubt remembers that the Bucks passed him over with the No. 1 overall pick. Bogut, a 7-foot-1 center, surely wants to show that Milwaukee made the right call. So far the Bucks have no complaints. Bogut is averaging 9.1 points and 7.6 rebounds in 27.7 minutes. Williams is averaging 6.3 points and 4.3 rebounds in 22.2 minutes.

Three seconds…*So LeBron James has committed to the Olympic team, along with Kobe Bryant and Allen Iverson? Marion, Dwyane Wade and Amaré Stoudemire are also said to be locks. If USA Basketball is serious about adding role players, then some big names are going to be cut from the squad next summer. *Can't blame the Pacers for scuttling the Corey Maggette-for-Artest trade over concerns about Maggette's injured foot. But a healthy Maggette would have been an intriguing addition for Indiana, which needs a slasher type who can get to the foul line. He would have lifted the Pacers back into the top three in the East. *Larry Brown deserved some of the criticism he was getting a couple weeks ago, but it's amazing how quickly the media jumps on and off the bandwagon. The Knicks have won six of seven to climb back within playoff contention in the East. Soon we'll probably be hearing again what a genius Brown is.

Around the rim - Blazers forward Zach Randolph said he was five minutes tardy for his team's shootaround before the Lakers game last week because the power went out at his house and he couldn't open the automatic gate that blocked his driveway. Coach Nate McMillan punished Randolph by holding him out of the starting lineup, though Randolph did enter the game after 28 seconds. ... Cavs fans are turning on guard Damon Jones, who has been in a big-time shooting slump. The self-proclaimed "greatest shooter in the world" was three-of-10 from downtown in Sunday's loss at Portland ... Jazz forward Carlos Boozer's hopes of returning next month are on hold again. The 6-8 power forward suffered a minor setback last week in his rehab of a hamstring injury; there is no timetable on his return. ... Texas QB and Rose Bowl hero Vince Young once played on the same 12-and-under basketball team in Houston as Bucks point guard T.J. Ford and Kings reserve guard Ronnie Price. "[Young] was a great athlete even then," Price told the Sacramento Bee. "But I didn't know he played football until his junior year in high school."

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

10 things we learned in the NBA this week

As hard as it is to believe, Kobe Bryant has again reached a new realm of marvel. Oh, there are still the issues over his lack of team-concept physically and emotionally. He's still showing signs of overwhelming anger that turn heads. But last week he did something nobody since Wilt Chamberlain has accomplished — four consecutive games of at least 45 points.

1. Item: The arguments continue over whether or not Bryant deserves to be spoken of in the same reverent terms as the other superstar shooting guards in NBA history. What this really means: How does he compare to Michael Jordan and Jerry West, the two greatest shooting guards of previous generations? There are those who even question him in comparison to the likes of Dwyane Wade and LeBron James, who is a guard in small forward's clothing. Realistically, Bryant is every bit the talent and game-winner that the other players are. The prevailing question is what he can draw out of his teammates. His three championships with Shaquille O'Neal aside, this is a different deal now and he has a teammate with All-Star tools in Lamar Odom with whom there still is not a comfort zone. If he can get Odom to consistently score 16-18 points, dole out 6-8 assists and grab 6-8 rebounds a game, they'll be a solid playoff team. And if the two of them can get Kwame Brown to produce inside on a nightly basis, they'll be dangerous. In other words, Bryant may be the best player in the game today, but to be spoken of in historic terms, he must help others too. So far, most of the time they're relegated to just watching him play.

2. Item: As if things haven't been difficult enough for the Orlando Magic with attendance problems, a revolving door in the general manager and coach's office, plus Grant Hill's injury issues, now they've reached a breaking point with former All-Star guard Steve Francis. What this really means: Francis was suspended over the weekend for refusing to enter the game in Seattle with 3:22 left and the Magic trailing by 16. The Magic are sinking badly in the Southwest Division. They're tied for the 11th best record in the Eastern Conference, and Brian Hill is now already on the hot seat in the first year of his second go-round as coach of this team. But in all fairness to Hill, Francis is a conundrum. He's an All-Star talent who dribbles the clock away, ostensibly to win a game or lose a game individually. He never developed as a point guard in Houston because he didn't run coach Jeff Van Gundy's offense. He always has defended himself by showing an assist total that was respectable in number but misleading — it's irrelevant when those assists only come when you're hanging in the air and have no place else to go with it than give it up. It's a tough call to say if and when Francis will find his place in the league. Certainly the Magic are fielding all calls — with the hope that somebody will give them a star in return before Francis falls off the map.

3. Item: Now that last year's best sixth man Ben Gordon is starting for the Chicago Bulls, trade rumors abound. Chris Duhon has been exiled to the bench and they've already got high-priced Tim Thomas simmering permanently on the inactive list. What this really means: Something has got to give considering they're one of the most disappointing teams in the East following last season's impressive leap into the playoffs sphere. Even at 15-22 entering the week, the Bulls are only two games out of the eighth spot because there are so many bad teams (only 13 of the 30 teams in the NBA entered the week above .500). Trading Eddy Curry and Antonio Davis to the Knicks for Thomas, Michael Sweetney, Jermaine Jackson and draft choices has set them back immeasurably. There was no way of knowing that Tyson Chandler wasn't ready to take over as the predominant center, and presumably general manager John Paxson had a wink-wink deal that had the Knicks releasing Davis so he could return to the Bulls. But neither has happened, and now the Bulls are treading water frantically. Funny how this always seems to happen to Scott Skiles-coached teams ... they make dramatic strides in his first full season and then gradually begin to drift. Some of that is inherent in the league overall with so many young players, but at some point, they have to get back on a path. Right now they are seriously lost.

4. Item: The New York Knicks ended a season-high, six-game winning streak in a blow out loss at Toronto on Sunday. Nonetheless, Hall of Fame coach Larry Brown earned his 1,000th career victory in the NBA Friday — something only Lenny Wilkens, Pat Riley and Don Nelson have previously accomplished — following an 11-point win over the Atlanta Hawks on Friday night. What this really means: Despite all the hand-wringing and doomsaying in New York — the Knicks now are only three games out of the playoffs in the East and Brown appears to have found his rotation. Rookie David Lee is starting up front with Curry and Davis, while Stephon Marbury has become grounded at point guard next to another rookie, Nate Robinson. A third rookie, Channing Frye and guard Jamal Crawford will also play significant minutes, while Quentin Richardson, Maurice Taylor, Malik Rose and Trevor Ariza also pop in and out. That's not to say the Knicks are a finished product. On the contrary, between Brown and Isiah Thomas, something is bound to give, beginning with overpaid and distracted 7-foot center Jerome James and one of the unhappy types being packaged. But for the time being, the story is Marbury, who averaged 23.3 points and 9.4 assists during the six-game winning streak. They started out so horribly, but because they're so young and have bought into Brown's defensive principles, there's nowhere to go but up and that means they'll push for a playoff spot.

5. Item: Meanwhile, the Raptors are 12-9 since a 1-15 start — which really means next to the first-place New Jersey Nets, they've played the best ball in the Atlantic Division the past six weeks. That's not to say it is all that impressive considering the state of the division ... but that doesn't mean it isn't true. What this really means: Coach Sam Mitchell is doing a good job with this under-talented lot and Rob Babcock really did do a decent job this off-season stealing Mike James from Houston for problematic Rafer Alston. Perhaps more importantly, Chris Bosh is developing into a star from that super draft of three years ago that also produced LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Carmelo Anthony. Bosh is contributing 22.4 points, 9.2 rebounds, shooting 51 percent from the field and 80 percent from the free throw line ... all of that reeks of stardom for a guy who is still two months away from his 22nd birthday. And in this past draft, Babcock added Charlie Villanueva and Joey Graham, then signed free agent Jose Calderon. The Raptors are a long way from being a team to fear, but at least they are no longer pushovers every time they step on the floor. In fact, there are enough talented young players to build around and/or package in a move for the future. But the key is the heat is off for now and there is promise. How much promise, well, it's way too early to tell.

6. Item: The Indiana Pacers apparently were ready to deal Ron Artest to the Los Angeles Clippers in exchange for Corey Maggette until they discovered it would require surgery on his left foot to completely heal the torn ligament that has kept him out of the lineup since Dec. 5. Consequently, the Pacers are looking elsewhere. What this really means: The Pacers remain in this state bizarre state of flux — with Artest inactive and destined to never play for them again, while the rest of the players wait for the other shoe to drop. Essentially, this leaves the Pacers failing to compete at the anticipated level for the second season in a row because of Artest's mercurial emotional state. Last year it was the brawl he started at the Palace of Auburn Hills. This season, it's his decision to go public that he didn't want to play for the team that stood behind him during the ordeal of last season. Well, guess what? This is precisely why the Pacers have not made a deal yet. Whether it is with the Golden State Warriors, Denver Nuggets or some other late entry into the sweepstakes, CEO Donnie Walsh and president Larry Bird are showing extraordinary patience and that may or may not be a good thing. That's not to say the culture of winning has left the Pacers — coach Rick Carlisle is way too talented for that, as is star Jermaine O'Neal. But the positive edge and confidence that they are contenders in the East may be seeping out of the locker room.

7. Item: The Milwaukee Bucks traveled to Charlotte and beat the Bobcats 103-102 on a driving layup by T.J. Ford in the waning moments of the contest. Although the Bucks are 19-16, they enter the week an extraordinary 9-0 in games decided by three points or less, and 13-0 in games decided by six points or less. What this really means: It says the Bucks are a confident team and growing together rapidly under first-year coach Terry Stotts. Ford is back playing well after a serious spinal injury, free agent Bobby Simmons is fitting in and rookie Andrew Bogut is averaging 9.1 points and 7.6 rebounds — and showing a penchant for the big play. The question is what all these close wins are telling us. In one way, it's an impressive circumstance, particularly when there is a great scorer like Michael Redd to win games down the stretch. On the other hand, that would also be an indication of how they've lost 16 games at or near double-figures. So beware of the law of averages Bucks fans — this team is playing with fire.

8. Item: The Phoenix Suns have won nine of their last 11 games to raise their record to 24-12 — good enough for a 3 1/2-game lead over the Los Angeles Clippers in the Pacific Division and the third-best record in the Western Conference. What this really means: There's nothing unusual about the run other than the simple fact that the two losses in these last 11 games were both in triple-overtime. They lost at New York to the Knicks 140-133 on Jan. 2 and 139-137 at Denver to the Nuggets on Jan. 10. They are continuing to play at an upper-crust level with Steve Nash running the point to perfection, Sean Marion playing at an All-Star level again and Kurt Thomas fitting in perfectly in their pick-and-roll game — sliding out for 15-17 foot jumpers. For them to stay at this level without Amare Stoudemire, who likely won't be back from October microfracture knee surgery until March, says they will be serious contenders in the spring. Although the San Antonio Spurs still look like the best team in the West by a large margin, the Suns could get such a shot in the arm from return of Stoudemire, their All-Star big man, and lightning-quick Leandro Barbosa, who also has been sidelined after a great start, they could be the sleeper in the West.

9. Item: In the wake of Maggette's injury and the breakdown of the deal with the Pacers, Clippers point guard Sam Cassell took it upon himself to attempt to lure his former backcourt mate at Minnesota Latrell Sprewell to sign a one-year deal with the Clippers. What this really means: The Clippers started the season at 14-5 and everyone went nuts over how much better they are with Cassell and Cuttino Mobley as their starting backcourt and Elton Brand playing at an MVP level. But they are 5-9 since and the problem — besides losing their second-leading scorer in Maggette — is their lack of depth. Brand is hurting now, too, and even though Sprewell is so sketchy and overvalues himself, they need veteran help. That's the real reason why they were offering Maggette for Artest — a tough defender and a marvelously talented offensive threat inside and outside. The question, of course, is Artest. Is he a Tru Warier as he professes, or just truly wacky? We're guessing the latter. Nonetheless, this is the first year the Clippers have a legitimate shot at the playoffs in a decade, and coach Mike Dunleavy deserves all the help he can get. Should they offer Maggette and Chris Wilcox, as the Pacers have suggested? That's really, really a tough call – but maybe worth it considering how often Wilcox is hurt and the possibility of Artest solidifying them a spot in the postseason.

10. Item: The Denver Nuggets slipped by the Bulls in Chicago Monday to move over .500 for the first time since Dec. 15. To say it's been a long haul would be an understatement considering Nene went out with knee surgery due to torn ligaments in the opening game, Kenyon Martin has struggled with his surgically repaired knee and Marcus Camby is still out for a couple of weeks. What this really means: OK, Martin did have 22 points and 14 rebounds Monday, but once again it was Carmelo Anthony raising his level of play to All-Star caliber with 39 points. The Nuggets have won three of four games for the first time since December and that Anthony has averaged 37.0 points over this stretch is no coincidence. He and head coach George Karl have had several heart-to-heart talks over the past couple of weeks, and 'Melo has unequivocally taken his game up several notches, and is averaging 25.7 points a game — eighth in the NBA. In the preseason predictions, he was the favorite to reach most improved player status after a tough sophomore year in the league. Should the Nuggets recover from their shaky start, Martin continue to get healthy and Camby return effectively, they should respond by settling well into the playoff picture. But just how far they climb up the ladder lies on the shoulders of the 21-year-old who now seems ready to reach the lofty expectations that came with him from Syracuse following their NCAA championship less than three years ago.

6) Chris Sheriden of ESPN.com with a look at the US Olympic Team possibilities:

Who's in, who's out for Team USA

Team USA will be stocked, that's for sure. Whether it blends into a cohesive unit that can restore American basketball dominance is a question that remains to be answered. National team czar Jerry Colangelo told ESPN.com he has been "stunned' by the level of interest he has received in more than two dozen face-to-face interviews with players he wants to put on the national team roster. With another six or seven meetings still to take place, Colangelo said he has received 18 solid commitments. In addition, agents for seven other players have called Colangelo to say their clients are eager to sacrifice their next three summers to take part in what Colangelo describes as his "mission" -- the effort to build a national team capable of winning gold medals at the 2006 World Championship in Japan and the 2008 Beijing Olympics in China. Colangelo plans to announce a core group of players, as few as four and as many as eight, sometime around the All-Star break. Formal invitations eventually will be extended to 20 to attend training camp in Las Vegas in mid-July. The World Championship will run from Aug. 19 to Sept. 3, with the U.S. team playing its opening-round games in the northern city of Sapporo, with the opponents to be determined by draw on Sunday. The United States is coming off disappointing finishes in the last two major international tournaments, a bronze medal showing at the Athens Olympics and a sixth-place failure at the 2002 World Championship in Indianapolis. In Colangelo's meetings thus far with 25 players, some have expressed surprise that they might actually have to go through what would amount to a tryout. Colangelo has told players he's not forcing anyone to do anything, but anyone who believes it would be beneath him to fight for a roster spot won't be welcome. Colangelo is also laying down a few laws, such as banning families and entourages during the opening round of the World Championship and pretournament trips to China and South Korea. "I think the response I've had has been stunning, and I think it's a compliment to our NBA players' buying into the philosophy of playing for their country," Colangelo said. "Pride is a factor, because they're not happy with where USA Basketball is at the moment, and they want to change that." Colangelo would not divulge which players have given him their word, although public comments and Insider insight have combined to produce a reading on where more than 50 of the top American players stand:

Ray Allen: The best pure shooter holding a U.S. passport is one of the last players Colangelo will meet with. Played for U.S. in 2000 and 2003, withdrew from 2004 team due to security concerns. Might have a hard time coexisting peacefully with Kobe Bryant.

Carmelo Anthony: Colangelo said everyone starts with a clean slate, and he did not hold Anthony's complaints about playing time in Athens against him. The three-year commitment is giving Anthony pause, but he was one of the first players Colangelo sought out.

Gilbert Arenas: On board and eager judging by his public comments, the NBA's fourth-leading scorer is a strong favorite to be on the team heading to Japan.

Shane Battier: Wants to play, and it can't hurt that he spent four years at Duke under new U.S. coach Mike Krzyzewski.

Mike Bibby: Strangely, there seems to be no interest in the player Larry Brown wanted to beg back onto the Athens team when it was stumbling through its pre-Olympic tour.

Chauncey Billups: Met with Colangelo on Tuesday in Oklahoma City, as did teammates Richard Hamilton, Ben Wallace and Tayshaun Prince. Coach Flip Saunders has lobbied for Billups, saying his combination of strength and shooting would be perfect for the international game.

Bruce Bowen: On the bubble. The last two roster spots likely will be filled with role players, and the player who guards Manu Ginobili in practice every day is an intriguing candidate.

Carlos Boozer: Out all season with an injured hamstring, it's clear that this member of the Athens team won't be wearing red, white and blue this summer.

Chris Bosh: With the ability to play inside and outside on both offense and defense, Bosh is seen as a perfect fit for the U.S. team. Count on seeing him in Japan.

Elton Brand: Another player who withdrew from the Athens team due to security concerns, Brand might be regretting that decision. He has indicated he'd like to wear the USA jersey again.

Kobe Bryant: Knee surgery kept him off the 2003 U.S. Olympic qualifying team, and a sexual-assault trial forced him to withdraw from the 2004 team. He's in -- and gung ho -- for 2006 and 2008.

Vince Carter: The best player on the 2002 team, he has not yet met with Colangelo. His best dunk ever came while wearing a USA uniform when he jumped over 7-2 Frederic Weis of France during the Sydney Olympics.

Marcus Camby: Another on the short list of players who will meet with Colangelo soon. Was playing like the NBA's best center before getting hurt last month, and the Americans need a shot blocker and rebounder who can defend China's Yao Ming, Australia's Andrew Bogut, Argentina's Fabricio Oberto and Serbia's Nenad Krstic, among others.

Baron Davis: A member of the 2002 U.S. team that lost to Argentina, Yugoslavia and Spain, he'd like another chance. But with Billups and Jason Kidd seeming to be held in higher esteem, he appears to be somewhat a long shot.

Tim Duncan: Infuriated at the way international referees treated him during the Olympics, his parting words as he left Athens were "FIBA sucks." His agent has already informed Colangelo that Duncan will not be participating.

T.J. Ford: An intriguing candidate, but too young and too raw to be given serious consideration. Perhaps in 2010 when the World Championship is held in Turkey.

Steve Francis: Top USA Basketball officials have never been all that enamored with his game or his character, and he remains off their radar. His suspension this week won't get him any closer to Beijing.

Channing Frye: One of the players Colangelo wants to have on a scout team that would scrimmage the national team in Las Vegas.

Kevin Garnett: Not interested in doing it again after winning a gold medal in Sydney.

Ben Gordon: The U.S. federation is not interested yet, but the British federation is. Gordon and teammate Luol Deng are toying with the idea of playing for Great Britain, with Steve Nash potentially as their coach, when England gets an automatic berth as host of the 2012 Olympics.

Richard Hamilton: Rip still has bad memories of his time with the U.S. Olympic qualifying team in 1999 when he sprained his ankle and did not play. For that reason, he might be on the fence.

Kirk Hinrich: There are some folks at USA Basketball who love him, others who believe he's not ready confidence-wise. A long shot.

Dwight Howard: The youngster is said to be super eager for a chance to play, and Colangelo has made it clear he sees Howard as one of the long-term pieces of his project. Might have to play his way onto the Japan roster if he gets an invite to training camp in Vegas.

Allen Iverson: Some in the USA Basketball hierarchy were skeptical about him going into the 2004 Olympics, but he won many of them over with his genuine passion for representing his country. Wants to play again.

LeBron James: His Olympic experience in 2004 was not a good one, and his behavior and attitude were bigger problems than the public realized. In the end, however, it will go down as a good learning experience for James, who has told Colangelo he's on board.

Antawn Jamison: His struggles this season for Washington wouldn't figure to be helping him, but he's said to be under consideration.

Richard Jefferson: Played poorly for the U.S. team in Athens but wants to redeem himself. The type of first-class citizen USA Basketball has typically tried to get, but the memory of his inability to hit an open 20-footer has stuck in the heads of many U.S. federation officials.

Joe Johnson: This would be an awkward selection if Colangelo made it, given the circumstances of Johnson's departure from Colangelo's Phoenix Suns. But if bygones are truly bygones, Joe J may have a shot.

Jason Kidd: Has said he's very intrigued by the possibility of wearing the red, white and blue again. Was an integral part of the 2000 team in Sydney, the only player on that roster who knew the details of the disputed U.S. loss to the Soviet Union at the 1972 Munich Games. If he's chosen, it would impact the type of players that would be selected to surround him.

Kyle Korver: One of the game's best shooters, but too deficient in other areas to draw consideration.

Rashard Lewis: Wants to be in the mix, but it's unclear whether Colangelo has a mutual interest.

Stephon Marbury: Set the U.S. Olympic scoring record of 31 points against Spain in the Athens semifinals, but isn't believed to be on the list of players being considered for 2006.

Shawn Marion: A member of the 2004 and 2006 teams, he's a Colangelo favorite and likely will be playing for the U.S. in Japan.

Adam Morrison: Scout team candidate.

Tracy McGrady: Hasn't yet met with Colangelo but has said publicly that he does not believe his chronically injured back could take the wear and tear of a three-year commitment. Enjoyed his experience with the 2003 U.S. team that qualified for the Olympics at a tournament in Puerto Rico, but backed out without much of an excuse in 2004.

Brad Miller: Was a member of the 1998 U.S. team that competed in the World Championship in Greece during the NBA lockout, and has a style of play well suited to the international game. His agent has called Colangelo to state Miller's interest.

Greg Oden: Scout team candidate.

Lamar Odom: Is expected to meet with Colangelo later this month, and has said he'd like to represent the U.S. again. Was one of the more consistent performers for the 2004 Athens team.

Emeka Okafor: The only member of the 2004 team who failed to score a point in Athens, even when the team kept running plays for him in the fourth quarter of a blowout over Angola. Apparently not being considered for 2006.

Jermaine O'Neal: For reasons that remain unclear, O'Neal and Colangelo failed to keep a scheduled meeting. O'Neal has said publicly that a three-year commitment would be too taxing physically, but he still plans to talk things over with Colangelo.

Shaquille O'Neal: Hasn't played for the U.S. since 1996, but now says he's seriously thinking about doing it again. His presence alone would be a huge statement, but he'd have to be teammates with Kobe again.

Chris Paul: Scout team candidate.

Paul Pierce: Has repeatedly stated publicly that he wants a chance to redeem himself after being part of the 2002 debacle, and Colangelo has assured Pierce he'll get consideration. Expect the two to meet soon.

J.J. Redick: Scout team candidate.

Michael Redd: Many felt he should have been added to the 2004 Athens team, which needed shooters but added Okafor for the 12th roster spot. If Ray Allen declines to play, it's almost imperative that Redd be on the U.S. team. The Americans likely will see a steady diet of zone defenses, as they did in Athens. "We kept our zone packed inside the foul line," Lithuania's Sarunas Jasikevicius recalled.

Jason Richardson: Apparently not being considered.

Amare Stoudemire: Wants to play again after being buried on Larry Brown's bench in 2004, but it's hard to see his being included on the 2006 team so soon after having knee surgery. Look for him in Beijing, though.

Wally Szczerbiak: Colangelo plans to speak to him to gauge his interest.

Dwyane Wade: A person who has spoken to Wade described him as "98 percent" certain he'll rejoin the national team. He was the backup point guard behind Marbury in Athens.

Ben Wallace: His style of play is not suited to the international game, which was plain to anyone who watched him play on the 2002 team. He has improved his shooting since then, but it's still highly unlikely he'll play for the U.S. again.

Rasheed Wallace: Apparently not being considered.